On the day of the performance, outside STARRY, a torrential downpour mixed with fierce winds descended from the gray sky, raging between the buildings. The sweltering heat of the blazing summer was completely swept away, but Hitori Gotoh and the others now found themselves desperately missing the sun's scorching rays.
At least the sun wouldn't have made the audience planning to come to the show today change their minds and stay home.
"The typhoon... it really came after all." The sound engineer wiped her rain-soaked hair with a towel, looking rather worried.
Seika Ijichi was slumped listlessly over the bar. In her heart, she didn't want her little sister's band to face such a hardship for their very first performance, but she still put on a brave face. "As long as they want to keep being a band, they'll run into plenty of trouble. Whatever difficulties they face, they'll have to overcome them on their own."
Seeing her bury her head in her arms, her voice tinged with a nasal tone, the sound engineer said, "I have a handkerchief, you know."
"Get away from me!" Seika Ijichi scooted her chair to the right, unwilling to admit she was feeling a bit down.
Someone braved the heavy rain and burst into STARRY, draping themselves over Seika Ijichi, reeking of alcohol and wearing soaked clothes.
"Hey, there's gonna be a celebration after the show today, right? Have you picked a bar yet? I know a great place."
Seika Ijichi, with a look of disgust, pushed the drunkard onto a stool. "Go dry your clothes already."
Hearing the commotion, Nijika and the others came out from the prep room. Hitori Gotoh clearly recognized the tipsy woman as the one who had pulled her into a street performance before.
"Is she an acquaintance of the manager?"
"She was my junior in college." Seika Ijichi's face was etched with exasperation.
Though now she's just a drunk.
"Heya, Bocchi-chan, I'm here!"
"B-Big sis..."
"Eh? You came to see Bocchi-chan?" Seika Ijichi had assumed she'd just drunkenly stumbled in to get out of the rain.
"Whoa, we're soaked." The pair of new fans who had been captivated by the melody of Hitori Gotoh's guitar during her street performance had also braved the downpour to come to STARRY. "Ichi-chan, we're here!"
When Jhin walked into STARRY with eleven girls in tow, never mind what the members of Kessoku Band, who had already gone backstage to prepare, would think of such a scene—just the sight of Kazami Kazuki gleefully teasing Satania and Komine Sachi in her maid outfit was enough to cause a stir among the others.
"Manager, I brought some people."
"You... never mind. It's nothing."
Seika Ijichi swallowed the words, "Did you bring your whole harem to the show?" It wasn't her place to worry about it. In any case, at least the crowd wouldn't look so sparse now, which would keep her sister and the others from being disappointed. That was a good thing, she supposed.
Aside from Jhin and his group, who had come specifically for Kessoku Band's performance, a few fans of the other bands scheduled to play after them had also arrived at STARRY early. They were bored, scrolling through their phones, waiting for their favorite bands to take the stage. As for the opening act, a band they'd never even heard of, they couldn't muster the slightest bit of interest.
The arrival of the two street fans sparked an unprecedented fighting spirit in Hitori Gotoh. A pink pillar of light erupted from her body, soaring into the heavens. The other three members watched her let out a series of creepy 'hehe' laughs, beads of sweat forming on their foreheads.
"That is... Bocchi-chan, right?"
"Did we get the wrong person...?"
"Super Bocchi-chan?"
After finishing her teasing of Satania, Kazami Kazuki seemed to find some common ground with Raphiel, who had been watching with delight. The two were whispering to each other off to the side, as if sharing notes on some technique.
Jhin had already introduced everyone to each other on the way over. It seemed the angel-and-demon group and the Mihama Academy group were getting along just fine.
Vignette was discussing the specifics of a certain recipe with Suou Amane, who was skilled at cooking. Gabriel and Irisu Makina, who both loved gaming, found common ground, with Gabriel boasting to Irisu Makina about the one time she managed to beat Jhin.
As usual, Sakaki Yumiko had found a seat for herself and was absorbed in a mystery novel she fancied. If Jhin hadn't invited her, she probably would have chosen to stay in her dorm and surf the web. On the surface, no one would ever guess that this elegant-looking girl had a severe internet addiction.
Michiru Matsushima and Satania had locked eyes. The two of them had been constantly trying to one-up each other on the way here. Perhaps this was the mutual admiration shared between idiots. Komine Sachi, meanwhile, played the role of a perfect maid, maintaining a smile as she followed behind Jhin.
Perhaps because Jhin had been bad-mouthing her behind her back, Satania suddenly sneezed.
"Jhin, what kind of drinks do they have here? I'm thirsty."
"We have juice, soda, and coffee. Which would you like, Miss Satania?"
"Oh, oh..." Satania was taken aback by Komine Sachi, who had answered. This maid is so professional! If she ordered juice or soda, wouldn't that make her seem too childish?
After a moment's thought, Satania decided on coffee. "Coffee, then. Thank you, uh... Miss Maid?"
She clearly hadn't remembered Komine Sachi's name.
"You can just call me Sachi."
Komine Sachi gave an elegant curtsy, then turned to get a cup of coffee for Satania. Halfway there, she was called over by Raphiel, who whispered something in her ear, her face filled with delight as she watched Satania waiting for her coffee next to Jhin.
That tax-evading Raphiel must be planning to prank Satania again. Although Jhin knew what was happening, it didn't mean he was going to stop it. He wanted to see Satania's interesting reaction too.
I know ≠ I will stop it.
"Miss Satania, here is the espresso you ordered."
Komine Sachi's words made Jhin raise an eyebrow. If he recalled correctly, the venue did offer other types of coffee besides espresso; after all, not everyone enjoyed its bitter taste. This must be a little prank from Raphiel.
He watched with great anticipation as Satania took a sip of the espresso. As expected, she stuck out her tongue, her face scrunching up as if she'd just taken a bite of raw bitter melon. "Ugh, so bitter..."
What Jhin didn't expect was that after taking one sip, Satania immediately handed the coffee to him. "Here, Jhin, you drink it. I can't finish this coffee, and we shouldn't waste it."
What a frugal and thrifty demon! Compared to a certain angel who just throws away drinks she can't finish, Satania was truly a good girl.
Jhin was almost moved to tears by her simple gesture. Are all the other people in Hell this charmingly rustic? He raised the cup and took a sip of the espresso.
Hmm, Satania must have eaten a melon bread before coming here. Looks like that little dog didn't come to steal her favorite snack again.
Just as Jhin was drinking the melon-bread-flavored espresso, Raphiel nudged Kazami Kazuki with her elbow, her cheeks glowing so much they were practically reflective. "Look, Satania actually gave the coffee she drank from directly to your little brother."
"That's quite an unexpected development. Is she like that with everyone?"
"No, no, no. Satania may look like an idiot, but I've never seen her do something like this with any other boy."
"Hmm..."
Kazami Kazuki fell into deep thought. Even though I already have that silly child Michiru Matsushima, it seems this Satania also has some unusual feelings for my little brother. Should I consider her as well?
I'm gonna die, I'm gonna die! Why did I just hand him the coffee?! On the surface, Satania looked as calm as can be, but inside, she was panicking like crazy. She couldn't believe she'd been foolish enough to hand Jhin a drink she'd already drunk from, and he'd downed it without a moment's hesitation.
Could it be that he has designs on me, the great future archdemon, Kurumizawa Satanichia McDowell?
Satania crossed her left arm over her chest and nervously fiddled with her round, braided pigtail with her right hand. Her eye-catching curves dealt a critical emotional blow to some of the other girls.
She's such an idiot, so why is she so well-developed!?
As the lights inside STARRY gradually dimmed, Kessoku Band's debut performance was about to begin
___
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