When they entered the practice room, the instruments were already neatly arranged.
Bai Qiu looked around.
Wait a second—wasn't someone missing?
Where was Yamada Ryou?
Did she sneak off somewhere to slack again?
But Ijichi Nijika didn't seem bothered at all. She had already taken out the music sheet and was showing it to Gotou Ichiri.
"How is it? Can you play this part?"
"Ah… y-yes," Gotou Ichiri stammered.
Then Bai Qiu asked, "Uh… what about the bassist?"
Nijika blinked. "Bassist? We don't have one yet."
"…You don't have one?"
Bai Qiu's expression changed.
What's going on here?
Didn't Yamada Ryou join Nijika's band?
Or… did her original band not disband?
If it hasn't disbanded, hurry up and disband it already!
"Then… what about the bass part?" Bai Qiu probed carefully.
Usually, to play a complete song properly, guitar and bass were both indispensable.
Even if most people couldn't really hear the bass clearly, you still needed a bassist for the performance!
"Bai Qiu-kun, do you know how to play?" Nijika asked hopefully, eyes gleaming—as if waiting for another miracle.
Bai Qiu shook his head.
Nijika's gaze dimmed.
"Hmm… maybe we can use a pre-recorded bass track?"
Out of nowhere, Nijika pulled out a small recorder.
Bai Qiu froze. "…"
Don't ask me that like it's a question!
"Isn't… isn't that kind of cheating the audience?" Gotou Ichiri spoke up for once.
At that, Nijika looked troubled.
"Actually… I did have someone in mind to be the bassist," she said softly.
"But… Ryou, she's already stopped playing music."
Her expression turned gloomy.
Bai Qiu was stunned.
Stopped playing?
Then the band he'd been dreaming of forming… was really over?
Yamada Ryou, what the hell are you doing?!
"If that's the case," a faint voice interrupted, "I won't allow such a half-baked band to perform on stage."
They all turned in surprise.
Leaning against the doorframe, one hand on her hip, the other holding a bottle of apple juice, was Ijichi Seika. She took a slow sip through the straw.
The three of them turned toward her.
Except for being a bit taller—and, well, equally endowed—she looked like a larger version of Nijika.
Same floating triangular ahoge on her head.
But don't let that cute appearance fool you.
Their personalities were worlds apart!
One was an angel.
The other—an extra-tsundere demon.
Meanwhile, Seika was subtly sizing up Bai Qiu.
She'd heard that Nijika had brought a guy back to the studio—something that had never happened before.
He looks deceptively decent, Seika thought. But at best, he's probably just good at fooling some naïve schoolgirls.
However, her earlier remark made Nijika's face turn pale.
"Big sis, what are you saying?! We already talked about this!" Nijika burst out angrily.
Seika curled her lip, completely unconcerned. "I thought you already had a full band, but turns out it's just… that."
She didn't finish the sentence, but the meaning was obvious.
"But…"
"With your little playtime mindset, you'll never make it as a real band," Seika said dismissively, waving her hand.
Nijika froze.
"Big sis, you're such a big idiot!"
She threw down her drumsticks, shoved past Seika, and ran out.
A few raindrops could be faintly heard falling outside.
"Ah-la, another sibling quarrel," the PA girl appeared suddenly, covering her mouth with her wide sleeves as she giggled.
She looked a bit gleeful—but honestly, she'd gotten used to these scenes.
"Ugh, shut up! If you keep laughing, I'll dock your pay!" Seika grumbled.
"Eh? That's not fair…"
The PA girl's face paled; she quickly vanished. It wasn't wise to provoke the golden-haired lioness of the shop right now.
"Ugh, damn it!"
Seika scratched her long hair in frustration, then looked at the remaining Bai Qiu and Gotou Ichiri.
She sighed inwardly. Why did her mouth always say the opposite of what she meant?
Bai Qiu blinked, feeling awkward.
This situation was… kind of tense.
Gotou Ichiri, meanwhile, had fainted.
Or rather, pretended to faint.
Her thought process was simple—if she fainted, she wouldn't have to perform!
Nice! So happy!
No wait… wasn't it wrong to be happy about others' misfortune?
How despicable!
But… I really don't want to perform…Being on stage… is terrifying!
…
As for Bai Qiu, he had to face Seika directly now.
"Hello, Manager."
Seika gave a proud "hmph," but she wasn't unreasonable. She knew Bai Qiu wasn't at fault here.
She glanced at the pink, blob-like thing (Gotou Ichiri) slumped on the floor, wondering, what even is that?
"Anyway, your performance slot's at the end. Having no bassist isn't a big deal. If a band suddenly cancels, I'd have to come up with an excuse for the customers. What a pain."
Bai Qiu barely kept from laughing. "Got it, Manager. I'll go find Nijika right now."
Inside, he sighed—tsunderes are such a hassle.
And this one's a high-level tsundere!
Seika's eyes brightened slightly. This kid's not bad—he understood what she meant right away.
"Hey, kid, here… take this."
Seika tossed him the remaining three bottles of apple juice, quickly turning away to hide her expression.
Bai Qiu caught them smoothly.
"Thanks, Manager."
Seika nodded curtly.
Bai Qiu leaned down and whispered to Gotou Ichiri, "If you don't turn back to solid form soon, I'm leaving you here alone."
"Ah—no, don't leave me!"
Gotou Ichiri trembled and "came back to life."
Grabbing her by the collar of her tracksuit, Bai Qiu dragged her out toward the street of Starry.
After they left—
"Fufufu…" The PA girl reappeared, laughing quietly.
Outside Starry.
The two stood by the door.
"What now?" Gotou Ichiri asked weakly, completely directionless.
Should they just go home?
Bai Qiu pondered where Nijika might have gone.
Shimokitazawa Park? Or maybe the vending machines?
"Sorry, for running out like that and leaving you both behind."
They turned—and saw Nijika walking back on her own.
Although she had stormed out in anger, she soon remembered she'd left two people behind at the store.
Leaving them like that was just too rude.
So she'd calmed down quickly and returned.
Looking closely, though—her eyes were a little red.
She'd clearly been crying.
Bai Qiu was quietly moved. As expected of Nijika—so kind, always thinking of others first.
"It's fine," Bai Qiu said gently. Ichiri nodded in agreement.
"Thank you, both of you. And, Ichiri… I'm sorry. Looks like we won't be performing after all."
Nijika's expression fell again.
For their band to lose its debut performance—it was a heavy blow to her.
If not for the two of them standing there, she might've started crying again.
But this time, Gotou Ichiri couldn't bring herself to feel happy.
Bai Qiu quickly spoke up. "The Manager said we can perform. Look—she even gave us drinks."
He gestured to the apple juice bottles.
"Eh?! Really?"
"Really. After all, the Manager's just a tsundere." Bai Qiu grinned.
"Ah!" Nijika suddenly realized, perking up. How could she forget something so obvious!
"Then, Ichiri…" Nijika turned to her again, a bit shyly.
Ichiri, sipping her juice, answered automatically, "Ah, okay."
"Then let's go back!" Nijika said, wiping her eyes.
But Bai Qiu didn't move.
"What's wrong?"
"We still have plenty of time," Bai Qiu said with a small smile. "Let's go bring the bassist back."