"I didn't expect this body to be so healthy..."
Hitori Gotou, her body hunched over, made a chilling sound as she approached Hoshizora.
Ready to face her doom.
She had never hated this healthy body so much.
It was nothing more than getting up earlier than the chickens and going to bed later than the owls.
Enduring high-intensity practice for more than 6 hours.
Under the extreme torment of cold water, ice, fans, and staying up late.
And today, her only problem was that her dark circles were a little heavier than usual.
I can't pretend to be sick!
Today was Hitori Gotou's first day of work.
Such a momentous day.
Of course, Hakushu was also here.
This was also his first day of part-time work.
Last night, when Nijika mentioned that Hakushu and Hitori should also work at Stardust,
Seika Iizuka readily agreed.
Come and go as you please.
No!
But Nijika's repeated requests were hard to refuse.
Seika Iizuka still agreed.
Today.
There wasn't much heavy work.
So, Seika Iizuka assigned Hakushu a temporary task.
Handing out flyers at the door.
By the way, Ryo Yamada was in charge of cleaning, while Nijika and Hitori made the drinks.
Hakushu readily agreed.
He hadn't done any part-time jobs before.
After all, he'd made his fortune writing light novels.
But, handing out flyers couldn't possibly be that difficult for him.
It was a perfect opportunity to let Seika Iizuka see his ability to attract customers.
He stood in the shade.
Hakushu held a stack of flyers.
The flyer listed the bands performing tonight and their setlists.
Facing the stream of passersby,
Hakushu flashed a handsome and polite smile. Coupled with his good looks and clean school uniform,
almost no one refused.
People kindly accepted the flyers.
However,
As the number of flyers in his hand dwindled, the smile on Hakushu's face gradually stiffened.
Because, the flyers were going out, but…
But not a single ticket had been sold.
How embarrassing it would be to face Seika Iizuka later!
To be honest, though, it wasn't Hakushu's fault.
Because not many people would spontaneously decide to come watch a live performance, which usually lasted two or three hours.
Leaving halfway through would make people feel like they were getting ripped off.
Suddenly, Hakushu felt someone poke his back.
Could it be that Seika Iizuka came out to check on things?
Probably not. If it were Seika Iizuka...
It seemed the voice arrived before the person.
Hakushu turned around.
"This one, I'll take it."
The girl wasn't very tall, so Hakushu lowered his head.
He found himself looking directly into the eyes of the girl, who was looking up at him.
A white-haired loli?
Finally, the character that appeals to the masses has arrived, has it?
Hakushu couldn't help but think to himself.
And she even had heterochromia, one blue eye and one yellow.
Whether it was natural or she was wearing colored contacts was unknown.
Seeing Hakushu remain unmoved,
"Ugh..."
Raina poked Hakushu with her slender fingers, then opened her palm.
"Sorry, here you go."
Hakushu handed her a flyer.
At this moment, Hakushu noticed the white-haired girl's companion.
There was a suitcase almost as big as she was.
It looked like a musical instrument?
The suitcase was so large that Hakushu guessed it also contained other equipment.
But could this girl really move it?
Hakushu was about to speak, thinking he could try to persuade a customer to come into Hoshizora.
However, to his surprise.
Raina let out a "whoosh."
She folded a flyer into a paper airplane and sent it flying across the street.
Hakushu was stunned, "What are you doing?"
Even if she didn't like it,
this sort of thing, at the very least...
You shouldn't do it in front of the people handing out flyers, right?
Aren't you embarrassed?
I'm the one handing out flyers, and I'm embarrassed!
If Seika Iizuka saw this, she might even think Hakushu was slacking off.
My Favorability might even drop.
Raina beamed, her smile wide.
"More, please."
Hakushu blinked. Seriously?!
He glanced back at the entrance to Hoshizora's basement, relieved.
Under Raina's questioning gaze, Hakushu hurried over and retrieved the paper airplane.
"Why are you picking it up?"
He looked at the small girl.
Hakushu didn't feel angry at all.
He just lectured,
"Listen here, little… kid, this kind of behavior isn't right."
"Why not?"
"Third year."
"Elementary school?"
"Middle school."
A hint of surprise flickered.
But Hakushu smiled.
"If you put it that way, then I don't have any psychological burden."
"Want to go inside and take a look?"
"It's very interesting."
Hakushu pointed at the flyer, then at Hoshizora behind him.
"Interesting?"
Raina looked curiously at the underground passage.
Then her eyes brightened.
The long staircase and the slightly dim environment immediately piqued her interest.
"Drinks are included, too."
Hakushu tempted.
Actually, the ticket price for Hoshizora was 1500 yen, of which 500 yen was for the drink.
This was more expensive than a convenience store or a vending machine.
"Do they have Matcha Parfait?"
Raina looked up, gazing at Hakushu with her beautiful, heterochromatic eyes.
"Matcha Parfait…"
Hakushu stroked his chin, considering.
Hoshizora's drink menu was actually quite extensive.
But it seemed to be mostly sodas, energy drinks, juice, and beer.
As for Matcha Parfait… that was a tough call.
But, hey, it was about attracting customers.
"They should have it. Just go inside and see. You won't be disappointed," Hakushu said.
After all, he was just handing out flyers.
Whether there's Matcha Parfait inside is the shop owner's problem.
"Oh!"
Raina picked up the box, intending to pass Hakushu.
"Wait, you haven't bought a ticket yet."
Hakushu took out a ticket and handed it to Raina.
Raina took the ticket,
"Thank you."
Hakushu blocked her again,
"You haven't paid yet."
Raina looked up at Hakushu, confused.
"Money?"
She remembered that she didn't have to pay to enter RiNG.
She only had to pay when she ate Matcha Parfait.
Hakushu held out his palm, smiling slightly. "Yes, 1500 yen."
Raina rummaged in her pocket for a while, found the money, and then spread her small hands, presenting it to Hakushu.
Does this mean I should take it myself?
Hakushu was slightly stunned, looking at the yen bills that had been crumpled into small balls.
After taking out 1500 yen.
Hakushu happily waved his hand, his business finally open.
"Go on in."
Raina walked to the stairs.
"I can't go down."
She turned and looked at Hakushu.
"I'm sorry, I overlooked that."
Hakushu helped Raina move the boxes downstairs, also returning the paper airplane from earlier.
Back in the shade outside, Hakushu was in a good mood.
He hoped the few remaining flyers would attract another customer or two.
Inside the shop.
Hitori Gotou faced her biggest challenge of the day.
Nijika had gone to the restroom.
So now, Hitori Gotou was alone at the drink counter.
"Y-yes, yes… I'm so sorry, it doesn't seem like we have Matcha… Parfait here."
Hitori Gotou, towering over the white-haired girl in front of her, despite feeling like she was shrinking inside.
"We do."
Raina's mouth opened slightly.
"N-no… we don't."
"We do."
"Yes, the man outside said there was."
Raina stepped forward, placing her hands on the counter and staring intently at the rows of beverage machines behind it.
Hitori Gotou, fearing Raina would devour her at any moment, cowered under the counter, covering her head and muttering to herself.
"Don't eat me, don't eat me…"
"An interesting woman."
Raina then turned her gaze to Hitori Gotou.
Nijika, just emerging from the restroom, happened to witness this scene.
She ran over at top speed.
Nijika was surprised to see it was a little girl.
However, there were no age restrictions for entering Stardust.
But beer was definitely out of the question.
"Excuse me, what can I get for you?"
"Matcha Parfait."
Nijika was taken aback, "Huh? You want a Matcha Parfait?"
"Yep."
Raina looked at the drink machine, already impatient.
"I'm so sorry, we don't have Matcha Parfait here."
Nijika said apologetically.
Raina froze, then visibly deflated.
"Liar." Raina muttered.
But Nijika didn't hear clearly. She asked again,
"Would juice be okay?"
"Fine."
Raina answered weakly.
Seeing this, Nijika remembered the snacks left over from yesterday's band meeting.
"Right, would you like some more snacks?"
Raina perked up, "Yes!"
"Nijika, I'm starving too."
Ryo Yamada suddenly appeared, propping herself up on a broom and saying.
"Alright, alright, you get some too."
Nijika decided to get some snacks for everyone.
Not long after, Hakushu finished handing out flyers.
Perhaps after the first sale, his luck had turned, and he subsequently sold two more tickets.
Under Seika Iizuka's surprised gaze, Hakushu walked over with a smile.
He saw Ryo Yamada and the others already gathered at the beverage stand.
They were waiting in the back for the performance to begin.
"I'm back, everyone."
"You worked hard, Aku-kun."
Nijika said with a smile, handing him a drink at the same time.
Raina spotted Hakushu.
"Liar!"
"Huh?"
"Eh?"
"Oh?"
Nijika Iizuka, Hitori Gotou, and Ryo Yamada all turned to look at Hakushu, their expressions varying.
Hakushu's face fell. What are you doing here?
Raina glared at Hakushu, her cheeks puffed out in anger.
The man in front of her said they had Matcha Parfait here.
She had just come in.
It cost 1500 yen.
Raina didn't really understand money, but she knew one thing.
That much could buy two Matcha Parfaits at RiNG!
Finally, Nijika asked,
"Raina, is he a friend of Hakushu?"
Raina?
So, she made friends already.
Just like Nijika.
Hakushu answered with a guilty conscience, "Ahem, I recruited her as a customer."
Nijika probably understood what was going on and said with a slightly serious tone,
"Hakushu, you can't lie, okay?"
Otherwise, you'll end up like Ryo.
Nijika added in her mind.
"Achoo!"
Ryo Yamada sneezed at that moment.
Hitori Gotou suddenly felt an itch in her nose and throat, too.
She hadn't expected this person to be someone Hakushu had brought!
But, what could she say?
The end result was Hakushu apologizing to Raina.
Hakushu said he would treat her to Matcha Parfaits next time, as many as she wanted.
Raina, upon hearing this, happily accepted.
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