"I don't know either. It was right before the show, and she suddenly ran off…"
Nijika rubbed her smooth forehead, clearly troubled. No one expected something like this just before the performance.
Luckily, today she'd gotten lucky, despite running around randomly like a lost fly, she actually managed to find a stray guitarist and keyboardist. Otherwise, she'd have no clue how to handle the situation.
Following Nijika, who was cheerfully skipping ahead, they soon reached a familiar-looking underground passage.
"Here we are~ This is the LiveHouse 'Starry' where we'll be performing today! Cool name, right?"
With a cheerful smile and a hint of pride, Nijika introduced them to the underground LiveHouse.
Haru recognized the place from his simulated memories, though only like a CG backdrop.
Seeing it in person for the first time, he looked surprised.
"It's darker than I expected."
"Hey! It's not dark!"
"I love the atmosphere here. It feels like home."
"Hitori-chan, this is my home!"
Haru and Bocchi voiced completely opposite impressions, prompting Nijika to jump in and tease them.
Haru wasn't wrong though—compared to the bright and spacious LiveHouse "RING" downtown, this basement venue "STARRY" did have a heavier vibe.
Still, he preferred "STARRY" to "RING."
"This place is run by my big sister~ Haru-san, you're really good-looking, want a part-time job here?"
"Can I just stand around and get paid?"
"Of course not! You at least have to look like you're doing something!"
As Haru bantered with Nijika, he followed her from the lobby deeper into the LiveHouse.
It wasn't just Nijika's band preparing—members of several other bands were setting up, and many guests had already arrived in anticipation.
This kind of underground live venue actually felt more fitting for an idol debut...
"Let's head to the practice room~ I'll introduce you to someone. She always looks a bit emotionless, but she's really nice!"
Walking with hands behind her back and a warm smile on her face, Nijika's sunny demeanor lit up the dim hallway. As she skipped ahead, a faint girlish fragrance wafted through the air.
"Oh, Nijika, you're back."
A cool voice called out from nearby. Haru instinctively turned toward the source.
Perhaps it was fate, his eyes just happened to meet a pair of pale golden irises as calm as a still lake.
Eyes he knew all too well—cool, aloof, yet deeply expressive in their quiet.
Leaning against the practice room door with hands in her pockets stood a blue-haired girl in a long skirt and knit sweater. Her icy presence was as unapproachable as a snow lotus.
Her face was elegant and beautiful, her skin pale like fresh snow.
Unlike the bubbly, cute, golden-haired Nijika, Yamada Ryo had a cold beauty that could fool any girl. Her allure combined perfectly with her icy aura.
It was no wonder even a looks-obsessed girl like Kita would fall head over heels, Ryo's face was truly devastating.
PIC: Ryo[1]
She was a completely different type of beauty compared to Nijika Mama .
Her gaze immediately focused on Kazami Haru.
"…Nijika."
The cold-faced girl leaning against the wall showed a trace of seriousness in her eyes.
"Did you just come from a host club?"
"Pfft—of course not! Why would you even say that?!"
Ijichi Nijika hurried forward a few steps, trying to stop this strange woman with her bizarre thought process from saying anything more outrageous.
"I thought you were sneaking off behind my back to indulge in pleasure, maybe even ordering a champagne tower or something?"
"I already told you, I was out looking for a guitarist!!"
Wearing an apologetic expression, Nijika returned to the others, pulling the expressionless weirdo by the hand and apologizing to the innocent victim, Kazami-san.
To immediately say something like "host club" upon meeting someone, that's just plain rude!
Even if Kazami Haru's appearance and aura were indeed a bit…
Still, just saying it out loud was too much!
"I'm really sorry, Kazami-san! This person is another member of our band, Yamada Ryo, the bassist."
"She's a bit odd in the head, please don't take what she says too seriously."
This scene felt familiar somehow.
Unfazed, Kazami Haru stroked his chin thoughtfully and said, "Actually, I think the way she talks is pretty interesting."
From the perspective of his "past-life lover," this might just be Miss Ryo's unique way of giving a compliment.
"Eh?"
Nijika looked stunned at the emotionless Kazami Haru, her hand pausing mid-push on Ryo's back.
It was the first time she'd seen someone meet Ryo for the first time, stay calm, and even appreciate her odd behavior.
"If it weren't for the risk of getting expelled, working at a host club might actually be quite profitable."
"Oh! So you get it too?"
Yamada Ryo's eyes lit up slightly, and she stepped forward to approvingly pat his shoulder.
[Simulation Count +1 Gained]
Looks like tagging along really was the right call, he had just gained a new simulation count from his ex-girlfriend.
Only Nijika's face looked stiff, her gaze shifting suspiciously between Kazami Haru and Yamada Ryo, as if trying to find what the two had in common.
"Muuu~! It's all Ryo's fault for saying weird things, I completely forgot to do introductions!"
"Let's try that again! This is the miracle guitarist Gotoh Hitori, and this is her friend Kazami Haru, who came today to support and watch our performance!"
Faced with the introduction, Yamada Ryo merely nodded slightly, but her eyes kept drifting toward Kazami Haru's face.
Even when their eyes met, her pale golden irises, calm like still water, showed no hint of avoidance. This odd behavior left Kazami Haru a little puzzled.
Miss Ryo, why are you staring like that… Do you also have a crush on me?
"Keyboardist, not going on stage?"
Yamada Ryo suddenly asked, catching everyone off guard.
[1] https://imgur.com/jXB8l3H