At this moment, Nijika also noticed the arrival of Kaito and Bocchi.
The girl's pretty face turned slightly red, but unlike usual, she didn't knock Ryou on the head. Instead, she just gave her a threatening glare, forbidding her from saying weird things again.
Then she put on her usual bright sunny smile again, energetically waving her hand, "Kaito-kun, good afternoon!"
"Good afternoon," Kaito also greeted her and looked around, "Why isn't Manager Seika here?"
"The manager's favorite apple juice for kids ran out. She just went to the convenience store next door to restock, she'll be back soon," The one who answered wasn't Nijika, but the PA-san hiding behind the counter.
This gentle, traditional big sister who always liked to wear black looked a bit shifty-eyed. Even though she was answering his question, those emerald green eyes of hers never dared to meet his gaze.
It was clear that… her demeanor wasn't out of shyness, rather, it seemed more like a guilty conscience.
Ever since Kaito called out her virtual streamer ID online in one shot last time, although PA-san managed to muddle through it at the time… that meaningful look from him afterward still left her with quite a stretch of anxious, heart-pounding days.
Afraid that someday her identity would be exposed, or worse, that she'd end up in a classic doujin plot, ["PA-san, you wouldn't want the manager to find out you secretly stream as a virtual idol in private, right?"]
Even though, in that kind of story, she would usually end up being rewarded… but that's not the point.
The point is, if Seika found out that she had actually been secretly doing virtual streams for sponsorship deals, she'd definitely be laughed at.
And it wouldn't even take deliberate mockery, just Seika looking at her with those weird eyes like "so this is the real PA", would be enough to make PA-san curl her toes in embarrassment.
Now this big-sister sound engineer really regretted it. Why did she try so hard to cover up the truth back then, lying about spending her nights in online salons with international friends discussing new era topics?
As expected, once you tell one lie, you need even more lies to keep it going.
PA had thought about talking to Kaito privately, hoping he would help keep her secret.
But first, she never found a chance to be alone with him, and second… she was just too timid.
So for now, she could only build up some goodwill on such small trivial matters, hoping the other party might take the hint and not casually out her.
"I see," Kaito nodded, skipping over that topic, then turned to look at Nijika, "I heard from Bocchi that Kessoku Band's first official live has been set for this Saturday. How is it, do you feel confident?"
Nijika was a little confused just now as to why PA-san was suddenly so enthusiastic, but she didn't think much of it. She clenched her little fist and said confidently, "To be honest, the time is a bit tight… but it's fine. Kessoku Band won't fall at a place like this!"
"And we also have to thank Kaito-kun, for bringing Kita back in time. You must've… put in a lot of effort, right?"
'Hmm…'
'It isn't that exaggerated, really.'
Kaito recalled the scene of visiting Kita's home. Mrs. Kita wasn't as unapproachable as expected. After he promised to "take care of Kita," she simply let her go.
However…
Thinking of what happened afterward, he instinctively looked over at Ikuyo next to him, his gaze slightly complex.
Being stared at like that, the red-haired girl couldn't help but have her fair cheeks flush like she was drunk.
Confessing feels good for a moment, then comes the death.
If that ambush kiss back in Hoori Town could barely be explained away as a gesture of gratitude, then the words she said last Saturday were an undeniable confession.
("My mom really likes you.")
("And… so does her daughter.")
'AHHHHHH!!! If I'd known earlier, I wouldn't have been so impulsive!'
Just thinking about that scene made Kita want to scream, twist herself into a knot, and crawl into a dark corner. That night, she even locked herself in her bedroom alone, rolling around for several hours before she finally calmed down.
But what she regretted the most was why she didn't have the courage to stay and wait for Kaito's answer back then, instead, she ran off in a panic.
If he accepted, that would've been the best outcome.
Even if rejected, she could let it go for the time being, continue being friends, slowly develop feelings, and prepare for the next confession opportunity.
But by confessing and fleeing, things just got super awkward.
She didn't end up as Kaito's girlfriend as hoped, and she couldn't just act like nothing happened. She really wanted to know his answer.
The result: she was stuck in a limbo.
'Ugh… Now I have no idea how to face Kaito-kun…'
Even Bocchi, who was the slowest on the uptake, noticed that something weird was going on between those two. Let alone the ever-observant Nijika?
She couldn't help but feel, 'Something has happened between Kaito-kun and Kita that I don't know about?'
That kind of "if it's her, then not me" sense of crisis made Nijika suddenly alert.
Off to the side, Gremlin Ryou stroked her chin. Unlike Nijika, who was pure like a blank sheet of paper, Ryou knew more, and considered things more broadly.
'I had thought I would be the one to take the lead first, but who would've thought… little Kita actually made a move ahead of time?'
'As expected, you can't underestimate the heroes of the world.'
But Ryou didn't feel regret, nor did she feel jealous or envious.
Although she had to live off grass for about a dozen days each month, if you really mistook her for a harmless herbivore, you'd be dead wrong.
Ryou actually had a highly aggressive personality, especially when facing someone she was interested in.
The reason she hadn't made much progress so far was purely because the band's first live was approaching, and she'd temporarily focused all her energy on training.
But these days wouldn't last much longer.
The official live show was set for Saturday. If it ended in a huge success, then based on a certain tsun-tsun-tsun-tsundere manager's siscon personality, a celebration party would definitely follow.
And parties like those were undoubtedly one of the fastest ways for young men and women to build romantic tension.
Once everyone was a few drinks in and the atmosphere was at its peak, it'd be totally normal for sparks to fly.
Ryou glanced again at the blonde girl beside her and sighed inwardly.
'Nijika still hasn't made a move. Clearly, she is head over heels on the inside, but can't summon the courage, always stuck on meaningless pride.'
'If this keeps up, she'll lose to Kita. After Kita, it'll be Bocchi. After Bocchi, it'll be Seika. After that, there'll be no one left to lose to.'
'Forget it.'
'Since useless Nijika always drags the team down…'
'Then, shouldn't I just carry the team?'
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