"Our... Kessoku Band's live performance is about to happen..."
Gotō Hitori's cheeks were flushed crimson, and her fingers fidgeted with the hem of her slightly unfashionable pink tracksuit, her voice sounding as if it would break into several pieces and fall to the ground: "If you don't mind, then... please accept it!"
Saying that, she handed him a Starry ticket with an intensity as if she were about to punch Asakura to death.
"I understand."
Asakura very naturally took the live ticket the girl handed him, carefully put it away, and nodded: "I'll definitely be there then."
And so, Gotō Hitori's previously uneasy expression suddenly brightened.
Such an easy child to please. Asakura thought to himself.
In any case, after Gotō Hitori finally got her wish and gave Asakura the live ticket, Asakura took the girl and dragged out Ijichi Nijika and Yamada Ryo, who were hiding behind a nearby tree, secretly watching—Ijichi Nijika looked a bit embarrassed, while Yamada Ryo seemed indifferent, even clutching a handful of wild vegetables she'd picked from who-knows-where...
"Sorry to keep you waiting."
After bringing the three members of Kessoku Band to the parking lot at the side gate, Asakura quickly found their target: the old Ford car stood out too much among the normal modern cars, like a chihuahua mixed in with a pack of wolves...
Kawaragi Momoka was leaning against the car door, scrolling on her phone.
"Actually, I didn't wait that long."
She honestly put her phone back in her pocket and said.
"I always thought you had already returned to the shopping district."
Asakura asked, "After all, the rabbit dango were delivered this morning."
"In fact, I did go back once, but then your boss's class president specifically called the shop again and said that the rabbit dango reserves were running out quickly, and hoped for another batch, so I brought over the shop's entire stock."
Kawaragi Momoka spread her hands: "Thanks to them, the shop is now empty."
"Anyway, we haven't officially started business yet. Since the rabbit dango have already sold out early, you can just get off work directly later..." Asakura said, "Don't complain."
"The boss is quite on the ball."
Kawaragi Momoka showed a slightly flirtatious smile, seemingly quite satisfied with being able to get off work early.
"Before that, help me take them home too."
Asakura gestured with his chin towards the people behind him.
"Wait a minute, no need to send us home separately. Just take us directly to Starry, the address is in Shimokitazawa..."
Ijichi Nijika hastily said.
"If it's that Livehouse, I know it."
Kawaragi Momoka interrupted Ijichi Nijika: "I used to perform there."
"Are you also a band member?"
Ijichi Nijika asked, looking at her with interest.
"Until recently, yes."
Kawaragi Momoka had no intention of hiding it.
"...Being kept by a pretty boy, is this the final fate of a girl band member?"
Yamada Ryo murmured, "That feels very rock and roll too."
"Can I give her a hand chop to the head?"
Kawaragi Momoka's forehead pulsed with a vein, and she looked at Asakura, asking.
"Violence is prohibited!"
Yamada Ryo hastily struck a pose for empty-handed defense, but her hands were weak, her steps loose, and her reactions sluggish. None of her movements were proper; clearly, she didn't understand the essence of empty-handed defense at all.
"Let her off. She'll be taught a lesson by Ijichi-chan's muscle-bound assault later anyway."
Asakura shook his head.
For some reason, he always had a feeling that Yamada Ryo had already recognized Kawaragi Momoka, but was just trying to gloss over the topic in her own way (referring to entering her lazy mode).
"I wouldn't do something like that!"
Ijichi Nijika, who hadn't noticed the deeper meaning in Yamada Ryo's words, immediately protested to Asakura.
"Just kidding."
"Honestly, Asakura always says things that make no sense."
"Actually, it's a no-breathing combo."
"Are you joking about the type of martial art?!"
Ijichi Nijika's head was filled with black lines.
"Nijika's Marcelo Garcia guillotine is super strong."
Yamada Ryo gave Asakura a thumbs up: "Impossible to escape even with all your strength."
"I wouldn't use such a scary-sounding move!"
Ijichi Nijika loudly retorted, "Stop saying things like that! Bocchi-chan is trembling with fear!"
Asakura followed her gaze and saw that Gotō Hitori was indeed pale with fear, her small face expressing, 'I must never disobey Nijika-chan's orders again.'
Kawaragi Momoka watched their interaction, and the cool expression on her face seemed to soften.
"How nice. Once upon a time, I also had such wonderful experiences~"
"Please don't stand next to me and impersonate my inner thoughts with a forced voice, okay?"
Kawaragi Momoka looked at Asakura with disdain and said.
"How does the old car feel to drive? Have you encountered any problems?"
Asakura asked about other things, unconcerned.
"I don't know if it's because I haven't driven in a long time, or if this car is genuinely very old… In any case, the steering feel is indeed a bit strange—" Kawaragi Momoka nodded. "But none of them are major issues. The most serious is just that the steering wheel is heavy, and sometimes it takes a bit of effort to turn."
That being said, every time the steering wheel became heavy, Kawaragi Momoka felt as if someone else wanted to go in a different direction, thus somewhat wrestling the steering wheel from her.
However, this feeling wasn't very strong, and the steering wheel's resistance wasn't truly as great as if someone else were on it, so she didn't mention it.
But Asakura keenly noticed the subtext in her words, so he took advantage of the others not paying attention and kicked the old car's tire hard.
The entire old car seemed to shiver, emitting creaking sounds.
Presumably, for a considerable period of time, this old car would perform better than before.
After briefly explaining some closing procedures to Kawaragi Momoka, Asakura bid farewell to the three members of Kessoku Band.
Nijika also bid him a generous farewell. Yamada Ryo and Asakura stared at each other for a long time, and finally, nothing was said, but Asakura, who was already somewhat accustomed to her eccentric behavior, didn't mind.
It was Gotō Hitori who stammered a goodbye to Asakura, taking quite some time, and Asakura patiently waited for her to finish.
Kawaragi Momoka had already taken the driver's seat, and Ijichi Nijika and Yamada Ryo had successively gotten into the car. Just as Gotō Hitori was about to enter, Asakura suddenly said, "Hitori."
The girl turned her head, looking at him confused.
And Asakura, with a gentle expression on his face, softly said, "Thank you for the Live ticket."
Gotō Hitori, upon hearing this, said nothing but happily climbed into the car. Presumably, she was already having a party and celebrating with her lively imaginary friends in her mind.
Asakura stood in the parking lot, watching the old car disappear at the end of the slope, before turning to walk towards the club building.