"How many tickets did you sell?" Ayanokoji asked.
"All the tickets were sent out, but I'm not sure how many people will come…" Yumemi sighed softly, feeling a bit frustrated.
Although she had anticipated that there might not be many people, it shouldn't be that a third of the people didn't come, right?
"Yumemi, don't be discouraged, this is just the first time,"
"This isn't my first time, my first time was long gone…"
Yumemi replied casually with a low mood, then noticed the gazes of the other three on her, realized the ambiguity in her words, and quickly explained.
"I'm talking about my first stage! I debuted many years ago and have experienced various stages, big and small. It's okay, so what if no one comes? This stage is much bigger than my debut stage!"
Although she said that, Yumemi's expression still couldn't hide her disappointment.
The promotion was clearly in place, so why didn't many people come? Was she really that unpopular…
"...I'll go back and prepare some more."
Thinking of this, Yumemi no longer had the heart to think about Miharu Taki Sakura's grievances. She focused all her attention on this concert, her voice a bit muffled, and turned around to walk back in the direction she came from.
Miharu Taki Sakura did not leave with her. Watching her retreating back, she also felt a bit unpleasant.
She seemed to see her own shadow in her.
Even though she tried hard, it didn't necessarily lead to good results. Even though she completed everything she was supposed to do, reality was not as she wished.
"...Senpai, how did you get mixed up with her?"
After Yumemi left, Ayanokouji Kiyohira asked about this matter.
He was a little curious. Yumemi usually tried to avoid Miharu Taki, so why was she suddenly walking with her today?
Miharu Taki looked at Ayanokoji, her eyes gentle, and said, "Because of the concert promotion, I promoted for Yumemi. This is my duty, and she insisted that she owed me a favor.
Yesterday, when I went to the Student Council to report on my work, I happened to meet her. She invited me to come to the concert together. Originally, I didn't want to come, but thinking about recent events, I still came…"
Miharu Taki Sakura would never tell these things to people she wasn't familiar with, not even to Yagyu Ine, who helped her in the Beautification Committee.
Her willingness to tell Ayanokoji these things already proved that she trusted Ayanokoji very much.
Miharu Taki Sakura didn't explicitly say what happened to her, but Ayanokouji Kiyohira knew it well.
"I also chatted with her backstage. For this performance, she spent all her time in the dance studio and never came out. She just wanted to present a better stage effect. But… sigh."
Miharu Taki Sakura didn't continue.
Performing singing and dancing at this school was not a good choice, and she had already vaguely felt that Yumemi's concert might fail this time.
Looking at his phone, he found that the ticket check time was almost here. Ayanokouji Kiyohira looked up and invited Miharu Taki Sakura: "Senpai, since you're also watching the performance, why don't you come with us? Besides Hanatemari and me, the other girls from our Cooking Room are also here."
Miharu Taki was a little tempted, but still hesitated: "...Is it really appropriate for me to go?"
After all, in Meari's eyes, she was an out-and-out "enemy." Would Meari really be willing to watch the performance with her?
"Don't worry about that, Senpai. Meari is very gentle, she will definitely agree." It was Hanatemari Tsuzura who answered instead of Ayanokoji.
She had spent too much time with Meari and fully understood Meari's nature. She had the most say in such matters.
"In that case, alright…" Miharu Taki Sakura nodded.
When they returned to the hall, Meari and the others had already finished eating and drinking. Seeing the two return, Ririka, who was nearby, watched Hanatemari Tsuzura with unease, specifically checking if there were any wrinkles on her clothes or any signs of having been "hugged."
After the inspection, Ririka breathed a sigh of relief, feeling reassured. It seemed that the two of them weren't so bold as to do such things in a public place…
Without even raising her head, Meari began to complain: "Why are you two so slow? Going to the restroom shouldn't take this long, the ticket check time is almost here…"
Meari stopped mid-sentence, raised her head, and suddenly saw Miharu Taki Sakura following behind Ayanokoji. She immediately stood up alertly and frowned, saying, "Miharu Taki Sakura, why are you here!?"
No wonder Ayanokouji Kiyohira came back so slowly; it turned out he met her!
"I'm here to watch the concert. Why can't I be here?" Miharu Taki Sakura replied calmly.
"There's no need to come to our side to watch the concert, is there? We are 'enemies,' after all. Do you want to watch the concert, or are you here to find trouble with us?"
Miharu Taki didn't say anything more, but looked at Ayanokoji, gazing at him calmly with an "I told you so" look.
According to the faction division, Miharu Taki Sakura now belonged to Ayanokoji's faction, but Meari and the others didn't know yet, and it wasn't convenient to let them know for now.
Ayanokoji cleared his throat. He had originally wanted to speak up for Miharu Taki, but before he could, Hanatemari smoothed things over for him.
"Meari, Senpai came alone, and it's good for her to join us. We are enemies, but only at the gambling table. We can be friends off the gambling table…"
Seeing that Meari was still a bit unwilling, Hanatemari went to Meari's side, pulled her, and whispered, "Miharu Taki Senior is not a bad person. Since she has already been abandoned by Mibuomi Aoi, there's no need for us to show hostility towards her anymore.
Besides, Miharu Taki is Ayanokoji's friend. If you keep being aggressive, Ayanokoji will also be embarrassed...
As expected of the person who understood Meari best, her last sentence struck Meari's heart.
Indeed, the other party was brought by Ayanokoji, and Ayanokoji hadn't shown any hostility. If she continued to cause trouble for her, she would be the "bad guy."
Since Hanatemari had said so... Although she was unhappy, Meari couldn't find a reason to refute. She turned her face away, crossed her arms, and snorted, "In that case, let's temporarily cease hostilities. I won't consider you an enemy for now..."
Miharu Taki Sakura also understood that this was a huge compromise for Meari, meaning she would temporarily not target her.
She smiled slightly, then sincerely thanked Hanatemari Tsuzura.
She knew it was Hanatemari who had persuaded Meari.
"You're welcome..." Hanatemari smiled shyly.
After learning that Miharu Taki Sakura's "Councilor" status had been revoked by Mibuomi Aoi, Hanatemari felt some sympathy for her.
Of course, sympathy was secondary; she mainly spoke up for Ayanokoji's sake.
In Hanatemari's understanding, Ayanokoji and Miharu Taki were just ordinary friends, so helping was fine—
If she had known that Miharu Taki Sakura and Ayanokouji Kiyohira had reached a stage beyond friends but not yet lovers, she would not have given Miharu Taki a good look.
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