The Izakaya—a uniquely Japanese 24-hour drinking establishment. Unlike bars, which are often filled with the chaotic revelry of youth, these places are more like a paradise for the working class.
After a long day of being ground down by bosses, clients, and supervisors, groups of three to five office workers come here to drown their sorrows. It is essentially part of the daily socializing routine for Japan's "corporate livestock."
Of course, to meet the needs of all guests, Izakayas don't just offer bar seating around the kitchen; some also provide private rooms for guests who prefer to drink in peace...
"In short! Miyazawa Yuu! Is there really no name registration under those three characters?"
"Miss, we've already checked many times!"
Holding his hands up in a defensive posture, the high school boy in a bandana—who was just helping mind the shop—was so intimidated by Busujima Sakurako's "gal" aura that he didn't dare move. He looked like he was on the verge of tears.
"Maybe you should verify again. Without a reservation name, we don't allow other guests to barge into someone else's private room!"
"Tch! What a pain!"
"Yes! Please forgive the inconvenience caused to you!!!"
Looking at her older sister, who stood with hands on hips, head tilted as she clicked her tongue and looked at the boy like he was trash, Busujima Kyoko lowered her head in embarrassment. She didn't quite dare acknowledge her sibling; after all, putting pressure on a simple high schooler was just too pathetic!
Of course, deep down, she actually felt a tiny bit of envy toward this "gal" behavior. After all, being able to yell at people seemed pretty cool.
But the priority right now wasn't any of that nonsense; it was to quickly find Yuu-onii-chan and help him protect his chastity!
"Um... Sister, did Yuu ever tell you who he was coming out to drink with? A surname or something?"
"No! That guy is an idiot who could chat for half a day with a stray dog if it looked decent!"
Her hands twitched like claws in a fit of powerless rage. Busujima Sakurako's mood was so foul that her face was covered in dark lines of fury!
If she had known Yuu would be targeted by someone else, she would have drugged him herself to get there first. How could she let the opportunity slip away and let someone else take the lead!
"Is there really no other way? Can't I just provide the location pin the other person sent over?"
"Ah... about that... GPS pins aren't accurate down to a specific spot, and signals can bleed through walls..."
Desperately explaining to the gal that it wasn't his fault, the high school boy now deeply regretted why he was working for free for his mom!
While this kind of "catching a cheater" drama was interesting, the bustling crowd of girls in front of him was truly lethal. He simply couldn't handle them!
"Excuse me!!!"
Clatter! One wave followed another. The door to the Izakaya was slammed open. The young waiter's heart sank; before he could even offer a greeting, someone grabbed his shoulders and spun him 180 degrees!
God only knows what kind of arm strength that girl had. She clearly looked like a middle schooler, so why was she so strong!
"Ha... huff... Momoka! Is there a reservation here under Kawaragi Momoka?"
"Miss, please calm down first. I'll check for you immediately. And your name?"
"Iseri Nina! Seventeen years old. My student ID number is..."
"Wait a sec!"
A karate chop landed on Nina's head. A girl with long black hair in a school uniform frowned, stopping Nina's panicked attempt to dox herself. She then put on a professional smile characteristic of the entertainment industry and stepped forward.
"Sorry, this kid's head doesn't work quite right~"
"Subaru!"
"Quiet! Excuse me, have you seen a woman carrying a guitar come in? We have urgent business with her!"
Making a "be quiet" gesture behind her back, Anwa Subaru knew that Momoka-san had run out to drink with a man until she was wasted. The situation was indeed critical, as it concerned the survival of the band!
But panicking now wouldn't solve anything. Watch as she used the smile she learned at acting school to sweep the field...
"Yes! However, we don't have a reservation under a Miss Momoka, so I can't tell you the specific room number. Please understand!"
"Sigh... We're in a band. Does a band photo work?"
"No! And speaking of bands..."
He pointed toward the "Molten Jet" band nearby, who all had complicated expressions. The young waiter apologized helplessly, "These ladies are also a band. You guys should have something in common..."
"..."
They looked at each other in silence. Both groups of band members, sharing the same goal, keenly captured the other's awkwardness. Thus, they tacitly chose to skip the mutual questioning phase and get straight to the point!
"Um, Miss Subaru? I think we're looking for the same private room."
Extending a hand toward the peer in front of her, Miyazawa Rin offered an unreliable comfort with an expressionless face: "Miyazawa Rin. The one who is missing is my incredibly, incredibly simple-minded older brother. So please, don't worry too much!"
"Ahaha... Hello, Miss Rin. We are Toge Toge. The one missing is our leader and..."
"The bassist and the keyboardist!"
Momoka-san had suddenly received an invitation from a friend and ran out to drink, and she was staying out all night with a man. How could Iseri Nina stay calm!
You have to know, when Subaru said she wanted to leave the band, Momoka-san told her that once band people get boyfriends, it's very easy for them to quit!
This is undoubtedly a major crisis! If Momoka-san quits the band...
Dark red threads of gloom began to swirl as the girl's eyes lost focus. She was about to sink into her own world...
"It's okay. Yuu-onii-chan isn't that kind of person!"
Without any prior exchange, and not knowing why she suddenly blurted that out, Busujima Kyoko realized by the time she snapped to it that she was already holding Nina's hand.
Her "hissing" skill interrupted, Iseri Nina looked down slightly at their joined hands. The shame of being touched by a stranger quickly surged into her heart!
"Eek—! Ye-yes, I understand..."
"Uh, Nina! That's very impolite!"
Turning to look at Nina, who had instantly hidden behind her and was repeatedly bumping into her backside, Anwa Subaru's friendly smile cracked slightly. After all, when the two of them first met, Nina was incredibly fierce!
How did she wither just from a strange girl touching her hand? And stop bumping her butt!
"Ahaha, sorry, this kid is a bit shy~"
"No, it's... it's fine."
Shaking the hand that had been instantly let go, Busujima Kyoko looked at the girl hiding away. She felt that although the other's vibe wasn't particularly pleasant, she felt a strange sense of affinity...
"Um, since you two are also looking for people, could the other two missing persons be the ones who booked the room?"
"That makes sense!"
...
"No! It might have been booked by someone else. There's no point in trying like this!"
Five minutes later, after checking every possible name, both bands were nursing headaches and gave up completely. Iseri Nina even considered barging in, but was firmly held back by Anwa Subaru!
"Exactly. Unless someone else shows up to find them, otherwise..."
"Boss!!! Ha..."
Gasping for breath, just as Miyazawa Rin was about to use some "special methods" to scout, a girl with a distinct "Dorito" ahoge on her head rushed in frantically and collapsed onto the counter, panting heavily.
Collective silence! Both bands looked at her equally travel-worn state and immediately made space for her, casting the pitying gaze one reserved for their own kind.
"Boss! Excuse me... did Ijichi Seika book a room here?"
"Ah... doesn't look like it..."
The young waiter was getting a bit tired now. After all, catching someone in the act was fresh the first time, but three times in a row was a bit ridiculous! And it was always these bright, beautiful young girls!
No, once this was settled, he had to see what kind of god-tier man dared to run a harem like this!
"Eh? You're joking? Sister..."
"Don't worry, Nijika. The Manager can definitely protect herself!"
"But..."
"Hello, ma'am!"
Representing everyone and stepping forward with their collective hope, Busujima Sakurako raised her hand and politely greeted the long-haired woman who was filled with a mysterious aura—someone whose vibe didn't match hers in any way.
"Band?"
"Band!"
"I knew it..."
Covering her increasingly aching head, in Sakurako's memory, Yuu hadn't really been one to "flirt with flowers" back in Izu.
What? Did he just let himself go after returning home?
"Actually, we're also looking for someone. Do either of you know a purple-themed drunkard? That's our only clue."
"A purple-themed drunkard..."
Moving her overlong sleeves to her mouth, the black-haired PA-san scanned the bustling group of girls with half-lidded eyes. Suddenly, a spark of realization hit her, and she quickly found the person who fit the description!
"Young man, please help us check the name 'Kikuri'!"
"No need!"
Actually, he had known which room it was for a while, but due to customer privacy, he couldn't reveal it. Hearing the familiar name, the young waiter immediately cleared the way with the speed of someone trying to get rid of a plague.
"Right after you enter, it's the Sake Room."
"Arigato!" x9
Without the slightest hesitation, the three groups of people—who were already frantic and worried about their people being "taken"—swarmed in, completely filling the narrow corridor.
The Sake Room wasn't far down the hallway. In the end, Miyazawa Rin, relying on her transcendent physical prowess, wall-jumped to gain momentum around the corner and landed in front of the door in a perfect crouch.
Slide!
Pulling the sliding door open with force, a burst of alcoholic vapor that no normal human could endure surged out. While it forced the girls back, the scene inside the room was finally revealed to them.
Holding a guitar and leaning against the wall, Kawaragi Momoka had tears in the corners of her eyes and a flushed face, but her slightly twitching eyelids proved she was still awake and hadn't completely passed out!
Across from her, Ijichi Seika's head was bowed, two lines of booze dripping from the corners of her mouth—a picture of someone completely burned out.
Furthermore, to vent the heat, she had rolled her shirt up high and tied it in a knot just below her chest. Her flat, muscle-less belly reflected the white light coming from the doorway in the darkness!
Besides them, Rupa and Ebizuka Tomo were both "out of action." The latter was being held in Rupa's arms like a child; the alcoholic fumes had gone to her head, causing her to suck on her finger continuously.
As for the strongest! And most conspicuous of them all—it was, of course, the champion fighter from the PaB Club, Miyazawa Yuu!
At this moment, he was sitting stark naked in the seat of honor, nursing a drink alone. His knotted muscles made him look like an imperial samurai stepped off a period-drama set. Every movement carried an inexplicable sense of pressure!
Gulp!
The sound of strong liquor being swallowed echoed. The girls felt another wave of alcoholic vapor wash over them; it wasn't just intoxicating, it was stinging their eyes!
"Muda! Muda! Hinjyaku!" (Useless! Useless! Weak!)