"It... it's late! I'm leaving!!!"
After the explanation, Nijika couldn't wait to escape. Every time the words "Lick them clean" entered her head, her toes curled in embarrassment.
"It is late. I'll walk you back... Ryo, why are you looking at me like that?"
"Nothing."
"Hee-hee... she's probably worried you'll eat Nijika on the way. Bye-bye! Remember to thank Kaede for me. See you tomorrow~"
After saying goodbye, Rin and Nijika walked out. The moment the door closed, Nijika let out a long breath of relief. Rin chatted with her as they walked toward the station.
"So? Did the stress go away? I don't see any more gray hairs."
"IT'S WORSE!!!!" Nijika's face turned beet red. Her cowlick drooped in shame. She could still feel the phantom sensation of Ryo's tongue on her soles.
"You were so intense... during the kiss, I thought you were going to suck my tongue out. You're surprisingly assertive when things get sexual. 'Lick them clean' was a pro move."
"Guh-woo!!! Stop... stop talking about it!!!" Nijika buried her burning face in her hands.
Rin changed the subject. "How are the preparations for the music festival going?"
"Um... we've practiced the songs well, but Bocchi..." Nijika sighed. "She's still the same. How is she going to handle the audition?"
They had passed the initial song screening, but they needed to pass a live audition and take first place to perform on the main stage. After the island trip, Bocchi's social anxiety had improved, but she was still only "brave" around people she knew. In front of strangers, she still "melted."
"Before the audition, she actually signed us up for the school festival performance too," Nijika said, looking worried. Aside from Ryo, Bocchi was her biggest source of stress.
"She signed up?"
"Hehe... when her school was collecting applications, she wrote one out but was going to throw it away out of fear. Kita-chan found it and thought Bocchi dropped it by accident, so she turned it in for the class."
"Hmm..." Rin mused. "To get her used to the stage... why don't you host a live show? A pre-show to get her acclimated?"
"I thought of that," Nijika said awkwardly. "But we can't sell any tickets."
"Don't worry about that..." Rin stopped, a mischievous grin playing on his lips. "I have a great idea. Want to try it?"
"A great idea...? It's something perverted, isn't it?"
"Ahem... it's for Bocchi's sake. So, want to try?"
"Well... okay then. What do you have in mind?" Nijika was hesitant. Rin would definitely use some "sexual" motivation to help Bocchi, but what if they got caught on stage?
Rin saw her concern. "I've seen bands do street performances to sell tickets. You guys go out this weekend and try to sell some. Leave the rest to me."
"But... will anyone buy them? If there's no audience, Bocchi might get discouraged. And the venue..."
If they sold tickets under the name "Guitar Hero," they'd sell out instantly. But as "Kessoku Band," a literal no-name indie group, it was nearly impossible.
"Relax." Rin patted her head. "I'll handle everything. By the way, keep this a secret from your sister, Seika."
After seeing Nijika home, Rin returned to his own place. He spent the walk fleshing out the "Bocchi Stage Adaptation Plan." Back in his room, he messaged Kaguya.
Rin: [Are you free these next two days?]
He waited, but Kaguya didn't reply. He sent the same message to Karen, who replied almost instantly.
Karen: [What's up? Is it about the studio?]
Rin: [No.]
Rin explained the situation. He needed Kaguya or Karen to help him rent out the "Starry" live house for a day. Seika's venue offered rentals to bands, but he didn't want Seika to know he was the one behind it.
Rin: [It's best if Shion and Sakurako don't go. Find someone else to do the rental.]
Karen: [No problem, leave it to me!]
Rin had asked Kaguya first because neither Seika nor Nijika had met her. Since Kaguya was MIA, Karen would have her staff handle it.
With the venue sorted, he needed an audience. He scrolled through his contacts. He needed people Bocchi didn't know. Kaguya was perfect. Hayasaka too, maybe disguised as her "male" persona, Hasaka.
Chika...? She had been to Kaguya's party. Should he invite her? And her sister Moeha—she had been dying to join a party. But he could only invite one of the sisters.
Then there were Hinata and Saya. They were studying for exams, but a night off wouldn't hurt.
Utaha, Eriri, and Megumi were out—they were at the island party. But Al-Me was a definite yes.
Maybe Sajuwa? He hadn't talked to her much lately, though he spoke to her sister Shinju almost daily. Shinju was a no-go, but maybe the elder sister...
As he was finalizing the list, Kaguya finally replied.
Kaguya: [What is it?]
Rin: [Nothing, I already asked someone else.]
On the other end of the phone, Kaguya felt her heart shatter. Hayasaka mocked her friend without mercy.
"Waaa... Ai-chan, he said he asked someone else."
"Hmph... serve you right. I told you to be more proactive. You spent so long debating what to say that he moved on."
Kaguya felt like she had just been "NTR-ed" by her own hesitation!