Kita stood beside Hayato, leaning against the wall, her loafer-clad foot lightly tapping the floor.
She was relieved that she had stopped herself from saying what she had impulsively almost said, but she also inexplicably felt the atmosphere was a bit awkward.
Fortunately, the awkwardness didn't last long. Amidst the MC's voice from the Band's lead singer on stage, Seika walked over from the front desk.
She stopped in front of the two, her gaze lazy, her voice crisp and clear.
"The show has started. Kita-chan, go rest at the bar. Pervert, you come with me."
Kita listened to the manager's words, at first feeling that the manager was very gentle, but by the latter half, when she heard that impolite voice, she was instantly stunned.
S-she actually called him Pervert?!
She suddenly heard a gasp and turned to the side.
Hayato had his eyes closed, as if he had heard some divine wisdom, and took a long, enjoyable breath.
After a soft exhale, he smiled and said,
"Manager, you're so kind."
Seika's face immediately fell. She sighed, annoyed, with her head down, then looked at Kita.
Kita understood her meaning but also looked at the two with concern, then headed to the bar, turning back every few steps.
Walking into the bar, she saw Nijika with her back to her, comforting Bocchi, who was sprawled on the counter.
"Bocchi-chan, relax a little. You've already done very well."
Kita's emotions were complicated for a moment, then she smiled and walked over... The lights dimmed, and seeing the guests crowding into the venue, with no one paying attention to this side, Bocchi slumped weakly onto the bar.
She was very aware of the situation.
She knew she hadn't helped Nijika much today; instead, she had been holding Nijika back.
She had been procrastinating from the start. Even though Nijika had put so much effort into teaching her, she couldn't even look customers in the eye or hand out drinks.
She was flustered and chaotic.
She curled up on the bar, holding her head.
Yesterday, she had so confidently told Hayato she could do it, and today she was like this... She didn't notice Hayato, who had followed Seika over, and was engrossed in her own despondency.
Hayato glanced at her, then his gaze moved to Nijika, and he left with a sense of relief...
On the way from school, Bocchi had already felt that things were not as simple as she had thought. From that moment, she sensed something was off.
While hiding behind Kita, a thought had crossed her mind.
But she hadn't paid attention to it then because of her nervousness, and now, Bocchi picked up that brief thought.
She remembered that during their date, Hayato had said he didn't want her to give up trying because of excessive reliance on him. But now, she was still relying on Kita, relying on Nijika.
This isn't right, is it?
And her goal was to become a popular person...
Nijika looked at Bocchi, who was sprawled on the bar as if paralyzed.
She didn't think Bocchi's first part-time job was bad at all; instead, she felt Bocchi had really tried her best.
Although Bocchi seemed very scared when facing customers and their gazes, after avoiding their eyes, she diligently did what she could.
The preparation of drinks, the selection of cups – everything was done exactly as she had taught, without a single mistake.
Bocchi had done it with all her heart.
However, it seemed that other people's gazes still put a lot of pressure on her; in just this short time, she had become so incapacitated.
She nudged the prone Bocchi.
"Bocchi-chan, Bocchi-chan, relax a little. You've already done very well."
"Ah... mm..."
Bocchi gradually recovered from her half-dead state, slowly looking up at Nijika, who was speaking to her.
However, her face held a hint of disapproval, and she hung her head, not accepting Nijika's praise.
Nijika smiled helplessly at this.
She changed the subject, trying to help Bocchi out of her slump.
"We'll be quite free once the show starts. Let's watch someone else's performance. This Band is quite good."
As soon as she finished speaking, she saw Bocchi already looking at the stage as if to escape, her face filled with envy.
Seeing Bocchi like this, Nijika, feeling a little relieved, also turned to look at the stage.
Just then, Kita's cheerful voice suddenly rang out beside them.
"Ijiichi-senpai, thank you for your hard work."
Nijika smiled and turned, seeing Kita, who was still shining brightly even in the semi-dark space.
"Kita-chan, thank you for your hard work. Oh, and Hayato-kun?"
As she spoke, she noticed that only Kita had walked in. She was slightly puzzled; hadn't she just seen Hayato-kun follow her older sister over as well?
Kita, as if she hadn't dared to stop the two from walking together, said apologetically,
"The manager took Hayato-kun with her... I don't know where they went to do what."
Nijika's spirit suddenly jolted, and she said in shock,
"Those two?!"
Just then, while she and Kita were talking and not paying attention, a customer walked over and spoke to Bocchi, who was the only one facing outwards.
"Excuse me, one orange juice."
Hearing the voice from outside, Nijika immediately realized something was wrong. Bocchi had just recovered from her half-dead state, and if another customer spoke to her now... she couldn't even imagine the scene. She immediately interjected,
"Just a moment..."
Her words were cut short by a clear voice before she could finish.
"Okay."
Nijika's eyes widened in surprise. She turned her head.
Her gaze swept past the brightly lit stage, through the dim interior, and didn't linger on the customer's calm face, but landed directly on Bocchi's resolute expression.
Her face was illuminated by the bar lights, and the shape of the lights was reflected in her bright, azure eyes.
Nijika watched as Bocchi nodded confidently in response, then quickly turned to the back. With movements she had repeated many times, she deftly prepared the drink for the customer.
After finishing, Bocchi paused, her back seeming to grow a little firmer.
She turned around and returned to the bar, making an effort to lift her head, meet the customer's gaze, and force a smile.
"Please... enjoy..."
Although it was a hesitant smile, and her hands, holding the drink, were even trembling from the effort, the customer didn't mind at all. Instead, he gently chuckled with his hand over his mouth and took the drink.
Watching the customer leave, Nijika suddenly realized she had been holding her breath without knowing when.
After taking a light breath, she quickly congratulated Bocchi on her progress.
"That's great! Bocchi-chan, you've improved!"
Bocchi, too, sighed with tear-filled eyes, as if she had accomplished the most amazing thing in her life.
"I tried my best..."
Kita stared blankly at Bocchi, who had suddenly become brave and proactive. Earlier, while guiding customers at the side of the venue, she had occasionally paid attention to the situation at the bar.
She had witnessed Bocchi's reactions tonight.
At first, she had worried whether Bocchi's timid personality could adapt to the job, but seeing Bocchi diligently looking for things she could do, she also felt a sense of relief.
However, seeing Bocchi's desperate efforts just now, as if something extremely reliable was supporting her, she felt... a little... envious.
"Gotou-san, congratulations."
Kita felt her words were a bit weak.
"Thank you."
Bocchi had no spare energy to notice her surroundings, and she replied weakly, like a champion who had won a difficult victory.
"Good job. What happened?"
Just then, Ryo walked over from the front desk, looked at the awards-ceremony-like atmosphere, and tilted her head in confusion.
Nijika still had a relaxed smile on her face. Hearing Ryo's voice, she looked at Ryo and responded, then asked in surprise,
"Good job. Eh, what about the ticket checking?"
Ryo replied,
"The manager and Hayato went to do it. She said today's Bands are very popular, and told me to come and learn."
Nijika immediately realized her sister's painstaking efforts, and her selfless dedication to prevent the girls and a dangerous person from being cooped up in a small space.
She sighed, extended her index finger, and tapped her fingers as if counting.
"My sister is just... so, so, so, so, so tsundere."
Finally, when she said 'dere,' she put on a shy and cute expression.
"Too much 'tsun'."
Ryo retorted.
Nijika finished speaking with a smile. She had noticed Kita, who seemed to have shown a momentary dip in spirits.
But now, what she saw was Kita covering her mouth, her eyes sparkling, and her face beaming with happiness.
She always felt that the other person seemed to be thinking something like, 'I'm so close to Senpai.'
She sighed silently in her heart.
Nijika then turned to look at Ryo and Bocchi. Bocchi wore a foolishly proud smile, while Ryo looked at Bocchi, then turned her gaze to the stage.
Although today was a bit tiring, seeing the Band members happy, she also felt satisfied. Oh, and even though Hayato-kun wasn't here, he was always happy, so it must be fine.
On the other side.
Hayato looked at the manager, who had pulled up a chair and sat beside him, and asked her,
"Manager, you haven't fallen for me, have you?"
Seika froze, then showed an extremely repulsed expression.
"Absolutely not."
Hayato fell into thought, then looked at the small space, and then he fearfully clutched his chest, saying nervously.
"I don't like being forced…"
Seika couldn't hold back. A vein throbbed on her forehead, and she roared.
"Shut up!"