The last performance also came to an end.
The store entered its closing preparations once the fans who had stayed behind to chat with the Band members had left.
Cleaning the venue, inventorying supplies.
The girls moved quickly.
Not to mention Nijika and Ryo, who regularly helped out here.
Kita was already efficient, and Bocchi-chan, thinking she could finally go home, burst with high motivation, working hard with a worrying smile, aided by Hayato's help.
The store was almost spotless in no time.
While they started cleaning, Seika went to the dressing room to settle accounts with the Band that performed tonight.
But when she came out with the Band members and saw the five of them casually chatting by the bar and the sparkling clean hall, she was dumbfounded… Bocchi-chan watched the departing Band members in a daze.
Among them were cheerful and sunny people like Hayato, Nijika, and Kita, who pulled their teammates and spoke loudly, but there were also quiet and reserved people like Ryo.
She just didn't know if there was anyone like her.
Could someone like her stay here?
She looked to her side; Hayato was arguing with Ryo to her right.
Hayato: "Aren't we accomplices? Why abandon me!"
Ryo: "That's the manager's arrangement."
Hayato: "Shouldn't you also hang a sign that says…"
Ryo interrupted him.
"No, that's your job."
Bocchi-chan looked over again, her gaze inadvertently meeting Nijika's. Nijika smiled, then turned back to chat with Kita.
But in less than two seconds, she looked over again.
As if her red eyes had noticed something.
Then she finished her conversation with Kita, stepped out of the group, and turned around with a satisfied smile, saying to the four of them.
"That concludes today's part-time work. Everyone did very well, thank you for your hard work."
The four responded one after another.
Afterward, the three began to pack their things. Once finished, they were about to leave together when Kita noticed Ryo still standing there without her belongings.
"Ryo-senpai, aren't you going home?"
Ryo replied.
"Hmm, I'll stay a bit longer."
"I see."
Kita responded with less enthusiasm.
Nijika noticed her expression, not quite understanding what had happened. Her smile faded, but then her gaze was drawn to Hayato, who was gently waving his hand nearby.
Seeing Hayato's reassuring smile, she smiled back, her bright and lovely smile like spring sunshine.
Nijika and Ryo saw the three out to the store's entrance.
Under the dark, somewhat blue night sky, the three emerged from STARRY, bathed in warm yellow light.
As they left, the three happened to meet Seika, who had sent the Band off to their celebration party and returned early.
She walked down the steps and calmly said to the three.
"Be careful on your way home."
Bocchi-chan: "Ah… mm."
Kita: "Thank you for your care."
Hayato: "That wasn't meant for me, was it?"
Hayato's words drew a light chuckle from Seika. Then she walked past the three and continued down.
As the three prepared to move forward again, Nijika looked at the timid Bocchi-chan, who was about to leave, and after some hesitation, called out.
"Bocchi-chan."
Bocchi-chan took a moment to react, then turned around in a fluster, responding.
"Ah, yes."
Nijika smiled, meeting Bocchi-chan's gaze.
She remembered Bocchi-chan's appearance when she first found her at their meeting spot.
At that time, she was like a child walking alone in the world after being betrayed, becoming nervous and scared at the slightest disturbance.
But seeing her now, though still timid, daring to meet others' gazes, Nijika unconsciously smiled.
"See you."
Bocchi-chan responded stiffly.
"Ah, yes…"
She avoided Nijika's gaze, quickly thought for a moment, and gathered a little courage to say.
"See you tomorrow."
With Ryo's wave, she turned around, saw Hayato and Kita looking back at her ahead, paused, and then hurried to catch up.
Under the streetlights, the three walked home together… Circles of blurry streetlight shadows, patches of light spilling from houses.
It was the first time Bocchi-chan, Hayato, and Kita had left STARRY together so late.
They walked along the dimly lit street amidst the myriad of household lights.
Kita tilted her head and looked at Hayato and Bocchi-chan beside her.
They had been walking for almost a minute, but these two hadn't said a word, completely different from their lively conversation at noon.
Was she being a third wheel?
Just as she was thinking of an excuse to leave, Hayato suddenly said to her.
"Oh, Kita, that thing you mentioned earlier…"
That thing?
Kita immediately reacted, glanced at the bewildered Bocchi-chan, and quickly waved her hands repeatedly.
"Idiot! How can you talk about that now!"
"It's not as complicated as Kita thinks."
Hayato's tone was very casual, and at the same time, he inexplicably grabbed Kita's arm.
Kita looked down at Hayato's hand gripping her arm, then looked at Hayato in confusion.
Hayato said with a grin.
"To prevent the runaway lady from running away."
"You're such a terrible person! This is illegal detention!"
Kita immediately complained loudly, but even as she said so, she made no attempt to struggle.
"Good, this is another meal on my path as a Pervert. Illegally detaining a beautiful girl feels pretty good."
Hayato said casually, and amidst Kita's blushing cries of "Hey!", he looked to his side.
He looked at the puzzled Bocchi-chan and explained to her.
"This idiot has been down since this afternoon because a bunch of classmates asked if she was dating me, and she answered yes."
"Wait, how can you tell Gotou-san about this!"
Kita's voice couldn't cover Hayato's words. Seeing Bocchi-chan hear Hayato's words completely.
She regretted letting Hayato handle this matter. This wasn't solving it; it was clearly igniting it.
She wanted to slip away but found her arm firmly held by Hayato.
Feeling betrayed, she waited for Bocchi-chan's judgment.
"Oh…"
But Bocchi-chan only responded very calmly.
Not hearing the various sounds of dissatisfaction she had imagined, Kita turned to look, only to see a hint of sympathy in Bocchi-chan's gaze towards her.
As if a strong resonance had occurred.
Kita:???
After hesitating, she asked Bocchi-chan.
"Gotou-san, aren't you angry?"
Bocchi-chan blinked in confusion.
"Um, I… don't understand."
And upon hearing Kita's words, Hayato, who had long guessed the situation, said to Bocchi-chan.
"It seems Kita misunderstood and thought we were a couple."
Suddenly, Bocchi-chan stopped. Her facial features instantly became distorted.
Her mouth jumped to the left side of her cheek, trembling as she said.
"C-c-couple?"
Her appearance startled Kita, who exclaimed.
"Gotou-san!"
Hayato, however, was very calm in the face of this scene. He let go of Kita's hand, turned around, and said to Bocchi-chan.
"Bocchi-chan, it's time for a correction."
"Ah… ah ah."
Bocchi-chan let out a trembling sound.
The next moment, Hayato clapped his hands together, rubbed them, then slapped Bocchi-chan's face with a *slap*, instantly restoring her facial features to their proper place.
But she still looked like she hadn't fully recovered.
Hayato grabbed her wrist, and with his other hand, he naturally took Kita's arm, continuing forward amidst the surprised gazes of others.
As Kita walked, she looked down at her grabbed hand, then at Hayato's face.
"Hayato-kun?"
"I'm addicted to restraint," Hayato replied flatly.
"Let go!"
Kita-chan, her face flushed, struggled lightly but couldn't break free.
Then she saw the surprised looks of passersby directed at them and lowered her head slightly.
Because the problem was resolved too easily, her emotions, which hadn't fully brewed, were quickly dispersed, leaving only a tiny bit at the bottom of her heart.
Hayato looked at the two beautiful girls he was holding with each hand and inexplicably felt that if he were to turn into some strange shop, these two would probably obediently follow him in.
However, Kita would probably react and run away.
Hmm, it's a bit interesting, but she'd become wary later, so he wouldn't tease them like that for now.
After walking for a while, Gotou-san gradually recovered. She looked at her grabbed wrist, and a different feeling suddenly arose in her heart.
Unaccustomed to this emotion, she gently moved her hand, and Hayato let go.
Immediately, a feeling of loss welled up in her heart.
She remembered Kita's misunderstanding just now, turned her head, looked past Hayato's shoulder, and saw that dazzling, shoulder-length red hair.
She didn't consider the timing of speaking or anything like that and directly explained to Kita.
"Um... Kita-chan, Hayato and I are not... not a couple."
Kita was greatly shocked by Gotou-san's words.
The distance between the two of you, the tone of your voices, and the way you hid in the corner to eat lunch together at noon—and you're telling me you're not a couple?
"Then... what are you?"
Kita cautiously asked.
Gotou-san glanced at Hayato, thought for a moment, and replied in a low voice.
"A pet-owner relationship..."
Hearing her earth-shattering words, Hayato and Kita both froze in place as if turned to stone.
The air between the three of them was terrifyingly cold.
A very bad image appeared in Kita's imagination, and she immediately felt physically uncomfortable.
In less than half a second, she quickly put on a fake smile, glanced at Hayato's hand on her arm, raised her head, and said in a voice that was one hundred percent sweet.
"Ishikawa-kun, please let go, or I'll call the police."
"Wait! It's a misunderstanding."
Hayato hurriedly explained to Kita.
"I promised Gotou-san that if she ever had difficulties in the future, I would support her for life."
Kita was stunned for a moment; she remembered their conversation when Hayato took Gotou-san's piggy bank.
Was it at that time?
She looked at the two of them. At this moment, she finally noticed the strangeness in their relationship; they indeed didn't seem like a couple, lacking that sticky ambiguity.
It was as if they had bypassed that stage and taken a different path.
And... although Gotou-san didn't seem to notice.
But Kita could feel that there was a hint of affection in her gaze towards Hayato-kun.
It was as if their romance had just begun to sprout, but another kind of relationship had already gone a long way.
Kita took a gentle but deep breath, and after exhaling, she looked at the two with a smile.
"Is that right, Gotou-san?"
"Mm."
Gotou-san nodded lightly.
Seeing Gotou-san's reaction, Kita understood in her heart.
Sure enough, she was so nervous when Hayato-kun wasn't around before, but now that he was by her side, she felt much more at ease.
She felt that seeing them like this, it would be too mean to compete with Gotou-san.
Hayato looked at Kita, who seemed much more resolute, and understood something.
He asked.
"Kita, do you still need my help?"
Kita, as if relieved, stepped forward lightly, and after two steps, turned around.
Facing the two of them, as if shedding all burdens, she resumed her usual natural smile.
"No, it's fine. I already know what to do."
Her fluffy, shoulder-length red hair swayed slightly in the night, the various neon lights merged into one in her cheerful expression, and her short skirt fluttered with her energetic kicks.
She faced the two, her eyes curved in a happy smile.
This was Kita.
A clumsy yet pure and direct girl.
Hayato paused, as if he knew what she would do next.
He seemed to ignore the girl's cuteness and leisurely offered her advice.
"There's no need to rush. I believe Kita will handle it well. However, strong initiative is both Kita's strength and weakness, so you should be careful."
After Hayato said that, Kita felt the atmosphere she had created was ruined. She pouted her head back, complaining softly.
"Honestly, Hayato-kun really doesn't understand girls."
As she said this, her greenish-yellow eyes seemed to sparkle like stars.
They were stars closer and brighter than the distant ones in the night sky.