"What's wrong? Haruno-neesan looking at me like that, are you disappointed it's only me staying behind?", Noticing Yukinoshita Haruno's unconcealed gaze, Hachiman also looked her way and smiled.
Compared to Yukinoshita Yukino, Yukinoshita Haruno understood people better. But from the way she tried to protect her younger sister while at the same time making it hard for her to get close, she was, in truth, also a problem girl. Just better at hiding it.
Mm… maybe the entire Yukinoshita family was just that awkward in nature.
"I'm just a little curious. Shizuka-chan said you've been making trouble at school to the point of giving her headaches. I thought the student council president and Miss Rurikawa's group would also be staying," Yukinoshita Haruno shook her head slightly, smiling meaningfully with a sunny expression.
Since Hachiman had close ties with the elf princess and her group, moving deftly between mermaids, dragons, and elves, he certainly could understand the purpose of her showing up here.
But she also didn't bother hiding anything. Just because the elf princess and her companions were attending Sobu High didn't mean they were really just students. Demi-humans from another world who wielded magic could at any moment step outside to do something, and all factions were watching Sobu High for news.
Even if she didn't make her intentions clear, the resurging noble Rurikawa family, the ambitious Ichinose family, and even the mermaids would all say something to Hachiman. The factions already in play definitely didn't want more forces stepping in to compete.
Currently, Sobu High had gathered quite a few high-ranking figures from demi-human races, dragons, elves, mermaids, oni, vampires, and so on.
Under these circumstances, once ordinary demi-humans got wind of the news, they would instead easily transfer into Sobu High, pledging themselves to the demi-human factions there.
But for regular humans, transferring in required multiple levels of scrutiny, to prevent ill-intentioned forces from sabotaging the harmony humans and demi-humans were trying to build.
If the Yukinoshita family hadn't already stepped in early, in the current situation they wouldn't even get the chance to approach the elf princess, to approach Hachiman.
It was just that their belated early entry hadn't really helped, the one at Sobu High was little Yukino, not her.
"Tonight's event actually has nothing to do with them. It's just a chance to let them experience the atmosphere of a live house. That way, in the future, they can host music parties at home."
Hachiman understood Yukinoshita Haruno's meaning, but he had no intention of hiding anything. He smiled and said so directly.
"A music party hosted by mermaid songstresses, huh… Hikigaya-kun, you're really something…", Hearing Hachiman's words, Yukinoshita Haruno immediately thought of the three mermaid idol singers at Sobu High and couldn't help but sigh in admiration.
[AQUA MARINA], the mermaid idol group. To call these mermaid songstresses, who could conquer the hearts of ordinary humans worldwide with nothing but their singing voices, mere idols was actually selling them short.
But they were indeed nationally beloved, super-popular idol singers. Wherever there was music, their voices could be heard.
Though the mermaids were one of the weaker demi-human races, their influence was even greater than the elves, who only occasionally attended political events.
Why those mermaid idols, who caused a stir and chaos whenever they appeared on the streets, would show up at Sobu High was unknown. Yet, like the elf princess, in only a short time they had become close with Hachiman, a supposedly ordinary human male, and now even seemed to have moved into his house along with the mermaid princess.
It was believable that the music parties Hikigaya spoke of were hosted by the mermaid singers and the mermaid princess, perhaps with even the elf princess joining in to sing on stage. Just the thought of such a level of music party was enough to stir envy.
The more Yukinoshita Haruno thought about it, the more powerless she felt, the Yukinoshita family was falling step by step behind.
Right now, even just the elf princess's visible "white gloves" already included the Rurikawa family and the Ichinose family.
The Yukinoshita family wasn't much stronger than the Ichinose family, and they were already falling behind the Rurikawa family, which had devoured many of the Poiman family's industries and channels. They couldn't even find a proper reason or chance to pledge themselves to the elf princess.
If the Yukinoshita family didn't want to get involved and just developed steadily, it wouldn't matter. But if they wanted to go further, then the elf princess, who loved peace, had never stirred up trouble, and instead worked to promote harmony between humans and demi-humans, was their best opportunity.
This was an opportunity that could be called low risk, high return. Miss it, and even decades of development might not catch them up to what the elf princess casually bestowed upon the Ichinose family.
Sigh… not long ago she had been advising Touka to find a stronger partner to marry into, not to be held hostage by the Takamine family through the old favor they had done the Tohsaka family.
Now it was her turn to be no better, blinded by benefits just within sight yet out of reach, unsure what to do. If only she were still the little Yukino at Sobu High, it would be easier to act without so many thoughts of gain.
"Mermaid songstresses? Did I hear that right?", Ijichi Seika hadn't picked up on the hidden meanings in Haruno and Hachiman's brief exchange. Hearing only "mermaid songstresses," she looked at them, puzzled.
There were many singers called divas, but the only ones who could truly be called "mermaid songstresses" were the currently red-hot national idol group [AQUA MARINA]. Or, to be more specific, just their most powerful blue-haired mermaid vocalist, Elio.
"I told you before, didn't I, onee-chan? The mermaid songstresses transferred into our school. It's just that photography isn't allowed, so there are no pictures of them at Sobu High online, only rumors here and there," Seeing the situation, Ijichi Nijika could only step in to explain.
The mermaid singers were so famous, and Sobu High had plenty of fans. If not for the strict discipline at Sobu, each class had discipline committee members, and the fact that the mermaids were in the demi-human class, which was overseen by a short-tempered dragon chieftain who would rather fight than talk, even just attending one or two classes would get the mermaids mobbed by fans who wouldn't let them leave.
"I know that much. But what's Hikigaya's relationship with the mermaid singers?", Ijichi Seika stared Hachiman up and down, finding it unbelievable.
Sure, Hikigaya looked decent. Sometimes when he got close with Nijika, she worried a little that he might steal her away.
But just being handsome, could that compare to the pure, cute, hugely popular mermaid songstresses? The gap between them seemed way too big.
Faced with Ijichi Seika's doubt, Hachiman only smiled silently, offering no explanation.
Her surprise and confusion were natural. Any normal person would think the same. If he hadn't lived through it himself, he wouldn't have believed how much of man-hungry clingers Elio and the others could really be.
Forget Elio and Iris. Even Sobu's current discipline committee members, if they didn't participate in those "custom" activity lessons of theirs, would never understand the unstoppable desires and shocking hobbies hidden beneath their pure, stern, proper exteriors.
"Hachiman's the Service Club president, you know. The mermaid singers and elf princess are all his club members, just like Yukinoshita-san and the others. Nee-san, don't you think his relationship with them would be good?", Seeing her older sister fail to connect the dots she'd already told her, Ijichi Nijika could only explain further with a helpless tone.
"And they're all here tonight too. They're right in front of the stage, wearing masks and hats, watching our show."
Had it not been for knowing the elf princess and possibly the mermaid singers would be watching her band's performance, she wouldn't have gone so far as to beg Hachiman to raise their band's level. Even letting him invisibly hold her on stage, guiding Bocchi and Ryou with his hands on her legs.
If it were just ordinary friends cheering them on, a little embarrassment would be fine—she could just treat them afterward. But with the elf princess and mermaid singers coming to her sister's shop to watch, if she went up and embarrassed herself, making people think her sister's live house was low standard, she'd be in trouble.
"Really? No wonder there was a whole group wearing masks and hats in the audience," Ijichi Seika suddenly understood. That explained why some people in such a dark place still wore masks and hats, as if terrified of being recognized.
So among them were mermaid singers. That made sense.
If they didn't hide their identities, and word spread from even one person in the audience, her little shop would be mobbed by fans of the mermaid idols.
"Hikigaya-kun has ties like that too…", Even PA looked at Hachiman with shock, inwardly stunned.
She was handling sound and lighting. Though the girls in masks and hats were right by her, she hadn't paid attention, just thought they must be pretty and had good presence. She hadn't expected their identities to be so astounding.
Earlier she had even thought Nijika and Hachiman looked like they were flirting and wanted Seika not to block their budding romance, in case Nijika ended up an unmarried leftover like Seika nearing thirty.
But now, clearly there was no need to worry. With so many outstanding girls around him, Hikigaya probably wouldn't even look at Nijika. After all, Nijika had her sister dragging her down.
Though Seika wasn't unattractive, just a bit of simple makeup would make her look very good, she didn't bother with appearances. And her age really was creeping up; nearly thirty already. Drag it out longer, and finding a suitable marriage partner would be hard.
Even if Seika didn't want to drag Nijika down, Nijika wouldn't abandon her. To marry Nijika would be to take responsibility for both sisters. That made marriage difficult.
Fortunately, she herself was single, didn't want to marry, and affected no one. After her night shifts, she could just relax with streaming and gaming. Life was comfortable.
"Speaking of mermaid singers, that reminds me, our band is still missing a vocalist. Marin, would you like to try? Or do you have anyone to recommend?"
Sensing her sister and PA-san staring at her because of the mermaid singers, and feeling the topic slipping out of control, Ijichi Nijika hurriedly looked over at Kitagawa Marin and Miura Yumiko in the corner to change the subject.
Dropping a little about the mermaid singers was fine, but if she kept talking, she might accidentally expose Hachiman's connection with them. That would be bad.
She hadn't seen it herself, but with the elf princess showing up in class every day for Hachiman, combined with his invisibility magic, and their bold "reward" hobbies right in the classroom.
Well, maybe, perhaps, possibly, the mermaid singers at Hachiman's house parties were much the same. They sang while Hachiman invisibly… uh… at home he wouldn't even need to be invisible.
"A band vocalist? I'd love to perform with you guys, but with our level I'd only be good for karaoke. I don't have the confidence to be lead singer."
Kitagawa Marin shook her head at once. Hearing them perform "SOUND OF DESTINY" at the start, she knew she couldn't handle that.
Though "Sound of Destiny" was an idol's signature song, that idol was a skilled singer. The song had the potential to be a classic loved by all ages.
"...", By Yukinoshita Yukino's side, Yuigahama Yui saw Marin refuse without hesitation. She opened her mouth, hesitated, then immediately killed the thought she'd had about maybe trying out in the studio.
She liked karaoke, sure, and might even score decently. But performing on stage? That was beyond them.
Besides, she wasn't that close with Nijika and the others. Better to stay focused on the Service Club. If she joined a band, their little duo with Yukino might get split.
"I'm not much of a singer, and I'm not interested in bands. But Yukina from Class D goes to karaoke alone a lot. She's really good. I don't know if she'd want to join," Miura Yumiko thought a moment, then looked at Nijika with some hesitation.
"But what about the vocalist you originally found? You said she hadn't officially quit, right? Just skipped practice. Can't you get her back?"!She didn't just have Nijika and Marin as friends, but her temper wasn't as gentle as theirs, so she knew fewer classmates, only the easygoing ones.
Yukina was especially gentle, kind, approachable, and polite. But she also didn't want to take advantage of her good nature. What if they brought her in and the original singer returned? She had to check first.
"Mm… I can't reach Kita-san now. She avoids me even if I ask in her class. If she really doesn't want to come back, I don't want to force her," Nijika gave a wry smile, then cheered herself up again.
"Yumiko, don't ask Komikado-san yet. I know her, she's cheerful like Kita-san, but even more calm and quiet. I don't think she'd like rock much."
"Then what about the vocalist spot?"
"I'll try Kita-san again. If she really won't come, I'll look into others in the music department, or ask the light music club if anyone wants to try rock. Last time I struck out in the music department but ran into Bocchi instead, maybe this time the vocalist will just show up too~"
She wanted to form a great band. But more than forcing it, she wanted one where everyone wasn't perfect, yet worked hard together to improve.
Come Monday, she'd try Kita again. If not, she'd find someone else.
"Alright… but didn't the light music club disband? I remember you wanted to recruit them first."
Yumiko didn't press her since Nijika clearly had decided, but she immediately brought up another doubt.
Sobu High's academic standard was high. Their swimming, tennis, gymnastics, kendo, volleyball, and track clubs were strong. But in contrast, cultural clubs were weak.
The literature club, art club, tea club, game dev club and so on were hobby-driven, small but continuing.
But the light music club, focused on daily practice and stage shows, had collapsed once the third years all graduated. If not, Nijika wouldn't need to scour around; she'd just go there to find rock lovers.
"I heard from Rurikawa-senpai that someone already reapplied to revive the light music club. Maybe a vocalist who's good at guitar wants to join…"
As Nijika spoke, her eyes unconsciously drifted to Gotou Hitori, sitting gloomily and shyly on Hachiman's other side.
If possible, she'd want Bocchi, the online "Guitar Hero" with a solid fanbase, to sing while playing guitar as vocalist.
But… Bocchi couldn't even go on stage without a cardboard box on her head, and needed Hachiman to hold her while conducting rhythm. It was impossible to imagine her as the attention-grabbing vocalist.
"No way, no way… absolutely not…", Sneaking snacks of sesame bean sprouts with Yamada Ryou, Gotou Hitori heard them mention the music department, noticed Nijika's gaze, and shrank her head, instinctively clutching Hachiman's side.
She wanted to say she actually sat next to that music student Nijika had asked, and had seen it all when Nijika was at their classroom door.
But she was too invisible in class, head down, body blocked by others. Nijika probably never even realized they were classmates.
And now, she understood Nijika's look. She too wanted to be on stage under the lights, strumming and singing with confidence.
But she couldn't. She really couldn't.
'Uu… thank goodness my only true friend is Hachiman.'
Not only willing to marry her, a useless shut-in who couldn't even work, but also giving her living expenses to help her chase dreams.
Otherwise, she'd have been stuck as a parasite forever, without courage to join a band, let alone pulling off a decent first performance with Nijika and Ryou thanks to Hachiman's support.
"Don't worry, Bocchi. Nijika doesn't want you to be vocalist. You just focus on being guitarist, building chemistry with Nijika and Ryou. Leave the vocalist problem to me and Nijika."
Looking down at Bocchi suddenly hugging him while nibbling food, Hachiman exchanged helpless smiles with Nijika, lifted his hand to gently stroke her silky waist-length pink hair, and softly reassured her.
Mm… Bocchi not freaking out so much anymore was good. But her mental storms weren't fewer, and she seemed even more socially anxious and clingy.
That wasn't great. Sure, he didn't mind her hugging him in public, or even that he used Rurikawa Tsubaki's wallet to support Bocchi and Kei. He had no qualms about bringing everyone to see Bocchi's band.
But if Bocchi stayed like this… what about when he, Nijika, Ryou, Kita, Seika, and PA held a rock party later?
She couldn't still be hiding in a cardboard box on stage, right? Uh… though maybe that wasn't impossible either.
———
"Drinks are here~"
"Seika-san, please wait a moment. Although the izakaya is very busy, Miki and Saki happened to go help today, so the rest of the dishes should come up soon."
The staffer Chisato Nishikigi quickly came running back, carrying an insulated box in one hand and two large bottles of drinks in the other, both hands full; after she put things down she said a word to Ijichi Seika and the others, then prepared to run over to the izakaya to help speed up the serving.
"Miki and Saki, huh? Having them help will make things a lot easier. Chisato, later you ask them if they're available to do part-time next week," Ijichi Seika twisted off a drink cap; when she heard Miki and Saki's names she immediately set the drink down and called after Chisato Nishikigi who'd already run to the door.
"STARRY has an underground idol booked for a concert next week. I expect there'll be a lot of fans, if they're free, have them contact me."
Because the live house's customers weren't fixed, the attendance for each show fluctuated a lot, and since her live house was small, STARRY's regular staff were just PA and herself, PA mainly handled sound, and she sold tickets and drinks at the bar.
When there were few people the two of them were enough, keeping expenses low; occasionally having Nijika or Ryou help for a little pay was fine.
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