But Nijika and Ryou aren't staff at her shop either; they have their own social lives and aren't necessarily free every time. When there are many people she needs more staff to maintain order.
Although she liked the lively, hardworking Chisato in front of her, she didn't need a permanent employee; only when things got too busy would she call Chisato in to help.
Still, it wasn't a problem if Chisato couldn't come to work, having Miki and Saki help was just as good.
Miki and Saki had both worked at her shop before: one approachable, steady and mature, principled in her actions; the other seeming cold but actually taciturn, both diligent and reliable.
"No problem! I'll head over to help right now!"
After hearing Ijichi Seika's request, Chisato made a no-problem gesture and rushed out the door without looking back.
"I really don't know whether to call her reliable or not… she doesn't seem to attend school much," Ijichi Seika watched Chisato vanish out the door in a flurry and shook her head helplessly.
Both the café employee Chisato and the café owner were carefree.
She'd even agreed to change the place into a Japanese-style café because of Chisato, and then left Chisato to mind the shop alone.
Good thing there weren't many customers, otherwise, who would make the coffee?
Hmm… though that's also why she chose to come to this shop in the first place, there weren't many customers, so it didn't affect anyone.
"Probably not because of family issues not going to school. Miss Chisato might've, like me, dropped out because she just can't wake up early," PA pondered for a moment, not very certain.
Chisato was cheerful and lively; her family situation shouldn't be that bad. It wasn't like she'd run away from home and thus not attend school. But that lively, impulsive personality might be hiding inner sorrow, no one could be sure.
"Chisato trusts you and us, so let's eat. Don't keep talking about Miss Chisato," Seeing her sister openly complain about Chisato while PA tried to interpret that her sister was worried, Ijichi Nijika felt embarrassed and forced a smile, quickly getting up to help pour drinks for everyone.
Maybe her sister really was getting old, though still childish enough to sleep with plush toys, she now instinctively made snide comments about things like that.
It was a pity her sister and PA usually sat in the shop working and didn't socialize much; when not working, her sister lazed at home looking unkempt, so Nijika had no chance to help.
But thinking carefully, it wasn't just her sister, most of the girls in her sister's social circle were similar.
Her sister's junior in college, Hiroi Kikuri, now the band leader and bassist, was active; Tsuguko Sasaki was a music teacher at Sobu High, even the PA handling sound at the shop was single. They weren't unattractive, in fact, they were rather pretty, but had no luck with the opposite sex.
Why was that? Would she end up like her sister and the others?
Uh… no, she and her sister weren't the same, though that "different" wasn't what she wanted.
Ijichi Nijika thought seriously for a moment, then suddenly remembered her friend Yumiko's crush on Hachiman and quickly shook off that terrible thought.
'No way! I can't betray Yumiko!'
"Mm, let's eat and chat. Chisato will probably finish helping and then run to help Miki and the others, she won't sit down to eat with us."
Ijichi Seika, unaware her good little sister Nijika was worrying about her future, sighed and then, seeing Nijika and Kitagawa Marin have poured drinks for everyone, looked to Gotou Hitori sitting next to Hachiman and lifted her cup to signal.
"Bocchi, your performance tonight was good."
"Th-thank you… really good?"
Hearing the usually quiet, not-very-close shop owner praise her, Gotou Hitori hurriedly raised her cup to thank her back. After sipping a little cola, she still looked at Ijichi Seika suspiciously and mumbled doubts.
Her good friend Hachiman had praised her in the green room. Whether to comfort her or because he truly thought she'd done well, any praise from Hachiman made her happy.
But now the somewhat cold shop owner, Nijika's sister, had also praised her. If both had done so, maybe she really had performed well?
"Of course. For your first performance, this was already wonderful. I hope next time you can bring out Guitar Hero's true level during the band's ensemble," Ijichi Seika nodded calmly. Gotou Hitori's skill was strong; the play videos under the account name Guitar Hero she had watched before, calling it professional-level wouldn't be an exaggeration.
Even though the videos always showed her in a pink tracksuit, never her face, only hands and the guitar, she still had rapidly rising huge popularity. In principle, she wouldn't perform so poorly as to be on par with a newbie like Nijika.
But considering Gotou Hitori's stage fright, needing a cardboard box on her head to perform, the level she showed in her first performance was acceptable. There was no need to be overly harsh; what if they scared her off?
"Hehe… thank you, manager… I'll keep working hard!", Confirming Seika's praise was genuine and not sarcastic, Gotou Hitori excitedly clung to Hachiman's arm, the corners of her mouth lifted in a smile that would not come down.
"Bocchi, don't get too excited. I don't think I was that happy when you praised me," Hachiman, feeding her and gently stroking her head to calm her exuberant mood so she wouldn't overdo it, had no choice but to act to prevent her from getting too carried away.
Bocchi's biggest current problem was an overactive inner life; her emotions were hard to control and her expression often broke down.
If she didn't freak out when not next to him, she'd just be an ordinary socially anxious person able to interact normally.
"Uh, well, Hachiman, of course I'm happy when you praise me, but I feel like you'd praise me whether I did well or not. I guess I'm more concerned about the manager's compliment… it's just… how to say it…"
Hearing Hachiman's words was like a bucket of cold water on her head, instantly quelling her restless excitement. She hurriedly explained to him, afraid her only true friend would think she didn't value their friendship.
Yesterday Hachiman said he'd support her for life, today, would he cut ties with her?
'Ugh… Hachiman, don't leave me… it's okay if you don't give me money… I'll work hard to support myself.'
As long as Hachiman holds Nijika on stage like today, she can succeed with Nijika and the others in performances, later she could earn money and even give some to Hachiman.
"Don't be nervous, I was just kidding. I'm not angry. I know you care more about me," Seeing Gotou Hitori shift from joy to anxiety to the verge of tears, Hachiman helplessly shook his head and smiled, scratching her soft, rounded chin and taking a big sip of her cola to show he wasn't displeased.
Maybe it was some dependency affinity at work, Bocchi's social anxiety seemed harder to fix.
Though Bocchi's symptoms were much better when beside him, less terrified of strangers, because her sense of security was so great when he was there, she became more dependent on him. If she left his side, her social anxiety might worsen.
"Mm… good that you're not angry… good that you're not angry… hehe!"
Seeing Hachiman drink the cola she had just sipped, Gotou Hitori's tense pretty face immediately flushed red; realizing she'd been overly nervous and that Hachiman was only joking, she laughed smugly and relaxed, enjoying Hachiman's caress.
He hadn't done anything real. Mostly just hugged her, played with her hands, or patted her thighs. The most intimate contact probably was when the elf princess and Sakurase Shino played games with Hachiman in the student guidance room, so even an indirect kiss made her bashful.
But Hachiman had said he'd support her, treated her so well, getting used to married life with him in advance seemed normal.
When would Hachiman want her to fulfill wife responsibilities?
She didn't know anything, should she ask Nijika, who was close to Hachiman?
Or should she have Nijika wear the silver empathy bracelet like in today's performance so she could observe and learn, personally experience what to do.
Gotou Hitori felt both shy and delighted.
Yukinoshita Yukino across from them watched the couple-like Gotou Hitori and Hachiman with her brows twitching.
'When did this happen?'
Gotou Hitori was brought into the Service Club by Hachiman, so being close was normal.
But this closeness… wasn't it a bit too much?
Was she too conservative or were others too open?
Did no one else notice?
Ijichi Seika had naturally seen the intimacy between Gotou Hitori and Hachiman, but she was pleased by this development.
With Hachiman so openly flirting, Nijika wouldn't fail to notice.
Nijika seeing this should then keep a good distance from Hachiman and not deepen things.
Thinking this, Ijichi Seika looked at Ijichi Nijika and Yamada Ryou sitting on Hachiman's other side, cleared her throat, and returned to the earlier topic.
"But Nijika and Ryou, what's up with you two?"
"Although the ensemble was okay, you seemed a little restrained on stage."
"Nijika, as the drummer in the back, do you need to be that nervous? Ryou, you've had band experience before, right? You seemed off tonight too."
Though a casual audience might think the performance level was fine, Seika, who had listened to their plays many times, still detected something off with Ijichi Nijika and Yamada Ryou.
Sitting at the bar diagonally from the stage, she couldn't see the stage clearly and had to rely on sound; she noticed they were out of sync but didn't know why.
Though it was strange, despite being off, they still played well, matched Bocchi's rhythm, and corrected small mistakes immediately.
"Uh hehe… maybe the band's too small. Without a front vocalist to draw attention, Bocchi hides under a cardboard box and doesn't show her face, Ryou doesn't talk much, and I, the drummer in the back, have to be the band's representative speaking…", Seeing her sister's keen suspicion, Ijichi Nijika tensed and quickly invented an excuse to explain how she'd felt then.
She did want to relax more and be less nervous, but such things weren't something you could just decide to do.
Being able to lie in Hachiman's arms and suppress her shame enough to fulfill her drumming duties without mistakes, she felt she'd endured plenty.
"Is that so… then quickly find a cheerful, unflappable vocalist to take the pressure off," Ijichi Seika thought for a moment and couldn't deny the point.
Nijika really lacked stage experience. If the red-haired, sun-beam-energy Kita could be the vocalist and draw attention, that'd be great.
Too bad the girl suddenly left for some reason, even though Seika felt her singing was good.
"*Clang!* *Clang!* *Clang!* Gulp!", Yamada Ryou didn't speak or look up at the Ijichi sisters, she was heads-down, hungrily eating.
What could she say? It was Nijika's fault, dragging her into this and letting Hachiman touch her here and there.
Though there wasn't real physical contact with Hachiman, the sensation was still there. As if an invisible hand through her black tights touched her skin.
If Kita hadn't been dead or missing, she probably would've been just as unable to let go and also felt what it was like to be touched while singing.
Stop thinking so much, the manager's treating tonight; she'd eat her fill.
Eat until her belly was full, no need to eat grass tomorrow.
Everyone chatted while eating and drinking; time flew by.
Although not all were close or socially adept, Yukinoshita Yukino who didn't understand people, the introverted insecure Hayase Saki, the head-down eating Yamada Ryou, and the embarrassed Miura Yumiko rarely joined in. Ijichi Nijika and Hachiman, who were social hubs, kept the table atmosphere pleasant. Even socially anxious Bocchi could occasionally muster a sentence.
Except for that one employee who ran in and out.
While they ate, Chisato bustled about.
When they finished eating and tidied up, Chisato still had to go help at the izakaya.
"Bye everyone~ The manager said he's busy and won't be back, he's closing early to help Miki and the others~", Chisato saw them out of the café, closed the door, left a bright smile, and jogged off toward the nearby izakaya.
"Young people really have energy…", Ijichi Seika watched Chisato's retreating figure and sighed slightly.
So busy yet not tired at all, Chisato had stamina.
"Aren't you the one who said you're still young? Why are you sighing here?", Ijichi Nijika looked at her sister and covered her mouth, laughing.
"Nagging. I never said I wasn't young, but I am just a little older than you."
Hearing her sister tease her again, Ijichi Seika turned her face away and muttered softly.
Nijika used to be so cute, why did she now always prod her about age?
Does Nijika want her to marry off?
Or does Nijika want to fall in love and not have her boss her around?
PA and Yamada Ryou heard the sisters' exchange and held back laughter, not wanting to provoke the age-sensitive Ijichi Seika.
Friendly sibling teasing was fine, but if they interfered, they might get involved.
Hachiman also didn't speak among the group; he just watched the employee Chisato dash into the izakaya.
He recognized the lively short-haired blonde Chisato; otherwise, he wouldn't have noticed a café server among so many girls around him.
Nishigaki Chisato, always smiling, full of energy, came from that anime with the heart-leaping story "Lycoris." But the original story was set in Tokyo, so how had she ended up in Chiba?
Of course, in this world where the Advanced Nurturing School had been reported and disbanded, some students transferred to Sobu High, and where other worlds, angels and demons existed, such little details were no problem.
His focus was on Chisato's identity, Lycoris.
Lycoris belonged to the DA organization, an independent public security maintenance organization's operative force, or rather, a special agent unit.
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