No matter how high the notes soar or how powerful the rhythm shakes your soul, every performance must eventually end.
As the final guitar riff of STARRY's last band faded into the air, the impactful event officially drew to a close. The once-bustling hall returned to its original silence as the amplifiers powered down.
Shortly after MyGO's performance, the girls gradually departed the LiveHouse.
Days of intense training and the emotionally charged events of the day had left everyone mentally and physically drained. Even the normally hyperactive pink-haired pup had finally worn herself out and was dozing off.
Only Haru, briefly unoccupied, remained at STARRY to help clean up the aftermath.
"…Manager, could you at least say something? You've been staring at me for a while now, it's kinda unnerving."
As he swept the last bits of trash into a pile, Haru glanced over at the front desk, where Ijichi Seika was seated, arms crossed and clearly displeased.
She'd been shooting him dagger-eyed looks since he started helping clean. Even now, her scowl hadn't softened.
Haru could understand if she were just admiring a handsome guy, but glaring at him like that? That was overkill.
Instead of responding, Seika rested her chin on one hand and wordlessly handed over a stack of envelopes. Her tone was flat.
"Here. Consider it your pay."
"But I'm volunteering—"
Even though Haru had never expected any kind of "wage," Seika practically shoved the envelopes at him with force.
She still looked just as annoyed.
After all, she'd seen the way her idiot little sister had been acting these past few days as she was spacing out, occasionally looking lonely.
Seika couldn't understand what was holding Nijika back. Why keep torturing herself with these endless mental loops? Wouldn't it be easier to just confess to Haru and get it over with?
Thoughts of a 30-year-old single woman who's never dated a soul.
Then again, considering how complicated Haru's relationships were, Seika could kind of understand why Nijika was hesitating.
Still, watching her little sister mope every day was giving her a headache. All she could do was silently and not-so-silently glare at the "culprit" in hopes of venting her frustration.
"It's getting late. I'll handle the rest. You're underage, so get going."
She spat it out like an eviction notice, face full of disdain. If she spent even a minute longer alone with the guy who stole her sister's heart, she might actually lose control and spill everything.
Only after Haru finally walked out did Seika, juice in hand, let out a cold snort.
"Teenage love is such a pain."
"…If only Nijika had half my nerve, we wouldn't be in this mess."
"Sis? What are you talking about?"
Nijika, broom in hand, blinked at her older sister. Seika's muttering made her tilt her head with concern.
Now on the receiving end of her sister's worried gaze, Seika's expression twitched slightly. Her voice came out clipped and sarcastic.
"I'm cursing that little punk Haru. I can't believe you've known him this long and still haven't made a move."
"Wha—what are you even saying?!"
Blushing, the blonde girl gripped her broom tightly, her golden ponytail visibly tinged with red. She began frantically glancing around the room.
That reaction made Seika roll her eyes again.
"Don't bother. I already kicked him out."
"…Sis!"
The disappointment on Nijika's face was obvious, unfiltered even. She didn't bother hiding it from Seika, perhaps because she knew it would be pointless anyway. They'd been sisters for over a decade. Seika could see right through her.
Even her little cowlick drooped with the weight of her mood.
Of course her feelings were obvious.
Watching Nijika spiral into another wave of quiet gloom, Seika sighed deeply and pulled something out of her pocket, two brightly colored tickets.
The self-proclaimed "hopeless spinster" propped her cheek on one hand and muttered,
"Take a break. Get some fresh air. Maybe once you relax, you'll know what to do."
"An art exhibit?"
Nijika's crimson eyes widened as she read the text on the tickets. Her surprise was clear, this was not the kind of thing her sister would normally have.
Seika, who couldn't even be bothered to do chores, had somehow come up with art exhibition tickets? And not even music-related, visual art.
She immediately realized: Seika had bought them just for her.
"An old friend gave them to me," Seika lied, glancing away with practiced indifference. "I'm not interested."
"…Thanks, Sis."
She saw right through it, but didn't say anything.
Nijika was used to her sister's six-layered tsundere routine.
She tucked the two tickets away, a soft warmth flickering in her chest. Two tickets, clearly meant for her to invite Haru.
But even now, the idea of asking him out on what was basically a date… still felt too hard.
Especially after what Ryo had said earlier that day. Her thoughts were still in complete disarray.
Not wanting Seika to notice, Nijika shook her head and looked up with a bright smile.
"I'm gonna go buy something real quick!"
…
Meanwhile.
Haru stepped down from STARRY's entrance, the cool autumn breeze brushing past his shoulders, sending his dark, shoulder-length hair fluttering.
He looked up at the dimming sky and let out a long breath.
Things… were finally getting a little better.
The woman who had once stood on the opposite side of a burning bridge from CRYCHIC, Sakiko, had now taken a step forward and apologized to her old friends.
In her own way, she had made peace with the weakness she once carried.
And whatever happens next, at the very least, the thorn in their hearts had finally been pulled free.
Perhaps now that Sakiko has regained her "freedom," in the future they might return to being friends.
"I hope what I did was the right thing."
Muttering to himself, Haru stepped onto the damp asphalt, the air still heavy with the scent of fresh grass and moist earth. Relaxing slowly for the first time in a while, he gave a small smile as he walked into the night streets of Shimokitazawa.
But his steps came to an abrupt halt after just one stride.
"I thought you'd already gone. Were you waiting for me?"
Turning, he found Ryo cool, dark-haired leaning against the wall. She held a can of orange juice and sipped quietly. Her pale gray cardigan revealed skin as flawless as fresh snow.
Even in silence, she exuded an elegant, mysterious charm.
He'd been completely caught off guard.
"Take me home."
Ryo said without looking his way. She threw the empty juice can into a trash bin and began walking ahead.
Wait, home?
Every simulation and reality lesson he'd learned screamed that if aloof Ryo asked him to walk her home…
It meant something was coming later. And it wasn't likely a simple CG scenario this time.
"…"
Haru's gaze lingered on her retreating figure before he followed, without hesitation.
Why was he hesitating? Last time, he'd walked Ryo home and even confessed. She'd kissed him with a sudden, emotion-blown kiss that had made both their feelings clear.
So why was he unsure now?
Could she be leading him somewhere else?
Grasping both his nerves and curiosity, Haru quickened his pace to walk beside Ryo.
She continued strolling ahead, her dark pleated skirt swaying in the autumn breeze. Her deep blue hair fluttered, and she tucked a stray lock behind her ear. After a moment, she extended her pale hand and took his.
Haru raised an eyebrow, surprised. If this had been one of the others Kita or Anon hand-holding like this would be sweet and expected. But Ryo, the ice queen, the woman who cooled him with a kiss…?
He'd thought she would blast past the kiss or tease him, but instead she'd grabbed his hand in silence.
He felt the cold, gentle contact, his expression freezing.
"W-When did you become like this?"
Ryo replied without turning.
"You've held hands with Ikuyo and Anon plenty. It's nothing strange."
That was… indeed unexpected.
This was his first time holding her hand. He'd never imagined she'd treat something so normal between lovers as nothing special.
Yet this wasn't odd, it was new.
Noticing Haru's stunned look, Ryo couldn't help but find it amusing. For the first time, her lips curved with amusement.
"If I could stay calm when I took your 'first kiss'… Why are you so flustered just from holding hands?"
Haru smirked wryly.
"You mean you 'took' my kiss? And your 'first kiss' smelled like deep-fried tempura. Not exactly romantic."
Ryo's eyebrow arched as he spoke, already used to her twisted logic.
"Want to taste it?"
"Huh?"
"Want to taste it now?"
Ryo's expression softened. Her long blue locks framed her face as she offered another playful tease. A flush tinted her pale cheeks, and the beauty mark by her eye seemed to glow with allure.
She wasn't joking.
Haru's breath caught. His heart raced and felt both tense and aching.
Even though all he had to do was nod or speak to accept, not resist.
He closed his eyes, steadied himself, and answered quietly.
"…Orange juice, right?"
"Hm. I thought so, too."
Ryo's expression returned to its usual cool mask, as if moments ago had been a mirage.
Despite his deep feelings for this woman, his "wife" in simulation, he wouldn't let the moment derail him. He thought of Tomori and Mutsumi waiting behind. They were important too.
"What about your request earlier, the one about my harem?"
Ryo asked gently.
"I'm taking steps to make it work. But to prove I can be trusted… I need time."
"In the meantime, even if I'm dating others, I won't move further with them. Eventually, I want you to acknowledge me."
Haru's honesty surprised her.
Even Ryo, his former wife, recognized that he was a 'sensual fiend.' But he'd stayed responsible even with several alluring girls in his life.
Ryo paused, her honey-gold eyes shimmering with interest.
Their steps slowed. Haru suddenly stopped.
"Ryo, this isn't the way to your home, is it?"
He frowned. He knew Shimokitazawa's streets well, this path was off.
He couldn't imagine Ryo so careful getting lost like this.
Her glance back held a slight tilt of curiosity.
"…Haru, did I say I wanted you to walk me home?"
No, indeed not.
"Then… where are you taking me?"
Haru thought she might be leading him to a love hotel after he'd leaned against her kiss rejection earlier.
Ryo's brow rose. She stepped toward him, the cool scent of evening air brushing them close.
A mischievous whisper brushed his ear:
"Love… motel."
Haru nearly stumbled back in surprise. Ryo, typically the ice queen, was deadly serious. She didn't fool around at moments like this.
She took a small square from the pocket of her skirt.
"Haru, I told you: even if you agree with me now and we date, I'm not ready for that."
Ryo's voice grew firm.
She replays his ear studs in the same style she wore herself.
"I know."
"It's sincere."
Her gaze intensified. She grabbed his collar and spoke softly, decisively:
"If you come with me now, I'll agree to what you said before."
"If you don't… then we won't speak again."
---
If you want to read up to 150 chapters ahead, don't hesitate to visit
our patron: pat reon . com / Loverice929 (remove space)