After enjoying a satisfying lunch at a venerable, long-standing izakaya and taking a leisurely post-meal break, Kato Megumi led Kasumigaoka Touji to their next destination: a live music venue called 'STARRY.'
It was tucked away on the basement floor of a nondescript building. Descending the staircase from the street entrance, they were immediately enveloped by a different world.
"So this is a live house…" Kasumigaoka Touji murmured, his eyes wide with curiosity as he took in his surroundings. It was his first time stepping foot in such a place.
The wall adjacent to the staircase was a riot of color and creativity, plastered with promotional flyers for countless bands, each vying for attention. On the opposite side sat a modest four-seater table. Diagonally across from the stairs was a compact concession stall, its shelves stocked with drinks, glow sticks, and various other cheering goods for the audience.
His gaze traveled further inward, past the growing crowd, to settle on the focal point: a large, professional-looking stage at the far end of the space. The floor in front of it was a vast, empty expanse, easily capable of accommodating several hundred enthusiastic fans.
The entire venue was architecturally raw, filled with an intriguing array of exposed steel beams and conduits. The lighting was deliberately dim, casting deep shadows and creating a subtle, underground atmosphere that felt both intimate and slightly oppressive.
"Touji-kun, is this your first time in a place like this?" Kato Megumi asked, noticing his absorbed inspection.
"Yeah, it's my first time," Kasumigaoka Touji admitted openly with a nod. While he'd visited Shimokitazawa before, he'd never ventured into its iconic live music scene. The novelty was genuinely exciting.
"What do you think?" she pressed, seemingly interested in his fresh perspective.
"Hmm… it has a certain vibe. It's cool," he said, his gaze sweeping over the stage. "I just don't know anything about the bands that play here, what they sound like… what the live experience itself actually feels like."
Today would be his inaugural concert, and a thread of anticipatory excitement hummed through him.
"This venue is considered upper-middle tier in this area," Kato Megumi offered, providing a bit of context with her characteristically calm tone. "The bands that get to perform here usually have a decent following and are quite skilled."
Having given her brief review, she gently tugged his sleeve, leading him toward the concession stall.
"Irasshaimase! What can I get for you two?" A bright, cheerful voice greeted them from behind the counter.
The girl working the stall had long, shimmering golden hair tied in a lively side ponytail. Her eyes were a beautiful, fiery red, sparkling with genuine warmth. A single, stubborn ahoge (cowlick) stood proudly atop her head, and—most strikingly—a stylized golden exclamation mark accessory was clipped into her hair.
Her smile was as radiant and comforting as a midwinter sunbeam!
Due to their initial angle, Kasumigaoka Touji hadn't noticed the distinctive hair accessory. Seeing it now, he couldn't help but do a double-take. A moment later, a look of profound realization dawned on his face.
Of course!
That vague sense of familiarity he'd felt when first surveying the live house clicked into place. He had wandered into the very venue that served as the home base for Gotou Hitori and her band in Bocchi the Rock! The girl behind the counter was undoubtedly Ijichi Nijika—the younger sister of the venue's manager, the steadfast drummer of Kessoku Band, affectionately known by fans as the Great Guardian Angel of Shimokitazawa, Mama Nijika, or LED Nijika!
"I'll have a barley tea, please," Kato Megumi requested, raising a slender, graceful finger. She then glanced at Kasumigaoka Touji for his order.
By now, Kasumigaoka Touji had schooled his expression back to neutral. "Iced cola for me, please."
"Okay~! Coming right up!" Ijichi Nijika replied with infectious energy. She had caught his brief moment of surprised recognition but didn't think much of it, simply attributing it to a first-timer's awe. She turned to the drink dispensers with practiced efficiency.
"Megumi, do you want any of the cheering goods?" Kasumigaoka Touji asked, gesturing to the array of glow sticks and other items displayed on the stall.
She gave a light nod. "A glow stick would be nice."
"Two glow sticks, please," Kasumigaoka Touji called out to Nijika's back, figuring he might as well join in the experience since he was here.
"Hai hai!" Nijika chirped without turning around, her hands busy. Moments later, she placed two tall cups on the counter—one pale amber, the other dark and fizzing. She fitted them with lids, inserted straws, then grabbed two vibrant glow sticks. Beaming her sunny smile, she announced, "That'll be 1800 yen total! Thank you for your patronage!"
Kasumigaoka Touji pulled out his wallet, extracted two 1000-yen notes, and handed them over, receiving two 100-yen coins in return. He hesitated for a split second, contemplating saying something, but decided against it. He simply accepted the drinks and glow sticks with a polite nod. The time for introductions or fanboy moments wasn't now.
They were relatively early; the scheduled performance was still nearly an hour away. However, the venue was already filling up with a steady trickle of attendees, a low buzz of conversation beginning to fill the space.
After a bit of searching, they finally found an unoccupied spot—a bar-like counter area tucked into a corner. And it had exactly one stool left.
Kasumigaoka Touji smiled at the find. He set their drinks and glow sticks down on the polished wooden surface, then naturally took a seat on the lone round stool. He patted his thigh, a playful, expectant glint in his eye.
"Megumi, sit here." It was a bold request, an intimate gesture that would certainly count as close contact for their 'date' objectives, and he felt a thrill of anticipation.
A flicker of nervousness and mild awkwardness passed over Kato Megumi's serene features. She let out a soft, almost inaudible sound of acknowledgment, then walked over. She perched on his lap, but her posture was tentative, more of a light touch than a proper seat.
"Don't be shy," Kasumigaoka Touji coaxed, noticing her reserve. He chuckled softly, then wrapped an arm around her slender waist and pulled her firmly into his embrace. The action made her settle completely onto his lap with a slight, involuntary gasp.
"So light!" he exclaimed, genuinely surprised by her weight. "Megumi, how much do you weigh? Surely less than 50 kilograms?"
He couldn't help but compare; she felt noticeably lighter than both Kasumigaoka Utaha and Kani Nayuta.
"It was about 46 kilograms the last time I checked, a while ago," she replied, a faint, lovely blush spreading across her pale cheeks. Her hands came to rest instinctively, not on his shoulders, but on top of the hands he had encircling her waist.
"Sou ka!" Kasumigaoka Touji closed his eyes for a moment, leaning forward to bury his face gently against her. He inhaled softly. Kato Megumi's body was fragrant and incredibly soft, carrying a subtle, pleasant scent reminiscent of cherry blossoms—fresh, clean, and subtly sweet.
A powerful desire for greater intimacy surged within him. She was captivating in her new-found confidence and delicate beauty. But they were in a public venue, with people milling about. He had to be mindful of appearances and her comfort.
For now, this closeness—her weight on his lap, her scent, the warmth of her through their clothes—was a sweet, stolen pleasure in the dim, anticipatory atmosphere of the live house.