"Well, we've decided to do a live show," Ryo Yamada said, crossing her arms and resting them under her chin.
"So you're just pawning off an extra ticket on me," Chihaya Kaiser said with resignation, looking the ticket over and over.
"You have to come, Kaiser."
Throughout their entire conversation, this was the first time she had spoken in a serious tone, staring him in the eyes.
"Forget it, this will have to do."
He glanced at the ticket, saw it was for tomorrow night, and figured he should be able to make it after work. He folded it in half and tucked it into the side pocket of his camera bag.
Ryo Yamada noticed the camera and continued.
"I was going to ask you from the start, but I figured you probably weren't that into playing in a band anymore."
"Yeah, you're right about that."
He said, as if joking, "If you want me to join a band again, you'd better be ready to pay for my time."
"No way. Your guitar playing is terrible, Kaiser. I'd never pay you to play guitar."
Ryo Yamada's smile was faint, almost imperceptible. "We only have one guitarist right now. If you wanted to join, I'm sure Nijika would be happy to have you."
"Nijika, huh."
An image of that gentle, smiling blonde girl appeared in his mind, bringing a smile to his own face.
Ever since she found out he'd taken a punch for Ryō, Nijika had always looked out for him. At first, it was just in a friendly way, but later it became a bit like... a mom?
She'd ask if he wanted water, if the air conditioning was too warm, and she'd even mix drinks for him.
Chihaya Kaiser's tone lightened, a slight smile playing on his lips. "Nijika would probably welcome anyone as long as they get along, wouldn't she?
But what about you, Ryō? How come you're in a band again? The same thing that happened last time won't happen again, right?"
"Well, Nijika asked me."
Ryo Yamada shrugged. "It can't be like last time. This is Nijika's and my band."
Chihaya Kaiser fell silent for a few dozen seconds, staring at his coffee cup. Espresso really wasn't something he could stomach.
He looked up, his gaze refracting through the glass, and watched the blue-haired girl beside him. Her white blouse was tucked into a charcoal-gray long skirt that was just short enough to reveal her ankles when she crossed her legs.
"Ryō, what about you?"
"What?"
"Nijika would be happy to have me. But what about you, Ryō? What do you think?"
The atmosphere in the café was relaxed, a stark contrast to the pedestrians on the street outside.
Ryo Yamada pressed her lips together and said nothing.
The atmosphere between them suddenly grew a little quiet. It wasn't an awkward silence; it was like back in the old rehearsal studio, when Ryō would sneak in a bass fill, and Chihaya Kaiser would willingly step back, strumming chords to support her.
It was a unique kind of understanding.
Ryo Yamada didn't speak, only hooked her fingers around his sleeve. Her breath fogged up the glass.
"Kaiser, of course I'd welcome you."
"But you know I won't go down the same old road again." Chihaya Kaiser leaned back slightly, his gaze catching her profile as he finished the thought for her.
She understood. After a moment of silence, she smiled and asked in a deliberately lighthearted tone.
"So, Kaiser, you in?"
"No. I'm worried I'll see the same things happen all over again, and it would be too painful." He still refused.
It wasn't that he was afraid of seeing them argue. He was afraid of seeing them full of the same dreams for the future as before, only for it all to come to nothing.
He was a little surprised the System hadn't issued a quest. Normally, it would have.
Besides, the quest objectives didn't seem to have any direct romantic requirements. They were more about indirectly helping him build favorability with the heroines.
Could it be that the System considers Ryō an uncapturable target?
Just as Chihaya Kaiser was pondering this, Ryō's voice broke his train of thought, pulling him back to reality.
"You have a point. That band was so much fun at first... how did it slowly become..."
"If I go through it again, I can't help but wonder if what happened last time will just happen all over again."
Chihaya Kaiser took out his wallet. "I'll go to the live show. You and Nijika better give it your all."
"Okay."
Ryō extended her hand forward and to her left, fingers held flat together, her expression almost blank.
"Lend me some money first."
"..."
"If you don't, you'll have to be the one to pay for the coffee, Kaiser," she said, her tone calm and unhurried.
"How much do you need?"
Chihaya Kaiser's eyelid twitched violently as his fingers dug into his pocket. The wallet lay in his palm, and the three thousand yen he had just earned—which hadn't even had a chance to warm up—was instantly plucked away.
Pinching the bill between her index and middle fingers, Ryo Yamada's lips formed a 'V' shape. She wiggled her fingers before stuffing the money into her breast pocket.
"Thanks, Kaiser. I'll pay you back when I get the chance."
"Just make sure you do," Chihaya Kaiser sighed. Looks like getting that money from Yanami Anna needs to be moved up the schedule. He couldn't let her keep putting it off.
Lending money to Ryō was one thing, but he barely knew Yanami. Thank goodness the System quests compensated him.
He started talking with Ryō about recent music, mentioning the live house he'd gone to with Anon.
"Oh, that one?" Ryo Yamada nodded. "I know that live house. It's pretty famous. I ran into a bassist there once who was really skilled."
"Wait, are you talking about that mercenary bassist? I haven't seen her yet. Is she really that good?"
Chihaya Kaiser had heard rumors too. Pretty much anyone who's been in a band knows about her.
Her tone was certain. "Yeah, her technique is solid, but for some reason, she doesn't have a regular band."
"Maybe she's like us. Had a falling out with her old bandmates. There are tons of scumbags in the band scene. Running into a few nasty people can really ruin your mood."
Chihaya Kaiser shrugged. "Student bands are better, anyway. Less drama. Everyone's just in it to have fun. That kind of pure mindset can actually take you further."
"Then... Kaiser, you have to believe me. This band will definitely be pure. It'll definitely be fun."
Ryō's nose tilted up slightly as she declared smugly, "Nijika said she loves my bass playing, and the new member is a junior who worships me. So, the one completely in charge of the band... is me!"
"Well, my skills are pretty terrible."
His gaze drifted away from the reflection on his coffee's surface, wandering around the room as he refused again.
"Then let's talk about it after the live show."
Ryō's confidence shone through her words. She picked up her coffee cup to look cool, but in reality, she hadn't taken a single sip, and it had already gone lukewarm.
She waved a hand dismissively. "Skill isn't the most important thing. I want you as my bandmate, Kaiser."
"..." He was silent for a moment.
"You have to be there tomorrow night." Ryo Yamada looked him in the eye, her gray-blue pupils hiding her emotions.
"Alright. See you tomorrow."
Chihaya Kaiser stood up. This time, no one stopped him, and he left the café without issue.
Through the glass, he looked back and waved at Ryō. She placed her fingers by the side of her forehead and gave a small flick.
They both knew that borrowing money was just an excuse to meet. The real point was, *I wanted to see you today.*
Ryō wanted a reason to talk to him about the band.
Join a new band?
He didn't even own a guitar anymore, and with the unpleasant experience from before, he shook his head.
He took the train home. It was already late.
His mom had left dinner out for him and Anon, and Chihaya Kaiser realized his sister wasn't home yet.
After eating, he went upstairs. A quick glance showed that the guitar was missing from its stand in the corner, and her gig bag was gone as well.
As expected. Did she go to band practice?
______
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