Chapter 405: Unconfirmed Riot (Patreon)

It had been a long time since Seika Ijichi last saw Jhin at STARRY, and she couldn't help being curious about what he was up to. So when her younger sister got home from school, she asked, "Nijika, why haven't I seen Jhin around lately? Didn't he get back from his business trip?"

"Hm?" Nijika set her school bag on a chair, and only then realized what her sister had asked. She smiled and answered, "He's working as the Store Manager at a café called 'Café LycoReco.'"

"He already started a record label, and he still ran off to be a Store Manager?"

"Oh! Right, the staff there are super cute too!" Nijika pulled out her phone, found Café LycoReco's social media account, and opened a photo from its feed to show her sister.

Seika glanced at the photo. They really were three beauties, each charming in her own way. "Then you'd better keep a close eye on Jhin for Bocchi-chan, and make sure he doesn't cheat."

"Jhin's not like that! But you're not wrong, Sis. Spending so much time around three beauties like that is a little worrying."

"What are you two talking about?"

"Ryo, let's go to Café LycoReco today!" Nijika repeated her conversation with her sister, only to be stared at with a strange look. She was a bit lost. "What? Why are you looking at me like that?"

You were out there hugging and clinging to Jhin yourself, and now you're worried he's playing around in a café?

Ryo didn't say it out loud. She blinked, looked away, and asked calmly, "What are we going to do once we're there?"

"Um… eat, hang out, talk about the new song."

"Where did the supervisor go?"

"Aw, it's fine as long as Bocchi-chan's there."

"Honestly, you just want to eat the sweets Jhin makes." Ryo bluntly poked a hole in her tiny bit of selfishness.

Nijika scratched her head sheepishly. "Okay, maybe I do. Who told him to make such delicious sweets?"

"I completely agree on that point."

"Ryo-senpai, Nijika, what are you two talking about?"

"Oh, Kita, Bocchi-chan, you're just in time! We're going to Café LycoReco today!"

"I don't mind. What about you, Bocchi-chan?"

"Ah… N-no problem."

"Great! Then Kessoku Band, let's go!"

…

Café LycoReco welcomed two special groups of customers today. One was the trio of Pecorine and her friends, who had come under the banner of "Mihama Academy representatives" to check on things. The other was Kessoku Band, who showed up later just to hang out.

"That pink-haired girl is Jhin's one and only officially designated public girlfriend, Hitori Gotoh," Sachi Komine whispered to Pecorine.

"She seems really timid. I think this is the first time I'm meeting her. Should I go say hi?" Pecorine opened wide and swallowed an entire slice of cake. The milky aroma and sweetness made her ahoge spin happily.

"How are you planning to say hi?"

With a fork still in her mouth, Pecorine mumbled in a questioning tone, "I like Jhin too, so let's get along from now on?"

"I think you'd better not do that." Kato Megumi was glad she'd asked one more question. If Pecorine had gone over and greeted her that bluntly, Jhin's harem would probably have gone up in smoke on the spot. "She has a friend next to her who doesn't know anything."

Everyone was getting by on a tacit understanding. Suddenly dragging this matter out into the open was far too scary.

"You're right. Thanks for the reminder, Megumi." Having said that, Pecorine went back to eating with her head down.

Jhin carried a plate of fried chicken nuggets over to Hitori Gotoh. "What brings you all here today? Don't you have anything better to do?"

Nijika picked up a fry and pointed it at him, her tone tinged with faint resentment. "How long has it been since you, Mr. Busy, came to see us at STARRY?"

"I've just had a lot going on. But I've got the personal terminal, so video calls count, right?"

"Of course not! Meeting in person is completely different from video!"

"Fair enough. I'll find some time to drop by in the next couple of days." As he spoke, Jhin snatched the fry from her hand and tossed it into his mouth. "When you head back, take some sweets for Store Manager and the others."

Ryo tugged at his sleeve. "What about ours?"

"Of course I've got some for you too."

"Good. I permit you to skip STARRY for a while."

Nijika quickly chopped the unreliable girl on the head. "Permit your head! Don't go making decisions for other people!"

Jhin picked up Hitori Gotoh, sat down himself, and settled her on his lap. With his cheek pressed against her temple, he said lazily, "The first album sold so-so, even with Shiraishi Yuzuki's help promoting it. For a rock band that's just debuted, that's a pretty good result."

"Actually, before this I'd prepared myself for the ending where we only sold a few dozen copies." Ryo could always be counted on to take the most pessimistic view. "I'm so glad I didn't have to spend my allowance to keep the sales from looking so bad."

Ikuyo Kita clapped her palms together in sudden realization. "No wonder Ryo-senpai was eating grass so often back then."

"Don't spend your money padding the sales!" Jhin didn't know whether to laugh or cry. "Wouldn't it be better to stay and eat?"

"So far the reviews for the album have been pretty good, so keep training. I remember there's a band contest coming up soon. Do you want to try entering?"

"Eh… a c-contest?" Hitori Gotoh froze stiff the moment she heard the word, her neck creaking like a rusty gear. "Can we not go?"

"Honestly, I don't mind either way. Mainly I want to build up your nerve, and get you all used to bigger stages while we're at it."

Ikuyo Kita flipped through her phone for a moment. "Is it that small music festival, 'Unidentified Riot'?"

"Sounds like that's the name. Band members have to be between 10 and 19, so it's a perfect warm-up for you."

"Sister Kazuki already signed us up."

At Nijika's words, Hitori Gotoh slowly melted like a candle held over a flame.

Amused, Jhin pinched her cheek. "Now you have to go whether you like it or not, so just work hard and be honest about it."

"C-can I hide in the mango box?"

"No. Besides, you have to pass the audition round before you can officially take part, so don't get cut at the audition stage. I believe in your abilities."

Hitori Gotoh wanted to say more, but when she met her boyfriend's gaze, full of trust and pride, she lost the ability to think in an instant. Her body went limp against him, and she nodded dazedly. "Mm."

"Whoo~ what a sappy couple." Ryo teased with a whistle, then grabbed Nijika's small hand and did an imitation. "Nijika, I believe you'll give me a raise."

"Are you trying to die?!" She yanked her hand back and shoved the money-obsessed Ryo away.

Chisato crouched behind the counter, silently biting a handkerchief and looking utterly dissatisfied. Takina suggested, "Why don't you go remind Store Manager that there's a new order?"

"I can't use such a despicable method!"

"Fine…" Her partner was so stubborn that there was nothing she could do. She stood up to look for another employee. "Where did Kurumi go?"