Chapter 114

Nijika echoed Ishikawa Hayato's words, saying...

"Yes, there may not be many guests, but we will still do our best in the performance."

Ishikawa Hayato watched as Nijika comforted not only others but also herself, and sighed inwardly.

When Nijika encounters difficulties she can't accept, she easily becomes stubborn.

He seemed to agree with what Nijika said, speaking to Bocchi and Kita.

"Although it's a commercial performance, we can't just focus on customers; the fundamental thing is that everyone enjoys doing something together."

The two listened attentively and nodded.

After responding, Kita regained his sunny expression, smiling and sighing.

"Ishikawa-kun- kun only gets serious at times like this."

Even Bocchi nodded in agreement.

Nijika was a little puzzled as to why Ishikawa Hayato had repeated something similar, but she didn't think about it too much. Noticing their wet hair and trouser legs, she hurriedly urged them on.

"We'll talk about that later. You two should go dry your hair and clothes, so you don't catch a cold."

When Ishikawa Hayato was urged on by Nijika, he looked back.

Seika, who had been slumped over the bar with resentment, now looked up in this direction. Her face, wrinkled from being pressed against her clothes and somewhat gloomy, resembled a field in disarray after a downpour.

But his expression suggested he had accepted reality, clearly indicating he had been eavesdropping.

Seeing her expression, Ishikawa Hayato's lips curled into a smile, while Seika's face immediately darkened, and she quickly turned her head away with a snort.

Ishikawa Hayato quickly changed his clothes, dried his hair, tugged at his trouser cuffs, gave them a quick blow-dry with a hairdryer, and headed towards the lobby.

As a pervert, he also had something to be proud of: he had never been sick since the third grade of elementary school.

His level of perversion is so extreme that even viruses are afraid of him!

As he stepped out from backstage, he saw Nijika leaning quietly against the wall next to the preparation room.

Her side ponytail allowed her to lean her head against the wall.

The large bow tie made of ribbon accentuated her petite and adorable figure.

He walked over.

Nijika looked up when she heard footsteps and smiled when she saw Ishikawa Hayato.

"Hayato-kun, everyone's in the rehearsal room. Let's try rehearsing once later."

She asked Ishikawa Hayato, as if seeking his opinion.

"Good idea, but just choose a few sections to practice. Practicing too much will make you too nervous."

"That's true."

Nijika smiled and readily agreed.

However, instead of following her lead to the rehearsal room, Ishikawa Hayato walked directly to her side and leaned against the wall with her.

Nijika looked up at him in surprise, but didn't say anything.

Ishikawa Hayato looked down at the oldest, shortest, and most responsible girl in the band.

She gazed quietly at the arena, lost in thought.

"Team leader, are you nervous?"

Upon hearing Ishikawa Hayato's words, Nijika suddenly looked up, puzzled, but then immediately raised her hand and waved it repeatedly.

"Nervous? How could I be? We've already performed on the streets before."

Ishikawa Hayato completely ignored the piercing gaze of an unidentified blonde woman in her late 30s wearing a fitted T-shirt standing to his side.

He said to Nijika with a smile.

"Real?"

Of course.

Nijika gave a crisp and decisive answer.

Ishikawa Hayato smiled and feigned reluctance, saying weakly.

"But I'm so nervous, I've even forgotten the order of today's playlist."

His expression earned him a sidelong glance from Nijika, but she quickly chuckled softly and said helplessly.

"The first song is 'Guitar and Loneliness,' the second is 'That Band,' and the third is 'If I Could Become a Constellation,' Hayato-kun, don't get it wrong!"

Ishikawa Hayato nodded repeatedly.

Nijika is so adorable; she knows he hasn't forgotten, yet she's still willing to cooperate with him.

"Nijika is so gentle."

Nijika felt like she was being teased again, and angrily moved her foot to the side, forcefully slapping the sole of Ishikawa Hayato's shoe against it.

The soles of the shoes collided, producing a dull thud.

This counterattack is so cute! Its cuteness level keeps rising.

Ishikawa Hayato wanted nothing more than to pull her into his arms.

But that would definitely make Nijika angry, and...

He glanced at Seika had now completely transformed into a demon. Her face was taut and contorted with grotesque crimson muscles, and sharp demonic horns protruded from her head as she glared at him with murderous intent.

Even PA-san, standing nearby, awkwardly chose to avoid the situation due to its imposing presence.

It was as if she was just waiting for Nijika to be off guard before she pounced on him and killed him.

But Ishikawa Hayato was not afraid at all. If it weren't for the fact that Nijika would be unhappy, he would definitely have hugged Nijika and sniffed her right in front of her.

Perverts like the most stimulating things!

Not long after, Bocchi finished changing his clothes, dried his hair, and walked into the hall.

After meeting up, the three headed towards the rehearsal room.

As soon as they opened the door, they saw Kita and Ryo talking, but they were too late; they only heard Kita a worried expression.

"Is it the same for Ryo-senpai?"

Liang, wearing a band T-shirt, sat calmly in the corner, his golden eyes fixed on his phone while he swiped with one hand.

She didn't say anything.

"What's wrong?"

Seeing this, Nijika quickly stepped forward and asked worriedly.

Kita's eyes flickered, as if she was hesitant to tell Nijika the news, but after only a moment's hesitation, she spoke.

"My friends can't come..."

They originally wanted to invite more people to support them, including relatives and friends who were interested in their performance.

But the typhoon stripped away all their preparations for the performance.

After Kita, Ishikawa Hayato also spoke.

"My dad also thought the rain was too heavy, so he stayed in the parking lot, lying in his car playing on his phone and refused to come out."

His laughter simply paints a picture of a lazy, good-for-nothing middle-aged man.

"That's true, with the rain so heavy, there's nothing we can do but keep going!"

Nijika was already prepared and didn't take it to heart at all. She smiled and clenched her fist to cheer on the four of them.

But none of them mentioned what they cared about most, and that was...

Will those who bought tickets come?

Silently filled with anticipation, they began their final rehearsals before the performance.

99. Fans

After practice, Ishikawa Hayato noticed that they were a little down, but their rhythm was still very steady.

If this continues, the performance may not be as effective as the street performance, but it can still end smoothly.

They came out of the rehearsal room.

But what they saw after they came out chilled them to the bone.

It was already 5 o'clock. If it were a regular weekend, there would already be quite a few customers waiting inside.

But today, as if mocking them, there wasn't a single customer.

The place suddenly felt unfamiliar to them.

Even the waiters standing at the bar were strangers whom Seika had called in temporarily to help out.

Nijika had seen this kind of scene before, but the other four had not. She anxiously observed their expressions.

Kita and Bocchi looked somewhat worried, while Ishikawa Hayato and Ryo remained quite calm.

When she didn't know what to do.

"Hey everyone, I've come to see your performance!"

A drunken voice, accompanied by the sound of dripping water, descended the steps.

Hiroi Kikuri staggered down the steps, waving her ticket stub in her hand.

"Thank you for the ticket, sir."

Ishikawa Hayato was quite surprised. Today, it was Seika who was checking tickets at the entrance, and she actually let this drunkard in, all soaking wet.

He was even a little curious about what it would be like for Seika to check her ticket.

However, her arrival at this time eased the anxiety of the group somewhat; this drunkard could be considered a half-guest, after all.

"Hiroi-nee, did you come all this way in this heavy rain?"

Kita was quite surprised.

"That's right, I definitely have to come to everyone's performances~ Yay..."

Ishikawa Hayato frowned slightly as he looked at the water droplets dripping from Hiroi Kikuri's skirt, then pointed at her and asked Nijika.

"Nijika, have you changed this drunkard's clothes?"

"Ah, yes."

Nijika snapped out of her daze and walked towards Hiroi Kikuri, preparing to take her backstage to change clothes.

But seeing Hiroi Kikuri's wet appearance, she hesitated and paused.

"Wait a minute~ what's my opinion?"

Hiroi Kikuri was waving her hands around like a drunkard.

"The wind is really strong today; you can even hear it inside the shop."

Ishikawa Hayato ignored her words and walked forward.

"Hey buddy, you're so mean, you're ignoring me completely..."

"I don't care about the whooshing sound of the bottle being blown by the wind."

As he spoke, he nimbly stepped past Nijika, grabbed Hiroi Kikuri's arm, pressed her shoulder, and gestured with his eyes for Nijika to clear the way.

Seeing that he had the drunkard under control, Nijika didn't go forward. She gave Ishikawa Hayato a slightly apologetic look.

He was amused by the way he kept coldly attacking Hiroi Kikuri while simultaneously showing concern for her.

"This way."