"Roar~ Talent actually lost? That's really rare." Learning that the usually Perfect Superhuman had lost once, Yamada Ryo became even more interested and continued asking about it.
"What was the game?"
Sakurakoji Talent looked troubled. Spotting her chance, Yukino Shita Hiyori quickly cut in and explained the situation to everyone.
"Mr. Talent, that was awful." Ichiji Nijika's eyes turned into little dots as she looked at him disdainfully.
Now she understood why her tsundere sister had reacted that way. Wasn't this just rubbing salt in her wounds?
What she didn't know was that there were actually other reasons her sister had become like this...
"Talent, I didn't expect you to be that kind of person." Though she didn't really care, Yamada Ryo still eagerly piled on.
"...Fine, it was my fault, okay?"
"Right, right~ So awful~" Seeing Sakurakoji Talent get shut down, Yukino Shita Hiyori was delighted.
"What right do you have to say that?!" Hiratsuka Shizuka nearly couldn't stop herself from punching her again.
How did the main culprit have the nerve to say something like that?
"Hehe~" Yukino Shita Hiyori put on an embarrassed, cutesy expression, trying to charm her way out of it again.
But almost no one present fell for that routine and chose to ignore her—perhaps because everyone was rather good-looking.
"So, what's the punishment game?"
"Let me make this clear first: Shizuka and I won't agree to any perverted demands like taking off our clothes!"
Seeing that no one was paying attention to her, Yukino Shita Hiyori pushed the conversation along by herself. Hugging her chest with a blush, she shyly looked at Sakurakoji Talent as though he were some lecher who would actually make such a demand.
"Hey! This was your mess! Why are you dragging me into it too?!"
"Are you still saying that now, Shizuka?" Yukino Shita Hiyori sighed. "What can we do? We lost."
"You lost!"
"But you didn't object earlier, did you?"
"..."
Hiratsuka Shizuka had no answer. Although she had known she couldn't stop her, she really hadn't resisted that actively either. She could only grit her teeth as veins bulged on her forehead. Damn it, she'd been tricked by this woman again.
"It's simple." Seeing how impatient Yukino Shita Hiyori was to accept her punishment, Sakurakoji Talent gave a mysterious smile and pointed toward the stage where the live performance was underway.
"You two can both play instruments, right?"
"We can, but how did you know?" Yukino Shita Hiyori looked at him suspiciously, a familiar sense of foreboding rising in her heart—the same feeling everyone she messed with would have.
"I guessed. Most people who come here are interested in music and live performances, and judging by your temperaments, you both look like people who play instruments."
Without even blinking, Sakurakoji Talent spouted nonsense with a perfectly serious expression.
Yet Yukino Shita Hiyori really couldn't find anything wrong with it. After all, what he said did make some sense.
"So? What do you want us to do?"
"I want you to work with our staff and put on an impromptu performance after all the bands finish performing. Of course, we'll provide the instruments."
"Huh?!"
Yukino Shita Hiyori's relaxed expression vanished. She stared fixedly at Sakurakoji Talent's profile, trying to determine whether he was joking.
After a while, she burst out laughing.
"Hahahaha, you really got me there!"
"You're right! If you're taking a punishment in a live house, this is exactly what you should do!"
"Fine, I accept!"
She wiped away the tears at the corners of her eyes from laughing, her gaze and expression shifting into competitive confidence as she answered readily.
"However, you'd better pick the song carefully. We can't just go on stage immediately if it's something we don't know."
"Don't worry about that. We'll go with your preferences. Just pick something you're familiar with."
"Ooh~ You're pretty confident, mister."
"I am a live house staff member, after all."
Yukino Shita Hiyori studied him with a smile, but after looking for a long while, she still couldn't figure anything out. She couldn't help finding it rather novel. "I'm getting more and more interested in you now. Hey, mister, are you really just an ordinary employee?"
"Genuine and guaranteed."
Unable to get any more information, Yukino Shita Hiyori decisively gave up investigating for the moment and turned to Hiratsuka Shizuka. "What should we do, Shizuka? What song should we pick?"
"How would I know? I haven't touched a Bass in ages. If I embarrass myself later, I won't let you off."
Hiratsuka Shizuka frowned, feeling as though this scene were strangely familiar. It stirred up some unpleasant memories.
When was the last time she had played Bass?
It seemed like it was because of this woman too!
"Come on, isn't this nice? It was unexpected, but I've wanted to perform with you again after so long."
"This is youth! Youth!"
Yukino Shita Hiyori still wore her signature smile, unconcerned as she joked her way past the matter.
"Since we're performing here, it'd be better to choose a popular song, right?"
"Probably."
Hiratsuka Shizuka looked at the lively atmosphere around them and calmed down as well. Although she had said she wouldn't let Yukino Shita Hiyori off if they embarrassed themselves, she had no intention of actually doing so.
"Then it's decided! How about this one? It's been pretty popular recently, and I like it too."
"Hmm, I haven't heard it before, but it doesn't seem very complicated."
"Let's borrow a small room from them later and practice a little. They should have one, right?"
After a brief discussion, the two reached an agreement, and Yukino Shita Hiyori returned to the bar counter.
"You've decided?" Sakurakoji Talent asked with a smile.
"Yep! This is the one!" Yukino Shita Hiyori suddenly thrust out her hand in front of her, striking that classic pose.
What appeared before Sakurakoji Talent's eyes was the lit screen of her phone. When he saw what was on it, he too showed an amused expression.
"Sure, I think it'll work."
"Do you have a rehearsal room here? We need to run through it first."
"We do. Please follow me."
Just as Sakurakoji Talent was about to lead them to the recording studio in the back, Ichiji Hoshika grabbed him. Her face was somewhat tense.
"Hey, hey, who gave you permission to agree to an extra performance on your own?"
"Can't I?" Sakurakoji Talent tilted his head in confusion.
"Do you even need to ask?! This is a business venue! People paid to watch the show! What if you mess it up?!" His deliberately cute act made Ichiji Hoshika's heart flutter and her cheeks grow warm, but she still forced herself to say it.
"That's why I said we'd do it at the end, as an extra surprise."
"You should've told me in advance anyway! You're being way too presumptuous!" Ichiji Hoshika held her head, looking conflicted and unsure what to do with him.
"Besides, who are you planning to have perform with them? Two people alone can't carry the stage."
"I was planning to go on myself, but if Nijika and Ryo are interested, they can join too."
"Huh? Us?"
Ichiji Nijika pointed at herself in surprise. How did this involve her too?
"Yeah. Are you interested?" Sakurakoji Talent looked at the two of them, inviting them with a hint of enthusiasm.
"Mm—Ryo, what do you think?" Ichiji Nijika hesitated and tossed the question to her best friend.
"Isn't this a rare opportunity? Usually, we can't even find anyone to perform with. I think we should do it."
Yamada Ryo struck her signature confident pose, completely unafraid of going on stage at the last minute.
"That's true! This really is a rare opportunity!"
"Then okay, Mr. Talent! We're joining too!"
Ichiji Nijika clenched both fists before her chest and made up her mind, looking at Sakurakoji Talent with determined eyes.
"Then let's do it together. More people will be more fun." Sakurakoji Talent curled his lips upward. Rarely, he felt a little excited too, and he handed them his phone screen.
"But have you practiced this song before?"
The two leaned toward the screen, then nodded. "No problem. It's pretty famous, and we've learned it too."
"That's good."
"Talent and Nijika are going to prepare for a live performance?"
After sending PA the song they would perform later and asking her to help adjust the sound, then having Ichiji Hoshika communicate with the bands, they were about to head to the back to prepare when their departure was interrupted again. He looked toward the person who spoke, his expression surprised.
"Yeah, what is it?" Sakurakoji Talent looked at Kanau, who had been watching the excitement from the side, and formed a faint guess.
Sure enough, the next moment—
"Then I want to join too!" Kanau's originally gentle little face became resolute as she voiced her thoughts.
"Then... together?" Sakurakoji Talent didn't even know what expression to use in this situation.
What was going on?
It was originally just a punishment game. Why were so many people fighting to join?
You people were way too socially anxious!
"Rakuna wants to join too?"
Ichiji Nijika was even more surprised. It was her first time seeing Kanau this proactive—aside from when Matcha Parfait was involved.
"Come to think of it, Rakuna can play instruments too? This is the first I've heard of it."
"Mm, I can play guitar, but I didn't bring mine today."
Kanau's delicate, adorable face scrunched up. Thinking that she would have to play something other than her own personal treasured instrument later made her feel a little uncomfortable.
"It's fine, we're just having some fun. Just make do with another guitar for now."
"We're short on time. Let's hurry over and rehearse it a couple of times first."
After comforting her, Sakurakoji Talent checked the time and urged everyone along.
Once they entered the recording studio, Sakurakoji Talent spoke again. "First, let's decide which instruments everyone will use."
"The two of us will take the Drum Kit and Bass. No problem with that, right?" Yukino Shita Hiyori spoke first, tossing a flirtatious wink at the others.
"Huh?" Ichiji Nijika and Yamada Ryo exchanged looks, then stared at her in astonishment.
Wait, if you're playing those, what are we supposed to play?
"Well, two Drum Kits and two Basses wouldn't be impossible?" Sakurakoji Talent said uncertainly.
But they were just messing around anyway, so it didn't really matter. At worst, he could turn their sound down a little later.
"Hmm? These two young ladies also play Drum Kit and Bass?" Having taken in their reactions, Yukino Shita Hiyori was surprised as well. She hadn't expected such a coincidence.
"I play guitar." Kanau took down a guitar of unknown ownership from the instrument rack beside her and declared it.
"Then I'll take Keyboard." Sakurakoji Talent naturally walked over to the electronic keyboard and gave it a simple tuning.
With time pressing, no one argued further. As they coordinated the song's rhythm and the instruments for each measure, they also familiarized themselves with the piece and their instruments.
Before you continue