Chapter 275

Ichiji Hoshika sighed, giving up on struggling with the matter, and instead looked at him expectantly and curiously. "So, for my next birthday, you'll give me something of this caliber too?"

"Yes, I do. Manager, your birthday is in December, right?"

He exchanged a meaningful glance with her, "But are you really looking forward to your birthday? After your next birthday, you might..."

I'm 30 years old.

Without him saying it, Ichiji Hoshika understood his meaning, and a look of fear and shock appeared in her eyes.

He froze, his eyes glazed over, and stood motionless.

Yes, she's almost 30... Just thinking about it makes her burst into tears.

Although she doesn't usually care much about this, when she's surrounded by this group of "young people," the thought of it always makes her feel out of place.

Hiratsuka Shizuka wasn't here today. Even the PA who was closest in age to her was several years younger than her, and Hiratsuka Shizuka was two years younger than her.

Ah, without realizing it, I seem to be turning into an old woman...

"Don't worry, manager."

Ichiji Hoshika looked up at the only man there, who had his hand on her shoulder.

Sakurakoji Talent gave her a thumbs-up with a warm smile, "I won't mind your age, let's live life to the fullest together!"

"Talent, you..."

Ichiji Hoshika sniffed softly, her usually calm expression subtly changing; she had never been so moved before.

It turns out she misunderstood; this guy is actually a good person!

No, I'm just shamelessly lusting after your body, don't look at me like that.

Sensing the emotion in her gaze, Sakurakoji Talent realized this.

"Although it's not as good as Mr. Talent's, it's just a small room decoration I found at a gift shop. Please don't mind!"

Ichiji Nijika took out the small gift she had prepared.

"Thank you! Ijichi!"

PA and Ichiji Hoshika, who were left behind, also gave their gifts, and then the group began to cut the cake.

"Everyone, please continue eating. I need to go prepare for tonight's activities."

After eating a little, Sakurakoji Talent gestured to the others and returned to the kitchen.

It gets too noisy when the door is open at night, so we can't celebrate birthdays then. That's why we're doing this before the door opens.

His business isn't finished yet; he needs to work harder for a while longer.

After he had almost finished his work, Ichiji Nijika came over with a cake.

"Mr. Talent, are the preparations complete?"

"Yeah, it just finished. What happened?"

"You didn't eat much earlier, so I brought you some more."

"Oh, thank you."

He took a small piece of cake with fruit from her hand; their fingers touched halfway through, and Ichiji Nijika's face flushed.

"And, there's still that one,"

With one hand behind her back and the other twirling her blonde hair, she said, "Everyone just suggested visiting Bocchi-chan's house during the holidays. Mr. Talent, would you like to come along?"

"Shall we go to Bocchi-chan's house?"

He pondered for a moment, then said, "Okay, sure!"

"Okay! I'll go tell everyone!"

After saying that, she left in a somewhat flustered manner.

Watching her departing figure, Sakurakoji Talent chewed on the strawberry in his mouth; it was sweet and sour, and tasted quite good.

Chapter 317 Bushido and Natural Beauty.

Early morning, Hanasakigawa, Class 1-B.

"Ogura-kun! Are you alright?"

"You've come to school two days in a row... Don't push yourself too hard!"

"Keep going! Don't give in to fate!"

"Goo-hoo~ Ogura-kun ~"

"..."

Early in the morning, Ogura Asahi was surrounded by a group of girls, leaving him no chance to even speak to Hachiman Kairin and the others.

What's going on? I'm just here to attend school, why is it acting like I'm about to die?

"... I'm fine~ I'm used to it now, and I'm not in any immediate danger, so don't worry—but thank you all for your concern..."

Faced with so many classmates who cared about him, he couldn't just send them away.

Please, let's skip this topic. I need to spend more time getting to know the three of them.

"They actually said they're used to it, waaaaah~"

"There's no immediate danger to her life, which means it really is a life-threatening illness, right? Poor Ogura-kun..."

"What an outstanding personality to be able to balance work and study!"

"She's practically the protagonist of a classic wabi-sabi novel, so beautiful!"

"This is so touching! I've made up my mind! Starting today, I'm going to study hard! I'll only sleep 6 hours a day!"

"..."

"I think you don't need to push yourself like this," he thought to himself as he heard one of them make a vow.

Could it be that the biggest effect of my illness this time is to reshape the academic atmosphere at Hanasakigawa, encouraging students to take initiative and become more active?

Hikawa Sayo (former Disciplinary Committee)! Shirabe Rinko (former Student Council President)! Give me money!

What? Why would you want your ex to take the blame?

It's because they failed to produce a capable successor.

Perhaps it was because we hadn't spoken to him for a long time, and coupled with the special opportunities of the past two days, he spent several breaks in the morning surrounded by his classmates.

Feeling pressured by their enthusiastic gazes and the inspirational aura imposed upon him, he didn't dare to sleep all day, feeling extremely uncomfortable. For the first time, he realized that attending class could be such a difficult thing.

Until noon.

"Sorry, Shizuka, Kairin, Rikki, I can't have dinner with you again today."

"It's about time," said Ogura Asahi to the three beautiful women surrounding him.

"Don't talk like we've eaten together. Besides, who gave you permission to call me by my name?!"

"I don't really care, since Ogura-kun quite popular, but why did she suddenly call my name?"

"Did you go out to eat with those same Senpai again today? Little Asahi does this every time lately, I'm a little jealous~"

The responses that came in the opposite order to his shouts rang out one after another, which made him find it a little funny.

"Because I've been calling Shizuka by his name for so long, and I even call the seniors outside by their names, it would be too formal to call you by your surnames now, wouldn't it?"

"There's nothing we can do about it. After all, we're in different grades and classes, so the only chance we get to meet those seniors is during lunch break."

"Besides, I'm their fan, so I have to do things that are befitting of my fan status."

He answered all their questions one by one.

"I seem to remember that you, Little Asahi, are also one of my fans... You like so many idol groups!"

Miyako Shizuka stared at him speechlessly.

"Because you've become familiar with me! So you've moved on to someone new? I never thought you, Little Asahi, were this kind of person! crying"

"I'm sorry, I'm really sorry for being a bad girl..."

"I can see that now. Shall we give you a Blue Ribbon Best Fan Award?"

Shiina Rikki rested his chin on his hand and looked back, casually making a sarcastic remark.

"If there's no such thing as --Moon)*Ripples//Let's just make up an imprint of the Liu Award."

"Isn't that obvious? I'm just deliberately mocking you."

"That's too much... but maybe I can have it added as a prize in the future."

"This joke, coming from someone as pampered as you, is really not funny... Little Asahi Dewa."

This joke, which had a fatal flaw, made Miyako Shizuka's expression even more complicated.

"Well, I don't mind. From now on, I'll just call you by Ogura-kun name, Asahi -kun?"

Hachiman Kairin tilted her head expressionlessly.

"Huh?"

"Why are you the one who's surprised, Rikki-chan ~"

Ogura Asahi stared intently at the seat in front of him, a smirk playing on his lips, his red eyes sparkling with amusement.

"Shut up!"

Shiina Rikki turned around abruptly, her earlobes turning red. "You bastard, we'll just call you bastard!"

"Hmm~ Hmm~ A nickname? I like that too, thank you!"

"Shut up!!!"

After teasing her, he stretched, took out a bag of snacks, and distributed them to the three of them.

"Hey, same old thing, as an apology."

"Oh~ It's been a few days since I've had Asahi's snacks, I'm really craving them."

"Snort..."

"Okay, I accept it, I forgive you~"

Miyako Shizuka smiled and held a Donut to her cheek. "I can bring Mana a gift this afternoon."

"Then I'm off."

He picked up his lunchbox and another bag of snacks and headed for the back door.

May you rest in peace.

X 2.

"..."

Ogura Asahi, who had originally planned to continue to the Student Council Room after leaving the classroom, changed her mind after glancing at the scenery in the courtyard and changed her destination.

A few minutes later.

"Good afternoon, Kasumi-senpai, Arisa- senpai, Saya-senpai, Tae -Tae-senpai, Satomi-senpai... and Eve- senpai, right?"

The group of people sitting on their own picnic blankets on the grass in the courtyard were none other than the entire Poppin'Party, and Wakamiya Eve, the only high school student from Pastel*Palettes who remained in Hanasakigawa River.

The others, who were a year older than her, had already gone to university.

The girls from university were hard to get along with, and now the only one I can easily get to know is her, whom I often have lunch with PPP and the others.

[Note: Wakamiya Eve, White Hair player with twin braids, is of mixed Finnish and African descent (she really does have Nordic ancestry, though her hair color seems closer to silver-gray). She is PP's Keyboardist and loves traditional Japanese culture, especially Bushido (just kidding). She frequents the pawn shop "Ryuseido" Ichigaya Arisa family at least once a week. Currently, she works part-time at the Hazawa Tsugumi family's Cafe (there are so many part-timers at this little Cafe!)]

"Aren't Kasumi-senpai and Arisa- senpai in the Student Council Room today? I was just about to go look for you."

"Ah! It's Little Asahi! Come here, come here~"

Toyama Kasumi gestured for Ichigaya Arisa next to her to move aside, and patted the seat next to her.

"Since the Student Council didn't have much work today, I came out and ate with them."