Chapter 307

"Well then! To celebrate signing this contract, cheers!"

"Cheers!"

X N.

The next morning.

Kawaragi Momoka, rubbing her head, which was still heavy from a hangover, sat lazily up from her bed, her eyes still blurry with dizziness.

"Yo~ Good morning~ Did you sleep well?"

"Hmm, good morning... How should I put it, in my dream I felt like my body was floating in a fog, all light and unsteady..."

She answered instinctively, but a few seconds later, realizing what had happened, she suddenly opened her eyes and looked in horror at the person who had made the sound beside her.

Good morning, Momoka.

With one hand supporting his head, he turned to the side, peacefully admiring her exquisite limbs as she emerged from the blankets and into the air. Sakurakoji Talent greeted him with a smile.

"You, how did you get here?!"

Kawaragi Momoka looked down, blushed instantly, and quickly pulled the covers up.

Don't you remember?

"How would I know! I was drunk..."

She clutched her head in frustration.

Could it be that, like last time, that kind of thing happened again?

"Don't you already know that?"

He rolled his eyes at her and teased, "So, I warned you beforehand not to drink, but you were still so stubborn..."

"Nonsense! You clearly said you weren't stopping me!"

Kawaragi Momoka puffed out her cheeks in anger.

"I can't exactly say in front of Nina and the others that I'm worried something bad might happen between us if you get drunk, can I?"

"..."

"Alright, you're awake too. We need to do some stretching in the morning, come help me..."

"Wait! What are you doing?! Don't go any further!"

"You know the answer already... Wow, the smell of alcohol is strong! To prevent you from drinking like this again, I think you still need to be punished!"

(^One) Cold up like% up (four) noon ^ "No, don't do this... Unnie~ that's right!"

A knock sounded on the door.

"Miss Momoka ~ Are you awake yet?"

Inoseri Nina's voice penetrated the door and was clearly heard by the two of them.

Kawaragi Momoka's heart leaped into her throat, and her body instantly stiffened and tensed even more.

"Ahem, speak..."

Caught off guard, Sakurakoji Talent blushed slightly and whispered a reminder in her ear.

"Ren, Nina? I just got up and am still getting dressed. Is there something you need?"

With a strange, distorted voice, she forced herself to answer the other person.

Fortunately, Inoseri Nina outside didn't notice anything amiss and continued, "Ah, yes! It's like this, I was planning to go home with my sister today and wanted to tell everyone!"

"Oh, I see. Well then, have a safe trip!"

After Kokoro finishing her sentence, she glared at the despicable guy and said in a low, halting voice, "Idiot, you idiot! You'll... get... found out!"

"Then our captain has to work hard and do his best!"

He chuckled softly in her ear, only intensifying his actions.

"You bastard, you scoundrel..."

"OK, thanks!"

Before Inoseri Nina could finish speaking, she said, "Um, Miss Momoka, do you know where Mr. Talent went? He doesn't seem to be in his room, and Subaru and the others said they don't know either."

"No, I don't know... That... guy, he's been so secretive... He might have already gone back to Tokyo..."

"Oh, I was hoping to say goodbye to him. What a pity..."

Her voice was filled with regret as she began to mutter to herself, "Mr. Talent has helped me a lot since I arrived in Tokyo."

"So I think I should at least say goodbye to him before leaving Kawasaki and going back."

"You've already helped me, Nina, really—" Sakurakoji Talent, who had been listening quietly, nodded solemnly, acknowledging her sincerity.

"Saying goodbye on the phone... is the same thing, that guy... will reply after he sees it!"

To keep her mind clear, Kawaragi Momoka almost bit her lip until it bled.

"Okay! I'll do it right away!"

Inoseri Nina's voice was firm, and one could faintly sense her nodding.

Then she asked with a puzzled look, "But your voice sounds a bit off, Miss Momoka, what's wrong?"

"No, it's nothing... I probably drank too much last night... so I'm a little... dizzy!"

"Mo~"

Inoseri Nina didn't suspect anything, but sighed helplessly, "I've told you to drink less alcohol. Your alcohol tolerance isn't as good as Miss Rupa's. Do you know how much effort it takes for us to carry you back after you get completely drunk?"

"Take last time, for example..."

She started muttering to herself incessantly.

I'm so sorry! I'm so sorry!

Inside the room, Kawaragi Momoka covered her mouth and nose, her eyes filled with desperate remorse.

I promise I'll drink less in the future, so please! Please go now!

Ten minutes later, after she finished telling her story about being drunk and felt finally free, Kawaragi Momoka heard words that filled her with despair.

"But I can understand, after all, I had a really fun time last night~"

Inoseri Nina said in a smug tone:

"I never imagined that we, who had only just formed a band, would be able to sign a contract and go professional so quickly. It feels like a dream!"

"Ah~ But I also have to thank Mr. Talent! I can never be enough to express my gratitude for his kindness!"

"..."

Ugh~

Kawaragi Momoka lay on the bed, her Hands limply pounding the soft, bouncy mattress, her eyes numb.

Ten more minutes passed.

Inoseri Nina finally finished talking and decided to leave. "That's settled then. Miss Momoka, your room must smell of alcohol, so I won't go in. Remember to be careful with your intake next time!"

"Well then, I'm off!"

"Bon Voyage..."

This blessing was so faint, barely audible, that it's unknown whether it reached Inoseri Nina's ears.

However, this may not be very important.

For her, the most important thing was to be able to talk to the two people who were most special to her before she left, and to draw motivation from them to move forward.

Sakurakoji Talent has faded, so his only remaining object of affection is Kawaragi Momoka.

However, she had no idea how much harm her small wish would cause to the other person.

Half an hour after Inoseri Nina left, Sakurakoji Talent pushed open the door and came out.

He took a deep breath, finding the morning air here so pleasant and relaxing, completely ignoring the smell of alcohol in the room and the lingering, hazy atmosphere left by everyone in the living room last night.

Kawasaki is a great place, I'll have to come here more often...

Just as he was about to go wash up, a voice called out to him.

"Oh, Mr. Talent, you're back! Were you just in Momoka's room?"

RUPA, who had just come out of the living room, paused when he saw him push open the door and walk out.

Sakurakoji Talent blinked, her mind racing.

Luckily, I closed the door just now; it's not really appropriate for her to see what's inside.

Momoka must have heard the noise too, right? I just wonder when she'll be able to pull herself together.

"Yeah, I went for a morning run earlier. I saw a text from Nina on my phone saying she went back. I just went to discuss the band's future contract with Momoka."

He explained, half-jokingly, "But she's still hungover, I think we should talk to her later."

"Oh, I see!"

RUPA felt inexplicably relieved and said with a smile, "I bought some breakfast. Would you like to have some together later if you don't mind?"

"I want some! Thank you! I'm really hungry!"

"A gentle and considerate older sister is so nice," he said sincerely. "RUPA is so capable... unlike some captain who can't hold his liquor but still loves to drink, really..."

Thump!

A dull thud came from the door behind me.

Based on his deduction, it should be the pillow he used yesterday—but judging from the angle, it could also be the one she used.

That's amazing! Even at a time like this, you can still muster so much strength.

They really shouldn't be underestimated; the stamina of the band girls is impressive. After all, each of them can sing and dance live for a long time without stopping.

This amount of physical exertion should be recoverable quickly, right?

It seems he can't slack off; he really needs to train hard, or he'll suffer later.

"Ahem! Okay, okay! I won't say anymore..."

He turned around and headed towards the restroom.

"Well then! I'll head back now, see you next time~"

Have a safe trip!

Bye-bye~

After finishing breakfast, Sakurakoji Talent, who was preparing to leave, fell into deep thought in front of the entrance hall.

He only now realized that, due to the suddenness of the incident, there were some loopholes in the lie he had just made up.

Because his shoes were still safely placed on the shoe cabinet in the entryway...

Inoseri Nina is rather oblivious, and since we didn't speak directly to him, he probably didn't notice. But when he went out to buy breakfast for everyone in the morning, Inoseri Nina asked him where he was in RUPA...

He swallowed hard, a few drops of cold sweat trickling down his forehead.

Even if he used the spare shoes as an excuse to leave now, it wouldn't be enough to confirm that she didn't come back to check while he was washing up and eating breakfast...

What to do? It seems like the guild is about to collapse.

Now that things have come to this, it seems we can only hope that she didn't see it.

But even if I saw it... so what!

He joined the band, wasn't it for...?

One hour later.

Sakurakoji Talent not only returned to the Ten no Yashiro apartment, but also changed into casual clothes—that is, Ogura Asahi's clothes.