What's Wrong with Adding Me to So Many Omni-Anime Geniuses?

After a moment of speechlessness, he quickly came up with an excuse.

"Look, even when I go to other schools to relax, I don't forget to practice my instrument. This is proof of my diligence and hard work!"

"..."

Shiina Rikki lowered her head, staring intently into his pure, crimson eyes, unsure whether to believe him.

Really? It seems a bit fake.

Is it fake? It sounds pretty real though...

Seeing her persistence, Ogura Asahi clicked his tongue softly and used his trump card—he clutched his chest, his expression a mixture of pain and pitifulness, staring at her with hazy eyes:

"Li-Xi, can you really bear to see me running around so much, only to die from overwork?"

"Huh?"

Shiina Rikki was taken aback, wondering what he was up to.

"I know..."

He feigned a lowered gaze and wiped his eyes, his voice trembling with a hint of tears, "Someone like me, born weak, even if I put in several times more effort than others, still can't gain recognition from others..."

"To bloom and wither amidst struggle and toil, to give my all to others—that is my only destiny..."

After saying this, he gently pressed his chest and coughed a few times in a delicate, sickly manner, as if he were about to return to his hometown.

Beneath his fiery red eyes was a near-morbidly pale complexion—a fact he didn't even need to feign!

Shiina Rikki's breath hitched, and she suddenly remembered that the guy in front of her was actually a patient... because he was usually so energetic that she had forgotten that for a moment.

Thinking of this, she opened her small mouth slightly, but the words of criticism and demandingness stuck in her throat and she could no longer say them.

Even if the lamp is really looking forward to it, this will make her sad, but...

The thought of the terrifying scene of Ogura Asahi's illness at school last time made it impossible for her to bring herself to say it.

I was already grateful that he was willing to come and help me; I couldn't possibly force him and cause him to die in the team, could I?

"I... I understand..."

Her expression deflated, her face flushed and her body limp. She retreated and leaned against the cabinet behind her, easily defeated.

Chapter 423 Buckwheat Noodles and the Regular Visitor.

Having obtained her compromise, Ogura Asahi instantly changed her mood, her previous pitiful and miserable tone turning into a smiling face, full of confidence.

"I'm glad you agree! I knew it. Even though you've always been rude to me, you're actually a gentle girl at heart..."

"Stop, stop, stop!"

Shiina Rikki hastily stopped her, a few red lines appearing on her cheeks. "Don't say anything unnecessary! If you don't want to, then do as you please, but!"

She solemnly extended her slender, pale right index finger. "If you affect the band's progress, I won't be so lenient!"

"Although I doubt it, I'm still curious—what kind of impoliteness?"

His round eyes were filled with interest.

Naturally, he didn't get a reply from her, only another eye roll from her beauty mark.

"Well, in any case, as a reward for allowing me to be willful, I will listen to your opinions on most things from now on."

"I have no objection to organizing live performances or participating in street events afterward, just let me know."

He assessed the current situation and was quite satisfied.

If Shiina Rikki doesn't delve into the matter, the opposition will lose another member. Of the remaining three, Chihaya Aine, his apprentice, and Takamatsu Akari, who Social Anxiety Disorder that she doesn't dare to speak up and is afraid that the band will disband again, are unlikely to express their opposition.

Therefore, the only person who might feel somewhat dissatisfied is Nagasaki Sōse.

This vote is four to one, the advantage is on my side!

Even she wouldn't outwardly vehemently resist or rebuke. Why? Because she's a mother figure.

"What's the meaning?"

Nagasaki Sōse tried her best to control her facial expression, feigning confusion, "I understand that Asahi-chan is usually very busy, but what does 'sickly' mean?"

She glanced at him hesitantly at first, then looked to Shiina Rikki for an answer.

Um?

Ogura Asahi frowned slightly, a strange feeling creeping into her heart.

Being called "chan~" by a high school girl who was close to his age, or even a little younger, made him feel quite complicated.

After glancing at him and receiving his approval, Shiina Rikki sighed and explained the gist of the matter to the others.

"..."

X 3.

After a brief silence, as Ogura Asahi pondered whether the coffee shop, with its poor business, would eventually have to close down, the three gave different reactions.

"Um, Senior Asahi... is this true?"

"Waaaaah~!"

"Asah, Asahi-chan, you actually have such a difficult past... That's amazing, you've worked so hard!"

Chihaya Aine's disbelief and embarrassment at stepping on a landmine, Takamatsu Akari's sadness, Nagasaki Sōse's astonishment and unease—none of them could remain calm.

To them, he was, if not omnipotent, at least an overpowered monster.

I never imagined he had such a secret...

Nagasaki Sōse's eyes gradually hardened with conflicting emotions. Could it be that it was precisely because his life was constantly threatened that he was able to live like this?

Compared to the other person, her life experiences and sense of insecurity seemed to be negated as Shiina Rikki finished speaking.

No, these are not the same thing and cannot be generalized.

Unlike her partner, who constantly seeks novelty and fun, she craves a sense of security and happiness that remains constant...

But in the end, if I really had to do what I wanted to achieve, I would have to give such a person...

"Look at you all, I'm not some old man on his twilight years, why are you all so agitated?"

Ogura Asahi shrugged, nonchalantly reassuring, "Besides, that was in the past. Medical technology is so advanced now, I'll definitely be cured soon. Don't worry about it~"

"Alright, that's all for today. I have other appointments, so I'll be going now! Goodbye~"

He raised his left wrist to glance at the backwards-worn women's watch, greeted her in more colloquial language, gave a flat smile that betrayed no emotion, and then left.

The other four were left staring at each other, unsure of what to say.

Slurp~ Slurp~

Hiss~ Hiss~

"Tasty!!"

"A free dinner, I vaguely remember~"

"Thank you, thank you..."

"As expected of Talent-senpai! Your culinary skills are as superb as ever! You can even make such a bizarre food combination taste delicious!"

"It's fragrant and delicious, combining the delicate aroma of tea with smooth and savory noodles—it's truly ingenious... You'd probably have a hard time finding something like this in Tokyo Metropolis, right?"

"It tastes better than what Nijika makes."

"Hey! Sister! I'm not making these for you anymore!"

"..."

It's 7:30 PM. Since there are no performances today, the stars are Starry early.

After the initial busy period of business, the group of people who had been huddled underground all day began to gather together, sitting around the bar—eating noodles together.

To be precise, we ate buckwheat noodles and parfaits together.

Undoubtedly, parfait is Matcha Parfait, and soba noodles are... Matcha Soba.

The technique used was something I secretly learned during my last trip to Uji. I added matcha to what was originally a fairly normal soba noodle dish, creating a legendary dish that is sure to amaze everyone!

"Rakuna, how does it taste? I learned this recipe especially for you!"

Sakurakoji Talent proudly puffed out his chest and pressed his palm against Kanau's head, massaging and rubbing it.

To Kanau stop drinking her soup, she blinked her adorable heterochromatic eyes, then gave a thumbs up, her eyeliner squinting like a cat's. "Great, I like it!"

"That's good! Try today's Matcha Mega Parfait and see if you notice any difference!"

"Um!"

Kanau nodded solemnly, then stuck out her pink and nimble cat tongue and licked the parfait surface, which was shrouded in cool air, her little face full of enjoyment.

He quickly forgot about his problem, completely absorbed in the delicious food.

Buckwheat noodles with matcha and parfait—it's like triple the happiness!

"Speaking of which, the parfait does taste a little different today than usual..."

Ichiji Nijika smacked her lips, gazing thoughtfully at today's dessert, "Did Mr. Talent add anything today?"

As a trainee cook who often filled in for him at work, and one of only two people present who could cook, she quickly identified the problem. "This tastes very similar to the noodles, could it be because of the tea leaves?"

"Bingo~ You got it right!"

He clapped his hands approvingly to encourage you. "The matcha I used today is a local specialty that I brought back from my trip a few days ago, so I wanted you to try it. How is it?"

"Oh, right! My sister mentioned that you went to Uji, right? That famous matcha-producing region!"

She suddenly realized.

"So this cooking method is also..."

"That's right, it's that awful food over there."

"I see!"

She quickly understood and accepted it, continuing to slurp up the rather oddly colored noodles.

Including PA, the group silently savored the dinner he rarely cooked, and after a few minutes of quiet—

"By the way, do you still have matcha and this noodle dish?"

The first to break the silence was Ichiji Hoshika, who was staring blankly at the bottom of the bowl.

It seems she quite likes this, or perhaps she's temporarily attracted by the novel dish.

"The noodles are just regular noodles from the supermarket, but we still have some matcha as a specialty; I can give you some later."

After saying that, he glanced at her questioningly, looking her up and down. "But even if I gave it to you, could you cook?"

"..."

Ichiji Hoshika blushed slightly at his words, biting her lip and whispering, "I have Nijika!"

"Pfft—cough cough! I, I don't know either! I've never learned it!"

Ichiji Nijika choked and coughed, then hurriedly waved her hand.

"..."

Ichiji Hoshika remained silent.

He chuckled, watching her flustered and embarrassed yet feigning calm and indifference for a moment, then smiled and said, "I'll teach Nijika the recipe and the process later."

After a long while, he heard her soft reply:

"... Um."

Night.

"You..."

"That's right, I'm here again."

Ouka Mai greeted him brightly, "Hey~ long time no see, Darling ~"

"... It's only been a few days, it can't be considered a long time, can it?"