'It's absolutely revenge!'
To actually use herself as a condition to make Hachiman go "steal" her and her sister?
Even though Hachiman hasn't really hidden his liking for her sister, and her sister also thinks Hachiman is only interested in her.
But this girl Ryou actually really wants to help Hachiman "steal" her sister and the others, that's way too evil. And here she was treating Ryou as her best friend.
"Hiss! Nijika, don't be mad, it's not like I'm doing harm to the manager. I'm doing this for their own good, I can explain!"
Yamada Ryou knew that as soon as Ijichi Nijika heard what she just said, she would absolutely get mad, so she had already planned to dodge.
But right now her fingers were laced together with Hachiman's, and no matter how calm she looked on the surface, she had never actually gone through this kind of "situation" for real. Her body's reactions were a bit sluggish, and she failed to dodge Ijichi Nijika's flying tackle in time.
Now, with her face being aggressively pinched by Ijichi Nijika, she could only endure the pain and explain her "good intentions."
The two of them suddenly roughhousing like that made Ichinose Honami, Lala and the others stop what they were doing and look over at Ijichi Nijika and Yamada Ryou, but seeing that Hachiman was watching, they relaxed.
"Don't worry, Ryou and Nijika are really close. They're just messing around, they won't actually fight for real."
Hachiman stroked Ijichi Nijika's soft, smooth golden long hair, then beckoned to Gotou Hitori. Gotou Hitori hurriedly scooted up next to Hachiman, hugging his arm tightly as she watched Ijichi Nijika and Yamada Ryou, those two good friends, messing around.
"Not only did you sell me and Kita out, you're even selling out my sister and PA-san, how are you going to explain that?"
Ijichi Nijika lay sprawled across Hachiman's chest, both hands fiercely tugging at Yamada Ryou's cheeks, fuming.
Ryou was still trying to trick her at a time like this.
She clearly just sold her and her sister right in front of her face.
If you really want to spin it that way, then when she sold out Marin and Ryou, could that also be called "for their own good"?
"Nijika, haven't you always been worrying about the manager's future, wanting her to get married?"
Yamada Ryou endured the ravaging of her cheeks under Ijichi Nijika's fingers and tried her hardest to make a righteous-sounding argument to justify her selling out her friend.
"Uh, yeah, but what does that have to do with Hachiman?"
Ijichi Nijika froze. Seeing that Yamada Ryou's cheeks were pinched red by her, she loosened her fingers a little, but still stared at Yamada Ryou doubtfully.
Her sister was about to hit thirty, already a leftover woman of advanced age. She really was worried about her sister's future.
But letting Ryou sell her sister to Hachiman… she felt like she'd rather just keep worrying about her sister's future.
"How does it have nothing to do with Hachiman?"
Seeing that Ijichi Nijika had started to fall into her rhythm, Yamada Ryou immediately shot back.
"Look, Nijika, your relationship with Hachiman is already like this. Don't you think you'll probably be together with Hachiman in the future?"
"T… that should be the case, I guess."
Hearing Yamada Ryou bring up a question about her future relationship with Hachiman, Ijichi Nijika, lying on Hachiman's chest, lifted her head to look at him as he patted her head and didn't stop her from "a*saulting" Ryou. She sounded a little hesitant.
Caught between Yumiko and Hachiman like this, she couldn't guarantee what would happen to her in the future, but judging from how things looked, greedy Hachiman definitely wasn't planning to let her go.
Even though she didn't want to admit it, right now she really was just lying to herself, saying she didn't want to let Yumiko down while doing things that let Yumiko down.
"You're going to be with Hachiman, but the manager really has a big problem with Hachiman, doesn't she?"
Seeing that Ijichi Nijika's heart was already wavering, Yamada Ryou immediately tried to swap out the premise.
"In order to get the manager to approve of you and Hachiman, what's so bad about me helping Hachiman win over the manager?"
"As long as the manager likes Hachiman, would she still reject you and Hachiman being together?"
"No, that's not right. If Sis likes Hachiman, wouldn't she be even more likely to oppose me and Hachiman?"
Ijichi Nijika shook her head, denying Yamada Ryou's logic.
Even though her sister also plays in a band and is a rocker, her sister doesn't have such progressive ideas. Sisters both marrying the same guy or whatever, for her sister that would be really hard to accept, right?
"Would you be at ease handing the manager over to some other guy? You know what your sister is like at home."
Seeing that Ijichi Nijika had already accepted the premise of "the manager likes Hachiman," Yamada Ryou didn't give her any extra time to think and immediately pressed the advantage.
"But Hachiman is different. If the manager likes Hachiman just like you do, then even if she marries Hachiman, you sisters wouldn't have to be separated. You could keep living together forever."
"Lots of bands break up because of the pressures of real life, but if our whole band, including the manager and the sound engineer PA-san who support us, all like Hachiman…"
"Whenever there's a problem, Hachiman can mediate, and we can keep playing in a band and chasing our dreams together, right?"
"Nijika, just think about it. A legendary band that never breaks up, how awesome is that~"
"B… but, but…"
Yamada Ryou's ultra-ahead-of-its-time vision left Ijichi Nijika completely dumbfounded, totally shaken.
She felt like everything Ryou said was twisted logic, but for the moment she really couldn't think of anything to refute it.
Being in a band together, chasing their dreams together, a band that never breaks up, that really did make her heart waver a little.
But tonight was supposed to be her turning around and selling Ryou out, making Ryou taste what it feels like to be betrayed.
So how come it feels like she's the one being sold out by Ryou again, and even has to help Ryou sell out her sister?
———
[STARRY Livehouse]
The music venue run by Ijichi Seika was still open for business, but the underground idol concert being held there today was already reaching its end.
Although there had been quite a lot of fans and audience members at first, to the point that the part-timers Seika had hired couldn't keep up and she had to urgently call nearby cafe-worker Nishikigi Chisato over for help.
This underground idol group seemed to have only just been formed, and they clearly hadn't gone through any professional training. Their singing and performing were still clumsy, and the fans who had only just gotten into them felt disappointed by the live experience. As time went on, the crowd in front of the stage thinned out a lot.
Seeing this, Ijichi Seika told the part-timers who'd come to help to go watch the band's performance and learn something, while she sat alone behind the bar, lost in thought.
It wasn't the underground idols' amateurish performance that had her feeling gloomy.
Whether their performance was good or bad had nothing to do with her. She'd still collect the money she was owed; as long as no accidents happened, that was enough.
Her Livehouse might not be big, and the interior might be a bit dim and the atmosphere rather heavy, but maybe thanks to its good reputation and decent stage lighting effects, business at the place had always been good.
What she was really worried about was her little sister, Nijika.
It wasn't like Nijika had never stayed over at a friend's house before, but usually she would give a heads-up in advance, not wait until she was already on her way before notifying her.
Especially now that there was a super playboy mixed into Nijika's circle. From the way Nijika looked, she had quite a bit of affection for that guy too, and even though she knew he was a flirt, she didn't keep her guard up or keep her distance.
Even though Ryou had vouched for him and said it was just so Nijika could help with tutoring, she still couldn't shake the unease in her heart.
Ijichi Seika sat behind the bar, staring into the distance at the middle-school-age idols standing center stage, then suddenly picked up her phone and opened her chat with Nijika.
She should at least ask. What's wrong with a big sister worrying about her little sister?
But what should she ask? She needed to think about how to phrase it first. If she asked too many things, Nijika would think she was annoying and naggy.
Nijika had been so cute and clingy when she was little. Hmm… well, Nijika was still very cute now, but she really wasn't as obedient and well-behaved as when she was small.
"Manager, what are you thinking about?"
"Nothing much, I just wanted to ask Nijika if they've gone to sleep yet, and tell them not to stay up too late since they have school tomorrow."
Hearing a familiar voice from in front of her, Ijichi Seika immediately put down her phone and looked at the ponytailed girl across the counter. She shook her head, and her usually expressionless face actually showed the faintest smile.
"Nanami, why aren't you still watching the performance? It's not good?"
She didn't consider herself someone overflowing with sympathy, but toward this girl in front of her, who stayed strong through all kinds of difficulties, going to class in the daytime, working at night, juggling several part-time jobs while desperately chasing her dream… she felt she ought to give her a bit more warmth.
"No, it's pretty good. I don't really understand idols, but the way they're trying so hard is really dazzling."
Aoyama Nanami smiled and shook her head, turning to look at the purple-haired girl still singing hard in the center of the stage. Her eyes were full of admiration.
Even though she knew that quite a few people in the audience had left halfway through, and that this purple-haired girl's singing and dancing were far inferior to those of the popular idols, and even the smile on her face wasn't perfect or polished enough.
Maybe because she saw her own reflection in this girl, she felt that this imperfect idol was shining so brightly that you just didn't want to look away.
And in fact, she really did have good reason to feel that way.
Even if the performance results right now were terrible, this girl had at least actually debuted.
She herself, who wanted to become a voice actress, was still just training at a voice acting agency, with a long way to go before debut.
Knowing the situation Aoyama Nanami was in now, Ijichi Seika didn't say much. She just silently patted her shoulder.
This tough, hardworking girl didn't need consolation. She knew what she was doing.
It was just that in this world, hard work didn't necessarily bring the results you wished for. Hopefully Nanami would be able to get what she wanted.
"Manager Seika, Nanami, what are you two whispering about over here?"
While Ijichi Seika and Aoyama Nanami were sharing their feelings, Nishikigi Chisato came running over excitedly, and behind her was the expressionless black-haired straight-long-haired Inoue Takina.
When Ijichi Seika had called for help, the café's business was, as usual, painfully slow, so Nishikigi Chisato had simply dragged Inoue Takina along to help out and watch the idol concert while they were at it.
"Nothing much, we were just talking about Nijika staying out all night and wondering if she'd gone to bed yet."
Seeing Nishikigi Chisato and Inoue Takina walk over, Ijichi Seika skipped past the somewhat heavy topic from just now and shifted the subject back to her little sister.
Even though Nishikigi Chisato and the others were all good-hearted and, knowing about Aoyama Nanami's situation, wouldn't say anything cruel and would even comfort her, Aoyama Nanami probably didn't want to be pitied by others.
"Ohhh, so it's about Nijika. Isn't she tutoring Ryou? She probably isn't asleep yet. If you're worried, Manager Seika, why don't you just call her and ask?"
Nishikigi Chisato suddenly understood what Ijichi Seika was worried about.
When Nijika had called back earlier, she had been right next to Manager Seika, so she knew why Nijika was staying out all night.
But judging from Manager Seika's expression, she clearly still wasn't at ease.
Even if Nijika thought of her as an immature, never-growing leftover woman, she was, in the end, an older sister. It was hard to relax when her little sister was sleeping out somewhere.
"Mm, Manager, just call her. Nijika won't think you're annoying."
Aoyama Nanami also nodded, smiling gently as she spoke.
She had left her parents and come alone to the city to study and hustle. For her, concern from family was a very important comfort, and she believed Nijika felt the same.
Even though Nijika was only staying over somewhere and hadn't gone very far from the manager, Nijika was a kind and considerate girl too. A phone call only took a few minutes, why would she get mad about that?
"Since Chisato and Nanami both say so, I'll call and ask. If Nijika complains, you two have to help me smooth things over."
Seeing Nishikigi Chisato and Aoyama Nanami firmly support the idea of calling, Ijichi Seika unlocked her phone again and dialed directly.
It wasn't just her thinking she should call.
Chisato and the others thought so too, that she should check on Nijika.
Beside Nishikigi Chisato, Inoue Takina didn't say anything. She just looked at Ijichi Seika, who seemed to have made some huge, life-changing decision, with a bit of confusion in her eyes.
She didn't understand why making a phone call had to be so complicated. Was it really that hard to just ask?
But since everyone else was saying so, she just quietly watched.
Compared to working here as a server, she'd rather go back and carry out missions.
Beep!
After a while, when she heard the connection tone from the speaker, Ijichi Seika couldn't wait and spoke up.
"Hello, Nijika, are you asleep yet? I'm not disturbing your studying, am I?"
["Sis, Sis? Why are you suddenly calling? The shop isn't closed yet, right?"]
Getting a call from Ijichi Seika, Ijichi Nijika sounded incredibly shocked, with a thin thread of panic in her voice.
But the noise from the concert on Seika's end was pretty loud. Even in the corner by the bar, she could still hear the sound system, so she didn't pick up on the slight change in Nijika's tone.
"I finished up at the shop and called you while I had a free moment, what's wrong with that?"
Hearing that Ijichi Nijika not only didn't answer her question but instead demanded to know why she'd called, Ijichi Seika felt a bit displeased, so she simply came right out and voiced her concern.
"How long are you girls going to study before going to bed tonight? Tomorrow's not a holiday, you still have school. You and Ryou shouldn't stay up late."
"The exam is the day after tomorrow. If you suddenly pull an all-nighter to cram these two days, it'll actually affect your condition for the test."
"If Ryou really wants to study, she can just go over a little every day afterward. This exam isn't going to decide anything anyway."
As a former college student, Ijichi Seika immediately started passing on her experience.
["When we'll sleep tonight… n-no, I d-don't know… we'll probably go to bed soon, I guess…"]
Hearing her sister's concern, Ijichi Nijika was touched and paused, covering the receiver as she spoke in a tiny, faltering voice.
Who knew when they'd sleep tonight? It's not like she had experience with this kind of thing.
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