Speaking of it, Aiden wasn't surprised that Iori Yagami was hanging out with Yashiro Nanakase and Chris.
Although the Yagami family was also one of the Three Sacred Treasures clans, for certain reasons they had once defected to Orochi.
Because of that, members of the Yagami clan were born with Orochi's power within their bodies. Strictly speaking, Iori Yagami could also be classified as part of the Eight Heavenly Kings.
He could get along peacefully with other members of the Eight Heavenly Kings, unlike the Kagura family, who mutually detested people of the Eight Heavenly Kings.
However, although Orochi's power allowed Iori Yagami to coexist peacefully with members of the Eight Heavenly Kings, under normal circumstances there wouldn't be many friendly expressions.
So Aiden guessed that Iori Yagami agreeing to form a band with Yashiro Nanakase and Chris was more likely because of music.
Iori Yagami's attainments in music were actually quite good.
While Aiden was thinking about this, he and Athena happened to pass by a rehearsal room. The half-closed door couldn't completely block the intense rock music coming from inside.
Aiden and Athena exchanged a glance, then stopped in tacit agreement and looked into the rehearsal room through the half-open door.
The man with short white hair, wearing a jacket stretched tight by his muscles, was Yashiro Nanakase.
The red-haired man dressed in an unconventional, non-mainstream style was Iori Yagami.
The other one, a black-haired boy wearing cropped pants and a blue shirt, was Chris, and he was also the band's lead vocalist.
The two of them listened at the door for a while. Aiden nodded. "Honestly, it sounds pretty good."
Athena nodded as well. "All three of them are very professional, but what's strange is that none of them came from professional music schools."
"That's talent," Aiden said with a smile.
"Exceptionally gifted. Some people are just born to do this." A trace of appreciation flashed through his eyes, their performance really was good.
After glancing into the rehearsal room, Athena kept paying attention to Aiden. Seeing his expression, she asked curiously, "Junior brother, do you like rock music?"
Aiden shook his head. "I'd say I'm just a little interested… actually, I'm not picky. As long as it sounds good, I like it. Melody comes first."
"What about otaku-style music?"
"That's included too."
"Oh!"
Athena stopped talking. Then she looked around in front, behind, left, and right. Seeing no outsiders, she grabbed Aiden's hand.
"Junior brother, let's go to the dance studio. I'll dance some otaku dances for you."
"Okay!" Aiden agreed without any hesitation.
Actually, Aiden didn't have a particularly good impression of otaku dances, back and forth, it was always just a few moves.
But that depended on who was dancing.
For a cute girl like Athena Asamiya, just standing there was already attractive enough. Any move she made looked good.
———
The entire afternoon, Aiden stayed with Athena, watching her dance, listening to her sing, holding her hands, kissing her small lips… this was his exclusive concert.
But by a little after five o'clock, the two of them had to part ways.
Aiden couldn't walk Athena home. After all, she was still a teenage idol. Unless she wanted to retire, if he walked her home today, she'd be on the news tomorrow. After the last tournament, she had already become a national-level idol. There were no fewer gossip paparazzi than for top-tier celebrities.
After watching Athena and her mature, big-sister-type manager drive away from the parking lot, Aiden also prepared to drive back to the shrine.
But just as he drove out of the underground parking garage, he saw the three members of the New Hell Band waiting for a ride by the roadside.
After thinking for a moment, Aiden parked the car in front of them, rolled down the window, and said to Iori Yagami, "Iori, want a ride?"
This wasn't their first meeting, and since this was already the third time, Aiden addressed him in a very friendly way.
"So it's you, Aiden. No wonder the license plate looked a bit familiar," Iori Yagami said.
His personality looked rather aloof, always appearing cold to everyone, and he usually didn't talk much. But in reality, he was fairly easy to get along with, the type who was cold on the outside but warm on the inside. Aside from Kyo Kusanagi, no matter who talked to him, he would respond with a few words, even if his tone sounded irritated.
"But I'm not going home," Iori Yagami continued.
"I'm planning to go out with Yashiro and Chris to find a place to eat. Just the three of us, so there's no need to trouble you."
Aiden had heard from Chizuru Kagura that Iori Yagami doted on his younger sister, Tsukihime Yagami, especially. He would go home on time after work and prepare dinner for her after she got back from her part-time job.
It was hard to imagine a man who looked so cold and ruthless turning into a house-husband in front of his sister, but it also proved just how much Iori Yagami loved her.
So hearing Iori Yagami say this, Aiden froze for a moment and asked curiously, "That's strange. If you're not going home, aren't you worried your sister will throw a tantrum?"
As he spoke, he glanced at Yashiro Nanakase, who was looking at the GTR he was driving with envy, and at Chris, who was sizing him up with curious eyes… Had Iori Yagami really hit it off with these two so quickly?
"The problem is that she's already throwing a tantrum," Iori Yagami said with a bitter smile.
"From last night until now, she hasn't said a single word to me."
"What happened between you two?" Aiden became even more curious.
"Sigh, it's a long story," Iori Yagami sighed, then looked at Aiden and said, "Want to go have a drink together? Chris doesn't drink. If it's just me and Yashiro drinking, it's not that interesting."
"Sure!" Aiden agreed readily. He patted the car door and said to the three members of the New Hell Band, "Get in. I'll take you there."
"Then can I sit in the passenger seat?"
Without waiting for Iori Yagami to respond, Yashiro Nanakase rubbed his hands together and said eagerly. His impatient expression made Chris beside him roll his eyes speechlessly.
Although Aiden really wanted to say that his passenger seat was for women only, there were no women right now. Plus, seeing how excited Yashiro looked, Aiden could only smile and nod. "Watch out for cars coming from behind."
"Don't worry, they won't kill me even if they hit me," Yashiro said indifferently, then quickly walked around the front of the car, opened the door, and got in.
Watching Yashiro's behavior, Aiden fell into thought.
It seemed that people of the Eight Heavenly Kings might all be pursuing a better life.
After Iori Yagami and Chris also got into the car, Aiden immediately started the engine and drove toward the location Iori had mentioned.
"So, uh, how much did this car cost?"
Yashiro asked excitedly while inspecting the interior as soon as he got in.
"It didn't cost anything. A woman of mine gave it to me," Aiden said casually.
Then he glanced at him and added, "Aiden, that's my name. And the woman who gave me the car is called Kagura Maki."
"..."
Hearing the name Kagura, both Yashiro and Chris were clearly stunned for a moment. But their reaction stopped there. Very quickly, Yashiro said enviously, "So you landed yourself a rich woman! I'm really jealous."
"..." This time it was Aiden's turn to be speechless.
'The way he said it, did I really look like someone who lived off a woman?'
At this moment, Yashiro pointed to Chris behind him and said, "Oh right, my name is Yashiro Nanakase. This is Chris."
"Hello! Aiden!" Chris nodded politely at Aiden, not looking at all like the kind of boy who could kill with an innocent smile.