"The first band to appear is... Kessoku Band? Have you heard of that name?"
"Never heard of it at all."
"Probably a newly formed band, right? So boring I'm dying waiting…"
The whispers among the audience weren't loud, but still hard to escape the ears of others.
"Will it really be okay?", Behind the bar counter, the PA-san, still wearing her usual black coat, poked the store manager at her side in the waist and looked toward the stage, a trace of worry flashing through her emerald green eyes.
"Ma ma, it'll be fine," This confidently brimming reply didn't come from Ichiji Seika, but from the tsundere store manager's side. A big sister with purple hair and purple eyes, reeking of heavy alcohol, dressed in a one-piece dress.
"We should have more faith in Bocchi-chan…", She squinted her eyes, boldly threw an arm around the tsundere store manager's neck with heroic flair, raised her thumb, and let out a drunken hiccup, "I really, really believe in that kid! She won't, won't fall down just because of some little setback… hic!"
Hiroi Kikuri, junior of Store Manager Seika from her university days, a very skilled bassist and hopeless drunkard.
A few days ago, she got dead drunk and collapsed on the roadside, was woken up by the passing-by Bocchi, and thus the two became acquainted.
The reason she came to STARRY today was to cheer on the junior she really had high hopes for, and also to freeload a celebratory feast.
"Ehehe~ Senpai, have you thought about where we're celebrating later? I know a great place… the drinks are cheap and tasty too~", Hiroi Kikuri leaned in drunkenly. To be fair, just in terms of looks, she could count as a decent beauty. If not for the lacking figure, she could easily score a nine.


Unfortunately, as a fellow woman, Store Manager Seika had no romantic interest in soft fragrant beauties in her arms, and surrounded by that thick alcohol stench, she had black lines all over her head, even her usual disgusted face couldn't hold up, and she coldly said, "That sort of thing has nothing to do with you, right?"
"Nah nah, don't say that~ I'm your legitimate junior from the same school with a different department, and also Bocchi-chan's good friend~"
"I told you already, stop randomly claiming family ties."
Watching this senpai-junior duo still having the leisure to bicker, the PA-san smiled helplessly, but her mood eased up a lot.
She looked toward the stage, where the members of Kessoku Band had already begun stepping up one after another.
This big sister with a traditional princess cut, looking like a Sengoku-era princess, silently said in her heart, 'Do your best~'
———
Though it was the first official live, the performance went surprisingly smoothly.
In the band, the most overall skilled member, Bocchi, would normally be unable to show her full guitar power in front of strangers due to social anxiety.
But with the president's help, her mind was now at ease, and she was like Saitama with his limiter unlocked, becoming a true "Guitar Hero".
Incidentally, before the official live started, Kita also nervously came over, hoping she could receive the same treatment as Bocchi.
She hadn't practiced the guitar for long, and had also been grounded by her mom for several days, so she was afraid of messing up on stage.
Kaito didn't refuse and gave her a calming spell as well, letting this sunny-horned girl successfully enter "sage mode," her previously nervous mood vanishing without a trace.
Thus, the weakest link of Kessoku Band was also filled in.
A great success in performance was only natural.
———
"""Cheers!"""
[Two Hours Later]
Though the extreme sis-con store manager Seika said things like "The performance was barely passable," and "Don't get cocky, you're still far off", the classic tsundere lines, she still honestly led her sister's band to a yakiniku place called "Inadaya" near Shimokitazawa, paid out of her own pocket, and held a post-event celebration banquet.
Originally, Kaito hadn't planned to join the fun, but the girls were very enthusiastic and righteously claimed that without his help, the performance couldn't have gone so smoothly, and that he was the greatest contributor to the band, so of course he had to come celebrate too.
Even Store Manager Seika coughed lightly and feigned nonchalance, saying she didn't mind the cost of one more person's meal, since he was already here, he might as well eat before leaving.
These words warmed the heart of a certain alcoholic big sister nearby, who then solemnly declared that since Senpai had invited her with such sincerity, of course she couldn't refuse and had no choice but to reluctantly stoop to enjoy with the commoners…
Though before finishing her sentence, she got a righteous iron punch from Store Manager Seika. But in the end, she still managed to freeload.
After three rounds of drinks and five rounds of dishes.
Although Japan has a regulation that people under twenty can't drink alcohol, in the wake of such a successful performance, and in the spirit of celebration, a few small drinks wouldn't hurt.
Even Store Manager Seika didn't stop them much, only warned Nijika and the others to drink in moderation and not end up blackout drunk like a certain detestable boozehound.
"Speaking of which, we really have to thank Kaito-senpai…", Nijika raised her glass. Her beautiful wine-red eyes were at the moment moist, like a rose field freshly bathed in rain, "If it weren't for your help, the performance absolutely wouldn't have been such a huge success…"
"Really, really really… thank you so much…"
"No need to dwell on it."
Kaito shook his head with a light smile, "After all, we're friends."
"Frie…nds?", The blonde girl gazed blankly at his eyes, deep as the stars, radiating infinite gravity. After a long time, it was as if she made some decision, and finally showed a smile as beautiful as spring flowers.
"Yeah, best friends!"
Though Nijika's behavior seemed completely normal, as her sister, Ichiji Seika still keenly sensed something unusual.
Though her figure was a bit disappointing, Store Manager Seika was still a reliable adult who had stepped into society for many years. Even without personal experience, she could tell, her sister seemed to have made some kind of decision in her heart.
'Is Nijika planning to take the initiative?'
Watching her sister drink one cup after another, her cute little face soon dyed with a beautiful crimson like a slowly blooming red rose, the tsundere store manager became a bit melancholic, even the chilled beer in her mouth lost its flavor.
To be honest, she herself didn't even know clearly. Was this feeling of loss because her little sister was growing up and going after her own happiness?
Or… for some other reason?
However…
Ijichi Seika took a deep breath, eyes resolute.
'As an older sister, I must be the support my sister needs when she needs help.'
'So, Nijika, just go for it.'
'No matter what, I'll help you.'
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