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V2 Chapter 21: Kita’s Courage
🕑 Added 2025-05-09 13:15:13 +0000 UTC"Mission complete!"
Ikuyo Kita wiped the sweat from her brow with her sleeve and instantly returned to her usual energetic self.
When she first arrived at STARRY, there hadn't been many customers. But before she knew it, the crowd had multiplied at a visible speed. It got so hectic that even Nijika ended up carrying trays.
Meanwhile, Hitori Gotoh had repeated the motions of taking drink orders and saying "Thank you for your patronage" so many times that she'd become a mindless vending drone.
At this point, no matter what anyone said to her, all she could respond with was, "Thank you for your patronage."
"Good work."
Kazami Haru casually tossed a bottle of Max Coffee in his left hand and a Monster energy drink in his right toward Ryo Yamada. She caught both effortlessly, as if it were second nature.
The seamless coordination between them made Kita's face stiffen.
Huh?
Haru and Ryo-senpai are that in sync?!
I'm so jealous of both of them!
"Great job today, everyone~!" Nijika cheered as she took a small envelope from Seika Ijichi. "This is your part-time pay. We'll set aside a portion for the band's expenses—the rest is up to you!"
"In that case, can I buy the newest bass model?" Ryo asked, her eyes sparkling.
"No way! That wouldn't be enough at all!" Nijika yanked the envelope protectively into her chest, shielding it from the greedy bassist.
If they let Ryo handle the funds, they'd be in debt in less than two weeks.
Actually, the most trustworthy person for managing club expenses is probably… Haru—
Wait no, he and Ryo are two peas in a pod when it comes to spending recklessly.
Nijika turned to Haru, who had already changed out of his uniform, and sighed. "Haru-kun, you really finished your shift super fast today. I think you were the quickest one out of all of us?"
"That wasn't thanks to me. See that stray cat over there?"
Haru pointed at Kaname Raana , happily munching on snacks nearby. As thanks for helping him hand out flyers, he'd bought her a matcha milkshake and some treats with his own money.
All spent right here at STARRY. A financial loop of doom.
"Raana -chan? I can't believe she came today and helped you, no less?" Nijika looked at Raana in surprise. That free-spirited girl never got close to anyone. And now she'd quietly handed out flyers for Haru?
Did someone switch her out with a clone?
"Come to think of it…" Kita tilted her head. "What exactly was Haru's job? I didn't see him inside the store all day."
"Oh, he was outside handing out flyers in a butler uniform!" Nijika said cheerfully. "He looked so good in it! Even my tsundere sister was stunned for a few seconds!"
"Yeah, Haru dressed up was basically weaponized eye candy," Ryo added bluntly.
Kita's eyes widened. She turned toward Hitori in a panic.
"W-wait—Hitori-chan, you saw it too?!"
"…Yeah." Hitori nodded faintly, still dazed from the day's heavy workload. But remembering Haru in that uniform gave her a surprising mental jolt of clarity.
She'd just happened to catch a glimpse of him while heading toward Nijika earlier… and that image had seared itself into her brain permanently.
"I'm the only one who didn't see?!"
"JUST ME?!"
Ikuyo Kita felt the sky crashing down.
All because she'd been so desperate to redeem herself in front of the others, working diligently and focused all day, she'd completely missed this rarest of chances.
She wanted nothing more than to hop into Doraemon's time machine, go back 24 hours, and snap pictures of Haru as fast as her fingers could move—frame them, and plaster them across every wall in her room.
"I took some pics," Ryo said with a wicked grin curling at her lips.
"P-please, senpai!" Kita's voice quivered.
Ryo smiled like a demon. "One look costs 3,000 yen. For 30,000 yen, I'll let you keep it forever. And if you pay 300,000 yen annually, you get to hold Haru's hand once a week—plus a good morning/good night ASMR voice pack."
"I'll buy it!!!"
Kita, already far gone, trembled as she pulled her nearly empty wallet out of her pocket. She had just 11,451.4 yen left—but even a glimpse would be worth it.
Haru, smiling brightly, gave Ryo a light chop to the head with his hand.
"You've got some nerve. What, no profit share for me?"
"Wait, that's your problem?! You're mad about the split, not the whole insane scheme?!"
Nijika puffed out her cheeks and started weakly punching Haru's chest with tiny fists, not so much attacking as… kind of adorably throwing a fit.
I really want to be beaten to death by Nijika-mama, and make her regret it for the rest of her life. Let me die right here, in your loving arms.
That's how Haru described it in his mind.
"…"
Kita watched the group with a hint of envy. She wanted to say something, but her heart was pounding with hesitation.
Should I say it now…?
She wanted to rejoin the band. But after running away once, it felt shameless to ask now. Would they really accept her?
But if she didn't say it here and now—
Suddenly, she felt a gentle push from behind.
It was the last person she expected—Bocchi.
Hitori silently nudged her forward, lips pursed, eyes encouraging. She didn't want Kita's courage to go to waste.
Just like back then… when Haru had stood behind her, helping her join the band.
Kita wasn't joining just because of Haru.
She had practiced hard, every single day. She'd faced her fears head-on, doing everything she could to earn forgiveness.
Even the things Bocchi herself had never been able to do.
Kita stood frozen for a few seconds—then slowly gathered her courage.
"Um!"
Her sudden voice drew everyone's attention.
"I… I want to come back. Can I rejoin the band?"
The moment the words left her mouth, all her strength drained away. She stared down at her shoes, afraid to even lift her eyes.
Tick. Tick…
Ryo and Nijika glanced at each other, then looked toward Haru.
It was obvious, they wanted him to take the lead.
Haru raised a brow and locked eyes with Nijika.
"You're the leader, aren't you?"
"Nope! If Ryo and I say anything, she might think we're just being polite. But if you say it, it'll sound more sincere!"
Ryo nodded slightly in agreement.
Sighing, Haru looked at the trembling girl in front of him and spoke in a strange, almost teasing tone:
"Kita, what nonsense are you talking?"
"You never filed a formal withdrawal request, did you?"
"Eh?"
Kita slowly lifted her head, eyes wide in disbelief.
"That's right! At least, I never got any such notice~ Kita-chan."
Nijika beamed, her eyes curving into gentle crescent moons.
Kita's eyes welled up with emotion. The tension finally melted from her chest. Overcome with relief, she rushed forward and hugged Haru tightly without warning.
Her… flat chest made Haru's stomach ache a bit.
Ryo, who had been calmly watching from the side, suddenly narrowed her eyes.
She stepped forward and coolly pulled Haru out of Kita's arms.
"Kita," she said coldly, "you'd better come back after two more years of training."
"Don't say that! I'll be graduated by then!"
