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Chapter 231: Kessoku Band’s Bond Won’t Change
🕑 Added 2025-03-28 07:53:20 +0000 UTCSometimes, a look alone can make a person squirm.
Minami Shouji learned that firsthand today.
Feeling the stares of Ryo Yamada, Hitori Gotoh, and especially Ikuyo Kita, whose gaze was… complicated, Minami realized—
Maybe I really shouldn't joke around with girls like that anymore.
But honestly—
Who could've seen this coming?
Nijika Ijichi, usually so serious and proper, had actually taken his playful joke seriously—and kissed his cheek.
Sure, he knew she had some feelings for him.
But in front of everyone?
She actually did it…
No—maybe it was because she was Nijika. If it were Hitori, she'd have completely shut down, stammered, and panicked.
Minami rubbed his temples.
The only silver lining was that Seika Ijichi, the blonde, overprotective big sister and hardcore siscon, was currently at the front desk, prepping STARRY to open.
If she had seen that kiss…
Minami was sure she'd kick him out immediately.
But even now, the situation wasn't exactly "safe."
Ryo and Hitori could be dealt with—he'd just make it up to them, and they wouldn't complain.
Kita and PA-san, though? Not so easy to brush off.
So—
"You wanna say something? Just say it."
Minami calmly sipped his water and took the lead seat at the table.
Oddly enough, he was totally calm now.
No need to panic.
Ryo and Hitori hadn't said a word.
And Kita and PA? They were just friends—not like they had any deeper ties.
Nothing scandalous had happened.
He'd just be honest.
Raising his eyes, he met their gaze head-on.
"Uh?"
Minami's confidence surprised Ikuyo and PA.
Shouldn't he be flustered right now? Dodging the topic, acting nervous?
That's how male leads behave in anime and manga, right?
This unexpected boldness threw them completely off.
But—
"Minami-kun, what exactly is your relationship with Nijika-chan now? Don't worry, I won't tell the manager."
PA-san, intrigued, raised her hand to start the questioning—hoping to fluster him.
She lived for this, watching these younger kids squirm.
However—
"Nijika probably likes me."
"EH?!"
That direct answer, delivered without hesitation, completely broke her.
Minami turned the tables.
"Something wrong, PA-san?"
"…N-No, nothing at all."
No panic. No evasion. He even counterattacked.
PA opened her mouth, but nothing came out.
She realized—when it came to conversation tactics, she, a high school dropout, was no match for Minami.
After a few awkward sounds, she coughed and stood up. "I'm heading out."
Failing to tease Minami and getting completely reverse-teased, PA couldn't take it and bailed.
As she left—
Minami turned to Ikuyo Kita, who was clearly struggling.
"Kita, what about you? If you've got questions, ask. I won't hide anything."
"Ah… um… Hitori-chan and Ryo-senpai… are they okay with this?"
Surprisingly, Ikuyo didn't grill Minami.
She turned to Ryo, still munching snacks, and Hitori, blushing furiously.
Minami may be fine.
But what about them? Surely they weren't unaffected?
Ikuyo voiced her concern.
But—
"Mm? Ikuyo, what are you talking about?"
Under Ikuyo Kita's questioning gaze, Ryo Yamada lifted her striking face, looking utterly confused.
"Eh…?"
Ikuyo was stunned.
Ryo had definitely seen Nijika kiss Minami on the cheek. So why did she look like she had no clue what was going on?
Trying to clarify, Ikuyo reminded her, "Just now, when Nijika-senpai kissed Minami-san… Ryo-senpai saw it, right?"
"Yeah. I saw it."
"Then… don't you feel anything about that?"
"Hmm… If I were to kiss Minami, I'd go for the lips."
"Eh…?"
Ikuyo froze.
Not the reaction she expected at all.
Ryo liked Minami, didn't she? Shouldn't she be bothered? Jealous, maybe?
Why was she acting so calm—so unfazed?
Ikuyo was completely lost.
Had she fallen out of touch with youth culture?
Or was it just impossible to keep up with Ryo Yamada's tempo?
She didn't know what to say, so she turned to Hitori Gotoh instead.
"W-What about you, Hitori-chan? What do you think?"
"M-Me? Uh… well… I… I guess I'm kind of… jealous…?"
"..."
Okay, that was it. Ikuyo felt like she was completely out of sync with everything.
Ryo and Hitori were both speaking Japanese, but why did it feel like she couldn't understand a single word?
A strange panic crept into her chest, and just as she was about to speak again—
"Do you want to join us, Ikuyo?"
Amber eyes, cold and clear like glass, met hers.
Ryo asked calmly.
"J-Join… you?"
The words hit her like a thunderbolt.
Ikuyo's lips trembled.
Join them?
That's impossible!
Hitori, Ryo, and now even Nijika!
If she joined too, what kind of mess would that be?
She didn't feel that way—she couldn't.
But Ryo, as if reading her mind, added:
"If you didn't, then why are you so agitated? What are you afraid of?"
"Ah…"
Simple words, as always. But sharp—like a spike straight into her heart.
Agitated? Afraid?
Me?
Ikuyo wanted to deny it.
But the words caught in her throat.
She thought of those strange memories that had surfaced recently—dream-like fragments.
In them, she and the others met, worked hard together, got into college with Minami's help, made Kessoku Band famous, and slowly realized their dreams.
During that journey, all of them developed feelings for Minami.
And now…
Reality seemed to be unfolding exactly like that dream.
They were all falling for him—including her.
The more this came true, the more afraid she became.
She did like Minami.
But this sense of being guided by fate, as if her feelings were preordained, left her shaken.
She didn't want her heart to be dictated by a dream.
She was lost.
And that's when—
"You only need to do what feels right to you."
Minami finally spoke.
"No one's going to force you into something you don't want. Don't overthink it, and there's no need to feel lost."
To Minami, being confused by fragmented dreams was pointless.
Those memories were just dreams—nothing more.
Dreams couldn't change reality or how others truly felt.
Nijika's feelings didn't come from those memories.
She had already built that affection in reality.
The memories only made her realize it.
So—
"You don't need to get lost in illusions or memories."
Minami gently patted Kita's head, his voice calm.
"Because no matter what, our bond as Kessoku Band won't change because of a dream."
PS: Short chap today...
