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Chapter 89: Kessoku Band’s Support Member
🕑 Added 2025-02-09 01:03:28 +0000 UTCPreparing meals for Starry's staff wasn't that difficult.
After all, including Ijichi Seika,
The entire staff was only six people.
For someone like Minami,
Whose cooking skill was already at LV4,
This wasn't a challenge at all.
As he placed the sizzling steak onto an iron plate,
He picked up the dish and carried it out to the waiting room.
The rich, mouthwatering aroma immediately filled the air,
Causing a chorus of amazed gasps from the Starry staff.
"Ohhh—?!"
Minami ignored their reactions.
Once he finished what he had agreed on with Ijichi Seika,
He returned to his usual corner,
Flipping open the book in his hands.
Under the warm glow of the lights,
He quietly flipped through the pages, deep in thought.
A sight reminiscent of an elegant scholar from ancient times,
Holding a book with wisdom in his eyes.
"This is delicious!"
Ijichi Nijika, who had already been waiting impatiently,
Took a bite of the steak and practically melted.
After finishing, she pressed her hands together in thanks and murmured,
"Gochisousama deshita." (Thank you for the feast)
Then, she turned curiously toward Minami.
"Minami-san, what are you reading?"
"Onda Riku's The Sixth Sayoko."
(TL Notes: Sayoko Tsumura – a beautiful and mysterious transfer student at a local high school. For more than ten years, a strange game has been passed down in the high school. Every three years, a student called Sayoko is chosen by an invisible hand. This year, the "Sixth Sayoko" was to be born. School life, friendship, and love. This legendary debut work encapsulates the brightness of youth, which will eventually be lost, in a beautiful crystal, and envelops it in a jet-black horror.)
"Uh…"
Nijika racked her brain,
But when she couldn't recall the title,
She asked—
"Is it good?"
"It's alright."
Minami flipped a page without even looking up.
His answer was casual and indifferent.
"I see…"
Nijika wanted to continue the conversation,
But the next moment—
"Minami, give me another serving."
A hand extended a plate forward,
While the other wiped a mouth—
The culprit?
None other than Yamada Ryo.
"You still aren't full? Yamada-san?"
Minami finally put down his book,
Feeling a bit surprised.
Considering everyone's appetites,
He had purposely given them extra-large portions.
Each steak was huge—
It should have been more than enough for a group of girls barely in their late teens or early twenties.
"It's Ryo."
Ryo corrected him.
Then, resting her chin on her hand, she continued—
"I'm already full. My stomach is completely stuffed."
"But… I don't know why… I still want to eat your cooking."
"You'll get fat, Yamada-san."
"You know it's rude to keep calling someone the wrong name, right? It's Ryo."
"Oh? Is Yamada-san mad?"
"Not mad. I forgive you."
Ryo lazily propped up her chin,
Her expression as calm and composed as ever.
Then, simply and directly, she stated:
"I don't care if I get fat. It doesn't bother me."
"Now go make me another serving, Minami."
"No."
Minami responded just as bluntly.
"Why?"
"Too lazy."
Minami yawned.
"I'm mad, Minami."
"Doesn't matter, Yamada-san."
"It's Ryo."
"Okay, Yamada-san."
"..."
Ryo didn't say anything,
She simply stared at Minami with her usual blank expression,
Then slowly stuck out her small tongue and licked the remaining steak sauce from her plate.
"...Sigh."
"Aside from Yamada-san, does anyone else want another serving? Hitori?"
Seeing Ryo's unwavering gaze,
Minami finally sighed in defeat,
Set his book down, and stood up.
Then, he saw—
A chorus of raised hands.
Pure white, slender hands,
All raised at the exact same time.
"...So, all of you, huh?"
Minami shook his head,
Then headed back upstairs to the kitchen,
Leaving behind just one parting remark—
"You're all going to get fat."
As they watched him leave,
Ryo turned to Ijichi Seika.
"Manager, I have a proposal."
"What?"
Seika had been waiting in anticipation for her next meal,
But hearing Ryo's serious tone,
She turned her head curiously.
"I think we should hire Minami as Starry's chef."
The moment Ryo said this—
Not just Hitori,
But Nijika, Kita, and even PA-san all perked up.
Then—
"No."
"Eh—?!"
It wasn't just Ryo this time.
Every girl in the room let out the exact same disappointed groan.
"You girls… You've completely let that guy take over your stomachs, huh?"
Seika shook her head,
Looking at the group with exasperation.
How long had Minami even been coming to Starry?
Not even a few days,
And yet, they were already siding with him over their own manager.
But…
Even she had to admit—
There was something about his cooking.
Something that lingered.
Something that immersed you.
A feeling of pure happiness.
Ever since eating Minami's food—
Spending money on restaurant meals had started to feel…
Pointless.
Seika let out a small sigh,
Then explained—
"It's not that I don't want to."
"I already talked to him about it."
"But he refused—for now."
"He refused?"
Everyone looked surprised.
They had already heard about Minami's difficult home life from Ryo.
If that was the case—
Why would he turn down a job offer?
"Yeah. He said he has other things to take care of right now."
"Once he finishes dealing with those, he'll think about working here."
"I see..."
The group nodded in understanding.
He must have had some urgent matters to handle.
So, they didn't push the topic further.
"But really…"
Seika leaned on the table,
Her tone lazy yet thoughtful.
"Minami-san is just good at everything, huh?"
She began listing things off—
"Top scorer in the national academic exams…"
"Picked up guitar instantly…"
"And apparently, he can compose music too? That song, I Don't Want to Die in Loneliness, is incredible."
"Mhm. It really is."
Even Ryo, who was usually so self-assured,
Paused to reflect.
"It fits our style perfectly… But compared to my compositions, it's way too mature."
Even for someone as arrogantly self-proclaimed a genius as Ryo,
She had to admit—
This song…
If it was released as a small indie CD,
It would definitely sell.
"Oh, right! PA-san mentioned this to me before."
"Senpai actually asked her to edit our outdoor performance video—he's planning to upload it online!"
"Oh… you mean that?"
PA-san nodded, still smiling gently.
"Yeah, even though it was filmed on a phone, short vertical videos are super popular now."
"It should do well."
Then, she paused for a moment before adding—
"Also, Minami-kun said…"
"If you girls don't mind, he wants you to use I Don't Want to Die in Loneliness as well."
"He even wrote down the lyrics and asked me to pass them to you."
"EH?!"
Everyone immediately erupted.
Especially the Kessoku Band members—
They looked absolutely stunned.
He was just… giving them the song?
Even without being professionals,
They could all tell—
This song's value was insanely high.
The way the first half drowned in pain and despair…
And the way the second half broke free,
Exploding into pure catharsis.
There was a saying—
"A song that makes people cry is a song that truly connects."
That ability—
To draw out emotion so powerfully—
Was what every great song needed.
And Minami was just handing it to them?
But—
"It still doesn't feel right."
Ijichi Nijika shook her head.
"We can't just casually accept something that Minami-san put so much effort into."
Writing a song this emotionally powerful—
A song that could deeply resonate and move people—
Wasn't something that happened overnight.
It required countless revisions,
Sleepless nights,
And immense dedication.
Even though she wanted it badly—
Nijika simply couldn't bring herself to accept something that Minami had poured his heart into so easily.
The room fell silent.
Just as Nijika had said,
This was a song Minami had put his soul into.
To simply take it…
Wouldn't just be disrespectful to him,
It would be disrespectful to the song itself.
But—
"I-I think… we should accept it."
In the midst of silence,
A small hand suddenly raised.
And the one who raised it…
Was the least expected person—
The timid, always nervous, soft-spoken Gotoh Hitori.
Everyone stared in shock.
"I think… Minami-kun… ah, I mean, Minami-senpai… he must have his own reasons for this."
For the first time ever,
Hitori was speaking in front of so many people.
Her words were hesitant, her voice shaky.
But even so—
She continued.
"He's not the type to say something like this impulsively."
Hitori understood Minami's thoughts.
Because in her memories—
"I Don't Want to Die in Loneliness"
Was a song that Kessoku Band had performed in the future.
All Minami was doing—
Was returning this song to them.
That guy—
Even if he never said it outright,
Had always been watching over them.
Realizing this,
Hitori's fear slowly faded away.
"Since he's offering it to us, he must have thought it through."
"So I think… we should accept his help."
"Uh… that's all I wanted to say."
She sat back down.
I… I did it.
Even though she stumbled,
Even though she hesitated,
She said what she wanted to say.
She had overcome her social anxiety,
Even if just a little bit.
Looking down at her hands,
Hitori realized—
The old her could never have done something like this.
But after spending time around Minami,
Even if it was just a little—
She could feel herself changing.
After Hitori finished speaking,
The room fell into silence again.
Not just because Minami was giving them the song—
But because of Hitori's change.
Just two months ago,
When she first came to Starry,
She couldn't even speak above a whisper.
Now, she was expressing her thoughts in front of everyone.
And at that moment—
They couldn't help but think about Minami.
That guy…
He really had a strange ability—
To change the people around him.
And so, the question returned to its starting point—
Should they accept it?
Or not?
Just as the others were about to voice their opinions,
A calm voice interrupted them.
"There's nothing to hesitate about. This song wasn't originally mine."
Everyone turned their heads—
To see Minami walking down the stairs,
Holding a tray of food.
After handing out the meals,
He finally continued speaking.
"I already mentioned this before—"
"This song was written by some old friends of mine."
"But they're no longer in this world."
"Before they passed away, they asked me to find a band that suited this song."
As he spoke,
A distant look appeared in his eyes—
As if he was recalling a long-lost memory.
"I only became interested in music because of them."
"To me, this song isn't just a memory of my friends."
"It's also something I need to entrust to the right people."
Then, he smiled slightly.
"And I think Kessoku Band is a perfect match for it."
"Don't you all think so too?"
"...That's true."
Ryo didn't hesitate.
She nodded immediately.
"It really is a perfect fit for us."
To be honest—
The first time she saw this song,
She almost thought another version of herself had written it.
Because only another version of her
Could have composed something that felt this familiar.
That suited Kessoku Band's style so perfectly.
"But..."
Nijika still hesitated.
"Just take it."
Minami waved his hand dismissively.
"I Don't Want to Die in Loneliness"
Was already a song belonging to Kessoku Band—
Whether in the simulations or in the future,
That fact remained unchanged.
There was no way Minami would steal their song just to make a name for himself.
That would be far too despicable.
"Alright... if Minami-san insists..."
Nijika still felt like he was just saying that to make things easier.
But in the end—
She nodded.
But—
"Since we're accepting a song from Minami-san's friends…"
"To show our respect, I'd like to ask Minami-san for a favor in return."
"A favor?"
"Mhm."
Nijika met his gaze and carefully spoke—
"I want Minami-san to become Kessoku Band's support member."
"Uh..."
A support member...?
This unexpected development left Minami momentarily stunned.
