459: Magnificent Music

It was two in the afternoon—rehearsal had taken far longer than expected.

By the time they finished, everyone from Kesshoku Band was famished. But when they returned to the break area, neither Chisato nor Seika were anywhere to be seen.

Puzzled, the girls turned their eyes toward Hitori. She froze for a moment, then realized what was being asked of her and pulled out her phone to make a call.

After a moment of waiting, she slowly pulled the phone away from her ear and turned to her three teammates who were staring at her.

"He didn't pick up—Chisato just hung up on me."

"Eh?"

"Wow, that guy really doesn't want to treat us to a meal. He's going this far?"

Ryo spat out a light complaint.

"Haha, I doubt Chisato-kun would avoid something like that. He's probably just caught up in something important and can't answer the phone," 

Ikuyo said with an awkward laugh, denying Ryo's theory.

"In that case, maybe Sis is with him right now too. I won't bother calling either, then."

Nijika nodded in agreement.

"Come to think of it, Chisato-kun mentioned before we came that today's commercial performance opportunity came from the president he met at the music festival. 

His company is the sponsor of this event. It's possible that the president is on-site today.

So maybe Chisato and Sis are meeting with him now—probably discussing business."

"Like what?" Ryo asked casually.

"Like, if the show goes well, maybe discussing where to hold the afterparty."

Nijika crossed her arms and put on a dreamy expression.

"Whoa—!"

Hitori and Ryo both lit up with anticipation.

"If possible, I want to go to a fancy wellness hot spring. Get a massage after a long soak."

"H-Hot springs! U-Um…"

"No need to raise your hand. Just speak up, Private Hitori."

"I-I can't swim. Can I bring a floatie?"

"Why not? Approved!"

"What are you two doing, acting out some third-rate comedy sketch? Hot springs aren't for swimming anyway! 

You don't need a floatie—just bring a change of clothes and some moisturizer."

Nijika seriously corrected the two as they got carried away.

Ikuyo watched the others with a wry smile. No matter how she looked at them, they were acting like a post-performance hot spring trip was already a done deal.

But they looked so excited—it would feel cruel to bring them back to reality…

Oh well. She decided to hold her tongue and maybe mention it casually to Chisato-kun later.

They had made a lot from the music festival last time, and who knew how much they'd get paid for this one. A little luxury now and then wasn't such a big deal, right?

"Well, let's leave the hot springs talk for later. For now, how about we fill our stomachs first?"

Ikuyo proposed, successfully steering the conversation toward lunch.

"Ah, right. A staff member told me earlier that the event organizer is providing a free bento. What do you think?"

"No thanks. I'm eating out."

Ryo crossed her arms and firmly refused.

"You've gotten picky lately, haven't you…"

Nijika grumbled, but in the end she gave in. The four of them discussed briefly and then headed out toward the commercial street.

As time passed, the festival atmosphere had grown stronger compared to the morning. 

The commercial district was now jammed with traffic, and the streets were filled with people in yukata wandering around.

Unable to get in touch with Chisato, the girls from Kesshoku Band found a nearby Japanese restaurant and took care of lunch.

After eating, they returned to the backstage rest area near the performance stage and rested until around four. 

When a staff member reminded them to start getting changed into their yukata and do a final check on their instruments, Chisato and Seika finally appeared.

"Chisato!"

Hitori ran up to him.

Chisato smiled and patted her head.

"Sis, where were you two? You didn't leave any message or let us know in advance."

Nijika voiced her complaint to her older sister.

"Blame him. He suddenly got this weird idea and dragged me along without asking. I was just being pulled along the whole way."

Seika flopped into an empty chair and took a big bite out of a taiyaki she'd bought on the way back. 

But the piping hot filling burned her immediately.

"Ow! Hot!" she yelped, sticking out her tongue and fanning her mouth with her hand.

Everyone burst into laughter.

"Be careful, Manager. Here, take this."

Chisato handed her a cold drink. Seika took it without hesitation, tilted her head back, and took a big swig, letting the coldness soothe her scalded mouth.

Nijika composed herself and looked at Chisato.

"So Chisato-kun, what were you and Sis doing?"

Seika had only been complaining earlier, and all they had gathered was that she had been unwillingly dragged along. Nothing else.

"Eh, just some trivial stuff. Nothing to worry about."

Chisato waved it off lightly.

Seika swallowed the now lukewarm drink and smirked.

"Yeah, since it's such a trivial thing, next time don't take me with you."

That was the second time she made that request.

"Got it, Manager."

Chisato replied with helpless resignation.

Finally satisfied, Seika turned her attention to the setup happening at the open-air stage and took another sip of her drink.

Now that she had calmed down, something occurred to her belatedly.

This bottle of soda… Chisato had opened and drunk from it earlier!!!

Th-that means… an i-i-i-indirect kiss?!!!

"Manager?"

Chisato looked at the trembling Seika—her body frozen, but her eyes and arms twitching—and asked, confused:

"Did you get food poisoning?"

"...!"

Seika didn't dare meet his gaze. She quietly placed the drink and her taiyaki on the table, stood up, and quickly walked away.

Chisato watched her leave.

"…What the heck? Did she just need to pee or something?"

…

Surrounded by staff bustling about, the air filled with clamor and chatter. 

As the time for the performance drew closer, that nerve-racking tension of facing the crowd pressed down on everyone like a tangible weight.

It was already past six in the evening. In a little while, the open-air stage for the summer festival performance will officially begin.

There was no need to worry too much, though—Kesshoku Band was scheduled to perform after nightfall, at a little past seven. 

Chisato had specifically requested Mr. Suzuki to arrange this time slot for them in advance, clearly with his own plans in mind.

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50 advanced chapters on p@t re on (.) com/SenatusTheta

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