Chapter 39 — Matcha Daifuku as Bait?

Even in the dim LiveHouse hall, her dazzling snow-white hair made her stand out instantly.

Under the colorful rotating lights, her white hair shimmered like a painting. The soft, delicate strands, paired with her dual-colored eyes—blue on the left, golden on the right glowed like the sun and moon side by side.

Beneath her slender brows, those lively heterochromatic eyes gave off the charm of a noble, mysterious cat. Her cute little nose twitched slightly in sync with the sweet aroma in the air.

If you had to describe her, she was like a beautiful girl straight out of an anime.

Like a kitten, the white-haired girl fixated intently on her "prey", the matcha daifuku.

"Matcha daifuku."

She repeated herself, still staring unblinkingly at the dessert in his hand.

No matter how Kazami Haru moved the daifuku, her gaze followed it exactly—just like a real kitten reacting instinctively and adorably.

He could even faintly hear her sniffing softly and licking her lips with a faint smack sound.

"Do you want some?"

"I want some."

Kazami Haru was slightly taken aback. This beautiful white-haired girl was a total weakness trigger for someone like him.

The moment she said she wanted some, he almost gave in and fed her.

"Not giving you any."

"Guuu~"

The girl pouted and puffed up her cheeks, looking so adorably annoyed that anyone would be tempted to spoil her.

Ijichi Seika leaned on one hand and casually remarked, "Don't bully her too much. She's the granddaughter of a friend of mine. She drops by the shop from time to time and is quite liked by Nijika."

"What's her name?"

"Raana."

Before Seika could answer, the white-haired girl, who had been quiet until now beat her to it.

PIC: Raana

When Kazami Haru heard the name, a flicker of realization passed through his eyes. He never expected the "stray cat" he couldn't find in Tomori's simulation to show up so coincidentally right in front of him today.

Normally, her usual haunt was supposed to be the LiveHouse "RiNG" where Taki worked part-time. But with the appearance of "STARRY" as another location, maybe that's why she never appeared in the simulation?

Still, she really was the type who could appear and disappear without a trace...

Even though she was pushing a large cart loaded with speakers, electric guitars, and all sorts of gear, she still managed to sneak up on him silently.

"Just kidding. Here, you can have it."

"Yay!"

As soon as she heard she could have the matcha daifuku, Kaname Raana's previously downcast expression vanished instantly. In its place was an obvious cheer as she excitedly raised her right hand.

Back in the simulation, the "cat" had been replaced by his appearance. Even if it was just a fake world, seeing this little white-haired stray cat in real life stirred a faint sense of guilt in Kazami Haru.

Of course, she was completely unaware of his thoughts. She just took the matcha daifuku from him, slowly biting into the soft corner and chewing away.

Nom nom nom—

Like a kitten savoring something delicious, she nibbled gracefully and quickly, enjoying the treat bite by bite.

"Your name?"

Suddenly tilting her little head, Kaname Raana looked up at Kazami Haru with a questioning gaze.

Most people would need a moment to figure out what she meant with such a short sentence.

"Kazami Haru. Call me whatever you like."

"Kazami... Yuuji?"

"Why would you call me that name?"

Watching this kid eat gave him a strange sense of peace.

Just as he was considering buying another mochi to continue feeding the stray cat, the final band began taking the stage backstage.

After some rehearsing, a still-nervous Nijika stepped onto the stage stiffly.

Beside her, Ryo held her bass with a nonchalant look. Maybe because people usually couldn't tell whether the bass was played well or not.

"Hm?"

As if sensing Kazami Haru's thoughts, Ryo suddenly turned her head and locked eyes with him.

She flashed a mischievous smile in his direction, then lightly plucked the bass strings with her delicate fingers. A series of deep, thudding sounds echoed from the stage.

Seriously, what bassist makes jokes at their own expense while performing?

Nijika was clearly nervous, while the pink-haired drummer had, at some point, stuck a brown paper bag over her head with a giant "5" written on it.

Ironically, she seemed the calmest of them all.

So covering your face is the secret to confidence?!

"Haru, I want a drink."

As Kazami Haru was sharing eye contact with his ex-girlfriend on stage, the little stray cat next to him was starting to fidget.

Mochi made from glutinous rice was too dry. It stuck to her throat and felt uncomfortable, so she had now set her sights on the juice in his right hand.

Those hopeful eyes made it impossible to say no.

"You're impossible."

Though he was a man of questionable taste, he had no resistance against cute white-haired beings due to personal reasons.

He had already fed her daifuku, might as well give her the juice too.

"Hey~ Ryo, don't space out!"

Nijika, already ready to perform, noticed her bassist still standing dazed and quietly reminded her.

But Ryo's eyes remained fixed below.

Delighted, Raana squinted her beautiful heterochromatic eyes, munching her daifuku while casually drinking straight from the juice box Haru held with the straw already inserted.

That kind of intimate, natural motion would be hard for even most couples to pull off.

The little stray cat had no idea the blue-haired woman on stage was watching her.

"..."

Yamada Ryo's face was as expressionless as always, but the tightening of her fingers around her bass gave away the truth, she wasn't nearly as calm as she appeared.