In music anime, band girls won't be alone.

After quickly getting dressed, I went straight to the bathroom to wash up, then went downstairs to the kitchen, turned on the stove, boiled water, and grabbed a packet of ramen from a bag—that would be my lunch for the day.

After finishing her meal, Shiina Tatsuki cleaned up the table and kitchen, then checked the time; there was still more than half an hour before her shift ended.

I thought to myself that there was no need to rush.

Then I changed my shoes and went out, arriving at RiNG at a normal pace.

After greeting the supervisor, Rinrinko, Shiina Tatsuki changed into her work apron, stood behind the counter, and began practicing pour-over coffee.

Originally, she was unwilling to stand behind the counter to handle customer service, but now that many of the part-time senior colleagues have events and are often unable to come, she has to temporarily fill in.

"Susu..."

I heard the scraping sound of an automatic door opening.

She looked up and saw Kaoru Nai coming in with her effects pedals and guitar. When their eyes met, she made a sound.

"Lixi, you want to play the guitar."

Shiina Tatsuki sighed softly, then turned and walked out from behind the counter to the small open mic stage to check and adjust the sound equipment.

After finishing, she went back behind the counter to wash her hands and then continued practicing pour-over coffee.

Soon, the sound of a powerful guitar filled my ears.

She was already used to it, and her concentration was not affected at all.

After the guitar music ended, she saw Lena pack up her effects pedals and guitar, then come to the counter, looking at her with obvious anticipation in her eyes.

"Richie, matcha parfait."

Shiina Tatsuki nodded and then began making the matcha parfait.

After all, the other party is the boss's granddaughter, so whether or not those two suckers come to pay doesn't matter.

Just don't eat too much at once, lest you get an upset stomach.

After placing the finished matcha parfait in front of Yoro, she continued practicing with her head down.

Where is Shirakawa?

She heard Yao Lena's voice.

"It's been a long time."

Shiina Tatsuki replied irritably.

"Didn't we just see each other the day before yesterday?"

Lena tilted her head and thought for a moment, then continued eating her parfait, her mouth full of slurred words.

"Yeah."

I miss him.

Shiina Riki did not reply.

She has no obligation to relay messages for this stray cat.

Even if I'm agonizing over it, it has nothing to do with her.

After finishing the matcha parfait, ask Lena to look at the girl behind the counter.

"Lixi, call Shirakawa over."

Shiina Tatsuki was speechless and replied with a straight face,

"It's very impolite to just call anyone over."

"Don't do that again."

Lena tilted her head and thought for a moment, then took out her phone and handed it to the counter.

"this."

"Use my phone."

"That way you won't seem impolite."

Shiina Tatsuki felt her blood pressure was a little high, and it had nothing to do with whose phone she was using!

She gave the cat a rather threatening look, then looked away and stopped responding to its words and actions.

Seeing that he was being ignored, he asked Le Nai to put away her phone, then lay on the table looking utterly bored.

Perhaps it was the perfect warmth of the sunlight, but as Lena lay there, she felt increasingly sleepy, so she curled up in the chair and fell asleep.

Looking at the cat in front of her, Shiina Tatsuki's lips curled into a barely perceptible smile. She thought to herself that being a carefree stray cat wouldn't be so bad.

"Susu..."

She heard the scraping sound of the automatic door opening again, and looked up to see Shirakawa Sawa and Takamatsu Akari walking in together.

She felt somewhat surprised, but upon further reflection, she realized it wasn't so unexpected after all.

But seeing the two of them still made me happy, so I greeted them.

"Tokyo, Shirakawa-kun."

Upon hearing the name "Shirakawa," Kaname's ears twitched, and she let out a lazy "hmm."

Then she looked up and around, and upon seeing Shirakawa Ze, she immediately jumped off the chair and leaped in front of him, her eyes gleaming with excitement.

"Shirakawa!"

When Takamatsu entered, she noticed Kaname napping in a chair, but she didn't think much of it at the time.

Seeing her reaction upon discovering Shirakawa Sawa, he immediately focused his attention and began to observe her.

After watching for a while, she felt relieved.

Because the other party doesn't seem threatening at all, like a clingy cat that's only affectionate because it likes you.

Slightly relieved, Takamatsu Akari shifted her gaze to Shiina Tatsuki, who was behind the counter preparing to speak up and stop Rakuna from taking Rakuna.

"Lixi, is part-time work very tiring?"

You look very tired.

This expression of concern made her forget what she wanted to do. She immediately tensed up and replied earnestly.

"The part-time job isn't too strenuous."

"You look pale because you went to bed too late last night."

At this moment, Shirakawa Sawa also came to the counter and sat down, looking at Takamatsu Akari.

"Dengjiang, let's sit here. We can chat with Lixi and keep ourselves from getting too bored during our free time."

Takamatsu looked at the boy, smiled, and nodded...

Volume 1: Chapter Sixty - Is it a new member?

After Shirakawa Sawa and Takamatsu Akari sat down, Shiina Tatsuki immediately came out from behind the counter and placed two menus in front of them.

"Let's see what we'd like to order."

Gao Songdeng was still a little nervous in the unfamiliar environment.

When I see the menu, I subconsciously want someone else to order first, because I'm afraid my choice will seem strange to others.

She looked up and met Shirakawa's gentle yet encouraging gaze.

"What would you like to drink, Deng Jiang?"

"The selection here is quite good."

Upon hearing this, Gao Songdeng understood that whatever choice he made was reasonable here, so he felt relieved and ordered a milk tea.

With an approving smile, Shirakawa Sawa closed the menu and handed it to Shiina Tatsuki.

"I want the same as Dengjiang."

The latter nodded, and as he put away the menu, he subconsciously glanced at Yao Le Nai.

She had assumed the other person would also order a matcha parfait, but they didn't.

The other person remained standing quietly in place, their gaze shifting between the three of them.

After Shiina Tatsuki finished reporting the order to the kitchen, he saw Kaname Rakuna slowly walk over to the seat next to Takamatsu Akari and sit down. Her gaze lingered on Akari briefly before turning to him, her eyes filled with curiosity.

"she."

Is it a new member?

Shiina Ritsuki probably understood what she meant, and replied with a straight face,

"These two have known each other longer than you have."

"Besides... Lantern isn't a new member, and their relationship... is closer than you think."

To Takamatsu Takamori, this conversation had a completely different meaning.

She turned to look at the boy beside her, her eyes holding an unreadable expression.

"New member..."

"Ze-jun... have you already formed a band...?"

Shirakawa was startled and immediately spoke.

"I don't have a band."

"Actually, I'm not entirely sure what she meant either."

He couldn't understand the meaning behind the question, but he could sense that the other person was highly focused, which wasn't a good sign.

At that moment, Shiina Tatsuki, who was behind the counter, spoke up.

"Light, this child probably means, 'Are you Shirakawa-san's new friend?'"