I became the emperor in the comic book series.

Higashino Akira's expression faltered slightly, and his head nodded gently in rhythm.

Beside him, Mai Sakurajima, who had initially paid no attention but had started to perk up and even clapping from the second song onwards, suddenly turned to look at the man and said softly, "This song sounds like someone is confessing their love to someone."

"Probably with me."

Akira Higashino responded softly, explaining that he learned from Ichiri Goto that she was responsible for writing the lyrics for their band's songs.

"Then why are you going to be so promiscuous and go find other girlfriends?"

Mai Sakurajima looked at him with some curiosity. Normally, whether it's a man or a woman, when faced with something like this, they would either feel ashamed and break up, or they would be incredibly moved.

However, Akira Higashino is not a normal person.

He turned and met Sakurajima Mai's gaze, then nodded earnestly, "Find it!"

After saying that, they both laughed.

However, Mai Sakurajima was speechless and didn't know what to say, so she could only give a polite smile.

After all, she felt that in such a romantic setting, one should at least be caught up in the atmosphere and be devoted for a short time. Even if one were to be unfaithful, it would be reasonable to continue after a period of separation and calming down.

I never expected to hear such a response in the end.

This man is heartless!

Akira Higashino was pleased that he had good taste; all the girls he actively pursued were excellent, including Kawasaki and Ichiri.

Even though Boqi Jiang is so introverted and socially awkward, he took the initiative to nurture and care for her during their relationship, without rushing to take advantage. He thought things would continue to progress gradually like this, but unexpectedly, she suddenly pulled this somewhat romantic trick on him.

It's no easy feat to get Goto Ichiri, an extreme socially awkward person, to take initiative.

His long-term strategies and training have finally paid off. Who dares to say he isn't a master of underdog tactics?

Night falls, the performance ends, and the Starry Night store closes.

After experiencing the energetic rock music from the last band, the subsequent band performances just didn't feel quite the same. Plus, it was getting late, so Miko Yotsuya and Hana Yurikawa said goodbye to Akira Higashino and left Fanxing to get into their car on their way home.

Since Mai Sakurajima is not completely desperate and has no intention of abandoning her principles to become a third party, Akira Higashino said goodbye and left early without trying to persuade her.

As he said, he doesn't lie or force people. As for relationships, although he doesn't care much about them, mutual consent is his bottom line.

Even the lowest moral standard is still a moral standard, and it's better than having none at all.

Because Ichiri needed to go to bed early and get up early to prepare for school the next day, the Goto couple did not stay long either. After saying goodbye to their daughter in advance, they somewhat carelessly asked Higashino Akira to look after Ichiri and accompany her to the band's debut celebration party before leaving.

The celebration party was held at an izakaya not far from the starry sky. The guests included Akira Higashino and the entire band, a tsundere sister-obsessed manager and her junior, and the sound engineer.

"Cheers..."

"Everyone worked very hard on the performance, so it's my treat today. Drink to your heart's content."

As the host, Ichiji Hoshika generously covered the expenses for the celebration banquet.

"Thank you, sister." Upon hearing this, Ichiji Nijika smiled and thanked her, then quickly and helplessly complained, "Although we can't drink alcohol yet."

An uninvited purple-haired junior, holding a beer, happily hugged the manager and pressed herself against her, saying, "I really like you, senior, hehe..."

Then, she received a disdainful look from the shop manager: "Hey, you pay for it yourself, don't try to pay me!"

Akira Higashino chimed in, saying "I like it," only to be met with a disdainful glare from the larger, tsundere version of Nijika.

"Speaking of which, who is this young lady?" Seeing how close the older woman was to the shop manager, it was clear that they had met before, and Kita was a little curious.

“Ah…oh! The older sister was the one who came to help me yesterday when I was trying to build up my courage to perform in front of people while I was doing a street performance. She was such a kind person, and she even bought me a ticket to the show.” Upon hearing this, Goto Ichiri quickly explained, “Although later she lent me the money for the ticket, with interest, to cover my transportation expenses…”

"Then pay me back!" Ichiji Hoshika said, pinching the drunkard's chubby cheek in annoyance.

The other person wasn't angry and, in a drunken stupor, began to introduce himself to Kita.

"A genius bassist who loves bass more than anyone else, Kikuri Hiroi!"

She scratched her head, then chuckled sheepishly, "I left Beth at the tavern yesterday, but I can't remember which one, hehehehehe..."

Kita: "Doesn't this sound contradictory?"

Yamada Ryo approached, his eyes sharp, and said, "I often come to see your performances!"

Upon hearing this, Hiroi Kikuri's eyes widened in surprise. "Eh! Really? You have such good taste!"

"Performing in front of the audience was fantastic! Getting my face stepped on is also a wonderful memory!"

=????(???????)

Kita (stunned): "I don't think I fully understand what rock and roll is..."

Hongxia (smiling): "It probably doesn't matter if we don't try to find out."

Upon hearing this, Higashino Akira glanced at the drunkard opposite him, then at Goto Ichiri sitting beside him, who looked completely exhausted. He was so frightened that he blushed and quickly hid his feet.

emmm...

Okay, he's not a foot fetishist and doesn't like feet.

But is rock music really this extreme?

Then, everyone ordered food, and while they ate, the manager analyzed and summarized the band's performance for the day, encouraging them while pointing out the problems they still had.

Akira Higashino would occasionally use his chopsticks to pick up some food and stick it to Ichiri Goto's mouth, forcing her to open her mouth shyly and eat it, making her blush with embarrassment.

Then he gently nudged her with his shoulder, staring straight at her while glancing at the dishes on the table, indicating that it was her turn next. This immediately shocked the extremely shy girl, making her whole body stiffen, her eyes glaze over, and she fainted and fell backward.

Poke...

Higashino Akira felt a finger poke his side twice. He turned around and saw Yamada Ryo. While everyone was chatting enthusiastically, she had secretly slipped over without him noticing.

Then, when Higashino Akira looked at her, she cupped her face in her hands, acting shy, and looked at him expectantly.

"Higashino, I like you. Let's have a seven-day romance first."

Bochi Sauce: "!!!"

Hongxia: "!!!"

"Liang! What nonsense are you talking about again? You can't joke like that!"

When Ryo fell ill, Hongxia's mother rushed over and gave her a light tap on the head with a chop to the head. She then gently comforted Boqi, telling her not to mind and that Ryo hadn't done it on purpose.

As for Yamada Ryo's side...

Akira Higashino took out his phone and glanced at the date. Today was March 24th, and there were seven days left until the end of the month.

He laughed. No wonder Liang Qichao's eyes showed no emotion whatsoever when he looked at him; all he saw was a desire for money.

"I have no objection, but I'm a carnivore, and I can't accept a romantic relationship without physical intimacy."

Goto Ichiri: "I...I have no opinion either."

Hongxia: "!!!"

Store Manager & PA & Hiroi Kiuri: "!!!"

Kita ∑(°Д°): "Is this rock and roll?!"

Chapter 101 I Know It All!

"I have an opinion!"

Ichiji Nijika lightly tapped Pochi-chan on the head with a level one chop, looking at her seriously, "Cheer up, Pochi! Boyfriends aren't for sharing!"

"And besides, this isn't rock at all!"

"Many bands break up because of relationship problems. We don't want a band to disband when they've just started their first performance!"

Beside her, a tipsy Hiroi Kikuri nodded seriously. The disbandment of a band was indeed too cruel. "Right? I heard that some councilors are even proposing to levy a tax on band disbandment."

"That's true, but as long as there are no romantic entanglements, it's fine." Higashino Akira looked at the blond-haired guy who was lecturing his teammates like a mother with a serious expression. "I'm confident I can take care of their lives!"

"Oh...! Yeah! You know a lot, buddy!"

For some inexplicable reason, Hiroi Kikuri found herself on the same wavelength as the only man on the field, and exclaimed in surprise.

Upon hearing this, Higashino Akatsuki smiled and said, "Just kidding, I know it all better than anyone!"

As soon as he finished speaking, the light in front of Higashino Akira dimmed. It was Ichiji Nijika, who had been mediating the relationship between her teammates, who was now standing in front of him, bending down and looking at him with her little face puffed up.

"Really! Mr. Higashino! Please don't say such mean things anymore! It will hurt Pochi-chan's feelings if she hears it!"

"Eh... Eh! Me?"

Goto Ichiri, who was suddenly called out, was stunned for a moment. She blinked and muttered softly, "I really don't mind. In fact, it makes me feel more at ease. It's too scary that someone like me would like this."

Her voice grew weaker as she spoke, “Maybe it’s just a passing fancy. She’ll soon get bored and tired of it, then be dumped, and then live a lonely life, being pointed at and mocked by others, who will say things like, ‘Oh, how could anyone like a woman like that? She was just delusional before. People will find her disgusting once they know her a little better. She deserved to be dumped.’”

"If my boyfriend has many girlfriends, not just me, that would actually make me feel more at ease. After all, with so many girlfriends, one more wouldn't make a difference. Even if I don't like keeping them like pets, it's still pretty good, right?"

"If Ryo-senpai were here too, maybe he'd look out for me from time to time out of consideration for us as teammates..."

"Don't treat yourself like a pet!" Ichiji Nijika was stunned by Bochi-chan's sudden series of self-disclosures.

Beside him, Yamada Ryo reached out and stroked Goto Ichiri's head, like he was rubbing a dog's head. "Yoshi yoshi, good boy, Pochi, that's great."

"Eh! Is...is that so? Hehe..."

Nijika Ichiji: "Ryū!!!!"

Across from them, the shop manager, an extreme siscon, couldn't hold back any longer and glared fiercely at the culprit, "You bastard, stop teasing them!"

Beside the store manager, Miss Wine-Loving, holding a glass of beer, laughed so hard she pounded her chest and stomped her feet, laughing so hard tears welled up in her eyes, "Your band is really funny!"

"What's so funny?!" The shopkeeper grabbed the drunkard by the neck and slammed him against his chest.

"Senior, please spare me..."

"No mercy!"

"I can't breathe... glug glug (picks up a glass and drinks)"

"Why are you drinking if you can't breathe!"

"Hey—! Drinking and breathing don't use the same channel, senior is so stupid."

"You idiot, give me your 'shine'!!!"

Amidst the playful banter, time flew by unnoticed. Despite the ups and downs, the celebration banquet was successfully held, and it was quite lively, wasn't it?

As the party ended, Ichiji Nijika waved to everyone and then thoughtfully helped her older sister, Hiroi Kikuri, who was drunk, staggering, and unable to walk, towards her home.

The others said their goodbyes.

Akira Higashino accompanied Ichiri Goto as they walked slowly and unhurriedly along the narrow sidewalk, the atmosphere unusually quiet.

Goto Ichiri, carrying a guitar case, followed the man beside her with her head down, her eyes occasionally glancing at his arm, her hands clenched into fists in her pockets.

'Should I take my boyfriend's hand in this situation?'

'You should probably want to, after all, you're lovers, and you've already met each other's parents.'

"No, no, no, if I get rejected, I might be looked down upon and people might say, 'I never thought you were this kind of woman.'"

'But my boyfriend doesn't seem to be that kind of person.'

'Your teeth are so white! Your palms are sweaty; I'd definitely be disliked if I held your hand!'

The girl was lost in her own thoughts, her body moving forward instinctively, oblivious to what was outside.

Then, it was interrupted by the other party's sudden action.

Higashino Akira turned his head slightly, looking at the conflicted little expression on her face, and followed Boqi's gaze. Realizing what she was thinking, he smiled, took out her soft little hand from her pocket, and held it together.

"Watch where you're going when you're walking, don't get distracted."

"Ok."

Beside her, Goto Ichiri, who had come to her senses, stared blankly at the other's hand that had been taken out of hers, and instinctively responded with a word, following closely behind, feeling a sweet warmth in her heart.

Hehehe…

The guitar hero had slightly curved eyebrows, and a shy and innocent expression on his face.

Although her boyfriend may not only like her, he is definitely the person who has been the best to her and made her feel the most at ease in her life so far, apart from her parents.

Goto Ichiri genuinely felt that things were good enough as they were, and it would be even better if things could stay this way.

As they walked, Akira Higashino suddenly asked, "Have you ever performed on the streets before?"

"Ah."

"Didn't you sell all five of your tickets?"