Tokyo: Idol Girls have absolutely no bad intentions!

My headache is getting worse and worse, it really hurts.

If the band were to be formed according to Ito's plan, who knows how difficult it would be to manage.

Agreeing to Ms. Hayakawa's request was certainly not out of pity for her, or by saying things like, "Sister, you can keep Yu company for one night."

One purpose was to train Asada before the music festival, and another was to prepare him for forming a band later.

A girl group seems like a very promising venture.

It was originally just a rough idea, but after yesterday's street performance, the idea became even stronger.

Songs like "Spring Shadow" and "Lonely Blue Planet" are meant to be performed by beautiful young women.

As for Asada's terrible grades, it can be considered a different kind of restoration; at least he managed to keep his high school diploma.

What are you trying to do by taking those photos?

Ito rubbed her throbbing temples. Asada, who was beside her, had already taken the opportunity to slip away. She really could develop a side business.

"......"

There was no response, as expected.

Anyway, it's just a photo, it's insignificant. He and Mori have no idea how many photos they have.

Since Asada isn't here, no one can stop him.

“Since you don’t want to answer this question, let’s talk about how you sneaked away from the family restaurant in front of the station last time.” Ito’s eyes suddenly sharpened.

"...Running away?" Kurokawa Ori glanced at Ito, then at Ikeya Rin.

"Here, take my phone. Type this." Ito readily handed his phone to the other person.

Rin Iketani hesitated to take the phone, her hand still holding it in mid-air.

"You don't want Kurokawa-kun to know what you've done, do you? Although President Saionji asked me not to tell anyone else, I'm not the kind of person who has to do what I promise."

"And it's related to the minister?" Kurokawa Ori's blue-gray eyes were full of doubt.

"......evil!"

Rin Iketani snatched the phone and started tapping the screen with a lot of force.

Even though the concert hall wasn't quiet, Ito could hear the sound of his fingernails hitting the screen.

While Ikeya Rin was typing, she would occasionally look up and glare at Ito with resentment.

I don't think I did anything wrong...

"Don't expect Asada to come to your rescue; she's in dire straits herself right now."

"Hmph!" Ikeya Rin pouted one side of her face and tightened her grip.

"If you haven't finished typing before Asada returns, I can't say anything that might be detrimental to unity," Ito threatened further, observing the other's rebellious attitude.

No sooner had he finished speaking than Ito caught a glimpse of Asada peeking out from under a table not far away.

After waiting for about ten minutes, Uncle Beidao brought out the main course, and by then it was too late.

Asada took small, quick steps toward Ito.

“If you don’t have time and keep dawdling,” Ito gestured to Ikeya Rin.

Her fair fingers typed the last character on the screen and handed the phone back to Ito.

"I...I'm back. There are quite a few people in the restroom." Asada sat back down in her seat.

His eyes gleamed as he looked at the food on the table.

Besides the pudding I wanted to eat, I also ordered a large portion of fries, Mori's favorite.

Since Ito likes girls who eat French fries, Asada doesn't dislike them either.

But eel rice and tempura are still more fragrant... Asada twitched his nose, his mouth watering involuntarily.

"I'm starting." She clasped her hands together, unaware of Ito's increasingly furrowed brows beside her.

After forking a piece of fried chicken, she held the fork to Ito's mouth and said, "I-Ito, this fried chicken tastes good."

When Ito's name was suddenly called, his eyes and thoughts snapped back to reality from the long passage written by Rin Ikeya.

He opened his mouth and bit into the fried chicken piece that Asada handed him, chewing it.

"It's delicious, isn't it?" Asada smiled brightly, but there was a hint of silliness in her expression.

"Hmm, not bad."

“...Eat.” Seeing the interaction between the two opposite her, Iketani Rin imitated Asada by scooping a spoonful of omelet rice and handing it to Kurokawa Ori.

The omelet rice that suddenly appeared in front of her left Kurokawa Ori puzzled. Looking at Iketani Rin's serious expression, she recalled that Saionji had said that the other party was not good at interpersonal communication.

She steeled herself and put the spoon in her mouth.

"It's very, very delicious."

When she took the spoon back, Iketani Rin stared at its surface for a long time, recalling what Saionji-go-san had said about Kurokawa Ori trying hard to get along with people.

She silently placed the spoon into the eel rice that Ito hadn't touched yet, stirred it (washed it) once, and then nodded in satisfaction.

That way, no one will notice that you dislike the other person.

"..." Ito remained expressionless. Although the eel rice was still relatively intact, he no longer wanted to move.

After handing it over to the covetous Asada, he got up and went to find Uncle Kitajima.

He needed to verify something with the other party, something about Asada.

By the time they finished that lavish and expensive dinner, most of it had ended up in Asada's stomach, and it was almost seven o'clock.

A number of guests gradually arrived at the concert hall, mostly office workers who came to relax after get off work, or students from nearby universities.

Uncle Beidao gestured that they could prepare to go on stage.

The first song is still "Bustling, Our City".

With the previous adjustments and a meal to ease things up, the performance went much more smoothly this time.

Asada seemed to have taken Kitajima's previous "lesson" to heart. Although the rhythm guitar was still a bit off, he was at least trying to keep up and didn't make any more obvious mistakes.

Play out the syllables that you used to deliberately omit out of fear.

Her singing became more relaxed, carrying a hint of post-dinner satisfaction.

When Asada sang "この手は自分自己のものさ (These hands belong to me)," her voice carried a newfound certainty, and her gaze unconsciously swept over her fingers resting on the guitar strings.

Ito keenly noticed this subtle change, and the melody line of the lead guitar wrapped around it at just the right moment.

Rin Iketani's bass playing remained solid, while Ori Kurokawa's keyboards delivered a clear tone, filling the void left by the absence of a drummer.

"変わらないはずはないよ手ばして"

Uncle Beidao sat in a corner booth, holding a glass of whiskey.

When Asada sang the line "Reach out your hand," his hand holding the wine glass paused in mid-air for a fleeting moment.

He looked thoughtfully at the girl on stage who was holding a guitar and singing earnestly, then glanced at the guitarist next to her who was completely absorbed in his singing, a hint of amusement flashing in his eyes.

He took a small sip of wine, a barely perceptible smile curving his lips.

Much better than the first time, at least... it's somewhat interesting.

If his wife weren't currently at work, he would have loved to video call her and give her a live broadcast.

When the song ended, the applause was more enthusiastic than expected, and a few knowledgeable guests even whistled.

"Next up is the second song, 'The Empty Box'," Ito announced simply into the microphone, his voice carrying through the speakers.

He turned his head and looked at his teammates behind him.

Rin Iketani nodded indifferently, indicating that there was no problem.

Kurokawa Ori lowered her head, her bangs obscuring her expression, and only a soft "It's alright" could be heard.

Finally, Ito's gaze fell on Asada Sakura.

He sent her the sheet music and lyrics for this song three days ago.

Judging from the performances of Rin Iketani and Ori Kurokawa, they should be fine.

So Asada......

Asada, holding a guitar, looked at him with eager excitement, her eyes sparkling as if urging him: "Start already!"

After eating and drinking his fill, Asada's fighting power reached its peak for the third time that day.

Seeing her so confident, Ito breathed a slight sigh of relief.

He nodded slightly and pressed his fingers onto the strings.

"Ito, let's get started!" Asada couldn't help but urge, her voice coming through the microphone in front of her, filled with eager excitement.

Without further hesitation, Ito plucked the strings!

The electric guitar emitted a clear, bright intro.

Rin Iketani's bass, with its deep and rhythmic root note, followed closely behind, laying out steadily.

Kurokawa Ori's keyboard then joined in at the right moment, with clear chords flowing out, instantly creating a slightly melancholic yet full of tension atmosphere for the song.

Asada took a deep breath, closed his eyes, and when he opened them again, his gaze became focused.

She leaned forward slightly, brought her lips close to the microphone, and her clear, yet slightly stubborn, voice rang out:

"やけに白いんだやたら长いんだ(The test paper submitted is blank, which may cause confusion and lengthy thoughts)"

Her voice carried a hint of youthful fearlessness, prompting some guests in the audience to chuckle, clearly recalling the embarrassment of facing blank exam papers during their student days.

Uncle Bei Dao raised an eyebrow. These lyrics... are surprisingly fitting for students?

If he knew about Asada's grades, he would think that Ito had tailored them for Asada.

"コタエはだいたいカタチばかりの Common sense だろう (The so-called answer is probably just formal common sense)"

Rin Iketani stood a little behind the stage, her fingers moving steadily across the bass strings.

Her gaze swept over Asada's slightly trembling fingertips. This time, it seemed not to be due to nervousness, but rather an expression of some kind of emotion.

Then the focus shifted to Ito's back as he intently strummed the strings.