'No way, I absolutely can't admit it!'
'After all, judging from Kaito-kun's tone... he is just a bit suspicious. Even he isn't too sure about it himself.'
'He's definitely trying to bait me. Yes, that's got to be it!'
"Hmm... never heard that name before~", PA-san tilted her head with a deliberately innocent look, putting on the finest acting performance of her life, even her tone had just the right amount of confusion, "Why? Is she a friend of yours?"
Kaito gave her a deep look.
Although the sound engineer lady's concealment was quite thorough, and her expression was well-controlled, the panic that briefly flashed in the depths of her pupils was still keenly caught by him.
Besides...
Otokagi Alto, such an obscure and awkward phrase, most people, upon hearing it for the first time, would find it difficult to even identify what characters it consists of.
After all, there are plenty of homophones. For example, a certain Miss Kita Ikuyo, who prefers to remain anonymous, suffers greatly from this.
Her surname, Kita, is pronounced the same as 'to arrive,' and her given name, Ikuyo, sounds like 'to depart.'
Put together, 'Kita Ikuyo' sounds exactly like: I'm here, I'm leaving.
It makes no sense.
The sound engineer lady's acting seemed perfect on the surface, yet she had subconsciously treated Otokagi Alto as someone's name.
'Should I say this is a case of "a single slip may cause failure"?'
"On what 'Alto'?", Ijichi Seika looked on, a bit baffled, unable to make heads or tails of what sort of cryptic exchange the two were having.
PA-san hadn't told anyone about secretly working as a virtual streamer. Her public explanation was that she was ("hosting online salons with many international friends on trending topics,") which, while basically translating to 'streaming as a virtual avatar playing games,' still sounded pretty convincing.
Besides, this black-haired, straight-laced big sister already had a dignified and graceful appearance like a Sengoku-period princess, even her hairstyle was the traditional hime cut, so ladylike it couldn't be more ladylike.
That's why the tsundere manager had never doubted her story, let alone suspected that her most trusted friend and assistant was secretly a double-duty high-tier streamer in both the gaming and emotional advice categories, under the handle 'Otokagi Alto Official,' and had quite a lot of fans.
"No, it's nothing," Kaito shook his head, not choosing to dwell further on this topic.
The sound engineer lady's behavior clearly showed she didn't want anyone knowing about her virtual identity, so given that, there was no need to expose her secret in front of Manager Seika.
"Really?", Manager Seika's eyes kept darting between the two, full of suspicion, feeling like there was definitely some sort of secret going on between them.
'Could it be that in some corner I can't see, the two of them has already made contact before?'
'Damn it, we are supposed to be like sisters, yet you went and made a move behind my back?'
'No way, I've got to question PA about this later!'
'After all, Kaito-kun is the guy that Nijika likes'
'As her concerned big sister, I have a duty to drive away all the sneaky cats trying to steal the fish.'
'That's right, I am doing this all for Nijika!'
The sound engineer lady had no idea she was already being targeted by the tsundere manager. Seeing Kaito drop the topic, she quietly breathed a sigh of relief.
'Phew, that was close.'
'Now, I should be safe for a while... right?'
Seeing that Seika still seemed reluctant to let it go, she quickly changed the subject, "Since Kaito-kun is here to see Nijika, you should hurry upstairs, so they don't have to wait too long."
STARRY was a studio built in a basement. Aside from being prone to flooding during rainy days, it didn't have many flaws.
Upstairs was a normal apartment building, and the Ijichi sisters lived there too.
Since PA-san had said so, of course Seika couldn't refuse. She just wanted to send Kaito away quickly so she could interrogate this guy thoroughly. She nodded and handed him a set of keys, "This is the house key, eighth floor, just go right in when you reach the door. No need to change shoes. Nijika and the others should all be in the bedroom."
'She handed me the key just like that?'
'Isn't that a bit too trusting, Manager?'
Still, Kaito didn't decline. It's not like he was going to do anything weird. He could just hand it over to Nijika later.
The apartment building, while old-looking, had full amenities, including an elevator. The eighth floor was just a moment away.
Finding the Ijichi nameplate, Kaito had just inserted the key and opened the door, ready to call out for Nijika, when a familiar female voice came from the kitchen first, "Big sis? Are we opening up the shop now? Sorry, Bocchi, Ryou, and I will head down right away."
Then, a girl with a yellow side ponytail came out from inside, holding a freshly poured glass of water in her hand.
But that wasn't the point.
The point was, since the weather had been getting hotter lately, and since they were at home, surrounded by girls, Nijika's outfit at the moment was a bit on the cool side.
A white sports bra, paired with light gray hotpants, and nothing else.
Although normally he'd sometimes think Nijika was still a kid with her flat chest, 'Looking at her now, she is actually pretty stacked?'
'Sure enough, breasts are like sponges, squeeze hard enough, and something will come out.'
"K-Kaito-senpai?", Nijika froze for a moment, "What are you doing here?"
"Because I heard about Kita's situation, so I came to check on things," Kaito paused, then added, "Manager Seika also gave me the key to your place. Here, I'm giving it back."
"Ah... oh, okay, please come in first," Nijika nervously took the key, her cute face suddenly blushing red, clearly realizing that her current outfit wasn't quite fit for receiving guests.
But she didn't act overly shy about it. After all, back in Hoori Town, she'd been through even more embarrassing situations, 'No need to get all flustered now.'
"Bocchi and Ryou are in the bedroom, I'll take you over... wait!", Just after taking a couple steps, Nijika suddenly remembered something and quickly stopped.
But she was a second too late. The bedroom door not far away had already opened, and Sleazy Ryou walked out listlessly.
"Manager, is that you? Honestly, I've caught a cold and have a fever... I might not be able to help out with work today", As she spoke, she suddenly stopped mid-sentence, blinking her brilliant golden eyes.
She locked eyes with Kaito, then her gaze dropped slightly, pausing for a second on the fair, exposed skin of the girl who was only wearing panties.
Pin Drop Silence
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Chapter: 128 Not Destruction
Silence, silence filled Nijika's house at that moment.
Even someone like Yamada Ryou, an eccentric and unrestrained girl, found it hard to maintain her usual aloof image when faced with a scene that would make any ordinary girl cover her face and flee.
Fortunately, Nijika quickly snapped out of it, hurried back to the bedroom, grabbed clothes for Ryou, and swiftly helped her put them on, finally covering up the snow-white, flawless view.
During this process, Kaito had already sensibly turned around, but the scene just now was deeply imprinted in his mind, hard to forget.
'It has to be said, although Unreliable Ryou is usually a bit undependable, her figure is arguably the second most attractive in the band, only behind Bocchi.'
And even though she lived the most degenerate lifestyle among the girls, always staying up late, munching on snacks, and sleeping in, she somehow still had abs.
'Is this also a kind of talent?'
"Got seen completely, huh," The blue-haired girl had already put on a thin T-shirt, covering all the spring scenery.
But Ryou still lowered her head, hair drooping slightly, her expression hidden, and from her voice alone, she seemed quite devastated.
"I'll never be able to get married now maybe I'll even get pregnant? From now on, I'll carry the label of an unwed mother, living out my days all alone under strange gazes from outsiders"
"It's not that serious at all!", Nijika had been a little embarrassed and unsure how to ease the situation, but Ryou's joking around made her feel both exasperated and amused, "And you won't get pregnant just from being looked at a few times! Were you sleeping through all your biology classes?"
Ryou first nodded very honestly, then asked, "So, I won't get pregnant?"
"Of course not!", Shimokitazawa's archangel explained patiently, like a gentle mother teaching her teenage daughter about sex education, "Getting pregnant isn't that simple. You'd still need to with Kaito-kun Wait!"
Nijika suddenly realized, 'Ryou reads so many dirty manga all the time, how can she not understand this kind of thing?'
"You jerk! You're messing with me again!", With a "whack," she punched Ryou, who now wore a mischievous smile, clearly satisfied with her prank.
Still, thanks to this bit of fooling around, the earlier incident was finally put behind them.
Just then, Bocchi, who had heard the commotion from the bedroom, cautiously poked her head out. Seeing the scene in the living room, especially Kaito's figure, her blue eyes lit up a little, "P-President!"
Kaito also raised a hand and greeted her, "Bocchi, good afternoon."
Standing and chatting in the living room wasn't proper hospitality.
So Nijika soon brought Kaito to her bedroom.
Her room wasn't big, but it was warmly decorated. Pink bedsheets, sky-blue pillows, and lots of cute plush dolls. It was the very picture of a girly heart.
Sitting cross-legged on the bed, the group began discussing serious matters.
"Kita has been missing practice for several days in a row. Everyone, does anyone have any good ideas?", As the band leader, Nijika couldn't help but worry every time she thought of this.
They had finally gotten a chance to perform on stage thanks to her sister, but now the band's guitarist and lead vocalist had dropped the ball. Worse yet, the live performance date was approaching fast, and she had precious little time to figure something out.
"It's hard, isn't it?", Ryou shrugged, palms up, "The problem lies with her mom, after all."
If Kita were facing any other difficulty, she could still help try and overcome it.
But now it was Kita's mother who had forbidden her from wasting time on band activities and ordered her to focus entirely on studying.
This was a family matter, outsiders had no say.
But if they really just stood by and did nothing then Kita wouldn't just miss these practices. She might miss future ones too.
In a worse case, she might even be forced to quit the band.
Bocchi lowered her head, looking a bit downcast.
Everyone in the band was important to her.
They had promised to stand on Budokan together, Tokyo Dome too. But the band's journey had just begun, and they were already facing the crisis of losing a member.
Bocchi was anxious but couldn't think of a good solution, so she instinctively turned her hopeful gaze to the president beside her.
In her shy little world, the president was someone who could do anything. She had gotten used to relying on him, and honestly, couldn't imagine life without him.
Receiving the pleading look from his adorable club member, Kaito thought for a moment and suggested, "How about we visit Kita's home and have a face-to-face talk with her mom?"
"Doesn't seem very hopeful," Ryou shook her head, not thinking much of the idea.
Kita's mom was a civil servant with a very strict and strong-willed personality. Someone like that was hard to sway once they made up their mind, and wouldn't be easily persuaded.
'Wait a minute', Ryou suddenly thought of something. Stroking her chin in thought, she looked over at Kaito, eyeing him up and down, a subtle expression on her face, "Maybe it's not impossible?"
"Eh?", Nijika was confused by her words, 'Just a moment ago you weren't optimistic, why the sudden change of mind?'
Ryou's reason for changing her mind was simple.
No matter how strong-willed or strict Kita's mom was, she was still a woman. And as long as she was a woman, there was no way she could say no to that face.
"In that case, there's only one answer," Ryou cleared her throat, her golden eyes shining brightly as she declared, "For Kita's sake boyfriend-kun, use your sex appeal on her mom!"
Kaito: "..."
Kaito: "?"
SILENCE
"SEDUCE MY FOOT!", After a long silence, Nijika's head was buzzing. She couldn't even keep up her ladylike image in front of Kaito anymore. Her pretty face turned red as she leapt up and covered Ryou's mouth.
'What kind of terrible suggestion is that?'
"Forget whether it's a terrible idea. Just say, would it work or not?", Ryou broke free from her grasp, righteously declaring, "Kita's mom changes her mind, Kita returns to the band, and the live show can proceed as planned. Everyone's happy Isn't that great?"
Nijika stammered, not knowing how to refute her.
Though the idea sounded crazy, once she thought it through carefully, 'It actually doesn't seem that unlikely to succeed.'
Even her own sister, that almost thirty-year-old virgin, had been so stunned the first time she saw Kaito that she couldn't even hold her apple juice properly.
This proved that Kaito's charm worked just as lethally on older women.
'But'
"Still, that doesn't mean", After holding it in for a while, Nijika finally couldn't help but protest, "We can't have Kaito-kun destroy Kita's family, can we?"
'If it really works'
'Will Kita have to call him Daddy?'
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Chapter 129: Kita Ikuyo: As expected, I really can't do anything...
"This is not netorare," Gremlin Ryou shook her head with a hopeless child expression all over her face, "It's just letting Boyfriend-kun make a tiny bit of use of his own advantage to have a friendly and close conversation with Kita's mother. There's no need to do anything excessive."
'No matter what, really making Boyfriend-kun become Kita's stepfather, that kind of thing will be too insane.'
'Whether Boyfriend-kun will agree or not was another matter, but at the very least, once Kita finds out, she will definitely explode without a second word.'
