Ai Cheng Hua Lian, a sophomore at the same school, was secretly the lead singer of a girls' band.
If placed in a galgame, she would probably be the childhood friend type of character that players could woo.
She wasn't like Kiryu Hina or Ayakoji Chiyoko, who were dazzlingly distinctive and stood out from the rest.
But if one took the time to observe carefully, they could discover the attractive qualities hidden within her.
"Mr. Kagura, you are getting home so late. Where have you been?" Ai Cheng Hua Lian asked curiously with a smile.
"I had a performance today."
"Eh~ Where, where?"
"It was at a livehouse called 'Makyo'."
"Ah, I know that place!" Ai Cheng Hua Lian exclaimed with surprise, covering her mouth slightly, "But I heard that the bands performing there are really scary, and everyone is afraid to go there... "
"All the bands are made up of very gentle people," Kagura Hikaru defended them.
"Is that so... It's true, there are fewer bad people who seriously play in bands. Whenever they have time, they're practicing."
Ai Cheng Hua Lian nodded convincingly.
"I get it now - band people are stay-at-homes!"
...How did she come to that conclusion?
"Oh, just look." Seeing the puzzled expression on Kagura Hikaru's face, Ai Cheng Hua Lian explained exuberantly, "These days, the music scene is so competitive that musicians need to practice a lot at home to improve and be recognized, right?"
"Yeah."
"And even when they're rehearsing with the band, they're holed up in a closed practice room, right?"
"Yeah."
"See, that's being a stay-at-home!" Ai Cheng Hua Lian excitedly clapped her hands together as if imitating the 'apple~pencil~' uncle in the yellow shirt, then spread them apart, smiling at him.
"Staying at home to practice, and even going out is just to practice; so, the conclusion is simple - band people are indoor types who stay at home!"
"...You actually make some sense."
Kagura Hikaru pondered seriously, and it was almost terrifying to think further.
Indeed, thinking about it, the people he knew who were seriously into the bands were hardly ever seen wasting time. They practiced so much daily that it was intimidating, making Kagura Hikaru, who relied on the system to get better, ashamed.
Those real practice demons were often taciturn. When with talkative people, they would only give a sheepish smile, never initiating conversation.
Even a significant number of them were so into anime that they spent their free time studying Touhou music arrangements, tricking band members into listening to anime songs.
...This definitely describes a nerd!
Kagura Hikaru looked at Ai Cheng Hua Lian in astonishment.
Could she truly be a genius?
"Hehe."
Ai Cheng Hua Lian arrogantly tilted her chin up, and her white neck was as beautiful as that of a swan.
Talking with the girls around her, she unconsciously waited until the subway train arrived.
The train screeched to a halt, and the station attendant blocked the exit to make the crowd step back.
However, as soon as the doors opened, people who needed to exit immediately started heading out, and those entering did the same; shouting was useless, for who could guarantee they'd be able to get on the train on time?
The massive flow of people inside and outside the train converged, exchanging places painfully and slowly.
Kagura Hikaru and Ai Cheng Hua Lian were caught in the mix, seemingly afraid of being separated by the crowd, with Ai Cheng Hua Lian gripping his shoulder bag strap for dear life.
In the nick of time before the doors closed, they managed to squeeze into the train, standing in a shaken state next to the door.
Ai Cheng Hua Lian cautiously checked her hair and clothes to ensure they weren't caught by the doors, while Kagura Hikaru used his profile to watch the movement of the crowd at the back, feeling the intense pressure on his back. Without a sound, he placed a hand on the door, struggling to maintain a small space.
"Eh?"
Ai Cheng Hua Lian, totally unprepared, looked up to see Kagura Hikaru's face less than a foot away, his right hand reaching over her shoulder to the train door behind her.
Is this what they call a "wall slam"?!?!
Ai Cheng Hua Lian's heart pounded furiously, her ears beginning to heat up and turn red.
She subconsciously swung her shoulder bag in front of her chest to serve as a cushion in case Kagura Hikaru leaned forward.
"The space is really tight, bear with it for a while," noticing her discomfort, Kagura Hikaru tilted his head and comforted her.
"...Okay."
Ai Cheng Hua Lian replied softly, her cheeks beginning to turn red as well.
The air grew heavier.
Kagura Hikaru and Ai Cheng Hua Lian each looked in different directions, lost in their own thoughts.
The train moved on the rails at a speed of 120 kilometers per hour, the scenery outside slowly moving backwards.
Whenever certain tracks were passed, the carriage would sway slightly, causing passengers inside to sway left and right. Accidentally bumping heads or stepping on someone's foot was common, and apologies could be heard from corners of the carriage now and then.
Once it quieted down, many things became unavoidable.
The humid and hot air in the carriage, the smell of smoke, alcohol, even body odor, as well as the arms and thighs of strangers pressed against one.
It was truly an uncomfortable space, Kagura Hikaru had decided he would avoid riding the train at this time at all costs in the future, it was like paying to be insulted.
He looked at Ai Cheng Hua Lian, who was looking down, and couldn't help but ask, "Senior, do you usually take the train home at this time?"
"Eh?" Ai Cheng Hua Lian looked up in surprise and responded, "Not every day. After the school club activities are over, I have band practice and then head home. Usually, it's much later and not so crowded."
"That's good." Kagura Hikaru whispered to her, "In such chaotic carriages, there might be perverts on the prowl, you're a girl, Senior, you must be careful."
"Ah... uh... "
Probably not expecting Kagura Hikaru to bring up the topic of perverts, Ai Cheng Hua Lian nodded somewhat foolishly.
Then, a beat too late, she realized he was showing concern for her, and blushing, she said, "Thank you, Mr. Kagura, I'll be careful from now on."
"Yes, if someone could accompany you like today... uh..."
"? Mr. Kagura?"
"...Never mind."
Kagura Hikaru felt the odd sensation of hands kneading his waist and hips.
Just as he was cautioning others to be wary of perverts, he found himself a victim.
He turned his head slightly and discovered that the person pressed against his back was a petite young girl, dressed in a sailor uniform, looking to be about middle school age, with her hands mischievously moving on him.
...So bold at such a young age to make a move on an older man, truly audacious.
He frowned, planning to resist, but Ai Cheng Hua Lian seemed to notice his discomfort and acted first.
She almost embraced Kagura Hikaru as she leaned over to look behind him, immediately spotting the misbehaving middle school girl behind him and glaring daggers at her.
Feeling the gaze, the middle school girl withdrew her hands like she had touched an electric fence, turned sideways, and dared not move again.
Kagura Hikaru breathed a sigh of relief, looked down at Ai Cheng Hua Lian's hair whorl, and said, "Thank you, Senior."
"No, it's nothing..."
Feeling Kagura Hikaru's breath on her hair, Ai Cheng Hua Lian suddenly realized she was leaning too close, almost lying on him.
The masculine scent coming from him, like a fresh lemon-scented shower gel, was warm.
Ai Cheng Hua Lian resisted the urge to scream, blushing as she backed away and quietly chatted with Kagura Hikaru to divert her attention.
Apart from casually asking about the brand of shower gel he used at home, everything else was within the bounds of propriety.
Kagura Hikaru answered honestly.
Ironically, the shower gel at his home was endorsed by Ryoma Ayakoji, Chiyoko Ayakoji's father, with his half-body portrait printed on the casing, and every night the family had to bare themselves and meet his gaze.
Usually, it didn't matter, but today it felt like he had encountered the man himself...
Next time he would advise his aunt to buy a different brand.