"This is Kita Ikuyo, our band's vocalist."
"This is Yamada Ryo, our band's bassist."
Around six in the evening, thanks to Nijika's introduction, Chisato and Hitori met the remaining two members of the band.
Ikuyo, like Nijika, was an outgoing and cheerful girl with a knack for making friends easily. When excited, her eyes sparkled with tiny, contagious stars.
Ryo, on the other hand, was much more reserved. Her expression remained calm and unchanged throughout the introductions, maintaining a steady demeanor.
The young people quickly warmed up to each other after a few exchanges.
Later, Nijika and the others held a simple welcome party for Hitori, and Chisato took the opportunity to enjoy some takeout cake and burgers.
By around seven, more customers began arriving at the venue.
Although the manager had said Chisato could just get familiar with the place today and start working officially tomorrow, seeing the bar staff struggling a bit, Chisato decided to help out.
Pouring drinks and alcohol into glasses, adding ice, and handing them over wasn't too difficult. The manager handled the payments, so it was manageable.
Chisato followed the manager's instructions, maintaining a friendly demeanor and interacting with customers.
One group of older women, charmed by his smile, lingered at the bar, chatting and asking for his contact information.
The manager jokingly told them, "He's still a student, and you all have boyfriends," which eventually sent them on their way.
Nijika then looked at Chisato and retracted her earlier comment.
"Try not to smile too much in the future. It might give others the wrong idea and impact your work, especially if you're constantly asked for your contact info."
"Got it."
"And you don't need to smile at me either!"
"?"
Chisato didn't pay much attention to the manager's strange reaction.
He focused on his tasks and occasionally glanced at the band's performance on stage.
At first, it was a bit noisy, but he got used to it and found himself getting absorbed in the music. The enduring appeal of band culture made sense to him.
By nine o'clock, the bar was quieter with fewer customers.
Seika patted Chisato, who was at the register, and told him to head home early.
"It's not too late; it's fine if I stay a bit longer."
"No need. You should go home and rest. Here's something for you."
Seika handed him four 1,000 yen bills.
Chisato refused.
"I'm not starting officially until tomorrow, and isn't the pay weekly?"
"You did well. I wouldn't shortchange a student. Take it and get some late-night snacks on your way home."
"...Thanks, Manager."
Chisato accepted only 2,000 yen.
"My appetite isn't that big; 2,000 yen is enough for me."
Seika smiled and didn't insist further.
"Suit yourself. Take care on your way back."
"Will do."
When Chisato arrived at the recording studio, the band had finished their practice and was happily chatting.
Hitori, still a bit shy, hadn't fully integrated into the group, but she was much better than at the start. She could answer questions without stuttering and didn't hide under the table anymore.
Despite this, as soon as Chisato entered, she quickly stood up and walked over to him.
The unfamiliar environment and new acquaintances were stressful for her, and having a familiar person nearby was a relief.
"Th...thank you, Chisato-kun. Are you done with work?"
Hitori, speaking softly and looking up at him with hopeful eyes, made Chisato almost reach out to pat her head.
Such a cute animal!
He changed direction and lightly touched her cheek.
"Yeah, I'm done. I'll head home soon. If you're finished, let's leave together."
"Ah, yes!"
Hitori felt relieved. After saying goodbye to the band members, she grabbed her guitar and backpack and left with Chisato.
The rain had increased, and puddles formed on the brick street, splashing high when stepped on.
"Ah! Sorry!"
Hitori's heart raced again when she saw that Chisato's pants had gotten wet from her mistake. Her momentary calm turned into anxiety.
"It's okay. The clothes will be washed anyway. How are you finding the new friends you've made?"
Chisato, while appearing to look ahead, checked the love system panel. The task progress bar for gaining respect or affection from others had moved to (4/100). He guessed the four people were likely the other three band members and the manager.
The hardest part is always the beginning, but it's a start.
"Ikuyo and Nijika are really nice and take good care of me. They're great people."
"And what about the bassist?"
"With Ryo, I think we get along well. She seems quiet and reserved at school, just like me."
"Then keep it up and get along well."
"Yeah… Thank you, Chisato-kun. If it weren't for you, I wouldn't have been able to overcome my shyness and join the band."
"Don't mention it. It's actually thanks to you that I found a decent part-time job."
They reached the train station, and since they were heading in different directions, they waved goodbye.
After getting home and taking a shower, Chisato saw a message from Hitori saying she had arrived home safely and felt relieved.
Before bed, at midnight, he checked the system panel.
The update was still in progress. The progress bar had barely moved throughout the day, so the update would probably take about a week to complete.
Chisato stopped thinking about it, snuggled into bed, and quickly fell asleep.
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