"Hello? Anyone here? Hey!"
Half an hour later, in Shinjuku. Walking through an old business district that looked like it belonged in an abandoned building project, Miyazawa Yuu peeked here and there, his eyes narrowing as they lost their luster.
It couldn't be helped; when a business district is old, the management measures are usually poor. Even in public areas, there were plenty of people ducking into hallways to smoke. The swirling haze was a direct assault on any normal visitor's lungs!
Does a place like this really have a Livehouse? A drop of cold sweat slid down his forehead. He didn't think the dark-skinned waitress would lie to him, but...
"Ah! Found it. It's actually in a place like this?"
Thinking this, he rounded a corner and finally stopped by a staff elevator. Before him was a fire door covered in old posters, oozing with a sense of history.
There was no doubt—his destination, "FDLT," was right before him. Supposedly, it was a rock-focused venue with a very good reputation!
"Sorry for the intrusion!"
Entering the door, Yu called out a greeting into the dim space, which was lit only by a few small lamps. He didn't want the closed Livehouse to mistake him for a trespasser. Suddenly, his eyes lit up!
Though only separated by a single door, the style inside was the complete opposite of the style outside.
Compared to the decaying feel of the old district, this Livehouse—aside from a somewhat moody decor—was exceptionally well-maintained. Even the decorative pipes were wiped clean!
It looked like the owner must be a refined wo—
"Hmm? No performances today! If you're buying tickets, the next show hasn't been scheduled yet. Please come back later!"
Shouldering a broom, a man with a sour expression turned his head slightly. Long, bar-style earrings that covered almost all of his visible ear skin clattered together.
As he spoke, Yuu expression instantly froze. He could see a tongue stud and a lip ring. Unlike the cheap props his rebellious sister used, these were the real deal!
And the sheer number of them...
"Ah, haha, no, actually I wanted to ask if you're still accepting performance applications for bands..."
Yu immediately waved his hands to clarify his stance, forcing a bitter smile as the image of a "gentle and virtuous older sister manager" in his head shattered into pieces. He was already prepared to bolt!
Joking aside, even if he wasn't afraid of a Livehouse run by a delinquent, he had to consider the feelings of the imoutos!
With those dead-fish eyes surrounded by dark circles, the piercings running from lip to chin, and that raspy middle-aged-man voice, the sisters would be lucky if they didn't burst into tears on the spot!
"A band? Oh~ are you looking to make your debut here, or just a gig? Do you have an existing fanbase~?"
"Eh?"
Tugged over to a plastic chair by the fierce-looking man, Yuu pupils dilated as he watched the other party carefully set aside the equipment he was organizing. The man then poured half a cup of a drink and sat down with a smile, placing it in front of him.
"Please, help yourself~"
"Y-Yes!"
Completely thrown off by the hospitable service, Yu watched the delinquent run off to get a pen and paper for notes. Question marks flooded his mind—What is this routine? Do delinquents nowadays like to talk in this tone?
But to give credit where it was due, the man's etiquette was impeccable. Even though he served cola, it didn't hide his nature as a veteran host!
"What's wrong? Scared?"
Sitting opposite his guest, Yoshida Ginjiro let out a helpless laugh and spread his hands. "Actually, I often have girls run away the moment they see me. It troubles me quite a bit!"
"No, no, no, it's just that my stereotypes were shattered, so I'm a bit confused..."
Rubbing his temples for a few seconds, Yu looked up again. The man had not transformed into a gentle older sister; Yu had no choice but to disappointedly abandon his "Frog Prince" fairy tale.
So, he looks like a delinquent on the outside, but inside, he's a middle-aged man with a maiden's heart?
I guess I judged a book by its cover! That's not right!
"Hello! I'm Miyazawa Yuu, the drummer for the 'Molten Flow' band. We're looking for a Livehouse to perform at to make up for some regrets. Do you accept newcomers here?"
"Mhm! We accept them. It's quite impressive that you adapted so quickly, Yu-kun."
As their hands gripped tightly together, Yu caught a glimpse with his peripheral vision. The man hadn't just put effort into his accessories; beneath his shirt, there seemed to be tattoos on his torso! He looked like a hardcore rocker through and through! It made sense that he'd be in the venue business!
"Hmm... I understand the situation."
In their brief introductions, Ginjiro—resting his chin on his hand—quickly deduced that this college youth was a total rookie.
However, his shop didn't just provide a stage for veterans. After famous bands move on to bigger things, a Livehouse needs fresh blood to replenish the crowd. Cultivating newcomers early is never a losing game...
"However, to understand the band's level, we require a rehearsal. Is that acceptable?"
"Of course! Sorry... when I first walked in, I thought this was a delinquent hangout..."
"Hahaha! It's nothing. Many people say that the first time. As a legal performance hall, this is a strictly non-smoking, non-drinking professional venue!"
"Eh? Is that so..."
Staring suspiciously at Ginjiro for two seconds, Yu had actually smelled a faint scent of tobacco since he entered. As for the source...
"Yo! Gin, another newcomer?"
Dangling a cigarette meant for women, Honjou Fuuko walked out from the backstage. She glanced at the "mushroom-head" boy who lacked any distinctive band-member traits and lost interest instantly.
"I'm going out to buy a pack. When they arrive, have them wait a bit. Thanks..."
"Fuuko-chan! I think I've told you many times that smoking is forbidden backstage!"
A vein popped on Yoshida Ginjiro's forehead. Even when angry, his tone remained gentle. This led to people who knew him well not paying much attention to his status as the boss.
The upside was he could blend in with the bands under his wing; the downside was... he really blended in with them!!!
"Yes, yes~ last one today. I definitely won't smoke the pack I buy back~"
Waving goodbye with her back turned, Fuuko was a beauty, but Yu had zero interest in her. Whether it was her "size" or her "older sister energy," she was far from the mark!
Instead of focusing on the band girl, he chose to watch Ginjiro with an observant gaze. After all, seeing the man's face turn red with anger was... very novel!
"Honestly..."
Turning back to find the new drummer staring at him, Ginjiro could only grumble an explanation. "Fuuko is just an exception. Our place is usually very professional—"
"Ohayo~ Gin-chan! Hehe~ my friend told me a muscle man might be debuting later. Said it's a heavy metal band and might be right up your alley!"
Before he could finish, the second half of Ginjiro's sentence was choked back by a staggering smell of alcohol.
Frowning, he pulled away a purple-haired woman who was chugging from a shochu bottle. Distressed, he frantically pulled out tissues to wipe his jacket, which was soaked in her drool!
Unfortunately, it was useless. The alcohol had already seeped in!
"Kikuri! Why are you here? Didn't Eliza and Shima finish their audition and go home ages ago?"
"Ah~ you mean that~"
Waving the bottle in her hand, Hiroi Kikuri's short purple hair flew about as she shook her head wildly. Her shark-like teeth flashed a healthy white light through her laughter.
"I don't know! Shima said if I go to the izakaya again, we won't have enough money! So we had to buy booze and have a victory party in the backstage room!"
"And then... and then..."
Stiffening in a daze, her eyes suddenly lit up. She rubbed the back of her head and apologized sheepishly. "I think I got drunk and rolled under the sofa. Gin-chan poked me several times while cleaning the room!"
"So the reason the broom wouldn't go in back then was you?!"
His hands were curled into claws in frustration, as if he wanted to strangle something. Thanks to this drunkard, Yoshida Ginjiro had to clean the breakroom all over again!
Just as he was about to get up—unable to tolerate a single speck of dirt in his shop—a flash of inspiration hit him!
He suddenly remembered he wasn't alone. If Kikuri's appearance scared off the new band...
"I say..."
"No! We really do ban smoking and drinking here... anyway, this is a professional venue!"
He turned back quickly to soothe the guest, only to hear the new boy lecturing very seriously: "Spending money to drink at an izakaya results in a 70% markup; it's something that should be strictly avoided!"
"Eh? Is that so!?"
Startled, the purple-haired girl seemed to be hearing this for the first time. Her eyes lit up instantly, looking as if she had just learned a profound truth!
"Exactly! Drinking out will drain your money in no time. But if you find the right drinking buddy, you can enjoy the atmosphere and drink cheap booze at the same time!"
"I see!"
Under Yoshida Ginjiro's bewildered gaze, Miyazawa Yuu and Kikuri high-fived with a mutual understanding, looking like long-lost siblings finally reunited!
This was the so-called "Bond of Drinkers!"