Upon seeing that all the band members were high school students, Kurusu Akira had completely given up on the idea of making money from music in the short term.
But when he learned that the manager of this Livehouse was the band's drummer's sister, he felt that his second part-time job was settled.
His deliberate mention of "salary" was also an expectation that Ijichi Seika, as an adult, would understand his hint…
"It's not good to act too mature at a high school age."
Kurusu Akira's expectations were dashed.
Only then did he remember that he was still a minor; not only had he not graduated from high school, but he couldn't even get a driver's license.
He was unilaterally cut off on the other side of the "age" generation gap.
Then, Ijichi Seika showed a helpless expression, "When are you usually free? STARRY usually opens at 5 PM, and from 5 PM to 10 PM, we need waiters to help deliver food, sell tickets, and merchandise. Other than that, we probably only need cleaners."
Kurusu Akira said without thinking, "I'm free all the time except from 7 AM to 8 AM. Please feel free to entrust the work to me, Manager!"
Ijichi Seika was a bit startled, "You're not going to class?"
Yamada Ryo quietly poked Ijichi Nijika with her elbow and whispered in her ear, "Oh no, he really seems to be…"
"What I meant just now was that whenever the Manager needs me, I can take time off to help." Kurusu Akira realized he was a bit too eager, always reflexively putting himself in the role of a "freelancer."
"Won't that affect your studies?" Ijichi Seika showed a slightly troubled expression.
"And if you take leave so casually, the school wouldn't approve it, would they? Skipping school?"
"Um…" Iseri Nina's voice suddenly rang out.
She spoke up to defend her President, "Amamiya-san's grades are the best in his year."
"And he lives in Yongen-Jaya next door, only a fifteen-minute walk away."
Kurusu Akira, who was carefully choosing his words to answer Ijichi Seika, immediately turned his head to look at his follower. Tears welled up in his eyes; he had actually found such a loyal and considerate subordinate—though still young, with a little training and discipline, she might one day become a pillar of his Psychological Health Education Department!
Ijichi Seika confirmed repeatedly that Kurusu Akira would not neglect his studies by working at Starry before making a verbal agreement with him, "The hourly wage is 1,800 yen, and you'll get a corresponding commission on alcohol sales. The working hours are from 5 PM to 10 PM. How does that sound?"
An hourly base wage of 1,800 yen plus alcohol commission is already close to the average hourly wage of a host at a nightclub.
"Isn't the hourly wage too high?" Kurusu Akira cautiously asked the Manager.
Behind every gift, there is a hidden cost.
Ijichi Seika, however, explained frankly, "You're quite famous in the high school forums in Setagaya Ward, so when you work for me, I'll definitely use your fame as part of our public promotion."
Kurusu Akira breathed a sigh of relief, "Then I thank the Manager for her appreciation. I will strive to be worthy of this salary."
"Not a bit like a child," Ijichi Seika didn't particularly like such precocious children. She waved her hand and told them to take their instruments to the recording studio opposite and practice on their own.
"Remember to come find me to sign the contract when you're leaving."
The Manager's voice echoed in the living room.
Thud.
The thick metal door of the recording studio closed.
Under the expectant gazes of Ijichi Nijika and Yamada Ryo, Kurusu Akira opened his guitar case and carefully took out an electric guitar with a mahogany body, a plain maple top, and a rosewood fretboard.
The dark top reflected the light, six tuners extending downwards, with medium frets sharply cutting through the air. The large triangular pickguard, combined with the rounded cutaway and jade knobs, exuded a cool, bloodthirsty aura in the silence, as if merely holding a pick and casually strumming the strings could awaken this distorted beast, making it erupt in a hysterical roar.
Recognizing the identity of this electric guitar, the two girls' pupils trembled violently.
Ijichi Nijika quickly grabbed Yamada Ryo's hand and shook it repeatedly, her voice trembling, "Ryo, Ryo, Ryo… that! That's…"
Even Yamada Ryo now looked at Kurusu Akira with awe and shock. "A Les Paul Standard-50S EB, equipped with 'BB 1' and 'BB 2' pickups, an undeniable distortion monster… priced at 560,000 yen."
At this moment, Kurusu Akira, holding the electric guitar, was a little stunned.
As his fingers touched the body of the guitar, that profound, direct sensation struck his soul like a chariot, followed by an indescribable emotion.
Kurusu Akira felt it; the "heart" remaining in this body was active, as if anticipating and yearning for a fulfilling performance.
Even though he had never learned an instrument and didn't know how to play, there seemed to be an excited voice in his heart urging him, "Just go for it boldly."
So, he somewhat clumsily buckled the strap, took out the metal pick stuck in the fretboard, connected the audio cable to the amplifier, and then, holding the guitar in a very non-standard posture, said, "I'm ready."
Ijichi Nijika looked at Kurusu Akira, who, even to an amateur, clearly had no idea what he was doing, but instead of asking "Do you even know how to play the guitar?", she simply asked her friend, "Ryo, I'll leave the bass to you."
Yamada Ryo glanced at Kurusu Akira's right hand, which was holding the pick with nowhere to rest, and nodded silently.
Then she asked Kurusu Akira, "Does Amamiya-san usually listen to any bands?"
"…Morfonica and Diamond Dust?"
"If we're playing Morfonica's songs, the violin part might be a bit tricky. How about Diamond Dust's 'VOID'?"
"No problem." Both Kurusu Akira and Iseri Nina gave affirmative replies.
At this moment, Iseri Nina, who was assigned to the lead vocal position, blinked. This song, "VOID," which she had listened to hundreds and thousands of times… she indeed knew how to sing it.
Kurusu Akira nodded. Even though he knew nothing about electric guitars, a strong confidence was flowing from his heart to his fingertips.
He was willing to trust this power born from his heart.
"Then…" Ijichi Nijika took a gentle breath, then raised two drumsticks above her head and tapped them three times, signaling the start of the performance.
The drumbeats and bass sounds fell like fine rain in the center of the recording studio.
Enveloped by this rain, Kurusu Akira instinctively held the pick and strummed the strings.
Clean, crisp strumming, precise and powerful plucking, and a steady lead guitar combined with deep drumbeats to form an ethereal and beautiful melody.
Yamada Ryo and Ijichi Nijika exchanged glances, seeing surprise in each other's eyes.
With the addition of the confident and steady guitar sound, the fine rain in the recording studio gradually turned into a downpour, sweeping over Iseri Nina's entire body with a roar.
After a beautiful intro…
Iseri Nina, standing at the lead vocal position, hesitated for two seconds for some reason, and that hesitation made her completely miss the first verse.
After that, she merely opened her mouth slightly, facing the continuing accompaniment, but couldn't even utter a single syllable.
She quietly lowered her eyes, looking blankly at the tips of her shoes, filled with an inexpressible sense of guilt and embarrassment, and then helplessness.
The recording studio quickly became quiet.
The atmosphere was subtly awkward until Iseri Nina spoke very, very softly.
"I'm sorry."
Ijichi Nijika quickly stood up, "It's okay! Nina must not be used to singing in this kind of setting. Let's try again! Ryo, Ren, you agree, right?"
"No need." Iseri Nina looked up, biting her lip, and glared at Kurusu Akira with a mix of grievance and unwillingness. "I was just trying it out anyway. It seems I'm really not suited for a band… I… I'm going back to do my homework."
She suddenly turned around, pushed open the recording studio door, and fled in utter disarray.
Ijichi Nijika immediately dropped her drumsticks to chase after her—
But someone was faster than her.
Kurusu Akira, with his guitar on his back, had already rushed out of the recording studio.
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