Takuya slumped forward in his desk, chin propped on his hand. The droning lecture about ancient literature mixed with the dull ache in his muscles.
Fighting Ninders, stopping muggings, it's exhausting work.
The last few nights had been a blur of rooftops and dark alleys, his search for the Iron Cross Army fruitless. He caught petty criminals, but they were not the ones who took his father.
Just five more minutes. His eyelids felt heavy, pulling him into a welcome darkness.
SMACK!
His head snapped back. A sharp sting blossomed on his forehead. Ms. Tanaka stood over him, her ruler held high, a stern frown on her face.
"Yamashiro-kun," she said, her voice a low growl. "Is my class so uninteresting that you must sleep through it?"
A ripple of giggles spread through the classroom. Takuya mumbled an apology, rubbing the tender spot on his head. He glanced around, seeing a few classmates stifling laughter, others trying to look away.
Great, now everyone thinks I'm a slacker.
The bell rang, a merciful sound. Students pushed back their chairs, eager for the break. Takuya gathered his books, the rhythmic chatter of his classmates a dull thrum in his ears. He needed some fresh air, a moment away from judging eyes.
He walked out of the classroom, heading for the courtyard.
Takuya walked out into the courtyard, the afternoon sun warm on his face. He found Rito waiting by the main gate, fidgeting with his school bag.
"Hey, Takuya!" Rito called out, a relieved smile on his face. "You look… better."
Takuya managed a small smile in return.
"Yeah, I guess so," Takuya replied, shrugging. "Just… been a rough week."
"Mikan, was worried about you too," Rito added, his brow furrowing slightly. "Everyone was."
A pang of guilt hit Takuya. He had been a mess, pushing everyone away. His father's death, the Bracelet, Garia, the Iron Cross Army. It was too much to explain.
"Sorry about that, Rito," Takuya said, rubbing the back of his neck. "I… wasn't myself."
Rito waved a hand, dismissing the apology. "Don't worry about it! We all have those days. How about we play some games later? You know, make up for lost time?"
Takuya felt a genuine smile spread across his face this time. Rito was a good friend, always looking out for others.
"Sounds good," Takuya said. "I'd like that."
"Takkun!"
The cheerful voice cut through the air. Takuya looked up to see Nijika practically bouncing toward them, her blonde ponytail swaying. Ryo walked beside her, hands in her pockets, a cool, detached expression on her face.
"Nijika, Ryo," Takuya greeted them.
"You guys are still here," Ryo stated, her yellow eyes scanning the courtyard. "Expected you to have vanished by now."
"We were just talking about hanging out," Rito explained, a slight blush on his cheeks.
Nijika clapped her hands together. "Perfect timing! We have exciting news!" She pulled a stack of small, colorful cards from her bag. "Our band, Kessoku Band, has a live performance tomorrow at STARRY!"
She held out two tickets to Takuya and Rito. "You guys have to come! We need to sell at least twenty tickets to meet our quota."
Ryo nodded slowly. "Funding our artistic endeavors is essential. Also, I need new bass strings."
Takuya almost chuckled. Of course, Ryo needs money for gear.
"Oh, wow, that's great!" Rito said, looking at the ticket. But his smile faltered. "But I can't make it."
Nijika's shoulders slumped a little. "Aw, really? Why not?"
"My dad has a deadline," Rito explained, looking genuinely apologetic. "He needs my help with his manga. He's been working really hard, and I promised I'd assist him."
"That's too bad," Nijika said, but her cheerful demeanor quickly returned. "Well, Takkun, you'll be there, right?"
Takuya looked at the ticket, then at Nijika's hopeful face. He had been pushing everyone away, hiding in his own head, driven by vengeance. This was a chance to actually do something normal. To be there for his friends.
"Yeah," Takuya said, pulling out his wallet. "Count me in." He handed Nijika the money for the ticket. "I wouldn't miss it."
Nijika's eyes lit up, brighter than the setting sun. "Really?! That makes me so happy, Takkun! It's going to be great, you'll see!" She beamed, her entire face radiating excitement. "See you tomorrow!"
* * *
The next evening, a cool breeze brushed against Takuya's face as he walked toward STARRY. The address Nijika gave him led to a narrow alley. An understated sign, glowing with faint neon, pointed down a set of worn concrete stairs. He descended into the underground.
The air inside hummed with a low, expectant thrum. It smelled like old beer, a hint of sweat, and something sweet, like stale soda. Band posters covered every inch of the walls, a riot of colors and strange designs.
He spotted Nijika's band, Kessoku Band, on one of them, their faces a bit blurry. The small stage at the front was already lit, warm spotlights casting long shadows.
The place is packed.
Takuya moved through the growing crowd, a few heads turning his way, but no one really noticing him. It felt different from the school cafeteria, less suffocating. Here, the noise was part of the atmosphere, not a sign of judgment.
Near the bar, he saw her. Seika Ijichi, Nijika's older sister. Her long blonde hair, usually pulled back, framed a sharp face. Her orange eyes scanned the room, missing nothing.
She wore a dark, fitted jacket and a choker, giving her a cool, almost untouchable vibe. He hadn't really seen her since before… before everything.
"Seika-san," Takuya said, stopping a few feet away.
She turned, her gaze settling on him. A slight nod. "Takuya-kun." Her voice was calm, a little rough around the edges. "It's been a while. How have you been?"
How have I been? The words tasted bitter in his mouth. Fighting aliens, avenging my father, almost getting blown up.
"I'm fine," Takuya replied, the lie feeling heavy. He tried to make it sound convincing, but he knew Seika was sharper than most.
Her expression softened, a subtle change he almost missed. "I understand things have been hard since Hiroshi-san passed." She paused, her eyes holding his. "If you ever need anything, or just want to talk… you know where to find me."
The unexpected offer caught him off guard. A flicker of something warm spread through his chest, a feeling he hadn't let himself feel in weeks.
"Thank you, Seika-san," Takuya said, the words coming out quieter than he intended.
She gave a small, dry chuckle. "Still so formal, Takuya-kun." A hint of a smirk touched her lips. "You used to call me 'Seika Onee-san' when you were little."
Takuya felt a blush creep up his neck. "Yeah, well, that was when I was a kid." He avoided her gaze, a memory of a younger, less complicated time surfacing.
Calling her that now would just be… weird.
Takuya turned from Seika, letting the awkward memory fade. His eyes scanned the room, landing on the sound booth tucked away in the back. A figure sat there, framed by the glow of mixing lights.
It was PA-san. Her long black hair, cut in a hime style, cascaded around her pale face. Green eyes, half-lidded, watched the crowd with a calm, almost sleepy look. A choker with small metal rings sat at her throat, and subtle piercings glittered on her ears.
She gave a small, almost imperceptible nod when she met his gaze.
"Hey, PA-san," Takuya said, moving a little closer to the booth. He still didn't know her real name. It always felt like a weird, unspoken rule of STARRY.
"Takuya-kun." Her voice was soft, barely a whisper over the growing chatter. "Just as always." She gestured vaguely at the bustling live house. "Pre-show energy."
He nodded. Her steady presence was a quiet anchor in the restless energy of the club. At least some things stay the same.
A faint, muffled thumping sound drew Takuya's attention away from PA-san. It sounded like a drum beat, low and off-key, coming from the small studio room at the back of STARRY. He walked past the bar and pushed the door open a crack.
Nijika and Ryo were inside, surrounded by instruments and scattered music sheets. Nijika sat on the drum stool, her sticks still. Her bright vermilion eyes, usually full of cheer, were wide and held a worried look. Ryo stood by her bass, her face calm as always, but her shoulders were stiff, a quiet tension in her posture.
Something's wrong here.
"What's going on?" Takuya asked, stepping into the room.
Nijika's head snapped up. Her eyes, filled with desperation and hope, fixed on him.
"Takuya-kun!" she exclaimed, her voice tight. "Thank goodness you're here."
"We have a problem," Ryo added, her voice flat, but her fingers picked restlessly at her bass strings.
"The problem is… our lead singer can't make it," Nijika explained, her gaze still locked on Takuya. "She's sick, and we can't find a replacement in time." She took a breath, her chest rising and falling quickly. "We need someone, anyone, to fill in."
Nijika stepped closer, her hands clasped together. "Takuya-kun, please." Her voice was urgent, a plea. "Can you be our lead singer?"
"Huh?"
***
Advance Chapters on patreon.com/Najicablitz.
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