Joker's Band Game Story

Actually, even if he hadn't said it, I would have been able to figure it out after a few more interactions, but he still took the initiative to tell me.

At the time, he seemed to want to stop Shuangshi from reviving Crychic, but now that her plan has failed, she certainly has no intention of continuing to play in the band.

Naturally, Amamiya wouldn't help Aine call Sase back; Amamiya wouldn't offend another person just to satisfy someone else's wishes.

"Ah~ How could this happen..."

Ai Yin couldn't help but say this, glancing at the lamp beside her, where a small dark cloud was already floating above it.

If we don't take care of it, the lamp will be heartbroken.

"What should we do, Lixi?"

"What else can we do? I'll ask her later. As for you... if you can't wait, you can go find her yourself."

Looking for Shuang Shi? How could she possibly find him? She couldn't. Shuang Shi was completely unreachable; all her messages were unread.

I want to catch her, but I don't know where to start.

Aine's troubles were not something Lixi needed to worry about. Lixi continued pouring tea and busying herself with her own work.

"But Lixi, aren't you off work yet?"

"No, a colleague didn't come to work today, so I switched shifts."

So Lixi will have to work pitifully until after 8 pm today, but it's not without its benefits; at least her empty wallet can recoup some of its losses.

The rental of various rehearsal rooms before that live performance cost a lot of money. In addition, she recently took a fancy to some things, so she had to find a way to work more to earn more money to buy the doll she wanted.

"Wow, that must be so tiring!"

Ai Yin couldn't help but tease her, but Li Xi just calmly glared at her before getting back to work.

There are many other customers in the coffee shop now, not just their table.

As for the colleague that Li Xi was talking about... he couldn't help but sneeze.

"Ah!"

Kawara Momoka rubbed her nose, feeling as if someone was talking about her.

"You caught a cold? Did you get chilled at night?"

Ren Amamiya asked, handing the menu to the third person present, Nina Iori.

Rencai took the menu and couldn't help but look at it.

At this moment, the four of them were preparing to eat a dinner called shabu-shabu, which was actually a stew. Amamiya had just finished looking at the dishes and handed them to the last one, Nina, to see if there was anything she wanted to eat to replenish her energy.

"Um...actually, I think either is fine..."

"Really? There's no need to save money for Tao Xiang, anyway, every penny you save will just become wine in her belly."

Hearing that Nina wasn't planning to add anything else, Ren Amamiya couldn't help but try to persuade her. At the same time, Subaru Anzu chimed in, "That's right, that's right, we have to take advantage of Momoka today!"

"Uh... well then."

Renna then lowered her head to continue looking at the menu. She was indeed very nervous because she didn't know two of the four people present at all.

Although they had met last week, it didn't mean she could completely open up and easily accept the two of them. Nina was actually a bully at home, but an introverted girl who was outgoing in public and introverted in private.

Amamiya is probably a bit better. I've met him a few times and know his personality. Apart from always feeling like Amamiya treats me like a child, everything else is fine.

But An and Subaru... she really couldn't handle them. Subaru was just too much of a sun god.

And this time seems even more awkward than last time.

Last time was Ren Amamiya's victory celebration party. There was another table next door that was pushed together. Since everyone was unfamiliar with each other, there was nothing to do if I stayed in a corner. I just needed to quietly eat my food and listen to them chatting.

And... he was even encouraged by a blonde girl.

Although she was a year younger than me, she acted like an adult, encouraging me in many ways and giving me a lot of motivation to continue learning.

But compared to last time, there were only four people this time, and they immediately became the focus of attention. Nina, like a little hedgehog, wanted to curl up and stay still.

Especially... she didn't like girls like Subaru, who were smooth and polite all the time, which she found hypocritical.

Compared to Subaru, she was more used to Ren Amamiya sitting next to her. He seemed easygoing, and in reality... he was easygoing too. This consistent demeanor made Nina feel relaxed.

It's like having a kind grandfather by your side, even though Amamiya is a year younger than you.

"Let's eat! I can't wait to start eating!"

Everyone had ordered their food, and it was served quickly. Tao Xiang, who had been drinking beer since earlier, couldn't resist having some snacks, so when no one else was paying attention, she quickly cooked a large pot of vegetables.

"You've put in too much food."

Subaru couldn't help but complain as she used the serving chopsticks to pick up some decent vegetables from the pot for Rencai: "If the cabbage is overcooked, the texture and taste will both deteriorate."

"Isn't cabbage better when it's cooked until it's mushy? When it's fully absorbed by the broth, it tastes even better, and that mushy texture is the essence, okay?"

Ren Amamiya immediately retorted, saying he didn't think cabbage was good just from being rinsed; it had to be cooked thoroughly, until it was mushy. Not just cabbage, but all green vegetables were the same.

"Huh? How can you eat like that? And look at what's in front of you, do you really think your way of eating is correct?"

Subaru pointed to the small bowl in front of Ren Amamiya. His bowl was half full of sesame paste, and sprinkled with crushed peanuts, cilantro, green onions, and other accompaniments. To her, this way of eating was simply heresy.

But this is a habit of Ren Amamiya from her past life as a Chinese person. Isn't it normal to use sesame paste or peanut sauce as a dipping sauce when eating hot pot or shabu-shabu? But Japanese people usually choose raw eggs, or pair them with soy sauce, sake, etc., or they just don't dip at all.

"I don't think there's anything wrong with how I eat it. If you think the cabbage tastes best as soon as it's put in, why don't you just eat it raw?"

"That's still better than overcooking, isn't it?"

The two immediately started arguing about food, and seeing that they looked like they were about to quarrel, Nina panicked again.

But it wasn't really an argument; it was just a discussion between the two of them with slightly hostile attitudes.

So Tao Xiang, who was standing next to her, couldn't help but exhale a sigh of relief. She had just drunk half a cup in one go and felt incredibly comfortable: "Since the two of you can't decide who is right, then ask a third person and see who is in the minority."

Momoka's words immediately made Ren Amamiya and Subaru look at Nina, who was standing to the side, unsure how to stop the two from arguing. Seeing that they were both staring at her, Nina whispered, "Actually... I like my cabbage cooked a little softer..."

"Heretics have appeared!"

With Nina's support, Amamiya pointed at Anwa and Subaru, and it seems that it can now be proven that Anwa and Subaru were the ones who ate it wrong.

This made An and Subaru exclaim, "Ahhh! You guys are the ones eating it wrong! Momoka! How do you think you should eat it?"

"Huh? Me... I'm not picky. As long as it's cooked, it's edible and delicious."

As Tao Xiang spoke, she picked up a piece of cabbage with her chopsticks and stuffed it into her mouth, expressing her opinion while eating.

In some ways, peach-scented jasmine is actually quite easy to grow.

"Damn it! You're not supporting me either! Hurry up! If you don't support me, I'm not going to be your drummer anymore!"

Anhe Subaru got angry at Momoka's appearance, grabbed her by the neck and pulled her over, and started yelling at her.

This sight made Ren Amamiya burst into laughter, and the tense atmosphere from before vanished instantly, leaving Nina feeling rather strange.

Why did they get along so naturally? Why... do I envy their relationship so much?

Nina, who hadn't fully integrated into the situation, was still watching this scene with envy when Amamiya brought her a bowl of overcooked cabbage.

"Here, eat up. It's already cooked through, and the texture is quite good."

Completely different from the crispness of raw cabbage, cooked cabbage has a unique flavor when it's thoroughly cooked and softened.

Upon hearing Ren Amamiya's gentle voice, Nina couldn't help but look at him.

He wasn't looking at himself, but continued scooping food from the pot. Unlike when Subaru had given him the food earlier, Ren Amamiya's actions seemed more casual, as if it were something he took for granted.

It's not deliberate at all, nor is it pandering; it's just a casual approach, as if he would do the same for anyone around him.

"Thank you."

"No need to thank me, it's Tao Xiang's treat anyway. Waiter, another beer for Tao Xiang!"

"I can order myself! Don't suddenly act so generous when you're not treating!"

Momoka's words made Nina laugh, and she gradually relaxed.

If An and Subaru's sharp wit and accommodating attitude frightened her, then Amamiya's easygoing and indifferent nature made her feel at ease.

It's like the warm feeling of having a meal with family in your imagination.

Both are taking care of themselves, but for some reason, Amamiya's approach makes her feel relaxed, while Subaru's makes her feel more stressed.

"Don't think about it too much."

Ren Amamiya picked up some food with her chopsticks, dipped it in sesame sauce, and stirred it: "We're just here for a meal. Everyone has their own habits. This isn't a dinner party where everyone has to be formal. Just do whatever you want."

"Yes!"

Chapter Two: Success by Chance is Even More Terrifying

"So, Nina has already agreed to join the band?"

After a hearty meal, Ren Amamiya looked at Momoka, who was already quite drunk, and couldn't help but turn his gaze to Nina beside her.

Nina nodded slightly, a little embarrassed: "Yes... Momoka has always wanted me to try it, and I... want to try it too."

"Want to give it a try? That would be a good idea; you can't go wrong with a try."

Amamiya doesn't mind that Nina wants to become the lead singer; it's none of his business. If Nina is willing, he naturally won't say anything.

But actually, Nina agreed with this because of that live performance. It was the first time she had ever seen a live performance, and seeing how wonderful and glamorous everyone was on stage made her yearn for it.

In addition, Momoka's constant nagging during this time was like the serpent tempting Eve to eat the apple, telling her that she could express all her inner thoughts through music.

For various reasons and through her words, Rencai was successfully made dazed and confused, and she decided to give it a try.

But she had a condition: she would only make music part-time, as she still needed to study for university entrance exams.

However, in Amamiya's eyes, her stubbornness was...

Like those little widows in those novels who only talk about "just whirring and groaning," it's all just talk; they definitely won't actually do it.

Once a person becomes interested in something, it's hard for them to resist doing other things.

Once or twice is fine, one or two days is fine too, but to keep doing this for a year... is very difficult.

Besides, Japan isn't China, so you can't just not take the college entrance exam... right?

Anyway, it wouldn't be Momoka who gets beaten up, so Amamiya chose not to get involved. After all, he could tell that Nina wasn't really interested in studying and going to university; she seemed to be unsure what to do, which was why she mentioned going to university.