How to raise a random guy's wife

"Are you scared? You can back out now!" Aki Tomoya hid his unease and used harsh words to provoke Hyodo Michiru, "Anyway, nobody knows you're going to perform on stage."

“That means…” Michiru Hyodo looked up, “that we are a unique surprise to all the listeners, right?”

“That’s right!” Aki Tomoya smiled.

Inspired by Michiru Hyodo, he felt a kind of burning passion that he only experienced in anime.

Hyodo Michi beamed, "As for fame, that'll be enough after I create a legend today; as for results, we'll naturally become an instant sensation; as for fans... all the listeners will become fans!"

"...You really are something, daring to make such a boast." Aki Tomoya exclaimed.

"In addition," Kobayashi Sora said, "there will be an encore after all the bands have finished performing."

Chapter 213 The Final Moment

"Simply put, the band with the highest popularity will have the opportunity to perform again and become the last band to perform," Kobayashi Sora pointed out. "In other words, the better you perform later, the better your chances of becoming the final winner."

Whether it's a warm-up or the grand finale depends on the band's performance.

"Wait for our second appearance!" Michiru Hyodo suddenly remembered, "Oh right, thank you for the previous piece."

"You interpreted the piece very well, you're welcome."

“That’s true…” Michiru Hyodo stated earnestly, “but we can’t just accept it without doing anything. If you need my help, just let me know, but please don’t ask me to help with anything related to otaku.”

The other three members of the band froze.

Himekawa Tokino was clearly flustered, Mizuhara Eichika looked away and pretended to look at the scenery, while Morioka Aiko remained expressionless.

A quiet and reserved personality can be quite useful in such situations.

“I do need your help with something,” Kobayashi Sora said mysteriously, “but it’s not related to otaku.”

"Oh? What is it?"

"I'll tell you later." Kobayashi Sora confirmed the time again. "Alright, the rehearsal is about to begin."

"Alright~" Michiru Hyodo didn't take it to heart. "Alan, let's go."

"come on!"

"No need, it's just a rehearsal." Michiru was as relaxed as ever, skipping and jumping as she left the backstage area.

"Hey, An'an, are you really okay?" Himekawa Tokino's voice trembled with nervousness.

An'an... Xiaolin Kongqing's lips curled up slightly.

"Don't laugh out loud!" Aki Tomoya warned.

Although he himself really wanted to laugh.

"Pfft!" Kobayashi Sora burst out laughing.

I knew it... Aki Tomoya ignored him and comforted Himekawa Tokino, "Michiru also said that, right? It's just a rehearsal, just relax and play."

"Uh, I'm not worried about the rehearsal."

"What else are you worried about? You've practiced enough, haven't you? Be more confident..."

Himekawa Tokino twisted her fingers together. "When are you going to tell Komi the truth?"

Aki Tomoya's face fell. "...Don't remind me, I was almost forgetting."

Kobayashi Sora sighed, "Don't forget, isn't that the most important part of the plan?"

"That's right!" Himekawa Tokino thought the same way. "After all, we've come this far, it's only a matter of time before we're exposed, isn't it?"

"Well... about an hour more." Aki Tomoya gritted his teeth. "Anyway, we'll see after the rehearsal..."

-

"Is this CLUBG-MINE?" Eriri looked at the small LiveHouse with the CLUBG-MINE sign on the entrance. "That LiveHouse where the woman performs..."

"Why not just call him Hyodo-kun..." Kato Megumi's eyes darted around, "Hey, where's Senpai?"

"She's probably at the bookstore now, after confirming the location."

"Huh? Aren't you going backstage?"

"Let's go before the show starts." Eriri looked around. "Let's go to EOCELOOR and rest for a bit."

"All right......"

Sitting in the coffee shop, Kato Megumi felt the warmth of her coffee cup and suddenly remembered something important. "Speaking of which...you seem to have known Sora Aoi for a long time, right?"

"Hmm..." Eriri took a sip of coffee, enjoying the refreshing coolness of the air conditioning. "We were in the same class in junior high, so we were classmates for a year."

"It seems like your relationship wasn't very good at the beginning."

"No need to be so polite, it's just that I dislike him."

"what?"

"You may not understand, but his previous reselling behavior was very disgusting."

"Um... I really don't understand."

"Don't worry, at the current pace, you'll probably understand it very soon."

"The way you're saying it makes me feel like I'm going to undergo some terrible transformation."

“Corrosion is more appropriate.” Eriri sighed. She disliked Kobayashi Sora, but more so because someone else disliked Kobayashi Sora.

Eriri shook her head. "I thought he would have changed something when he came back this time... Hmph, if it weren't for his gift, this would have been the second worst birthday I've ever had."

"Birthday?" Kato Megumi blinked. "A present?"

"Yes, the complete anime series and the bonus sketchbook." Eriri rested her chin on her hand. "To be honest, it was a huge help."

"I see..." Kato Megumi looked out the window.

Oh, I see.

-

"Okay! Everyone, thank you for your hard work!"

The sound engineer's voice came through the microphone from behind the audience.

Upon hearing the voice, after expressing their gratitude, the people and equipment on the stage quickly began to move.

"Then let's move on to the next group and get ready~~"

That's right, the rehearsal for Icytail has come to an end.

So far, everything is going well.

The girls, still visibly excited, wore expressions of lingering emotion after stepping off the stage.

"Yay!" Himekawa Tokino cheered. "Flawless!"

"Okay, okay," Mizuhara Eichika said calmly, but her light footsteps betrayed her true feelings. "Hmm, even better than I imagined~"

“…Hmm.” This was Morioka Aiko. “OK.”

Finally, it was Michiru Hyodo who gave Tomoya Aki a high five, saying, "I told you it would be fine!"

Aki Tomoya: "..." Hope.

Everyone returned to the backstage area. Michiru Hyodo looked at the girl who walked by and said, "Hey, hey, Allen, that girl who just came out was dressed so extravagantly!"

Aki Tomoya stiffened. "Really?"

Michiru Hyodo looked incredulous. "She's wearing a headband that looks like cat ears, and her clothes are pretty flashy... She wouldn't be planning to sing on stage dressed like that, would she?"

"Ah... really? Maybe... it would be okay to perform dressed like that, right?" Aki Tomoya avoided her cousin's gaze and looked at the other three. "What do you guys think?"

Himekawa Tokino stammered, "I...I think it's totally OK~ Everyone...everyone has their own preferences!"

Mizuhara Eika's eyes sparkled. "Ah, right, right, that makes sense~~ Basically, we're so busy with our own performances that we don't have time for anything else~~"

Moriqiu Aiko: "..."

A quiet and reserved personality can be quite useful in such situations.

Kobayashi Sora took on the responsibility of being an assistant and explained the relevant precautions, "...Also, the stage costumes for this event are all in your lockers. You can change and get ready to go on stage after the meeting—is there anything else I haven't made clear?"

Chapter 214 I Can Do It

Himekawa Tokino and Mizuhara Eichika looked at Morioka Aiko.

The captain was silent for a moment, then asked, "Xiaomei, is there anything you want to say?"

“I have no questions,” Michiru Hyodo replied.

Morioka Aiko shook her head. "Anything is fine." This wasn't necessarily a question.

"Then..." Michiru Hyodo extended her hand, "Let's all put our hands together!"

The four band members extended their right hands and overlapped them.

"Today is my first concert, but I'm not nervous at all," Michiru Hyodo said with a bright smile. "By the way, when do you think my heart beats the fastest?"

"Well..." Himekawa Tokino guessed, "Is it for the school anniversary?"

"School anniversary celebration... no!"

"Is that now?" Mizuhara Eichika said, expressing her guess.

“No, that’s not it.” Michiru Hyodo looked at Aiko Morioka and, seeing that she didn’t seem to be going to speak, revealed the answer, “The correct answer is the day I first met you all.”

"..." Everyone else fell silent.

“I only approached you because I heard your music and decided to join the band… No matter how many more times I perform on stage in the future, I don’t think I’ll ever be as nervous as I was back then.” Michiru Hyodo looked at her bandmates. “So today is nothing special at all—it’s just one of many performances to come.”

Kobayashi Sora couldn't help but glance at Hyodo Michi a few more times.

Unlike her carefree and easygoing demeanor, Michiru Hyodo possesses a rather delicate and thoughtful nature.

"So~" Michiru Hyodo concluded, "Everyone, let's stay relaxed... Let's go!"

"Oh!!!"

Michiru pressed her hand down hard, and the circle of people surrounding her dispersed with the shouts.