Lonely Rock for the Blind.

Yuyuko Otsuki asked cautiously.

"Let's start with the manager of [Starry Sky]."

Iwashita Shima said thoughtfully.

"She might know something."

"But... how can you be sure she'll tell you?"

Yuuko Otsuki tilted her head blankly and said.

"Duh, I was definitely using casual conversation as an excuse to get information out of him."

Iwashita Shima shook his head.

"Bringing Kikuri along would actually be more suitable...but..."

"but?"

"But she's recently started drinking heavily again, from morning till night, and in the past she was probably just causing trouble."

"Ah...it seems so."

Yuyuko Otsuki nodded in agreement.

"Wait a moment, after Qing's performance, let's go up and chat."

"Didn't you say you wouldn't tell the truth even if asked?"

Yuuko Otsuki asked, her eyes slightly uneven.

"... "

Iwashita Shima sighed.

Even if it's not the truth, you can still glean some clues from it...

"oh oh!"

Yuyuko Otsuki nodded quickly.

Iwashita Shima pursed her lips.

Is Yuyuko's academic performance really that good...? Why am I starting to have more and more doubts...?

Or perhaps your ability to think has declined because you were so focused on Qing's performance?

A little bit dazed...

Shima Iwashita rested her chin on her hand, closed her eyes, and enjoyed the jazz music on stage.

Well... it really does sound good.

The juice tastes a bit better now.

Once you're immersed in the music, time flies by.

By the time Iwashita Shima and Otsuki Yuyuko came to their senses, the performance was already over.

Many customers who came specifically for "Poison Cat" got up and left, while others who didn't want to waste food quickly ate a couple of bites and hurriedly left.

"Ah, as expected, this shop would be in terrible business without you, senior."

"I can't help but sigh," Otsuki Yuyuko remarked.

"However, it would be strange if a restaurant that makes those weird and unusual dishes did well."

The girl with pigtails spoke with a voice full of resentment.

"Alright, Qing is getting ready. Let's go outside and wait for him."

Iwashita Shima stood up and said to Otsuki Yuuyu.

"Ah."

Yuuko Otsuki nodded, and then followed Shima Iwashita out of the restaurant.

As the footsteps around her gradually faded away, Nekoyashiki Haru rose from the stage.

After politely declining the restaurant owner's offer to help her, Nekoyashiki Haru swung her cane and walked out of the restaurant.

"Haa~ Hoo..."

Yawning at the restaurant entrance, Nekoyashiki Haru took off her headgear.

"What's wrong, are you sleepy?"

The sudden sound from the side startled Nekoyashiki Haru.

"...Shima?"

"it's me."

Iwashita Shima nodded.

"Me...me too."

Otsuki Yuuko's voice rang out.

"... "

Nekoyashiki Haru blinked.

...

……

.........

Good evening, both of you.

In a yakitori restaurant, three people sat at a table.

Nekoyashiki Haru greeted him, then tilted her head and asked.

"Did Yuyuko tell Shima that I was doing a residency here?"

Yuuko Otsuki trembled slightly, and Shima Iwashita next to her nodded.

"Ah."

"How was my performance? Not bad, right?"

Nekoyashiki Haru smiled.

"... "

Yuuko Otsuki stared, completely mesmerized.

You never used to see Haru-senpai's smile without her sunglasses.

We need to watch it for a while longer...

“Great, your skills haven’t declined.”

Iwashita Shima first praised him, then lowered her head and picked up a chicken leg skewer.

"But why did you suddenly start performing in restaurants?"

"Hmm...it's necessary for life."

"Nekoyashiki Haru replied."

"You're out of money?"

Iwashita Shima asked.

"It's not that I'm broke. I actually still have some savings. Now I'm mostly saving money."

Nekoyashiki Haru smiled.

"There's nothing strange about it, is there? After all, there will be quite a few places where we'll need money in the future."

"... "

Iwashita Shima took a bite of chicken leg meat, then looked up.

"What you said isn't wrong... it's just that you never seemed to care much about money before..."

"Then let me consider myself grown up."

Nekoyashiki Haru shrugged.

"Actually, besides performing in the resident theater, I'm also planning to release some albums and stuff..."

"!!"

Yuuko Otsuki opened her eyes wide.

"Do you need me to help you promote it?! I have a lot of fans!"

"There's no need... Your band shouldn't be promoting other people's albums right now."

Nekoyashiki Haru sipped her Goodbaby juice.

Didn't you refuse before?

Iwashita Shima blinked.

"They've contacted you again?"

"No, I asked Manager Yin to help me get a referral. It's a smaller company."

Nekoyashiki Haru hooked her two fingers together.

"I'm quite satisfied with everything, and it's already been recorded. It'll probably be released after Christmas."

"... "

Iwashita Shima nodded.

"It still feels a bit strange... Are you really just saving money? Or are you facing some kind of difficulty?"

"Of course, I'm just saving money. After all, I don't want to become a freeloader or anything like that."

"... "

Iwashita Shima nodded.