LIGHTNOVELSTORY Chapter 27
So, Ogata-san guided me around the live house. Now that I think about it, this is a pretty VIP treatment—after all, the manager himself is showing me around.
“Well, first of all—”
“Hey, Oga-san!”
“Hm?”
Just as we were about to move and continue the explanation, someone called out to Ogata-san. Turning towards the voice, I saw Chiaki, who should’ve been dragged off by her ear earlier, returning.
“What’s up? Trouble in the back?”
“Nope, nothing like that. I forgot to give you something. Here, 500 yen.”
“Huh? What’s this for?”
“Drink fee. It’s for Haruto-kun. Since I invited him.”
“Huh? Me?”
Wait, what? 500 yen for a drink? Sorry, but I have no idea what’s going on here. And besides, isn’t that a bit pricey?
“Alright, that’s all. Take care of everything else, okay?”
“Hey, hold on—don’t run in the store, damn it!”
As I stood there dumbfounded, Chiaki finished what she came to say and dashed off. And as she left, she turned around for a brief second and gave a cheeky thumbs-up.
“Geez, that crazy girl… Sorry about all the noise.”
“Oh, no, it’s fine. But, um, what’s this 500 yen drink fee?”
“Ah, yeah. Well, most live houses, including ours, are technically classified as restaurants by law. Because of that, we have to enforce a one-drink policy.”
“Really?”
“Yeah, it’s easier to get permits if we operate as a restaurant that happens to have live performances.”
“Huh.”
Hmm, I had no idea. I was just following Chiaki’s invitation blindly. If I’d actually looked at the ticket, maybe it would’ve been written there.
A live house classified as a restaurant, huh? I guess it’s kind of like those loopholes, like how pachinko places have exchange counters or how supermarkets sell toys as an excuse to include candy.
And since they’re running it as a restaurant, they have to make sure customers order something. Hence, the mandatory drink. Still, 500 yen feels steep.
“No, wait. Hang on. I feel like I let something slip by… Did Chiaki just pay for my drink?”
“No, no. Your ticket is an invitation, so the one drink is actually free.”
“Huh? Then why did Chiaki…?”
“She probably forgot that your drink was free and just wanted to look good. Or maybe she didn’t know in the first place.”
“Seriously…”
Ogata-san and I both gazed into the distance, exasperated. What made it worse was that he wasn’t even surprised, just fed up.
As expected from Chiaki’s home turf. The more I learn about her, the clearer my impression becomes. And honestly, it hasn’t changed much since the beginning. Chiaki is… well, Chiaki.
I mean, I know I’m a bit eccentric myself, but I don’t have that kind of wild energy to drag everyone around with me. How does she manage to pull that off?
“Well, anyway. Here you go. This is your drink ticket, valid for today only. You can give it to the drink staff over there whenever you’re ready.”
“Ah, thanks.”
“By the way, you normally receive this at the reception desk. I was planning to give it to you while explaining things, but Chiaki’s rampage threw off the timing.”
“Heh… right…”
Honestly, I can only laugh at this point. She’s like a walking hurricane, knocking everything over as she moves.
“I’ll return the 500 yen to her later.”
“Oh, please do.”
“I’ll make sure to tease her about it while I’m at it.”
“She’s well-loved, huh?”
“Oh, absolutely. Chiaki may be an idiot, but she’s a lovable one. You know, it’s always the dumb ones that end up being adored by the older folks.”
Ogata-san gave a smile full of affection.
If I had to describe it, it was like the look of an uncle watching over a niece or nephew. But with his tough-looking exterior, it ended up looking more like a rugged, dashing expression. If Chiaki were here, she’d probably call him something like ‘The Godfather.’
“The truth is, when I asked about your relationship with her earlier, it was just me being a busybody. I thought if you were some weirdo, I might have to scare you off.”
“Wait, really?”
“Yeah. I’m not her parent or anything, so it’s just the meddling of an old man. But you see, their band treats this place like home, and they’ve got a ton of potential. So I can’t help but be protective, you know?”
“Ah…”
I don’t know much about the band world, but I get what he’s trying to say.
If a famous band came out of his live house, it’d be a point of pride for him, and naturally, he’d want to look out for them. And if there’s some practical benefit to that, then it’s not just meddling for meddling’s sake.
“By the way, are Chiaki and the others really that amazing?”
“…I’ve seen countless bands as both a manager and someone in the music business. And that’s why I know. Avant-Garde will make it big. Without a doubt.”
“That much?”
“Yeah. First, they simply have that *star quality*. Even for artists, looks matter. And in that sense, they’re flawless. They’re more polished than most underground idols.”
“That’s true.”
Chiaki and Haruzaki are both beautiful in their own way, and the rest of the band isn’t lacking either.
I knew they were doing band stuff through part-time work, but if I hadn’t known that, I might’ve assumed they were part of some idol group.
“And the music is top-tier too. Their playing is already almost professional. In the indie scene, they’re at the very top. Although, these days, the line between indie and major labels has blurred, so it’s a bit tricky.”
“Huh?”
I don’t really get the difference between indie and major, but from Ogata-san’s tone, I gather there’s some kind of distinction. Maybe I should study up on music too?
“Well, just think of it as the highest level of amateur. On top of that, they’re young, so they’ve got an insane amount of potential to grow.”
“Got it.”
“And what really stands out is their vocals. Chiaki’s singing is a cut above the rest. Sure, she’s still rough around the edges, but she’s already as good as any pro. And more importantly, she has *charisma*.”
“Charisma?”
“Heh, I get why you’d react like that. But trust me, it’s real. When she grabs the mic, she transforms. Usually, she’s a carefree goofball, but on stage—she’s the ultimate rock star.”
“…”
Ogata-san said it with absolute confidence, his gaze firmly set on the future.
Is Chiaki really that amazing? That Chiaki?
“Haha, you look like you don’t believe it. Well, I can’t blame you. But you’ll see for yourself soon enough.”
“Yeah, I guess so.”
“So, to circle back, I want to make sure those kids climb the ladder to stardom without any trouble. That’s why I’m here to chase away any pests.”
Oh, we’re coming back to that point? Also, isn’t the “pest” he’s talking about… me?
“Uh, um…”
“Oh no, don’t get the wrong idea. I’m not saying you’re one of them. But when it comes to bands, that kind of trouble always pops up. It’s just part of the territory.”
He then began recounting stories of how bands he once knew eventually dissolved. According to him, most band members are dreamers, which leads to frequent problems involving money or relationships. And of course, Chiaki’s had her share of drama too, but that’s something best left unsaid in this moment.
“Especially with a group that looks as good as theirs. There are always people trying to get close for the wrong reasons.”
“Ah, I see.”
“Again, I’m not saying you’re one of them, okay? Honestly, I trust you. At least as a person.”
“…Huh?”
Trust? Why? What did I do to earn that?
“You know, earlier when I yelled at those two? You kind of tried to shield them, didn’t you?”
“…”
“Not many people can do that, especially in front of a tough-looking guy like me. The fact that you could move like that already makes you a thousand times better than the idiots chasing after them just for their looks.”
“…That was more of an instinct from working in customer service, trying to avoid conflict.”
“Haha, let’s just call it that.”
“…”
I was met with a warm, almost fatherly smile. Now that I think about it, I’m starting to realize I might not be very good with this guy.