Chapter 31: Did You Know That There Is A Pattern Of Performing Live Inside A Club?

TL: Akabane

***

We arrived right on time in front of Hachiko in Shibuya. Unlike the previous world just before I died, it was frankly smoky and there were cigarette butts all over the street. It was only a few years ago, but Shibuya was so dirty that I felt I was back in the past. Ayashiro looked cool, but Yuzuriha frowned at the smell of cigarette butts. It's like a baptism in the city.

"Ooooh. I made you wait? Gyahaha!"

"Eh? Senpai? Why are you here?"

I heard a familiar voice. It was Kekai-senpai who talking to me. Unlike the other day, he was wearing proper, decent, fashionable clothes.

"I'm here to pick you up instead of Misaki who's having a hard time getting ready! Come on, go get her!"

We tilted our heads, but Kekai-senpai didn't bother to lie, so we followed behind him. We passed by Marukyu and came to a little back street. There are a few love hotels scattered around.

"Was I staying overnight at that time? Was it a rest? Haha!"

Yuzuriha is looking at the price list of the love hotel with a self-mocking smile, curious and disgusted at the same time. I guess she has enough kerfuffle in her mind about that day to make a self-deprecating joke. I thought she was far more mentally strong than I was.

"The launch site for you guys will be here! Ahaha!"

It was a so-called club with a moody sign. According to the sign, the turnover time was 10:00 p.m., but there was already a line of flirtatious people waiting in line. At the entrance stood strong men who looked like guards.

"Oh my. Oh, by the way, you said Milan is a dancer at clubs all over the place. This is going to be fun! It's my first time in a place like this too!"

"...This is Tokyo...! I've never seen stills like this in a gal game or otome game! Kyahaha!"

The two girls seem excited. I'm pretty thrilled too.

"I like it. I love it when you're nubile! You guys are Misaki's dudes, so they're giving you special treatment, and they're serving tables in the VIP room! Good for you! Gyahaha!"

Kekai-senpai heads toward the entrance, talks to the guard about something, and then beckons us over. And they let us in, even though they hadn't opened yet.

"Is this a dungeon? Kyah!"

We walked leisurely toward the back of the hall while the staff was going back and forth to make final checks on the empty hall. Yuzuriha, who is having fun with her face bright red and jumping up and down, is cute.

"Wow. It's quite a nice space, isn't it? So this is where men and women spend their time in decadence. Hmmm. Romantic!"

Ayashiro was more excited than usual. An extraordinary space can easily drive a person crazy. And then we reach a calm area filled with blue light in the back. Tables and sofas are lined up in a semicircle. On one of the tables was a small blackboard with the words "Tokiwa" written on it.

"Hey there, Tokiwa! Please enjoy yourselves here at the bip table today! Gyahaha!"

Kekai-senpai ushered us to our seats like a concierge. Ayashiro and Yuzuriha sat down on the sofa happily. I was about to sit down again too.

"I've heard how well you've been doing. Kanata. Your seat is in the back, at the top! You can do whatever you want! Gyahaha!"

I sat down on the sofa at the back of the room. With Yuzuriha and Ayashiro on both sides, I feel very rich.

"This already has a New Yorker mafia feel to it! It's nice! It's so good, Kanata!"

What on earth is Yuzuriha's American mafia skiing? Ayashiro nodded yes.

"You look like a mature IT chief when you do that! We are an at-home workplace aiming to be listed on the stock exchange!"

That is definitely a black company.

"I'll take that as a compliment, but even so, this place..."

""""Uwooooohh!!!!!!!""""

Everyone is annoyed by party people. In fact, they are often annoying and bothersome. But there are times when I look at them from afar and think they look like they are having fun.

"Misaki is still preparing the drinks and toast, so please refrain from doing so."

"What is Milan doing?"

I'm losing my virginity! She said something nuanced like that and ran off, but what on earth is she going to do?

"Hm? Well, when we open and the flow of people in the restaurant calms down, go to C Hall. Also, this seat is yours for the day, so feel free to use it as a resting place. Anyway, you must be hungry, right? I'll serve you some snacks!"

Kekai-senpai clapped his hands, and the staff brought light snacks like potatoes and ham. I was very grateful since all I had done earlier was study.

"Well then! I'm going to go pick up a girl, bye-bye! Say hello to Misaki! Gyahaha!"

Kekai-senpai said that and disappeared without a hitch. That guy is a real mystery. We waited for the openings and the flow of people to settle down while we pecked at our snacks for now.

***The club is on the move! ***

Is this club really a dungeon? It's so big, it's like a dungeon. There are various areas, and the music played here is all different. People are dancing and picking up girls, and it doesn't seem to be an atmosphere where shady people can live. In fact, Yuzuriha was intimidated by the crowd at first, but after I motioned for her to cling to my arm, she seemed to be enjoying herself.

"It's like this already! The airiness! It's amazing!!! The sound makes my stomach shake! It makes my eyes flicker! But I can't help it, I can't help my face smiling! Hahaha! Ahahaha!"

Yuzuriha takes my arm, smiling in an embarrassing, excited, or strange way. It's a nice gap from the serious face he usually shows as a mathematician.

"Hey, DJ, more explosions! Hooooooo!"

On the contrary, Ayashiro is haughty. She's been high-fiving girls who pass by her with a high tension for nothing. I feel that she was raised well, or at least well-spoken, when she doesn't do it to the boys. Then we arrived at Hall C. There was a DJ and people were dancing. It was not a place with a DJ and people dancing, but more like a live music club. There was a stage, and the audience was waiting for something.

"Hmm. I heard that Milan was going to hold an emergency live concert, that I came here, but I never expected it to be at the best club in Shibuya..."

"That's right. Milan has finally gotten serious, that's what I'm talking about. The end of the world and the beginning of the world will open here today..."

What's with those guys? There was one group of people who were clearly strange. A group of men and women wearing matching half-tails. They had lights in their hands. They don't quite fit in with the atmosphere of the club, but they don't seem to be bothered by it.

--- "Now, ladies and gentlemen, here we go! It's the beginning of Milan's emergency live show!!!"

""""Wooooooooooo!!!""""

The flirtatious guys and the mysterious group of half-clothed guys equally thrust their hands up in the air and raise a war cry. The people here are all too enthusiastic, even though they have nothing in common...!

--- "As you all know, Milan is a hard worker who has steadily built up a fan base not only at home, but also as a street dancer here and there in Tokyo! And finally, today! We received the great news that Milan has officially joined an entertainment agency!"

""""Milan! Milan!""""

...What is it? This is the only place that doesn't feel like a club, it's a real live music club? What do they mean?

--- "This might be the last time we'll be able to see Milan in such close proximity! Let's get up there! Let's turn it up!!!"

And then, the fans' voices echoed through the hall in unison. Then the stage lit up violently and Milan appeared on stage. She was dressed in a sexy yet cute outfit. Her skirt is so short you can almost see a little inside, but I bet it's spats, which is very frustrating! Then an intense song comes on. A cover of a well-known song that everyone knows starts playing.

"Kya! It's Izumi! Lovely! What's that! She's so cute! Kyaa!"

"What is this, an idol? What? Isn't that girl an aspiring actor?"

Ayashiro is tilting her head a lot. I know exactly how she feels.

"Well, she should be, but entertainers do everything."

I heard, after practicing theater with Milan, that actors have to be able to do rather everything. Milan himself said she especially likes musicals, and this kind of thing is probably possible. I'm sure it's possible.

"""""Milan! Milan!"""""

The audience was at once absorbed by Milan's beautiful and emo voice and somewhat erotic and emo dance. That's not all. Even the ordinary audience, who had no interest in Milan, just passed by the hall and heard the songs, and came in here to enjoy the show. And they, too, waved their hands toward the stage and began to dance with her to the music. Even strangers were mesmerized by her performance. An overwhelming aura. Milan is in the groove right now.

"Hey, hey Kanata. I'm at the front of that crowd, can you take a look?"

"Hmm? Let's see...oh..."

At the front of the audience and in front of the walls on both sides of the hall, a group of guys in half-clothes were waving lights and doing geeky tricks. Looking closer, I saw Yuzuriha was also doing otaku things with them. I'm so glad to see you brightening up, you gloomy little guy! I'm glad you're having fun.

"The power of this enchantment is amazing. It makes me want to forget everything and dance around in a frenzy! Excitement!"

In fact, Ayashiro has been dancing to the song since a while ago, beautifully stepping and waving her hands. What can I say, she is a surprisingly good dancer. This girl is well educated and can dance like this, what kind of education did she get? I'm curious.

"But what is it? Usually music and live performances separate the charlatans from the charlatans and the geeks from the geeks, but I don't see that in Milan's art. It accepts all people in full force. That's right. She must be idealistic. That's why her fans don't identify with any one particular group..."

"What do you mean?"

"That idealism is more like a virgin than a virgin! You see! There's a guy who understands you! Like the virgins who go out with the b*tches! Just like that! Right! That's why she can't get rid of her virginity. Fufufu. That's so nice!"

Just as the virgin accepts all of her b*tchy girlfriends, so too does Milan's art wrap everyone in emo. In other words, virgins are the strongest and kindest people.

"So you're a virgin after all! The virgin is cursed and can't get rid of it! That's a good twist! Ahaha! Hyahaha!"

I'm tired of tsk tsk too. So I dance along with Ayashiro. I actually practiced dancing after I leaped. I'll show you the result of that now! And we kept dancing until Milan's concert was over.

**Author's musings***

Next time, we'll do the Shibuya story again! From the club! A story like this.

The plan is to finish season 1 in about 10 more days.

After the Shibuya launch, there will be a monotonous epilogue-like story with a certain story of a college student for a while.

By the way, just the title of season 2 first.

Season 2 "Golden Week New Circle Camp Arc: The Darkness and Shadow of the Party People. Kanata the Circle Crusher (physics)!"

We are planning to title it something like that.

I'll do my best, see you!