Source
https://kakuyomu.jp/works/16818093083511177921/episodes/16818093089133305988
“Here it is! This is today’s battlefield!”
Ruka-senpai enthusiastically opens the door to the private room as she is welcomed by the lively voices and fragrant smells echoing inside the restaurant.
The time was around six o’clock in the evening and we had been brought to the yakiniku restaurant by Ruka Senpai.
“It’s like a battlefield, but it’s actually peace.”
Aizawa sits down on the cushions with a bitter smile.
“No, it’s going to be a battlefield from now on. The battle for the meat is about to begin.”
Muto said quietly with a serious expression on his face, as Ruka-senpai smiled wryly with a menu in her hand.
“…… me, tan shio.”
“Hey, don’t order without permission!”
I instinctively tsked, and Ruka-senpai smiled and nodded.
“It’s okay, it’s okay. I’ll order enough for everyone.”
“…… I’ll have the tan shio.”
“Yes, yes. tan shio.”
Then she finished everyone’s orders.
“Well, then, once again – thank you for a successful live performance!”
Ruka-senpai led the way, and we raised our glasses filled with juice high in the air.
“Good work~!”
The glasses lightly touched each other, and one after another reminiscences popped out.
“Well, it was the first time for me to see Tahara-kun so nervous.”
When Aizawa spoke with a smile, Ruka-senpai also laughed as if she remembered it.
“Oh yeah, he was fidgeting with his sleeves. But that made the performance perfect!”
“…… Yeah. Tahara’s keyboards held the song together.”
Muto says quietly but forcefully.
“Well, I guess so. …… thanks.”
I wasn’t used to being praised, so I felt my face heat up.
“But you know, it wasn’t just Tahara-kun. It was because everyone was the best that we succeeded.”
We naturally nodded at Ruka-senpai’s words.
After a while, the savoury smell of meat being grilled over a charcoal fire wafted through the room.
“Isn’t this already ready to eat?”
Aizawa turns the meat over with tongs, and Muto silently extends his chopsticks.
“Wait, wait! You’ve got to get enough for everyone!”
“……, the early bird gets first dibs.”
While we were making noise and sharing the meat, Ruka-senpai suddenly looked at me and smiled.
“Tahara-kun, you look kind of happy.”
“Eh, is that so?”
“Yeah. You were a little nervous during the live performance, but now you are feeling very natural and feeling great.”
“Tahara-kun, here. Eat this and cheer yourself up!”
Ruka-senpai gently placed the freshly grilled ribs on my plate.
“T-thank you. ……”
“It’s okay, it’s okay. I’ll eat a lot too!”
And so from then on, everyone enjoyed the barbecued meat while talking about other things.
“Alright, then let’s all take a picture together at the end!”
Ruka-senpai took out her phone and we posed shoulder to shoulder.
“Okay, cheese!”
The moment the shutter sounded, I thought.
To be able to perform live with these members, to share this time together, is irreplaceable.
“Let’s do another great live show next time.”
Aizawa said, and everyone nodded.
And our ‘best after party’ quietly came to an end.
And then everyone went home in their own way, me and Ruka-senpai going home side by side as we were going in the same direction.
When we left the restaurant, a cold night wind was blowing outside.
In contrast to the heat inside the barbecue restaurant, I shrug my shoulders involuntarily.
“It’s so cold!~ Tahara-kun, are you alright?”
Ruka-senpai asks, shivering a little next to me.
“I’m fine. Ruka-senpai, you’re wearing light clothes, aren’t you? Aren’t you cold?”
“I’m quite used to it~. But Tahara-kun, you’re surprisingly considerate.”
Senpai laughs.
“…… Um, thank you very much for today. The concert and the party were a lot of fun.”
“No need to thank me. If everyone had a good time, that’s what makes me the happiest!”
“We should definitely do it again.”
“I’d love to do it again!”
After a while, I took the plunge and started talking to Ruka-senpai.
“Senpai, can I talk to you for a minute?”
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