After breaking up, my ex asked me to win her back

Chapter 156 Falling in love twice in one day, huh? You, with your love-struck brain!

"Mr. Kagura, did you come to see our performance?"

Ruzaki Mami looked up with her big, watery eyes, like a little deer, and giggled as she asked.

But Kagura Hikaru's response was merciless, "It was just by chance."

"Ah~? Why like that."

"I have other performances to watch. Don't stay out too late, all of you should head home."

"Hey~ don't be like that, Mr. Kagura, come hang out with us."

Hoshimi Nana, the Huajiao Band's guitar player, clung to Kagura Hikaru's arms and cooed from left and right.

After removing her makeup, she was also a girl with a sense of a "gal," dyed golden hair, a side ponytail, a short skirt, and a straightforward personality, like a college-aged cousin who would come to visit during the holidays.

During the summer break, she and Ai Cheng Hua Lian took guitar lessons with Kagura Hikaru, and that's when their relationship got better.

Ruzaki Mami, who could only refer to him as "Mr. Kagura," was so envious her eyes turned red, looking like an angry rabbit.

Ai Cheng Hua Lian spoke with a tone of resignation, "Nana, don't bother Mr. Kagura like that."

"How is this bothering him? Shouldn't he consider it an honor to hang out with a few beautiful girls like us?"

"Nana!"

"Hehe, just kidding."

Hoshimi Nana chuckled and placed her hands on Ai Cheng Hua Lian's shoulders from behind, "Then how about this, Ai Cheng, you stay and keep Mr. Kagura company. We won't be here, so don't do anything naughty~"

"What are you talking about!" Ai Cheng Hua Lian retorted as she knocked on Nana's head with a karate chop, trying to conceal her embarrassment.

"If Karen-chan is staying, I'll stay too!" Ruzaki declared, raising her hand high.

"Hmm... then let's just go shopping later, excluding Karen," the band's female bassist said, stroking her chin.

"Yeah, she definitely won't be coming," Hoshimi Nana said, clutching her head in agreement.

Ai Cheng Hua Lian was astonished, "Why are you all assuming I would stay behind??"

The band members all revealed subtle expressions.

"Well, you see, after all, that..."

"Right?"

"It's too obvious, do we need to say more?"

Ai Cheng Hua Lian: "..."

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These people really had no sense of boundaries, reading her mind like that!

As a result, Ai Cheng Hua Lian was left behind by the others.

And Ruzaki Mami, struggling with her little arms and legs, was tearfully dragged away by the others.

This scene felt somewhat familiar.

Kagura Hikaru thought to himself.

"Ahaha, sorry Mr. Kagura, staying here doesn't bother you, does it?" Ai Cheng Hua Lian scratched her head and carefully watched Kagura Hikaru's expression, afraid that he might notice something.

But Kagura Hikaru was the same as ever, showing no emotion, and shook his head, "It's a bit more pleasant having you here."

"Is, is that so..."

Ai Cheng Hua Lian looked down, her heart pounding and her face flushing.

Kagura Hikaru occasionally said things that could easily make someone blush.

No, no, pull yourself together. He has someone else he likes; don't make assumptions on your own.

Ai Cheng Hua Lian slapped her cheeks to compose herself, smiling as she looked up and asked, "Is Kohinata not with you today?"

"She went to the Capital City. Otherwise, I wouldn't have had the chance to come here."

The next band had finished setting up their equipment on stage and was about to start performing. Kagura Hikaru put away his phone and, while sipping a cola, fixed his eyes on the stage.

This band seemed to be quite popular; as soon as they came on stage, the number of people in the venue noticeably increased, and the space grew tighter.

"Excuse me, could you move a bit that way?"

A few audience members who had just entered the venue apologized while they squeezed Ai Cheng Hua Lian to the right side, forcing her to lean her shoulder against Kagura Hikaru's arm to avoid bumping into other guests.

The live house was built underground where ventilation was more challenging, so the air-conditioning had to be kept on when it was hot.

But after all, it was summer, and the space was enclosed. When it got crowded, the scent of sweat became more intense.

Ai Cheng Karen stayed for a while but soon felt a bit overwhelmed, quietly lifting her hand to cover her nose, focusing on the music to distract herself.

"...Let's go outside,"

Kagura Hikaru suddenly whispered in her ear.

"Eh?"

Ai Cheng Karen turned her head, and before she could react, Kagura Hikaru had taken her hand, pulled her through the crowd, said goodbye to Saijo Mari at the counter, and left the livehouse.

Once outside the entrance, Ai Cheng Karen finally breathed in the fresh air, sighed in relief, and with a questioning look, she turned to Kagura Hikaru, "Kagura, why did we suddenly come out? Weren't we supposed to watch the show?"

"Ai Cheng, you might not think it to look at me, but I'm actually pretty empathetic,"

Standing on the ascending stairs, Kagura Hikaru turned back and said, "When I see someone else suffering, it tends to affect my mood."

He spoke rather indirectly, and it took Ai Cheng Karen a couple of seconds to catch on.

Ah, could it be that he saw how uncomfortable she was and that's why he took her outside?

"Kagura..."

"Don't look at me so moved. You are my friend, and it's only natural for me to look out for you,"

"That...that's true,"

Ai Cheng Karen slapped herself in the heart.

What's going on with you, getting emotionally stirred twice in one day? Get a grip on yourself, you hopeless romantic!

While she was lost in her thoughts for just those few seconds, Kagura Hikaru had already started up the stairs. Ai Cheng Karen hurriedly adjusted the strap of her guitar case and followed him.

"Kagura, wait for me!"

"Oh."

"Hey, can I ask you a question?"

"Go ahead."

"The classmate Saijo who works at this livehouse, you know her too, right? When we were leaving just now, why was she glaring at us?"

"She probably thought it was rude of me to leave without watching the show after buying a ticket,"

"I see, Classmate Saijo is pretty strict."

Neither of them brought up the idea of joining the other members of the Red Pepper Band; instead, they tacitly maintained silence on the topic, walking side by side in the sunset, making idle conversation.

Inevitably, they ended up talking about the Student Council election.

"President Hina hasn't been herself lately. She's hardly given any speeches. Could she be ill?" Ai Cheng Karen expressed her concern.

Kiryu Hina, who usually had a strong presence in the school, seemed to have vanished recently, her aura waning, no match for Ayakoji Chiyoko's rising popularity.

Kagura Hikaru had expected a fierce battle as the election drew to a close, but it seemed as though the end was already in sight.

Who was responsible was as plain as day.

Now, only three days remained until the last vote for the Student Council election.

That included the weekend.

Next Monday, the final struggle would commence.

Everything would be decided then.

At this point, they had done everything they could; there was no role left for Kagura Hikaru to play in the upcoming campaign, leaving the rest up to Ayakoji Chiyoko to decide on her own.

Considering the current advantage, Kagura Hikaru believed they had it, especially with Saijo Mari and Suse strongly supporting them.

And Kiryu Hina, due to Suse's recent activity, had not performed well and had not mounted any effective counterattack, her decline more evident than ever.

If this continued, perhaps they could indeed oust her.

"Kohinata is amazing, even I heard about her in my third year," remarked Ai Cheng Karen in awe. "I never imagined she would side with President Ayakoji and seems to have drawn quite a few votes already."

"Yeah, she's impressive," said Kagura Hikaru.

That name seemed to have some sort of magic.

After it was spoken, the atmosphere turned cold.

Both fell silent.

"...Kagura," Ai Cheng Karen mustered the courage to look at him, "are you and Kohinata going to break up?"