Chapter 31: Wait, You Want Me to Form a Band?

Part One

The employee handbook for Falling Flower Café is impressively detailed, with illustrated guides for every task. Even without a mentor, you could probably learn 70-80% of the job just by reading it.

“Show a ticket, and they get a free drink. Punch a hole in it afterward to mark it used.”
Liuli patiently explains, mimicking a pressing gesture in the air.
“Like, click.”

“Oh… seems pretty straightforward.”

“It’s not hard, but I was a mess at first—couldn’t even hear what drinks people wanted. Some ask for mixed drinks, like cola and orange juice, or Sprite and cocktails. Way easier than mixing coffee, though—just half and half usually.”

“Got it.”

“We handle drinks here, plus answering guest questions—like where’s the exit, restroom, or stage. Oh, and some bands are new, so you’ll need to show them the dressing rooms.”

“All bands share one dressing room?”

“There’s five total. If there’s a lot of bands, they take turns. Nayuki-nee handles the schedule, so no worries!”

“That many bands come here?”

“Mm—on regular days, usually three. One’s a popular headliner; we don’t charge them stage fees, just take 40% of ticket sales. Then a semi-popular band—they pay stage fees. Last is a newbie band, super unstable, changes almost daily. Most are just for fun; only a few become semi-popular.”

“Unmemorable bands get weeded out fast, huh.”
Cola smacks her lips.
“Way harsher than anime makes it seem.”

“Yeah… I wanted to start a band once, but… I was scared of failing… and…”

“No like-minded friends?”

“Speaking of…!”
Liuli’s eyes light up.
“Cola, do you play any instruments?”

“Nope.”

“Eh? Not even recorder or harmonica from school?”

“Zilch.”
Cola shakes her head firmly.
“But I can sing—love it, actually.”

“So… you could be the lead singer?”

“Would that work? I’m karaoke-level at best.”

“Just a thought. I gave up on the band idea long ago.”

“You’re still in high school—why not try? Sounds fun.”

“But… I’m scared of failing…”

“Tch, failing’s normal.”

“B-but… taking a step and failing might mean I never dare try again…”

“No way. If you don’t try, isn’t that already failing?”
Cola lounges back, legs crossed, swaying slightly.
“‘Failure runs through life,’ said a gaming world champ.”

“Did he keep going and win the title?”

“Nah, he won first try, then kept failing—plays like trash now. Cough, off-topic.”

“First try?!”

“Yup. Maybe your first band could be a hit. Oh, he also said… this might be your only shot in life, so seize it.”

“You’re making me… kinda excited.”

“Haha, trying’s never bad. Some chances for precious memories only come once. Ugh, I should’ve snuck out during military training to eat BBQ with the gang…”

“Mm?”

“Point is, try what you want. Even if you fail, it’s fine. The process—happy, sad—it’s all precious memories.”

“Is it too late to start now?”

“Totally fine!”
Cola flashes a thumbs-up.
“Doesn’t matter your age—if you want to do something, start that day. Even at thirty, forty, fifty… don’t fear aging, fear a stale heart.”

“C-Cola’s such a young vampire… your words ooze youth…”

“You’re youthful too. Don’t tell me you think you’re all mature?”

“Eh?! W-what? That’s harsh! A-are you attacking me?”

“No, no, just facts. You’re at the age to shine—don’t act mature to hide the real you. That’s not real maturity!”

“I-is that how it works?”

“Who cares? I say it is!”

“So cool…”

“Huh?”

“I said, you’re so cool right now, Cola! I wish I could be as confident as you…”

“Sounds like you’re being sarcastic…”
Cola chuckles.
“If you start a band, what’s the name?”

“How about… Cola Band?”

“Hey, it’s not my band.”

“Your name fits, though.”

“Then why not Quantum Band?”

“Oh—! Quantum Band, that’s cool! Sounds sci-fi!”

“Adding ‘quantum’ makes it sci-fi? No wonder sci-fi movies blame quantum mechanics for everything…”

“So, I’d be the pianist?”

“Or keyboardist?”

“Electronic piano’s a bit different…”

“No clue.”

“Cola, wanna be lead singer?”

“Uh… let’s talk when you’ve got a full band.”

“Mm… I’d need a cellist and violinist…”

“Wait, what band uses those? Shouldn’t it be guitar, bass, drums?”

“Eh? Rock style?”

“If you’re performing here, what else but rock? Similar styles aside.”

“There’s quieter bands too.”

“Those work? They don’t hype the crowd.”

“They can, just… super rare.”

“Don’t start on expert mode.”

“Eh… but didn’t you say not to fear failure?”

“Uh…”

“Overthinking’s bad, right?”

“Your personality’s wild—hesitant on some things, decisive on others.”

“Am I… too complicated?”

“Nah, everyone’s complex. Even I’ve got sides you don’t know.”

“Eh? Like…?”

“Cough, no idea, you’ll find out slowly…”

“You don’t know yourself at all?”

“Yup. You?”

“Mm… I think I’m like that too?”

“Haha, what a coincidence!”

Part Two

The sweet, milky scent of Liuli fills Cola’s nose.
The girl with the red hairpin, mid-game, falls asleep on Cola’s shoulder.
The Switch 2 screen pauses on a lively street scene, where NPC thugs are beating up Liuli’s character.
Cola can’t stand it, so she gently takes the oversized console, sets it on her lap, and plays.
She skips the main quest, wandering the streets, picking fights with NPCs.
Somehow, it’s oddly stress-relieving.
“Damn, what’s this guy with a 60-million bounty? A wanted criminal?”
Cola mutters, smacking her lips, saving before diving into combat.
She’s got a knack for games—always has. Maybe it’s her vampire senses, but when focused, every frame of the enemy’s moves feels like slow motion, crystal clear.

“Miss Cola? So good…”

“Awake?”
Cola keeps playing, finishing the bounty target with a slick execution move.
“You only slept like ten minutes. Your console was slipping, so I grabbed it and played a bit…”

Liuli shakes her head, smiling softly.
“Mm… I don’t mind.”

“Fell asleep mid-game? Pull another all-nighter?”

“I’m a vampire, why am I sleepy…?”

“It’s daytime. Unless it’s always night, we’re sluggish during the day… yawn… normal, right?”

“You play so smoothly. I can’t pull that off.”

“Really? Felt easy.”

“Can you keep playing? I’ll watch…”

“Watching me play’s boring, no?”

“Not at all, it’s kinda… pleasing to watch.”

“Honestly, this game’s more fun than I thought.”

“Yeah?”

“Making me want an NS2, but no way—tight on cash, and the lottery system’s a hassle. Might not even get one…”

Part Three

When Hoshimi Nayuki opens the door, she finds two girls asleep on the sofa.
Liuli’s head rests on Cola’s lap, while Cola, drooling, clutches the game controller, eyelids twitching as if dreaming of the game world.
Nayuki tiptoes behind the sofa, gently pinches Cola’s ear, and shouts, “Hey—wake up! Time to play the trap!!”

“Gah—!!”