"Yesterday's performance was so nerve-wracking… but at least everything went smoothly in the end."
During lunchtime, the group had gathered in the Paranormal Research Club's classroom as usual, with Ikuyo Kita sharing her thoughts on yesterday's live show.
Though she had managed to pull off the performance in front of a crowd, Kita still felt tense afterward, convinced she could've done better.
But compared to Hitori Gotou, who had looked like she was on the verge of passing out the moment she stepped off the stage, Kita's condition was already stellar.
"Ki… Kita-san played really well…"
Hitori Gotou spoke up in a tiny voice, seemingly trying to encourage Kita's guitar skills.
Her voice was barely audible, but everyone in the room was used to it—in fact, the fact that Gotou could hold a normal conversation at all was a huge improvement.
"It was my first time at a live show… I didn't expect the atmosphere to be so intense."
Eriri glanced at Gotou and Kita. Though she'd heard the two were in a band, yesterday was her first time actually seeing Kessoku Band perform.
For someone who had never experienced a live band performance before, the energy was undeniably thrilling, leaving a strong impression on her.
"Maybe my next doujinshi should be about band girls…"
Of course, being a doujinshi artist, Eriri's thought process immediately veered toward her next project.
The live show had given her fresh inspiration, and she considered channeling that into a band-themed work.
That said, even if she did, she wouldn't use Kessoku Band as direct reference—using her friends as doujinshi material was a line even she knew not to cross.
"You should come to the next show too, Eriri. Kessoku Band is working on their original songs now."
Megumi Kato, who acted as the band's unofficial manager, chimed in with a smile. She knew exactly what the band's current goal was.
They were composing their own music, preparing to make a bigger splash at their next performance.
Shin watched the girls chatting amiably and nodded in satisfaction.
Harmony among his harem? Naturally, that was ideal.
"Oh yeah, we got a transfer student in our class this morning."
Once the topic of the band was exhausted, Kita swiftly brought up something new.
For a social butterfly like her, shifting conversations came as naturally as breathing—a skill Gotou could only stare at with envy.
"A transfer student? At this point in the semester?"
Shin took a bite of the hamburger steak Kato had made and frowned.
It was already nearing July, with most students either cramming for finals or planning their summer vacations.
Transferring schools now of all times was… unusual, to say the least.
Wouldn't it make more sense to finish the term at their old school and transfer at the start of the next semester?
"Yeah, we thought it was weird too, but she's definitely here."
Kita nodded, equally puzzled.
"Rumor has it, a teacher at her old school died under mysterious circumstances—they still don't know the cause. Maybe that's why?"
"Why'd the conversation suddenly turn into a murder mystery?!"
Eriri shuddered. They were eating right now—was this really the time?
That said, despite her protest, everyone's curiosity was piqued. Humans were hardwired for morbid fascination.
"How'd you even hear about this, Kita-san?"
"Because the teacher's father is some local politician. He made a huge fuss about it—just check the news."
Kita's reply instantly exposed the fact that none of them ever kept up with current events.
"I think his name was Fuji… something? The new transfer student came from the same school as the victim."
"D-do you think it was… a ghost?"
Gotou's mind, ever inclined toward the dark and gloomy, immediately jumped to the supernatural. ɪꜰ ʏᴏᴜ ᴡᴀɴᴛ ᴛᴏ ʀᴇᴀᴅ ᴍᴏʀᴇ ᴄʜᴀᴘᴛᴇʀs, ᴘʟᴇᴀsᴇ ᴠɪsɪᴛ 𝔫𝔬𝔳𝔢𝔩•𝗳𝗂𝗋𝖾•𝕟𝕖𝕥
Not that anyone could blame her—lately, she'd been seeing strange shadows around Shin.
Her potential as a Stand user was unusually high, allowing her to vaguely perceive Stands even before awakening her own.
Which, of course, only reinforced her belief that the school was haunted.
With Gotou's comment, the conversation swiftly derailed into ghost stories—fitting, given they were in the Paranormal Research Club.
"Fujii… teacher, father's a local politician…"
Meanwhile, Shin's mind flashed back to a certain series from his past life.
The name and background matched a certain antagonist he'd been keeping in mind.
After all, if Shizuka was here, then that world's lore was definitely mixed in.
But a mysterious death…?
Then he remembered—Kiryu had called him a while back, mentioning a police chief named Miyamoto who had provided intel on the "virus."
Kiryu had even awakened the man's Stand, recruiting him into the Kiryu Group.
If Miyamoto was indeed Miyamoto Rei's father… then him using his Stand to assassinate Koichi Shido out of revenge for his daughter made perfect sense.
A smirk tugged at Shin's lips.
Who knew granting Miyamoto a Stand would lead to this?
Of course, since Stands were invisible to normal people—and undetectable by cameras—Koichi's death would remain unsolved.
His father, the politician, was probably tearing his hair out, unable to pinpoint the killer.
Sure, Miyamoto had a grudge, but as a local official, Koichi's father had plenty of enemies.
Once he pieced it together, Shin shrugged it off.
As long as his followers didn't act against his will, he didn't interfere with their personal affairs.
And he certainly didn't expect this transfer student to have anything to do with him.