I Just Want A Single Ending!

Well, well, look at you! So dedicated, you've earned a little extra treat! 🎉

---

"No way. I'm definitely not appearing on camera."

PA-san's refusal was almost immediate.

She was actually a virtual streamer who spent most of her time gaming online. If she showed up in Saku's videos, there was a real risk her fans might recognize her voice.

And so, she opted to dodge any chances of that by avoiding the camera altogether.

Meanwhile, Seika Ijichi waved dismissively. "Not my thing either. Sounds boring."

Once she had confirmed that her sister wouldn't be doing anything weird, she relaxed a little. Testing cosmetics on camera? Not something she had any interest in at all.

As for the cosmetics Saku had gifted her, she would use them and be straightforward about her experiences, but that was about it.

"Got it."

Saku wasn't particularly disappointed at their rejections. His original plan had only been to feature Nijika, Ikuyo, and Anon on camera anyway. Seika and PA-san had just been optional add-ons—if they agreed, great, and if not, no loss.

"If that isn't blatant favoritism…"

Kikuri Hiroi, sitting nearby, was far from happy with how things had turned out.

First, Saku had refused her request, only to turn around and offer the same chance to Seika and PA-san? That was just… rude.

"Alright, but only if you can promise to stay sober and avoid alcohol entirely during the shoot," Saku replied matter-of-factly. "Otherwise, I'm going to have to keep you off the roster."

It wasn't like he was purposely excluding Kikuri. It was just that he couldn't picture someone reeking of booze as a good fit for the polished aesthetic of a beauty review.

"...On second thought, maybe count me out,"

Kikuri muttered. She at least knew herself well enough to admit the terms weren't feasible.

When it came to going on camera, she was in the same boat as Hitori Gotoh—a social introvert who'd be more at ease playing bass in the background than chatting to a camera. She wasn't about to take on something she couldn't handle.

"See? That's exactly why I made an exception."

Saku emphasized the last part, making sure Kikuri got the message.

Kikuri shrugged off the matter, quickly switching topics. "Oh yeah, I heard from the others you've been learning bass lately. True?"

"That's right," he nodded.

After all, he'd bought the bass from Ikuyo right here at STARRY, so it wasn't a hard piece of news to stumble upon.

"Solid choice, man. Bass is where it's at!" she said, giving him a hearty clap on the shoulder. "If you ever need pointers, I'd be glad to help you out. Just buy me a round or two, and I'll teach you everything I know."

"That's alright—I already have a couple of teachers lined up."

Saku's polite but firm rejection was immediate.

With people like Ryo Yamada and Sayo Nakayama already offering to coach him, he had little reason to seek out Kikuri's "tips," especially when her lessons likely came with a built-in bar tab.

Plus, his current bass skills might even be on par with hers by now.

"Are you brushing me off?"

Kikuri mumbled, feigning a pout.

"Not at all."

He maintained his smile, but his answer remained unchanged.

---

Meanwhile, Hitori Gotoh, hiding in an empty storage box nearby, tucked her head down, retreating further into her safe space.

She'd been close enough to overhear Saku's conversation, and just the thought of getting dragged into a cosmetics review shoot had her sweating.

Sure, she did have her YouTube channel, GuitarHero, where she posted guitar covers regularly—but it was all voice-only, faceless content. Appearing on screen for a makeup review would be a nightmare.

She wouldn't even know what to say.

No doubt her fans would flame her for it. It'd be a public shaming. There'd be no recovering from it.

So, even though Saku was, as always, incredibly nice about not forcing her into anything, she stayed low, counting herself lucky he hadn't asked her to participate.

Thank goodness, she thought, sighing with relief.

Just like that, Gotoh remained out of the spotlight while Saku continued chatting with Ikuyo, Nijika, and Anon.

Later that evening, after arriving home, Saku pulled out his phone and messaged Nyamu—not to invite her onto his channel just yet, but to keep things casual.

Since they had only recently exchanged contacts, he didn't want to rush into anything. He figured he'd let some time pass, strengthening their rapport before officially extending an invite.

After all, there was no hurry. He still had time to get the cosmetics reviews underway before needing outside talent.

---

Meanwhile, Nyamu, who had been gathering materials for her latest video, saw the notification from Saku pop up on her screen and grinned as she tapped it open.

Meeting him had been a great decision—if they hadn't swapped contact info, he probably wouldn't have messaged her first.

And considering he was an influencer with over 600,000 followers on Instagram… well, he was definitely someone worth keeping close.

Smiling, she tapped out a friendly reply, hoping to get to know him better.

After a few exchanges, she began to feel something strange—a pleasant sense of familiarity and connection. It was like they were on the same wavelength, somehow.

The feeling was odd but definitely not unwelcome.

---

The next afternoon…

Saku found himself on a train headed for Shinjuku, carrying a bag stuffed with cosmetics he'd promised to deliver to Kikuri.

Initially, he'd planned to wait for her next visit to STARRY to hand over the items. But she had messaged that morning asking him to bring them by, so here he was.

Since both bands were on study break for exams, and his own had put rehearsals on hold, he didn't have much to keep him busy. Besides, End of the World was in full study mode, so his usual place in the group was absent. Without much to do, he figured he might as well make the trip.

In exchange, Kikuri had promised him a free ticket to her next live show, along with an intro to a bass player she claimed was phenomenal.

He didn't much care about the ticket, but the mention of a "phenomenal bassist" had caught his attention.

Apparently, the bassist was close to his age but already played at a pro level. Her name was something like Yahata Umiri.

Meeting new musicians was always a good move in his book, and if she was really as talented as Kikuri claimed, it'd be interesting to get to know her.

---

This bonus chapter is like an encore after a rousing performance—totally worth staying for, wouldn't you say? Oh, and don't worry, my lyre's got plenty more tunes to play next time!

But for now, it's time to take a bow. Thank you for the applause (and all that wonderful support). If you're feeling extra inspired, you know where to find me—[patreon.com/WiseTL]. Toss a coin, and who knows? Maybe the next bard will sing your praises!

Now, go forth, Traveler, and revel in the wonders of this world. Until next time! 🍃✨

Oh, and this bard must be off for now—another breeze calls my name. See you soon, dear friend!