"You can play the guitar?!"
A blonde beauty suddenly stumbled over from not far away, showing zero shyness toward strangers. Like a living sun, she bounded forward with enthusiasm.
The girl had very striking features.
A side ponytail of golden hair that sparkled in the sunlight, and a fluffy ahoge on her head bobbed gently with each step. Her bright, cheerful face radiated a sunny, energetic smile.
With that kind of smile, she looked like she might throw on the Fourth Hokage's cloak at any second.
And unfortunately, this was exactly the type Bocchi struggled to deal with most.
"I-I-I can play... a little..."
Gotoh Hitori responded in a voice as soft as a mosquito. She could barely talk even with reclusive types like Haru and Tomori.
Now faced with a high-energy, top-tier blonde beauty, she couldn't even look her in the eye, only managing to make sea-urchin-like gurgling sounds from her throat.
As the queen of running away, the pink Sandshrew known as Bocchi imdiately looked to Haru for help.
Under his reluctant gaze, she wasted no ti diving behind his back, poking out only a tiny pink head to peek at the outside world.
Hiding always made her feel safer!
"Don't hide behind without asking."
"Please, Haru-san! Help ! I'll buy you MAX Coffee later!"
"She's Gotoh Hitori, and I'm her friend Kazami Haru. We're both first-years at Haneoka High."
Well, since she asked, he had to help—after all, they were friends.
"Ah, sorry to barge in on you like this!"
"I'm Nijika Ijichi, a second-year from Shimokitazawa High School!"
The girl who introduced herself as Nijika flashed a bright smile, her little white teeth on full display as she energetically introduced herself.
Just as expected, the mont Kazami Haru had first laid eyes on her, he'd already guessed her identity.
That radiant, adorable grin, and that dazzling blonde hair impossible to forget at a glance...
Wasn't this the very sa Nijika-mama, who had once harbored an unrequited crush on him and ended up becoming the honorary "godmother" of his (hypothetical) kids?
"I'm really sorry about this, but I've run into a tiny little problem!"
Ijichi Nijika pinched her thumb and index finger together, leaving just a sliver of space between them, as if trying her hardest to emphasize just how minor this issue really was.
"My band's about to perform, but our guitarist suddenly ran off for so reason! So when I saw Bocchi-chan's guitar, I just couldn't help but co over and ask!"
What ran away, her courage or sothing?
As for Hitori Gotoh, beneath her long bangs, her face was a picture of sheer terror.
Her socially inept intuition was screaming at her, faintly warning her of what was coming next.
"So please! Just this once, could you fill in as our temporary guitarist?"
"Ah! If you really can't, that's totally fine! But the songs are super simple, if you can play guitar at all, you'll pick them up in no ti! So, um, please think about it!"
"Pretty please?!"
Nijika clasped her hands together in earnest, her enthusiasm and sincerity making it nearly impossible to coldly reject her. anwhile, inside, Bocchi was shaking her head violently.
Right now? On stage?!
Sure, she'd fantasized endlessly about fa and success, but actually performing live right this instant...
That's way too terrifying!
But it's fine—Haru-san, the master of turning people down, would definitely find a way to refuse for her!
Kazami Haru: "She's actually pretty free right now."
He betrayed her, just like that?!
Gotoh Hitori looked at her extrely trusted friend Kazami Haru in disbelief. This was soone who could expressionlessly reject confessions at school and would rather read challenge letters than love letters, a total weirdo!
She had counted on Kazami to refuse, but now that he agreed for her, didn't it just make it harder for Hitori to refuse herself?!
"It's so great you're willing to help! I had no idea what to do just now..."
"Thank you so much! No ti to waste~ Let's get going!"
Ijichi Nijika's face lit up with delight. Wearing a beaming smile, she naturally took Bocchi's right hand as if she were a mom taking her child out, ready to head off toward Shimokitazawa.
"W-wait! Haru has to co too!"
Knowing there was no escaping Nijika's grip, Bocchi clung desperately to Kazami Haru's sleeve and wouldn't let go.
There was no way she'd go on stage with strangers! That terrifying idea was an absolute no-go!
At least if a familiar face was around, she might be able to calm down a little!
"I was planning to invite Haru-san too! As thanks, I'll let you watch the show for free, and throw in a drink!"
Ijichi Nijika looked at Kazami Haru with hopeful eyes. She had already planned to thank him for 'persuading' Gotoh Hitori, and since they knew each other now, why not invite him to watch as an audience mber?
"I don't mind."
"I was planning to visit a LiveHouse eventually. Watching a band live now and then doesn't sound bad."
LiveHouse tickets aren't cheap.
Kazami Haru had already planned to find a way to get close to her simulation target, Ryo-san. Getting to know her and catching a free live performance? No complaints there.
"Alrighty! Since it's decided, let's go!"
"GO! GO!"
...
"Huh?! You can play keyboard too, Haru-san?!"
"To be precise, the piano."
Ijichi Nijika looked at Kazami Haru in surprise, her eyes fixed on his elegant profile.
She couldn't believe this cool ponytailed boy was also a keyboardist. She had been wandering aimlessly like a headless chicken, hoping to get lucky, and sohow ended up finding a wild keyboardist and a guitarist?
Now all she needed was to pair them with herself, a drumr, and Ryo, the bassist and they'd have a full band!
"Amazing! Then, Haru-san, do you want to perform on stage too?"
"I think I'll pass. Besides, I didn't bring a keyboard."
Haru pointed at his empty back. Compared to guitarists, keyboardists were just less portable.
Good keyboards are heavy and bulky and he wasn't used to unfamiliar ones either.
Plus, he'd rather be drinking sothing in the audience than performing on stage.
"What a sha. I thought we could all perform together..."
Nijika nodded slightly, a bit disappointed, but she understood.
High-end keyboards can easily weigh over 15kg, and even portable ones aren't exactly light and you can't skimp on quality sound, high-end keyboards are essential!
Only those with strong builds carry keyboards around casually.
"By the way, what's the deal with the guitarist who ran off?"
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