"Uh... Hello?"
Kita Ikuyo tried to greet Bocchi.
Frightened, Bocchi imdiately shrank behind Yukima Azuma.
Seeing this, Kita looked at Yukima in confusion.
Do I look like so kind of serial killer or sothing?
Yukima gave a helpless smile.
"Sorry. This girl's an extre introvert. She has social anxiety, and honestly, even basic communication can be hard for her."
He gently patted Bocchi's shoulder.
"Her na is Gotoh Hitori, a first-year at Shuka High like us."
Then Yukima turned to Bocchi.
"And Bocchi, this is Kita Ikuyo, and this is Kato gumi. Both of them are kind, so don't worry."
He lightly pushed Bocchi forward.
Gathering all her courage, Gotoh Hitori stamred:
"Hi... Hello everyone, I... I'm Gotoh Hitori."
"Ah, Gotoh-chan, nice to et you!"
"Hello, Gotoh-san."
The three girls exchanged greetings.
Kita shot Yukima a look that clearly said: Didn't you say you were going to tell her beforehand?
Yukima only smiled.
If he'd told Bocchi in advance, she would've spent all night panicking and overthinking every word.
Sotis, it was better to just throw her in and let her et people directly.
"Bocchi, Kita-san wants to learn guitar. Can you teach her?" Yukima asked.
"She'll pay for lessons—just a bit of ti each day."
That last part was Kita's idea. She didn't want Yukima shouldering unnecessary burdens out of kindness.
"Umm... umm..." Bocchi hesitated.
Normally, she'd turn this down imdiately.
But since it was Yukima asking... as a favor from a friend... she had to try, right?
"I... practice every day, so... I guess I can help..."
Kita nodded gratefully.
She had planned to apologize to the band she'd ghosted after buying the wrong instrunt, and observing their practices would definitely help her improve.
Yukima watched silently, smiling.
Kato gumi leaned in and whispered,
"Azuma-san's smile seems a little... suspicious."
"Not at all," Yukima whispered back. "I just think what happens next will be very interesting."
Before heading to the band's practice venue, the four stopped by a music store.
"Welco!" the store clerk greeted as they entered.
Gotoh Hitori and Yukima Azuma each had instrunt bags, so it was obvious what kind of custors they were.
Even if they didn't buy anything, the clerk figured getting to admire a handso guy wasn't a bad deal.
"We're here to buy a guitar," Yukima explained.
After confirming their budget, the clerk introduced several models—ranging from beginner to mid-level guitars.
Kita began carefully comparing them.
anwhile, Yukima turned to Bocchi.
"Bocchi, do you like any of these guitars?"
Bocchi froze for a mont, her eyes flickering toward one corner of the display.
But she quickly shook her head.
"No... I already have my own, and I really like it."
Yukima nodded. He didn't expose her glance.
"I figured. You take great care of your guitar."
Bocchi nodded earnestly.
Eventually, Kita picked a red mid-range guitar, and the group headed to the register.
But as they stepped out of the store...
"Wait a second, Azuma-san," Kita asked, staring, "why do you have two instrunt bags now?"
Even Bocchi looked a bit confused.
"I liked it, so I bought it," Yukima replied with a casual smile.
Kita was speechless.
What kind of rich guy buys a guitar just because he likes the look of it?!
anwhile, she had to save allowance and New Year's money just to buy hers.
They continued strolling through Shimokitazawa, chatting happily.
But as they walked deeper down a particular street... Kita's smile began to stiffen.
"H-Hey," she said abruptly. "Maybe we should stop here. I, uh... I think I left the gas on at ho!"
Yukima had been waiting for this.
Before she could bolt, he reached out and grabbed her collar.
"If this really is just a coincidence, then take the chance to apologize properly!"
Kita stopped struggling.
At the live house STARRY...
"Ahh! It's the runaway guitarist!"
Ijichi Nijika's voice echoed across the room.
She had blonde hair tied in a ponytail and wore her school uniform—giving off a bright, approachable aura.
Next to her stood a short-haired girl with blue hair: Yamada Ryo, the bassist and Kita's admired senpai.
Kita looked like her soul had left her body.
But after a mont, she bowed her head and earnestly explained everything.
"You really bought a bass by mistake? That's impressive," Ryo comnted.
"Ryo! Don't say things that hurt people without realizing!" Nijika scolded.
But neither held a grudge.
They quickly forgave Kita and welcod her back.
"So, Kita-chan's gonna learn guitar from Bocchi-chan and rejoin the band?" Nijika asked.
Kita nodded firmly.
Then Nijika looked over at Yukima and gumi.
"We're just here to watch," Yukima explained. "Friends of Bocchi and Kita."
"Eh? You don't play an instrunt?"
Nijika eyed the two bags Yukima carried.
"Nope. One's a bass that Kita sold cheap. The other one I just saw and liked, so I bought it."
"..."
Nijika was speechless.
But Yamada Ryo nodded, completely understanding.
"Sa."
Nijika groaned internally.
Right, she forgot—this band already had one rich girl who treated music stores like clothing boutiques.
Practice began.
Bocchi pulled out so self-study videos she'd used to learn guitar and began showing Kita the basics.
Since teaching in person was hard for her, she demonstrated quietly beside her.
Yukima stood in the back, watching.
"Azuma-san seems really into this," gumi comnted.
"Not really. But since I'm here, might as well learn sothing new."
He casually took out the guitar he'd just bought and began experinting with the chords Bocchi had demonstrated.
To his surprise, it was a lot harder than it looked.
Nijika glanced over and imdiately recognized—this guy really didn't know how to play.
But the guitar he bought? High-end. Expensive.
She shook her head and returned her focus to the band.
Yukima kept watching Bocchi's fingers, mimicking the chords.
Then, in front of his eyes, a system ssage appeared:
[Skill Acquired: Instrunt (1v1)]
His intelligence stat was eight. That helped.
After a while, Yukima turned to gumi.
"gumi, want to give it a try?"
She took the guitar and tried copying his motions.
But it was clear she lacked the coordination. Her hands didn't cooperate with her brain.
Eventually, she sighed and set the pick down.
"I guess I'm just average at everything. Nothing really stands out... Maybe that's why no one ever notices . Just low presence, as always."
Her voice was light, her expression calm. No real sadness—just a faint, weary resignation.
But Yukima took her hand.
"gumi is very special. Don't let sothing small like this discourage you. Co on, let teach you."
And with that, he leaned in close and guided her fingers over the strings.
Nijika glanced at them—and felt like she'd just been force-fed a whole bowl of "dog food."
Seriously? Teaching each other to play? While holding hands? Could you be more obvious?!
Besides—he just learned how to play five minutes ago!
But then...
From their direction, a clear guitar lody rang out.
It was the sa song the band had been practicing.
Even though their technique was still rough... they were playing it.
Together.
Nijika stared in disbelief.
Wait... wasn't this guy a total beginner?!
She clearly rembered—he didn't know a thing about guitars earlier.
And yet now, he and Kato gumi were playing through the song. Bit by bit, their rhythm smoothed out.
Wait—wait a second!
Who the heck learns to play a whole song by watching soone once?!
Nijika felt like she was watching an ani protagonist cheat their way through life.
On the outside, she stayed quiet.
But on the inside, she was screaming like a stunned mole.
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