"That Kita-san is the runaway vocalist, right?", Seeing the situation, Hachiman didn't press the attack but instead continued talking about Kita-san.
Nijika's Kessoku Band was already three members strong, only missing this Kita-san.
He had to find a chance to pull Kita back into the band. Otherwise, their future band parties wouldn't feel complete.
"Mm, Kita-san's voice is really good. She sings beautifully, and she can play guitar too," When the culprit who nearly made the band fall apart was mentioned, the blush on Ijichi Nijika's face faded, replaced by a helpless expression.
"She was supposed to be our vocalist and guitarist, but who'd have thought that even though she agreed so readily, every time rehearsal came around she vanished. Now the performance is tomorrow and she still hasn't shown up. Luckily, Bocchi-chan and you, Hachiman, came to help."
"By the way, Karuizawa-san, can you sing? Want to try performing on stage once?", As she said this, Ijichi Nijika suddenly turned to the ponytailed girl, Karuizawa Kei, who had been sitting quietly, just watching them practice.
She had been too busy practicing earlier to talk, but now during the break, she could finally chat with the girl who'd come along with Hachiman.
"I'll pass. I only came with–just came with Hikigaya-kun to check things out. I've never been to a live house before," Having the topic suddenly thrown on her, Karuizawa Kei froze for a moment, but quickly shook her head and politely declined.
She had been watching Bocchi-chan being held in her master's arms and couldn't help but feel envious of how much Bocchi-chan was cared for. But she also knew it wasn't just because of the guitar that Bocchi-chan was treated that way.
Besides, she couldn't play any instrument, so barging into the band would only ruin the fun.
If she truly wanted her master's care and affection, it would be better to patrol the campus more, to find bullied girls longing for protection.
Today her performance had been poor, but next time she would gather her courage and show her strength in dealing with bullying. She wanted her master to know that protecting her wasn't meaningless.
"So that's how it is. When Hachiman came to help and brought you along, I thought maybe you were joining the band too," Ijichi Nijika looked enlightened and smiled, nodding.
Karuizawa called Hachiman just "Hikigaya-kun," not even by his first name… so maybe she was overthinking, maybe the two weren't that close.
"Actually, I wasn't going to come today. It's just that something happened while I was patrolling the school. The track team got into a conflict, a few boys with a girl… Hikigaya-kun told me to come along and clear my head…", Looking at Nijika and Yamada Ryou beside her, Karuizawa Kei hesitated, then took the initiative to explain.
Those boys who attempted assault would definitely be dealt with. Afterward, traces would be erased, the impact smoothed over.
But she could talk about it here, so Nijika and the others would know what kind of person her master was, what kind of power he had.
"Something like that happened… Hachiman, why didn't you say anything?"
"H-Hachiman, you didn't get hurt, right…?", Nijika and Yamada Ryou both stared at Hachiman in shock, while Gotou Hitori looked at him with nervous worry.
None of them imagined that before coming here, Hachiman had stopped a crime.
It was hard to believe that such a terrible thing could happen even at Sobu High, where discipline was supposed to be strict.
"It's all resolved, and no one was hurt. Nothing worth mentioning."
Hachiman waved his hand dismissively, then reminded Nijika and Kei, "But to avoid any negative effects on that track girl, don't mention this outside. Just keep it between us."
Yamada Ryou and Bocchi-chan didn't really have friends and were always alone, so no worry there. But Nijika and Kei, who both had many friends, needed to be more careful.
"Mm! I definitely won't say a word!", Of course Kei listened to Hachiman. Her performance in the matter had been so embarrassing she wouldn't want to spread it anyway. She only brought it up now to raise their impression of her master.
"…Forget it. I won't argue. Let's head out, before my sister comes looking for us again," Seeing how Hachiman wasn't concerned about himself, only the victim, Nijika sighed helplessly. Maybe this was why Yumiko and Gabriel both liked him. Aside from some special blush-inducing hobbies, Hachiman was excellent in most ways.
"Also, Bocchi-chan's house is far. From school it's almost two hours, even from mine it's over one. Hachiman, could you send her home later?"
"Mm. I'll say goodbye to Manager-nee and PA-nee before we leave," Hachiman smiled, patted Gotou Hitori's pink head, and got ready to take Kei and Bocchi-chan home.
It was indeed late, time to sleep. Tomorrow was packed with activities.
"Manager-nee? PA-nee?"
Hearing his rather familiar way of calling her sister and the PA, a bad feeling rose in Nijika's heart.
'Wait… don't tell me, are my sister and PA also in Hachiman's "defense range"?'
———
"Hachiman, hurry and take Bocchi-chan and Karuizawa-san home, it's late."
"Nijika, wait, I still have things to say to your sister."
"Hurry, hurry! Time to go home and sleep!"
Maybe because she noticed Hachiman's thoughts about her older sister, Ijichi Seika, and the PA, two older-sister types, Nijika quickly shoved him and the others out the door, not giving him a chance to deepen those ties.
As a classmate, Nijika knew well his social skills. In class, in clubs, in the student council, even among demi-humans, he had lots of close female friends.
If not for his constant mischief, even the teachers might have gotten close to him.
The mature and cool PA aside, Nijika felt sure her own tsundere, childish sister couldn't possibly resist his social pull.
If her sister fell for him too, that would be a real headache.
On one side was her good friend Yumiko, on the other her own sister. If she got stuck between them, how could she face Yumiko and her sister? How could she face Hachiman?
"Phew~"
Finally sending him off, Nijika breathed in relief and turned back inside. Just as she sat down to rest, she noticed her sister and the PA staring at her with odd expressions.
"Nijika… don't tell me you actually like that guy?"
"I've never seen you so close to a boy before. Nijika's growing up~"
"Eh?"
Only then did Nijika realize. Her behavior tonight, in their eyes, made it look like she was the one who liked Hachiman.
———
"Bocchi-chan, tomorrow's informal gig depends on you."
On the train, Gotou Hitori and Karuizawa Kei sat on either side of Hachiman. Holding both their hands, gently rubbing their soft fingertips, he looked at Gotou Hitori and reminded her.
"Um… depends on me? Isn't it Nijika and the others?"
Hugging her guitar case with one arm, head ducked, face red, avoiding stares from other passengers, Gotou Hitori peeked at Hachiman toying with her hand. Hearing his words, she nervously raised her head a little.
Even though his presence gave her a sense of safety, making her braver, she still had only practiced a few times. Her coordination with Nijika and the others was bad. At best, it was better than the total lack of coordination at the start.
Even if they trained once more tomorrow, it wouldn't improve much. Depending on her seemed impossible.
"Don't be fooled by how well Nijika and Ryou are playing together now. They're both band rookies, with little live experience. When they're on stage, they'll be as nervous as you. The difference is most of tomorrow's audience are Nijika's friends, so she won't be too anxious."
Seeing Bocchi slipping back into her timid self in a crowd, Hachiman squeezed her fingertips gently and explained.
Tomorrow's performance wasn't official, but a quota gig. The quota meant the minimum number of tickets sold to count. If sales exceeded, profits were split with the live house. If not, the band paid the shortfall.
Nijika had already prepared well. Even ignoring her friends, plenty from the Service Club were coming to cheer. Hitting quota wasn't a problem.
But whether official or not, it was still their first performance. If they did well, more people would come next time. If too poorly, even friends wouldn't want to return.
"I see… then tomorrow I'll go earlier to practice with Nijika and them…"
Hearing they weren't so different from her, Bocchi felt some relief. But she still hesitated, glancing at Hachiman, "By the way… Hachiman, you said you play instruments. What are you good at? Can't you really perform with us?"
She still didn't know what her best friend could play. He understood her so well. Her social anxiety, even her secret online name "Guitar Hero." He had arranged for her to join the band.
To be honest, even now she wanted him to perform with her.
Her first time in a band, her first and only true friend, if both memories overlapped, she'd never forget for lifetimes.
"Guitar, bass, drums… a bit of everything. It's not that I can't play with you. It's just I may not have enough time to rehearse with you," He saw straight through her feelings, smiled wryly, and soothed her softly.
"But don't worry. Whenever you need me, I'll be there. You'll need to practice with Nijika and Ryou though. They're good girls, you'll be lifelong friends. You can't only have me, right?"
She could've made friends in the Service Club, but her social anxiety was too strong. And girls like Saki and Shino weren't great at socializing either. For such introverts to build bonds without her initiative was nearly impossible. He didn't want to force her with something like exposure therapy.
Besides, Bocchi had practiced guitar for years. Rather than let her stay hidden as a shy Service Club girl, better to let her shine as a guitarist with Nijika's band.
"Ah… but even just one friend is enough…", Hearing him sound like her mom, wanting her to meet more people, Bocchi muttered softly.
She wanted lots of friends, to shine in public… but making them was just too hard. Even having one was fine.
It was a breakthrough from 0 to 1. No longer only imaginary friends.
"I'm not forcing you. I just think you can have more. You practiced guitar so long. Wasn't it because you longed for the shining band life? Don't you want to shine with Nijika and the others?", Hachiman lifted her bangs, almost covering her eyes, revealing her delicate face. He met her blue eyes that instinctively avoided his.
"You want to play in a band. I'll support you. Even after graduation, you won't need to worry about work."
Without backing or money, most had to work while playing in bands. Live house fees weren't cheap, not to mention food, transport, rent. Few fans would always pay to watch. Ordinary people worked while chasing dreams, until reality crushed them, and they graduated from the band life. That was most underground bands' fate.
"Eh? You're going to support me?", Bocchi stared blankly. Being praised had barely sunk in before she realized what he'd said.
'Support me in a band… after graduation, no need to work…'
'Isn't that just… letting me live off him?'
"If I don't support you, who will? I'm your only friend. There's no way I'd let you go work," He looked at her joyful face, helplessly rubbing her soft cheeks.
Even shy Saki struggled to work. How could Bocchi, worse in social anxiety, handle it?
If not for Lala, Tsubaki, and Iris supporting him, he'd have to plan ways to make Bocchi, Nijika, and Ryou popular, earning from ads or concerts.
If that failed, he might even have to marry into Ryou's family, inherit her hospital, so she could keep chasing dreams with Nijika and Bocchi.
But now, with support already covered, he didn't need to worry about expenses. Instead, even broke Ryou could cling to him.
"Of course, Kei, that goes for you too. You may not dream of a band, but you can find hobbies. I'll support you like Bocchi," He turned to Karuizawa Kei, stroking her brown ponytail he had tied.
If Bocchi was the big pet, Kei was the little one. Big or small, both were his obedient pet girls, he wouldn't favor one over the other.
Though Kei wasn't introverted or anxious, why should she work if she could live freely? He wasn't the type to mistreat pets.
Still, she needed hobbies, something to do. People who did nothing would fall into emptiness.
Even he, carefree now, still thought of being a househusband. Full-time househusband, part-time Service Club president.
"Me too…", Kei looked at Bocchi being spoiled with faint envy. Before she could hide it, she met his eyes, stunned.
She had approached him with purpose, offering her body for protection. Even though he was kind, she never dared to hope for more.
Her performance against bullying today was terrible. She thought it enough that he didn't abandon her. How could she expect anything else?
But now, after comforting Bocchi, he turned his gaze to her.
Even though she was just a small pet by his side.
"Why not? You call me master, don't you?", Hachiman kissed her smooth forehead, smiling.
"I'm Bocchi's only friend, and your only master. If I can support her, I can support you too."
"As for today, don't dwell on it. I know you were bullied worse before when you resisted, so freezing in fear is understandable."
"But now I'm your backing. You don't need to fear anymore. The ones who should be afraid are the bullies."
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