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When the stage lights faded from dazzling to their original dimness, and the stage noise returned to quiet, one song concluded.
"What expectations?! This is terrible!"
Ijichi Seika rubbed her forehead vigorously, looking quite distressed as she complained to Asakura beside her: "Seriously, I had no expectations to begin with, but you got my hopes up, and this is what I got…"
Even Asakura was speechless for a moment.
Earlier, when he asked Gotō Hitori about her guitar skill, how many points she would rate herself with Guitar Hero as a 10-point standard, the girl almost reflexively said she was also a 10 without much thought.
Because the girl didn't seem like someone who would lie about such things, Asakura had truly regarded her as having the same level of guitar performance as Guitar Hero.
But he didn't expect her to completely crash and burn the moment she got on stage.
He didn't even see Hitori's face—she was performing while hidden inside a box of ripe mangoes.
Gotō, what are you doing? Move, hurry up and move!
The result, needless to say, was a complete mess, so disastrous that Asakura even felt like playing a suona to send their band off.
Perhaps it would be better if he just went up and performed magic at the Founders' Festival. Such a disastrous performance would probably lead to complaints from the surrounding residents about noise pollution even if it were put on stage…
"Actually, everyone's fundamentals are pretty good, but how should I put it…"
When Asakura found the three members of Kessoku Band in the practice room, Ijichi Nijika was summarizing the lessons from their failure: "It feels like the rhythms are subtly out of sync, which is why it created such a chaotic effect."
"Rather than chaotic, it was more like pandemonium."
Asakura added, "It's been a long time since I felt my eardrums being violated like that."
"Gotō-san just focused on playing her guitar alone, and Ryo's bass was just for her own enjoyment, with no intention of collaborating with anyone else…"
Ijichi Nijika sighed.
"That's true, but Nijika, didn't you also miss several beats that were supposed to lead the band's rhythm?"
Yamada Ryo pointed out.
"Well… I'm aware that I still have a lot of room for improvement."
Ijichi Nijika said softly.
"Guilty! Your punishment is to buy me dessert. I want Wagnaria's new chocolate crunch hazelnut triple fruit extra sundae."
"Your desires are too terrifying! I can't even afford that myself!"
Ijichi Nijika protested, "Objection! I want to appeal!"
"Who stands before this official to accuse me?"
"Are you even a judge?!"
The close childhood friends began to bicker affectionately.
Asakura first checked on Yamada Ryo and found that the electrifying sensation she had earlier was gone, meaning the aura she had picked up had mostly dissipated.
It seemed that even if she had unintentionally come into contact with something supernatural, the contact time must not have been long, otherwise she should have been thoroughly imbued with the aura, and it wouldn't have dissipated so easily.
So Asakura turned his gaze to Gotō Hitori, who was hiding in a cardboard box, pretending to be trash.
"Gotō-san, how do you feel?"
"…Why is life such a miserable thing?"
"As a topic for conversation, your point is a bit too profound. How about we switch to something lighter?"
Asakura looked at the half of a pink slime-like head peeking out from the cardboard box: "Why did you hide in the box when you went on stage just now?"
"B-because I feel that with my current resistance level, facing so many people's gazes at once… I would definitely melt…"
"Melt what?"
"My mind and body."
The girl said sullenly, though she didn't show her face, Asakura subtly felt the "wall of heart" around the girl.
This kid, she might be able to open an E.O.A.
"So, let's end all of this here? Give up on joining Kessoku Band, return to your past life, then find some part-time job after graduation, tormenting your mind and body while barely making a living… Is that how you feel?"
Asakura asked.
Perhaps the future he described was too vivid, causing the girl, along with her mango cardboard box, to tremble at a very fast frequency.
The girl shivered and shook her head.
She pitifully peeked out half of her small face, looking at Ijichi Nijika and Yamada Ryo, who had shifted their attention to her, and said tremblingly, "Please, please don't abandon me…"
"No, no, we won't! We're bandmates, how could we just abandon Gotō-san?"
Ijichi Nijika comforted softly, her smile warm and pure. If a halo filter were added behind her, no one would object even if she were said to be an archangel descended from heaven.
"That's right, Bocchi is an important companion," Yamada Ryo also nodded, "Is 30,000 a month okay for a friend fee?"
"N-no problem!"
Gotō Hitori had a contradictory expression of 'it's expensive but so cheap', and tremblingly pulled out her pink wallet again from her pocket.
"We won't charge any friend fees! Don't let Ryo trick you!"
Ijichi Nijika quickly stopped her, "You don't need a friend fee to be friends. Does Gotō-san not consider me a friend?"
"Oh, I-I see… I can think of it that way…"
Gotō Hitori suddenly understood.
"What's with Bocchi?"
Asakura asked curiously, "Is she Yamada's little dog?"
In his understanding, Japanese people seemed to really like naming dogs "Bocchi," and kittens are usually called "Tama."
"No, it's a nickname Ryo gave Gotō-san… Although I also think it's a bit strange, Gotō-san seems to really like it."
Ijichi Nijika explained.
"…Sundae." Yamada Ryo looked at Ijichi Nijika with longing eyes.
"Alright, alright. Since we're having a reflection meeting anyway, let's go to Wagnaria."
Ijichi Nijika sighed, "Also, for the next Live, we need to hurry up and find a suitable vocalist…"
"Ijichi-san, can't you sing? I think your voice is quite nice."
Asakura suggested.
"No, no, my singing is terrible… Gotō-san seems unable to either… As for Ryo…"
"If I sang, I'd be too dazzling. Kessoku Band's entire spotlight would be stolen by me."
Yamada Ryo muttered about sundaes while confidently boasting with excessive self-assurance. Coupled with her naturally cool demeanor, it created a uniquely interesting impression.
"That's it! Everyone, let's go to Wagnaria for our reflection meeting~"
Ijichi Nijika energetically raised her small fist and said.
"Um, I've talked too much today, I can't anymore…"
Gotō Hitori said weakly, and at the same time, slowly started to escape towards the exit.
"I also have things to do, and besides, I'm not even a band member."
Asakura scratched his face.
"Oh right, Asakura-kun mentioned before that we could hold a Live on stage, right?"
Ijichi Nijika's eyes suddenly lit up.
"That…"
Asakura was a bit awkward, "The Student Council still needs to look into it a bit, cough, I'll let you know when there's news."
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