After Aoki Kei's performance, another band took the stage.
But because his set had left such a powerful impression, the atmosphere didn't quite pick up again.
Once the second band finished, STARRY began ushering people out and preparing to close for the night.
Unlike their usual routine, the girls didn't stick around to practice afterward.
One by one, they headed home.
Still, the mood wasn't as heavy as it had been right after the live show.
Even Bocchi-chan, Ryo, and Kita-chan had lightened up a bit before leaving.
Truthfully, none of the band members blamed Nijika at all—not even a little.
Mistakes during live performances happen, especially if someone's feeling unwell. Everyone knew she hadn't messed up because of lack of effort.
That awkward silence after the show? It was only because the others were worried, not sure how to comfort her.
So, the tension in the air gradually eased, and the girls went their separate ways for the night.
As for Aoki Kei, after packing up his guitar, he thanked the manager and Nijika before stepping out into the Tokyo night.
The last drops of rain had finally stopped.
The sky, now dark, was layered with clouds too faint to clearly make out—only the soft light of the moon gave them shape.
Folding up his umbrella, which he had only used twice, Aoki Kei began walking slowly toward the train station.
Maybe it was the fresh scent after the rain, or maybe he just wasn't ready to go home yet—either way, he deliberately took his time, lingering on the damp, glistening streets of Shimokitazawa.
And then, after passing a vending machine he'd walked by countless times before, a familiar voice called out behind him.
"Aoki-senpai—!"
It wasn't loud, but in the calm of post-rain Shimokitazawa, it rang out clearly. The voice was unmistakable.
He stopped and turned around.
Not far behind, Nijika was jogging toward him, her shoes splashing in little puddles.
"What's up?" he asked, a bit puzzled.
Since getting off stage, Nijika's mood had seemed to lift slightly.
They hadn't spoken much since then, apart from his quick goodbye on his way out of STARRY.
So now, seeing her chasing after him, he was a little confused.
Catching her breath, Nijika took a moment before saying softly, "I just felt like I had to say something to you."
Then she looked up at him. "Thank you... for this afternoon."
"I just sang a song," Aoki Kei replied casually. But before he could finish, she cut him off.
"Our first live as a band... our first real performance. I messed it up. I wanted to cry so badly—on stage, even right after we got off."
Her eyes shimmered slightly as she looked at him.
"Everyone's dreams are riding on this band. We've worked so hard, and we were finally getting closer to those dreams. But just as it felt like things were about to bloom... I was the one who held us back."
Her voice trailed off.
She stepped back a little, lowered her head, and pulled out her wallet.
Taking out a couple of bills, she glanced at the vending machine and asked, "Senpai, is orange soda okay?"
"Sure," Aoki Kei nodded.
"Alright—though pineapple sounds good too… No, let's go with orange. Orange soda it is…" Murmuring quietly to herself, Nijika inserted the money and selected two cans.
She handed one to him, popped the tab on hers, and took a breath.
Then, skipping over the earlier topic, she asked, "Senpai, that song—'So I Gave Up on Music'—it was amazing. Are you going to upload it to Youtube?"
"Yeah. Probably in a day or two," Aoki Kei replied.
"I see…" Nijika nodded.
She didn't speak again after that, and neither did he.
The silence settled over them awkwardly.
After a few seconds, remembering she was still recovering from a cold, and that even summer nights could get chilly, Aoki Kei asked, "Nijika… is there something else you wanted to say?"
She hesitated.
Pressing the cool can to her cheek, she looked thoughtful.
"I feel like I want to say everything… and at the same time, I can't say anything."
Her gaze wandered to the lamplit streets of Shimokitazawa.
"Whether it's about the band, the music, saying thank you, or about our dreams..."
She sniffled lightly and stared into the empty road.
"If I say anything now, I'll definitely cry."
"…Still,"
She turned back to him with a faint smile. "Senpai, next time, I'm going to give it everything I've got. No more mistakes—especially not in that competition two months from now."
Taking another breath, she added with conviction, "I'll do my best, and give it everything I've got to earn a result we can be proud of."
Aoki Kei listened quietly.
Then, breaking from his usual brevity, he finally spoke more than just a sentence or two:
"It doesn't matter if the PVC project gets us any results or not. Nijika, I told you before… Whether we succeed or mess up.
what matters most is enjoying the time we spend in the band together, And—Kessoku Band is made up of people you can rely on. You don't need to carry all the pressure by yourself."
But Nijika shook her head.
"No, that's not it."
She pressed the cold can to her cheek again and looked straight at him.
She didn't know much about Aoki Kei's past—very little, actually.
But there was one thing she did know:
Standing before her now was someone who had once told her not to shoulder everything alone.
Someone who had reminded her to enjoy music.
Someone who had shouted that painful, defiant lyric when she was at her lowest.
Even if it made her cry—there were words she had to say to him.
So she took a breath, and her expression lit up with a bright, determined smile.
Looking him straight in the eye, she declared:
"This has nothing to do with responsibility. This is just how I feel."
"Even if you say I'm being stubborn—"
The soft glow of the vending machine painted her cheeks with color, and in that moment, Nijika's eyes sparkled.
"I want to carry your dream, senpai… and play in this band with everyone."
Aoki Kei blinked, taken aback by her words.
He opened his mouth, instinctively wanting to say something—but before he could speak, a familiar electronic chime rang out in his ears:
[You have successfully unlocked the heroine 'Ijichi Nijika's' first CG: "The Dream the Drummer Girl Wants to Carry."]
"Carrying the dream… and playing together in the band…"
Aoki Kei stood there in silence.
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