Saturday.
Morning, a little past nine.
Shimokitazawa Park.
The air was fresh, and the sunlight was just right, making one's mood light and pleasant.
Hotaru ate a donut he bought for breakfast, waiting for Hitori.
This place had clearly become their meeting spot.
Their agreed time was ten o'clock.
But he arrived early.
Soon.
A hunched, somewhat furtive figure quietly appeared.
Hitori had her head bowed low, her dark-ringed, azure eyes glancing at her phone; it wasn't yet ten.
Thankfully, she made it.
Hitori breathed a sigh of relief.
Because she had stayed up late last night trying to write lyrics.
The result was, not only did she fail to write any lyrics, but she also suffered from insomnia.
If her mother hadn't woken her up this morning, she wouldn't have known how long she would have slept.
However.
Just as Hitori was secretly feeling relieved, she looked up.
Hotaru's figure, sitting in the park, entered her line of sight.
Hitori screamed in fright, her body transforming into garbled data.
How could a creature as insignificant as a paramecium like her make someone wait for her?!
Hitori couldn't help but begin to self-reproach internally.
In a flash.
Hearing the scream, Hotaru had already arrived in front of Hitori.
"Bocchi-chan, you're here!"
However, what responded to Hotaru was Hitori's hurried apology.
"Ah! I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm sorry..."
Hitori skillfully bent down, continuously bowing.
Hotaru was slightly stunned.
Even though he had gradually gotten used to Bocchi-chan's strange behavior, he was still somewhat confused.
Why apologize right away?
You didn't do anything.
"Stop, stop, stop! Just a moment, Bocchi-chan."First, he stopped Hitori's actions, then Hotaru asked, puzzled,"Apologize for what?"
"I... I'm late," Hitori explained softly.
Hearing this, Hotaru checked the time.
Then he simply smiled.
"Bocchi-chan, it's only 45 minutes past the hour, and our agreed time is ten o'clock."
"So you're not late; we both just arrived early."
Yes.
Hotaru had long anticipated that, with Bocchi-chan's style, she would most likely arrive early after agreeing on a time.
To prevent her from waiting too long after arriving early, Hotaru came here early to eat breakfast.
Hitori relaxed a little, "But you waited a long time."
Hotaru waved his hand, "I just got here myself."
"Besides, good friends don't mind these things."
Hearing 'good friends,' Hitori replied in a low voice, "Thank you..."
"By the way, have you had breakfast?"
Hotaru used the tactic of changing the subject.
Thinking that it took Hitori quite a while to get here, he subconsciously felt that she might not have had breakfast.
Fortunately, he had extra donuts.
Hitori answered truthfully, "I did."
"Is that so..." Hotaru felt a little regretful.
However, under the scent of the donuts, Hitori's stomach unseasonably protested.
"Gugugu..."
Hotaru looked at Hitori suspiciously; she dared to lie to his face now.
Hitori, very embarrassed, covered her stomach and anxiously explained, "I really did eat!"
She really did eat.
Hitori's mother had prepared breakfast.
However, Hitori, in order to arrive early, barely ate a few bites before leaving.
Hotaru chuckled, not minding, and handed the donut to Bocchi-chan.
Hitori still wanted to refuse, but under Hotaru's resolute gaze, she had no choice but to accept it.
She unexpectedly found it tasted very good.
However, the thought that they were now alone still made Hitori a little uncomfortable.
When they were in the Starry practice room, everyone was there, and she could talk less to reduce her presence.
Subsequently.
While Hitori was eating the donut, Hotaru also observed Hitori's outfit today.
Her lower half wasn't wearing those overly long pink sweatpants.
Her upper half still had on that loose pink jacket.
This was quite rare.
Hotaru thought for a moment; perhaps it was time for Bocchi-chan to learn how to dress normally.
Bocchi-chan couldn't stand being stared at, but with her strange attire, she would easily attract attention.
Though she herself wasn't aware of it.
Moreover, changing one's appearance, showing off one's style, and boosting self-confidence were also ways to overcome social anxiety.
"By the way, how are the lyrics coming along?" Hotaru suddenly asked.
Hitori's hand, holding the donut, stiffened, "Not, not done yet."
"It's okay, let me see."
Taking the notebook that Bocchi-chan very reluctantly handed over, Hotaru praised it,
"The signature design is good! I think this 'bocchi' is great."
The notebook was filled with various personalized signatures Hitori had designed for herself.
For example, Gotou, Gotou Solo, Solo, gotch, bocchi...
Speaking of which, he had also racked his brains designing signatures like this when he signed his light novel.
"I think so too, ehehehe..."Praised, Hitori was very happy.
However, Hitori soon realized something was wrong.
"Wrong page!"
Hitori fumbled to the correct page.
Hotaru looked closely.
The notebook had many traces of Bocchi-chan's songwriting.
Joyful, sparkling, band-like...
Hitori asked nervously,
"H-how is it?"
Hotaru nodded, then shook his head.
"From the perspective of general lyrics, there's no problem."
"However—"
Hitori looked at Hotaru nervously.
"Bocchi-chan wants to write popular lyrics, and lyrics suitable for Kita to sing, right?"
"The result is, lyrics written this way are too deliberate, making them seem strange instead."
"I think Bocchi can write better lyrics."
"I can write even better?"
Hitori murmured, but her heart was very uncertain.
Hotaru nodded with conviction.
"Why do you believe in me so much?"
Hitori couldn't help but ask.
Being trusted so much moved her, yet also made her feel ashamed, because she didn't think she could do it well at all.
Hotaru thought for a moment, then decided not to pretend anymore and directly said,
"Because you are Guitar Hero."
Pretending not to know that Guitar Hero was Hitori herself didn't really make much sense.
It was better to just bring it up directly and fully affirm her ability.
Instantly.
Hitori felt a "buzz" in her brain, her mind a chaotic mess.
Box, she had been unboxed!
It's over! Her life!
She was going to be flamed!
Gathering her last bit of courage, Hitori asked with trembling lips,
"H-h-h-how did you know?"
After speaking, Hitori panicked and covered her mouth.
Her heart was filled with infinite self-reproach.
Wasn't she just confessing without being asked? She should have at least denied it!
Hotaru couldn't help but laugh, saying helplessly,
"You don't seriously think you hid it well, do you?"
"Isn't that the case?"
Hitori didn't understand.
...Hotaru's mouth twitched slightly.
"The exact same guitar, the exact same pick, and the pink tracksuit that occasionally peeks out..."
Hotaru listed one by one the places in Hitori's videos that would expose her identity.
The more Hitori listened, the paler her face became, and the weaker her body felt.
She had always thought she was hiding it very well!
She had even been smug about it.
"Actually, Hoshika, the manager, also suspected you."
Another bombshell hit Hitori's heart.
Hitori pressed her wildly beating heart.
"It might not be long before Nijika also finds out."
Hitori felt the invisible blade in her chest piercing deeper and deeper.
This caused her brain to gradually crash.
"I'm sorry, that Guitar Hero is someone like me, everyone must be very disappointed!"
Hitori said with a tearful face.
"How could that be?" Hotaru countered, "On the contrary, we would feel very lucky to be in a band with Guitar Hero."
"No one will have any prejudice because of your personal image."
Hitori tentatively asked, "Is that so?"
Hotaru nodded.
However, it was clear that Hitori still couldn't believe it for a while.
So Hotaru explained,
"Don't worry, Bocchi-chan, I won't tell everyone until you're ready."
"I can even cover for you."
"So, have confidence."
Hitori looked at Hotaru gratefully.
Returning to the lyrics.
"So, use your Guitar Hero skills to write the lyrics!" Hotaru said.
"But I still don't have any ideas," Bocchi-chan said shyly.
"Aren't you good at dark and melancholic lyrics?"
That was true, but hearing it from someone else's mouth still made Bocchi-chan feel inexplicably sad.
Seeing this, Hotaru comforted her,
"It's okay, maybe you'll get inspiration after today."
"Mm..."
After Hitori finished her donut, Hotaru stood up and said,
"Let's go."
"Where to?"
"To busk!"
Hotaru said as a matter of course, then looked back at Bocchi, puzzled.
Hadn't he told her two days ago?
"Wah!"
Upon hearing this, Hitori recalled that terrifying memory.
That day, after hearing they were going to perform on the street, she had simply fainted.
After she woke up, her brain seemed to have automatically deleted that memory that filled her with dread.
Bocchi-chan began to shake her head.
"I can't do that kind of thing, no, no, no..."
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