"Pervert…"
Goto Kazuri couldn't understand why a person as pure and sincere as Ishikawa would call himself a pervert.
She couldn't quite figure out her feelings toward Ishikawa Hayabusa at that moment, so instead, she tried to understand him as a person.
When she got home, still unsettled, she opened her computer and started searching.
Definitions of "pervert." Explanations.
Finally, buried among countless negative meanings, she found one:
"To change from the original form, to become an abnormal state."
"Change… state? Pervert?"
She blinked uncertainly.
When Ishikawa Hayabusa arrived at STARRY, he immediately noticed the lively scene: three people chatting happily at the tables and chairs, while the PA girl and Manager Hoshika were busy with work.
Joy and sorrow never align between people—some laugh, some labor.
Poor Manager Hoshika was working overtime with a pitiful expression, repeatedly glancing toward Nijika, who was caught up in conversation at the table.
Nijika, noticing her sister's gaze, felt guilty about abandoning the new member. So, out of sight of Kita Ikuyo, she clasped her hands at her waist and silently begged for forgiveness.
Hoshika several times almost called Nijika over to work, but each time she saw those pleading eyes, she lowered her head and kept grinding away.
It was a scene well worth observing.
Ishikawa Hayabusa had the sudden urge to capture this moment on camera.
But if he did, Manager Hoshika would probably kill him—rhythmically.
After a little while, Ishikawa realized that nobody had noticed his arrival. As a self-proclaimed pervert, how could he tolerate such neglect?
Without hesitation, he leapt down from the seventh step of the stairs, landing with an Iron Man pose.
"The Pervert has arrived!"
At that long-awaited voice, Nijika turned in surprise, her face lighting up as if her savior had come. She stood naturally from her seat.
"Ah, Hayabusa-kun, you came just in time. Kita-chan is thinking of joining our band."
At the table, Kita Ikuyo stiffened at the familiar voice, then quickly turned around, greeting him awkwardly.
"Ishikawa-kun, hello."
"Mm, welcome."
Ishikawa smiled to show goodwill, but didn't act overly familiar. Then he turned to the nearby Ryo, who looked bored.
"Ryo-sensei! See how much I've grown today."
Kita let out a silent sigh of relief. She had worried her earlier behavior had been too obvious. But whether he truly hadn't noticed, or simply didn't care, Ishikawa showed no sign of it, and she relaxed.
Still, when he immediately addressed Ryo-senpai, she tensed up again, her eyes darting between the two.
"…Alright."
Ryo showed a spark of interest.
"M-me too, I want to see!"
Kita blurted nervously, quickly standing to follow, afraid the two would slip away without her.
"Perfect! Then I'll go help my sister for a bit. Afterward, we'll play together."
Relieved, Nijika clapped her hands and, blushing, backed away a few steps before turning and hurrying toward Hoshika.
"Then let's go."
Ishikawa spoke as he—somehow—pulled out a synthesizer from nowhere.
Eh!?
Where had that come from!?
Kita stared, dumbfounded. She could have sworn he hadn't been carrying an electronic keyboard on his back.
Her sense of reality collapsing, she turned to Ryo, who simply looked on seriously.
"…Remarkable."
The direction of Ryo's amazement didn't match her own confusion at all. With a face that suggested this was just the natural order of things, Ryo left her frozen.
Noticing Kita's bewilderment, Ryo explained:
"This is the 'player-instrument unity' state, achieved by advanced performers. Most outstanding musicians can do it, though it isn't easy. Even I can only reach it when emotions run high."
Huh?
For someone who'd lived in this world for fifteen years, Kita suddenly wondered—wasn't this supposed to be an ordinary world?
But… Ryo-senpai had just spoken so many words!
Today was the happiest day of her life!
Since Ryo-senpai said it, it must be true. This world really did have magic!
Without hesitation, Kita updated her worldview.
Following the two into the practice room, she curiously looked around.
On the shelves sat mysterious tuners she couldn't figure out, amplifiers of all brands and models stacked in the corner, a music stand tossed aside, and a massive drum set.
The walls looked almost fuzzy—made of some special material? A bit like the ones in movie theaters.
So this is a band? It feels so professional.
She clamped her mouth shut to avoid showing surprise, leisurely scanning the room instead, as if appraising it.
Ryo glanced at her twice, then shifted her gaze to Ishikawa, who was setting up.
He connected the power cables, switched on the synthesizer, and declared:
"MUSIC ON."
"Then, sis, I'll go check on Ryo and the others."
After finishing her work, Nijika noticed they still hadn't come out of the practice room. Concerned, she waved to Hoshika and hurried over.
"Ticket sales are starting soon," Hoshika reminded.
"I knooow," Nijika answered without looking back, quickening her pace.
Don't be fooled by Ryo's lazy demeanor—when she taught seriously, she was merciless. And Hayabusa was straightforward to a fault; whatever was said, he'd follow. As for Kita, Nijika wasn't sure yet, but she clearly admired Ryo.
Which meant, right now, the practice room was entirely Ryo's domain.
Nijika steeled herself before opening the door.
Inside, she saw Ishikawa playing the keyboard, while the other two leaned against the wall with folded arms, trying to look cool.
Not too scary.
She breathed out in relief.
But… wasn't Hayabusa-kun's keyboard playing way stronger than before?
Against the wall, Ryo's eyes snapped open at a discordant sound. She turned to the doorway.
Seeing Nijika stunned there, she walked over and patted her shoulder.
"This kid is a genius. No—he's a pervert."
Receiving such an endorsement from Ryo, Ishikawa beamed, giving a thumbs-up—while his other hand blurred across the keyboard like a ghost.
"The liberation of human nature leads to transcendence of body and spirit. Every step of human progress has been based on the freedom of the inner self.
That means a fully liberated being—a pervert—is invincible.
The ultimate destiny of humankind is to be perverts! This is undeniable!"
With arms outstretched like a preacher, Ishikawa Hayabusa delivered his doctrine of perversion, looking holy and radiant as he addressed the three girls and the two adult women.
Naturally, no one understood him.
Their faces said it all: You sound impressive, but I'm not straying down that path.
"Uh, ah, mm! We get it, Hayabusa-kun, you're amazing. Now sit down."
After a moment of painful thought, Nijika forced her mind back into order and coaxed him back into his seat.
He sat, glancing around. Ryo and Kita were deep in thought, while Nijika seemed happy.
Clapping lightly to bring them back, Nijika continued:
"Hayabusa-kun already has the skill to perform on stage. Ryo and I are fine too. And Kita-chan—you're an experienced guitarist…"
Her face glowed with excitement, long harboring this dream. Leaning forward with both hands on the table, she declared:
"I'll ask my sister to let us perform on stage!"
Still dazed from Ishikawa's overwhelming playing and bizarre logic, Kita agreed without thinking:
"Mm."
Wait.
What had she just agreed to?
A performance? When!?
AAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!
"I don't mind."
Ryo's tone remained calm as water, but the faint quickening in her voice betrayed a spark of interest.
Ryo-senpai!!
Kita nearly burst into tears. Even she knew you couldn't just learn guitar in an instant. There was no way she could get stage-ready so soon!
Someone save her—she didn't care who! A god, maybe?!
But the last person in the band, oblivious to her inner turmoil, grinned and shouted:
"Let the Perverts take the stage!"
Kita's heart died on the spot.
"Then I'll go talk to my sister."
Radiant with joy, Nijika stood. Her smile, full of happiness as if stepping onto the road of her dreams, was enough to heal anyone just by looking.
Anyone… except the one about to collapse.
"Um… um…"
Kita scrambled to explain, to confess—
As soon as she spoke, everyone's eyes turned toward her.
More than anyone else's, she felt the weight of Ryo's gaze. That calm, expressionless face made her heart race.
She imagined what would happen if she admitted she couldn't play guitar at all.
No—worse than her expression, her entire impression in Ryo-senpai's eyes would shatter. She would never again be looked at seriously.
A liar about music—Ryo-senpai's cold, piercing eyes glaring down on her.
"Kita-chan? What's wrong?"
Nijika asked curiously.
But even social butterflies have things they're too afraid to say.
"…N-no, nothing."
Kita bowed her head, guilt pressing down on her like a mountain.
Ishikawa Hayabusa looked at her, sighed softly, and said nothing.