Without Ishikawa Hayabusa bothering her anymore, Gotoh Hitori's life slowly returned to its usual routine.She went to school alone, sat through classes alone, ate lunch by herself, rode the long train ride home, practiced guitar, and uploaded videos.
"It's already the second week…"
When Gotoh Hitori opened her computer, she glanced at the clock.It had been almost two weeks since Ishikawa Hayabusa last came to see her.
And what's more…
She opened the fake YTB account she had made, the one where she had hastily uploaded re-edited videos.There were no comments from Ishikawa Hayabusa under any of them.
Gotoh checked every single video again and again. Finding nothing, she silently slid over to the wall, hugged her knees, and lowered her head. Her bright aqua-blue eyes dimmed into a murky haze.
Did I get too full of myself when I took food from his bento…?Or was it that the corner I sit in is too dark…?Or maybe I smelled moldy or something…?Aaaah, no matter how I think about it, there are just too many problems!
Gotoh Hitori anxiously rubbed her soft pink hair.
These past few days… just treat them like a nice dream. Wake up already, Gotoh Hitori!
She slapped her cheeks, trying to shake off those thoughts, and crawled back to her computer.
Whatever, reality might be cruel, but at least online, there were always people who cared about her.
With that in mind, she switched over to her original account. She planned to scroll through the comments for some much-needed comfort, to mend her fragile, crumbling heart.
"I listen to your songs every day! I've started learning guitar myself recently, can't wait for your next piece!""2:17 here—really loved it.""I adore her guitar playing. Such a moving sound.""This is Gotoh-san, right? It's me, Ishikawa Hayabusa."
Gotoh's lips curled into a smile as she read, but when she reached the last comment—
Gotoh Hitori: ???
She double-checked the account. This was indeed her original upload account—the one under the name "Guitar Hero."
Her hand jolted the mouse wheel as she frantically scrolled back up.
In the video description she had written:"Ever since starting high school, life's been so fulfilling, I barely have time to post anymore~!""This time I played a song my friends and I always sing together at karaoke!"
It was a fake persona she had created—a fabricated image of a cheerful, popular girl.
Scrolling back down, her eyes caught on the comment again:
"This is Gotoh-san, right? It's me, Ishikawa Hayabusa."
"Aaaaaaahhhhhhh!"
She let out such a shrill, high-pitched scream that it almost sounded electronic as it reverberated from her closet.
—
Downstairs.
Mrs. Gotoh looked up in confusion.Thump, thump, thump!—like a construction site overhead, terrifying bangs echoed nonstop.
She didn't even need to think—of course it was her eldest daughter doing something strange again.
But today… the reaction was unusually intense.
"What's up with Hitori today? She's especially noisy."
"Yeah, normally she doesn't carry on this much."
Mr. Gotoh, watching TV, stroked his chin in surprise.
"Don't tell me…"
His eyes lit up. He turned to look at his wife. Their gazes met, silent sparks of expectation flashing between them.
But just as quickly, the hopeful expressions faded. Both sighed together.
"Of course not. Impossible."
—
Why… why…
Curled up in the closet, Gotoh Hitori trembled like a wounded little animal, staring blankly at the ceiling board above her.
Why did he have to find out…?
It took a long while before she recovered from her spiral of despair. Slowly, she sat up and reopened her computer.
She clicked the comment again.
Oh—there was a follow-up message.
She read it:"As expected, you're amazing. Could you bring your guitar tomorrow and play something for me?"
It had been posted just an hour ago.
Lowering her head, Gotoh began to shake. But this time, her hidden face bloomed with a smile under her bangs, her cheeks nearly melting.
"Hehehe… hehe… Since you put it that way, I guess I don't really have a choice, huh? Hehehe…"
—
Meanwhile, at that very moment, Kita Ikuyo was sprawled on her sofa in pajamas, hugging a pillow, happily chatting with friends on her phone.
Suddenly—ding!—a new message popped up.
The sender: Ishikawa Hayabusa.
She instantly abandoned her conversation and tapped it open.
"Sorry, I forgot to tell Nijika about you."
Kita Ikuyo: ???
Wait—what? What does he mean?Sorry… about what?They don't still think I'm coming, do they?! The live performance is tomorrow!
She shot upright, tossing her pillow aside. The poor cushion landed on the floor and bounced with a dull thud.
Her expression was one of pure disbelief as her fingers flew at lightning speed over the screen.
"Don't tell me… Ijichi-senpai and Ryo-senpai are still waiting for me?!"
The reply came almost instantly.
Ishikawa Hayabusa: "Mm… yeah, sorry. By the way, I still haven't told them."
"You—WHAT are you doing?!"
It had been nearly two weeks! How could someone be this forgetful?!
Kita Ikuyo suddenly felt an urge to storm into the kitchen, grab a knife, and march straight to Ishikawa Hayabusa's house.
If he hadn't said anything until now, didn't that make it look like she was sabotaging the performance on purpose?!
Ishikawa Hayabusa: "Nah, it's fine, not a big deal. Worst case, we just need to desperately find another guitarist. I'll tell Nijika tomorrow. Oh, and Kita—you should come watch too."
Desperately find a guitarist?! That didn't sound like "not a big deal" at all!
And tomorrow was the live performance. What on earth was Ijichi-senpai supposed to do?!
As for him asking her to come… Kita let out a long sigh.She didn't have the face to show up there anymore.
Ishikawa Hayabusa: "Don't worry too much about the guitarist. If it comes down to it, I can simulate guitar sounds myself.""Also, if you don't show up, I'll just tell Ryo and Nijika that Kita thinks you're beneath her, and that's why she doesn't want to play with you all."
Scum!!
Kita ground her teeth so hard it felt like they would shatter.
But after a moment, she realized what Ishikawa meant.
"…I'll think about it."
—
The next day, Kita Ikuyo still hadn't decided whether to go or not.
What if they messed up the performance because of how rushed everything was? Wouldn't that make it look like she was sitting there enjoying their failure?
When she arrived at class, she saw Ishikawa Hayabusa chatting easily with everyone, fitting in perfectly as always. She shot him a glare sharp enough to pierce steel.
He winced, shoulders hunching, hands pressed together in a wordless plea for forgiveness.
—
At lunch break.
"Kita-chan, what did you bring for lunch today?"
"Not that I said I'd share with you or anything."
Kita laughed with her friends, but out of the corner of her eye, she caught sight of a flash of pink passing quickly by the classroom door.
The figure moved lightly, almost bouncing with excitement, as if looking forward to something.
But it wasn't the tracksuit that caught Kita's attention—it was the guitar case strapped to her back.
A guitarist…
"Sorry, I'll be right back."
Kita snapped her bento shut and hurried after the figure.
Through the hallway, down the stairs, and out into the lower floor—
The figure was gone.
Kita froze, baffled.
How could she have lost her in such a short distance? Still doubting her own senses, she suddenly heard it—
The sound of a guitar.A deep, almost anguished cry of notes echoing through the space.
—
Heart pounding with excitement, Gotoh Hitori had made it to her secret safe place.
She couldn't hold back anymore. She pulled out her guitar, hooked up the mini amplifier, plugged in the power and cables.
Time for a quick warm-up.
She practiced speed-picking, tapping, hammer-ons, pull-offs—stringing together a small improvised piece.
"Mm, no problem."
The lingering sound of the guitar faded.
Satisfied, she set it down and turned, waiting expectantly for Ishikawa Hayabusa to arrive.
Would Ishikawa-kun be surprised when he heard? Well, though… he probably already saw her videos online.
The thought instantly drained her of energy, despair seeping out of her like a dying aura.
But just as she turned—she saw a dark silhouette in front of her.
"You're amazing!" the shadow said with sparkling eyes.
Gotoh jolted in fright, then exhaled in relief.
Oh… just a ghost.
"You're Gotoh-san from Class 2, right?"
The shadow stepped forward, revealing herself. Kita Ikuyo crouched down in the small space, cradling her face in her hands with a dazzling smile.
"Aaaaaaahhhh!!"
Seeing Kita Ikuyo, Gotoh was so terrified she contorted, shooting up against the wall like Spider-Man, clinging desperately with a look as if she had really seen a ghost.
Kita flinched.
Honestly, she was a little hurt. She couldn't understand why Gotoh-san would react even more scared upon realizing it was just her.
"Um… Gotoh-san?"
Pressed flat against the wall, her heart hammering, Gotoh panicked. But then, seeing Kita's awkward expression, she realized how rude her behavior was.
Climbing down from the wall, she hesitated for a moment, then dropped into a full dogeza bow, trembling.
"At least… at least let me play my song before you take my life!!"
She shouted with a tearful voice.
"Take your life?"
Kita tilted her head, puzzled—but quickly realized Gotoh must have misunderstood something, so she didn't press the issue.
"Gotoh-san, your guitar was amazing! How long have you been playing?"
Gotoh slowly sat up, blinking. Seeing that Kita didn't seem bothered, she relaxed a little.
"Th-three years," she whispered.
"So long?!"
Kita clapped a hand over her mouth in shock—then immediately realized how that sounded and waved her hands in explanation.
"Actually, I wanted to ask a favor."
She remembered that Gotoh had practiced for three years, while she herself had joined a band without knowing a single thing about guitar. Guilt pricked her.
Lowering her head, she confessed:
"I thought playing guitar would be easy, so I joined a band. But… the live performance is today, and I still can't play a thing."
She raised her voice, bowing deeply.
"Please, Gotoh-san—could you take my place on stage?!"
"Eh…"
Gotoh let out a pitiful groan, tangled in confusion and dread.