"Just now, the way Bocchi was pacing around at the entrance looked pretty funny."
"Watching Bocchi, huh? Somehow, it feels like it'd be a really interesting pastime."
"Right?"
"You two, cut it out already—ah, ah! Bocchi-chan! Don't crawl under the table!"
Just as Kita pushed the door open and stepped into STARRY, she froze for a second. Judging by their chatter, it seemed everyone was already here. But what on earth were they doing, making this much noise so early in the morning?
She hurried her steps, rounded the corner, and greeted the four who were sitting around a table.
"Good morning!"
But the reply that greeted her sunny smile was a blunt jab from Ishikawa Hayabusa.
"Oh~ Yuiyo's here, huh."
Kita's bright smile hadn't even had time to falter before her body went stiff and she collapsed straight to the floor.
Yet the moment she hit the ground, she sprang back up like lightning, walking over under the puzzled gazes of Nijika, Ryo, and Bocchi.
Nijika tilted her head in confusion.
"Um, Kita-chan, just now...?"
Thud!
Kita Yuiyo slammed her forehead onto the table with a heavy sound, like she was desperately making a plea.
"Please, everyone, from now on, just call me Kita! That's all I ask!"
Ryo let out a long, meaningful "Oh~" and turned her gaze toward Hayabusa.
Hayabusa nodded matter-of-factly, confirming the scheme.
Ryo covered her mouth and allowed the faintest smile to slip.
Hayabusa grinned wickedly, his look saying next time, I'm counting on you.
Ryo gave a small nod in return.
Watching this, Nijika could only look at Kita—who still had her head pressed to the table—with pity. Meanwhile, Bocchi was so terrified by this barefaced plotting that she curled against her chair, trembling.
"Alright~"
Nijika brought her palms together lightly, then raised her index finger.
"The First Official Band Meeting is now in session! Applause~!"
Clap clap clap clap~
She led the applause, joined by Kita, who had recovered her spirits, Hayabusa with his dazzling grin, Ryo with her calm air, and Bocchi, who silently tapped her hands together.
"Next is..." Nijika looked around the group.
Aside from Hayabusa, whom she saw often, and Ryo, who was always around, she'd only met Kita a few times, and Bocchi had joined them just yesterday.
Her words trailed off, and she scratched her head with an awkward laugh.
"Now that I think about it, we don't really know each other that well yet. I'm not even sure what we should talk about..."
Before the silence could get heavy, Ryo pulled a six-sided die out from under the table.
"This is what we need right now."
"Nice idea~" Nijika praised.
"Ryo-senpai is a genius!" Kita immediately transformed back into Ryo's brainless fan.
And then suddenly, it was as if everyone in the room heard the sound of a secret technique activating—shing!
Bocchi's survival instincts sharpened.
The sound seemed to have come from Hayabusa. She turned toward him and noticed his eyes locked hungrily on the side of the die that read Bungee Jumping.
Hayabusa... he wouldn't actually want to play this game, would he...?
No, no, no, no way...
If I had to do something so attention-grabbing in front of everyone, I'd definitely...
[While bungee jumping, she embarrasses herself horribly in front of the crowd, letting out strange noises.][Her disgusting display is filmed and uploaded, spreading across the entire internet.][She's accused of disturbing public order, brought to trial.][And finally—executed!]
Just as Bocchi's imagination spiraled darker and darker, she felt an elbow nudge her.
She snapped back to reality.
Beside her, Hayabusa's expression was relaxed, nothing like the face of someone about to unleash a secret technique. Was it just her imagination?
Then she noticed him motion with his fingers toward Nijika.
Nijika tossed the die. It rolled across the table, and in Bocchi's eyes, the terrifying purple side labeled Bungee Jumping flashed again and again.
"What will it be~ what will it be~?" Nijika swayed her head, excited.
Kita leaned forward too, full of anticipation.
"Sha-la-la, sha-la-la~"
Everyone knew why she was so happy—this was the perfect chance to learn about Ryo's preferences openly.
Probably the only one clueless to her excitement was Bocchi.
The die stopped.
Nijika read out the result and looked up at the others with a smile.
"A topic about your favorite kind of music~ or, in short..."
"Music Talk~" Kita quickly filled in to keep things lively.
"Mm..."
The two sunny smiles radiating from Nijika and Kita made Ryo and Bocchi instinctively lean back. But as Bocchi scooted away, she bumped into Hayabusa and hurriedly apologized.
If it were just Nijika's brightness, it would've been fine. But with Kita's added warmth, the atmosphere was almost too much to handle.
"H-hey, what's wrong, everyone?" Nijika panicked at the reaction.
Ryo gave a strange glance at Hayabusa, who was smiling silently, then turned to Bocchi.
"Bocchi, you go first."
"Ah..."
Bocchi froze at being called on first. After lowering her head to think, she muttered in a gloomy tone:
"As long as it's not songs about youth, I'm fine..."
The four stared at her blankly. Bocchi quickly explained, retreating into her own world as she spoke.
"Why are songs always about the ocean, fireworks, love—such happy things? They don't resonate at all... when I hear them, I just feel depressed... Like that band I liked in high school—"
She drifted into a muttering monologue.
"Hey—Bocchi-chan, hey—"
Nijika leaned forward, calling to her, but Bocchi was too lost in her own gloomy narrative.
Beside her, Ryo sat expressionless, Kita held her face expectantly toward Ryo, and Hayabusa just smiled, watching the chaos unfold.
"Please, don't get lost in your own world—come on..." Nijika looked helplessly around at the others, hoping someone would help. But seeing that everyone was absorbed in their own way, she groaned.
"Can't we all try to be a little more united here?"
Finally, Hayabusa stopped enjoying the spectacle. He clapped his hands sharply, the loud sound drawing everyone's attention.
"Alright, my turn."
"Hayabusa-kun..." Nijika nearly teared up with relief that the discussion was back on track.
But right after speaking, Hayabusa froze, looking conflicted.
"As long as it sounds good, that's enough."
His answer made the others blink.
"From classical to hard rock, I can listen to it all. I don't really care about style."
"What a troublesome person," Ryo remarked.
Kita, surprised that his answer seemed so normal, asked, "Eh, really?"
"Well... that's one way to put it," Hayabusa admitted.
Now that conversation was flowing smoothly, Nijika chimed in too.
"Usually when people say they'll listen to anything, it means they're extra picky. Since they can technically listen to everything, they only stick to their absolute favorites—so they're actually the hardest to satisfy."
"I see..." Kita nodded in realization.
Nijika raised her finger with a smile, as if reminding them.
"For me, I like kakugo-kei—what's usually called Japanese punk."
Ryo followed up calmly.
"I like technopop. Recently, I've been into the Saudi Arabian charts..."
Knowing Ryo's habits well, Nijika couldn't resist teasing.
"Don't make things up, you liar..."
"It's true..." Ryo insisted, her tone tinged with faint grievance even as her expression stayed flat.
Hayabusa didn't think she was lying. He tested the waters.
"Ryo, are you planning to handle composition?"
Ryo nodded.
"Yeah. Nijika doesn't know anything about it."
She didn't mention the others, but it was obvious: Kita, who only started learning music after joining; Hayabusa, who was still a beginner; and Bocchi, whose real skill level was unclear.
The whole band was basically riding on her shoulders.
"Ryo..."
Realizing her mistake, Nijika looked at her in surprise, then quickly bowed her head.
"Sorry!"
Seeing her apologize, Ryo showed no mercy.
"I've been eyeing a new bass lately..."
"No way." Nijika's stare turned icy cold in an instant.
After the two finished their exchange, Hayabusa spoke up.
"If you ever need help, call me. I'm interested in composition too."
Since he was the keyboardist, if Ryo wanted to add decorative elements to a song, he'd have to adjust his playing accordingly. He also needed to work closely with the composer to achieve the right effect.
Sometimes, experimenting together on the keyboard to find the right sound would be the best way.
The moment he said it, Nijika, Kita, and Bocchi all froze.
"Eh?"
Ryo took a sip from her drink, set the glass down, and let out a faint sound.
"I'll use you without hesitation."