The weekend arrived.
Early in the morning, Rin and the four members of Kessoku Band snuck into the Starry Live House. Karen had already rented the place from Seika for the week, specifically stating they didn't need her assistance.
They hadn't told Seika about the live show yet. Seika was currently at some dog cafe, blissfully unaware of the world.
Even so, the girls were whispering and tiptoeing out of habit until they reached the soundproofed hall. Only then did they breathe a sigh of relief.
"A live house without Big Sis or PA-san... it feels strange," Nijika said, looking around the empty venue.
An empty mall feels very different from a crowded one. It felt liberating. Kato Megumi would have loved this kind of "public exposure," but the girls of Kessoku Band weren't quite there yet.
"Yeah..." Hitori (Bocchi) nodded for once. "It feels easier. Like being inside a big cardboard box."
"Stop daydreaming. Let's get the equipment ready and rehearse," Kita said, pushing Ryo toward the practice room where their instruments were kept.
With Rin's help, they moved everything onto the stage. Nijika began connecting cables and setting up the mixer, taking over PA-san's job. She had spent so much time here that she knew the equipment by heart. Kita began testing the mic.
"Um, Nijika... where is the mango box?"
"The mango box?" Nijika blinked. "Oh, the one you hid in during our first show? Big Sis took that home. Besides, you can't use a box for a real live show! Rin spent all this money so you could get used to the stage."
"By the way, I'm putting this on my tab," Ryo whispered, though Nijika ignored her.
"Stop looking for boxes. Let's get used to the stage~" Kita dragged Bocchi onto the stage.
Kita cleared her throat and gave the signal.
"The sudden downpour makes me sick of myself for forgetting an umbrella. What does the sky's mood have to do with me? What should I wear for the change of seasons?"
The drums and guitar kicked in. Kita's energetic voice filled the room. Rin tapped his knuckles against the table to the beat. When the song ended, he gave a loud round of applause.
"Perfect. Kita, your vocals and Nijika's drums are perfectly synced. Bocchi, you're playing at Guitar Hero levels. If you performed like this at a festival audition, you'd be a lock."
"Ryo-senpai was good too," Kita added, noticing Rin had left her out.
"Ryo is the bassist, right? I barely noticed her. Did you forget to plug in?" Rin teased.
"Hey, hey, hey..." Ryo waved her bass in protest. Nijika burst out laughing.
"I didn't think the CEO knew bass jokes."
After a bit of banter, Rin cleared his throat to get their attention.
"The music and the chemistry are great," he said, his tone shifting. "But... can you bring this energy to a real stage? I've heard your warm-up performances. When you're actually in front of a crowd, Nijika and Kita, you aren't as bad as Bocchi, but you still get nervous and lose the rhythm."
They had uploaded videos of their previous shows. Rin had watched them all. It wasn't just Bocchi; the whole band suffered. Even a layman like Rin could hear the drums slipping out of sync with the backtrack. It wasn't their true level.
"Today was better because only I was watching. But when the audience arrives, can you keep it up?"
The four girls fell silent.
"You're a student band with little experience. Making mistakes because of nerves is normal," Rin stepped onto the stage and patted Nijika's head. "Especially you, Nijika. Don't feel like you have to be the perfect anchor just because you have the most experience. Understood?"
"I... I understand!" Nijika's eyes widened. She didn't expect him to see right through her.
As the drummer, she was the engine of the band. Knowing Bocchi and Kita were prone to panic, she tried too hard to lead them. The weight of that responsibility made her tense up, leading to mistakes—and mistakes led to more tension. Even Rin could hear the disharmony. It was no wonder Seika wouldn't let them do a full set yet.
"Most mistakes come from shyness and anxiety. If you solve the shyness, you solve the problem."
Rin wasn't a musician, but the principles were the same. He knew the feeling of being on stage with a heart hammering against his ribs.
"Technique takes years to master. But we can fix your shyness now!" Rin smirked. "Shyness comes from fear—fear of looking stupid, fear of being judged. If you want to stop being nervous, you have to throw away your shame! Got it!?"
"GOT IT!!!!" Kita stood at attention, her blood pumping.
"What? I can't hear you."
"GOT IT!!!!" Kita screamed into the mic. The speakers amplified her voice so much that Rin's scalp tingled and his ears rang.
"Good. High spirit." Rin checked his watch. "It's 10:00 AM. Guests arrive at 6:00 PM. The show starts at 7:00 PM. That gives me nine hours to make you lose your shame!"
"No problem!!!" Kita was full of confidence. But Nijika and Ryo looked at each other, their faces turning a bright pink.
Rin's logic sounded perfect, but they knew him. "Losing your shame" was just a code for "doing something perverted."