"Excuse me... are you the vocalist for Crychic?"
"!!!!"
Tomori, who had been about to stand up, froze in place. Her lips parted, but she was so nervous that no sound came out.
"I'm a fan of Crychic. I couldn't make it to the live show, but that song 'Haruhikage' was so incredible I still haven't forgotten it. By the way... I haven't seen any updates from you guys since then. Did something happen?"
"!!!!!"
Rin's words instantly triggered Tomori's memory of the rainy night Sakiko left the band. She instinctively turned to run, but the show had just ended, and the narrow aisle was packed with people. She had nowhere to go, yet she was too timid to push through the crowd.
Ultimately, she could only keep her head down and shuffle forward with the flow.
Rin didn't chase her aggressively. He followed her pace until they cleared the planetarium doors. Then, he stepped quickly in front of the retreating girl, blocking her path.
Like a small animal, Tomori kept her head down, staring at Rin's shoes. She took a step left; Rin moved right.
Left step, right step.
Right step, left step.
After a few repetitions of this dance, a still-downcast Tomori finally spoke.
"Disbanded... Crychic has disbanded."
"Disbanded, huh...?" Rin stepped aside, allowing her to pass. "What a shame. I really thought you girls were the type to form a band for a lifetime, just like my friends."
Form a band for a lifetime.
Hearing those words, Tomori stopped dead in her tracks. After a long pause, she whispered, "Is there... is there really a band that can last a lifetime?"
Rin's lips curled into a smile. The 'lifetime band' hook worked like a charm.
"There is. The final audition for the 'Unconfirmed Riot' festival was today... did you see the stream?"
"Mmm." Tomori nodded but said nothing else.
Rin was used to girls with her personality. She was much better than Bocchi; at least she didn't need to hide in a mango box to function.
"Their band is called Kessoku Band."
"Kessoku...?" (Kessoku means 'Unity/Bond' in Japanese). Tomori murmured to herself.
"Exactly. But to them, 'Unity' isn't just a name—it's the zip-tie that binds them together." Rin smiled, his voice dropping into a seductive, devilish tone. "Want to go see what a band for a lifetime looks like?"
"This is the place. They're having their celebration here."
The lure of a "lifetime band" was too strong for Tomori to resist. She had followed Rin, a complete stranger, to the yakiniku restaurant where Nijika and the others were gathered.
Ryo had been hoping for a high-end restaurant, but Rin had chosen a standard, mid-range BBQ joint. It wasn't about saving Karen's money.
On the taxi ride over, Tomori had stared out the window in total silence. She was naturally shy; a quiet, fancy restaurant would have paralyzed her. At a rowdy BBQ place, she'd have an easier time blending in.
They walked through the lobby, which was thick with the scent of grilled meat. The server led them to a private room.
When Rin opened the door, Tomori instinctively ducked behind him.
"Sorry we're late... look who I found?" Rin stepped aside, revealing the tiny, inconspicuous girl hiding behind his back.
Nijika: "Is that... the vocalist from Crychic?"
Ryo: "Mmm, looks like it."
Kita: "I think her name was... Tomori Takamatsu?"
Nijika recognized her immediately. Haruhikage had been a viral hit a few months ago, and the Kessoku Band girls had all seen the live footage.
"Since you know who she is, I don't need to introduce her. Tomori, let me introduce you to the 'Angel of Shimokitazawa,' Nijika Ichiji. She's the drummer. This starving artist is our bassist, Ryo Yamada. Our vocalist and guitarist is Ikuyo Kita. And this is our lead guitarist, Hitori Gotoh—you can just call her Bocchi."
"And over there are Karen and Shion. They're fans of Kessoku Band, just like me."
After the introductions, Rin ushered Tomori to a seat and set out her utensils. Nijika, sensing Tomori's extreme social anxiety, took the initiative to grill some meat and put it on her plate.
The arrival of a stranger didn't dampen the mood much, but the happier the room became, the more Tomori's heart ached. Crychic used to be just like this.
Nijika caught Tomori's mood and shot Rin a meaningful look. Rin nodded subtly and turned to Tomori.
"If there's something on your mind, you can say it. Or do you want me to say it for you?"
"Yeah, just say whatever is on your heart," Nijika added warmly. "Anything is fine~"
Rin hadn't coordinated this with Nijika, but her natural kindness made her the perfect support for Tomori's fragile emotions.
Tomori bit her lip, took several deep breaths, and finally spoke.
"Can you... can you really stay together for a lifetime?"
"A lifetime band?" Nijika glanced at the others. They all clearly remembered their shared experiences, and a faint, knowing flush crept onto their cheeks. "Of course. We're going to be a band forever. Right, Ryo?"
"Mmm." Ryo nodded seriously and pulled Nijika into a hug. "Nijika has to take care of me for life."
"I am NOT taking care of you for life! Take care of yourself!" Nijika pushed her away before turning back to Tomori with a thoughtful look. "Yes. We will be together for a lifetime."
"How...? Why can you do it, while Crychic had to disband...?"
Tomori lowered her head, her voice cracking with unshed tears.
When Crychic was around, they were just like this. But after Sakiko left, it had been months since she'd spoken more than a few words to the others. They never hung out anymore.
Only Taki still came to find her.
But no matter what, things would never be the same.
Rin watched Tomori. If Crychic had disbanded on good terms, she wouldn't be this obsessed. It was the suddenness of the collapse that had left her traumatized.
"I..." Nijika's words died in her throat. Why can we stay together? Because they shared a bond much deeper than music—one that involved Rin filling them up in private. But she couldn't tell Tomori that. Still, seeing the girl so heartbroken made her want to help.
While Nijika struggled for words, Shion spoke up.
"A band for a lifetime? That's just a child's fantasy." Shion's lips curled into a slight sneer. "What are you basing that 'lifetime' on? Your own wishful thinking? When Crychic fell apart, what did you actually do to stop it?"
"Shion, quiet!" Nijika snapped at the sharp-tongued maid before turning back to Tomori.
"What... then..." Tomori's lips trembled as she looked at Nijika with tearful, stubborn eyes. "Why can you do it?"
"Well..." Nijika pondered, choosing her words carefully. "I don't know what happened to Crychic. Normally, no band lasts forever. We stay together because we do... things outside of the band."
"Things... outside the band?"
"Exactly! Outside the band!" Nijika nodded vigorously, putting on a facade of absolute seriousness. Beside her, Ryo was struggling to keep a straight face. Outside the band?
Orgies definitely counted as "outside activities." Seeing Ryo trying to suppress a laugh, Nijika delivered a hard pinch to her thigh under the table.
"Ryo... Ryo has quit bands before. Normally, people move on. You see it in the news every day. So... to form a lifetime bond, you have to build a relationship that is tighter than just 'bandmates' or 'friends'!"
Nijika let out a long breath. I did it. I managed to improvise a coherent lie. She was drenched in a cold sweat.
"A relationship... tighter than friends? How do I do that?"
"Well... it's... you see..."
Nijika stammered. I can't exactly tell her we have group sex!
"Every band is different. The method varies," Rin stepped in to rescue Nijika. "Miss Tomori, you want Crychic to be your lifetime band, right? But as you said, the band is gone. To have a band for a lifetime, the band has to actually exist first."
"I... I understand. Thank you." Tomori stood up and gave a deep, formal bow to everyone in the room.
To have a lifetime band, first she had to bring the band back. Then she could worry about making the bond unbreakable.
So, her first task was... restarting Crychic!