"And that death metal song really is my dark history. I feel like the way my classmates looked at me changed after that."
[This...]
How should he put it? Back in middle school, Saiki hadn't really understood at first why no one approached Gotoh Hitori. In terms of looks, by human standards, Gotoh Hitori had already been quite pretty and cute in Saiki's eyes during middle school.
Maybe it was because there was a school idol-level girl in the class, and 80% of the boys only paid attention to her.
Or maybe the main reason no one approached her was simply because she couldn't talk to people. At first, some people did try to interact with Gotoh Hitori, but because of her extreme social anxiety, others thought she was the type who didn't like talking and came off as cold. As for later...
[It wasn't that bad, right? There were still a few people. Including the ones who agreed with the song you requested, weren't there?]
"Please don't bring that up again."
In Gotoh Hitori's memory, there had been a few people, but they were all people around Saiki who came over to comment on the song she desperately wanted to forget.
She remembered one time right after class ended. A chuunibyou boy with bandages wrapped around his hand, standing next to Saiki, approached Gotoh Hitori and said: "Gotoh, your taste really isn't bad. At least in the eyes of my pitch-black wings, it's very good. Perhaps we could become comrades..."
There was even that freakishly strong guy with double chins who chimed in from the side: "Oh, yeah, not bad at all. That black metal whatever history..."
[It's called death metal.]
"Ah, right right right, death metal. Pretty good."
Even an angelic beautiful girl had comforted her: "Don't worry, Gotoh-san. That song is pretty unique. Everyone has different tastes. I support you..."
At that moment, Gotoh Hitori could only reply awkwardly: "Thanks!"
That was when Gotoh Hitori truly felt what social death was like.
"Forget it, forget it, forget it."
Gotoh Hitori banged her head against the fixed pole of the swing, completely unwilling to recall the past. [Why? Why?]
(Yare yare daze, yeah, getting evaluated like that by those people definitely wasn't pleasant. But it's best not to keep banging your head. You're going to bend the pole.)
[Alright, alright, let's drop it. You came here with the guitar today because you wanted to join the rock club, right?]
Gotoh Hitori: "Actually, I didn't really want to join. I thought about it and decided to forget it." [I hesitated at the door for ages and still wasn't interested. When someone came, I just ran away decisively. It really isn't suitable for me to join that kind of club.]
(If nothing else, at least our school's rock club is better off not joined.)
[So carrying the guitar around isn't to get other people's attention, huh.]
"Of course not..."
Gotoh Hitori firmly denied it, but in her heart she was thinking about what happened today. She had seen people online talking about whether anyone at school played guitar or liked music, so she put on her rock outfit, wristbands, merch, and slung a big guitar on her back. Full of confidence, she walked into the classroom.
But things didn't go as planned. When she walked in and saw the lively classroom, she slowly went to her seat and sat down. She didn't dare speak up. It felt like the room was the same with or without her. No one came to talk to her. In the end, she could only silently take off all her gear.
(That's so pitiful.)
(She really needs to make friends at school. I wonder if there are still any lively, cheerful, weird people around.)
"Ah, Kusuo-kun! What a coincidence running into you here!"
A voice interrupted Saiki's thoughts. The person who arrived was none other than Ijichi Nijika, whom he had met that morning.
(Ijichi Nijika picture→)
[Ijichi-senpai, huh. What's up?]
"Hey, isn't it? You left so fast earlier. I actually had something I wanted to ask for your help with."
[What is it?]
Ijichi Nijika scratched her finger and said: "Well, I ran into a bit of trouble. If it's really inconvenient, then it's no big deal."
Then she glanced away, rubbing her hands together: "Even though I say it's no big deal, it's actually going to be really hard for me."
(This is definitely not 'no big deal,' and it's obviously something troublesome.)
Saiki spoke very understandingly.
[I see! Since senpai thinks it's too much trouble too, then never mind.]
Seeing that she hadn't even said it yet and was already rejected, Ijichi Nijika quickly put her hands together: "Ah, no, I haven't said it yet! Fine, I'll just go for it. I wanted to ask Kusuo-kun to be a temporary guitarist for my band for one day."
(She switched to first name again right away.)
When she heard the word "band," Gotoh Hitori poked her head out a little from behind Saiki's back.
"We're about to have a performance soon, but our other guitarist keeps going off-key and there's no way to fix it. The song isn't hard. You just need to know a little. And Kusuo-kun, your guitar skills seem really advanced, right?"
(See? I told you it was something troublesome. Better to refuse...)
Saiki suddenly thought of something. He pushed Gotoh Hitori, who was hiding behind him, forward and introduced her.
[Well, I'd rather not get involved. But I can recommend someone really good. This is Gotoh Hitori. She's also a student at our school. Her guitar skills are pretty solid too.]
"Huh?"
"Wait, Saiki, I..."
Gotoh Hitori, completely dazed, was suddenly pushed out. Helping a band as a guitarist? This was way too...
Ijichi Nijika: "Really? Kusuo-kun! Wow, this classmate is actually carrying a guitar too!"
"Hello, I'm Ijichi Nijika, second-year at Sobu High."
"Th-this..."
Gotoh Hitori hid behind Saiki again. When Ijichi Nijika saw that, she leaned her head around Saiki to look. Gotoh Hitori then shifted to Saiki's side. The two started circling around Saiki.
Saiki's face darkened.
[What are you two doing? Playing the game of cat and mouse like Tom and Jerry?]
Saiki grabbed Gotoh Hitori, who was still trying to keep circling, and placed her in front of him. He held her shoulders firmly so she couldn't move.
[Alright, Gotoh.]
Gotoh Hitori lowered her head, trying her best not to meet Ijichi Nijika's eyes: "I'm Gotoh Hitori, first-year Class C at Sobu High."
Ijichi Nijika saw that she answered and spoke: "Then Gotoh-san."
(First name again right off the bat...)
"Are your guitar skills really as good as Saiki-kun said? Uh... I'm not doubting you. Just confirming."
Gotoh Hitori still tried to make eye contact: "It's... passable, I guess."
Ijichi Nijika's eyes sparkled. She grabbed Gotoh Hitori's hand and started walking outward: "Then I'll be counting on you!"
"Eh!!"
Gotoh Hitori immediately grabbed Saiki's arm, giving him a pleading look for help.
Saiki pushed Gotoh Hitori forward. [Alright, let's get going.]
Gotoh Hitori [Are you serious, Saiki!!!!]
Ijichi Nijika raised her fist in encouragement: "Great! Then let's head out!!"