Stepping on the upward stairs outside Starry, the air gradually lightened, and the feeling of excitement in her heart quickened her pace.
Thump, thump.
The Guitar bag swayed, bringing a steady, reassuring weight.
Walking up from the sunken steps, the cool breeze of May swept lightly, as if shedding her heavy shell, making her feel terrifyingly light.
Bocchi quickly walked a few steps, then, worried that her joy would disappear if she hurried, slowly stopped.
She looked up at the sky, filled with Starry, as if she were at the center of the universe.
The starlight around her flickered and gradually drew closer to her.
'I must cure my social anxiety and show all of my strength.'
She made up her mind and took a step. Her immature self from the previous moment was left behind; her current self walked one step ahead.
The quiet street also looked different in her eyes.
'For Nijika, Ryo, Kita, and also Hayato and the Band, I must…'
Her thoughts spread out, and scenes of performances surfaced in her mind.
"The mysterious, unknown girl making an entrance, Bocchi… hehe."
She couldn't help but repeat the introduction Hayato had shouted for her earlier, and her mood instantly soared.
Just as she seemed to hear countless voices of 'Bocchi, Bocchi'.
Her shoulder suddenly bumped into something.
Thump.
She immediately snapped back to reality, saw the other person's surprised expression, and her soaring consciousness instantly retracted into her body.
She quickly said in a trembling voice.
"I… I'm so… I'm so sorry! I'm so sorry."
…"Then I'll head back too."
Hayato stretched, saying to the three girls in the room.
"Okay, see you tomorrow."
Nijika smiled and waved at him.
Kita glanced at Ryo, seeing that she was already dozing off in the corner, then bid farewell to Nijika and followed Hayato out.
After leaving the livehouse.
She saw Hayato a few steps ahead, quickened her pace, and caught up to him.
"Hayato-kun."
In the romantic street lit by neon lights, Hayato stopped and turned his head.
"Thank you for letting me rejoin the Band."
Under the streetlights of the night, Kita bowed deeply and said with force.
"No need for thanks. I just want to see everything around me be beautiful, that's all."
His tone was casual and relaxed.
Kita looked up at the young man. The flickering lights outside the road, the joyful laughter, the colorful world—none compared to him.
Her eyes only held the imprint of the young man's refreshing smile.
"Kita and I are going the same way, right? Let's walk together."
After he finished speaking, he waved his hand and turned to leave directly.
Kita quickly followed… Nijika glanced at the dozing Ryo, walked behind the drum kit, and held the drumsticks, savoring today's performance.
Finally, she sighed and looked up at the ceiling light.
"Was it just a dream…"
As she reviewed it, she thought of the dazzling young man again, and also remembered his playful teasing just now.
When she saw Bocchi's thoughtful expression, she understood.
He preferred that the other person seriously consider it, rather than just agreeing out of convenience.
Nijika touched the drumhead of the drum kit.
"Hayato-kun is really a good person."
As soon as she said it, she remembered Ryo was still there and immediately looked at her. But seeing Ryo leaning against the wall, blowing snot bubbles in her sleep, she sighed helplessly for a moment.
"Go home and sleep!"
"Ugh… I'll leave it to Nijika to take me home."
"Honestly!"
…"I'm home."
Hayato greeted his family while taking off his shoes.
As soon as his voice echoed, his mother's voice came from the living room.
"Hayato, the food is still warm."
Damn it, they're making me eat alone.
Hayato changed into his house slippers and walked towards the kitchen.
Speaking of which, since Mom was in the living room, Dad, the living room regular, was probably there too. Both parents being in the living room meant his foolish sister had been pitifully chased back to her room.
Thinking this, Hayato's smile grew even brighter.
He carried his food and walked towards the living room.
But as soon as he entered, three pairs of eyes peered from the sofa and scrutinized him.
Seeing all three of them there, Hayato was surprised for a moment, then smiled and greeted them.
"Good evening~"
And Hibiki, his sister, as usual, brainlessly said.
"No bloodstains."
After she spoke, Mom slapped her head, and she covered her head, looking wronged, and shrank back into the sofa.
Jinpei looked at Hayato for a while, then said with a conflicted tone.
"Well, Hayato, helping others is good, but don't overdo it."
He was very aware of his son's outrageous combat strength. From a while ago, the three of them had started timing him.
When he was about half an hour later than his usual return time.
Jinpei said, "He's probably swept through Shinjuku and Shinagawa Ward."
When he was an hour late.
Shizuka said, "Tokyo should be pacified by now, right?"
When he was an hour and a half late.
Hibiki, "Is the enemy in America?"
As her words fell, she received blank stares from her parents… Even Hayato couldn't keep up with his family's train of thought. He was stunned for a good while before putting his dinner on the dining table and saying.
"Didn't I say I went to a performance today?"
Performance… The three members of the Ishikawa Family looked at each other, and a thought simultaneously came to their minds.
Hayato, an AK in his left hand and an AUG in his right, standing on a speeding sports car, bullets flying amidst a symphony of sound.
Jinpei covered his forehead and sighed, Shizuka silently wiped the corners of her eyes.
Seeing the expressions of the three, Hayato knew without thinking that words wouldn't clear up the misunderstanding.
He took out his phone, brought up the footage from today's performance, and showed it to the three of them.
Then he returned to the dining table and clapped his hands together.
"I'm going to eat."
He then began to wolf down the still-steaming dinner.
After the three members of his family finished watching the photos, Jinpei exchanged glances with his wife and daughter and said.
"What organization did he join?"
Cough, cough, cough.
At the dining table, Hayato almost choked to death… The next day, Hayato sat in the train.
Today, I'm still going to STARRY. Speaking of which, Nijika is really enthusiastic, always calling everyone together.
But it seems normal for Band members to gather frequently?
Hayato didn't know much about this.
He looked around the train and saw the two JK he met on the train last time again today.
Feeling bored, he snapped his fingers at the two girls and smiled brightly.
This made them excitedly huddle together.
Regarding this, Hayato thought:
"They must have seen through my Pervert nature and were attracted to me."
He was so confident in his inner beauty.
He got off the train and quickly walked towards STARRY. Today, he was determined to be the first to arrive at the store, and then elegantly savor hot cocoa amidst the surprised expressions of others.
But speaking of which, livehouses don't open on weekend mornings. Last time, Nijika must have opened the door for him to get in.
As he was thinking, he saw two figures stopped at the sunken staircase entrance of STARRY.
It seemed he couldn't elegantly wait for others anymore.
He quickly walked over and patted Nijika and Ryo-senpai on the shoulders.
"What are you standing here for?"
"Woah! Woah!"
Nijika cried out in fright. Beside her, Ryo-senpai turned her head and glanced at Hayato.
And at the bottom of the stairs, Bocchi-chan, who didn't know the door was still locked and was still hesitating whether to open it, looked up in surprise.