Since there was still some time before work today, and also to prevent Hayato from getting entangled with those three adults again.
Nijika suggested they go to the rehearsal room to practice for a while.
They all agreed unanimously.
Inside the rehearsal room.
They naturally practiced the song they performed for the first time on stage. At least, until they had a song that truly belonged to their Band, they could only use other people's songs to practice their coordination.
Nijika noticed that in the rehearsal room, the others had not changed at all because of Hayato's recent words, and her expression relaxed considerably.
However, after finishing one song, Kita squatted in the corner.
"I'm sorry, I made so many mistakes, I'm really sorry."
"No, no, Kita, being able to persist until the end of the performance is already amazing enough."
Nijika went forward to comfort Kita, her admiring demeanor feeling completely genuine.
Kita turned her head back, looking at her timidly.
"Hmm, although not as good as Hayato-kun, she is still a rare talent."
Ryo also agreed with Nijika's words, and the encouragement from the two instantly cheered Kita up.
She turned her head back in surprise, deliberately ignoring the guy who was showily playing the keyboard, and asked.
"Really?"
"Yes." Ryo nodded.
Kita also didn't forget who taught her Guitar. She attributed her achievements to Gotou-san, saying with a smile.
"That's all thanks to Gotou-san. Gotou-san taught very well."
As she spoke, she saw Bocchi looking lost in thought.
But Bocchi quickly snapped back, recalling Kita's words as if reminiscing, and a smile slowly appeared on her face.
Then she grinned.
"Actually, it's no big deal."
She scratched her head, laughing foolishly in an exaggerated way, with an expression of smugness.
Kita looked at her awkwardly.
"Gotou-san really gets carried away easily."
"Let's just keep moving forward like this!" Hayato said, looking around at the four of them as the Band gradually started to make progress.
"Hayato-kun, don't talk like you're the center of the Band!" Kita complained to Hayato.
"Hahaha…" Nijika, who didn't seem to care as much, let out an awkward chuckle… while at her part-time job.
Bocchi-chan, with a slightly distant look in her eyes, handed a drink to a customer. Her calm demeanor startled Nijika, who was nearby, making her think Bocchi-chan had super-evolved.
But in reality, she was deep in thought.
She gazed at Hayato and Ryo, who were guiding customers on the inner side, and her mind was racing.
No one in the Band seemed to care at all about the harem Hayato had mentioned.
But it was strange how everyone was so surprised at first, yet no one said a word.
What were the others thinking?
Moreover, she wondered if it was just her imagination.
Hayato didn't actually intend to find a girlfriend, which was why he rejected people in this way.
Maybe it was just a misconception.
After their part-time job ended, they cleaned the venue and then went to the rehearsal room for a short practice session.
Kita-chan was really working hard.
She didn't leave herself any time to rest.
She practiced so desperately that it made her seem like she was just treading water.
On the way home after practice.
Kita-chan suddenly started chatting casually with Hayato as usual, and then Hayato teased her.
As Hayato said, Kita's pouting expression was very cute, and unlike her, she had a very girlish feeling.
She was a little worried they would suddenly hold hands and leave.
After Kita waved goodbye, it was just her and Hayato again.
Hayato, as always, chatted happily with Kita, and then chatted with her.
She didn't mind so much, but she was a little uneasy. Hayato had said that he couldn't find a wife, which was why he could support her, but what if he did?
What would happen?
Before they parted ways, Bocchi-chan hung her head, not daring to look at Hayato, and tugged at his sleeve.
"Um…"
Hayato immediately understood her intention and, without forcing her, directly said,
"You want a hug, right?"
Bocchi-chan blushed and nodded slightly.
Then Hayato bent down and hugged her cleanly.
This time, she lightly rested both hands on Hayato's waist.
Mmm… this was it, such a blissful feeling, as if all worries disappeared, and her body completely relaxed.
If it could be like this every day, she really wouldn't be afraid of anything.
"Bocchi-chan did very well today too."
"Mhm, mhm."
So happy, she wanted to be together forever.
Then, Bocchi-chan's eyes widened with realization.
On the train, she sat with a heavy expression.
Hayato said everyone was his harem, and she… was included.
Then she just needed to confess!
But the next moment, PA-san's tragedy resurfaced in her mind.
No, no.
But if she didn't confess, what if there was no place for her in the future?
She still had to confess!
By the time Bocchi-chan came to her senses, it was already almost 11 PM.
Oh no, the lyrics!
Then.
Daybreak, school, fully prepared to confess, met Hayato on the way, but too many classmates, no confession.
Lunchtime, too dark under the stairs, no confession.
Afternoon, Kita was there, no confession.
Evening, the store was always busy, no confession.
Going home, wanted to hug Hayato, no confession.
Weekend, wanted to ask Hayato out to confess, but she stared at her phone all day, by the time she snapped out of it, it was already evening, she had to quickly write lyrics, no… no confession.
The world, the world was against her. At night, Bocchi-chan lay on her desk, crying and struggling to write lyrics.
Meanwhile.
Kita replied with difficulty to her friend's LINE invitation to hang out.
"Sorry, I have to practice Guitar today."
Friend: "Is that so? Kita-chan has been practicing Guitar a lot lately and hasn't been coming out to play. Besides practicing Guitar, you should go out more."
Kita's expression stiffened. Indeed, she had been busy with Band matters lately, and for a while, her mind was filled with that Pervert.
She had spent far less time with friends than usual.
If this continued… Kita quickly replied.
"You're right, I'll get ready right away."
Friend: "Then it's a date."
Kita nodded silently, tears in her eyes.
"Okay."
Then she looked mournfully at the Guitar Ryo had lent her in the corner.
I'm sorry, senpai, I still can't put my whole heart into practicing.
Nijika's side.
While doing housework, she checked the status of the others on her phone.
"Ah, Kita-chan has something today, Bocchi-chan too… then never mind."
"I'll notify Ryo and Hayato-kun then."
She clicked on Ryo's LINE avatar, which was a cactus monster, and sent a message.
"Ryo, everyone has something today, so no gathering."
Ryo: "Okay, I understand."
Then she switched to Hayato's chat and repeated the same message.
However, Hayato's reply was a bit slower.
"Oh, perfect, something just came up."
Nijika felt something was off. She stared at her phone for a while, then suddenly thought.
Why do these three suddenly all have something? Although Bocchi-chan said she was writing lyrics, it somehow felt like that wasn't the case.
Nijika's eyes lit up, as if she had found the answer.
Could it be those three!
…Half an hour later.
Hayato arrived at Ryo's doorstep.
He opened LINE and messaged Ryo.
"I'm here."
The message above this one was:
Ryo: "Are you free today?"
Hayato: "Not really."
Ryo: "Then come to my house. Do you still remember the way?"
Hayato: "How can a Pervert forget a woman's home address!"
Ryo: "…"
Soon, Ryo's latest message pushed the previous ones down.
"The door is unlocked, push it open and come in."
Hayato deleted the inappropriate message he was about to send and simply sent one word.
"Okay."
He had a feeling that if he had sent any ominous messages just now, what awaited him wouldn't be Ryo's 'come in,' but the gradually approaching wailing of a police car.
Passing through the solemnly styled gate and the exquisitely comfortable courtyard, Hayato saw Ryo at the villa entrance.
She leaned against the door, wearing a long black shirt with frog buttons and a light grey A-line skirt today, holding a book about edible plants, and eating grass.
The impact was strong.
A somewhat cool and somewhat cute girl, leaning against a modern villa, pitifully eating grass.
It could be considered performance art.
Hayato raised his hand to greet her.
"Yo, weirdo."
Ryo heard Hayato's greeting, looked up, and a faint smile played on her lips, as if she was quite happy.
"You're here, Pervert."
Hayato suddenly felt like he could understand Ryo's feelings. He had a sense of like-minded people calling out to each other from afar.
However, he was still quite curious as to why Ryo had called him over.
He walked closer quickly and asked,
"Ryo, why did you call me here?"
"Come up and we'll talk."
Ryo turned around and walked inside.
Hayato was quite surprised; this guy actually greeted him at the door. Wasn't he just supposed to give him a heads-up and let him go up by himself?
After changing into slippers and following behind Ryo, Hayato noticed that the villa was still quiet today, with no other voices to be heard.
He asked casually, "Is no one else home today?"
What was said without intention was heard with meaning.
Ryo, who was walking ahead, paused and turned around.
"Mm, both parents went to work."
As she spoke, her golden eyes surveyed Hayato, then she continued, "You go first."
Hayato, undeterred by her wariness, instead strode past her with a grand demeanor, walking ahead.
"I get it. It's because you want to see the Pervert's dazzling light."
He then asked a little more seriously, "To Ryo's room?"
Ryo lowered her head and thought for a moment.
"Mm."
Once in the room, Hayato, who had long wanted to snatch Ryo's comfortable-looking office chair, noticed many papers in the trash can. From the crumpled edges of the papers, he could tell they were musical scores.
Ryo's desk, however, was spotless, though some edges of musical scores were tucked into the corner of a drawer.
Hayato understood but still chose to...
Snatch the chair.
He quickly sat down in the chair, then pushed off with his foot, rapidly spinning the chair to face the door.
He leaned back in the chair, his voice as exaggerated as an actor's. "Speak, diligent loner. Please tell your wishes to the god named Pervert."
"Any wish can come true?"
Ryo seemed not to care much about her stolen chair. She placed the wild grass and books on the desk and sat on the bed.
"Of course, but everything will be realized in a Pervert's way."
"Okay, I want a Darkglass amp head, and new headless bass guitars from Dingwall and Le Fay. Whether you steal them or trick someone, it's fine."
Ryo turned the tables. She crossed her arms and legs, looking like a queen waiting for tribute.
It seemed even eating grass couldn't extinguish her true nature and imposing presence.
Hayato cleared his throat guiltily, then quickly opened his phone to search on Amazon. Seeing the price of the first piece of equipment, cold sweat broke out on his face. When he saw the second, his mouth began to twitch. For the third, he directly turned off his phone.
"You're really not holding back!"
"What an unworthy god," Ryo said smugly.
Then, as if her mood had improved slightly, she asked nonchalantly, "How have things been with the Band lately?"
Hayato knew what she was worried about the moment he entered.
It must have been the call he made to her last time that caused a misunderstanding.
He explained, "It must have been the call I made that day that caused Ryo to misunderstand. Actually, someone hadn't finished writing lyrics and was worried about being 'executed,' so to reassure her, I asked about your progress."
Ryo thought for a moment, then nodded in understanding.
"Oh, you can go back now."