Chapter 11: One Step

At the stairwell entrance inside the school building, Ishikawa Hayato stopped.

The zombie-like Gotou Hitori walked two more steps before suddenly snapping back to reality and stopping.

"Well then, let's part ways here. I hope you have a pleasant day."

Ishikawa Hayato smiled gently, then walked towards his classroom.

He wasn't in a hurry to build a relationship with Gotou Hitori. Communicating with someone with social anxiety required the patience of navigating a maze. And besides, his interaction with Gotou Hitori was merely out of curiosity.

"Ah, thank you."

Watching Ishikawa Hayato turn and leave, Gotou Hitori's bright eyes were full of confusion.

'Why would he interact with someone like her?'

'He was so handsome and seemed so gentle and refined, existing on a completely different level from someone like her.'

'Even for the band, there would be more choices, right?'

Gotou Hitori's expression was conflicted as she began to let her imagination run wild.

'Hmm, could it be a game of truth or dare? Was he threatened by the mafia? An actor hired by her dad with money?'

She couldn't figure it out... Maybe... Let's maybe keep a little distance from him.

Thinking this, Gotou Hitori turned around and walked towards her classroom.

However, as soon as she turned, her delicate little face, which had still held a hint of worry, instantly melted.

"Hehehe..."

"Hehe... a friend to go to school with... today is a good day... hehe."

Although she had no memory of walking together and had decided to maintain a safe distance, it didn't affect her giddiness at all. With a voice that startled passing students, she floated into the classroom...

...

Ishikawa Hayato pulled open the classroom door.

Students chatting loudly, after an inadvertent glance, saw Ishikawa Hayato enter, and their voices quieted considerably.

A few people made faces, as if to say, it's all because of you that we can't have fun, showing expressions of rejection.

The atmosphere in the classroom suddenly cooled quite a bit.

But Ishikawa Hayato walked to his seat as if oblivious, took out a book from his schoolbag, and sat leisurely with a refreshing smile, crossing his legs and reading.

The strange atmosphere, ignored for a few seconds, dissipated on its own.

But Ishikawa Hayato's actions certainly made some people even more displeased.

"Oh ha~"

Not long after, Kita Ikuyo also opened the classroom door, greeting her classmates with a sunny smile.

She looked a bit more listless today, but her smile was even more radiant. Behind her, she carried a white and orange instrument bag.

Ishikawa Hayato looked up from his book, glanced, then withdrew his gaze.

Oh~ as expected of a social butterfly, her initiative is strong.

But she's still far beneath him. A social terrorist who joins a band without even an instrument! And even has the band to pay for her instrument.

Noticing Ishikawa Hayato's fleeting glance, Kita Ikuyo's expression became slightly serious. She stared directly at Ishikawa Hayato, an expression as if challenging him.

But that expression was fleeting. Except for Ishikawa Hayato, who was being stared at, others only felt that Kita Ikuyo's smile had disappeared for a moment.

Kita Ikuyo greeted her friends, and amidst their surprised exclamations, she pretended to be a guitarist who had learned guitar long ago but had never revealed it.

'Hmph, hmph, although I don't know Ishikawa-kun's true skill level, not being able to join the street performance certainly means he didn't get Ryo-senpai's approval.'

And I, not only am I the crucial Guitarist, but I also have super strong skills from six years of uninterrupted practice, rain or shine.

Kita Ikuyo was already dreaming of overtaking Ryo-senpai on the path to winning her over.

However, she had already forgotten that she had only touched a Guitar yesterday, and whether it was even a Guitar was another matter entirely.

The superb linguistic ability of a social butterfly could even deceive herself.

...

Even self-deception eventually comes to an end.

Kita Ikuyo walked to the front door of STARRY, paused, and looked at the brass doorknob on the black door, her heart hesitant.

Only then did she remember that she couldn't play the guitar at all.

She lifted the guitar on her back, which she had impulsively bought out of worry that Ryo-senpai might be taken away.

Her gaze immediately became a bit more confident.

She had practiced for a long time last night, and as long as she worked hard and spent more time honing her skills, she would definitely reach a level where she could perform with the senior she admired.

Moreover, she has already went all sneaky about it.

She couldn't hesitate over such a small matter...

...

"Akane-chan, I found a nice dessert shop. Let's go together today."

"Eh... Kita-chan, I'm on duty today."

"Let's swap..." Kita Ikuyo said, pouting.

"I know, I know... who should I swap with?"

Akane reluctantly agreed, and after responding, her gaze turned to a classmate nearby, checking for someone who could exchange days with her.

"How about Ishikawa-kun? He seems to have time."

Kita Ikuyo, who had a plan, grabbed Akane's hand and pulled her towards Ishikawa Hayato, who was about to leave.

"...No way."

Akane was pulled along by Kita Ikuyo, sighing helplessly.

In front of Ishikawa Hayato, Kita Ikuyo put on a troubled but cute expression, clasping her hands together as she pleaded with Ishikawa Hayato.

"Ishikawa-kun, could you please trouble you to swap a day of duty with my friend? I beg you."

After she finished speaking, she nudged Akane gently with her shoulder, pleadingly.

"Please, Ishikawa-kun."

Akane pleaded without much hope.

"No problem. Then Tanaka will be responsible for duty next Tuesday."

Ishikawa Hayato was very straightforward; it even felt like he agreed without thinking.

Tanaka Akane hadn't expected Ishikawa Hayato to be so direct; she was surprised for a moment, then smiled a little.

"Thank you~"

Afterward, Kita Ikuyo and Tanaka Akane went to eat dessert. 

At the usual time when Ryo-senpai and her friends arrived at STARRY, she parted ways with Akane and then quickly rushed to STARRY.

At this time, duty should have just ended, so Ishikawa-kun wouldn't be here.

She was a bit worried that Ishikawa Hayato would prevent her from joining the band, because she had called him that way yesterday, and seeing his interaction with Ryo-senpai, he might have been thinking of dating her.

And she had stared at him for so long yesterday, perhaps he had vaguely noticed.

She didn't want her admired person to be snatched away by someone else.

So she used a little trick and quickly joined their band.

She really was terrible.

But Kita Ikuyo didn't regret it. She reached out and pulled open STARRY's door.

Ryo and Nijika were chatting at a table, and the manager Seika was spacing out at the bar. But when Kita Ikuyo entered, their gazes all turned to her in confusion.

Under their puzzled gazes, Kita Ikuyo walked down the stairs.

Before Seika could say that the place wasn't open yet, she spoke.

"Ryo-senpai, I heard you were recruiting band members. I was very moved after watching your performance yesterday. Please let me join."

...