Chapter 12: Growth

...Gotou Hitori, in a not-very-crowded train car, huddled in the furthest corner of a seat, head down, her gaze fixed on the space in front of her feet.

Although trains were typically places with large crowds, here, almost no one paid attention to their surroundings.

Most people would find something to do during this long, boring ride.

This allowed Gotou Hitori to feel a little more at ease.

And at the same time, she, like others, was lost in thought.

Looking back on today, one name became the word she recalled most often.

Ishikawa Hayato.

Besides meeting in the morning, she also saw him at noon...

...

During lunch break, Gotou Hitori quietly left the classroom without attracting anyone's attention.

She quickly walked to the stairwell at the very edge, glanced around, and seeing no one looking her way, she swiftly slipped into the corner piled with desks and chairs.

Sitting in the dark, cramped space, Gotou Hitori let out a sigh of relief.

Huh, strange, why can't I relax?

She looked around in confusion. Abandoned desks and chairs formed a corner invisible from the outside, and a faint, indistinct light streamed down from the stairwell above. She didn't sit directly in it, but avoided it slightly.

No one should be able to see her.

Gotou Hitori had apparently forgotten yesterday's agreement, but her body instinctively came here, yet she was also nervous.

*Thump-thump*

The sound of a hand knocking on the wall, followed by a familiar voice.

"Is Gotou-san there?"

"Yes."

Gotou Hitori answered as if by a ghost's prompting, and only then did the memory of yesterday's lunch break suddenly surface before her eyes.

[ 'Can I still come here to find you in the future?' ]

'Ishikawa-kun!'

'He really came to find her again!'

She had just decided to keep her distance from him this morning.

But since she had already agreed, Gotou Hitori didn't dare to run away.

She sat on the ground in a duck-like pose, crying inwardly, her unopened bento box resting on her sweatpants-clad legs, waiting for Ishikawa Hayato...

Ishikawa Hayato walked in from outside, climbed over the abandoned tables and chairs, and after getting inside, he found a pink-haired beautiful girl in a dark corner, looking nervous, huddled up, and holding a bento box.

“Excuse me.”

He smiled and waved.

“Ah, mm.”

The other party dodged Ishikawa Hayato’s gaze, nodding slightly in response.

“Can I eat with you?”

Ishikawa Hayato did not lose his desire to communicate despite the other party's weak reaction...

'Refuse, refuse! Refuse!!'

She had already decided to keep her distance.

“Ah, please feel free.”

Gotou Hitori hated it, she hated herself for not daring to refuse.

Just as she was feeling sorry for herself, she heard Ishikawa Hayato say this.

“Gotou-san is very gentle with people, even more concerned about others than herself.”

Ishikawa Hayato looked around. It was dark and cramped, and although not dirty, it wasn't the best place to be.

“You deliberately hid here to eat to avoid people, yet you still agreed to let me join you for lunch.”

Gotou Hitori’s heart suddenly skipped a beat.

No one had ever said that to her before, and such a statement was something she herself had never even considered.

For a moment, she had the illusion that the clouds in her heart had parted, revealing the sun.

She looked at Ishikawa Hayato again. In the dimly lit corner, his gaze was calm and clear, radiating a strong yet harmless presence.

He was not one of those unreasonably happy people.

The tension in her heart receded considerably.

After interacting for these two or three days, she gradually felt that he was indeed coming with good intentions.

Finally, she leaned forward slightly and took the initiative to ask Ishikawa Hayato.

“Ishikawa-kun, why… why do you want me to join the band?”

Facing her question, the young man in front of her spoke in a very calm tone.

“Because I heard a cry for help.”

The hero did not exude light and brilliance, but sat before her with an approachable demeanor, as if asking her to accept his help.

“Gotou-san, you actually want to change, don't you? Wearing that to school on the first day, you wanted to make friends and form a band, right?”

“Everyone in my band is a very good person. They even accepted an inexperienced person like me. Gotou-san, bringing her guitar to school, must be confident in her playing.”

“Come with us and create some beautiful memories.”

Looking at Ishikawa Hayato’s outstretched hand, Gotou Hitori hesitated for a long time, opening her mouth but not knowing what to say.

Everything she hoped for seemed to be laid out before her, waiting for her response in a very real and straightforward manner.

It felt like a dream.

Gotou Hitori thought.

Perhaps there would never be a second chance in her life.

'Hitori, you can do it! Say yes!'

Finally, she unconsciously pinched her hand on the corner of her clothes, wiping away any potential sweat, held her breath, and mustered the courage to grasp his hand.

The boy's firm hand, which she could clearly feel the warmth of, squeezed her hand once and then released it.

After letting go, Gotou Hitori lowered her head, her long bangs completely covering her eyes.

She trembled, muttering nervously as if regretting her decision.

“Wait…”

Her words made Ishikawa Hayato curious.

“Wait, at least let me prepare myself mentally a little…”

At this moment, the young man revealed his mischievous nature.

“Anytime is fine.”

He paused, then said in a playful tone.

“Although I'd like to say that, I'm only giving Gotou-san one month to think about it.”

Gotou Hitori looked up in alarm, seeing Ishikawa Hayato’s mischievous grin, and listened to him trembling like a small animal.

“If after a month, Gotou-san is still not ready, and still looks like she wants to change but doesn't dare, I will drag you out by force.”

“I…”, Ishikawa Hayato hesitated.

“I guarantee it, as a pervert.”

“Pervert…”

Gotou Hitori didn't understand why someone as pure and sincere as Ishikawa-kun would call himself a pervert.

She couldn't determine how she felt about Ishikawa Hayato at that moment, so she instead tried to understand Ishikawa Hayato as a person.

After returning home, she opened her computer in confusion to search up the term.

The definition and explanation of a pervert.

Finally, among the overwhelming number of negative explanations, she found one.

“To change from one's original form into an abnormal state.”

“Changing… a state… means a pervert?”

She blinked uncertainly…

...

After Ishikawa Hayato arrived at STARRY, he saw three people chatting happily at a table, and PA-san and Manager Seika busy working.

People's joys and sorrows are not always interconnected. Some laugh, while others must busily work away pitufully.

Manager Hoshika was working overtime, looking pitiful, her gaze frequently turning towards Nijika, who was happily chatting at the table.

Noticing her sister's gaze, but feeling too awkward to abandon the new member, Nijika could only clasp her hands together at her waist, out of Kita Ikuyo's sight, and desperately plead.

Seika stopped several times, wanting Nijika to start working, but because of Nijika's pleas, she continued to work hard with her head down.

What a particularly interesting scene to observe.

Ishikawa Hayato had an urge to take a picture of this scene.

But if he did that, Manager Hoshika would definitely make him die a rhythmic death.

After a short while.

Ishikawa Hayato saw that no one had noticed his arrival, and as a pervert, how could he tolerate such a thing?

He unhesitatingly leaped down from the seven steps, landing like Iron Man.

“The pervert has arrived!”

Nijika heard the long-awaited savior's voice, looked over in surprise, and then stood up very naturally.

“Ah, Hayato-kun, you're just in time. Kita-chan also plans to join our band.”

Kita Ikuyo, sitting in her seat, heard the familiar voice behind her, lowered her head and flinched, then immediately turned around and greeted Ishikawa Hayato with some embarrassment.

“Ishikawa-kun, hello.”

“Mm, welcome.”

Ishikawa Hayato smiled, showing his attitude, but he didn't appear overly intimate. He then spoke to Ryo, who seemed bored next to him.

“Ryo-senpai! Look at my growth today.”

Seeing him like this, Kita Ikuyo immediately breathed a sigh of relief, after all, what she had done before was a bit too obvious.

Seeing that he either didn't care or didn't notice, she immediately relaxed and felt at ease.

But hearing Ishikawa Hayato directly call out Ryo as soon as he arrived, she became a little nervous, her gaze shifting between the two of them.

“Okay.”

Ryo perked up a bit.

“I, I want to watch too.”

Kita Ikuyo quickly followed up, then stood up, afraid the two would sneak away.

“Great, then I'll go help my sister, and then we can play.”

Nijika clapped her hands in relief, then awkwardly took a few steps back with her hands behind her back, before immediately turning and running towards Ijichi Seika.

“Then, let’s go.”

Ishikawa Hayato said, pulling out a synthesizer from somewhere.

Eh, eh, eh!?

Where did that come from!?

Kita Ikuyo was dumbfounded. She hadn't seen Ishikawa Hayato carrying his keyboard at all just now.

Kita Ikuyo, doubting her life, looked to the side and saw Ryo with a serious expression.

“That's truly remarkable.”

Hearing that Ryo's direction of surprise was completely different from hers, and even having an expression as if this were normal in the world, Kita Ikuyo was stunned.

Noticing Kita Ikuyo’s expression, Ryo’s gaze lingered on her face for a moment, then she explained.

“This is the state of a master performer, where the person and instrument become one. Most excellent performers can achieve it, but it's very difficult. Even I can only do it when my emotions are strong.”

Huh?

Kita Ikuyo, who had lived for 15 years, started to have doubts about the world. Is there something more to this ordinary world?

But… Ryo-senpai actually said so much!

Today is too wonderful!

Since Ryo-senpai said it, it must be true. This world has magic!

Kita Ikuyo updated her worldview without hesitation.

Following the two into the rehearsal room, Kita Ikuyo observed everything with great interest.

On the shelf were tuners whose use she couldn't discern, various brands and models of amplifiers piled in the corner, music stands thrown in a corner, and a large drum kit.

The walls looked fuzzy, were they made of some special material? They seemed a bit like movie theater walls.

Is this a band? It feels so professional.

She kept her mouth tightly shut, not letting out a hint of surprise, while slowly surveying her surroundings, appearing as if she were giving a critique.

Ryo only paid attention to her for a moment before her gaze shifted to Ishikawa Hayato, who was getting ready.

He plugged in all the power amplifiers and then turned on the synthesizer.

"MUSIC ON."

...

"Then, Big Sister, I'm going to check on Ryo and the others."

After spending a long time finishing her tasks, Nijika noticed that Ishikawa Hayato and the others still hadn't come out of the rehearsal room, and she couldn't help but worry.

She waved to Manager Hoshika and hurried towards the rehearsal room.

"Ticket sales will start soon."

Manager Seika reminded her.

"I know!"

Nijika said without turning around, her steps unwavering.

Despite Ryo's seemingly lazy demeanor, when she teaches seriously, she is incredibly merciless. Hayato-kun is also straightforward and will likely listen to whatever is said. Kita Ikuyo's personality is still unknown, but she seems to greatly admire Ryo.

In other words, the rehearsal room at this moment was Ryo's domain.

She prepared herself mentally before entering.

She opened the door.

She saw Ishikawa Hayato playing the keyboard, and two people leaning against the wall with their arms crossed, trying to look cool.

Alright, it wasn't too scary.

She breathed a sigh of relief.

It's just... wasn't Hayato-kun's keyboard playing even more noticeably amazing?

Ryo-senpai, leaning against the wall, heard a discordant sound in the room. She slowly opened her eyes and looked towards the doorway.

Seeing Nijika stunned at the door in surprise, she walked over.

She patted Nijika's shoulder.

"This kid is a genius, no, a pervert."

Having received Ryo-senpai's endorsement of his skill, Ishikawa Hayato gave a thumbs-up with a brilliant smile, but the movements of his other hand instantly became demonic, flashing across the keyboard like afterimages... "The liberation of humanity will bring about physical and spiritual transcendence. Every advancement in human society is based on the liberation of the human spirit."

"In other words, as an existence that has transcended, a pervert is invincible."

"The ultimate form of humanity is a pervert! There is no doubt about it!"

Ishikawa Hayato, like a preacher, spread his arms wide and, with a sacred expression, propagated his pervert philosophy to the three girls and two adult women.

However, it was clear that no one understood him.

Everyone wore an awkward expression that said, 'What you're saying sounds impressive, but I won't go down that evil path.'

"Uh, ah, um! We understand why Hayato-kun is so amazing, please sit down."

Nijika pondered for a moment, then reorganized her thoughts and motioned Ishikawa Hayato to sit back down.

Ishikawa Hayato returned to his seat. He looked at the others. Ryo-senpai and Kita-chan were deep in thought, while Nijika seemed quite happy.