Chapter 164: Kessoku Band
Below the stage, Satou Aiko held her phone, staring blankly at the band on stage.
A guitar sound she could hardly imagine, yet was now truly present, resonated throughout the venue as if completely unleashed.
That sound was... "Guitar Hero..."
Satou Aiko murmured.
As a devoted fan, she would never mistake it.
This was guitar Hero's solo, and the live music was significantly more powerful than what she had heard online.
The degree of enhancement could no longer be called a live boost.
It was an exceptional burst of skill.
The sound made her brain numb.
Even someone like her, who had listened to music for days until she was numb, felt this way
Imagine how the excited fans in the venue must have felt.
As the five on stage began their actual performance, they snapped back to reality and started to get hyped up.
And when the prelude ended, Satou Aiko was certain.
This music was worth enjoying!
...
On stage.
Kita smiled, suppressing the joy in her heart for the successful start of their performance and Hitori's courage in expressing herself.
After the prelude ended, she sang into the microphone with an incredibly gentle voice.
“With weighty questions on my mind, I drift off to sleep.”
“Being loved by others is truly a dream come true.”
“Because you shine so brightly, I become the shadow.”
“Come on, it’s time to move forward—even though nothing in this world is certain.”
“But I still look forward to tomorrow with a childlike heart.”
Although the lyrics of this song, "Karakara," were as melancholic as ever, they also carried a sense of sunlight about to break through the clouds.
For this song, which they wrote themselves and which perfectly matched their current mood, they played it with ease, yet with utmost seriousness.
Completely blending the softness and fervor.
Most people in the venue were moved by the five's performance, but Fan#3 was different.
The melancholic yet warm lyrics deeply touched her heart.
Her self-doubt, her anticipation of moving forward, and that slight bit of timidity immediately resonated with her.
Hearing the singing that synchronized with her inner self, she felt healed every moment.
It felt like the romance of being on a high platform and having someone tell her she wasn’t alone.
Of course, she was also somewhat confused as to why such a song was sung by a seemingly cheerful top-tier girl.
But such a contrast was also quite interesting.
"Kessoku Band... is such a super cool, free-spirited band."
Fan#3's small murmur was not heard by Fan#1 and Fan#2 beside her.
They gazed at the stage with hearts full of joy.
They bounced on their toes with the music, their eyes, as if staring directly at light, left bright impressions.
The entire venue was immersed in the musical world being created by the five.
Fierce music and gentle singing blended to form this contradictory yet perplexing song.
And at the end, it left a beautiful anticipation.
This anticipation was filled with energy from immersing in the music.
“Even the moments spent lazing about feel especially precious.”
“I’ll come see you tomorrow.”
“I have to say it soon.”
“In a corner of the classroom where skirts sway freely.”
“Carrying that dream that’s always overflowed in my heart.”
“Will I really be able to make it come true?”
“It will come true...”
...
Amidst the fading notes of the guitar, bass, and keyboard ensemble, Kita let out a long breath.
And in the clear yet gentle music, the audience below was incredibly quiet, just as she began to worry.
The last trace of music dissipated into the air, and the next moment, an overwhelming tide of cheers and shouts of joy washed over them.
For a moment, the sound stunned Kita.
She paused for a few seconds before smiling and shouting into the microphone with surprise, "Thank you very much!"
Her sincere thanks sparked another round of audience response.
The other four, hearing this sound as if the whole world was responding to them, also relaxed considerably.
At this moment, although Hitori had returned to her semi-downcast state, she could clearly feel the audience's affection for them.
She noticed the passionately shouting Kita, whose excited eyes were wide and sparkling.
In the rather noisy venue, she eagerly began to introduce them to the audience.
As she introduced herself and Ryo, Hitori's gaze shifted slightly.
Ryo, holding her bass, gently exhaled, her expression very calm as she looked at the audience, but she seemed to exude some satisfaction and happiness.
At this point, Hitori suddenly froze.
She quickly turned back and met Ishikawa Hayato's gaze, who had noticed her movement.
Ishikawa Hayato saw her surprised look, as if she had suddenly thought of something, and gave her a gentle, encouraging smile, nodding at her.
But at this moment, Hitori's thoughts were not as simple as Ishikawa Hayato imagined.
She lowered her head slightly in response, her lips pressed together, her cherry-red lips seemingly fighting, twisting up and down.
Unusually, she didn't respond much to Ishikawa Hayato, but quickly turned around, half-bowing her head to face the audience.
Ishikawa Hayato paused, and realizing Hitori's intention, his heart couldn't help but beat a little faster.
But he hid it well, covering his thoughts with a slight smile.
The subtle interaction between the two was only noticed by Nijika, who was also backstage.
She gave Ishikawa Hayato a disgusted cat-like glare.
Lovers who flash at inappropriate times are truly annoying!
'These two should get a sense of the atmosphere!'
Soon, Kita finished introducing herself and Ryo, and it was Hitori's turn.
"And next is the lead guitar, Bocchi-chan."
The reason she used "Bocchi" to address Hitori was that before going on stage, they had discussed what to say during transitions and how to introduce themselves.
And Hitori didn't want to use her real name, so Kita, like others, called her by her nickname here.
Kita, with uncontrollable joy, walked to Hitori's side with the microphone and explained to the audience.
"Unlike me, Bocchi-chan plays the guitar extremely well.
I learned all my guitar techniques from her.
She is also the lyricist for all of the band's current songs.
Bocchi-chan, show us what you've got."
This was also a pre-arranged dialogue.
Because during their discussion, Hitori's self-introduction made the color drain from Nijika's and Kita's eyes.
After a unanimous decision by the few of them, it was decided that Hitori should just honestly show off her guitar skills.
Below the stage, hundreds of people perked up and looked at the lead guitarist, who had extraordinary guitar skills but started trembling after speaking a few sentences and also seemed a bit gloomy.
Curious about what kind of melody she would play next.
But Hitori was looking down at this moment, her heart racing.
She now believed she had grown a lot.
She remembered Ohtsuki Yoyoko's words.
Momentum!
For her, who now dared to express herself, there was nothing to fear anymore.
Moreover, she decided to hone herself more, to become more courageous.
Show some momentum, Hitori!
She told herself in her heart.
Then, to Kita's stunned and even terrified gaze, she resolutely brought the guitar to her face and began to bite the strings at an astonishing speed.
The next moment, in the audience's eyes, the guitar trembled up and down as if being gnawed by a zombie, and a low, growling guitar sound echoed through the venue.
The terrifying sound once again suppressed the entire venue.
Instantly, the lively venue froze as if a Siberian cold current had swept through it.
In an instant, the bustling venue froze over, as if a bitter Siberian cold current had swept through it.
Hitori felt something was wrong halfway through playing, and after finishing, she felt that the surroundings were as quiet as a funeral parlor.
For a moment, she didn't dare to take the guitar down and face the audience.
Her face, hidden behind the guitar, had a rare return to the chaotic 6д9 state.
Kita, holding the microphone, was also dumbfounded, not knowing how to proceed.
In this situation where the entire scene was frozen, as if the performance was about to fail, Ishikawa Hayato chuckled and leaned towards the microphone beside him.
He completely ignored the venue and continued the conversation.
“Next up is the Keyboardist, Ishikawa Hayato, the only male among a garden of beauties in the band!”
He said, raising his hand coolly, then slowly lowering it to cover his face, striking a very chuunibyou pose. Ignoring the awkward silence from the audience, he continued.
“He is 16 years old, and already has a girlfriend, so please do not disturb him!”
“Since our Lead Guitarist pulled off something so flashy, I can’t be outdone. Bocchi, move aside a bit!”
Hitori obediently moved aside, even pressing herself against the wall, her Guitar still in hand, remaining like a statue.
The audience below was also curious what the Keyboardist would do.
He couldn’t possibly bite the keyboard, could he?
Ishikawa Hayato adjusted the keyboard’s position, turning its side towards the audience, then walked in front of it and performed a backbend, facing away from the keyboard.
While in the backbend, he played the rock organ version of “Karakara” on the keyboard with his hands reversed.
He played at 190 BPM as if it were child’s play!
Playing the same song with a different instrument gave the audience a unique feeling.
His performance even startled Nijika next to him, and facing the stunned Nijika, he even had time to take a hand off and flash a V sign.
After playing for a while, he stood up perfectly straight without needing any leverage, and without caring about the audience’s reaction, he raised his hand and shouted.
“Thank you!”
The atmosphere in the audience finally began to thaw as quickly as an icebreaker cutting through the ice, and someone shouted.
“That was too amazing!”
“A full version?!”
Even female fans screamed.
“Ishikawa!!”
Ishikawa Hayato smiled nonchalantly, turned the microphone, and gestured to Nijika, introducing her to the audience.
“Next up is our Leader, Drummer, and Guardian, Ijichi Nijika~”
Nijika heard it was her turn to introduce herself, so she turned to the microphone.
But she, who was usually quite articulate, froze at this moment.
“Um... um...”
Stuttering, her beautiful red eyes glared fiercely at Ishikawa Hayato.
Each of you is doing something so flashy, how is she supposed to follow that? She can’t do any of it!
And you’ve already said everything that needs to be introduced, you’ve taken most of her lines, and you even added things randomly. What is she supposed to say?
She adjusted herself, and with Ishikawa Hayato’s sheepish smile, she said.
“Thank you all very much for coming to our performance. We hope our performance today will leave you with a wonderful memory...”
Nijika paused for half a second, thinking of Hitori’s astonishing act just now, but she completely ignored the thought that popped into her mind and continued with a smile.
“If you are interested in our music, please pay more attention to us!”
Amidst the enthusiastic response from the audience, she began the next song.
“Next is ‘The Little Sea,’ please enjoy!”
Ishikawa Hayato, who was already prepared, played the first note after her voice faded.
Comments (0)
Please login or sign up to post a comment.