Chapter 18: Performance (1)

After eating most of their food, the two drank warm miso soup and began to chat, though 'interrogating' or even 'cross-examining' would be a more fitting description than 'chatting'.

"Gotou-san, besides practicing guitar, do you usually do anything else?"

"N-no."

"Don't you go out to play?"

"Ah, no."

"So you only practice the guitar by yourself? You haven't performed at all?"

Gotou Hitori, whose face was already pale, coughed up a large mouthful of blood after hearing Ishikawa Hayato's questions.

It seemed the continuous interrogation had dealt her a huge blow, inflicting tons of damage with this direct attack.

She covered her mouth and, as if explaining to herself, spoke in a tone like she was giving her last words.

"I... I have uploaded covers of popular band songs online..."

Ishikawa Hayato nodded silently in his heart. It wasn't in vain that he spent so much time breaking down her psychological defenses.

He successfully got her to confess.

"Gotou-san, are you alright!"

Although he thought this, he was also startled by Gotou Hitori's exaggerated reaction.

He quickly helped her wipe away the blood that had flowed out and supported her as she leaned against the clean wall to rest.

"If you don't want to, don't say it."

Ishikawa Hayato reassured her with a stern tone.

'Ishikawa-kun...' Gotou Hitori was so moved she was almost in tears.

'He really was a very good person!'

Then Ishikawa Hayato packed up both his and Gotou Hitori's bento boxes.

"Here."

He returned Gotou Hitori's bento to her, then took out his phone to check the time. There was still plenty of time before lunch break ended, but he remembered that Gotou Hitori only hid here when she was eating.

During breaks, she usually just rested with her head on her desk.

He wouldn't keep her any longer.

"Well, it's about time I head back too."

"Ah... thank you."

Gotou Hitori quickly said.

Ishikawa Hayato, who was about to leave, smiled and waved back.

Then, as if suddenly remembering something, he asked.

"By the way, what's the account name Gotou-san uses to upload videos?"

"Guita-..."

The somewhat happy Gotou Hitori's words got stuck halfway.

She quickly replayed her account's self-introduction in her mind.

An extremely popular middle school girl—no, now updated to a high school student—whose boyfriend is the ace of the basketball team, has over 1000 LINE friends, and frequents various KTVs, arcades, and other popular venues daily.

'Wh-wh-what should I do?'

'Why did I say I uploaded videos!'

"Guitarist Bug."

Gotou Hitori suddenly changed her answer.

As someone with social anxiety, this kind of self-protective deception came naturally to her.

Ishikawa Hayato nodded, then a hint of hesitation appeared on his face.

"Gotou-san, I'm a bit busy with something recently. Hmm, you'd best not approach me, but I'll cheer you on online."

He thought for a moment and gave a specific timeframe.

"It should be fine in about one or two weeks. Let's have lunch together again then."

"Ah... okay."

Watching him leave, Gotou Hitori felt down.

'He probably wouldn't have lunch with her again, after all, she was such a strange person.'

"Fried chicken is so delicious... I should try learning how to make it."

She let out a soft sigh, quickly opened her phone, and created a new "Guitarist Bug" account on YouTube.

...

After school, Ishikawa Hayato went to STARRY as usual.

As soon as he entered the store, he met Nijika's gaze, who quickly darted towards the door.

The anticipation in Nijika's eyes flickered, then turned into a gentle smile.

"Hayato-kun, you're here quite early today."

Ishikawa Hayato should have been the one to say that. Nijika and Ryo's school was clearly further from STARRY, and their school's rules were stricter, yet today they both looked like they had been waiting for a while.

'How did they manage that?'

Nijika’s gaze made Ishikawa Hayato hesitate for a moment. He had originally planned to steer the plot, ensuring that Nijika would be the one to recruit Gotou Hitori into the band.

After all, he wasn’t sure what changes might occur within the band if he were the one to bring Gotou Hitori in.

It wouldn't be good if the relationships between them changed because of his actions.

"To be even earlier than a pervert like me, you two are truly amazing."

Ishikawa Hayato covered his face with splayed fingers and walked down the steps one by one with an air of pride.

Nijika smiled helplessly, then stood up.

"Well, now that Hayato-kun is here, let's start practicing, everyone."

She didn't ask Ishikawa Hayato anything about his meeting with Kita Ikuyo today.

"Mm."

Ryo also nodded and stood up.

"Wait!" Ishikawa Hayato extended his hand.

"Hm?"

The two turned their heads and looked at him, who had walked behind them.

"Actually, I met Kita today."

Ishikawa Hayato finished speaking, but Nijika's face didn't show much happiness.

"Mm."

She responded calmly.

"Here's an apology video from her."

Ishikawa Hayato took out his phone from his pocket and showed the video he had originally planned to show Nijika on the last day.

Designing and arranging other people's actions was hard for a pervert like him to get used to.

Only when he stopped considering those things did he feel like himself.

And there were plenty of ways to get Gotou Hitori into the bnd.

"Hm?"

Nijika and Ryo exchanged surprised glances, then looked at Ishikawa Hayato worriedly, wondering if he had done anything excessive to Kita Ikuyo.

Ishikawa Hayato didn't mind their gazes, placed his phone on the table, and started playback.

"Ryo-senpai, Ijiichi-senpai, I am very sorry!..."

Kita Ikuyo appeared in the phone video, looking unharmed and unthreatened.

She seriously explained her reasons for joining the band and various other causes, and sincerely apologized for her impulsive actions, her reluctance to explain, and her pretense of being experienced.

After watching, Nijika wasn't angry. Instead, she seemed relieved, immediately regaining her cheerful demeanor.

"Oh, I see. You should have told us sooner."

The radiance of an angel!

Ishikawa Hayato was moved to tears.

However, he also tried to get the plot back on track.

"Also, Kita's hand was more seriously injured today, and she even had dark circles under her eyes."

"Could it be!"

Nijika immediately thought of a possibility and looked at Ishikawa Hayato with a shocked expression.

Ishikawa Hayato nodded.

But Ryo said.

"We should remind her that her hand will get damaged."

"Mm mm, I'll tell her right away."

Nijika hurriedly took out her phone and quickly tapped on the screen.

"I already told her."

Ishikawa Hayato smiled and put his phone, which had finished playing, back into his pocket. "Speaking of which, Leader, would you like to try waiting for our band member?"

'Leader?'

Nijika looked at Ishikawa Hayato in confusion, then realized he was referring to her.

Hearing Ishikawa Hayato's words, she broke into a brilliant smile, a warm smile that seemed to illuminate this underground space into a paradise. She bounced on her toes joyfully, her ponytail swaying slightly, and said with a youthful spirit.

"Of course!"

"But don't expect Kita to play very well."

Entering the rehearsal room, Ryo reminded the two.

"Indeed, no matter how much she practices, it's impossible to learn anything significant in just over a week..."

Nijika said, but as if thinking of something strange, her gaze involuntarily glanced at Ishikawa Hayato, who was constantly striking various poses beside her.

"As long as you transcend humanity and become a pervert, there's nothing you can't do."

Ishikawa Hayato, who had completely let go of himself in front of the two, said proudly.

"Kita-chan probably can't do that, right?"

Nijika sighed, but she didn't seem to mind at all.

"It's okay, most bands' first performances are disasters. We just need to move forward step by step."

As she spoke, she walked forward little by little.

Ishikawa Hayato walked up and patted Nijika's shoulder.

"Although it might be a bit rude, Nijika will definitely become a good mother in the future."

Nijika just blinked blankly after being teased.

"Why?!"

How did she go from being a wife directly to a mother?

Then she realized that these two band members seemed to have hearts of steel and didn't need her comfort at all.

Her words went in one ear and out the other

While feeling mentally exhausted, she also felt a sense of relief. It was good that everyone was so strong hearted.

"Well then, without further ado, let's start practicing."

"Oh~"

Ishikawa Hayato's loud voice instantly enlivened the atmosphere.

And so, Ishikawa Hayato's life began: acting like a pervert at home in the morning, keeping to himself at school during lunch, acting like a pervert at STARRY in the afternoon, and studying alone at home in the evening.