Chapter 27: Figure

Stepping out to the stairway outside STARRY, the air gradually lightened around her, and the feelings of excitement in her heart quickened her pace.

*Step, step.*

The guitar bag swayed, bringing a steady, reassuring weight.

Climbing up the descending stairs, the cool breeze of May swept lightly against her, as if shedding her heavy shell—it felt frighteningly light.

Bocchi quickly walked up a few steps, then, worried that her joy would disappear if she hurried, slowed to a stop.

She looked up at the sky, filled with countless stars, as if she were at the center of the universe.

The starlight around her flickered and gradually drew closer to her.

‘I must cure my social anxiety and show all of my strength.’

She made up her mind and took a step forward.

Her immature self from the previous moment was left behind

Her current self took another step ahead.

The quiet street also looked different in her eyes.

‘For everyone in the band, I must…’

Her thoughts spread out, and scenes of performances surfaced in her mind.

“The mysterious, unknown girl making an entrance, Bocchi… Hehe.”

She couldn't help but repeat the introduction Ishikawa Hayato had shouted for her earlier, and her mood instantly soared.

Just as she seemed to hear countless voices of ‘Bocchi, Bocchi’.

Her shoulder suddenly bumped into something.

*Bump.*

She immediately snapped back to reality, saw the other person’s surprised expression, and her soaring consciousness instantly retracted into her body.

She quickly said in a trembling voice.

“I… I’m so… I’m so sorry! I’m so sorry.”

…“Then I’ll head back too.”

Ishikawa Hayato stretched, saying to the three girls in the room.

“Okay, see you tomorrow.”

Nijika smiled and waved at him.

Kita glanced at Ryo, seeing that she was already dozing off in the corner, then bid farewell to Nijika and followed Ishikawa Hayato out.

After leaving the livehouse.

She saw Ishikawa Hayato a few steps ahead, quickened her pace, and caught up to him.

“Ishikawa-kun.”

In the romantic street lit by neon lights, Ishikawa Hayato stopped and turned his head.

“Thank you for letting me rejoin the band.”

Under the streetlights of the night, Kita Ikuyo bowed deeply and said with force.

“No need for thanks. I just want to see everything around me be beautiful, that’s all.”

His tone was casual and relaxed.

Kita Ikuyo looked up at the young man.

The flickering lights outside the road, the joyful laughter, the colorful world—none compared to him.

Her eyes only held the imprint of the young man’s refreshing smile.

“Kita and I are going the same way, right? Let’s walk together.”

After he finished speaking, he waved his hand and turned to leave directly.

Kita Ikuyo quickly followed…

...

Nijika glanced at the dozing Ryo, walked behind the drum kit, and held the drumsticks, savoring today’s performance.

Finally, she sighed and looked up at the ceiling light.

“Was it just a dream…”

As she reflected on their first live performance, she thought of the dazzling young man again, and also remembered his playful teasing just now.

When she saw Bocchi’s thoughtful expression, she understood.

He preferred that the other person seriously consider it, rather than just agreeing out of convenience.

Nijika touched the drumhead of the drum kit.

“Hayato-kun is really a good person.”

As soon as she said it, she remembered Ryo was still there and immediately looked at her. But seeing Ryo leaning against the wall, blowing snot bubbles in her sleep, she sighed helplessly for a moment.

“Go home and sleep!”

“Ugh… I’ll leave it to Nijika to take me home.”

“Honestly!”

…

“I’m home.”

Ishikawa Hayato greeted his family while taking off his shoes.

As soon as his voice echoed, his mother’s voice came from the living room.

“Hayato, the food is still warm.”

Damn it, they’re making me eat alone.

Ishikawa Hayato changed into his house slippers and walked towards the kitchen.

Speaking of which, since Mom was in the living room, Dad, the living room regular, was probably there too. Both parents being in the living room meant his foolish sister had been pitifully chased back to her room.

Thinking this, Ishikawa Hayato’s smile grew even brighter.

He carried his food and walked towards the living room.

But as soon as he entered, three pairs of eyes peered from the sofa and scrutinized him.

Seeing all three of them there, Ishikawa Hayato was surprised for a moment, then smiled and greeted them.

“Good evening~”

And Ishikawa Hibiki, his sister, spoke without thinking, as usual.

“No bloodstains.”

After she spoke, Mom slapped her head, and she covered her head, looking wronged, and shrank back into the sofa.

Ishikawa Jinpei looked at Ishikawa Hayato for a while, then said with a conflicted tone.

“Well, Hayato, helping others is good, but don’t overdo it.”

He was very aware of his son’s outrageous combat strength. From a while ago, the three of them had started timing him.

When he was about half an hour later than his usual return time.

Ishikawa Jinpei said, “He’s probably swept through Shinjuku and Shinagawa Ward.”

When he was an hour late.

Ishikawa Shizuka said, “Tokyo should be pacified by now, right?”

When he was an hour and a half late.

Ishikawa Hibiki, “Is the enemy in America?”

As her words fell, she received blank stares from her parents… Even Ishikawa Hayato couldn't keep up with his family’s train of thought. He was stunned for a good while before putting his dinner on the dining table and saying.

“Didn’t I say I was going to a performance today?”

A performance… The three members of the Ishikawa Family looked at each other, and a thought simultaneously came to their minds.

Ishikawa Hayato, an AK in his left hand and an AUG in his right, standing on a speeding sports car, bullets flying creating a symphony of sounds.

Ishikawa Jinpei covered his forehead and sighed, Ishikawa Shizuka silently wiped the corners of her eyes.

Seeing the expressions of the three, Ishikawa Hayato knew without thinking that words wouldn’t clear up the misunderstanding.

He took out his phone, brought up the footage from today’s performance, and showed it to the three of them.

Then he returned to the dining table and clapped his hands together.

“I’m going to eat.”

He then began to wolf down the still-steaming dinner.

After the three members of his family finished watching the photos, Ishikawa Jinpei exchanged glances with his wife and daughter and said.

“What organization did he join?”

*Cough, cough, cough.*

At the dining table, Ishikawa Hayato almost choked to death…