Chapter 3: Combination

'Lead Guitar, Rhythm Guitar, Bass, Drummer...'

He had just gotten a slight understanding of the band's composition. Besides that, it seemed a keyboard could also be added. Speaking of which, why didn't Kessoku Band have one?

He looked around. A keyboard seemed capable of simulating other sounds, even replacing other instruments.

Although one person couldn't form an army, it was still a very interesting instrument.

He felt a bit intrigued.

He would go ask after school to see if they would let someone with no experience join.

Didn't the band already have a novice who couldn't even tell the difference between a bass and a guitar?

Surely, he wouldn't be too much of an addition.

He wouldn't be so foolish as to not be able to distinguish between a guitar and a bass. No matter how similar those two instruments appeared, he could tell them apart.

Because...

He would ask a shop assistant.

...

Soon, with the school bells ringing throughout, the first day of high school came to an end.

Students of the same age quickly formed small groups based on common interests, creating their safe zones, and happily headed to various entertainment venues.

Yet, until the very end, no one dared to speak to Ishikawa Hayato, who called himself a pervert, but this suited him just fine.

He picked up his bag, ready to head to Shimokitazawa, to see if he could meet other members of Kessoku Band.

“Ishikawa-kun, please come to the staff room.”

At this moment, the teacher, who had been struggling all day, waved with a strained expression at the classroom door, calling for Ishikawa Hayato.

Ishikawa Hayato walked over unhurriedly.

“I'm very sorry, Teacher, but I have something to do later. Can we talk about whatever you need to say during tomorrow's lunch break?”

Although his tone carried an apology, his expression showed no sign of it. Instead, he appeared unhurried.

“Ah... okay, no problem.”

The teacher, completely suppressed by Ishikawa Hayato, nodded timidly and then hurried away.

Ishikawa Hayato watched the teacher's retreating back, his gaze lingering for a moment.

He remembered this teacher's name was Ishida Yuu.

A male teacher who had only graduated a few years ago.

Shimokitazawa, a place full of individuality and freshness, where antiques, second-hand clothing stores, and various unique shops flourished.

After entering, Ishikawa Hayato felt that he was seeing more and more people carrying instruments and dressed in extremely artistic attire.

At the same time, due to school dismissal, a considerable number of students also came.

And this scene was extremely torturous for Ishikawa Hayato.

Hold it in, my inner pervert! I'm about to meet a few girls for the first time. If I explode here, it's all over!

Just past this alley, walk through here...

And I'll reach that place!

Before coming, Ishikawa Hayato had already checked the location of the shop called STARRY. This livehouse, which had been open for five or six years and could be considered an old establishment, had many good reviews, giving people the impression that it was run with considerable care.

Exiting the alley, he turned and saw a sunken staircase next to a tall building.

Ishikawa Hayato did not go down. He knew the shop's official opening time was 5 PM, and it was still a little before 4 PM.

He walked to the roadside, leaned against the wall, and browsed band-related knowledge on his phone, waiting for the two, or one, person who would inevitably pass by.

The early spring wind still carried a chill, but the crisp air was filled with the distant sound of a guitar, the laughter of young people, and a slight coolness.

Not too long after, a female with blonde hair and red eyes, wearing a black undershirt and striped pants, walked over. She glanced at Ishikawa Hayato indifferently, didn't pay much attention, and then turned and descended the stairs.

Not much later...

“Later, I'll ask my sister to put up the flyers... I feel so excited! What kind of people will join?”

“Hmm, I'm sure some interesting people will come.”

Ishikawa Hayato looked up.

Not far in front of him, a blonde girl with a radiant smile held a flyer, happily chatting with a same-age girl beside her who had shoulder-length hair and a somewhat neutral beauty.

Interesting?

Ishikawa Hayato pondered for a moment, silently nodding to himself.

There was no one more interesting in the world than him, in terms of being a pervert.

They had finally arrived. His youth story could finally begin, he supposed.

Ishikawa Hayato straightened up, patted his back slightly, then walked directly towards the two girls.

“Hello, I just heard you were planning to recruit members...”

Ishikawa Hayato said, then suddenly realized that these two hadn't specified what kind of members they were recruiting. He glanced at the bass carried by the blue-haired, shoulder-length-haired girl and corrected himself.

“You're recruiting band members, right?”

“So fast!”

Ijichi Nijika couldn't help but exclaim in surprise. She hadn't even put up the flyer yet.

She quickly glanced at Yamada Ryo beside her, who looked at Ishikawa Hayato with a calm gaze.

“Guitarist?”

Ishikawa Hayato immediately understood. He smiled and waved his hand.

“I'm a complete outsider. I want to aim to be a keyboardist and currently plan to join a band to experience and understand the band's atmosphere more deeply.”

“Keyboardist... that's very difficult without a foundation.”

Yamada Ryo shook her head slightly, but she didn't explicitly refuse.

Nijika saw that Ryo didn't seem to object, so she smiled and clapped her hands gently, saying,

“Well, don't just stand there, let's go inside Starry to talk.”

...

A compact space.

Various posters, drawings, and decorations filled this livehouse, giving it a special sense of depth and style amidst the clutter.

That seemingly messy arrangement also provided a sense of free security.

It was Ishikawa Hayato's first time in such a place, and his gaze couldn't help but linger in various spots for a while.

Hmm, the underground space felt warm and small, and the surrounding decorations were dark, giving it a strong sense of a safe haven.

Behind the counter, the woman Ishikawa Hayato had met earlier, who bore some resemblance to Nijika, looked up and paid extra attention to Ishikawa Hayato for a while.

“Don't be shy, this is my sister's shop. Relax a little.”

Nijika noticed Ishikawa Hayato's expression and confirmed that he was indeed a genuine outsider.

But she didn't mind at all, greeting him with a cheerful smile.

Are you sure you want me to relax?

Ishikawa Hayato silently grumbled to himself. He was already thinking of running wild in the shop.

As they walked down the stairs, Nijika casually waved to her sister behind the counter.

“Sister, I'll start my part-time job a bit later.”

“Oh.”

Ijichi Seika replied nonchalantly, wiping the table with a rag, but her gaze lingered on the male beside her sister for a long time.

The three sat down at a table and chairs placed in the corner of the livehouse.

Yamada Ryo wasn't a very talkative person, and Ishikawa Hayato was considering how to appear somewhat normal.

For a moment, a dull atmosphere gradually emerged.

But before it could spread, Ijichi Nijika nipped it in the bud. She spoke first.

“Let's introduce ourselves first. My name is Ijichi Nijika, a second-year student at Shimokitazawa High School, and I play the drums. This is...”

Yamada Ryo unhurriedly took over the conversation.

“Yamada Ryo, also a second-year student at Shimokitazawa High School, bass.”

After their introductions, it was Ishikawa Hayato's turn. Facing the two beautiful girls, he remained calm and composed.

“Ah, then I can call you both 'senpai'. I'm Ishikawa Hayato, a first-year student at Shuka High School.”

“Hayato-kun, why do you want to join a band?”

Ijichi Nijika naturally called Ishikawa Hayato by his first name.

Pervert outbreak value: 15%.

It was Ishikawa Hayato's first time meeting such a friendly and gentle girl, and one so beautiful and radiant at that. His heart wavered for a moment.

But he still maintained a normal expression and calmly stated his goal.

“I want to create music that makes people feel relaxed and at ease. I want others to listen to such music with me, to relax together, to enjoy together.”

Yamada Ryo's gaze shifted slightly, her posture changing from propping her chin with disinterest to sitting up a bit straighter.

She confirmed again.

“That's a very easy yet very difficult path. Are you serious?”

“Yes.”

Ishikawa Hayato nodded, then, as if to prove it, took out his phone.

“Actually, although I don't know much about music, my sister is very good at piano. I can go to her to learn first, and I've already chosen books to buy, and I've also chosen a synthesizer.”

He handed his phone to them to look at.

“'Synthesizer Self-Study Growth Tutorial,' Prophet XL...”

The two looked at the Amazon shopping cart on the phone and fell silent for a while.

Ijichi Nijika said awkwardly and hesitantly,

“Hayato-kun, are you perhaps rich...?”

Ishikawa Hayato knew why she asked that, after all, the items in the shopping cart added up to over a million yen.

“Actually, not really...”

He put away his phone, smiling awkwardly.

“Because I used to write novels all the time, I saved some money. If I borrow some from home, it should be enough...”

“It's just that I’ll be relying on my parents for allowance for quite a while…” 

Ishikawa Hayato sighed to the heavens in his heart. He was probably the most embarrassing transmigrator out there.

“But, I want to learn seriously, and I think it's very important to buy an instrument that will last a long time and allow the user a lot of room for growth. Although my appearance is like this, I'm a very fast learner.”

Ishikawa Hayato wasn't lying. Since transmigrating, he felt his thoughts flowed extremely smoothly, and his memory was so exaggerated that he wondered if he had photographic memory. His learning ability was several times stronger than before.

If he hadn't wanted to hold back and be a free-spirited person, he would probably be studying in a gifted class right now.

“I see.” Yamada Ryo nodded, then, from the perspective of an experienced person, reminded him,

“However, you can buy textbooks at a second-hand bookstore, and instruments will be slightly cheaper at a specialty store.”

“Thank you! It's really great to found a band first.”

Ishikawa Hayato finished speaking, then added with a touch of apology.

“But... I don't know much about these things, the detailed address...”

Ijichi Nijika stood up and said very considerately,

“Then Ryo and I will take you there.”

“Hey.”

Ijichi Seika, who had been watching from a distance, warned him with an unfriendly tone.

“Sister~ we’ll be right back after we’re done looking!”

Ijichi Nijika looked at her sister, calling out in a half-coaxing, half-stubborn way.

A moment later, perhaps noticing the subtle changes on Seika’s calm face, she said to the two of them,

“Let’s go!”

Ishikawa Hayato noticed that Nijika used the word ‘look’ and not the definitive ‘buy.’ Was this subtle gentleness the Archangel of Shimokitazawa?

A girl like her would surely make for a very comforting wife.

Yamada Ryo didn’t say much and also stood up…