Chapter 7: Center

The day’s classes ended. Ishikawa Hayato, burdened with a 35-kilogram load, pondered how to naturally reveal himself as a pervert to the other members of the band.

Being a pervert wasn't easy either.

The pervert, troubled, walked towards STARRY.

Walking down the street where the sunlight made everything warm, the world exuded a beautiful, soft gentleness. All the surrounding sounds were youthful and lively—this was a beautiful time never to be forgotten.

Amidst this, Ishikawa Hayato noticed that the atmosphere of student interactions around him was even more enthusiastic than before.

As he casually observed his surroundings, his phone chimed with a LINE message notification.

He took out his phone and checked it.

It was from Ryo.

[ Are you coming today? ]

Ishikawa Hayato displayed astonishing speed, replying like lightning.

[ You can see me at the entrance of STARRY in 4 minutes and 12 seconds. ]

Ryo, perhaps not expecting Ishikawa Hayato to be so fast, or perhaps surprised by his reply, responded a few seconds later.

[ No need to rush. Don’t overexert yourself ]

An angel, an angel, an angel!

Ishikawa Hayato, after being moved, felt a surge of doubt. Ishikawa Hayato was puzzled: Was Ryo such a considerate person?

With a head full of questions, he hurried towards STARRY… Ishikawa Hayato knew he shouldn’t have been moved so soon.

“It’s time for you to repay your debt of gratitude.”

Ryo, dressed in casual clothes, carrying her bass and a speaker, said to Ishikawa Hayato.

Time rewound to a dozen minutes earlier.

Upon arriving at Starry, Ishikawa Hayato found that only Nijika’s older sister, the manager, was busy behind the counter. The other two girls hadn't appeared.

Strange, Ryo had seemed to be urging him to come earlier.

He placed his keyboard on the table and asked Nijika’s sister, Ijichi Seika.

“Manager, haven’t Nijika-senpai and Ryo-senpai arrived yet?”

Ijichi Seika, busy, glanced at him, seemingly not very fond of this male who was close to her sister.

“They’ll be late today.”

She said, offering no further explanation, then turned to grab a rag to clean a machine, before a faint remark drifted over.

“How’s your studying coming along?”

Studying?

Ishikawa Hayato naturally knew Seika wouldn’t be asking about his school grades; it could only be about the keyboard.

As a pervert, how could he lack confidence?

“I’m very satisfied.”

Even as a beginner, he showed not an speck of humility, stating proudly.

Ijichi Seika, momentarily stiffened by his answer, turned back with a strange, smiling expression, and said with a hint of mockery.

“Oh? Then show us.”

Ishikawa Hayato took a breath and puffed out his chest.

This is what I’ve been waiting for!

No, it’s only one person. It won’t be able to awe the entire audience.

He wouldn’t be able to make a cool display and enjoy others’ stunned expressions.

But Ishikawa Hayato would certainly not back down here and let Ijichi Seika look down on him. Moreover, even in an empty venue, he would drag plankton over to listen to him play.

“Then, if you’ll excuse me, I’ll borrow the stage.”

He politely greeted her, then unzipped his keyboard bag, hugged the keyboard, and climbed onto the performance stage.

Ijichi Seika, meanwhile, quickly went to turn on the stage power in the store, deliberately and mischievously not reminding him to go up from backstage.

After setting up all the stage equipment, she sat in a chair, propped her face on her hand against the table, and watched Ishikawa Hayato, who was scrambling around on the stage, from afar.

“The spare amplifier is the one on the left. Yes, just plug it in directly.”

After all that fuss, revealing his complete lack of skill in front of others, Ishikawa Hayato showed no embarrassment whatsoever.

He still maintained a calm and composed expression, and said to Ijichi Seika.

“Next, I will play a piano piece. I spent some effort practicing it yesterday, and it’s currently my highest level. Please listen to ‘The Street Where the Wind Lives’.”

Ijichi Seika nodded indifferently. She was curious to see how well a beginner could play, and also when that proud demeanor would finally break.

Seeing his sole audience member nod, Ishikawa Hayato closed his eyes to adjust his mindset, gently placing his slender fingers on the keyboard. The keyboard, whose timbre had been adjusted earlier, emitted the crisp sound of a piano.

The sound of a gentle breeze strolling emerged from the amplifier, drifting through the rock-and-roll-infused, dark space of the livehouse.

This was a song Ishikawa Hayato had loved in the past. He had listened to it countless times, so as soon as he learned to play, he played it without hesitation.

Although the playing wasn’t smooth, and the wind produced by the keyboard stumbled a few times on its stroll, it paid no mind, didn’t look back, and continued on its way.

Ishikawa Hayato also didn’t show any hesitation, worry, or doubt due to any mistakes. Instead, he looked quite composed, as if this was precisely how the song was meant to be played.

Below the stage, Ijichi Seika sat up straight, listening intently.

Music can convey emotions, and live performance can further reveal a part of the performer’s feelings and thoughts.

Even a slightly faltering performance is no different.

Initially, when she heard the performance, she was surprised.

After all, even this level requires one or two months of practice. But then she remembered that he had a sister who played piano at home, and perhaps the musical atmosphere at home was excellent, so she dismissed it.

But later, she noticed the person’s incredibly firm playing. Even when mistakes were made, there was no hesitation.

That steadfastness didn’t seem to be cultivated through long-term practice, but rather came from an incredibly firm and strong inner self.

This person’s inner strength was abnormally powerful!

…After finishing, Ishikawa Hayato smiled and bowed, then, amidst Ijichi Seika’s voice which hadn’t yet managed to stop him, he unplugged the amplifier.

“Wait!”

“Huh?” Ishikawa Hayato’s hand didn’t stop; he blankly pulled out the plug.

*Bang!!*

A thunderous sound exploded in front of Ishikawa Hayato.

When Ijichi Nijika arrived, what she saw was Ishikawa Hayato sitting at a table in the back of STARRY, covering his ears with a miserable expression, and her sister behind the counter, her lips forming a wavy line, suppressing a laugh.

What happened between these two?

But Nijika didn't pay much attention and went up to greet him with a smile.

“Hayato-kun, are you ready?”

Ishikawa Hayato, his ears still ringing, looked up, staring at the two in their casual clothes with a puzzled expression.

“What?”

Nijika, seeing Ishikawa Hayato’s confusion, was momentarily stunned. She turned to look at Ryo behind her, but Ryo calmly walked past her, placing the amplifier she was holding in front of Ishikawa Hayato.

“It’s time for you to repay your debt of gratitude.”

Ishikawa Hayato: ???

Seeing Ishikawa Hayato’s complete lack of understanding and Ryo’s mischievous demeanor, Nijika roughly guessed what had happened.

She also understood why Ryo would take the initiative to notify Ishikawa Hayato.

“Hayato-kun, let me see the message Ryo just sent.”

Ishikawa Hayato cooperatively took out his phone, but Ryo, with a serious expression, pressed down on his hand.

“No.”

When he heard Ryo say this and saw the amplifier on the ground, he immediately understood the situation.

Yes, he was being used as a laborer, and one who was lured in.

Nijika looked at Ryo, narrowed her eyes, and showed a fierce expression, but Ryo wasn’t scared at all. Finally, Nijika hung her head, clearly at her wit’s end with Ryo.

She didn’t say much more to Ryo. Seeing that Ishikawa Hayato still didn’t understand the situation, she quickly explained to him.

“Today, we plan to let Hayato-kun witness our performance and what a Band does, so Ryo and I are going to have a street performance. Hayato-kun, please come watch.”

“Hayato will carry the luggage,” Ryo added.

“You carry your own!”

Nijika wouldn’t let Ryo have her way. She quickly stepped forward, picked up the amplifier, and angrily shoved it back into Ryo’s hands.

A performance specially for him.

Nijika, my wife!!!

Ishikawa Hayato instantly stood up, his entire being as firm as an iron tower.

"Ishikawa Hayato, maximum load 73.2 kg, can operate for 156 minutes under maximum load, reporting for duty."

"Well done." Ryo nodded in satisfaction, giving a thumbs up.

"Hayato-kun, don't just let her do that!"

Nijika cried out, almost in tears, and seeing Ishikawa Hayato show no reaction, she turned to Ryo beside her.

"Ryo, that's enough!"

She frantically shook Ryo's shoulders, looking distraught.

Ryo swayed with a hint of a smug smile.

Only Ijichi Seika, not far away, stared blankly at Ishikawa Hayato, who was standing ramrod straight beside the two of them.

Is he really human?

Pervert outburst value is 50%

Inside the livehouse, three women stared blankly at Ishikawa Hayato, who was laden with equipment, holding a megaphone, carrying two drum cases, with his keyboard slung over his shoulder, and even carrying Ryo's bass on his back.

He was like a King Kong in battle armor, his gaze firm and forward.

"Let's go!"

After Nijika was dumbfounded, she then tried to stop him.

"No, that's not right! Hayato-kun, why are you carrying it all yourself!"

She, who was always used to taking care of others, felt completely out of sorts seeing Ishikawa Hayato like this.

After Nijika spoke, Ryo tiptoed and stealthily slipped out of STARRY via the stairs.

"The world is gentle to me, and I am gentle to the world!"

And Ishikawa Hayato followed, shouting some inexplicable slogan...