On the day of the live audition, Jhin arrived at STARRY early and greeted Seika Ijichi and the mysterious older sister sound engineer, who still hadn't told him her real name.
"Hi, Seika-san, and... uh... Sound Engineer-san." Not knowing her name, Jhin struggled for a moment before resorting to calling her by her title.
"Hehe." The sound engineer let out a gentle laugh that didn't match her cool exterior, seemingly enjoying Jhin's awkwardness.
"Hmph." Seika Ijichi responded with a serious expression, crossing her legs and staring at the girls setting up their instruments on stage. Jhin pulled up a chair and sat next to them, waiting quietly for the audition to begin.
Standing on stage, Hitori Gotoh wasn't as nervous as she had imagined. Last night after getting home, she had spent the entire night thinking about Nijika's question—the reason she was still committed to being in a band.
Once their instruments were tuned, Nijika spoke up, her voice slightly tense, "We are Kessoku Band."
Looking at her older sister's stern gaze in the audience, she knew it wasn't a very good opening line. Perhaps because this audition was so important, she found it hard to maintain her usual cheerfulness and couldn't think of anything to liven up the atmosphere, managing only a bland and uninspired opener.
To avoid making any more mistakes, Nijika quickly announced the song title to start the performance: "Next up is 'Guitar, Solitude, and the Blue Planet.'"
The four band members exchanged a glance, confirming they were all ready. Nijika waved her drumsticks and lightly struck the crash cymbal, and the crisp, clear sound announced the official start of the performance that was so crucial to them.
As the passionate guitar intro ended, Kita Ikuyo held the microphone, and accompanied by the deep bass and drums, a mature vocal line, completely different from her sweet appearance, flowed from the speakers.
"It suddenly started raining, so annoying without an umbrella..."
Although Kessoku Band's performance was still unrefined, it was clear they were already beginning to develop the synergy a team should have. Coupled with Kita Ikuyo's unexpectedly mature and fitting vocal style, even Seika's face showed a hint of surprise, though she quickly masked it with a stern expression.
I still haven't figured out my old reason for sticking with the band, but at least right now, I hope that Kessoku Band, which I formed with the three of them, can keep going forever.
Hitori Gotoh thought back on the past, from being saved by Jhin to joining Kessoku Band, and now preparing for their official debut. The bittersweet experiences of this period, compared to the dull, stagnant water of her past, made her yearn to preserve her current life.
I want to help make Nijika's real dream come true, too. I can't just stumble here at the live audition before the starting line. Our band won't stop here.
The powerful emotions within her changed Hitori Gotoh's entire demeanor. In that moment, she seemed to have rediscovered the skill she was meant to have as guitarhero, pouring her feelings into the guitar to resonate with the song.
"It's not enough! Still not enough! No one has noticed me yet!"
Kita Ikuyo's singing seemed to help vent Hitori Gotoh's emotions. The brilliant performance of the guitarist and vocalist becoming one jolted Nijika and Ryo, who exchanged a glance and matched their rhythm.
If before they were just an inexperienced rock band playing, now, the performance Kessoku Band delivered, led by Hitori Gotoh, was in no way inferior to some of the serious bands that usually played at STARRY.
"Thank you for listening."
As the song ended, the four of them bowed in thanks, waiting breathlessly for Seika Ijichi's feedback from below the stage.
"It was pretty good..." Seika said those three words, but before the members of Kessoku Band could celebrate, she continued, "...is what I'd like to say..."
"Drums, your shoulders are too stiff."
"Both guitarists look down too much."
"And the bassist is too lost in her own world."
After sternly pointing out each of their shortcomings, the serious expression on Seika's face softened slightly. "However... I think I have a good idea of what kind of band you are now."
The members, who had just been criticized, looked dejected, thinking they hadn't passed. The sound engineer said with a smile, while looking at Seika's tsundere expression, "I'm guessing she means you passed."
"Isn't that what I meant...? You passed," Seika said impatiently, trying to hide her embarrassment.
"All right!" The girls cheered in unison. Hitori Gotoh even put down her instrument and leaped off the stage towards Jhin, making everyone hold their breath in worry for her.
Fortunately, Jhin caught Hitori Gotoh steadily and praised his girlfriend, who was cuddling up to him in his arms, "You did great, Bocchi-chan."
"Uhehe, p-praise me some more."
Since it was a rare occasion for Hitori Gotoh to ask for it, Jhin stroked her hair while showering her with all sorts of praise without reservation.
The air inside STARRY was instantly filled with the bittersweet stench of romance, making everyone else feel like they'd had cold dog food unceremoniously slapped across their faces.
Pulled back from their lovey-dovey state by the malicious glares of the others, Hitori Gotoh, her face flushed with a blush that wouldn't fade, left Jhin's captivating embrace and ran to help Nijika and the others clear the stage.
"The ticket quota for the next show is 20 tickets at 80 yuan each, so that's five tickets per person!"
Before she could fully savor the joy of the band getting on the right track, Hitori Gotoh heard Nijika's decision about the quota, and her mood instantly plummeted from heaven to hell.
Hitori Gotoh tremblingly raised her hand, about to count on her fingers the number of people she could sell tickets to, when Jhin's large, warm hand patted her shoulder. He said words that sounded like music from the heavens to her: "Bocchi-chan, just give me your five tickets. I'll bring some friends."
"Really?"
"Yeah. Let me do what a boyfriend is supposed to do." Jhin patted his chest, indicating that he'd take care of it.
If he brought Gabriel, Vignette, Satania, and Raphiel, that would be five people right there. Easy!
However, considering it was still necessary to train Hitori Gotoh's courage, Jhin added, "But, you hold onto those five tickets for now. If you manage to sell them, my five will count as tickets sold beyond the quota, which can ease your financial burden."
"If you don't sell them, you can just give them all to me then."
"L-Leave it to me!" Wanting to show off in front of her boyfriend, Hitori Gotoh decided to take on this daunting task.
"Even though Jhin spoils Bocchi-chan, he's also properly training her courage." Kita Ikuyo thought, based on his earlier behavior, that Jhin was the type to be a doting madman for his wife. In a sense, she wasn't wrong. Jhin would indeed spoil the people he liked to death, but it was based on proper values, not without limits.
If he spoiled Hitori Gotoh into another version of Gabriel, he'd be the one with the headache later on.
"Isn't this great? If Bocchi-chan can get a little braver, her condition during performances will be better." Nijika was happy to see this. During the audition, Hitori Gotoh's performance had reminded her of guitarhero, whom she followed, making her wonder if they were the same person.
...
A few days later, during summer vacation, Jhin received a text from his girlfriend, her tone filled with excitement and pride.
"Jhin, I successfully sold out my ticket quota!" The attached photo showed Hitori Gotoh standing by a riverbank, holding her guitar as if she had just finished a performance. Behind her was the drunken figure of someone with purple hair in braids, and even further in the distance was the back of a girl with golden hair in a green tracksuit who looked familiar to Jhin.
"Congratulations. Nijika, Kita, and I will come over to your place tomorrow. They said they want to design T-shirts for the performance."
"Got it. I'll be ready."
Just from Hitori Gotoh's reply, Jhin knew she was probably going to decorate her room like a mini-KTV. Speaking of which, this would be his first time in her room, wouldn't it?
Now on vacation, Gabriel was no longer constrained by Jhin's bento lunches and immediately began to roam freely in the world of online games. She would even disappear for a whole day. With no good way to get her to go outside, Jhin could only let her be.
I should probably get to sleep early. I'm going to my girlfriend's house tomorrow.
_____
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