"Big Sis!"
Futari Gotoh's charming and crisp voice was not interfered with in the slightest by the noisy shouting, transmitting clearly into Hitori Gotoh's ears.
Hitori Gotoh's spirits were instantly lifted. She searched for the figures of her sister and family below the stage. It didn't take her much effort to find them, because Futari Gotoh was simply too conspicuous right now.
She was currently riding on Jhin's shoulders, wearing an innocent smile on her face as she waved at Hitori. Her parents were also standing beside them.
Naoki Gotoh was holding a video camera, so excited that tears were streaming down his face. Fortunately, the hand holding the camera and his trembling body seemed to be two independent entities; the camera was unaffected, steadily aimed at his daughter.
Michiyo Gotoh was waving a small black fan she had obtained from somewhere, shouting words of encouragement along with Futari Gotoh.
"Hitori! Do your best!" x2
The familiar voices caused Hitori Gotoh's eyes to widen. She couldn't be mistaken about those two voices—those were the fans she had gained during her street performance!
They actually came too?!
Hearing these voices, Jhin raised an eyebrow.
If Bocchi-chan were a streamer, these two would at least be the Rank 1 and Rank 2 big spenders.
Wait, as her boyfriend, I should be Rank 1. I guess I can only wrong these two true love fans by ranking them second and third.
Hitori Gotoh constantly spotted familiar faces within the crowd. People from her class had also come to watch the performance as promised. The Class Rep had even pulled out a small banner from who knows where, with the words "Go Kessoku Band" written on it.
My popularity isn't as... as low as I imagined, huh...
Hitori Gotoh felt a bit of narcissism and secret delight in her heart.
"Hey!"
A drunken shout rang out—a voice that, just by listening to it, allowed one to imagine the owner was wasted as mud. Kikuri Hiroi, her face flushed red, was lying with half her body on the stage floor, radiating a stench of alcohol that kept people at a respectful distance. Seika Ijichi stood beside her; rather than watching the performance together, it looked more like she was there to supervise this alcoholic.
Kikuri Hiroi drunkenly raised the transparent glass bottle placed beside her towards Hitori Gotoh, cheerfully showing it off: "Look~ Look, I made an exception and drank cup sake today! Hehehehe~"
"You better give us a cool performance! Yeah! Hey, hey, hey!"
Hitori Gotoh awkwardly averted her gaze. Kikuri Hiroi's behavior triggered her social anxiety, so she pretended she didn't know this person at all.
"Eh? Bocchi-chan? Why did you look away?"
"Hey, hey, hey? Can you see me? Bocchi-chan~ It's me, Big Sister Kikuri~"
Kikuri Hiroi twisted her body like an inflatable tube man swaying in the wind, trying to pull back Hitori Gotoh's line of sight.
"You assume there's no end to this, huh? Wait for the performance to start obediently!" Seika Ijichi, unable to watch any longer, put her in a standing crucifix hold.
The intense pain in her shoulders sobered Kikuri Hiroi up, and she repeatedly begged for mercy: "Senpai, I was wrong! I was wrong!"
Seika Ijichi didn't let go just because she begged; instead, she increased the force in her hands. With a crisp crack sound, Kikuri Hiroi went completely quiet.
"Ahaha..." Facing the little skit playing out below the stage, Kita Ikuyo gave two dry laughs and took a step forward to the microphone to deliver the opening address.
"Umm, we are Kessoku Band, a band that usually performs outside of school."
"I hope today's performance leaves a beautiful memory for everyone present, as well as for ourselves!"
"If anyone becomes interested in our band through this performance, please come to the live house to see our shows!"
Warm applause and cheers erupted from the audience. Kita Ikuyo closed her eyes and took a deep breath. Then, harboring a mixture of excitement and nervousness, she opened her eyes: "Here is the first song brought to you by Kessoku Band!"
Click, click, click, click.
Nijika raised her drumsticks and crossed them in the air four times, signaling the official start of the performance. The sound of the electric guitar was the first to flow from the speakers, followed by a drumbeat that made people involuntarily nod and tap their feet along.
Kita Ikuyo raised her hands and clapped gently to interact with the audience below. As the intro ended, she and Ryo both placed their hands on their instruments and began to play.
"Treat this awkwardness and weariness as the weather's fault."
"The sun also hid away, pretending not to know."
"The creaking, swaying packed train and the express train pass each other."
The audience below the stage—those who didn't know Kessoku Band and weren't there just for Kita Ikuyo—were all swaying to the beat. The melody and rhythm of this song were very catchy, making people involuntarily sway along.
"This band's level is unexpectedly high."
"Yeah, although I knew Kita sang very well, I didn't expect the others in her band to be this amazing too."
People who had originally come just to hear Kita Ikuyo sing were also stunned by Kessoku Band. Naoki Gotoh, hearing the continuous stream of praise around him, found it hard to suppress the wild joy in his heart. holding the camera, he couldn't exactly sway to the rhythm to vent it, so he had to heavily pat Jhin's shoulder.
To avoid affecting the experience of the audience behind them, Jhin had already taken Futari Gotoh down from his shoulders before the performance started. Being suddenly patted on the shoulder by his father-in-law, he looked at the man in confusion, only to see Naoki Gotoh thanking him with eyes full of tears.
"Thank you for your constant support of my daughter."
"Father-in-law, there's no need for us to be so polite."
Naoki Gotoh said "Good" twice in succession, then continued recording.
The deep trailing note of the bass declared the end of the song, and unprecedented cheers surrounded the girls on the stage.
"Thank you very much!" Kita Ikuyo's face was filled with excitement. She hadn't expected the response to the first song to be this good, and her movements became a bit more lively: "That was our original song, 'Never Forget'!"
Amidst the screaming fans, Kita Ikuyo calmed her excited heart slightly and began the stage banter they had agreed upon earlier: "Before starting the next song, I'd like to do some introductions."
"This is the leader of Kessoku Band, on drums, Nijika Ijichi-senpai!" She turned around, extending her right hand towards Nijika.
The audience cooperated perfectly, erupting in a string of cheers.
"Hello everyone, are you all fired up?"
"Ohhh~"
"Our bassist, Ryo Yamada, said: 'Kessoku Band's stage banter is boring!' Although I super disagree with her way of thinking, until I learn how to make interesting small talk, I'll just stick to performance announcements!"
"Hahahaha." A wave of laughter rose from below the stage.
"Although the time for our next performance hasn't been set yet, if anyone is interested, you can consult the vocalist Kita, or the guitarist Hitori Gotoh!"
"Kita, start the next song!"
"Mm." Kita Ikuyo nodded with a dazzling smile, twisting her body to announce: "Then please listen! Our second song, 'If I Could Become a Constellation'!"
Everyone exchanged glances, and after confirming that they were all ready, they began the new performance. Perhaps joy begets sorrow, but under the watchful eyes of the crowd, the string on Kita Ikuyo's guitar snapped.
____
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