Chapter 26: Band
Narumi glanced around Shimokitazawa, which was shrouded in the night, and then turned his gaze back to the main entrance—the door had been opened and was leaning against the wall, and the three large white characters "Open for Business" on the LED sign above his head were particularly glaring.
A noisy commotion came from inside the door, as if some event was about to take place. Narumi thought for a moment, then stepped inside.
If the starting point of this simulation was at the entrance of the livehouse, then it proved that the original "Narumi Toru" had intended to go in—and perhaps an important figure related to this simulation would also appear here.
Walking through the dimly lit corridor and turning the corner as he remembered, Narumi's eyes were once again met with the familiar stage setup and reception area. The only difference was that, since it was now open for business, a large crowd of audience members had gathered around the stage, waiting for the performance. The noise he'd heard outside earlier was probably coming from them.
"Great, this place matches my memory perfectly. But since that's the case, perhaps…"
Narumi surveyed the area, desperately searching for a familiar figure among the surging crowd.
Finally, a beautiful, golden silhouette at the front desk was the first to notice him, and Narumi turned his head to meet her gaze.
The person standing at the front desk greeting guests was the owner of this place, Seika Ijichi.
"Ah."
Narumi subconsciously shrugged his shoulders. Having worked here for a long time, seeing his boss diligently handling her duties always gave him the unsettling feeling of being caught slacking off.
Moreover, her gaze didn't seem friendly.
"No way… does the 'future me' not only still work here, but also not even know how to slack off properly?"
"Hey, kid, what's with you showing up only now?"
With a serious expression, Ijichi Seika strode forward, grabbed Narumi by the shoulder, and tried to drag him toward the front desk.
Narumi, still dazed, was completely bewildered. Just like in the first simulation, where he only recalled the past after getting into Yukino's car, he now needed time to "load the disc."
Honestly, this design was so inhumane… System, could you please improve this in the future?
However, just like relevant departments that pretend to be dead when facing complaints, the system did not respond.
"Do you know how long we've been waiting for you? Where have you been having fun all by yourself?"
"Uh, boss, well—"
Just as Narumi was stammering through Ijichi's questioning, thinking he would be dragged back behind the front desk to start working—
She suddenly put her arm around his shoulder and walked past the counter with him.
"…oh?"
Supporting him, she led him toward the deeper part of the hallway.
"What's going on… Didn't I work here in this future?"
Narumi glanced back with confusion. A boy he had never seen before had just returned from the restroom. After wiping his hands on his clothes, he stood behind the counter and started working.
That should have been his part-time job.
"So, what's the purpose of my appearance at the livehouse entrance…?"
A not-so-pleasant answer gradually formed in his mind as fragments of memory surfaced. Ijichi led him to the room at the end of the corridor. Bathed in warm yellow light, he stepped inside.
Three boys of similar age to him were gathered in the center of the room, each practicing with a corresponding musical instrument.
But the moment Ijichi brought Narumi into the room, everyone stopped what they were doing and turned their attention toward the curly-haired boy who still looked confused.
"Ah, here he comes! Toru-kun~!"
The gray-haired boy, who had set aside his drumsticks, smiled and waved at him. With his slender figure and fair skin, he looked adorable enough to be mistaken for a girl—which made Narumi feel like he had seen him somewhere before.
"You're here! There's still some time before the performance. Let's rehearse together a bit more."
The blond, slightly wavy-haired boy who had just stopped typing on the keyboard smiled gently at him. His calm, composed demeanor and gentle eyes made Narumi feel unnervingly familiar with him.
"You've kept us waiting far too long; you're being way too arrogant."
The guitarist, his tone cold and tinged with impatience, put down his pick. His sharp yet lifeless eyes stared intently at Narumi, who stood frozen in place.
This time, he was certain he had seen those dead-fish eyes before.
"What are you standing there for? If you don't rehearse with your band members again, I won't be the one making a fool of myself on stage later."
Ijichi left those words behind and turned away, leaving Narumi staring blankly as his eyes darted between the three unfamiliar-yet-familiar faces.
How could his band members be Totsuka Saika, Hayama Hayato, and Hikigaya Hachiman?
Did someone change the channel on his life?
As the loading time ended, memories of the "future" began to flood into Narumi Toru's mind.
Born into a family of three, he never felt healthy, sufficient affection from his parents. His father, who married young and confused, never stopped complaining that his wife and son were dragging down his promising life. He spent his days drinking and never offered his infant son a kind look—and eventually disappeared with most of the family's money.
His mother was the typical overworked single parent who tirelessly provided for the family but neglected her child's emotional needs. Although Narumi harbored complaints, he had never openly criticized her.
It was clear this environment was unfit for raising a mentally healthy child.
Narumi frowned as he processed the memories. This life trajectory was unlike anything before.
His father went to get milk for many years, and his mother was someone he couldn't confide in. The suffocating household made Narumi sensitive, suspicious, and eccentric during adolescence. Coupled with rebellious impulses, he often acted recklessly—sneaking out at night to wander the red-light district, driving a motorcycle without a license, unconcerned even when caught by police.
Unsurprisingly, this lazy kid, uninterested in academics, dropped out of high school early. His pride couldn't bear his mother's silent tears and complaints about not raising him well, so he took his savings and moved out.
Music became the only salvation for Toru Narumi. Only while strumming bass strings could he escape reality and find peace.
Narumi, who had taught himself guitar and bass as a hobby, turned those skills into a livelihood. After forming a band with former classmates, he spent his days smoking, drinking, hanging out in internet cafés, and performing at small shows. From a nobody who starved between gigs and could only afford instant noodles, he gradually learned to support himself and even send money home—perhaps the once naive boy was trying to grow up.
A third-rate bassist, passionate about music yet lacking natural talent, could only compensate with relentless practice. Lost and decadent in his youth, he desperately tried to prove himself and seek recognition.
This seemed to be his future self.
It's obvious that he's a very flawed teenager.
On one hand, he longed to become better so that his departing father would regret his actions and his mother would be proud; on the other hand, he neglected his studies and acted willfully, unable to control himself and getting involved with things that teenagers shouldn't touch, such as tobacco and alcohol.
Although there are many things I want to complain about, Narumi didn't personally experience these memories, so it seems a bit presumptuous of him to criticize himself in this world.
Ultimately, it doesn't really matter. This kind of background is like a debuff that comes with the game at the beginning. Although it makes the subsequent process a little more troublesome, it doesn't make it impossible to continue playing.
Narumi, who has accepted all these memories, actually has another point of concern.
"Why are all my band members people I know? It's so easy for people to mistake one for another."
Instead of creating a bunch of band members he doesn't know in real life, which would make him feel disconnected, the system thoughtfully selected and simulated characters he would feel more attached to. This also saves the time of creating characters with different appearances and personalities—how could it not be more cost-effective?
"It all boils down to laziness! I don't recall their original character designs including playing an instrument, right? Where's your system survey? I want to complain!"
Sorry, this service is not yet available. The final interpretation of this policy rests with this system.
Forced sales are one thing, but why can't customers provide feedback? I'm furious.
[Well, anyway, the relationship between you and the band members requires a great deal of security and friendship to maintain, and having familiar faces around will probably make you feel even more at ease. Of course, they are not the same people as the real ones in real life. Just think of them as "band versions" of Hachiman and the others in a parallel world who made different choices. After all, adding such a setting for them is just a matter of adding a few lines of code.]
That's true... but it still feels weird to see acquaintances doing things that don't fit their image.
[That concludes my simulation experience. I hope you enjoyed it. I'll reappear when you discover the little surprise I've prepared for you. Please enjoy this completely different life!]
"What do you mean by enjoyment... it's more like I was sent here to be tortured."
After finishing his conversation with the system, Narumi turned his attention back to the present moment, took the bass guitar thrown to him by his companion, and strummed the strings lightly with a hint of frustration.
In reality, he was tone-deaf and even unfamiliar with sheet music. He tried playing a relatively simple chord, and sure enough, it was not only less difficult than before, but also much smoother.
It seems this "future" version of himself has indeed been practicing diligently. You're not bad at all.
"Haha, why do you look like you're picking up a bass for the first time?"
Hayato Hayama smiled brightly. It seemed that his gentle personality in the simulation was no different from his real-life personality.
"Hurry up and practice, Toru-kun. I skipped today's tennis practice to participate in this performance. After the band's performance, it will be our turn."
Totsuka Saika didn't exude any pressure; instead, he gave Narumi a pitiful look and urged him on—that adorable appearance made the curly-haired boy's heart suddenly tighten.
"What's going on... why do I feel like guys are actually kind of cute?"
[Achievement unlocked — Understand Hikigaya Hachiman, become Hikigaya Hachiman.]
Don't jump out in such weird places, hey!
The curly-haired boy, captivated by Saika's cuteness, couldn't suppress the blush spreading across his face. He awkwardly turned his head away, cleared his throat, and tried to make it less noticeable—belatedly realizing that this was something he would never do in real life.
"Wow, he's really a tsundere. I wonder if there'll be a gender-swapped version next time?"
In short, after rehearsing the performance four or five times in an emergency, the moment to go on stage arrived.
Even though he had inherited his skills and memories from the simulation, performing on stage in person was a first for him. He leaned against the door, tapping his leg, while glancing at the band performing on stage—
Then he paused for a moment.
He recognized two of the members of the "End Band" who were performing.
A blonde girl with a single ponytail, Ijichi Nijika, played the drums intently, while a blue-haired girl, Yamada Ryo, remained calm and focused, her hands never stopping.
The long-haired red girl standing in front of the microphone, playing guitar and singing, was a completely unfamiliar face. Similarly, the perfectly ripe mango box next to the lead singer was someone he had never seen before...
etc.
Why are there mango boxes on stage during the performance?
Could there be pink caterpillars hiding under mango boxes?
If Narumi were to answer this question, he would likely give an affirmative answer.
After the band's performance ended, a pink-haired girl wearing a loose pink tracksuit crawled out of a cardboard box with her back to the audience. Her flexibility was comparable to that of a cat.
The recollection of memories made his eyes somewhat vacant, his mind tracing the experiences awakened in his mind back to a time several years ago.
During his childhood, there was a timid little girl with pink hair living next door. At an age when unruly children were showing their true colors and throwing tantrums everywhere, she always hid at home and dared not go out. Even when she took a rare walk with her family, she timidly hid behind her parents.
Narumi was just a boy who hadn't yet entered puberty. His worries and interests came very easily, and he eagerly awaited the precious leisure time after school every day.
When Narumi was invited to visit his neighbor's house by chance, he felt someone watching him while enjoying tea and snacks in the living room. When he turned his head, he met the gaze of a pink-haired girl peeking at the guests through a crack in the door.
This was the first meeting between Narumi Toru and Gotoh hitori.
As with any typical children's book, the fates of the lively and energetic Narumi and the extremely shy Gotoh became intertwined.
"My name is Narumi Toru, and I live right next to your house. What's your name?"
"Ah… I-I, my name is Go-Go… Gotoh… hitori…"
"You're so cute, you look like a pink caterpillar!"
"No, please don't call me a caterpillar anymore...!"
"The adults are playing together again. Do you want to come on an adventure in the streets with me? Let's lift up the skirts of the high school girls, it'll be so much fun!"
No, no…
"Don't be shy, I'll show you how to have fun!"
Actually, Gotoh hitori meant "don't".
"Wow~ I had so much fun today! Caterpillar, want to go home already? You're already done? How lame~"
"I... want to go back..."
Actually, what Gotoh hitori meant was "I want to go back into my mother's womb".
"Okay, I'll take you back!"
"No, no, no..."
"Don't be shy!"
Someone please save Gotoh hitori...!
She fled, he chased; neither of them could escape.
This continued for a long time until he was about to enter junior high school. Gotoh hotori and Narumi, who had come to visit again, watched a live interview with a popular band on TV.
"Even those with social anxiety can shine in a band!"
End Of Chapter.