Actually, they had just been at Starry.
When Nijika mentioned they didn't have a bassist, Bai Qiu's mind immediately began spinning through possible backup plans.
For example, maybe they could ask Akiyama Mio, whom they'd met not long ago, to act as a temporary bassist.
Oh, right—Hiratsuka Shizuka also knew how to play bass.
But those two might be hard to contact on short notice, and even if they could, who knew if they'd agree?
There was another rumor though—Bai Qiu had heard that recently, there was a bassist of professional level who floated between more than thirty bands, working as a stand-in player.
What a terrifying person!
But… that one sounded reliable.
Bai Qiu couldn't help thinking.
Anyway, how could they let Nijika's first live performance end in failure?
"Eh?"
Nijika blinked, looking a little troubled.
"But… finding even one Ichiri was already pure luck."
Could they really just pick up another bassist by chance?
Hitori Goto's expression brightened slightly, a little smug.
Bai Qiu shook his head with a small laugh. "We can go find the bassist you originally wanted, Nijika."
All those earlier "backup ideas" were just Bai Qiu's random daydreams—and a bit of the author padding the word count.
A band without Yamada Ryō simply couldn't be complete!
"Even if she doesn't play music anymore, just performing once shouldn't be a problem, right?"
"Besides, people who've played music before—when they hear about a live performance—they'll still feel that pull, that excitement. Don't you think so, Goto?"
Hitori Goto froze at suddenly being called out. "Ah—y-yeah!"
Nijika lowered her head, hesitating.
But she was tempted.
To be honest, ever since Ryō had told her she'd quit music, Nijika thought she'd just been joking.
After all, Ryō used to love music so much.
But when she saw Ryō again, she wasn't even carrying her bass—the instrument that used to never leave her side.
And she'd already picked up a new hobby.
So Nijika could only swallow back her desire to invite Ryō into the band again.
She didn't want Ryō to suffer through another painful band breakup.
That's why Nijika hadn't mentioned this upcoming performance to her at all.
But Yamada Ryō had always been the ideal bassist in Nijika's heart.
Nijika lifted her head, her eyes firm with resolve.
If Ryō performed just once… maybe that burning musical soul inside her could ignite again.
"Thank you, Bai Qiu-kun."
Bai Qiu waved a hand. "It's nothing."
"I'll ask her first," Nijika said.
Of course, she wasn't going to directly ask if Ryō could fill in as a temporary bassist—she just wanted to see if she was home.
Nijika planned to visit her in person.
And honestly, it was about time she checked in on her anyway.
If Nijika were going alone, she wouldn't have worried.
But with Bai Qiu and Ichiri tagging along, it was better to give Ryō a heads-up first.
Soon, Ijichi Nijika's face lit up with a smile.
"Ryō said it's okay!"
Hitori Goto's shoulders slumped. We have to go to someone's house again? Uuuu (╥﹏╥)o
...
Yamada Ryō's house wasn't far from Starry.
The three of them walked there.
On the way, Nijika told them that Ryō had already formed a band back in middle school.
As the band developed, their popularity kept rising, and they even had the chance to perform at bigger livehouses.
But then, differences began to appear between Ryō and her bandmates.
Her teammates thought the band should cater to the market—play more mainstream, catchy, and slightly shallow songs to please the crowd.
Ryō, however, insisted on creating music that had individuality and self-expression.
Their opinions clashed—or perhaps it was just Ryō's opinion that clashed with everyone else's.
In the end, Yamada Ryō chose to leave.
"That's how it was," Nijika sighed.
At that time, Nijika had been wondering how she could comfort Ryō.
And didn't that mean she had a chance to invite Ryō into her band?
But Ryō told her she'd already moved on—and found a new hobby.
That had completely surprised Ijichi Nijika.
"I see," Bai Qiu nodded.
To him, neither side was wrong—there was nothing wrong with catering to the market, and nothing wrong with preserving your individuality either.
Just like when he wrote light novels—sometimes, he had no choice but to appeal to the market.
After all, people had to eat…!
Of course, if you could keep your individuality while conquering the market, that would be the best outcome.
Hitori Goto, meanwhile, was shocked to learn that forming a band could be so difficult.
Did that mean… someday, Bai Qiu might kick her out of the band too?
She shivered at the thought.
"What's her new hobby?" Bai Qiu asked curiously.
Hitori Goto also leaned forward in curiosity.
Something that could make a musician give up music completely?
"It's… light novels," Nijika said helplessly.
That thing had really led Ryō astray…
"Light novels?" Bai Qiu blinked, then a cold smirk appeared in his heart.
Good! Let's see which fellow author wrote such a masterpiece…
To think they managed to lure Yamada Ryō into the world of light novels so deeply she quit music!
Unforgivable!
Then Bai Qiu turned to Nijika.
"Nijika, actually, I love light novels too. I've studied them quite a bit. Maybe I can talk some sense into Yamada-san."
Ijichi Nijika's face brightened. "Really? That's great!"
Hitori Goto mumbled to herself. She also read light novels.
After all, for a shut-in girl like her, with no friends, who spent six hours a day practicing guitar—what else could she do besides get lost in the worlds of online stories, manga, and anime?
...
They arrived.
In front of Yamada Ryō's house.
A detached villa—spacious, luxurious, shining with gold and marble.
Ijichi Nijika was already used to it.
Bai Qiu had mentally prepared himself as well.
But Hitori Goto was utterly shocked.
"Th-this… this this this…"
Such a huge villa! Nijika's friend was this rich?!
If her family were that wealthy, she wouldn't have to worry about the future at all—she could just stay home forever, lazing her life away.
Hitori Goto's eyes filled with tears of envy.
"It's not that big of a deal, Ichiri! Ryō's family runs a hospital. So… you know," Nijika explained with a grin.
"Don't worry—once you become the Queen of Rock, you'll live in an even bigger, fancier mansion than this."
Bai Qiu added encouragingly.
R-really?
Her—the Queen of Rock?!
Living in an even bigger, grander mansion someday?!
"Ehehe… hehe…"
Watching Hitori Goto's goofy grin, Nijika had to admit—it might be a little unrealistic.
Then, with practiced familiarity, Nijika entered the code into the keypad by the gate.
The heavy iron gate slid open automatically.
The three of them stepped inside.