"Clang clang!"
"Boom!"
A dull thud echoed.
Confetti slowly drifted down from the sky.
Nijika had set off the celebratory cannon she'd prepared beforehand.
"Whoa!!"
Hakushu, Ichiri, and Ryo exclaimed in amazement, then clapped their hands.
"You're all helping clean up later."
Nijika pointed at the floor.
The three of them shook their heads frantically, backing away.
"Do you have to be so in sync?!"
Nijika said, annoyed.
Hakushu raised his hand. "I'll help clean."
Nijika smiled. "Hakushu, you're always reliable."
"So, let's begin our band's first group meeting!"
Put down the instruments.
The four of them were gathered around a table.
There were snacks and drinks on the table.
Ryo had already started.
"Too close!"
Ijuin Seiko leaned against the door, biting hard on the straw of the drink.
PA-san looked inside, and saw that Hakushu was sitting next to Nijika.
"Ara, if you care so much, just go in and join them!"
She covered her mouth and giggled.
"Huh? I'm not interested!"
"Giggle...!"
"Ahem! First topic, we need to choose a leader."
Nijika gestured with her fingers, then looked at the other three.
And Hakushu, Ichiri, and Ryo,
all three of them stared at Nijika.
"..."
"Huh…?"
"What does this mean?"
"You want me to be the leader?"
Nijika pointed at herself in confusion.
"Yeah yeah!"
Hakushu and the other two nodded in unison.
Ryo said, "We're counting on you, Nijika."
Hakushu: "I think so too."
Ichiri chimed in, "Me, too!"
"Huh? Aren't we going to discuss it further?" Nijika asked.
Hakushu and the other two shook their heads in unison.
Nijika was taken aback.
So...
Nijika looked at Ryo, unreliable!
Ichiri, emmmm… that doesn't seem to work either.
Finally, she looked at Hakushu.
"Hakushu, do you want to be the leader?"
Hakushu said with a smile,
"I'm not really cut out for it,"
"In my heart, Nijika is the most suitable."
The responsibility of a band leader is significant.
Not only do they have to organize and manage the band.
You also need to pay attention to the state of each band member.
And Nijika, she's so gentle, kind, considerate, thoughtful, and cute…
She's definitely the best choice for this position.
The others, well, they're a bit unreliable, one way or another.
Although Hakushu felt that he shouldn't be considered unreliable at the moment.
But the captain, it really should be Nijika.
"I believe in you, Nijika."
Hakushu encouraged her.
"We believe in you too," Ryo and Ichiri repeated.
"I see..."
Nijika blushed, a rare sight.
"Then... leave it to me!"
Nijika patted her chest.
"Even though it's my first time as the leader."
"I'll do my best."
"Let me know if I mess anything up!"
Hakushu, Ryo, and Ichiri applauded.
"Tch!"
An out-of-place sound seemed to ring out.
Ijuin Seiko released her straw, which was covered in teeth marks.
"You really know how to sweet-talk girls!"
However, regarding Nijika becoming the leader.
Ijuin Seiko was still quite satisfied; she had been the band's leader back in the day.
PA-san: "Gahahaha..."
"Next up is the second topic..."
"Un-huh!"
Hakushu and the other two looked at Nijika expectantly.
"We need to come up with a band name," Nijika said happily.
The band's name is the band's face.
Last night, she had prepared extensively in this regard.
She'd looked up a lot of information.
For example, you must avoid naming patterns that combine place names with people's names.
But, to be honest,
no one would have such a strange taste in naming.
Nijika looked at everyone expectantly.
Generally speaking, everyone would have many different ideas at this stage.
Ryo put down the food and spoke first, "Kessoku Band."
Nijika: "Bond?"
Ichiri: "Wire?"
Ryo shook her head.
Hakushu explained, "It means unity."
"Pfft!"
Ryo burst out laughing.
"Oh dear!"
"Ryo, what are you doing?"
"You sprayed it all over Ichiri's face."
Ijuin Seiko quickly took out a tissue to wipe Bocchi-chan's face.
She was already taking care of it.
"Sorry, Bocchi-chan."
"I didn't mean to."
"It was just too funny."
Ryo Yamada said without a hint of apology.
Then, she looked at Hakushu with admiration.
Back to the band's name.
"Kessoku?"
Nijika was taken aback, then understood.
Ryo was up to her antics again.
"Don't use such puns!"
"Right? Hakushu, Ichiri-chan."
"I like it quite a bit," Hakushu said honestly.
Ryo Yamada gave a thumbs up, looking satisfied.
"Ah, yes!"
Ichiri Gotou felt a bit bewildered, but she was happy just to have a band.
She wouldn't dare ask for a name!
"Huh? You guys..."
Nijika stared at the three of them, surprised and uncertain.
"Isn't it strange?"
"Next topic."
Ryo said calmly, as if she wanted to finalize the name quickly.
The three of them looked at Nijika.
"Let's discuss it a bit more, please, please."
Nijika pleaded.
"..."
A moment of silence.
Hakushu could only say,
"I... can't seem to think of anything else..."
"Yeah, it seems that way..."
Nijika also couldn't come up with a good name. Her ahoge drooped.
Are they really going to call it Kessoku Band?
That was too hasty.
Nijika had originally planned that they'd discuss the band's name for a long time!
It was strange. From what Ichiri had read online, other bands always argued endlessly about this sort of thing.
But with Kessoku Band, they'd reached a decision so quickly.
And… why was everyone just going along with the name?
Didn't that make her the leader?!
Why did she feel like she'd been sidelined the moment she became leader?
Wait, had the other three already discussed this beforehand?
The leader made a swift decision.
The band name was decided so fast, too.
Nijika couldn't help but feel a flicker of doubt.
Then, Nijika shook her head, clearing away the strange thought.
"So, for now, we'll call ourselves Kessoku Band."
"It's just a temporary name, okay!"
Nijika was determined. Once they found a lead vocalist...
She would definitely overturn this name.
"Pfft!"
Everyone turned to the source of the laughter.
It was Ijuin Seiko, stifling a laugh.
Kessoku Band?
What a lame joke.
Looks like it's time to end this.
She wanted to get this guy away from Nijika.
Seeing them look over, Ijuin Seiko quickly suppressed her smile.
"Hmph, I wasn't looking at you guys."
Ijuin Seiko crossed her arms, acting tsundere.
Nijika explained, "My sister is like that."
"The third topic is, we still need a vocalist."
Nijika said seriously.
Without anyone to sing, the band wouldn't be able to take shape.
They couldn't just play instruments like they did last time.
Nijika brought out a photo, looking a bit embarrassed.
"Actually, if possible, I'd still like to get our previous vocalist back."
"Pfft!" x2
Hakushu and Ryo couldn't help but laugh.
Because what Nijika had produced was the memorial photo of Kita that Ryo had made the last time.
"There really weren't any other photos!"
Nijika explained helplessly.
"Stop laughing, you two..."
Ugh, Nijika felt really bad for Kita.
"This photo..."
I didn't pay attention last time.
But this time, the photo was right in front of her.
Even though it was a black and white photo.
But Hitori Gotoh realized, wasn't the person in front of her that girl from school with the red hair, the one who stood out so much?
She was a super-popular person!
A super popular figure in school.
Hitori Gotoh often saw her, going around with many girls from different classes, always in a group.
She was the kind of person Hitori Gotoh wouldn't even dream of becoming.
I didn't expect her to be ahead of me, even in forming a band.
Ugh, how frustrating…
"What's wrong? Do you know her, Ichiri?"
"Ah, yes. She's from our school."
"Oh!"
Nijika's eyes lit up.
"Then, could you ask Ichiri to contact Kita for me?
I can't get in touch with her at all."
"I'm worried something might have happened to her."
"No, nothing happened."
Thinking of the black and white photo, Nijika quickly corrected herself, covering her mouth.
"This… this…"
Bocchi-chan stammered, unable to speak.
Having her get close to this kind of person… she'd be reduced to ashes in an instant.
Ah, just thinking about it makes her want to melt.
"Ah! Ichiri, don't push yourself!"
Nijika was startled, then looked to Hakushu for help.
They were all from the same school.
If Ichiri couldn't do it, they'd have to trouble Hakushu.
Hakushu patted his chest and assured them,
"No problem, leave it to me and Bocchi."
Gotou Hitori gave him a grateful look.
Nijika's face lit up with a happy smile. As expected, Hakushu was the reliable one in this band!
"Right, until we find a vocalist, can anyone temporarily fill in?"
Hitori Gotou shook her head.
"If I were the vocalist, the band would become my own personal stage."
"Ryo, have you picked up your bass?"
Ryo Yamada: "..."
Nijika turned to the most reliable person, Hakushu.
Hakushu said, "We're a girl band, after all. Of course, a girl should sing."
"It's not a girl band!"
It's all her sister's fault.
Nijika looked towards the door, but Ijuin Seiko was already gone.
It seemed that before they found a vocalist, they should just focus on playing their instruments for now.