A little after nine in the morning.
Shimokitazawa Park.
The air was fresh, and the sunlight was perfect, lifting one's spirits.
Hakushū ate a donut he bought for breakfast, waiting for Gotō Hitori.
This place had become their designated meeting spot.
They had agreed to meet at ten o'clock.
But he had arrived early.
Soon.
A hunched figure, somewhat furtive, quietly appeared.
Gotō Hitori looked down, her deep blue eyes, shadowed with dark circles, glancing at her phone. It wasn't even ten o'clock yet.
Whew, she thought, relieved.
She'd stayed up late last night trying to write lyrics.
The result? Not only had she failed to write any lyrics, but she'd also suffered from insomnia.
If her mom hadn't woken her up this morning, she didn't know when she would have finally gotten out of bed.
However.
Just as Gotō Hitori was secretly relieved, she looked up.
Hakushū's figure, sitting in the park, entered her field of vision.
Hitori screamed in fright, her body turning into a mess of gibberish.
A creature as insignificant as her, like a paramecium.
How could she make someone wait for her?!
Gotō Hitori couldn't help but start berating herself internally.
In an instant.
Hearing the scream, Hakushū was already in front of Gotō Hitori.
"Bocchi-chan, you're here!"
However, what Hakushū received in response was Gotō Hitori's hurried apologies.
"Ah! I'm so sorry, I'm so sorry, I'm so sorry..."
Gotō Hitori was skillfully bowing repeatedly.
Hakushū was slightly taken aback.
Even though he was gradually getting used to Bocchi-chan's strange behavior.
He was still somewhat bewildered.
"Why the apology right off the bat?"
"You didn't do anything wrong."
"Stop, stop, stop! Hold on a second, Bocchi-chan." Hakushū stopped Gotō Hitori's actions, then asked with a puzzled look, "What are you apologizing for?"
"I...I'm late," Gotō Hitori explained in a small voice.
Hearing this, Hakushū checked the time.
Then he just smiled.
"Bocchi-chan, it's only 9:45, and we agreed to meet at ten."
"So you're not late, we're just early."
Yes.
Hakushū had already anticipated this, knowing Bocchi-chan's personality.
After agreeing on a time, there was a high probability she would arrive early.
To avoid her waiting too long, Hakushū came here early to eat breakfast.
Gotō Hitori relaxed a little. "But I made you wait."
Hakushū waved his hand. "I just got here myself."
"Besides, friends don't mind these things."
Hearing the word "friends," Gotō Hitori replied softly, "Thank you..."
"By the way, did you eat breakfast?"
Hakushū employed the tactic of changing the subject.
Thinking about how long it took Gotō Hitori to arrive, he instinctively thought she might not have eaten breakfast.
Fortunately, there were plenty of donuts.
Gotō Hitori answered truthfully, "I did."
"I see..." Hakushū was a little disappointed.
However, under the sweet aroma of the donuts,
Gotō Hitori's stomach let out an untimely protest.
"Goo-goo-goo…"
Hakushū looked at Gotō Hitori with suspicion. She was actually lying to his face.
Gotō Hitori covered her stomach, feeling embarrassed, and explained anxiously, "I really did eat!"
She really had eaten.
Gotō's mother had prepared breakfast.
However, Gotō Hitori, wanting to arrive early, hadn't eaten much before leaving.
Hakushū chuckled and didn't mind. He then gave the donut to Bocchi-chan.
Gotō Hitori wanted to refuse, but under Hakushū's firm gaze, she had no choice but to accept.
The unexpected flavor was pretty good.
However, the fact that they were alone together made Hitori feel a bit awkward.
At Hoshifuru Practice Room, everyone was around, and she could talk less to reduce her presence.
Then.
While Gotō Hitori was eating a donut.
Hakushū also took a look at Hitori's outfit today.
She wasn't wearing those overly long pink sweatpants on her lower half.
She was still wearing that loose pink jacket on her upper half.
That's quite rare.
Hakushū thought for a moment. Perhaps he should get Bocchi-chan to learn how to dress normally.
Bocchi-chan can't stand being looked at, but with her odd attire, she actually attracts attention easily.
Although she herself isn't aware of it.
Furthermore, changing one's appearance, showing off, and boosting self-confidence are also ways to overcome social anxiety.
"By the way, how are the lyrics coming?" Hakushū suddenly asked.
Gotō Hitori's hand, holding a donut, stiffened. "I, I haven't finished them yet."
"It's okay, let me see."
Accepting the notebook that Bocchi-chan had handed over with great reluctance, Hakushū praised,
"This signature design is pretty good! I think this 'bocchi' is great."
The notebook was filled with Gotō Hitori's various original signature designs for herself.
For example, Gotō, Gotō Hitori, Hitori, gotch, bocchi…
Speaking of which, he had also racked his brains to design signatures like these when he signed light novels before.
"I think so too, ehehe…" Pleased with the praise, Gotō Hitori was very happy.
However, she soon realized something was wrong.
"I made a mistake!"
Gotō Hitori fumbled to the correct page.
Hakushū examined it closely.
The notebook was filled with Bocchi-chan's songwriting.
Cheerful, sparkling, becoming a band…
Gotō Hitori asked nervously,
"W-what do you think?"
Hakushū nodded, then shook his head.
"From the perspective of a normal song lyric, it's fine."
"But—"
Gotō Hitori looked at Hakushū nervously.
"Bocchi-chan wants to write lyrics that are popular, and that also suit Kita's singing, right?"
"The result is that the lyrics are too deliberate, and end up seeming strange."
"I think Bocchi can write even better lyrics."
"I can write better lyrics?"
Gotō Hitori murmured to herself, feeling very unsure.
Hakushū nodded with complete confidence.
"Why do you trust me so much?"
Hitori couldn't help but ask.
Being trusted like this moved her deeply, but also filled her with shame, because she didn't think she could do it at all.
Hakushū thought for a moment, then stopped pretending and said directly,
"Because you are Guitar Hero."
Pretending not to know that Guitar Hero was Gotō Hitori herself didn't really make sense.
It was better to just say it outright and fully affirm her ability.
Instantly.
Gotō Hitori felt a "buzz" in her brain, and her thoughts became a jumbled mess.
Oh no, they've doxxed me!
It's over! My life is over!
I'm going to be roasted online!
Summoning the last of her courage, Gotō Hitori trembled as she asked,
"H-h-how... how did you know?"
After she finished speaking, Gotō Hitori covered her mouth in panic.
She was filled with endless self-reproach.
She's practically confessing! At least try to deny it!!
Hakushū couldn't help but laugh, and said with helplessness,
"You don't think you've hidden it very well, do you?"
"Isn't that right?"
Gotō Hitori didn't understand.
...Hakushū's lips twitched.
"The exact same guitar, the exact same pick, and occasionally, the pink tracksuit peeking out..."
Hakushū listed the things in Gotō Hitori's videos that would give her away.
Gotō Hitori's face grew paler and her body weaker the more she listened.
She'd always thought she was hiding things so well!
She'd even been smug about it.
"Actually, Stellar Song's Manager suspects you too."
Another bombshell landed in Gotō Hitori's heart.
Hitori clutched at her wildly pounding heart.
"It probably won't be long before Nijika figures it out too."
Hitori felt the invisible blade on her chest dig deeper.
This made her brain gradually shut down.
"I'm sorry, Guitar Hero is actually someone like me... everyone must be so disappointed!"
Gotō Hitori said with a mournful expression.
"Why would that be?" Hakushū asked back. "Quite the opposite, we're lucky to be in a band with Guitar Hero."
"No one will have any prejudice because of your personal image."
Hitori tentatively asked, "Really?"
Hakushū nodded.
But obviously, Gotō Hitori couldn't believe it so easily.
Hakushū explained,
"Don't worry, Bocchi-chan. I won't tell anyone until you're ready."
"And I can cover for you."
"So, be confident."
Gotō Hitori looked at Hakushū gratefully.
Back to the lyrics.
"So, use your Guitar Hero skills to write the lyrics!" Hakushū said.
"But I still don't have any ideas," Bocchi-chan said shyly.
"Aren't you good at writing gloomy, melancholic lyrics?"
That was true, but hearing it from someone else still made Bocchi-chan feel a little sad.
Seeing her expression, Hakushū comforted her.
"Don't worry, maybe you'll get inspired today."
"Okay…"
After Gotō Hitori finished her donut.
Hakushū stood up and said.
"Let's go."
"Where are we going?"
"Street Performance!"
Hakushū said matter-of-factly, turning to look at Bocchi-chan with a puzzled expression.
Didn't I tell her about this the other day?
"Waaah!"
Gotō Hitori recalled the terrifying memory.
The other day, after hearing they were going to perform on the street, she fainted.
When she woke up, her brain seemed to have automatically deleted the memory that filled her with such fear.
Bocchi-chan started shaking her head back and forth.
"I can't do that kind of thing. I can't, can't, can't..."