Hitori Gotoh closed her eyes, repeatedly muttering things like "I can't" and "I can't do it."
Regarding this...
Hakushu didn't intend to be soft.
For Bocchi-chan, she needed someone to push her.
So, Hakushu grabbed the Guitar bag behind Bocchi-chan and set off.
Soon.
They arrived at a street near Shimokitazawa.
They found a place that seemed to have decent foot traffic and a wide road.
Hakushu stopped.
He shook Hitori Gotoh's shoulder.
"Wake up, Bocchi-chan."
"We're here."
"Ah, yes!" Hitori Gotoh opened her eyes, still dazed.
However.
When she saw the crowd of people around them, her eyes turned into the shape of mosquito coils again.
"So… so many people…"
"That's why it's called a roadshow!"
Hakushu replied.
"Hurry up and get the Guitar out!"
Then, Hakushu was the first to take out his instrument.
Hitori Gotoh was also drawn to the scene.
She then realized that Hakushu hadn't brought out a keyboard, but a Bass.
Why a Bass?
This Bass looked a little familiar.
Hitori Gotoh instinctively opened her mouth and asked,
"Is this… Kita's Bass?"
"Yeah." Hakushu replied softly.
"Did you learn the Bass, Aku-kun?"
Hitori Gotoh was filled with confusion and curiosity.
If she remembered correctly, it was also a left-handed Bass.
So Hakushu-kun was left-handed?
Hakushu smiled and nodded.
"Yes, so I'm supporting you today."
"Supporting me?!"
Hitori Gotoh looked at Hakushu with disbelief.
It was as if she was saying, tell her this wasn't real, that it was a joke.
However, Hakushu then teased,
"Please carry me, Guitar Hero."
"P-please don't call me that…"
Hitori Gotoh's face fell.
She was thinking that with Hakushu's keyboard, she could just tag along and get by.
But now she was being told that she was the main act.
Hitori Gotoh had already envisioned in her mind,
that because their performance wasn't good enough.
They would be berated by the passersby, and even have apples thrown at them, and rotten eggs smashed on them.
That kind of thing, just thinking about it was terrifying, terrifying, terrifying!!!
"Alright, alright, stop shaking."
Hakushu said somewhat helplessly.
"You're making me dizzy."
Bocchi-chan finally stopped swaying her head back and forth awkwardly, then took out her Guitar.
Next.
She picked a popular song that Hitori Gotoh was more familiar with.
The two of them began to play.
Perhaps because they were just starting, there weren't many people watching.
Soon.
Hitori Gotoh found something was wrong.
Because she felt that Hakushu's Bass was actually better than her Guitar.
This seemed a little unreasonable?
Although she couldn't bring out her full strength.
But Hakushu didn't seem like a beginner either.
So, Hitori Gotoh looked at Hakushu with some disbelief.
"Hakushu-kun's Bass..."
Understanding Hitori Gotoh's doubts, Hakushu also asked,
"It's okay, right?"
He was also filled with emotion.
For the roadshow.
He had also prepared in advance.
Last night, he spent 1000 Note to exchange for a level 1 Bass.
It had to be said, the system was just that unreasonable.
Even though it was a left-handed Bass, and he wasn't left-handed, he could still use it with ease.
To the point where Hakushu felt as though he might actually be left-handed.
Or perhaps he was actually very musically talented?
"Mhm! Very impressive!"
Hitori Gotoh nodded firmly.
If that's the case, maybe she wouldn't get rotten eggs thrown at her!
If Hakushu knew what she was thinking, he'd probably want to crack open Hitori Gotoh's head to see what was inside.
Even though Hitori said it was impressive, Hakushu knew this was just the beginner level.
It seemed she was a little encouraged by this.
Hitori Gotoh slowly got into the groove.
Because Hakushu was cooperating with Hitori, their playing was also developing in a positive direction.
But.
Facing an audience right from the start was still too difficult for Bocchi-chan.
"There's no money on the ground, don't look at the floor."
"Yes…"
"Don't turn your head."
"Yes…"
"And definitely don't bury your head in your collar."
"Yes…"
Hakushu tried to persuade her again and again.
Bocchi-chan, on the other hand, would obediently listen every time.
But, after a while, she'd find new ways to avoid his gaze.
Taking a step back.
Hakushu said, "Watch me play."
Through the gaps in her bangs, she shifted her gaze to Hakushu.
Hitori Gotoh felt the tension in her heart ease up quite a bit.
Instead, because of Hakushu's repeated tolerance, she felt inexplicably at ease.
Slowly.
Hitori Gotoh could occasionally pay attention to Hakushu's movements and play along.
She wasn't completely lost in her own fantasy world.
Street corner.
Ikuyo Kita appeared, dragging a suitcase.
When she caught sight of Hakushu and Hitori Gotoh's performance.
Ikuyo Kita's eyes lit up, and her lips curled into a cat-like smile.
"Interesting."
Soon.
She walked to the street opposite the two of them and stopped.
She took out her old Guitar and plugged it into the amplifier.
Ikuyo Kita slid the pick in her hand and fiercely strummed the strings.
Immediately.
A restless Guitar sound quickly spread out.
Restless, yet refreshing.
This quickly attracted the attention of passersby.
Hakushu and Hitori Gotoh naturally noticed it as well.
"Hmm??"
The two paused briefly.
They looked at each other with a puzzled expression, understanding what was happening.
Besides them, someone else was also here to perform.
They looked across the street with doubt and curiosity.
Responding to Hakushu and Bocchi-chan was Ikuyo Kita's even more agitated and exquisite Guitar playing.
Following that.
The audience on their side surged forward, curiously moving towards Ikuyo Kita!
In an instant.
Ikuyo Kita was surrounded.
"Nice!"
Someone in the audience couldn't help but exclaim.
"Kita?"
Hakushu said, a little surprised.
Bocchi-chan also looked at Hakushu, somewhat at a loss, while secretly delighted.
Because the crowd watching had thinned out, her complexion had actually improved quite a bit.
As for Hakushu…
Seeing the flow of people heading towards Ikuyo Kita.
He couldn't help but grit his teeth.
This also ignited the competitive spirit within him.
No matter how you look at it, it seemed that he and Guitar Hero combined weren't as good as one person!
Damn it, this damned desire to win.
However.
What could he, just a bassist, do today!
Right now.
Hakushu and Bocchi-chan only had three female audience members in front of them.
One of them looked pretty rock and roll.
Her shoulder-length black hair was a bit flowing, with the ends slightly upturned, and the straight bangs on her forehead slightly to the left.
She had a leather collar with rivets around her neck,
and she wore a black, slim-fitting leather jacket and a silver-gray hip-hugging skirt.
Add to that the black Guitar case she was carrying in her left hand, and it was clear she played music too.
A composed expression.
It gave off a faint sense of pressure.
Hakushu's intuition told him.
Hmm, this one's a pro.
The other two were standing together, looking like college girls.
One with long hair, the other with short hair.
Hakushu knew.
If nothing unexpected happens, these two are probably going to be Hitori Gotoh's loyal fans number one and number two in the future.
"What should I do?"
Hakushu started to think.
Fans?
He quickly had an idea, and whispered to Hitori Gotoh,
"Bocchi-chan, you already have three fans. Are you going to disappoint them?"
"Fans?!"
Hitori Gotoh couldn't believe what she heard.
"Could I have something like that too?"
Even though she had over 30,000 followers on Guitar Hero online.
She never dared to hope that a live performance could attract fans.
Not to mention, her playing just now wasn't very good.
Hitori looked up at the three audience members in front of her, then quickly retracted her gaze.
"So, show them your Guitar Hero skills."
"Don't let them down."
Hakushu encouraged Hitori Gotoh as if he was brainwashing her.
His encouragement worked.
Fans…! Disappointment… ah…!
Several words echoed in Hitori Gotoh's mind.
Suddenly.
A surge of incredible energy burst from Hitori Gotoh's body, her hair flying up.
She stomped her right foot hard on the floor.
Her wrists were already moving rapidly.
A sudden transformation.
A sudden, beautiful melody.
Hachimantai Mirin, who hadn't been paying attention to Hitori Gotoh, was now intrigued.
The two female college students were already completely captivated by Bocchi-chan.
Hakushu was also taken aback. Bocchi-chan, you're bursting with energy.
"Yes, that's the spirit!"
This forced Hakushu to focus all his attention; now, he was the one struggling a bit.
Fortunately, the sound of the Guitar would eventually overpower the Bass.
Bocchi-chan, who had briefly unleashed her Guitar Hero skills, combined with Hakushu's rare left-handed Bass, worked hard together.
Successfully attracted a group of viewers back.