Marin couldn't help but widen her eyes, staring at her cousin in disbelief. Ikuyo thought Marin was shocked by her words and quickly said: "I'm not speaking ill of your friend, it's just a feeling, you know? When I saw this guy named Renjou, my intuition told me he's a playboy. Such men can't be trusted, cousin."
Marin patted her cousin's shoulder. "Say no more, I believe you."
Ikuyo covered her mouth in surprise. Her cousin trusted her so much—she was deeply moved.
But the next moment, she saw Marin turn back and say to Kael: "Renjou-kun, my cousin says you're a playboy."
Ikuyo froze instantly. She hadn't expected her cousin to repeat her words directly to the man himself. At that moment, she wished she could crawl into a hole. It was mortifying.
When Kael turned his gaze toward her, Ikuyo forced a stiff smile. "Um… I…"
Just as she was about to apologize, Kael said: "Your cousin judges people well."
Huh? Ikuyo was stunned. Had he just admitted something shocking?
Marin laughed and patted her cousin. "Don't worry, Renjou-kun being a playboy isn't something he hides."
"What?" Ikuyo was confused, unable to process it.
Hadn't her cousin fallen for this man? She thought Marin was being deceived. But now it seemed Marin knew he was a playboy and still stuck with him. That was… too much.
"Cousin, are you just playing around with him?" If so, Ikuyo had to admit her gyaru cousin was terrifying.
But Marin replied lightly: "Of course not. I really like Renjou-kun. If possible, I want to marry him someday."
Ikuyo panicked, grabbing Marin's shoulders and shaking her. "Wake up, cousin! He admitted it himself—he's a playboy!"
"Don't worry, I know." Marin held her cousin's hands, calming her. "But Renjou-kun has his reasons."
"No matter the reason, being a playboy is wrong." Ikuyo didn't understand complicated logic, but she knew playboys were bad. She wanted her cousin to leave him.
But Marin wasn't easily persuaded. Once she decided something, she wouldn't change her mind.
The three left the station and arrived at the Starry Music Bar in Shimokitazawa. Even though Ikuyo argued all the way, Marin didn't change her mind. Ikuyo grew frustrated and resentful—directed entirely at Kael. She couldn't understand what he had done to her cousin to make her stay despite knowing he was a playboy.
Inside the bar, there were few people. It hadn't officially opened yet, so only a few staff were present. The owner, Ijichi Seika, and a sound engineer. The rest were members of Kessoku Band.
Shimokitazawa's angel, Ijichi Nijika, the band's leader and drummer. The eccentric Yamada Ryo, bassist and composer. And finally, the true heroine of Bocchi the Rock!—the online guitar hero, the ultimate introvert in reality. Gotō Hitori, nicknamed Bocchi. She was the lead guitarist and lyricist.
Though a beautiful girl, she avoided salons, so her hair grew long, bangs covering her eyes. Preferring dark places and rarely going out, her skin was paler than others. She always wore sportswear, hiding her graceful figure.
"Cousin, let me introduce my bandmates: leader Ijichi Nijika, bassist Yamada Ryo, and guitarist Bocchi."
"This is my cousin, Kitagawa Marin, a student at Toyogasaki Academy. She came today to support us."
Marin's eyes sparkled as she greeted them warmly. "Hello, everyone in Kessoku Band! I'm Kitagawa Marin. Please take care of me."
Nijika nodded politely. "Hello, Kitagawa-senpai."
"No need to call me senpai. I'm only a month older than Ikuyo." Marin laughed.
Nijika realized. "I see."
Ryo nodded slightly in greeting.
Only Gotō Hitori shrank back at Marin's enthusiasm. No wonder—she was Ikuyo's cousin, just as cheerful. Exactly the type Bocchi struggled with.
When Marin's gaze turned to her, Bocchi grew nervous. "H-hello…"
Nijika quickly explained: "Sorry, Marin-san. Bocchi is just shy and struggles with strangers. She's actually very kind."
Marin said: "So Bocchi is socially anxious?"
Nijika was startled. "How did you know?"
Could Marin see Bocchi's true nature at a glance?
Marin looked at Kael. If he hadn't mentioned it, she wouldn't have known Bocchi was socially anxious. Everyone followed her gaze to Kael.
He looked at Hitori Gotō and said: "Long time no see, Gotō-san."
Yes, Kael knew her. Or rather, his former self did. They had been classmates in junior high. Kael only realized this after inheriting his predecessor's memories.