Chapter 124: Karaoke & Grades

“Wait, Nijika, first explain the details of this event.”

Ishikawa Hayato interjected.

Nijika then came to her senses, realizing she had been impulsive again.

She laughed awkwardly.

“Haha, you’re right…”

Nijika said, sitting down.

She looked towards Hitori and Kita and said to them,

“Bocchi-chan and Kita-chan probably don’t know about this event either.”

After all, one of them couldn't even distinguish between a guitar and a bass before joining the band, and the other wouldn't dare enter a livehouse without someone accompanying her.

She was specifically explaining it to the two of them.

Seeing them nod with curious expressions, Nijika explained, “The Circuit Festival is a grand event, like an amusement park, jointly organized by livehouses in a specific area. With just one ticket, you can visit all the livehouses participating in the festival.”

“This year, the event area is in Shinjuku, with a total of 12 participating venues. Performances start on August 18th and run for three consecutive days.”

Hitori and Kita were already dumbfounded.

“A music festival?”

Kita, still somewhat of an outsider, knew the name of a music festival.

Was it really okay to suddenly go to such a place after the experience with her last performance?

“Shinjuku…”

And Hitori, while thinking about the terror of a music festival, couldn’t help but tremble at the prospect of unlocking a new area.

The Shinjuku area was incomparable to Shimokitazawa.

It was full of towering buildings, and people were like a surging tide.

Even the demeanor of the people was different.

If people in Shimokitazawa were dazzling lights, then people in Shinjuku were colossal mountains.

Someone like her going there would be like an insect under an elephant's foot, destined to be trampled and crushed to death!

Both of them panicked.

“Many people will come this time, you know.”

Nijika looked at the two with a slight smile, observing Hitori’s reaction while reminding her.

Sure enough, this sentence was like a deadly poison, instantly making Hitori’s head snap back, her eyes roll back, and she sat stiff, frothing at the mouth.

But before Nijika could ask Ishikawa Hayato for help, she saw Hitori suddenly shiver and come back to her senses.

 Then Hitori looked down under the table.

Nijika didn’t bother with whatever small trick Ishikawa Hayato had pulled and calmly continued, “Because this music festival is an all-access pass—you buy one ticket and can visit all livehouses, it’s a really great deal. When it was held here in Shimokitazawa before, a lot of people really came.”

She repeated it again, reminding Hitori to prepare herself mentally.

Hitori came back to her senses, knowing that Nijika was speaking to her.

She nodded with a solemnly expression, her gaze resolute, as if she is prepared to risk her life.

Nijika was a little worried about what she might do, but she couldn't say anything before things even started.

She glanced at the others, ending her explanation.

“That’s roughly all the information about this music festival. The registration deadline is less than two weeks away, so we need to record and send the audio as soon as possible.”

After she finished, she looked at Ishikawa Hayato, confirming with him what needed to be done next.

While Nijika was speaking, Ishikawa Hayato quickly browsed the detailed information about the music festival on his phone.

After Nijika finished, he added, “There’s another point to note. Our last performance only lasted fifteen minutes because the manager gave us special treatment, but this time the performance requires half an hour.”

“We only have four songs right now, which isn’t enough time. We also need to consider some cover songs.”

Nijika complained helplessly,

“We haven’t even started registering, and we’re already preparing for this?”

Ishikawa Hayato checked the date on his phone.

Although registration was less than two weeks away, the performance date was also only a month and a half away.

“Since we plan to do it, we should aim to perform on stage. I believe in our strength.”

“Um…”

Hitori suddenly spoke up at this moment. 

The other four looked at her simultaneously, and she felt her body sink as if she could feel their gazes.

However, she answered calmly, though her voice still sounded unsure.

“Ryo-san gave me a song, and the lyrics are already done…”

Kita, sitting diagonally opposite Ishikawa Hayato, blinked.

She looked at Hitori and Ryo.

She hadn’t heard that Ryo had finished a song.

“Eh, when!?”

She was very surprised that these two had been communicating privately.

“Ah… ah…”

Hitori was a little nervous and hesitated, but Ryo explained for her.

“Last week.”

“Last week?” Ishikawa Hayato asked again, confirming with her.

Seeing that Ryo didn't deny it, he continued, “Wasn’t that during exams? Ryo, are you okay with your exams?”

Ryo smiled with an inexplicable sense of triumph.

She took out her exam paper from her bag, raising one hand high and gesturing for everyone to see with the other.

It was as if she had achieved some incredible results.

But except for Nijika, who sighed and didn't look, the other three stared blankly after seeing a distinct oval on it.

Ryo said with a smile, “Big problem.”

Ishikawa Hayato looked at Ryo’s exam paper, which had lyrics, melodies, and even several band names written on it, but nothing related to exam answers.

He wondered how high the teacher’s blood pressure was when he saw this paper.

Nijika pressed her forehead weakly, explaining to the three, “Don’t mind Ryo. Ryo is the type who only tries hard when she’s on the verge of being held back.”

Ishikawa Hayato didn’t know how to respond.

Using the threat of being held back as a deadline was too extreme, wasn't it? Such a rare species shouldn't form a type.

“If I study, I’ll forget my music knowledge, and if I play instruments, I can’t study.”

Ryo explained her behavior, but this explanation, combined with her calm face, made her seem a bit foolish.

“Ryo-senpai!?”

Upon hearing the ridiculous self-introduction, Kita cried out in horror.

Her idealized image of Ryo cracked a bit further. 

From originally being somewhat excessive but still wise and virtuous, with a cool temperament that appealed to both genders, and occasionally a god-like presence who looked after everyone, she transformed into… someone with a terrible personality, not smart, always dazed, only good-looking and good at playing the bass.

'But she was still the Ryo-senpai she admired who extended a helping hand when she was in trouble!'

She tried hard to protect her admiration for Ryo.

Seeing Kita’s struggling appearance, Nijika helplessly pressed Ryo’s shoulder, urging her to put away the exam paper.

“Putting Ryo aside for now, Kita-chan…”

As she spoke, due to her slight push, Ryo’s head wobbled, and a gurgling sound echoed.

Hearing this sound, Kita-chan guessed a terrifying possibility she dared not dwell on, and her eyes widened in a tremor.

Nijika was also very surprised.

She pushed Ryo again, and the gurgling sound came again.

“What is that sound?”

She concentrated on Ryo as Ryo subtly glanced at Ishikawa Hayato beside her, who was somehow making the sound for her, and she cooperatively showed a dazed expression.

Ishikawa Hayato also pushed Ryo with a puzzled look, and the gurgling sound rang out again.

He deliberately probed, saying, “Could it be…”

“Eek!!!” Kita shrieked in desperate despair, clutching her cheeks, and the sound of a broken heart followed.

“Stop it! Don’t ruin Ryo-senpai’s image anymore!!”

Seeing Kita’s breakdown, Ryo couldn’t help but laugh.

Nijika also realized that the sound earlier was Ishikawa Hayato’s doing.

Seeing Kita slumped on the table, looking utterly disillusioned, she felt a bit sorry for Kita.

Those two could sacrifice their self-image just for fun.

Nijika herself had suffered quite a bit from them in the past.

She quickly interrupted the two, asking Kita and Hitori, “Kita-chan and Bocchi-chan, what are your grades like?”

“Ah!”

Kita instantly sat up from her slump, her face flushed with embarrassment.

She glanced sideways, saying insincerely, “They’re… they’re okay, I’ve been spending too much practicing lately…”

Seeing her trying to evade the topic, Ishikawa Hayato pretended to suddenly remember something and said, “Oh, right, Kita, before the break, the teacher said you need to take a make-up exam next semester. You didn’t hear that, did you?”

After Ishikawa Hayato spoke, Kita stared at him blankly, looking surprised as if asking, “That happened?”

“No way!” she shrieked.

Nijika and Ryo silently watched the girl who had just wailed over Ryo’s poor grades.

Ishikawa Hayato smiled and pointed to her backpack beside her.

“Look at your own grades.”

Kita stiffly looked at her backpack, slowly taking out her exam paper.

She didn’t hide it, placing the paper, which scored less than thirty points, on the table, then buried her face like an ostrich.

Seeing this scene, Nijika felt her mood grow heavy. Although they all played music, they were still students.

At the very least, they needed to pass and avoid being held back.

However, Kita’s failure was due to practicing guitar and going out to play instead of studying.

Nijika had even seen photos of her on Instagram, playing with friends amidst her busy schedule.

Under these circumstances, it was normal for her not to pass.

However, Hitori didn’t go out to play, and she wasn’t like Kita, who started learning the guitar from scratch, so there shouldn’t be any problems, right?

She smiled and asked Hitori.

“What about Bocchi-chan?”

Hitori was staring blankly at Kita’s test paper.

Hearing Nijika’s words, she looked up at Nijika with a complicated feeling, as if with a hint of joy, and took out her test paper.

“Me too…”

She said, showing her single-digit score, with a happy smile on her face as if she had found a kindred spirit.

“Guh!”

Nijika clutched her chest and collapsed into her chair.

She didn’t understand why everyone’s answers were always outside her expectations.

Kita was very surprised by this.

Usually, people like Hitori, who rarely go out to play, should have good grades, shouldn't they? At least they should be above the passing grade.

She took Hitori’s test paper and looked at the questions.

But the sight made her heart sink.

Every blank on the test paper was filled, and all of them were wrong except for two multiple-choice questions.

And the traces of desperate attempts to answer them looked particularly heartbreaking.

Her small hands trembled.

“Ijiichi-senpai… Gotou-san’s situation is very bad…”

Although Kita was not qualified to say so, the situation really scared her.

Nijika glanced at Hitori, then leaned towards Kita to look at the test paper.

Seeing the earnest answers that were mercilessly negated, she fell silent for a moment.

“Gotou-san, let me see your notes…”

Kita wanted to confirm if Hitori had really studied hard and still only got this score.

She took the notes Hitori handed her and looked at them.

The neat and dense notes made her feel ashamed.

“The notes are also very detailed and serious.”

Hitori lowered her head, looking at the desk with a mournful gaze, and weakly explained.

“Ah… I did study hard before the exam, for what it’s worth.”

“For what it’s worth…” Apparently, she felt that her studying couldn’t be described as truly serious.

Nijika looked at Hitori’s appearance and hugged her from behind with affection, leaning against Hitori’s back and softly saying.

“Bocchi-chan, if you can’t make it in the future, I’ll take care of you.”

“Eh, ah… thank you.”

And while Nijika’s maternal love was overflowing, a thoughtful voice sounded from beside them.

“Hmm…”

Hearing Ishikawa Hayato’s voice, Nijika suddenly realized.

She met Ishikawa Hayato’s gaze and sharply conveyed with her eyes.

‘Treat Bocchi-chan well!’

Ishikawa Hayato patted his chest, indicating reassurance, but Nijika returned a very unconvinced look.

Immediately, Ishikawa Hayato saw that this had become a grade display convention, so he leaned down, reached into his backpack, and said at the same time.

“Even if everyone has shown theirs, then I also…”

Except for Hitori, everyone else knew Ishikawa Hayato had excellent grades, but they hadn’t actually seen them, so they couldn’t help but look on with curiosity.

Ishikawa Hayato quickly found the test paper in his backpack, then took it out, and the test paper slowly emerged from the backpack, as if breaking free from a seal, radiating thousands of golden rays.

The four girls stared at him in astonishment.

Ishikawa Hayato held the test paper with two fingers, the dazzling light illuminating the side of his face.

He lightly waved his hand, and the test paper landed directly on the table.

*Smack*

Instantly, a huge and mighty presence appeared above the test paper.

“Wha… what happened!?”

Nijika was dumbfounded.

After the giant presence disappeared, the four girls cautiously looked at the test paper.

“All perfect scores!?” Kita exclaimed.

“Is this what a pervert is?” Ryo’s calm voice carried admiration.

“Hayato is amazing.” Hitori said with admiration.

“Hehehe, it’s fine to praise me more.”

Praised by the girls, Ishikawa Hayato’s tail was almost wagging to the sky.

“Great, Hayato-kun, when the next semester starts, I’ll trouble you to tutor everyone.”

Nijika retaliated against Ishikawa Hayato for teasing her earlier, saying with a smile.

Ishikawa Hayato’s expression stiffened.

'Kita was fine, but Hitori and Ryo, these two hidden talents, would probably be difficult to handle.'

'Could he just not teach them and tell them that he'd take up responsibility to support them from now on instead?'

Although he thought that in his heart, as a pervert, he naturally had no choice but to press on.

“Leave it to me!”

He patted his chest to assure them, and at the same time, affirmed to the girls.

“But everyone is very rock.”

“This can’t be considered rock, it’s just simply bad at studying.”

Nijika sighed.

Fortunately, it was already summer vacation, so they could temporarily put aside studying, otherwise, there would be no time to participate in the music festival.

“No, this is rock. Musicians absolutely cannot have excellent grades.”

Ryo started with her outrageous claims again.

For a moment, Nijika’s mind flashed with many excellent musicians, but she didn’t name them one by one.

Instead, she silently pointed at Ishikawa Hayato.

Ryo looked at Ishikawa Hayato and said to Nijika.

“A pervert is also a type of rock.”

“Hey! Don’t just throw everything bad into rock!” Nijika retorted fiercely.

“After all that talk, what about your grades, Nijika?”

Ishikawa Hayato was curious how many people he would have to tutor later.

“I’m just average…”

After seeing Ishikawa Hayato’s grades, Nijika was embarrassed to say her own grades were decent.

Ishikawa Hayato found this phrasing familiar and asked.

“Like Kita’s?”

Kita smiled and looked at Nijika, her gentle smile as if she was ready to comfort Nijika.

Nijika looked blankly at the others.

Seeing that except for Ryo, who was secretly smiling, everyone else looked ready to gently accept her.

For some reason, she felt a surge of anger in her heart.

She took out her test paper, slapped it on the table, and crossed her arms with a huff.

But the reactions she got made her blood pressure rise.

“Eh, how ordinary.” Ishikawa Hayato said.

“Ijiichi-senpai is amazing, to be able to score such high grades.” This came from Kita.

“Mhm, mhm!” Hitori echoed Kita.

Being exaggeratedly praised for her good grades made Nijika feel dissatisfied instead.

She put away the paper and said, “Never mind the grades for now, the most important thing right now is the music festival, right? Let’s get back to the main topic!”