Chapter 25: Performance (5) (Part 3)

“Hayato-kun, even if you don't value yourself, you can't commit such illegal acts!”

“Yes, I’m sorry.”

Ishikawa Hayato changed into normal clothes and knelt on the ground, obediently listening to Nijika’s lecture.

Nijika stood with her hands on her hips, speaking sternly to Ishikawa Hayato.

“You've already committed an act of public indecency, do you know that? It’s fine here, but if you did that on stage and someone called the police, Hayato-kun would be arrested!”

“I am guilty.”

Ishikawa Hayato bowed his head and meekly agreed, repenting obediently. But after speaking, he suddenly remembered someone.

Then, he no longer maintained his obedient expression of listening to the lecture. He took out his phone from his pants pocket and searched.

'Hmm, sure enough, there was such a thing.'

Amidst Nijika’s puzzled expression, he showed her his phone.

“But performing in underwear, that’s rock, right?”

Nijika stared at the concert crowded with people on Ishikawa Hayato’s phone, and that striking white pair of shorts, dumbfounded. Her red eyes held immense confusion.

Ryo knew what Ishikawa Hayato was talking about without even looking. She affirmed, “Yes, that’s rock.”

Beside her, Hitori had already hidden inside the cardboard box and was motionless.

“Hey!” Nijika quickly stopped Ryo’s words, which were only fueling Ishikawa Hayato’s audacity.

But after hearing Ryo’s affirmation, Ishikawa Hayato believed he was not wrong and stood up.

Under the gazes of Nijika and Ryo, who were focused on him, he stared at his pants, inserted his hand into his waistband, and looked conflicted.

“What are you going to do?”

Nijika asked urgently and warily.

“Because it’s rock, and I’m a pervert, then going a bit overboard should be fine, right? I can…”

“No, you can’t!”

Nijika was so anxious that tears welled up, and she screamed, her face flushed…

...

Kita Ikuyo hesitated by the Shimokitazawa station.

Her cheerful expression had completely vanished. She gazed distantly in the direction of STARRY.

Although she was also afraid that Ishikawa-kun would post her apology online and buy traffic to pin it.

After all, Ishikawa Hayato always seemed like someone who wouldn't dare to do anything.

But more than that, she was concerned about… the performance having issues.

If the Kessoku Band’s performance was ruined because of her, she would regret it for the rest of her life.

After much deliberation, she couldn't help but think of Ishikawa Hayato’s sly smile.

'Honestly! Ishikawa Hayato, you just wait!'

...

As the performance began, Seika, now free, leaned against the bar, watching the Kessoku Band, who were about to go on stage, with some tension and unease.

A guitarist they pulled in at the last minute—and they barely had time to rehearse and adjustment before taking the stage.

It just felt… very unsettling.

And even though Nijika seemed cheerful, Seika knew that her younger sister was surprisingly fragile inside.

She regretted it a little.

She shouldn’t have so casually agreed to Nijika going on stage.

As footsteps echoed on the stage, her gaze towards the stage momentarily lost focus.

She saw Ryo and Ishikawa Hayato helping to carry a cardboard box, labeled 'ripe mango,' onto the stage. From the bottom of the lifted box, it was clear there was someone inside.

Seika covered her face.

But then, a person wearing a mask, sunglasses, and a hat, looking like they were about to commit a robbery, appeared at the bar, right in front of her, startling her.

Why are there so many strange people today?

“I want to watch Kessoku Band’s performance.”

The strange person said, handing over money.

Hearing the voice, Seika immediately recognized the person.

She wasn't angry or annoyed; she simply took the money, then pulled out a yogurt, and waved her hand, signaling her to go in quickly… After helping to connect the power and briefly testing the sound, Nijika signaled the lighting technician in the corner.

The lights came on.

The audience, who had already been murmuring in surprise, now saw clearly and began to exchange interesting whispers.

“A mango box?” “A new way for bands to perform?”

Just as Nijika was about to introduce the Band, she suddenly saw Ishikawa Hayato walking over. She immediately watched him warily.

But Ishikawa Hayato leaned in and asked, “Leader, can I open the show?”

Nijika said cautiously, “Don’t do anything strange!”

“Trust me.”

Ishikawa Hayato said with a reliable smile.

Nijika pondered for a moment, her expression relaxing slightly, but then she heard Ishikawa Hayato say, “Nijika, Kita is still a member of the band, right?”

Nijika blinked, not understanding his intention, and simply replied, “Of course.”

…“Good evening! Nice to meet you, we are Kessoku Band.”

Ishikawa Hayato walked to the front of the stage, took the microphone from the side, and spoke to the audience.

“Although it’s a bit strange, let’s just introduce our members directly.”

He waved his hand broadly, gesturing to the back, pointing at a surprised and bewildered Nijika.

“Our Leader, Drummer, energetic and cheerful, yet with a motherly aura—Ijichi Nijika~”

Nijika immediately blushed at his antics, glaring at him with an expression that said, ‘What nonsense are you spouting?’

I really shouldn't have agreed to him!

Then, noticing the audience’s gaze, she shyly waved her hand at the stage.

The audience’s mood also seemed to be stirred by Ishikawa Hayato’s antics.

Many of Nijika’s friends even teasingly shouted, “Nijika~”

By the bar, Seika showed a slight smile, propping her face with the other hand.

Ishikawa Hayato continued the introductions. He walked with the microphone to Ryo’s side, leaning on her shoulder.

“On bass, the cool, aloof, lone eccentric—Yamada Ryo~~”

And Yamada, just as he introduced her, didn't even change her expression in this embarrassing situation. She nodded slightly, then performed a solo that surprised the audience.

Afterward, Ishikawa Hayato said with a smile, “By the way, she quite likes being called an eccentric.”

Then he walked to the center of the stage, pointing his thumb at himself.

“On keyboard, the free-spirited, joyful pervert—Ishikawa Hayato. Well, no need to say much about a guy.”

He smiled, then walked towards the cardboard box that had been shaking since the beginning… It’s… it’s my turn?

Although Hitori had just been thinking about the thunderous “Hitori! Hitori!” cheers from the audience when she was introduced.

But when it was actually her turn, she started to get scared.

'Please, please skip me.'

*Tap, tap*

The sound of a hand tapping the cardboard box.

Similar to the previous tapping on the wall.

Then came Ishikawa Hayato’s lowered voice.

“Gotou-san, it’s just the two of us now. Please play for me, something cool.”

'Lies, we’re clearly on stage now.'

Hitori hesitated, pressing the strings and holding the pick inside the semi-dark cardboard box.

As she wavered, she heard no urging, but she remembered Ishikawa Hayato’s gentle expression during lunch break.

Gradually, she felt as if there was a false, but walkable, path, steadily awaiting her advance.

Nijika-chan, Ryo, Ishikawa-kun.

In such a short time, she had met so many kind and gentle people.

Gotou Hitori tried to deceive herself… 

The Guitar solo, which had silenced the audience, ended.

*Clap, clap, clap.*

Ishikawa Hayato clapped, then cheered loudly.

“Guitar! The mysterious unknown girl making a surprise appearance—Bocchi!!”

A round of responsive applause erupted from the audience.

But his introduction wasn’t over yet.

“And finally, our idiotic vocalist.”

With Nijika and Ryo looking on in surprise, Ishikawa Hayato stretched out his hand, pointing vaguely to a corner of the audience.

“Running around, doing whatever she pleases—Kita!”

Kita was stunned in the audience.

She had snuck in during the lights-out period. How could she have been discovered?

Then she recalled that Ishikawa-kun had just called her by her surname, Kita.

'Could it be…'

Her thoughts immediately exploded, rapidly recalling her interactions with Ishikawa Hayato over the past few days.

Finally, she looked up at Ishikawa Hayato on the stage, wearing that mischievous grin, as if inviting her to join him in embarrassment.

She really had been… tricked.

She looked at the others.

 Ijiichi-senpai looked at her with surprise, then expectation. Ryo-senpai, after meeting her gaze, nodded.

Finally, she met the eyes of that pervert, with his awful personality, cunning, strange behavior, and fearlessness.

Under the inviting gazes of the three, she hesitated.

Could she still go back?

She had done such a thing—but they were inviting her.

She couldn't play the guitar—but he said 'vocalist'.

She… she… Kita Ikuyo lowered her head and weaved through the crowd, taking off her mask, glasses, and hat, then ducked under the barrier and walked to the front of the stage.

Ishikawa Hayato bent halfway and extended his hand.

Kita Ikuyo took it.

Then, with his pull and her stepping on the edge of the stage, she climbed onto the stage, but as her other foot hadn't yet landed, she slipped.

“Eh.”

But she didn't fall.

Instead, the quick-witted Ishikawa Hayato grabbed her hand, put his arm around her back, and pulled her onto the stage.

“Be careful.”

Ishikawa Hayato reminded her with a smile, then walked to the center of the stage, picked up the microphone, and ended the announcement with a single sentence.

“And now, ‘Guitar, Loneliness and Blue Planet’ is about to begin.”