Chapter 31: Later

“Then next, let’s write songs. For our next performance, we’ll use our own songs.”

“Ryo can compose, and there are a lot of words that are taboo for Bocchi-chan, so let Bocchi-chan write the lyrics.”

Ishikawa Hayato sighed inwardly. Nijika was too gentle. Being too considerate of others would make it hard to progress.

Still, it was a stroke of luck, I suppose.

He looked at Bocchi-chan, whose expression was surprised. She was looking down as if bracing herself.

“How about it? Does this seem good?” Nijika asked her again, as if seeking confirmation.

Bocchi-chan nodded slightly.

Feeling that everything was starting to move forward and was no longer stifling, Kita Ikuyo eagerly said to Ryo,

“I’m really looking forward to Ryo-senpai’s compositions!”

Ryo replied calmly in her deep, steady voice,

“Hmm, look forward to it.”

“I’m counting on you, Ryo,” Nijika said with a genuine, small smile, then looked at Bocchi-chan beside her.

She said in a light, cute tone, “And our Minister of Lyrics~”

Kita Ikuyo, who had almost dealt Bocchi-chan a fatal blow earlier, also congratulated Bocchi-chan.

“Gotou-san, it’s really cool that you’re in charge of such an important task.”

“Cool?!” Bocchi-chan repeated in a surprised whisper, suddenly feeling giddy.

“Well, writing lyrics is a piece of cake, it couldn’t be any simpler.”

“I’m sure I can write super popular lyrics that feels like a real band.”

Kita Ikuyo said with a strained smile, “Gotou-san really gets carried away so easily…”

Ryo’s gaze became a little colder, fixed on the drink cup filled with orange juice.

Seeing that everything was going smoothly for Bocchi-chan, Nijika felt much more relaxed.

 She thought for a moment.

“Anything else…”

Kita Ikuyo raised her hand without hesitation and said, “If we need to manage our Instagram, leave it to me!”

Nijika replied without much thought, “That’s great! The duty of the Minister of Social Media is yours.”

“When it’s needed, I’ll update it daily!” Kita Ikuyo hugged her phone, looking happy as if she had found her place.

Ishikawa Hayato also raised his hand at this time.

“If we need to move instruments later, or if there are conflicts and fights, leave it to me. Without firearms, I can take on thirty people.”

“Then I’ll leave it to… huh?” Nijika’s words were cut short, suddenly stunned by Ishikawa Hayato’s last remark.

“Oh~ Very reliable.” Ryo seemed quite satisfied.

Anyone who had been in a band knew the sense of security of having such a top-tier bodyguard.

“No, no, we’re not that kind of rock band!” Nijika hastily tried to stop Ishikawa Hayato, who was about to take the conversation off track again.

Kita Ikuyo, who had witnessed Ishikawa Hayato’s strength, silently twitched the corner of her mouth.

Ryo then looked at Nijika, who had been assigning tasks since the beginning but hadn’t taken on any herself, and asked her,

“Nijika, what are you in charge of?”

As her words fell, the other four looked at Nijika.

Nijika also seemed bewildered and froze.

Time in the room seemed to have stood still.

Then, Nijika, with a cute, innocent look, picked up the dice, gently threw it, and loudly announced the face it landed on.

“Next up is the topic of targets~”

The member that always played the straight man escaped, and the member that took up the role, Ryo, has now taken the stage. She said, “Blatantly glossing over it…”

Ishikawa Hayato also said helplessly, “We’re back to this again...”

Even Kita Ikuyo didn’t know how to back up Nijika. She and Bocchi-chan both stared blankly at Nijika.

Under the helpless gazes of everyone, Nijika blushed and shouted, “A dr-drummer is like the lubricant of a band!”

“Are you an intern?” Ryo replied with a brilliant tsukkomi.

...

Nijika briefly explained the performance targets to the others, who had no understanding of performances.

“Simply put, we need to sell a portion of the tickets ourselves. If our revenue exceeds the target, we get a share from the venue, but if it’s not enough, we have to cover the difference ourselves.”

Ryo’s face took on a hint of gloom, and she said, with a look of not wanting to recall, “Simply put, it’s very expensive at first.”

Hearing what she said, Kita Ikuyo’s face turned pale, and she silently felt her wallet.

Since she bought her guitar, her available pocket money was already scarce, arguably at a critical point.

She could barely afford to hang out with friends anymore!

She had no choice but to get a part-time job, she silently decided.

She wasn’t the only one feeling the hardship, Nijika was too.

She sighed and said, “Many of my friends came to yesterday’s performance, so the tickets sold smoothly, but I don’t know if they’ll be willing to come next time…”

The more she spoke, the darker the future seemed, and she even lost the strength to sit up, swaying as if about to fall over.

Ryo, drawing on her past band experience, judged, “Yesterday’s performance was quite interesting.”

“But the playing was a mess…” Nijika knew her friends were somewhat satisfied with their performance, but she also felt inexplicably dissatisfied.

After all, they couldn’t always rely on Hayato-kun’s performance to carry the show, and they were a band, not a comedy duo.

Music was the main theme.

She didn’t even have the confidence to invite her friends anymore.

“Um… I can also call my friends over. How many people do we need?” At this moment, a voice like that of God offering salvation was heard beside her.

The tone was like the confidence of Jesus offering fish and bread, saying, “Take as much as you want. This fish and bread are inexhaustible.”

“Are you sure?!” Nijika perked up, looking at Kita Ikuyo.

“Yes! If I don’t call them, they’ll complain,” Kita Ikuyo thought of the scene with a helpless smile, then held her phone, looking ready, her eyes sparkling as she looked at Nijika.

“How many people should I call?”

Nijika was overwhelmed by this “normie” aura. It was a radiant aura far beyond her own!

She cautiously reported the minimum number, “About 20 people will do.”

“That’s all? I understand.” Kita Ikuyo indicated that this number was easy. She slightly raised the hand holding her phone, making a V-sign happily.

'Kita-chan!'

A bright light further radiated from her.

But the others had already started to adapt to this high concentration of normie aura and were not too harmed.

However, Ishikawa Hayato turned to look at Bocchi-chan beside him. She had been looking shaky, self-pitying, and in pain even before this light began to radiate brightly.

He reached out and poked Bocchi-chan’s cheek, which was almost turning to ash. She shivered, suddenly startled awake, and looked at Ishikawa Hayato fearfully.

Ishikawa Hayato smiled at her.

Nijika glanced at their actions, then continued happily, “But we also need to save up for other equipment fees and initial funds for the band. To cover these expenses, let’s get part-time jobs~!”

“Okay! Let's do it!” A response came from Kita Ikuyo, who was already planning to get a part-time job. Hearing Nijika suggest they all work together, she happily agreed, secretly glancing at Ishikawa Hayato.

But a sharp scream suddenly pierced the harmonious atmosphere.

“Part-time job?!” Bocchi-chan’s voice startled everyone except Ishikawa Hayato.

It also made Nijika, who had suggested the part-time job, anxious. She carefully asked Bocchi-chan, whose expression was starting to distort, “Bocchi-chan… what’s wrong?”

Bocchi-chan bowed her head deeply and didn’t answer Nijika’s question. After her body trembled for a while, she quickly picked up her shoulder bag and rummaged through it.

Then, she slowly held out a piggy bank.

The three girls looked at the jar with puzzled expressions.

Bocchi-chan, with tears welling in her eyes, said in a hushed, pleading voice.

“This is the money my mom saved for my wedding…”

“Take all of this instead, but please… please don’t make me work part-time.”

After she finished, she bowed her head solemnly, her entire being exuding supplication, a sight that evoked pity.

Nijika froze for a moment, then quickly retorted.

“Are you taking us for demons?”

Across from Bocchi-chan, Ryo calmly extended her hand. “Thank you, I will accept it with due reverence…”

Kita watched in disbelief as Ryo actually reached out to take it.

But before her hand could touch the piggy bank, Nijika slapped it hard, producing a loud sound, and Ryo winced in pain, retracting her hand.