Chapter Text
The sound of wind blows past Hitori's ear, synthesizing a small disorganized musical rhythm. A composition of her loneliness with nothing but the sounds of wind to accompany her.
On the other hand, Nijika, in need of a guitarist to perform after her current one ran away spots the guitar on Hitori's back
"gasp OH MY GOD GUITAR?!" The blonde extravert squeaks at Hitori.
Hearing the scream, Hitori squeaked in fear, not expecting it. Then she saw Nijika quickly approaching her, seemingly to talk. Oh god, oh god, what should she say? How should she say it? Hitori was more nervous than usual.
"Is the guitar real?" Nijika asked, but Hitori didn't answer. "Can you play?" Hitori couldn't say anything again, not even string words together. "Oh, sorry for scaring you! I'm an 11th-grade student at Shimokitazawa, Nijika Ijichi!" Nijika decided to introduce herself, but Hitori didn't say anything again.
While Nijika was waiting, someone touched her shoulder. She shuddered and turned around, seeing a girl in front of her who looked a bit like Hitori, only with shorter dark pink hair and was wearing a gray hoodie. There was a case attached to his back, and it looked like it wasn't from a guitar, but from another musical instrument. Nijika realized that it looked like she was the sister of the girl on the swing!
Saburo picked up the phone and quickly started typing. He then turned the screen towards Nijika so she could read what was written. "Hello there! Sorry if I scared you, my name is Saburo Gotoh and that's my little sister Hitori Gotoh and we're both in the 10th grade at Shuka High! I've heard your name before so no need to repeat myself ^^. You seem to have some business with my sister, if you don't mind, why do you need Hitori?" that's what was written. To be honest, he writes quite cheerfully and even a little childishly, although Saburo looks quite unapproachable and a little gloomy.
Nijika paused for a moment, not very much expecting such an excitable response from such an emo looking ‘girl’.
“Ahh errr…I saw the guitar case on your sister’s back and I wanted to ask for any guitarist to play for my band…”
She loses her words for a moment, taking in Saboru’s mysterious musical instrument case a little more before suddenly jolting when she realizes that she’s staring.
“Oh! And I know it’s a big big ask but please please please let me explain!!! My band really needs a guitarist all of a sudden! My current one just disappeared!”
The blonde clasps her hands together, begging and pleading with Saboru and Hitori. Her expression being a mix of anticipation and desperation.
Nijika’s interest is also piqued in whatever Saboru is carrying and why they are not talking but instead communicating like a mute person. Still, her priority is to recruit a guitarist here and now!
“Please?!”
Hitori, hearing Nijika's request, began to think about this proposal. This is a great chance to finally become famous. But, performing on stage, especially when people are watching you. But, her brother is nearby, and she won't be performing today, so she took a deep breath and then exhaled, preparing herself.
“I’ll t-try! O-okay!” Hitori said, unintentionally loudly, and then realized what happened, blushing slightly from embarrassment.
Saburo had already started typing that his sister wouldn't be able to do it and had already come up with an excuse, but he lowered his phone and looked at Hitori with a surprised look. He was actually proud and happy for his sister. However, no one could see this surprise and joy due to the inability to express his emotions, although Nijika was currently busy with Hitori.
“Thank you, thank you, thank you so much! I thought I would have to cancel the concert today, but you just saved me!” Nijika said happily with new hope. The blonde took Hitori's hand and walked quickly with her.
“Wait, today? I thought the concert was for another day!” Her thoughts quickly flashed, but because everything was happening too fast, she couldn't say anything. Saburo was also typing his consent on his phone, and when he realized that the girls had already left, he had to run after them, holding his synthesizer behind his back. Saburo is certainly not an athlete, but since Nijika and Hitori hadn't gone that far, he caught up with them.
The three of them had already reached the Shimokitazawa area. Nijika was walking ahead, still holding Hitori's hand, and Saburo was walking next to his sister, leg over leg. The aura of twins was clearly felt from them.
"Look! There's our live-house! Isn't it exciting? My sister's the manager you know~?" The ever-cheerful tone of this blonde never seems to cease, especially when talking about her beloved music sanctuary.
Nijika points towards the little stairway leading downwards.
The live-house is situated between an urban building and the road, an innocent and small homemade strip of plants and dirt separated from the road and the dip.
The blonde giddily walks down the stairs, her steps filled with excitement
Nijika looks back for a moment, observing the two before striking up some conversation
"So what instrument are you carrying? Saburo? It's so big and chunky and that's the kind of caseI've never seen before!" The enthusiasm in her voice is clear
"Also, It'd be nice to know why you're talking through a phone? Certainly is it surprising for such a metal and emo girl to have speaking issues? Still-"
Nijika opens the live-house doors as she talks
"-I don't really mind, I think you'd get along great with our bassist! She's basically a weirdo...for some reason she takes pride-"
"Sup." Another voice rings out from behind both Hitori and Saburo, potentially startling them both with the interruption
"Hey Ryo! Don't just pop out of nowhere like that! You'll scare away our replacement guitarists!" Nijika groans in an exasperated tone, before taking a better look at Ryo
"And make a better first impression! Eating grass in front of...Right, I'll introduce them."
Nijika rips the weeds Ryo was eating right out of her mouth in one exaggerated motion.
"This right here is Hitor- HEY PAY ATTENTION!"
Nijika accurately points out when Ryo is zoning out
"Hey Nijika, after the concert can you get me some takoyaki?"
"Eh???!!!"
"Nijika, I'm starving please-"
"-Okay, fine."
"Thank you, I love you."
Ryo plants a small kiss on Nijika's cheek, smirking while doing so.
That smirk is quickly knocked off the blue-headed bassist's face as Nijika picks up drum-sticks and begins chasing Ryo.
Eventually, they calm down, managing to tire each other out before the concert even begins.
The chemistry between the bassist and drummer of the band is immediately clear by how they interact.
Ryo has short blue hair with two black square hair clips on the right side of her bangs and yellow eyes, with a mole on her left cheek.
The Gotoh siblings stood near the ramp and watched the funny sight of Nijika chasing after Ryo. Saburo was amused to see the blonde first mistake his real gender, and then it was amused to see her chasing after the blue-haired girl. However, the most the others could hear was a dry chuckle that seemed like annoyance to them.
Hitori? She was in her head most of the way, occasionally sniffing Nijiki's hair because it smelled nice, and she sniffed moth repellent and that's all. Seeing Nijiki and Ryou interacting with each other made Hitori feel better for a moment, because it seemed like they weren't bad girls. But remembering that she had to perform TODAY, Hitori's heart started beating too fast, literally jumping out of her chest. "Oh my god, oh my god, what if I fail? They'll hate me, right? Of course they will, they'll hate me and they'll tell everyone else and it'll be like "look, a girl who lied and can't play the guitar!" While imagining the bad scenarios of Hitori's event, she didn't notice Saburo lightly grabbing Hitori's shoulder. Although others could only see Saburo's indifference, Hitori could understand what her brother wanted to say. To calm her down and instead of thinking about the bad, start thinking about her goal and dream.
“Mm..h-hello to you… Ryo.” Nijika and Ryo turned to Hitori after they finished running. Even though the pink-haired girl was scared and awkward, she continued. “I-I am H-Hitori Gotoh.. I-I can play the guitar..um..mhm..y-yes..” that's all Hitori could say.
After Hitori introduced herself, Saburo had already written a message on his phone and showed it to both girls. “And I am a twin, Saburo Gotoh, and now you saw how my beloved Hito-chi spoke (o^▽^o). And now, answering your question, Ijichi-chan, I play the synthesizer! And why don’t I speak? I’m embarrassed by my voice, it’s very, very scary (╥^╥). So please, please, I beg you, don’t make me speak, otherwise I’ll be offended at you (⇀‸↼‶).” This is what Saburo wrote and it actually looks very surreal. Emo-girl, writes quite cheerfully and childishly, and she looks like a younger sister, not a twin sister.
And then Nijika had one thought "Maybe... I shouldn't have called them?" But there was no time to find another guitarist, so we'll have to make do like this.
Ryo glares at the two unknowingly while trying to acknowledge Saburo and Hitori's introductions.
Nijika speaks for Ryo, realizing that Ryo definitely won't come off as welcoming for these two strange personalities.
"This is Ryo. Ryo Yamada! She's the bassist of our group! Feel free to call out her weird antics, she enjoys it." Nijika turns to face Ryo.
"No."
Ryo said half-heartedly, smirking while doing so. Nijika stares, half-amused and half annoyed.
Saburo, as expected, simply waved his hand as a sign of introduction. And Hitori only nodded shyly, quietly saying "n-nice to meet you."
A moment of pause follows before the dorito speaks up again.
"Ahh well, no time like the present!"
With a shake of her head, wiping away thoughts of "Maybe I could have picked someone better.".
Nijika takes a moment to catch her breath after the running and eagerly leads the entire party of Ryo, Hitori and Saburo into the live-house
"Good morning!"
The drummer cheerfully greets the people who are currently present at STARRY, mostly being other bands.
"Well, this is STARRY! Whaddya think? Cool Right?!"
The live-house is a predominantly black area, a few chairs and tables strewn the floor around the area.
Saburo looked at the interior layout of STARRY, it was actually his first time in such a place. It was more pleasant to be in such a semi-dark and rather pleasant atmosphere than being outside with the sun blinding you. You could only hear his sigh. Hitori could tell it was peaceful.
For Hitori, it was also her first experience in such a place and her thoughts were similar to Saburo's, but she didn't hesitate to say "Yes, I'm home", which looked even more strange to Nijika.
"Oh and here's the drinks bar!"
Nijika points towards the bar-like area with stools, the inside of the bar has equipment to serve consumers a variety of drinks
On one of the stools is a menacing looking woman, dressed in black with purple highlights in her dark hair. Her piercing teal eyes glaring at the twins before returning to staring at the wall.
Hitori immediately felt ashamed and said, "Sorry for my arrogance," with a blurry face, which made Nijika even more embarrassed. However, Saburo was not so critical, because he did not show any emotion when they looked at him and in general he did not care. The most important thing is that he was not forced to speak.
"Hey..?"
The monotone voice from Ryo rouses Nijika's attention away from showing the twins around STARRY.
"Manager said for us to practice till the time came."
Nijika whips her head around, shocked and frankly a little fearful.
"No way! Let's get into the Studio now!"
Nijika takes Ryo's hand and walks a couple steps before looking back at the twins, wanting them to follow
"C'mon Hitori-chan, Saburo-chan! We gotta practice!"
Nijika still doesn't know that Saburo is a male, completely unaware.
Saburo and Hitori followed the two girls. In fact, the pink-haired introverted girl wanted to tell Nijika that Saburo-chan was Saburo-kun. But, Hitori was stopped by the fact that she couldn't just find the time to tell him, and also by Saburo's gaze, in which she could see mischief and could assume that her brother would say "Don't tell me yet that I'm a male. I'm just curious to know when Ijichi-chan will realize that I'm a guy."
Nijika looked back at the two wondering why they’re taking so long.
“C’mon guys!”
Ryo quietly turns and leaves Nijika in the dust, managing to silently walk off without Nijika realizing.
“We really have to practice, especially with you guys just coming in! You two need to at least learn the gist of the song! I promise it’s a simple one! Also, Saburo-Chan, we don’t have a role for a synthesizer just yet! So…if you want, you can stay out here and watch your sister perform, okay?”
Nijika turns back around to where she thinks Ryo will be, just to be greeted with nobody.
Hitori was still restless and still hesitating whether to go or not. But the approving pat on the shoulder from Saburo said it all.
"Don't worry. You can do it. It's time to show what you're worth." Saburo whispered softly, which only Hitori could hear. Despite his perhaps not very beautiful voice, thanks to it, Hitori was filled with strength and, nodding decisively, ran after Nijik with a quick step.
Saburo was left alone, a small smile of pride on his face, although others would have considered it a smirk. He sat down at the nearest lonely table and began to wait for the performance.
Yes, it was unexpected, of course, as if fate itself had decided to help his sister. "Well, fate, don't make a mistake with your choice" thought Saburo, promising to lose faith in fate if today was a mistake.
And he began to wait. It's good that the groups aren't very popular, so there aren't many people. It's not that Saburo doesn't like crowds, he rather doesn't like the noise that a crowd makes.
A few hours passed, and it was already getting dark outside. And then Kessoku Band came out! However, Saburo, like other spectators, immediately noticed the manga box. Saburo only sighed, but not from disappointment, but from the understanding that this could very well happen. Hito-chi.. you’re in your repertoire Saburo thought tenderly, getting ready to listen with interest to what this group was capable of.
…
A couple minutes of the Kessoku Band playing later before their song finally ends. It was kind of bad though, it seemed like all the musicians were out of sync, especially Hitori who was completely out of it. Unable to display her talents on stage at all.
Nijika, Ryo and Hitori (in the mango box) wordlessly retreat backstage.
Ryo, not being one to sugar-coat things, immediately comments.
“Well, that was terrible.”
When Hitori heard Ryou's comments, she didn't start whining, because the blue-haired girl was basically right. Hitori was good at solo, and in a group, she was afraid to even look at her comrades. The only person Hitori played with was Saburo. She came out of a manga box. "S-sorry I was useless.. n-next I won't hide and I'll play much better!" she said decisively.
"Wow, what a monologue! Well done Hitori-chan!" Nijika said approvingly.
And Ryo, wiping away a fake tear, added, "The girl is growing up."
Noticing the door creak, the three girls saw that it was Saburo who came to pick up Hitori. However, not only for her, he showed a message on his phone, showing Nijika and Ryo, and Hitori came after crawling out from under the manga box. "Sorry if I accidentally scared you, my bad (^.^). However, your playing was terrible, that's a fact (︶︹︺). But it's okay! I also started playing a duet with Hito-chi, so I'm sure she'll quickly get used to playing in a group! (´• ω •`)" This is what I wrote. As always, with some enthusiasm, which you would never expect from such an emo girl.
Saburo wasn't sure if they would accept him. After all, no matter how you look at it, they didn't seem to need a synthesizer at all. At least he would just be supporting his beloved sister, that's all he would need.