Archive of Our Own

Nijika: “Okay! That’s a wrap for today, everyone! We’ve got a few kinks to work out, but I can feel our best work yet getting ready to bloom from our practice!”

Nijika was acting positive as usual, but even I could tell she was just doing that for our sake. I suppose she learned from her initial reaction with me, but to put it simply - we sucked. None of our new material was working. Kita and I were the most in sync, but Nijika’s drumming provided a rocky foundation and Ryo hardly seemed interested in following it. It was like both of them would drift out of focus while playing. I didn’t want to say anything but at this rate… We’ll repeat all the same mistakes we did before our audition. 

But more than anything, a greater fear was growing in me. It had been a month since Kita and I started dating. Everything was going well, and it still is between us but… I had always been scared that our relationship would cause problems for the band. It seemed fine at first, but maybe the slump we’re facing now is… all because I went out of my way to put my feelings before anyone else’s…

Nijika: “How the times change… The ones I used to worry about are killing it and I’m the one who has to keep up, haha!”

Nijika stood up from her seat behind her drum kit and walked towards us, as we were putting away our gear.

Nijika: “But don’t worry, I promise I’ll get this down. Then everyone can play and rely on me for the timing!”

Ryo: “…You don’t have to dance around it, I know I was messing you up.”

Ryo’s words were sharp, and said in a far more bitter tone than I’d ever heard from her. Her head was tilted downwards in a way where I couldn’t make out her expression, but I was sure she was showing more emotion than she usually did as well. It must’ve felt the same for Nijika, as she took a few seconds to process the sting of the words thrown at her, before her face turned to that of a pained expression.

Nijika: “N-No! I-I wasn’t trying to-“

Ryo: “Stop trying to make me feel better.”

With this, she raised her head to look at Nijika. Her words weren’t a shout, but they were filled with vitriol. Her eyes were clouded, however, in the same way she was playing bass earlier. She was looking at Nijika, but she wasn’t really seeing her. I couldn’t help but think that the venom in those words were the same - not aimed at Nijika, but just unfortunately what they hit. It didn’t take long for these words to register, although what they meant didn’t really matter. The tone in which they were spoken was enough to get the message across. Fighting tears, Nijika was then the one to shoot her head down.

Nijika: “…I’m sorry.”

It was a voice that could hardly be called a whisper, but it seemed to be what Ryo needed as her eyes adjusted and she realized what she had done. Her face quickly turned to one of regret, but that regret also locked her in place.

Ryo: “A-Ah… No, you didn’t do anything wrong… Sorry…”

An awkward silence grew in the air. I could tell this was a first for them, which made it all the more awkward as a third party. But at the same time, my mind drifted back to my earlier thoughts, and wouldn’t let go of the thought that this was my fault…

Kita: “Okay, that’s enough of that!”

With a loud clap, Kita drew the attention of everyone in the room.

Kita: “We’re all a little on edge because the songs aren’t going as planned, that’s okay! But, we can’t take it out on each other, that’s not fair. We’re supposed to be bound together by our unity!”

I briefly glanced back at Nijika. She raised her head slightly and I could see a little bit of her usual fire returning to her eyes. I was glad. This is why you can always rely on Kita!

But isn’t your over-relying on her what caused this problem in the first place? You’re gonna create issues and then expect her to fix it for you? That’s what you do to the girl you love?

These intrusive thoughts kept popping up one after another, as I desperately tried to shove them into the back of my brain. Using Kita’s voice as I guide, I slowly brought myself back to reality before the worst of my thoughts took over.

Kita: “I think our problem right now is that we’re lacking unity. We’ve been so busy being a band that we’ve stopped being friends. And all work and no play makes a grumpy girl, hehe! So! Tomorrow, no practice! Instead, let’s all go out! Grab some food, walk around, you know - like a group date!”

There was a moment of silence. It took me a second to realize Ryo and Nijika were probably too emotionally spent to heartily agree to something, so even though it wasn’t my usual reaction I replied with enthusiasm.

Hitori: “Ah, y-yes!! I think that’s a great idea!”

Another few seconds of silence commenced, but it felt like everyone was slowly calming down and resetting to neutral, in a certain sense.

Nijika: “…Heh. That’s cuz you just want to go on a date with Kita, you can’t fool me, Bocchi.”

I could tell she was forcing herself to make a joke but she tried as hard as she could to smile.

Nijika: “I’m not sure I really want to be a third wheel, though, so…”

She glanced over at Ryo, cautiously. I could tell from her hesitation that she was scared of being hurt again. Whether from the look she received or the words she took the force of, I wasn’t sure. Aware of this, Ryo tried to make a soft face to meet her, but quickly looked down. Perhaps she still felt too guilty.

Ryo: “…I think… we should all go.”

Nijika: “…Mm. Okay.”

Nijika gave a small but genuine smile, not the fake one she had put on before. Only she could say what it meant, but to me it seemed like her way of telling Ryo that everything was going to be alright. I couldn’t tell whether Ryo saw it or not.

Kita: “Okay, then it’s decided! Don’t worry about the time or place, I’ll handle all of it! Let’s just focus on work for now. We can’t ignore our shifts forever hehe!”

Almost everyone, including me, looked surprised for a moment. We had all forgotten that we had to work after this, but that may have actually helped. At least we all had something to do to take our minds off of this and reflect.

Ryo: “Mm. I’m gonna work the front then… Nijika, I-“

Nijika: “It’s okay, really. Please don’t apologize.”

Ryo flashed a face that begged not to be let off that easily, before quickly dropping it and leaving with a small “Mm.” in response. Nijika left towards Starry shortly after, stating she’d take the bar shift today. I felt bad that I couldn’t do anything to make them feel better, but I didn’t know what to say…

Perhaps sensing I was about to drift off into my own world, Kita grabbed my hand. Her warmth instantly enveloped my head and drove away my thoughts.

Hitori: “I-Ikuyo…”

Kita: “Hey. You did good, okay?”

Hitori: “…B-But I couldn’t help at all. You’re the one that actually found a solution… I just stood there, frozen…”

Kita: “Nuh-uh. I may have set the stage, but it was you who moved them.”

Hitori: “E-Eh?”

Kita: “I don’t think either of them would’ve agreed to come tomorrow if you didn’t speak up first. Hearing you be enthusiastic about it is what they needed to put some life back into them.”

Hitori: “O-Oh…”

Kita: “So don’t think you didn’t help, okay?”

Hitori: “M-Mm… Sorry.”

Kita: “Don’t apologize, silly.”

I turned a little red. Kita had gotten so good at reading me, it was a little embarrassing. It’s like she always knew what I needed. I can’t help but be happy with her.

With these thoughts in mind, I looked up at her with a smile, my cheeks still flushed. Seeing this, she simply smiled back before inching her face towards mine before I even realized it and stole a kiss from me…

Kita: “…No more until after work, okay?”

Hitori: “…B-But now it’ll be hard to focus…”

Kita: “Well, it’s your fault for being so cute!”

Hitori: “Ehhhh?”

Leaving me with this, Kita left the room. I was now on a mission to make this shift go by as fast as possible, with her still in control of my thoughts. It never even occurred to me that she’d done all that to get my mind off of the events of today so I could focus on work. 

——————————————————————————————————————————

The shift went by without much issue. Nijika and Ryo were mostly apart from each other and no one really broached the topic with them, but I noticed Kita going back and forth between them when she could, trying to instill a sense of normalcy back into the air. I guess she’s used to friends having fights like this sometimes. While the events from earlier never fully left my mind, Kita’s kiss worked as the remedy she intended so that she was what my mind couldn’t stop focusing on. Of course, this came with its own slew of issues. Those earlier thoughts about my over-reliance on her came rushing back in full force. After all, I was using her as an escape from thinking about the day. I was relying on her to solve what I couldn’t. But… Is that a good thing? Am I stopping the little bit of growth I’ve had over my time with Kessoku Band from going any further? 

As I let myself get trapped inside my own head, it seems we had wrapped up for the day, bid each other goodbye, and I was now on the way to the train with Kita. I usually liked the night sky, but I couldn’t help but feel the moon’s oppressive view peering down on me, killing any sense of comfort I might have otherwise felt. 

Kita: “Hey, what’s bothering you, Hitori?”

Hitori: “Eh?”

I looked up towards Kita from the asphalt. I couldn’t help but fiddle with my hands. I didn’t know if this was something I could bring up to her. After all, wouldn’t relying on her to find out if I was relying on her too much be a problem in its own right?

Hitori: “...H-How do you know something’s bothering me?”

I wasn’t really thinking when I said that, I was just trying to avoid the actual question.

Kita: “Uh, because I can do this, silly.”

Kita raised both of her hands in the air. It took me a second to realize what she was implying, but that actually proved her point even more. It had become a subconscious motion for me to hold her hand at, well, any moment really, so the fact that I wasn’t right now was telling. I can’t believe I created another easy way for her to read me… 

Hitori: “...Mm. B-But I’m not sure I can talk about it with you right now, s-sorry!”

Kita: “Why?”

I was scared she would be upset but her tone was completely understanding. It helped put my heart at ease a little.

Hitori: “B-Because I-I’m not sure if the answer will be worth anything if I don’t come to it myself…”

I couldn’t help but look down while saying that. It felt like I was betraying all of the help Kita had given me so far, and I hated that feeling.

Kita: “Mmmmmm, I see, I see.”

Kita put her fingers to her chin in a thinking position. Before clapping her hands together as she came to whatever conclusion she had reached.

Kita: “Alright! How about this? Spill your thoughts to me, but I won’t give any answers of my own.”

Hitori: “U-Um, h-how is that different from me just thinking about it on my own?”

Kita: “Ehhhhh? Because you’ll get trapped in your own spiral of negative thoughts. This way, I can pull you back if you get too inside your own head.”

Hitori: “Geh…”

She was right… And that made a lot of sense… But it was still a scary subject to talk about with her…

Sensing my unease, I felt a warm sensation envelop one of my hands. It was her own. I was somehow always surprised by how well they worked to melt my cold thoughts.

Kita: “It’s okay. I promise I won’t be mad, no matter what it is. I just want you to let it out. It’s not good to bottle these things up, okay?”

Hitori: “...Okay.”

Using her overwhelming kindness as a tether to reality, I grasped her hand tightly. With this, I could think without letting my delusions overtake me, probably…

Hitori: “A-After what happened today I just… I just kept thinking that m-maybe relying on you too much w-wasn’t a good thing…”

Kita: “Why?”

Hitori: “B-Because it m-might stop me from g-growing as a person if I just leave everything to you…”

Kita: “Mm.”

Hitori: “A-And I know you said I-I did good today, but I f-feel like I should’ve done more…”

Kita: “Do you think you could’ve done something better than me?”

The question was asked with pure curiosity. She was genuinely asking if I thought I could have managed that situation better than her. And of course…

Hitori: “...N-No. Not at all. I was amazed at how well you handled it. I was frozen.”

Kita: “But now you know, right?”

Hitori: “E-Eh?”

Kita: “If something like that happens to you in the future when I’m not there, then can’t you use it as an idea of how you could defuse what’s happening?”

Hitori: “O-Oh… M-Mmhm.”

I hadn’t even thought about that. I was so caught up in what I could’ve done in the past that thinking about the future totally slipped my mind…

Kita: “Ah! Sorry! I totally just gave my own thoughts, ehehe.”

Kita held her free hand up to her face and bowed in apology. I found myself quietly laughing as well.

Hitori: “No, it’s okay. I-I get what you’re saying but…”

It’s just not clicking in my mind…

Kita: “Hmmm, then can I ask you a question, Hitori?”

Hitori: “Huh? O-Oh, um, yes!”

Kita: “What do you think would’ve happened if I was put on stage, hmmmm, let’s say a week after you started teaching me? How well do you think I’d do?”

Hitori: “E-Eh? W-Well, um…”

You… wouldn’t have anyone wanting to come back, I can imagine that much…

Kita: “I’d totally suck!”

Hitori: “...Mm.”

Kita: “Hey, don’t agree that easily!”

Hitori: “A-Ah, s-sorry!”

Kita: “Ehehe. But, really, you’d know better than anyone, since guitar is your forte.”

Hitori: “M-Mm, but what does this have to do with-”

…Oh!

I looked up at Kita when I realized it and her eyes met mine, like they were expecting me. 

Kita: “Do you get it?”

Hitori: “I-I think so…”

Kita: “Tell me!”

Hitori: “E-Eh?”

Kita: “The answer isn’t worth anything if you don’t come to it yourself, right?”

Gaah… My own words thrown against me…

Hitori: “M-Mm. Well, um, I think… Thinking about everything we’ve gone through this far, as a band, a-and as a c-couple… It’s okay to rely on you w-when I don’t know what to do… B-But I want to use what you show me t-to help in the future. T-That way, I’m still showing my own growth as a person, I think…”

That was honestly really embarrassing to say, but I was able to sort out my feelings a bit. I hope I got them across well.

Kita: “Mm-mm! Sounds good! I feel the same! If I can pay you back for how much you’ve helped me with guitar then I’m glad!”

Hitori: “N-N-No! Y-You don’t need to pay me back, I was happy to do it…”

Kita: “Awww, come on! And besides! I’m your girlfriend, you know? Who cares if you rely on me a little… I want to spoil you, you know.”

Hitori: “A-Ah… M-Mm.”

I was turning red, but there was no part of me that wanted to turn down that offer. I simply kept holding her hand as we walked.

Hitori: “U-Um… Ikuyo…”

Kita: “Mm-hm?”

Hitori: “Thank you.”

Kita: “Of course!”

Hitori: “A-And! U-Um… I-It’s after work, r-right?”

Kita: “Huh? …Oh! Ehehe, so it is.”

Kita came to a sudden stop and quickly let go of my hand before wrapping her arms around me and pulling me towards her to share a kiss under the moonlight. It felt so much warmer than it had just some minutes ago. She slowly pulled her face away from mine, but I wasn’t satisfied, so I fought through my embarrassment and secured another one from her lips before finally pulling back.

Kita: “Hehe, someone’s greedy tonight.”

Hitori: “Y-You said you’d spoil me, so…”

Kita: “Mm-hm. I wasn’t complaining! <3”

I just couldn’t help how far I’d fallen for this girl…

Eventually, we made it to my station. Along the way, I had held Kita’s hand and, at some point, had wrapped myself around her entire arm. I just wanted to be near her, and she didn’t seem to mind. I had been having some cold thoughts in the back of my mind, but thanks to her I was able to drive them away. When we let go of each other so I could head into the station however, I felt them come rushing to the front of my brain. It was true that I was happy with Kita, and that I was even happy relying on her now, but my initial thought of the day still haunted me. Is my happiness driving apart the band? Was I the reason for today?

It’s like no matter how many bad thoughts I seem to quell, new ones will just pop up in their place… How is anyone supposed to deal with this? I thought happiness would just be something that exists for you once you reach it… I didn’t think I’d have to constantly fight to prove it’s real in my own head…

Kita: “Are you really sure you don’t want me to come over tonight?”

Hitori: “Eh?”

Kita had once again broken me out of my stupor, but my mind was still trying to put together exactly what she said.

Kita: “I can call my dad right now, I’m sure he wouldn’t mind.”

Hitori: “O-Oh, n-no! N-Not that I wouldn’t like to have you over, b-but we’ll be having a date tomorrow, so…”

Kita: “A group date, though.”

Hitori: “M-Mm. E-Even still, it’s fine…”

I was lying. I actually really wanted her to stay the night with me, but I couldn’t get my earlier thoughts out of my head. I’m sure I’d be fine if she was with me, but I can’t ask with these curses swirling in my mind.

Kita: “…Haah. Okay, fine. I’ll see you tomorrow, but I better get some texts from you tonight. I’ll be really mad if you forget!”

Hitori: “M-Mm.”

I’m sorry… I’m too scared to ask…

Hitori: “Then, see you tomorrow.”

Kita: “Yeah.”

With a gentle smile, Kita let me head towards the station and I headed home, my head still clouded by my murky thoughts. I soon found myself longing to message her, not even ten minutes after we’d separated but-

Hitori: “Ah- …train reception, huh?”

——————————————————————————————————————————

Nijika: “Haaaaaaaaaah.”

I had been able to make it through the day without thinking about it too much, but as soon as I got home, thoughts of Ryo bubbled up in my mind like lava. Today was the first time anything like that had ever happened, the first time I’d seen that much venom in her eyes. I knew rationally it was just a bad day and that she probably didn’t mean anything personally by it, but it might have been because it was the first time that it hurt so much more. There’s a part of me that’s scared to look up and see those eyes again, to be hurt again by her… I don’t want that. But, maybe I’m making too big of a deal out of this…

Nijika: “Haaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah.”

Seika: “Are you gonna try to actually solve what’s bothering you or are you hoping sighing enough will make it go away?”

Nijika: “...”

I had been sighing loud enough that Seika clearly heard it. It’s not like I was trying to hide it, I was lying on the couch while she was just in the kitchen after all. Maybe I wanted her to hear me, but now I don’t really want to talk about it…

Seika: “Haah, at least tell me what’s going on. I’m not giving you any magic answers but I am your sister, so I’ll at least listen to your problems.”

Oh come on, I know you’re just itching to give me some sisterly wisdom… Tsundere…

Seika: “So? Is it about Ryo?”

Nijika: “Ah…”

Seika: “Yeah, I’m not blind, Nijika. You’re usually inseparable but you didn’t even go near each other today. I’d have to be a total idiot not to notice.”

Nijika: “...Mm.”

Seika: “Was it a fight?”

Nijika: “...Something like that.”

Seika: “What started it?”

Nijika: “...That’s what’s got me in this slump in the first place… I don’t know why it happened… Maybe Ryo just hates me…”

The words unconsciously slipped out of my mouth. They were the ones I was desperately trying not to think about, because if they ended up as the truth, it would be the worst outcome imaginable for me…

Seika: “Pfft.”

Nijika: “W-What?? It’s a genuine concern…”

I shot up into a proper sitting position and puffed out my cheeks but Seika simply continued to chuckle.

Seika: “Kid, you don’t need to worry about that. Someone who hated you wouldn’t have looked so miserable after having a fight with you.”

Nijika: “W-Well, m-maybe she was just scared about the band breaking up…”

Seika: “Just trust me on this one. Someone like Ryo would only ever hate one person in the world, and you’re not that one.”

See, I knew you wanted to show off your sisterly wisdom…

Seika: “Why did you think she hated you anyways? You’ve been closer to her than anyone else, especially compared to before you started the band.”

My face started turning a shade of red. It was a stupid reason, I knew that, but…

Nijika: “W-Well… Ryo says things sometimes, and I’m never sure if they’re a joke or not so I don’t respond seriously…”

Seika: “Hoh? What kind of things?”

Nijika: “Y-Y’know… F-Flirty things…”

I was definitely red by this point. This was another thing I tried to avoid thinking about, but it would usually plague my mind when I tried to sleep anyways… May as well get it out now…

Seika: “Why would that make her hate you?”

Nijika: “B-Because! If she really meant those things and I just ignored her like that, then… She’s probably feeling really hurt by me… Maybe she can’t stand me anymore…”

Seika: “And which would you prefer?”

Nijika: “Huh?”

Seika: “The ‘flirty things’. A joke or real?”

Nijika: “...You’re mean.”

Seika: “Heh heh, well, it doesn’t entirely matter in regards to what you were just saying. Again, she definitely doesn’t hate you, and she wouldn’t be mad at you if her feelings missed their mark.”

Nijika: “Why are you so sure?”

Seika: “Mmmmm… Think about it this way, Bocchi and Ryo aren’t all that different in terms of their struggles. Obviously, everyone will have individual struggles but I think as introverted types they feel a lot of the same things - the difference is in how they manage them. Bocchi relies on others, while Ryo tries to build a shell of confidence. Obviously, the latter is much more appealing from the outset, but when something goes wrong, she’ll only blame herself. She would never hate anyone else for mistakes they may make. She may get upset with them, but the only person she could truly hate is herself for failing to live up to her own expectations. I don’t know what kind of fight you two got into, but I’m willing to bet she was more angry at herself than you.”

Nijika: “...”

I guess I still have a lot to learn about understanding people. Of course, what she’s saying makes sense. I probably could’ve thought of that myself normally, but because that anger got thrown at me I guess I wasn’t thinking properly…

Seika: “So, what do you want to do?”

Nijika: “Eh?”

Seika: “You’re having a meet-up tomorrow, right? Then you should figure out what you want to do. Tomorrow’s the day to either bring everything back to normal or the day to change what ‘normal’ means for the band.”

Nijika: “...”

Before long, the food Seika was making was ready and we had dinner, leaving me alone with my thoughts. I honestly wasn’t sure what I wanted from tomorrow. Of course, I knew what I really desired… But I wasn’t sure if I was ready for things to change like that. It’s not like tomorrow’s my last chance to change things. Maybe it would be better if things just stayed the same for a while…

With these thoughts swirling in my mind, I eventually found myself falling asleep. Tomorrow could be anything I want it to be, depending on my choice… But would choosing not to do anything actually be the best choice of all?

——————————————————————————————————————————

Kita: “Okay! I’m heading out now! Be back home later!”

It was the day of our group date! Well, not that it was a very long wait to begin with, but I for one was excited. It had felt like forever since our last outing as friends. Being in a band was still a very new experience to me, but I had a feeling that only treating each other as bandmates would lead to feeling more like coworkers instead of actual friends. Of course, I know a band is a special kind of bond that can’t be compared to any other kind of relationship, but for that to be true I think we need to do more than just band things. We need to be our own family too, not just stuck in a stuffy studio all day. I mean, that special relationship’s the reason I originally joined, after all…

Kita: “Who would’ve thought I’d fall in love with a completely different girl along the way? Hehe!”

Of course, I was nothing but happy at how everything had turned out. Having a crush on Ryo-senpai is something I’ll never regret, it got my foot in the door to try a lot of new things, but Hitori is the one who pushed me through it all. That girl doesn’t know how much she inspires me every day…

Kita: “And she’s unfairly cute to boot <3”

Realizing I had barely been outside for 10 minutes and already let my mind get taken over by Hitori, I chuckled, and tried to get it back to the current matter at hand - the group date. I didn’t have some thorough outline to perfectly make sure we’d all be happy when we left today, but I had enough faith in everyone that it would turn out that way anyway. There might be some awkwardness at the start, but once everyone starts letting themselves have fun, I think everyone’s true feelings will become clear. Besides, I had a little theory about Ryo-senpai and Nijika that I was gonna put to the test today…

Before long, I had reached our agreed upon meeting place. I tried to be there first for a few reasons. Obviously, I’m the one who set this up so it’s just good manners that I’m here before anyone else, but also because Hitori tends to show up early as well. If there’s not anyone she recognizes, she’ll usually just hide in some dark, cramped place until someone she does recognize arrives. I want to alleviate that fear and always be here waiting for her first.

Hitori: “U-Um…”

And, as if on cue, my pink girlfriend appeared before me, well, behind me actually. 

Hitori: “H-Hi, Ikuyo. I hope you haven’t been waiting long…”

Kita: “No, no, not at all. I just got here. Goooooooood morning, my Hitori!”

I turned around and was pleasantly surprised to see her in her pink and black dress instead of her usual tracksuit. I had seen this outfit before, but I had figured that she would find it too embarrassing with Ryo-senpai and Nijika also coming.

Kita: “You look especially pretty today!”

Hitori: “A-Ah, um, t-thank you… I-I wasn’t sure if I should because today’s different from normal, but I-I still want to show that I care about our dates…”

Kita: “Aw, you silly, you don’t need to dress up just for that, I already know you do! But thank you anyways, I really appreciate it.”

Hitori: “S-So it’s okay if I keep doing it?”

Kita: “It would make me so happy if you did!”

Hitori: “...Mm. I will, then.”

Hitori gave me a sheepish smile layered with a red tint. Whether it was from a blush or the sun, I wasn’t sure, but nonetheless that was all it took to enrapture me. In an instant, I had her lips and gave her a quick kiss. If she wasn’t red from embarrassment before, she definitely was now.

Hitori: “W-What was that one for?”

Kita: “Just because I like you best in the whole wide world!”

Hitori: “Eh? U-Um, thank you…”

Kita: “Hehe!”

It was just us waiting at the meeting place for the next 10 minutes, but it was never boring or monotonous with her around. Maybe I’ve just been bitten too badly by the Hitori bug but I think I could spend the rest of time with her if it came down to it… Maybe that’s a little much, but… 

I couldn’t help but feel that there was something in the back of her mind that she wasn’t telling me about, however. I didn’t want to force it out of her if she didn’t want to talk about it, and it seemed like she was really trying not to let it bother her, so I left it. My biggest goal became making her happy enough that she would forget whatever was worrying her. And before it felt like much time at all had passed, Nijika arrived.

Nijika: “Heyyyyy! Sorry, am I late?”

Kita: “No, you’re fine! We’re still a few minutes away from what I sent.”

Nijika: “Phew! I had to run here to make sure I made it on time, but then I saw you too and wasn’t sure I wanted to break the happy couple mood.”

Nijika gave a sly grin and directed it right at Hitori. Obviously, she wasn’t expecting this and started fidgeting.

Hitori: “E-Eh?! N-No, t-that’s not… T-This is a g-group date! So…”

Kita: “Ehehe, she’s saying you’re fine, Nijika. You shouldn’t feel awkward when this was supposed to be a day for all of us in the first place.”

Hitori: “...Mm-mm.”

Kita: “Hmmmm, but I guess that means she doesn’t want to spend any alone time with me…”

I felt a little bad, but I couldn’t help but want to tease her a little in turn.

Hitori: “Eh?! N-No, y-you’re wrong! O-O-O-Of c-course I want to keep spending time with you, b-but I thought today was different so…”

Through her panic she finally looked clearly and saw both of our conniving grins at her frantic explanations. Sorry girl, but sometimes I wanna be a little selfish too, hehe.

Hitori: “Awawawawa… I don’t know if I can handle today if both of you keep teasing me like that…”

Kita: “Ehehe, sorry, sorry! I couldn’t help it! But… It makes me really happy to hear that you want to spend more time with me… And now that I’ve got that, I’m energized for the day!”

I rushed over to the slumped Hitori while saying this and wrapped myself around her arm. I was hoping this might loosen her up a bit and help with whatever she was thinking about before. I guess I’ll have to wait and see if it does any good. 

Nijika: “Mm-mm. By the way Bocchi, you look cute today!”

Hitori: “H-Huh? Oh! Ah, u-um, thank you…”

Kita: “I know, right? She can pull off some great looks when she wants to, hehe!”

Hitori: “W-Well, I wanted to show I was serious about this, so…”

Her words were simple but they clearly held weight. Of course, we were here to have fun, but they hinted at the deeper level of this being a solution for the larger problem of Nijika and Ryo’s incident yesterday. 

Nijika: “Bocchi… Thank you.”

It was short, but sincere. Nijika was probably glad to see how much this band meant to her. I hope that desire to keep the band together fuels us today.

Ryo: “W-Woah, Bocchi… Y-You have more clothes than just a tracksuit?!”

Nijika: “BWAH?! R-Ryo? When did you get here??”

Ryo had suddenly spoken and when we all looked she was just beside Nijika. None of us had seen when she got here.

Ryo: “I’ve been here the entire time.”

Nijika: “No, you haven’t, liar.”

Ryo: “Hm.”

Nijika: “Don’t ‘hm.’ me! I would’ve noticed you a while ago!”

Ryo: “I guess it’s a mystery.”

Nijika: “Haaah, you are so…”

Ryo: “Heh.”

Nijika: “C’mon, I haven’t even said ‘weird’ yet…”

Maybe this is for the best. With Ryo making a surprise appearance, neither of them seemed to have the chance to overthink the events of yesterday, and now they’re talking like they usually do. Even if what happened still weighs on their mind, this moment should help them see that things can go back to how they were. Or maybe I’m not giving them enough credit and they’re already over it?

Kita: “I guess I’ll see where this leads…”

Hitori: “Hm? What are you whispering about, Ikuyo?”

Crap, I didn’t mean to say that out loud.

Kita: “O-Oh, nothing, haha, just that we should get going. Thanks for coming, Ryo!”

Ryo: “Mm. What’s on the plan today, Ms. Tour Guide?”

Kita: “Ehehe, nothing that fancy! We’re probably all hungry so let’s grab some lunch first, okay?”

Nijika: “Sounds good to me!”

With everyone having arrived, we headed off towards the first activity of the day. Although I tried to keep morale high by talking with everyone along the way, I still felt some awkwardness forming between us as we got closer to the restaurant. It was odd though, I almost felt as if everyone was feeling differently about the issue at hand and just not sure how to address it. Nonetheless, we arrived at the place as a party of four and sat down for lunch.

——————————————————————————————————————————

As we sat down, I tried not to let my thoughts from last night cloud my head from having a fun time. Kita had set this up for us to have fun, and Nijika and Ryo were even trying to go along with it. Suddenly, it felt like I was the only one who couldn’t fit the mood. But… If what I thought was right and I am the one who caused this in the first place, then how can I have fun right now? I need to fix this, but… I don’t want to stop being with Kita either. It makes me so happy… But if that’s what’s causing these issues, then… Aghhhhhh, what do I dooooooooo…

Kita: “-Hitori?”

Hitori: “Bwoh?”

Kita: “Hitori… Did you let your head get the best of you?”

Hitori: “...Mm.”

Kita: “That’s no good! Here.”

Kita grasped my hand in hers and held on tightly.

Kita: “If I see you slipping away, I’m gonna squeeze, okay?”

Hitori: “...Mm. Sorry.”

Kita: “Hey, none of that! I just want you to have fun in the moment, okay?”

Hitori: “...Mm. T-Thank you, Ikuyo.”

Kita: “Mm-hm!”

I let myself smile a little after this. Her hand was so warm, I didn’t have to worry about my mind’s chilling delusions taking hold of me again. I felt bad that I needed to keep relying on her, but… I guess she did tell me yesterday. Old habits die hard though…

Kita: “So, back to what I was asking, what are you ordering?”

Hitori: “E-Eh? O-Oh, um…”

I took another look at the menu and picked out what I wanted. I considered going for some trendy choice to try and regain some honor, but quickly abandoned that train of thought. Kita would probably get me to try some of what she was having anyways, so I just ordered a usual chicken dish I get at similar resturants. I must’ve been the last to order, as everyone else had already given their menu to the server. 

A silence began to dawn upon us once everyone had ordered. It started to feel like no matter how hard we tried, we couldn't get back that friendly vibe that we’d had not just two days ago… Thoughts began to encroach upon my conscious mind once more. I thought Kita’s warmth would serve to protect me, but if anything it just negated those cold feelings. But where does that leave me? Feeling empty? Feeling like I’m not really in the moment? All my mind loops back to is the fact that this is my fault, and that I’m trying to sweep it under the rug right now. I feel like I’m going crazy. Why won’t anyone bring it up?? Just bring it up… Please, just address the issue instead of pretending it didn’t happen… 

And then a silence fell once more, a silence in my mind. But I couldn’t take that anymore. Against every part of me that didn’t want to, I brought up the elephant in the room.

Hitori: “C-Can we… Um, t-talk about y-yesterday?”

Kita: “Hitori…”

Her eyes were alarmed at first, but she must have immediately understood the effect this entire event was having on me because they quickly became eyes of compassion, as her hand squeezed mine tightly. I could already tell I would start crying if I began speaking, but I didn’t know what else to do. I looked up at Nijika and Ryo for confirmation before speaking. Ryo gave a firm nod, she was uncomfortable but could tell this was serious. I looked specifically at Nijika.

Nijika: “...Mm. I think that’s for the best too. Do you have something on your mind, Bocchi?”

Hitori: “I… I…”

I was starting to freeze. Of course I knew what I wanted to say but couldn’t say it. Ughhhhhh of course I mess it up by this point…

But before I could drift off, a small squeeze of my hand reminded me that I’m here.

Kita: “It’s okay. Just say whatever you want to at your own pace. We’ll wait, okay?”

I let her words sink into me as reassurance and used them as fuel to make myself say what I needed to. I gave her a small nod and opened my mouth.

Hitori: “I-I think it’s o-obvious to everyone that yesterday w-was a bad sign, b-but I think… The problem p-probably stems back further… I-I’ve noticed a lot of l-little things that I didn’t bring up b-b-because I d-didn’t think they w-were a big deal at the time, b-but now I realize they were just building up to an explosion of emotions that n-no one ever talked about….”

Before I began the next sentence, I could feel something warm start to roll down my cheek. I realized that I was crying. Everyone gave me a worried look, but I continued on anyway. This next part is the hardest, but it’s what I need to say.

Hitori: “A-All of these l-little things seemed to start over the past few weeks, a-and the only big change was m-me starting to d-date Ikuyo… B-Because I couldn’t keep my feelings in check w-without messing up the band… B-But all that seems to have done is bring all of us down even more… I-I’m sorry… I’m sorry for changing the b-band for the worse… I’m sorry for making us play worse… B-But I-I’m also sorry because… I can’t give up what I have with Kita… Not anymore, she’s t-too important to me… B-But I don’t want Kessoku Band to break up either! I-I’m sorry I’m so selfish, b-but I w-want both! W-Without anyone fighting! A-And in order to do that, p-please just blame me if you’re angry… Keep the band the same, so that we can play well, b-but don’t talk to me if you need to be angry at something… I already lived that way before, s-so it’s fine… J-Just, please… I-I don’t w-want any break-ups!!”

I couldn’t hold back my tears any longer, not that I really had been, but I erupted into a sobbing mess quickly after that sentence. Kita had quickly pulled me into an embrace and started rubbing my head gently. I was once again reminded of how warm a person she was. I couldn’t help but think about how this is the same way that we ended up becoming a couple in the first place as I let out my tears into her. But at the same time I fell into Kita’s arms, both Nijika and Ryo shot up like flashes of lightning.

Nijika: “No, that’s not true, Bocchi-”

Ryo: “No, Bocchi, it’s not your fault!”

Everyone froze for a moment. This might have been the first time I’d ever heard Ryo shout like that. And judging by the look on Nijika’s face, it was for her too.

Ryo: “Everything… Everything’s been my fault, okay?? So please, please don’t blame yourself… You have nothing to apologize for. I… I want you to be happy, we all do… We’d never be upset over that, and we’d never hate you… It’s all because of me… There was never any reason for you to blame yourself, but you did… I’m sorry…”

Nijika: “Ryo…”

Everyone was surprised once more. Ryo had always been the most aloof of us, it was her charm, but this was the first moment where she let her raw emotions show. I had still been crying in Kita’s arms, but this moment still meant something to me. It showed how much Ryo really cared about us, even if she seemed like she was in her own world sometimes.

Nijika: “Haah… Bocchi… I can’t add more than what Ryo said, but I’d promise we’d never get that angry at you. We’re both totally happy for you and Kita, and neither of us would ever want you to break up for the sake of the band or something silly like that. But… We let these thoughts grow because we never talked about it, and I’m really sorry for that. Please, don’t blame yourself. We’re gonna sort this out, okay?”

It was tough, but I slowly raised my head to look at them. I could see nothing but genuine concern and care in their eyes. It made me feel embarrassed that I had made such a scene, but it also made me happy… Happy that everyone still cared about this band as much as I did…

Hitori: “...S-So, n-no one’s breaking up?”

Nijika: “Nope, no one is. Promise.”

Ryo: “And no one’s hating you either.”

Hitori: “...S-So I don’t have to g-give anything up?”

Nijika: “Of course not! Just keep being happy with us, okay? It makes all of us happier in response. If you keep striving to do better, then we will too… And we’ll become the best band ever before long!”

Hitori: “Mm… I’m so glad…”

Ryo: “No more blaming yourself.”

Hitori: “Mm.”

I sat back up, but still held my hand tightly with Kita’s. She hadn’t said much as she let the others speak, but I could tell she had a lot to say when she got the chance. Before that came however, Ryo interjected.

Ryo: “...Nijika, can we go outside for a sec?”

Nijika: “Eh? I mean, I guess? Is it right to be having a secret conversation right after Bocchi just spilled her heart to everyone?”

Ryo: “...I’m not as strong as Bocchi in that regard.”

I was taken aback for a second. Ryo had always boasted a seemingly endless amount of confidence, even in the face of her faults. Having her admit to something like that so freely left me stunned before I hurriedly gave a response.

Hitori: “Ah, no, i-it was just a spur o-of the moment thing… B-But, it’s okay! Please! I-If it’ll help with the band, t-then i-it’s no problem to me…”

Kita similarly gave a nod to Nijika, one that I could tell was laced with the intent of her wanting to speak to me alone too…

Nijika: “Haah, okay. Cover our food if it gets here before we get back, kay Kita?”

Kita: “Yes! Good luck!”

Nijika: “?”

With a confused look, Nijika exited the building with Ryo.

——————————————————————————————————————————

Ryo brought me to the side of the building so that we wouldn’t bother anyone passing by. We both stood there for a moment, in the shadows away from the sun. I could tell Ryo was thinking about what to say, which was very rare for her. I stood patiently awaiting her response. After a spell, she began.

Ryo: “Nijika, I want to apologize for yesterday.”

Nijika: “E-Eh? That’s what you were thinking? In that case, it’s fine, I’ve already-“

Ryo: “Even if you don’t want an apology, can you let me give one? …For me?”

Nijika: “…Mm. If it’ll make you happier then I’ll listen.”

Honestly, I didn’t really want to remember yesterday. I would’ve been happier burying it and pretending it never happened, but I guess that wasn’t enough for Ryo. So, I’ll be the responsible band leader and respond to her dilemma.

Ryo: “What happened yesterday was… Just me being unable to hold back. But I wasn’t mad at you. I was… scared at first to tell you the reason behind it, but I feel like I need to now… Or maybe I want to.”

Nijika: “Mm. So what were you mad at?”

Ryo: “…Myself… I know, it’s really lame…”

It’s just like Sis said… Maybe she does have sisterly wisdom sometimes?

Ryo: “I told Bocchi that her relationship with Kita had nothing to do with it, and that is true but… kind of not. It had nothing to do with her, it just made me think that… Maybe I’ve been standing still for a while. And every time I tried to move forward, I’d back down or just say something funny… I started to piss myself off. If you have the time to desire, why not just go out and do it? And then it started affecting my playing… My bass got sloppy, and I started messing you up too… I didn’t want to bring the band down, especially you… But I was too scared to say anything because… It meant admitting feelings I’d kept to myself for so long… But then I made you cry, and Bocchi too, and I thought… If I’m choosing between the band I love or some stupid pride, then the answer is obvious… So, Nijika, I’m sorry. I’m sorry I hurt you because I was too scared to be honest.”

Today really was a whirlwind of new emotions I’d seen from Ryo, but it made me happy to see she felt comfortable revealing her real thoughts to me. As I let the words wash over me, I pondered how I could best respond and…

Nijika: “…You’re a dummy.”

Decided honesty was best.

Ryo: “H-Huh?”

Ryo was visibly taken aback, I couldn’t help but smile a little at the uncharacteristic reaction.

Nijika: “I said ‘you’re a dummy’. If you were having doubts about yourself, or your playing, or anything really, you should’ve just told me. I’ve never bought your perfect lady act, you know. But… The drum and bass are supposed to play in time with each other, and be on the same wavelength. Neither one of us is meant to carry that weight all by ourselves, so let me share it with you, okay? No more secrets from each other, even if it’s embarrassing.”

Ryo: “Nijika…”

Nijika: “Oh, and for the record, I did not cry !”

Ryo: “Ehhh? But you wouldn’t look up at me.”

Nijika: “T-That’s just because I was that angry!”

Ryo: “Hmmmm?”

Nijika: “W-Whatever, I just wanted to make that clear! And another thing! Why couldn’t you look bad in front of me in particular?”

Ryo: “Huh? Because I love you?”

It took me a second to process the words, not just because of the contents but because it was said with the same tone as someone would give if you asked them where the salt was. But when the words finally reached my brain I turned red. Whether it was from embarrassment, anger, or a mixture of the two I wasn’t sure.

Nijika: “Y-Y-Y-You!!! W-Why would you say something like that so nonchalantly?! I swear I don’t understand you!!!”

Ryo: “Eh? I answered because you asked. Why am I the one that’s hard to understand here…”

Nijika: “Nnnnnnnngh, you’re teasing me right now, aren’t you…”

Ryo: “Little bit.”

Nijika: “What do you mean a ‘little bit’?!”

Ryo: “…I’m not good at expressing things like that, so I thought I’d just go for it.”

Nijika: “E-Eh? S-S-So wait, you… really meant it?”

Ryo gave a small nod, unusually sheepish for her. I couldn’t help but find it a little cute, and found my initial frustration at being teased subside.

Nijika: “M-Mm, okay then… Haaaaaah, did you really have to say what I wanted to hear in such an unromantic way though?”

Ryo: “Huh? That wasn’t romantic?”

Nijika: “Haaaaaaaaaaah… Dummy.”

I walked over towards her until our bodies were a step away from colliding and looked up at her.

Nijika: “You’re too tall… Look down at me.”

She tilted her head downwards and I moved without hesitation, I wasn’t missing this one chance to catch her off guard. I lifted my body until only the front of my shoe was still grounded and my lips met with hers. She tensed for a second, but quickly loosened up. I looked right into her eyes. I never realized how pretty they were until seeing them this closely. Slowly, I released my lips from hers and drew my head back.

Nijika: “Hey, Ryo… Wanna be my girlfriend?”

Ryo: “…Mm.”

Nijika: “C’mon, at least give me a word!”

Ryo: “…Yeah, I do.”

Nijika: “Hehe, see? That’s how you can be romantic!”

Ryo: “Really? …I’ll try next time then.”

Nijika: “Uh, no, you shouldn’t have to ask that again…”

Ryo: “What if I want to confess to you again?”

Nijika: “E-Eh? W-Well, I guess that could probably be fine…”

Ryo: “Heh.”

Nijika: “W-What?”

Ryo: “You’re fun to tease.”

Nijika: “Y-You…”

Ryo: “But I get embarrassed too.”

Nijika: “…You don’t show it though so it’s no fun…”

Ryo: “I do. The reason I started getting sloppy with bass was because I kept thinking about how lame it was that I couldn’t tell you how I feel, and that led to thinking about you more. Between bass, my lameness, and you, my brain started running out of space.”

Nijika: “…That’s why you were angry at yourself?”

Ryo: “Mm.”

Wow… And I was ready to bring everything back to the status quo today. I guess I need to start thinking of Ryo more too…

Nijika: “Well, now you can stop feeling lame and just think of bass and me. I think that’s a good balance.”

Ryo: “Mm.”

Nijika: “Y-You we’re supposed to have some witty comment…”

Ryo: “Why?”

Nijika: “N-Never mind.”

I could feel myself turning red again. How was she so good at that? Without even saying anything??

Nijika: “…Hey, Ryo?”

Ryo: “Yeah?”

Nijika: “Can you… say it again?”

Ryo: “…Say what?”

Nijika: “C’mon, you know…”

Ryo: “…Okay… But it was a spur of the moment thing… I can’t say it often.”

I could see the very rare, genuine Ryo blush forming.

Nijika: “Hehe!”

Ryo: “…I love you, Nijika.”

Immediately I swooped in to give her another kiss. It didn’t last long however because I needed to respond.

Nijika: “I love you too, Ryo!”

Ryo slowly wrapped her arms around me to hug me, very slowly, as if asking at every turn if it was okay to keep going. Of course, it was, in fact I really wanted her to hold me. I wrapped my arms around her back in response. A silence brewed among us while we held each other, but it was one of comfort as opposed to awkwardness like before. 

Ryo: “I’m sorry for being a dummy.”

Nijika: “It’s okay… You’re my dummy now.”

Ryo: “…Should we tell them when we go in?”

Nijika: “…Probably. Kita did this for us after all.”

Actually, now that I think about it… She told me “good luck” before we left too… Was this whole day just an elaborate matchmaking plan??

Nijika: “Okay! You ready to enjoy our first date?”

Ryo: “Mm. But… I wanna have our own soon.”

Nijika: “O-Oh! Okay, we will! But first let’s go back inside.”

Ryo: “Lead the way.”

With a smile on my face and my girlfriend’s hand in mine, I happily walked back into the restaurant to meet back up with Kita and Bocchi.

——————————————————————————————————————————

Nijika left the building as I wished her luck. If any spicy outcomes were gonna happen, it would be at this moment. Initially in my plan for the day, I was going to sneak away with Hitori and secretly watch what went down… But that was before she brought her feelings up today. I let Nijika and Ryo give the band talk, now I need to give her the girlfriend talk.

Hitori: “S-So, um, Ikuyo…”

Kita: “Mm-hm?”

I wasn’t angry. I was a little sad that she hadn’t come to me with these worries, especially when they’d been weighing her down so much more than I imagined, but I didn’t want her to be scared. I tried to be as gentle as I could, of course never letting go of her hand. 

Hitori: “I-I’m sorry.”

Kita: “Why?”

I knew why, but I wanted her to say it. I didn’t want to lecture her or anything like that… I just wanted her to process it in her own head that she could trust me with her problems and not keep it all inside.

Hitori: “B-Because I didn’t tell you what I was thinking about… Y-You even tried to get me to not think about it earlier…”

Kita: “Hmm, well, I don’t really need an apology. I know there’s things that you gotta deal with yourself sometimes, but… I want to lighten the burden you put on yourself as much as possible, okay? If you have a problem, we should work on it together. We shine brightest together, right?”

Hitori: “Mm… I’m sor-… I’m gonna talk to y-you first, next time… I-Is that okay?”

Kita: “Of course it is, silly! Call me at any time, and I’ll be over in a flash, I promise.”

Hitori: “O-Okay! A-A-And, I-I know I can’t help much, b-but if you ever need anything…”

Kita: “I’ll let you know right away! Sometimes it’s better to just talk about things anyways, even if you don’t always have the right answer. I certainly don’t, ehehe. But like I said, we work on problems together. That’s not exclusive to yours, okay? So don’t feel bad.”

Hitori: “Mm… It just makes me feel… selfish, o-or maybe greedy.”

Kita: “Heyyyy, I’ve told you so many times that I want you to be greedy. Because I just wanna spoil you…”

Hitori: “O-Okay…”

Hitori leaned her head on my shoulder, she was much warmer than she was before. I hope I’ve helped cheer her back up.

Hitori: “Hey, Ikuyo?”

Kita: “Mm-hm?”

Hitori: “I’m really happy I get to keep being with you…”

Kita: “Ehehe, me too. I would fight the world before I gave up my Hitori!”

Hitori: “I-It’s okay, I’ll be at your side from now on, so you don’t need to… I’ll always stay close, with everything…”

Kita: “…Mm. Thank you. That makes me so happy…”

I took a moment to just appreciate looking at her face laying on my shoulder. She seemed so much happier now, and I couldn’t help but be reminded of how in love with this girl I was. I almost didn’t want to disturb this perfect picture, but my impulses got to my brain before that thought.

Kita: “Hey, Hitori… Can I have a kiss?”

Hitori: “E-Eh? Y-You can just kiss me, you know…”

Kita: “I know, but… I want a kiss from you…”

Hitori: “O-Oh… Mm.”

Slowly, she brought her red face towards mine until her lips reached their target. There was something so sweet about this kiss that I wanted it to last forever, but that dream was soon washed away as she pulled her face back. The cute look I received quickly made up for it however. I’m not sure what my face looked like at that moment, but it must’ve been something good enough to keep a constant red on her face. Then, unexpectedly, she quickly turned her head away, looking more embarrassed than before. Confused, I turned to look and saw the server waiting to bring our food. Even I turned red at this one… I got swept up in the moment and completely forgot we’re in a public restaurant. The server brought our food over and left us, while I struggled to let out anything more than a meek “Thank you.” Before long, Nijika and Ryo entered the store once more. I immediately noticed that Nijika was holding Ryo’s hand.

Kita: “Hoh… Sooooooo… Can I call this a double date now?”

Nijika: “BWAH?!”

Nijika hurriedly let go of Ryo’s hand and desperately tried to hide her embarrassment, but her state of shock prevented her from speaking. Ryo poked out from behind her.

Ryo: “Busted…”

Nijika: “…Haaah, we didn’t even get to say a greeting first…”

Hitori: “…? W-What’s everyone talking about?”

Hitori had revealed herself as the only person in the room who didn’t understand what the looming implications were. I couldn’t really blame her. She was probably too focused on her own doubts to notice all the signs these two showed, although she did notice when they were awkward…

Nijika: “…Hehe. It means Kessoku Band is united once more!”

——————————————————————————————————————————

The sound of Nijika’s last cymbal strike hung over the room as we all collected our thoughts. This was our first practice after the group-turned-double date. Ryo let the sound of her bass ring out with Nijika while staring at the ground, while Kita looked towards me, a dazzling smile on her face.

Nijika: “Wow… Is it just me, or are we like really good?”

Ryo: “Mega good.”

Kita: “The best!”

Hitori: “M-Mm!”

I couldn’t help but agree with everyone. Even though it was the same song as that practice that started it all, we played it unlike any other time today. We were all on the same wavelength, it’s like we fed off of each other. I usually didn’t like to compliment myself, but I could feel how smoothly I played today. It was like… Because I knew I could rely on everyone to nail their parts, I was able to bring out a bit of my full potential… I think I’m one step closer to playing like my guitarhero self…

Kita: “Mm? What’s up Hitori?”

Hitori: “…I was just thinking that… I’m really happy with how far we’ve come. It’s strange, though.. I’ve tried to run from any scary situations my whole life, but this time when we faced it all head-on, it ended up making us all better in the end. I was thinking that maybe if I keep trying my best to not run away from any future roadblocks, a-and if I had all of you with me, I think I can keep improving. Both as a guitarist for the band… And as Hitori Goto!”

Nijika: “Well, I’d rather nothing quite like what happened before happens again but I get what you mean. I think… It needed to happen to push us forward. I wouldn’t go back and stop it, even if I could, I think.”

Kita: “Mm-mm! I agree! I think this is the proper relationship of a band. Always pushing each other to do better.”

Ryo: “Mm… Hey, Bocchi?”

Hitori: “Ah? U-Um, yes?”

Ryo: “Let’s not try to shoulder everything all by ourselves in the future, okay? If I see you doing it, I’ll give you a bop with my bass, so can you do the same for me?”

Hitori: “E-Eh?! O-Oh, um, s-sure!”

I was a little unsure of how to answer that, but Ryo wore a sincere smile, so I could tell she was serious. Well, hopefully not about hitting me with a bass, but keeping an eye on each other. 

Nijika: “Yup, yup! So no need to worry, Bocchi! We’re here to the bitter end, so let us help you! That’s Kessoku Band’s pledge of unity!”

Ryo: “Pfft, that’s cheesy…”

Nijika: “You chose the name, you know…”

Kita: “Ehehe, it is cheesy, but there’s nothing wrong with that, is there?”

Hitori: “I-I think so too! I-I think it’ll help me to keep pushing forward, so… Let’s keep doing it together… A-As Kessoku Band!”