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“I hope she likes this,” Hitori Gotoh muttered as she walked down the dimly lit streets. Ahead, the bright neon lights of a nightclub were in view.
Her thoughts were on a notebook that lay within her bag, nestled amongst other belongings. This one object, simple as it was, had been plaguing her for the entire day. She had spent the previous few nights depriving herself of sleep in order to write two songs on its pages.
One was for Zip Tie, part of her usual work routine these days as she had chosen not to immediately attend college. The other song, however, was different–more personal, more heartfelt.
She wrote it for a single individual, someone she had come to care about as she grew older. Hitori would have never predicted she would feel this way about anyone in her life, but then again…was life ever predictable?
Her friends didn’t know about this, of course. They were friends, but she didn’t tell them everything about herself, even after they had been together for this long.
Naturally, she had no problem giving them the Zip Tie song, as it was simply created out of obligation and dedication to her band. But the other? She had written it in a subconscious moment of boldness, and now that it lay in her hands, she was tempted to throw it far away.
At the same time, she hesitated…
Kikuri would like it, wouldn’t she?
“Why is this so tough?” Hitori thought, grimacing hard.
She had become more confident in these two years, but why didn’t that also apply to her own courage? She could talk to others with more effort, but the thought of sharing embarrassing facets…
I really ought to tell Kikuri-san to reconsider…
But no, Hitori couldn’t do that.
She had come this far and invested so much time into preparing herself. Turning back was not an option anymore.
As Hitori approached the nightclub, she let out a tired sigh.
Ever since graduating high school, her days had become increasingly busy. Sure, she wasn’t suffering as much as the others, who had college to deal with, but writing music late into the night and working various day jobs was no easy task.
It was the support of her friends that kept her going these days. More specifically, it was the support of a certain person…
Hitori reached the entrance of the nightclub, bass thumping against the walls, and paused for a moment to take a breath. The bouncer gave her a knowing look, and she stepped inside, instantly enveloped by the pulsating music.
A familiar mix of flashing color and nonstop movement greeted her as she navigated through the crowd. Her eyes scanned the room until she saw her friends standing near the bar. They were laughing and engaging in friendly conversation as she made her way over to them.
“Bocchi-chan!” Nijika exclaimed, enveloping her in a warm hug. “It feels like it's been forever!”
“Actually, it’s only been three days,” Ryo said, taking a sip of her drink.
“Still,” Kita interjected. “I wish it wasn’t so hard for us to hang out regularly.”
“At least you guys know what you want to do. Unlike me.” Hitori said, frowning.
Nijika shook her head. “Aw, it’s no big deal, Bocchi-chan. Not everyone has to go to college to be happy. And I can’t exactly say things are easy.”
“It’s an entirely different monster!” Kita groaned. “I didn’t think college would be so tough.”
“Right? But enough about us. How are you doing, Bocchi-chan?” Nijika asked.
“I’m tired,” Hitori admitted. “Balancing day work and songwriting is exhausting.”
Nijika, Kita, and Ryo frowned in unison.
“Yeah, well, I guess we’re all tired these days.” Nijika muttered.
They all let out exhausted sighs as the sound of a microphone filled the air, signaling the start of a performance.
Hitori looked to the stage, her heart beating fast. Sick Hack was the main act tonight, and not once had she missed any of their recent concerts. The reason for that was actually quite simple.
Hitori felt a swell of pride as she watched Kikuri Hiroi take the mic. The mere presence of the bassist on stage gave her goosebumps, and she hadn’t even begun singing yet. This was why she had to be here. She had to see Kikuri, the girl she had come to care about more than anyone else for reasons she couldn’t quite explain.
As Sick Hack’s loud melodies filled the air, complemented by Kikuri’s husky singing voice, Hitori smiled with excitement. Kikuri always had a way of capturing the audience with her voice and actions, but the way she carried herself without alcohol made her aura feel even more powerful than usual.
On that stage, there was nothing special propelling her, nothing stimulating that distracted her, nothing that took her fears away.
Kikuri Hiroi was just herself. A little nervous, somewhat shy, but herself nonetheless.
“Kikuri-san is seriously on another level,” Nijika muttered in awe.
Seika, who had also come to watch the concert, walked up to them with a satisfied look on her face. “She’s really something, isn’t she?”
“Yeah, she is,” Hitori replied, her eyes fixed firmly on Kikuri. “I can’t believe she’s improved this much.”
Seika smiled. “And you’ve been a big part of that, Bocchi-chan. Don’t sell yourself short. Kikuri would never have changed her ways if it wasn’t for you.“
“It was nothing, really… She did all the hard work.” Hitori said, blushing and shaking her head modestly.
Seika gave Hitori a gentle pat on the back. “You’re too humble. I tried many ways to convince her, but nothing ever worked. You managed to get through to her, and she’s doing so much better as a result,” she explained. “But I’ve noticed something else too. You’ve become more confident yourself.”
Hitori turned to look at Seika, her eyes wide with surprise. “Really? I wouldn’t say that…”
Seika shook her head. “You absolutely have. Being around Kikuri must have really helped you. The fact that you’re talking to me so willingly is proof of that. I can’t even say you’re the same girl who entered Starry all those years ago.”
“Onee-chan’s right, Bocchi-chan. You’ve become much stronger as a person.” Nijika added with a smile.
Hitori felt a surge of emotion, a mix of gratitude and realization. She hadn’t noticed it herself, but Kikuri’s presence had profoundly impacted her, changing her in ways she didn’t expect.
She glanced back at the stage, where Kikuri was at her best, moving the crowd with her resonant voice. They made eye contact, and Kikuri threw up a peace sign with a grin.
Hitori blushed, and a heartfelt look shone in her eyes, a look that didn’t go unnoticed by her bandmates.
When Sick Hack’s set came to an end, the crowd erupted into applause and cheers. Kikuri entertained the audience with various rock moves, her eyes searching the room until they landed on Hitori. With a sly grin, she made her way off the stage and over to where Hitori was standing.
“Hey, you,” Kikuri greeted, pulling Hitori into a tight hug. “You never miss any of my performances, do you?”
Hitori turned away, embarrassed by the very public display of affection, but Kikuri wasn’t easily relenting. She pulled Hitori close with a teasing glint in her eye, whispering in her ear, “You know, if you keep making such cute faces, it’s going to be really hard for me to hold back.”
Hitori’s face flushed a deep shade of red, and she mumbled something incoherent, poorly attempting to hide her embarrassment. Kikuri laughed, planting a soft kiss on her cheek before letting her go.
“It’s so funny,” she whispered. “I’m not drinking, but I feel so drunk and giddy because of you.”
“S-stop it, Kikuri-san…” Hitori murmured. “I’m still not used to this.”
Kikuri pouted playfully. “Aw, but you were the one who made me like this, you know?”
From a distance, Seika watched the exchange with an expression that was both thoughtful and apprehensive. On one hand, she was glad to see Kikuri so genuinely happy after she had been acting for so long. At the same time, she was slightly irked by the age gap between them.
But despite all of that, she couldn’t deny the positive impact that they clearly had on each other.
Nijika, Kita, and Ryo had been watching too, and they were all blushing, their faces flushed with a mix of surprise and amusement. They had their suspicions, but this was the first time they had concrete confirmation of a relationship between the two…
“Did you see that?” Kita whispered excitedly. “They kissed! They’re totally in love!”
Ryo nodded, her usual stoic expression softened by their earnest love. “It’s quite unexpected, though.”
Nijika grinned, nudging Hitori with a playful look as she returned. “You two looked pretty cozy up there. Got something to share?”
Hitori stammered, her face still very bright red. “I-I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
Seika rolled her eyes with a smile. “Honestly, Bocchi-chan, it’s about time you two made things official.”
They all gathered around a small table near the bar, chatting about the performance and this surprising new relationship. Kikuri walked over to join them, her hand brushing against Hitori’s, a silent confirmation of their closeness.
“So, what next for Zip Tie, Nijika?” Seika asked, looking around at the group with genuine interest.
Nijika leaned back in her chair, a conflicted expression on her face. “It’s hard to say,” she said with a sigh. “We’re working on new material, but things have honestly been difficult, especially when balancing everything with college.”
Kita nodded in agreement. “It’s hard to find time to practice.”
“Yeah. I’ve been writing new songs for us,” Hitori added. “But I often get swamped with work as well.”
Seika took a sip of her drink. “There’s nothing wrong with taking a break once in a while,” she suggested. “Take care of your work first and foremost. Then you’ll have more time for Zip Tie.”
“Senpai’s right,” Kikuri said with a serious expression. “Music isn’t fun if you’re tired all the time. Trying to do both things at the same time is not a good idea.”
Seika eyed her in surprise and shook her head. “I’m not used to this responsible side of you, Kikuri. It’s very jarring.”
Kikuri chuckled. “Well, you know who to thank for that, right?”
Seika smiled, glancing at Hitori, who blushed. “Yes, I suppose I do.”
Kita looked at Kikuri and thought for a moment. “Say…Kikuri-san…if you were normal all this time, why did you hide it behind all the drunkenness?”
Kikuri and Hitori exchanged resigned smiles.
As the night drew to a close, Kikuri and Hiroi found themselves lingering outside the club. The others had already gone home, leaving the two musicians behind in their own company.
Kikuri wrapped an arm around Hitori’s shoulders, pulling her close. “You know,” she said softly, “I never thought I’d be this happy without alcohol. You’ve changed my life, Bocchi-chan.”
Hitori looked up at Kikuri, her eyes shining with many emotions: love, appreciation, pride, happiness, and more. “You’ve changed mine too…”
Kikuri smiled and took her by the hand. “So, are you feeling bold tonight?”
“B-bold?” Hitori stuttered in shock.
“Well, I suppose I should treat you? For various different reasons,” Kikuri whispered with a sly grin.
Hitori blushed and looked to the ground. She muttered something Kikuri couldn’t quite hear.
“What did you say, Bocchi-chan? I couldn’t hear you.”
“I…I said…how far is your apartment from here?” Hitori mumbled.
Kikuri’s grin grew wider, and she pulled the shy girl along. “Close enough,” she whispered.
Hitori leaned into Kikuri, feeling a warmth that went beyond the physical touch. Kikuri had revealed a new side of herself that was both surprising and liberating.
And at the same time, Hitori had also saved the bassist from her own demons, giving her a sense of pride in her actions that made her happy.
Tonight, she would show her heartfelt lyrics to Kikuri and see what she thought of them…
Hitori just hoped she would have the courage.
As they walked, the city and its sounds seemed to fade away, leaving just the two of them in their own world of love and camaraderie.
Kikuri eyed Hitori with a look of gratitude, feeling thankful for her breaking the chains that had been holding her down for so many years. Of course, the endless path of therapy sessions and rehab appointments were grueling and painful, but Hitori’s encouragement kept her going through all of it.
She wouldn't stop trying. If not for herself, for Hitori Gotoh, who tried so hard for her sake.
Kikuri chuckled, thinking about something she hadn’t thought of in a long time.
When was the last time she put on a play?