Evening, Shimokitazawa izakaya
End Band, Seika, Kikuri, and PA-san gathered.
Seika, not tsundere, smiled, "Great job today. What do you want? My treat."
Kikuri pressed her face to Seika's shoulder, "Love you, Ryo-senpai!"
Seika pushed her away, "Pay for yourself."
"Eh? Why?!" Kikuri whined.
"Thanks, Manager! I'll have avocado cream cheese skewer, Spanish omelet with Hollandaise…" Ikuyo listed trendy dishes, ready to snap photos.
Seika turned to Hitori, "Bocchi-chan?"
Hitori, inspired by Ikuyo, aimed for flair, "Machu Picchu Ruins Mississippi River Grand Canyon Platter…"
"Oh, Machu Picchu?" Seika checked the menu. "Where's that?"
Hitori shrank, "Sorry, I meant fries…"
"Ridiculously wrong," Hotaru smiled.
Ryo glanced at Ikuyo, "Your guitar was good for a beginner."
"Ikuyo? Who?" Kikuri asked.
Hotaru nodded, "Ikuyo sang the last two songs well."
Ryo smirked, plot successful.
Ikuyo's smile froze, horrified, "Why's Hotaru-kun copying Ryo-senpai?!"
Hotaru, ready, "I call everyone by name. Just 'Kita' would be unfair."
Ikuyo shivered, mumbling, "Don't know that name… too old-fashioned…"
"That's your name," Seika said, puzzled.
"So that's Kita-chan's name," Kikuri twisted the knife.
Ikuyo grimaced, "I've avoided it… I hate it."
"Why? It's cute," Seika said.
Ikuyo sighed, "Manager's 'Song of the Stars' is beautiful. My name's a Showa-era pun, 'Came, went.' Silly."
She grinned foolishly, like Hitori.
"Contagious expression," PA-san laughed.
Ikuyo flopped on the tatami, "I'm Kita Kita…"
Ryo stifled a laugh, "Low-spirited Kita, interesting."
"Terrible personality," Seika noted.
Nijika winked at Hotaru, slipped outside.
Hotaru followed, excusing himself for the restroom.
Outside, the air smelled of earth post-rain.
Nijika stood under moonlight and lamplight, her yellow ponytail swaying, silhouette melancholic.
She turned, smiling, "Aki-kun, you came."
"Thought you wouldn't."
Hotaru chuckled, "Nijika calls, I come."
Noticing her Max coffee, "Won't you sleep?"
Nijika shook her head, ponytail swaying wider. "Don't want tonight to end. Memorable day."
She gestured to a vending machine, "Want a drink?"
Hotaru declined, "There's some inside."
"My sister's treat inside. My treat now," Nijika smiled. "You were the star today."
"Is that so…" Hotaru pointed to mango juice.
Nijika, happy, tried to buy it but couldn't select it.
Hotaru stepped in, chose it, smiled, "There."
Nijika blushed, handing it over, "Not on purpose, right?"
"No way."
"Really?" She narrowed her eyes, then smiled, "Learned something you like."
"Your turn," Hotaru said.
"Answer a question first," Nijika said. "Bocchi-chan's Guitar Hero, right?"
Hotaru, prepared, "Guitar Hero? Why think that?"
Nijika's ruby eyes locked on, "Look at me properly."
Hotaru met her gaze.
She blushed, shy but firm. "Bocchi-chan's progress, her guitar—it's Guitar Hero."
Hotaru feigned thought, "She's improved, but Guitar Hero? Nah."
"You know something," Nijika pressed. "You're closest to her."
"Sorry, no clue," Hotaru dodged.
Nijika pouted, "Cunning. I'll ask Bocchi-chan."
Hotaru sighed. Bocchi-chan, I tried.
Nijika's perception was sharp.
She smirked, "Nothing to say?"
"Yes, she's Guitar Hero," Hotaru admitted. "But she fears disappointing us, wants to admit it when consistent."
Nijika nodded, "Very Bocchi-chan."
"Keep her secret," Hotaru said.
Nijika agreed. "What about you? Hiding something? Keyboard Hero?"
Hotaru's lips twitched, "No such thing."
Troll vibes.
"Really?" Nijika leaned closer, looking up.
Hotaru nodded. "Today's show leveled me up, maybe Guitar Hero's level."
"Eh?" Nijika, surprised, turned serious, "I gotta work harder!"
"Take your time," Hotaru said.
"No way," Nijika made an 'X' with her hands, then turned, gazing at stars. "My secret: I hated music as a kid. Sis played in a band, stopped playing with me."
"Mom passed, sis quit her famous band for me. She took me to a livehouse, and I fell for music. Starry's for me, though she'd never admit it."
Nijika laughed, thinking of Seika's tsundere ways.
"My dream: carry sis's legacy, make End Band and Starry famous, bring in tons of customers."
Hotaru listened to her childhood loneliness.
"Can we debut?" Nijika asked.
Hotaru shook his head.
Her eyes dimmed. Too soon, too many bands in Tokyo.
But Hotaru said, "Not just debut. Budokan, Tokyo Dome, Kohaku Uta Gassen."
"Eh?" Nijika thought he was joking, like Ryo.
"I'm serious," she huffed.
"So am I," Hotaru said, gaze spirited.
Nijika froze, stunned.
"Too unrealistic," she said.
"It's possible," Hotaru insisted. "Even if we throw money at it."
"Not joking!"
Hotaru patted his chest, "With everyone, End Band will be famous."
Nijika smiled, nodded, "I believe you."
They headed back.
Clang! A can crunched.
Hitori froze. Caught!
She'd checked on them, overheard Guitar Hero talk, and Nijika's story.
She'd ruined the moment.
Hotaru and Nijika approached, smiling at her muttering guilt.
Hotaru flicked her forehead, "Bocchi-chan, back to reality."
Day closed.
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