As expected, things turned out more or less the way Haru had imagined.
Kita Ikuyo, who was always the first to lean forward, now quietly lowered her head. Unlike her usual self, she was not showing much energy today, and of course, there was a reason for that. In Haru's eyes, it was probably because of the live show just now.
Any band that could perform at Moriya naturally had a certain level of skill, and what made this particular live even more intimidating was that the band was famous for the vocal power of its singer. It was no wonder that Ikuyo, who was also a vocalist, felt the pressure.
And after this, they would still have to hold their own live performance!
To think that their first real public performance as a band would be in such a formidable place, facing hundreds or perhaps even thousands of people!
The audience at this live house had long been accustomed to high-quality shows, and their standards for bands were naturally stricter.
Just the thought of being compared with the bands here was enough to wrap them in invisible chains of pressure, binding them like shackles.
If they were nothing more than an ordinary band, they would have already started worrying or even panicking by now.
"..."
Haru slowly closed his eyes.
"As expected, the bands that can perform in a place like this… every one of them is amazing! We need to give it our all for our upcoming show too. Once we step on stage, we can't afford to lose to them!"
Walking at the very front, Nijika suddenly stopped. Her canvas shoes tapped the ground like a gentle dance as she turned her small frame, her warm gaze and cheerful words of encouragement carrying the glow of the sun, drawing everyone's eyes to her.
She had wanted to say something inspiring, something that would strengthen their unity as a band and help everyone regain their confidence.
But the moment she spoke, she realized that those words had already been said. The girls standing before her were no longer the inexperienced novices they once were. Each of them had already grown to where they were now.
For them at this stage, such words seemed unnecessary.
"Nijika-senpai is absolutely right! Yes… I won't lose to that vocalist either!" Ikuyo clenched her little fist. Her starry eyes and radiant smile combined into a dazzling brilliance that seemed almost blinding.
Back during the Summer Festival Live, they had only just debuted, barely having performed at all, yet they had stood proudly on the same stage against the wildly popular band SIDEROS without fear.
Compared to then, they had grown far stronger.
There was no way they would falter over something like this now.
"This time we'll be performing the new song Haru wrote too, so we have to give it everything!"
"Yes! I'll put in everything I have!"
Nijika was like the anchor of the band, instantly turning the mood into one of positivity. Even Ryo, who usually kept silent while playing the part of a cool expert, could not help but let the corners of her eyes curve with quiet satisfaction.
"Ah! But before that, we need to firm up the basics before the show. Once we get back to the inn, let's start practicing right away!"
"You're right, let's head back to the inn now!"
Watching the two girls' excitement rise, Haru could not help but smile, then lightly coughed to interrupt. "There's no need to rush so much. Did you forget we still have rehearsal later?"
"Ah, I think we did forget…"
"There's still quite a bit of free time before rehearsal starts. Since we're already here, why don't we go visit the shrine nearby?"
"You'll have all the time you need to practice tonight, so there's no need to hurry right now."
Haru's remark brought the girls back to their senses. Ikuyo, who was always quick to act on her thoughts, brightened instantly. Her eyes lit up, and it was clear she had endless energy for something like sightseeing.
"A shrine?! I heard that Suwa Lake is famous for fortune slips, I want to go, I want to go!"
Nijika perked up as well, her voice brimming with energy. "Alright! Then just as Haru suggested, before rehearsal begins, let's all go play at the nearby shrine!"
"Ohhhhhh!"
The angelic leader had barely given her command before Ikuyo responded at once, bursting with enthusiasm. Seeing their competitive spirits rekindled so easily, Haru let out a relieved smile.
See?
There was never anything to worry about.
The band was no longer what it used to be. Instead of worrying that they might get nervous for the show, it would make more sense to worry about when Lord Belial might suddenly attack Earth.
It was getting cold. Time to prepare a golden cloak for the invincible Nijika.
Waving a little flag, Nijika looked like an adorable tour guide as she led everyone toward the shrine. Just as Haru was about to follow, a soft voice reached his ear.
"Haru, you already knew it would turn out this way, didn't you?"
Hitori had appeared at his side without him noticing, her clear blue eyes lifting to watch him intently.
"Of course."
He answered without hesitation, then raised his brows slightly as he explained with a smile. "You're a much stronger band than you look. And with Nijika as the anchor, something like this won't affect you at all."
Haru said this with full confidence, his eyes curving into slits as he laughed.
"…"
Hitori blinked in surprise at his answer. Her long bangs covered much of her beautiful face, and as though something had just occurred to her, she gently pressed her lips together, revealing a faint, enchanting smile.
So Haru always thought that Nijika was their anchor?
But in truth, everyone in the band, Nijika included, believed that the one at their center, their true anchor, was none other than the black-haired boy standing behind them.
Because Haru was always there, watching their backs from the rear, they could step forward with complete confidence and strength. Because each of them knew, even if they failed, it would not matter.
No matter what happened, he would always be there to support them.
"Bocchi, what are you smiling about in secret?"
"N-no, nothing! I was just thinking of something happy!"
"What happy thing?"
"The song Haru and I wrote together. It's finally going to be shown to everyone soon."
The girl in her pink and white tracksuit smiled foolishly, the complete opposite of the cool and gallant "Guitar Hero" she became on stage.
Haru blinked, then raised his brows.
The song he had once composed for Bocchi in the simulation, The Ever-Blooming Pure White Flower, was finally about to appear in reality. Yet this time, it was different from the simulated version.
This time, it was a brand-new song, written by Hitori and Haru together, with fresh lyrics and melody.
For a moment, Haru was taken aback, memories from the simulation flickering in his mind. His gaze toward the pink-haired girl softened, though he still forced a casual smile as he spoke.
"Well then, Guitar Hero, once we're on stage, I'll be counting on you."
"The song we worked so hard to create has to make the whole crowd cheer."
"…Yes!"
Hitori nodded firmly, her face earnest. Seeing her look so confident and adorable made Haru's heart itch unbearably. He reached out, and under her puzzled gaze, lifted her long bangs with his hand.
In that instant, the girl's breathtaking beauty was revealed.
Her neck, faintly brushed by strands of cherry-colored hair, was as pale as snow. With her bangs lifted, the flustered way she lowered her gaze was impossibly cute. Her delicate features, unadorned by makeup, glowed with a blush that spread from her cheeks all the way to the tips of her ears.
It was pure overwhelming charm, as if the numbers alone could drown me.
Not good, my spider sense is tingling.
No matter how many times he saw her, Haru was struck by her beauty again, and his gaze toward the girl grew a little more mischievous.
"Haru?"
Bocchi's nervous voice broke the silence, her trembling eyes unable to meet his.
Haru only grinned like a prankster, then slowly closed his eyes and leaned toward her. Under her shy, panicked gaze, his lips brushed against her soft forehead, making steam rise like smoke from the top of her small head.
Then, to Haru's shock, her eyes rolled back and she fainted on the spot.
"Bocchi?!"
What, really? That was just a forehead kiss!
They had already kissed more intimately than this before, and yet now she fainted from something so minor?
Even as he cursed inwardly, Haru's expression grew a touch more complicated. With a sigh, he easily scooped Bocchi into his arms in a princess carry. Her face was still completely red as she gazed blankly at the sky.
Maybe he had done this too often lately, because his arms were even starting to show muscle tone.
…
The most famous shrine in Suwa City was Moriya Shrine, located near the Live House of the same name.
The streets seemed decorated especially for it. Paired guardian beast statues stood on both sides of the approach and worship hall, followed by rows of stone lanterns. From the foot of the mountain, torii gates stretched on endlessly into the depths.
It was as if passing through those countless gates would lead into some indescribable otherworld.
Haru himself did not really believe in such things. He was a firm materialist, after all. Though there was something unscientific about his own circumstances, that did not change his conviction.
"Looks like there's a nice shaded spot here. I'll let Bocchi rest for a while. Nijika, you and the others can go ahead to the shrine. I'll stay here and watch over her."
"Wait, let me take care of Bocchi instead!"
Nijika suddenly stepped forward, volunteering. Her golden ponytail arced brightly through the air as she moved closer, her small figure standing right in front of him.
Her sudden interception left Haru puzzled as he held Bocchi.
Nijika seemed to realize she had acted too abruptly. A blush, like wine, spread across her cheeks. She quickly patched her words.
"Actually, I was already feeling a little tired too~ I was planning to find a spot to rest for a bit, so this is a good chance."
"Haru, you can go to the shrine with Kita-chan and Ryo. Leave Bocchi to me, I'll take care of her just fine!"
The great angel patted her flat chest as if in assurance, then sneaked a glance at Ryo. At that, the silent bassist raised an eyebrow knowingly.
After so many years of friendship, of course she understood what Nijika meant.
Kita Ikuyo caught on as well, quickly chiming in. "S-since Nijika-senpai says she wants to rest too, why don't we three go wander around instead? We can even grab some snacks on the way back."
Unlike Nijika's natural tone, Kita's nervous voice made her sound stiff, her movements almost robotic.
It was like a Namekian(DBZ) trying to imitate a human. Easy to see through with just one look, making the corner of Haru's mouth twitch.
Ikuyo, your lying skills could use some work.
Even without Haru's familiarity with her habits, someone like Anon could probably see through her instantly.
Still, seeing Kita's stiff face, Haru decided not to expose her. Since even Nijika had stepped forward like this, it probably wasn't such a bad idea.
And he didn't particularly mind.
Unless Ryo was planning to scam him with a fake KFC Thursday deal, then he would definitely mind.
"In that case, I'll leave Bocchi to you, Nijika."
"No problem, leave her to me!"
Only when Haru finally relented did the nervous angel let out a sigh of relief. It was her first time pulling something like this, and she really wasn't used to it, but at least she had succeeded.
As for her reason, it went back to the "pajama party" the girls had held the night before.
"Phew…"
Sitting on the bench, Nijika watched Haru leave. Only once his figure disappeared did she breathe again. Just then, the pink-haired girl lying on her lap shivered faintly.
Moments later, Hitori slowly opened her eyes.
"Eh?"
"W-where am I?"
Having fainted, Bocchi sat up in alarm like a patient in crisis. Her brain had short-circuited earlier, and when it finally restarted, she found herself here.
A strange ceiling… no, not a ceiling, the sky?
She was lying on a bench under the shade of trees.
Still dazed, Bocchi had no time to think before Nijika's voice rang out beside her. "Ah! Bocchi, you're finally awake!"
"You suddenly fainted on the way, you nearly scared us to death!"
Nijika patted her chest with lingering fear. Remembering what had just happened, Bocchi's body trembled. She fumbled, unable to explain herself.
She… she couldn't possibly say she fainted from a forehead kiss, could she?
She was supposed to be one of the first girls in the band to become close to Haru. She had even done things far more intimate than this, yet she had passed out from something so small.
It was mortifying.
Even with more shameless things, she had managed just fine.
"Bocchi? Hey~ Bocchi-chan, wake up!"
Nijika waved her pale hand in front of her, snapping her out of her thoughts. Bocchi jolted and quickly looked around, her eyes filled with confusion.
"Nijika? Where's Haru… and the others?"
"This is the rest area near the shrine. Haru went to the shrine with Ryo and Kita-chan. I used the excuse of looking after you to send them off."
Bocchi froze for two seconds, then a realization flashed in her eyes. She spoke quickly. "S-so this is Ryo-senpai's 'alone time'?"
A blush crossed Nijika's face, and she scratched her cheek awkwardly.
"Originally, the plan was to give you this alone time with Haru, Bocchi. But since you just happened to faint, the chance went to Ryo instead."
This was what they had discussed during the pajama party last night.
Kita had slipped out early from the hot spring, trying to sneak off, only to be caught red-handed by Ryo, who mercilessly dragged her back.
Once caught, Kita cried and apologized.
But the others didn't hold it against her. Everyone had snuck off at some point, and since they all liked Haru, they could understand Kita's feelings. No one got angry.
Still, it did feel a little unfair.
After all, the original "plan" was for the girls of the band to share things with Haru fairly.
If Nijika's confession at the start, along with about two hours of private time together, could still be considered reasonable, then Kita's little sneak-off was definitely a bit sly. That clearly did not fall under "fair."
So, in order to make the arrangement a little more balanced, Nijika had taken the initiative to suggest this.
"Though I worked hard to create an opportunity for Ryo, her personality is a bit… well, I don't know if she'll actually make good use of it."
Nijika let out a small sigh, wearing the worried look of a mother fretting over her child.
But Hitori stayed silent for a while, then suddenly lifted her head and spoke.
"If it's Ryo-senpai, it'll be fine."
"Eh?"
"I… I think the real thing to worry about is whether Ryo-senpai might just eat Haru up on the spot."