The War Devil didn't need to ask for permission to take over Kita's body.
At that moment, scars had already appeared on Kita's face, and her eyes had changed.
She was now the War Devil.
Ding, ding, ding!
Her fingers moved nimbly across the guitar strings, not using a pick but strumming directly with her hand.
Kita found the sensation strange.
Her perspective was still rooted in her own body.
It felt as if her body had suddenly started moving on its own, as if she had instantly learned to play the guitar.
The War Devil's guitar skills were indeed extraordinary.
She played for nearly a full minute without pause, weaving in numerous difficult techniques, the kind only highly skilled players could pull off.
Ding!
The War Devil stopped. The piece was finished.
Kita was still savoring the motions from just now, feeling she had learned a great deal.
Clap, clap, clap, clap!
What she didn't expect was the sound of applause from outside the door.
The War Devil immediately relinquished control of the body. Kita turned, puzzled.
It was Nijika standing in the doorway, her face full of amazement.
It seemed she had been there for a while.
"Kita, I didn't know you could play guitar that well," Nijika said. "Then why did you run away last time? Honestly!"
Kita knew Nijika had misunderstood. She opened her mouth to explain but found herself at a loss for words.
How could she explain?
Tell Nijika that a devil lived inside her and that it was the devil playing just now?
From Nijika's perspective, the masterful performance just now could only have come from Kita herself.
"I… uh…"
For the first time, the usually outgoing Kita was at a loss.
Nijika continued, "By the way, wasn't that song from Samurai Band?"
"I'm surprised! I didn't think you'd like Samurai Band!"
"I thought such an old band wouldn't be popular with young people nowadays. I only got into them because I happened to hear my sister's treasured vinyl record."
Kita was baffled.
She had never even heard of "Samurai Band."
After all, that guitar piece hadn't been played by her at all but by the War Devil.
Did the War Devil… have some connection to that band?
Nijika tilted her head in thought, then asked, "By the way, if you're that good at guitar, why pretend you can't play?"
Suddenly she looked as if she had figured it out.
"Ah, I get it. You're trying to get close to Bocchi-chan, aren't you?"
"You pretended to be a beginner so she'd teach you guitar one-on-one, right? That way you can get close to her. So sneaky!"
Kita froze.
From a certain perspective, Nijika wasn't wrong.
She was indeed trying to get close to Hitori Gotoh, though under the War Devil's coercion.
Nijika went on, "Sometimes I envy Bocchi-chan. Doesn't she realize how popular she actually is?"
"Makima-san too… they're really close."
"But I also have high hopes for you, Kita, so don't worry. I'll quietly cheer you on."
"If you ever need my help, just say the word. I'll try to create more chances for you to be alone with Bocchi-chan!"
She gave a thumbs-up.
Kita pursed her lips. Though she knew Nijika's misunderstanding was completely off track, she had no way to deny it.
So she simply nodded. "Then… I'll leave it to you."
"Alright!" Nijika beamed.
With that, she left.
Kita remained alone in the room, sighing quietly.
Why had she joined Kessoku Band in the first place?
It was for Ryo Yamada.
She had once, by chance, seen Ryo performing at an outdoor gig and was immediately captivated by the cool, handsome bassist.
Her first time joining the band had been for impure motives to get close to Ryo.
But now she no longer had the mind to think about Ryo at all.
The War Devil's threats still loomed over her, and she had to focus all her effort on building a good relationship with Hitori Gotoh.
For now, she would devote all her attention to Bocchi-chan.
Her thoughts were in a mess, but beside her, the War Devil's expression was also grave.
Because she had caught a key word from Nijika's earlier words.
"Makima…" the War Devil growled softly. "Damn it, could she have gotten ahead of me again?"
Tap, tap, tap.
Before long, someone else entered.
It wasn't Nijika this time, but Gotoh, who had returned.
Her expression seemed a bit off as she spoke apologetically. "Um… Kita-san, I'm really sorry, but I might not be able to keep teaching you."
"Huh?" Kita blinked. "Did I do something wrong?"
"No, no, of course not… I just suddenly have something to take care of, so I need to leave early today."
"Oh, I see," Kita said.
"It's fine. I'll keep practicing on my own and try to take on the role of lead vocalist as soon as possible."
"But now that I think about it, since you're so good at guitar… why don't you just sing too? I think it'd be even better."
"Huh?" Gotoh froze. "M-me? Sing?"
"Yeah."
"No, no, absolutely not."
"But your voice would totally fit."
"No no no no!"
Kita's words cut off abruptly because of Gotoh's reaction.
The pink-haired girl shook her head rapidly like a bottle of soda being shaken, all while repeating "no no no" over and over.
"S-sorry… I didn't think you'd be that against it," Kita quickly said.
After saying goodbye to everyone at STARRY, Gotoh left alone, but instead of heading home, she walked in another direction.
The reason for her sudden early departure was a phone call from Makima.
Public Safety Division 4 had a new mission.
They had received a report from civilians that a devil had appeared in a hotel, and Division 4 was already fully mobilized.
Walking down the street, Gotoh sighed.
She had planned to bring her guitar home today, but with the sudden mission, she had no choice but to carry it straight to the scene.
"Being in a band and working as a Devil Hunter… for a high schooler, I sure am busy."
"Woof!" came a faint bark from inside her backpack.
"Yeah… I know. Since I decided to do it, I have to give it my all."
"And being a Devil Hunter is also a way to protect everyone in the band. Thinking of it that way… I actually feel kind of proud."
Pochita gave another soft "woof."
"Huh? What did you say?" Gotoh's eyes widened. "Kita smells like both a human and a devil?"