Gotou Hitori closed her eyes, muttering, "No, I can't do it."
Hotaru had no intention of being soft-hearted.
Hitori needed a push.
Hotaru grabbed the Guitar Hero case behind Hitori and set off.
They arrived at a street near Shimokitazawa.
Found a spot with decent foot traffic and a wide road.
Hotaru stopped.
He gently shook Hitori's shoulder.
"Wake up, Hitori."
"We're here."
"Ah, yes!" Hitori groggily opened her eyes.
Seeing the bustling crowd, her eyes turned spiral.
"So...so many people..."
"That's why it's a street performance!" Hotaru replied.
"Quick, get your guitar out!"
Hotaru took out his instrument first.
Hitori's attention was drawn to it.
Not an electronic keyboard, but a bass guitar.
Why a bass guitar?
It looked familiar.
Hitori asked, "Is this... Ikuyo's bass guitar?"
"Mm," Hotaru responded softly.
"Has Aki-kun learned the bass guitar?"
Hitori was filled with doubt and curiosity.
If she remembered correctly, it was a left-handed bass.
Hotaru smiled and nodded, "Yes, today I'll support you."
"Support me?!"
Hitori looked at Hotaru with disbelief.
As if asking him to say it wasn't real, just a joke.
Hotaru teased, "Please carry me, Guitar Hero."
"Please, don't call me that..."
Hitori's face crumpled.
She thought with Hotaru's keyboard, she could blend in.
But now, she was the main act.
Hitori imagined them performing poorly.
Scolded by passersby, apples and rotten eggs thrown at them.
So, so, so scary!!!
"Alright, stop shaking," Hotaru said helplessly.
"You're making me dizzy."
Hitori awkwardly stopped shaking her head and took out her guitar.
They chose a popular song Hitori knew well.
They began to play.
At first, not many gathered to watch.
Hitori noticed something off.
Hotaru's bass playing seemed better than her guitar.
Unreasonable?
Though not at her full potential, Hotaru didn't seem like a beginner.
Hitori looked at Hotaru with disbelief.
"Aki-kun's bass..."
Understanding her confusion, Hotaru asked, "Not bad, right?"
He was emotional.
For the performance, he prepared thoroughly.
Last night, he spent 1000 notes to exchange for a level 1 bass guitar.
The system was unreasonable.
Even a left-handed bass, though he wasn't left-handed, he used flexibly.
It gave him the illusion he was left-handed.
Or musically talented?
"Mm! Very impressive!" Hitori nodded heavily.
Maybe no rotten eggs!
If Hotaru knew her thoughts, he'd want to crack open her head.
Hitori said it was impressive, but Hotaru knew he was at an introductory level.
Perhaps she was encouraged.
Hitori slowly got into the zone.
Hotaru constantly accompanied her, their playing improving.
Facing an audience was still too hard for Hitori.
"No money on the ground, don't look at the floor."
"Yes..."
"Don't turn your head."
"Yes..."
"Don't bury your head in your collar."
"Yes..."
Hotaru persuaded her repeatedly.
Hitori obeyed each time.
But soon found new ways to avoid eye contact.
As a last resort, Hotaru said, "Just watch me play."
Through her bangs, she shifted her gaze to Hotaru.
Hitori felt her tension lessen.
Hotaru's tolerance made her feel at ease.
Slowly, Hitori paid attention to Hotaru's movements and played along.
She didn't fully immerse in her fantasy world.
...
Around the corner, Nijika appeared, dragging a suitcase.
Seeing Hotaru and Hitori's performance, Nijika's eyes lit up, lips curving into a cat-like smile.
"Interesting."
She walked to the opposite street and stopped.
Took out her old guitar, plugged it into an amplifier.
Nijika slid the pick and strummed fiercely.
A restless guitar sound spread.
Restless yet invigorating.
It attracted passersby.
Hotaru and Hitori noticed too.
"Hm??"
They paused, exchanged bewildered glances, understanding.
Someone else was performing.
Filled with curiosity, they looked across.
Nijika's restless, exquisite guitar sound responded.
Their audience moved toward Nijika!
In a flash, Nijika was surrounded.
"Great!" someone exclaimed.
"Little Rana?" Hotaru said, surprised.
Hitori looked at Hotaru, at a loss but secretly pleased.
Fewer onlookers improved her complexion.
Hotaru saw the crowd heading to Nijika and gritted his teeth.
It ignited his competitive spirit.
He and Guitar Hero, two people, not as good as one!
Damn this drive.
But today, he was just a bassist, what could he do?
Only three female audience members remained.
One looked rock-and-roll.
Shoulder-length black hair, ends turned up, straight bangs slightly left.
Studded leather choker, black slim-fit leather jacket, silver-gray hip-skirt.
Black guitar case in her left hand, clearly a musician.
Her calm expression gave subtle pressure.
Hotaru's intuition: "Mm, an expert."
The other two, likely university students.
One long-haired, one short-haired.
Hotaru knew, if all went as expected, they'd be Hitori's future loyal fans, Fan #1 and Fan #2.
"What should we do?" Hotaru pondered.
Fans?
He whispered to Hitori, "You have three fans, will you disappoint them?"
"Fans?!" Hitori couldn't believe it.
Could she have such a thing?
Guitar Hero had over 30,000 online fans, but live performance fans?
Her performance wasn't great.
Hitori glanced at the three, then retracted her gaze.
"Show your Guitar Hero skills."
"Don't disappoint them."
Hotaru encouraged, almost brainwashing.
It worked.
Fans... disappointment... ah...!
The words echoed in Hitori's mind.
An astonishing energy burst from Hitori, her hair flying.
She stomped her right foot.
Her wrist moved rapidly.
The sudden beautiful melody drew Kairin's interest, who hadn't noticed Hitori before.
The two students were captivated.
Hotaru was surprised, "Hitori, you're bursting out too quickly."
"Yes, that's the spirit!"
Hotaru focused all his energy; now he was struggling.
The guitar sound covered the bass.
Hitori, showing Guitar Hero skills, with Hotaru's rare left-handed bass, successfully attracted back a group of audience members.