On the day of the Kessoku Band's performance, a typhoon swept across Tokyo as expected.
In just a few minutes, the naked eye could no longer distinguish the gloomy sky from the ground. The heavens were pouring down waterfalls, and rivers of rain flowed across the ground—a truly blurry water world.
The best choice for this kind of weather was to stay quietly at home. But unfortunately, some people had to go out today.
Backstage at STARRY, although the four members of the Kessoku Band were mentally prepared, they still felt a little disappointed after learning that some of their friends couldn't make it today.
Hayasaka Ai came. But what Uchiha Ryo hadn't expected was that the members of the Classic Literature Club also appeared one after another.
First came Hiratsuka-sensei, the Yukinoshita sisters, and Chitanda Eru. Although Chitanda's family didn't allow her to go out alone in this weather, she could catch a ride with the Yukinoshita family.
And Yukinoshita Yukino was a little confused about why her sister also came to watch this performance.
As for why she herself came, it was because she had been invited by Hayasaka Ai, and... because Hayasaka said that a certain Uchiha had been paying attention to this band.
The last to arrive was Amakusa Shino, who had actually walked to STARRY with an umbrella, braving the wind and rain. Amakusa Shino's explanation was simple: since it was a band recommended by a club member, she definitely had to come and listen.
Hayasaka Ai was also a little moved when she saw President Amakusa walk in with her umbrella. This second-year senior who loved dirty jokes was actually quite a gentle person.
Amakusa Shino: "Oh my, I'm all wet."
Hayasaka Ai walked up and took the umbrella. "Are you soaked, President Amakusa? Let me help you dry off."
Amakusa Shino was a little embarrassed. "That's not very appropriate... after all, that place...."
Uchiha Ryo stepped forward and interrupted a certain president's impending inappropriate remarks. Although the senior was very gentle, her head was full of dirty thoughts.
So far, everyone from the Shuchiin Classic Literature Club except Shirogane Miyuki was present, and the friends from Toyogasaki had also arrived without exception.
Eriri, Katou Megumi, Takashi holding Nyanko-sensei, and the upperclassman Kasumigaoka Utaha.
Uchiha Ryo found a random place to sit, but Yukinoshita Haruno suddenly sat next to him and whispered with a familiar air.
"Ryo-kohai, you're quite something. Do you know all these girls?"
Uchiha Ryo: "....One is a clubmate from Shuchiin, and the other is a clubmate from Toyogasaki. Is there a problem?"
Hiratsuka Shizuka suddenly sat on the other side. "Your clubs are really impressive. Do you refuse to join clubs with boys in them?"
Uchiha Ryo put on an innocent look. "Are you kidding? Shirogane Miyuki is in the Classic Literature Club, right? And isn't the boy holding the cat over there also in the Toyogasaki club?"
Yukinoshita Haruno glanced at Takashi with a fake smile. "Ryo-kohai... Shirogane Miyuki from Shuchiin is about to run for student council president, so naturally, he won't participate much in club affairs in the future. As for the boy over there, I remember he's your younger brother, right?"
Uchiha Ryo didn't want to talk, but Yukinoshita Haruno suddenly showed a reassuring expression. As a person who loved fun, once Haruno became interested in someone, she would probe wildly at the edge.
"Let big sister help you out, Ryo-kohai!"
With that, Yukinoshita Haruno suddenly stood up and looked at the group of exceptionally beautiful girls over there.
"Hi, hi, hello everyone. I'm Yukino's older sister."
Chitanda Eru and Hayasaka Ai, who had met Haruno before, nodded, while Eriri and Kasumigaoka on the opposite side looked at this female university student curiously.
"You must be the friends Ryo-kohai made at Toyogasaki. But unfortunately, Ryo-kohai is returning to Shuchiin next week. So..... would you like to come and participate in our Shuchiin Devoted Hearts Festival?"
Kasumigaoka Utaha sized up this senior who seemed to be on good terms with Uchiha Ryo. Her eyes lit up when she heard the words "Devoted Hearts Festival."
As a novelist with broad knowledge, she knew about the legend of the Shuchiin Devoted Hearts Festival.
But Eriri and Katou Megumi, who knew nothing about it, asked questions.
Katou Megumi: "Um... what is the Devoted Hearts Festival? Another name for the Cultural Festival?"
Yukinoshita Haruno smiled and then told the legend of the Devoted Hearts Festival.
A man who deeply loved a seriously ill young lady gave his heart as a medicinal ingredient, and the young lady regained her health.
Because of such a fairy-tale love story, the tradition of the Devoted Hearts Festival appeared at Shuchiin. It was said that giving a heart-shaped gift to someone at the Devoted Hearts Festival would grant eternal love.
"Eternal love...."
Even the rational Yukinoshita Yukino had an emotional side deep down. All the women present were instantly curious about the Shuchiin Devoted Hearts Festival.
After all, Yukinoshita, Chitanda, and the others had just entered high school, so they hadn't officially participated in an event like the Devoted Hearts Festival either.
Yukinoshita Haruno: "So, beautiful juniors, if a boy gives you a heart-shaped gift, remember to refuse directly."
"Ah, Ryo-kohai, are you listening? Have you prepared a heart-shaped gift? Who do you plan to give it to?!"
Uchiha Ryo: "....."
Hayasaka Ai / Kasumigaoka Utaha: I see. He's mine!
Backstage, the Kessoku Band had been eavesdropping on the audience's conversation. Kita Ikuyo blinked.
"What an interesting Cultural Festival, ah no, Devoted Hearts Festival. Hey, hey~ let's go too when the time comes."
Bocchi-chan didn't speak. Eternal love... is it really possible for me to get something like that? If I give one to Uchiha-kun.....
Ah!! What am I thinking?! Look at that group of people out there. Everyone is more outstanding than me. That's Uchiha-kun's social circle.
Ijichi Nijika: "Let's talk about that later. Everyone get ready! We're going on stage!"
.....
"Please enjoy our original song, 'Guitar, Loneliness, and the Blue Planet'!"
As the band appeared, Yukinoshita Haruno also returned to her seat.
The performance began! Ijichi Seika sighed silently in the back, and Uchiha Ryo also frowned.
Why are the drums off right from the start? If the drummer rushes the beat, the whole section might fall apart.... And Kita's guitar, it seems the tense atmosphere has caused her to make quite a few mistakes too.
The first song ended.... For a student band, it was indeed not bad. But.... if this was all they had, their debut would end here.
Do you want it to end like this? Bocchi-chan...
She doesn't! Uchiha-kun is watching. Just as Uchiha Ryo said, Bocchi-chan didn't want to stop! She wouldn't stop here!
Bocchi-chan, who hadn't dared to play a guitar solo just two days ago, suddenly started her own solo before the second song.
She wanted to attract everyone's attention with a solo! The best way was to show off her skills, using her extreme strumming, using the hard power that belonged to Guitar Hero, to make up for the mistakes just now.
Leading directly into the second song, the other members of the band also saw Bocchi-chan's determination. They put aside their nervousness and began to play for the audience with all their might.
The audience below unconsciously swayed their bodies lightly to the rock music. Uchiha Ryo finally breathed a sigh of relief.
Their level has finally come up.... Good job. Now the music part of the game can finally be produced.