Ryo valued individuality over trends. If fame required abandoning self, it was as good as death.
So Bocchi's "imitate what's hot" and Nijika's "learn others' styles" had disappointed her.
She'd planned to speak up later—
until Aoki said, "Find your own voice."
It was exactly what she'd been thinking.
She studied him: the odd guitarist who'd lent her money to buy a bass with a straight face, who seemed to share her worldview. Curiosity stirred behind her cool expression.
Aoki didn't notice. After speaking, he fell quiet.
"Finding our own road… sounds hard for us right now. But we should try!" Nijika nodded. She trusted most of what Aoki said—especially since discovering he was "suki-san."
Bocchi looked troubled. "I… tried writing what I'm comfortable with, but it felt too dark…"
"Try anyway," Aoki said. "A band is a whole; you'll shape each other. What feels dark to you might fit us. And it's early—we don't need all the answers yet."
Kita tilted her head. "You know so much, Aoki-senpai. Have you been in bands?"
"Band? Never tried," he said.
"Eh? Then… do you want to join Kessoku Band?" she blurted.
Silence fell. Four pairs of eyes pinned him.
Bocchi hoped he'd join—then she'd have time to build up courage to thank him properly. Nijika wanted his songwriting brain. Ryo… was simply curious.
He drew a breath. Skill-wise, he'd fit. But time-wise and money-wise, he couldn't. He aimed for year-top and that massive scholarship. Every spare moment should go to study, not band practice. Joining now would be unfair to the band.
"Sorry. I'll pass."
Nijika immediately cut off questions, afraid someone would poke a sore spot. "A-haha… that's fine! Senpai must be busy. Okay—next topic!"
They briefly discussed merch. Around 4:50, Seika emerged, assigned cleanup tasks, and the meeting ended.
As the others grabbed mops, Bocchi pulled Aoki aside. She'd spent the whole day trying to form the words. Afraid this might be the last chance, she blurted, "U-um, Aoki-senpai…"
He looked up from the message he was typing to the bar's boss to ask for leave.
Before he could answer, she rushed on, "Th-thank you for bringing me to STARRY that day… and for asking Nijika-chan to look after me… I-I don't know how you knew me, b-but… t-thank you!"
She bowed low.
A chime in his head told him the "option" had completed.
He resisted the urge to explain how he'd known her and instead said gently, "You did this yourself, Bocchi. You made the choice and earned everyone's recognition. I believe in you—and in Kessoku."
Believe… in me?!
Bocchi melted. "Aoki-senpai really is a super good person…"
She drifted into her own world, too dazed to reply when he called her name a few times. He gave up with a wry smile.
With the event done—and his leave from the bar already granted—he decided to head home to rest.
He waved to Nijika, who was wiping a table. But as his hand touched the door handle—
"suki-san, wait."
He stopped and looked back at Ryo.
Nijika's head snapped up. su… suki-san?
How did Ryo know his YouTube handle? And why didn't Aoki even flinch at being addressed that way?!
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