Social Anxiety and the Rock of Loneliness

Seika immediately understood the situation, then said in a resigned voice.

"You need to decide quickly..."

The four sat around the table. Nijika crossed her arms, closed her eyes, and sank into deep thought.

"The band name... this is really important."

"Anything's fine."

This was Ryo, propping her head up with both hands, half-closed eyes looking drowsy as she spoke. From the moment they started this topic, she'd worn an utterly disinterested expression, and now she seemed about to fall asleep.

Hearing this incomprehensible remark, Nijika shot back loudly, agitated.

"How can you say that!"

Ishikawa Hayato was a little curious how they'd ended up with the name Kessoku Band, and at the same time wondered whether the band name might change due to the butterfly effect of his appearance.

He watched the others with quiet interest, enjoying the show.

Kita Ikuyo, when the topic shifted away from playing, calmed down. She tapped her chin with a finger, tilted her head slightly, and thought seriously.

Ryo, bothered by Nijika's outburst, squinted and glanced around at the others' pensive expressions.

Finding it all a hassle, her gaze wandered around the shop until it landed on a cable tie on a wire in the corner.

In an instant, her brain seemed to spark.

"Kessoku-tai. Kessoku Band."

Her eyes lit up, a sly hint of pride on her face.

Nijika: ???

"Kessoku—like unity, right? Ryo-senpai is amazing!"

The blind Ryo-fangirl Kita Ikuyo immediately gave Ryo's suggestion a perfect score. The answer came first, then the question.

"No, no, no—that's a pun, isn't it?"

Nijika quickly waved her hands to warn Kita Ikuyo.

She didn't want their important band name to become some kind of joke.

"Oh, I see! So it's a joke too~ How cool."

Kita Ikuyo flashed Nijika a brilliant, dazzling smile.

Kita!

The Magical Girl Kita emitted a radiant glow.

Even though Nijika was the same type of cheerful girl, she still couldn't withstand that Kita-level shining energy.

"Kita-chan, stop!"

Nijika wailed, using her hands to barely block the force.

After weathering it, her clothes were disheveled, tears in her eyes, and she turned her helpless gaze to the only person who might side with her—Ishikawa Hayato.

Seeing Nijika's pitiful expression, Ishikawa Hayato opened his mouth several times but couldn't get the words out.

But as a degenerate, Ishikawa Hayato's heart was as hard as iron. Even Nijika's pathetic look wouldn't shake him.

He went against his conscience and said, with a look of amusement.

"I think the name's pretty good."

With the weight of consensus against her, even Nijika had to give in.

Finally, teary-eyed, she walked over to her sister and said in a choked voice.

"Kessoku Band... is what we're called..."

Seika tightened her face, barely managing not to laugh out loud.

17. Photo

"So next..."

After submitting the performance application and pulling herself together, Nijika returned to continue the band meeting.

"Practice is probably out... so what else do bands do..."

"Disband."

Ryo cut in.

"Ryo, don't talk!"

Nijika still seemed to hold a grudge over the terrible band name they'd just settled on.

But after snapping, she glanced at the other two. Seeing no sign they agreed with Ryo, she relaxed a little.

They didn't usually spend much time together, and she wanted to use this chance to get to know everyone better.

What should they do...

"How about we take a band group photo?"

As she thought that, she suddenly heard Ishikawa Hayato make the suggestion.

"Great idea!"

Kita instantly lit up again, her gaze fixed straight on Ryo, sinking into a blissful fantasy.

Kita Ikuyo's heart was an open book.

Nijika sighed, but still smiled. Even though no one in the band besides her was normal, there was somehow a feeling that this was what it meant to play instruments.

She raised her hand, the red ribbon on her wrist fluttering.

"OK, let's go."

"Ooh~"

As the group walked out onto the main road, the unusual combination of three girls and one boy made Ishikawa Hayato feel as dazzling as a harem king.

He could even sense some normies glaring at him with "die, die" looks.

"Kita-chan goes to the same school and class as Hayato-kun, right?"

"Yeah, what a coincidence."

Nijika and Kita walked ahead, chatting, while he and Ryo followed behind.

Seeing the two up front talking animatedly, Ishikawa Hayato glanced at Ryo beside him.

She still wore that expressionless look, her eyes half-hidden by her bangs, staring straight ahead.

She was dressed in a gender-neutral black shirt and black carrot pants, giving off a strong sense of independence while also appearing tall and elegant.

Ishikawa Hayato thought for a moment. Though both of them fell into the category of oddballs, it seemed they had no topics to really connect on.

He casually picked a subject.

"Where do you usually go to hang out, Ryo?"

Kita, overhearing this from ahead, stiffened instantly.

Asking a girl where she goes outright—what a playboy!

Come to think of it, she was curious. Ishikawa Hayato didn't seem particularly close to the others. How long had he even been in the band?

She turned to Nijika and asked.

"Ijichi-senpai, how did Ishikawa-kun meet you all?"

Since it was just two days ago, Nijika remembered it clearly.

"It was on Wednesday. Hayato-kun suddenly came to us and said he wanted to join the band."

"Wednesday... as in this week?"

Kita Ikuyo was dumbfounded.

"Yeah."

Nijika nodded affirmatively.

Seeing Nijika nod, Kita felt a surge of absurdity. He'd known them for just a few days and was already calling them by their first names, without even adding "senpai."

This man definitely had ulterior motives!

From behind, Ishikawa Hayato's voice came through.

"Thrift stores? I've never been to one. Usually, like Ryo, I prefer going to places with few people."

Ryo-senpai is in danger!!

She can't be talking to a playboy like this.

"Is that so? Where do you usually go?" Ryo asked.

"Open spaces, like seaside embankments, flat plains, stuff like that," Ishikawa Hayato replied.

"Doesn't it get boring?"

"It's really comfortable to relax your body and mind in a wide-open place."

After saying that, Ishikawa Hayato naturally invited Ryo. "Want to come and try it?"

Wha... wha... what is he saying! This man!

The pace is way too fast!!

Kita's eyes went blank, chaotic colors swimming in them.

Going to a deserted place to relax body and mind, try it out... there was no way she'd allow that to happen!

She had to protect Ryo-senpai!

Afraid that Ryo might be tricked into agreeing, and if she did, it'd be too late, Kita's gaze swept frantically around—shops, streets, wire fences, tall buildings, houses with unusual styles.

Found it.

"Um, there's a pretty good wall over there."

She hurriedly cut off the exchange between Ishikawa Hayato and Ryo, pointing far off at a small house decorated in a summer style and speaking to the group.

Ishikawa Hayato blinked.

Almost instinctively issued an invitation—close call, close call.

He used to take people to those places all the time; it had nearly become a habit.

The four of them redirected their focus to that shop.

Ryo, Kita, and Ishikawa Hayato stood by the side wall of the store, while Nijika positioned herself a few steps away to check the view.

Nijika spread her index fingers and thumbs, forming a rectangular frame with both hands, aiming it at the three.

"Kita-chan, you're amazing—this fits our background perfectly."

"No, no, I just happened to see it..."

Kita Ikuyo hadn't expected that a random spot she picked would actually be approved. She hoped Ijichi-senpai wasn't just going along with the atmosphere to be nice; otherwise, she felt her guilt piling up again.

"Alright, I'll go ask if we can take photos here."

With that, Nijika dashed into the shop like a gust of wind, her golden ponytail fluttering from the motion.

"I'll also..."

Before Kita could finish her sentence, she suddenly remembered Ishikawa Hayato standing beside Ryo.

The two of them were now discussing matters related to their performance.

Even an ordinary conversation gave her an overwhelming sense of crisis.