Chapter 161

Not to mention the various people carrying merchandise or musical instruments, even some shop signs have been redesigned, exuding a rock and roll vibe.

If this were a game, the background music would automatically switch to "It's My Life" as they step into present-day Shinjuku.

The girls were stunned for a moment, but Ishikawa Hayato walked behind them and hugged all four of them by the shoulders in one go.

He said with a smile.

Let's go.

The girls turned their heads to look at him, offering helpless smiles.

135. Arrogant

When they arrived at Shinjuku Folt, they found that there were already music fans waiting around, and more than a dozen people had already lined up in front of the store.

Keep in mind that this is still rehearsal time, with only a few hours until the official performance. The fact that the music festival has been going on for two days and there is still such a grand occasion is quite surprising to Ishikawa Hayato.

He also felt that he was attracting a lot of attention here, carrying his instruments and wearing a band T-shirt. He didn't care, but Bocchi's uncomfortable look made him and the others quicken their pace.

Once inside the store, there weren't as many people as outside, and the sense of being the center of attention wasn't as strong.

Only the busy staff made them feel the lingering effect of the grand occasion from the previous two days.

Bocchi had just been targeted and whose size had shrunk, gradually began to return to normal.

"Ijichi-chan, Kita- chan."

Not long after entering the store, someone greeted the two foreign ministers in the band.

The two responded with smiles.

Kita, in a good mood, radiated a light when he laughed, instantly purifying the gloom of many band members.

Meanwhile, Ishikawa Hayato stood obediently with Bocchi and Ryo to avoid any unnecessary trouble.

At this moment, after watching all sorts of energetic young people for two days, Hiroi Kikuri, who couldn't stand the youthful vibe and was squatting in a corner drinking alone, noticed the commotion and soon discovered that Bocchi was returning to human form.

Tears welled in her eyes as she ran toward Bocchi.

"Bocchi-chan ~~! Waaah, you're the only one here like me."

As soon as Bocchi showed a look of horror, Ishikawa Hayato stood in front of her, reaching out to press down on the drunkard's head, keeping her at a distance from Bocchi.

He asserted.

"Bocchi could never be like you!"

Hiroi Kikuri eyes blurred with tears, looked at Ishikawa Hayato, who was protecting Bocchi. She didn't know what she was thinking, but she cried even harder, opened two cans of alcohol in one go, and started drinking.

He was still muttering to himself, "Why... why didn't I... come to this place... back then..."

Bocchi probably understood her drunken ramblings.

She glanced at Ishikawa Hayato, who was reprimanding Hiroi Kikuri.

After confirming the rehearsal time with the organizers, the group, in order to get rid of the drunkard and under the subtle guidance of Ishikawa Hayato and Hiroi Kikuri, headed towards the waiting room.

Ishikawa Hayato was the first to push open the door and go inside, followed by the other four.

Inside, as expected, were the members of SIDEROS. Apart from Yuyuko, the other two were chatting happily in a seat on the other side.

Meanwhile, Otsuki Yuyuko, who plays guitar and is the lead vocalist, sat on the other side, hunched over, staring intently at the terrifying figure in front of her.

The sight of that made the four girls behind Ishikawa Hayato pause in their tracks.

Qi Qi was horrified, wondering if this person had been starving for days and wanted to eat people.

"Ah, Kessoku Band."

Hasegawa Manami always wore a mask like Kakashi, immediately noticed the five people.

Beside them, Uchida Yuyu, dressed in gothic attire, held a doll and wore a sinister smile.

"Hoo hoo, I guessed it long ago. Only a few dare to invade this insurmountable realm. Welcome to our territory. Kessoku Band."

Honjo Fuko, said cheerfully.

"Welcome everyone who 'Kessoku Band!"

Ishikawa Hayato glanced back at the four of them, nodded in confirmation, and realized that his own girl was the most normal.

And unlike the SIDEROS members inside who all wore their own clothes, they were all wearing the same T-shirts, so neat and cute.

He also asked them if they really wanted to go into this godforsaken place.

Leaving aside Bocchi, who was already leaning against the wall, his face covered in cold sweat like an assassin, Nijika and Kita nodded lightly, greeted them casually, and went inside.

They also seemed quite curious about this band that kept changing members but remained excellent.

Liang stared intently at the chairs inside and followed the two inside.

Judging from her expression, Ishikawa Hayato knew exactly what she was thinking without even having to guess.

After the three of them went inside, Ishikawa Hayato rubbed his hair helplessly and looked at Bocchi, who was leaning against the wall.

He sneaked up to Bocchi, patted Bocchi on the shoulder, and pointed to the side, gesturing as if asking her if she wanted to sneak away.

Bocchi's eyes widened in surprise, then quickly lit up with delight. But just as she was about to nod, a deep voice came from the waiting room.

"Ishikawa Hayato, Gotou Hitori, why aren't you coming in yet?"

Upon hearing that deep, murderous voice, Bocchi stiffened, hesitated for a moment, then shook his head with tears in his eyes.

Ishikawa Hayato ignored her shaking her head, stepped forward and took her hand. Just as he was about to walk to the side, he noticed her hesitant gaze out of the corner of his eye.

He breathed a soft sigh of relief, smiled, stepped forward, patted the pink-haired girl's head, and walked into the lounge.

Upon entering the room, Otsuki Yuyuko's aura remained terrifyingly heavy.

Only Ryo, who didn't want to squeeze in with the other person, sat in the same row as her, but in the farthest spot, dozing off.

Ishikawa Hayato glanced to the other side.

The five of them filled the row of sofas; if he insisted on sitting there, he would have to lie down on the girls' laps.

Of course, he would be very happy to do so, but he didn't want to be scolded by his own daughter in front of outsiders.

Let's forget about it.

He had no choice but to pull Bocchi over to Otsuki Yuyuko's side. He sat down a little distance away from Otsuki Yuyuko, while Bocchi sat on his other side.

As soon as they sat down, the five people opposite them glanced at them, but quickly resumed their conversation as if nothing had happened.

"Speaking of which, do you really have no other performance experience? You don't seem nervous at all."

Hasegawa Manami curiously sized up the group.

After confirming each other's schools, they discovered that they were bands from the same generation, and everyone present was a high school student. While their skill levels weren't exactly similar, they weren't far apart either.

Therefore, they naturally became familiar with each other.

Of course, this is also related to their social skills.

"I did have two performances at a livehouse in Shimokitazawa."

Nijika looked quite embarrassed, after all, neither of those performances were very good. "But not many people watched them either."

"It's only been twice, not many people are normal. When we first started, we only had fans brought by Yuyuko- senpai."

Honjo Fuko comforted him.

Kita blinked in surprise and asked in a low voice.

"Won't that put a lot of pressure on you?"

Uchida Yuyu hugged the doll and sighed deeply.

"It was really tiring at the beginning; that was the worst period for Youyou."

On the other side, seeing the lively conversation over there, Otsuki Yuyuko couldn't help but glance at the three silent people beside her.

That gaze made Bocchi shrink back in fright.

As she watched Ishikawa Hayato gently comfort Bocchi, her expression relaxed slightly, no longer as tense as when Ishikawa Hayato had first sat down.

She only spoke up proudly when Bocchi was overjoyed at being comforted by Ishikawa Hayato.

"Don't assume that just because you're in the same venue as us and go on stage at roughly the same time, you're on the same level. Even if you use all your strength, the gap between us is as vast as the ocean."

In an instant, everyone in the waiting room turned their attention to her.

Some of the Kessoku Band members looked on with a puzzled expression, wondering, "Is this a provocation?" while the other three members of SIDEROS sighed helplessly, thinking, "Our seniors are at it again."

Being watched by so many people, Otsuki Yuyuko felt as if she might have said something she shouldn't have.

She hesitated for a moment.

It's not that big... but there's still quite a difference...

But she only said it in her heart; she said it aloud.

"If... if they showed more intensity, maybe it would be worth watching."

Kessoku Band, the members exchanged strange glances, and Nijika and Kita even checked with the SIDEROS members next to them.

Ishikawa Hayato stroked his chin. He had even heard what Otsuki Yuyuko was thinking. Tsundere characters are actually the easiest to understand, but he didn't want to tease them, lest things get out of hand.

He simply replied casually, thinking that he wouldn't lose face even if he lost.

"You can only say things like that now."

"What?"

Otsuki Yuyuko's expression darkened further.

On the other side, Hasegawa Manami whispered to Nijika and Kita.

"Otsuki-senpai is the kind of person who isn't good at interpersonal communication."

"I see."

They looked on with a sudden realization.

136. Facing

While the group was chatting happily, the door to the waiting room was suddenly opened quickly, and a staff member glanced at the situation inside the room and said to Ishikawa Hayato and the others.

"The Kessoku Band their rehearsal; it's your turn now."

Upon hearing the sound, Nijika realized she had gone too far. Her expression changed, and she abruptly stood up, greeting the four people.

"Oh no! We forgot! Everyone, hurry!"

She was clearly speaking to the three people opposite her, and then hurriedly walked outside.

Ishikawa Hayato quickly shook Ryo awake and pulled Bocchi along to follow.

Kita and Ishikawa Hayato exchanged a glance, but instead of squeezing through the door together, they stayed behind and waved to the four people still waiting in the waiting room.

"See you later, everyone from SIDEROS."

After she finished speaking, she closed the door and ran out, skipping and jumping.

As she watched the door close, Hasegawa Manami was taken aback by her sudden, inexplicable thought, and stammered out a question.

"Ah, now I know why those people weren't nervous."

"What?" Honjo Fuko tilted her head in confusion.

Hasegawa Manami turned to her; she was wearing a mask, making it impossible to see her mouth movements as she spoke.

"That's an expression that says 'I have a man backing me up.'"

But Otsuki Yuyuko asked in confusion.

"Aren't Ishikawa Hayato and Gotou Hitori in that band who are dating?"

The moment those words were spoken, the waiting room fell silent.