Chapter 162

After a long while, Hasegawa Manami, her forehead covered in cold sweat, spoke.

"We're next in line for rehearsal, let's go check it out..."

"Um..."

For some reason, the voices of the few people who responded were filled with deep emotion.

On the other side, on the stage, after confirming the song order, lighting, and sound settings with the backstage team, the group went on stage.

He was checking the status of various equipment on the stage.

Facing the stage he was already used to, Bocchi wasn't as afraid as he had been last time, to the point of turning his back to the audience.

But she kept her head down.

At this moment, her thoughts were still lingering on Otsuki Yuyuko's words.

"If they show more intensity, maybe it will become something to watch."

It was this sentence that reminded her that a few months ago, Falcon had told her that he hoped she would persevere.

But has she really been working hard lately?

She has been practicing hard lately, but just like before, she still doesn't dare to take a step in other areas.

It had gotten to the point where Kita was even planning to help her.

Even when Otsuki Yuyuko said a few days ago, "I just feel that people who rely on others or have romantic feelings can't make good music," he responded with indifference.

A little while ago, the older sister also said that they were the same kind of people.

She agreed; without Falcon, she might end up like her older sister, getting drunk and wasting her life.

Even worse.

The reason she didn't want to run away was precisely because she felt that if she turned her back on Otsuki Yuyuko and left, she would truly make no progress, so she chose to move forward.

While she was thinking, all the settings were confirmed, and she could begin playing.

At this moment, Otsuki Yuyuko and the others also came out, but the five people in the rehearsal ignored them, instead confirming with each other before starting the actual performance.

Their voices echoed throughout the venue.

Meanwhile, in the audience, Otsuki Yuyuko, who hadn't shown much interest initially, suddenly looked up at the stage upon hearing this completely different voice, her eyes widening in disbelief.

Even the other musicians in the audience who had heard the Kessoku Band during their audition were shocked and looked up at the stage.

Once SIDEROS' final rehearsal was complete, the staff got busy, carefully checking everything to ensure they wouldn't make mistakes with a large number of guests.

Apart from the first band to start their performance, the other bands also left the venue. They went to the side aisle of the stage to listen to the performance from the side or to rest backstage.

The Kessoku Band then walked towards the waiting room together with the SIDEROS band.

"Your rehearsal skills have improved so much since last time. Did you not perform seriously before?"

Hasegawa Manami was talking to Nijika in front.

Nijika smiled shyly and waved her hand.

"No, no, it wasn't that bad. It's just that our keyboardist told us to play casually like we usually do. But SIDEROS, you guys are really strong. Your performance and your presence were absolutely amazing."

Kita chimed in with a smile.

"Indeed! Metal rock isn't as scary as it seems; it's actually quite cool."

Looking at the group of people in front of her exchanging pleasantries, Otsuki Yuyuko caught a key word in their conversation.

Keyboardist.

Indeed, their keyboardist is exceptionally talented, and their lead guitarist is also quite remarkable.

She glanced over there.

The two were holding hands and chatting with the bassist next to them.

"What about lunch and dinner afterwards? Should we order takeout or go out to eat?"

Ishikawa Hayato looked around and asked both of them at the same time.

"That's fine with me," Liang replied nonchalantly.

"Me too... takeout is better..."

When Bocchi heard Ryo say that, she was about to agree when she saw Ishikawa Hayato turn and meet her gaze. She hesitated for a moment but still spoke her mind.

Ishikawa Hayato smiled and tightened his grip on her hand.

"I'll ask Nijika and Kita the two takeout orders later."

Bocchi was so happy he almost floated on air.

Hearing the conversation between the two, Otsuki Yuyuko was internally pounding her fist on the ground in frustration.

Rock and roll doesn't need romance! Don't get horny in such a sacred place!

But she had to admit that the two of them did indeed possess enough skill to warrant praise from Hiroi-nee.

Her previous assessment was indeed somewhat arbitrary.

Just as she was about to go up and say something to the two men to apologize,

But then she suddenly noticed.

It seems fine that Ishikawa Hayato and Gotou Hitori are standing very close together, but isn't the bassist next to them also standing a bit too close?

Those two were almost touching arms, hey!

The passageways at Shinjuku Folt aren't that crowded, what do you mean by that!?

Shocked, Otsuki Yuyuko dared not go up.

When lunchtime arrived, the five members of the Kessoku Band, no longer mingled with the SIDEROS band.

They took chairs and sat by the aisle, eating their takeout while listening to the band playing on stage.

"I just went outside and saw a lot of people. It's completely different from the last time we were there."

Kita finished speaking than Ishikawa Hayato heard a loud heartbeat coming from Bocchi next to him.

He thought to himself, "Kita really something, he just rattled off two bombshells that would be a disaster for Bocchi."

As he was trying to figure out how to comfort Bocchi, he suddenly noticed that Bocchi had slowly calmed down on his own, and with his head down, he slowly picked up another piece of fried chicken and put it in his mouth.

Her bangs obscured her face, but the way she held the lunchbox remained as vulnerable as ever.

But I always felt that something about her was starting to change.

Ishikawa Hayato didn't say anything, just listened to the conversation of the others.

"Definitely, it's only morning now, there might be even more people later."

Nijika spoke, she also took a look at Bocchi.

Kita imagined the scene: hundreds of people packed together listening to their performance; just thinking about it excited her.

"Then we're no different from real popular bands!"

At this moment, Liang suddenly spoke, her expression and voice sounding somewhat serious.

"Nijika."

"Um?"

"Hurry up and go to the toy store next door to buy some toys to sell as band merchandise! You'll definitely make a fortune."

This scoundrel even laughed as he spoke, a look of pride in his own cleverness on his face.

Nijika looked at her expressionlessly, but Liang remained unmoved.

Liang's expression changed and he quickly wiped the smile off when Nijika reached for the drumsticks.

"Really," Nijika complained, but the next moment, she also showed a bright smile.

"However, in preparation for today, I've also finished stocking up on our band's merchandise!"

"What toys do you have?" Ishikawa Hayato asked with a smile, peering forward curiously.

"Have..."

Nijika had just smiled and taken out her phone to open the photo album, ready to show the group their arsenal, when she realized something was wrong.

Wasn't Ishikawa Hayato implying that she was just like Ryo?!

"Hayato-kun, what do you mean by 'toy'?!"

She slapped her thighs with both hands and shouted angrily.

Ishikawa Hayato couldn't help but laugh loudly, and the others followed suit with quiet laughter. In the end, even Nijika laughed easily.

Finally, Ishikawa Hayato extended his hand and said earnestly.

"This time, it will definitely be a perfect success."

The four men looked at his outstretched hand and, without hesitation, placed their hands on top of his, their eyes filled with trust.

"Um."

"Absolutely no problem."

"Let's put on a perfect performance."

"Yes... that's right."

Five hands pressed down and then rose together, facing the infinitely dazzling lights.

Meanwhile, that afternoon, Fans Number One and Number Two were in their dorm room, making final confirmations before their departure.

"Fan, towel, power bank, snacks... Oh, Number Two, you're still wearing wedge heels?"

"Oh, I forgot."

Number Two hurriedly ran back to the dormitory and changed into flat shoes.

Because the Kessoku Band quite late, and there were a lot of people today, they needed to go in early to avoid not having a place to stand, and they also had to be prepared to stand for more than two hours.

Therefore, all equipment must be adequately prepared.

It was a tough battle for the two who absolutely wanted to see their favorite band perform in such a large venue.

After only a couple of seconds, fan Number Two ran out, stepped on the floor to check for comfort, and smiled.

"Done!"

"Then, let's go!"

Number One picked up his bag, turned around, and took a step forward.

Number Two quickly followed her to her side.

Just as the two were heading towards Shinjuku Folt with high hopes, Number Two suddenly saw a figure sitting at a table, looking somewhat troubled, through the crack in the door of the dormitory next door.

"Wait!" Number Two suddenly called out to Number One.

"Huh?" Number One exclaimed in surprise.

Number Two didn't explain further and walked straight to the dormitory entrance.

She went up and knocked on the door.

"May I go in?"

"Please come in."

With permission granted, she smiled and went inside.

A short while later, she came out smiling with another woman, saying very happily.

"I've fulfilled my duties as the fan club president!"