Chapter 164

Bocchi took a light breath, looked up, grabbed the microphone in front of her that she thought she would never need, and spoke softly in place of Kita in the extremely quiet venue.

"We're a band that often gets into trouble..."

Her voice grew softer and softer, but with the backstage sound engineer's control, Bocchi's voice was amplified to a level that everyone in the room could hear.

The entire venue was silent as she listened to what she had to say.

"I... each of us has also experienced many things we didn't want to face..."

"But that's precisely why we've come together, working tirelessly for the upcoming performances, and feeling happy about everyone getting closer... That's exactly what Kessoku Band means..."

"So... so, please listen to this... let's Kessoku Band's unity."

As her trembling voice grew stronger, Ishikawa Hayato hurriedly called out to Nijika, Nijika, without hesitation, began their prelude here.

A few seconds ago.

I heard that incredibly cool guitar solo.

Number Three felt as if her brain had exploded. Before her was a transformed, even more timid, marginalized person, and in her ears was music that stirred her soul.

The dual impact of sight and sound made her feel as if she were witnessing a miracle.

This is the guitar sound of that marginalized person she just noticed; this is the sound of the band that Number One Number Two longed for.

She gazed at the girl on the stage who, who had initially dared not raise her eyes, now trembled and looked up at them.

The girl's eyes were half-hidden by her overly long pink bangs, but her blue-green pupils seemed to ignore the bangs, staring straight ahead. Her eyes held a resolute determination that was constantly breaking down, yet striving to rebuild itself.

At that moment, the stage lights seemed to shine only on her!

As soon as the pink-haired girl's voice ended, the intro to the music began without any pause.

In the intro with guitar, drums, and bass.

It was confirmed on the Number Three.

From this moment on, she is a fan of this band!

137. Kessoku Band

Below the stage, Sato Aiko held her phone, staring blankly at the band.

A guitar sound she could hardly have imagined, yet it truly appeared at that moment, resounding throughout the venue with a sense of complete liberation.

That voice was...

"Guitar... Hero..."

"Sato Aiko murmured."

As a die-hard fan, she would never mistake this for a solo performance by Guitar Hero, and the live performance was even better than what she heard online.

The level of enhancement was beyond what could be described as on-site assistance; it was more like an unleashed burst of power beyond normal levels.

The sound made her brain go numb.

Even someone like her, who had become numb from listening to music for days, felt this way, let alone the excited music fans in the venue.

They only snapped out of their daze and started getting hyped up when the five performers on stage began their formal performance.

Once the prelude ended, Sato Aiko made her decision.

This music is worth enjoying!

On stage.

Kita smiled, suppressing his joy at the successful performance and Bocchi's courage to express himself.

After the intro ended, she spoke into the microphone, singing in an incredibly soft voice.

"With profound questions on my mind, I fall asleep."

"To be loved by others is truly a dreamlike thing."

"Because you are so dazzling, I have become a shadow."

"Come on, it's time to take the first step, even though nothing in this world is certain."

"But still, with a naive heart, I yearn for tomorrow."

Although the lyrics of this song, "Kara Kara," are as melancholic as they have been in the past, they also evoke a sense of sunlight about to break through the clouds.

They played their original songs, which perfectly reflected their current mood, with ease yet utmost seriousness.

It perfectly blends gentleness and passion.

Most people in the venue were moved by the performance of the five musicians, but Number Three was different.

The melancholic yet tender lyrics deeply touched her heart.

The uncertainty about oneself, the expectation of moving forward, and that slight timidity immediately resonated with her.

Hearing the song that resonated with her inner feelings, she felt healed every moment.

It felt like being on a high platform when someone told her she wasn't alone – a romantic feeling.

Of course, she was also somewhat puzzled as to why such a song was sung by a seemingly top-notch, sunny young woman.

But this contrast is quite interesting.

"The Kessoku Band... is truly a really cool and free-spirited band."

Number Three's soft murmur went unheard by Number One and Number Two, who gazed at the stage with delight.

They tiptoed to the music, their eyes shining brightly as if they were staring directly into the light.

The entire venue was immersed in the musical world of the five-person performance.

The intense music and the gentle vocals blended together to create this song, which was full of contradictions and yet seemed at a loss.

And in the end, it left behind a beautiful expectation.

This anticipation was fueled by the music.

"I cherish even the leisurely moments I spend."

I'll come see you tomorrow.

"We must say it quickly."

"In a corner of the classroom where skirts sway freely."

"Carrying in my heart that dream that has always been overflowing."

Is it definitely possible to achieve this?

"It's achievable..."

As the guitar, bass, and keyboard ensemble faded into the background, Kita let out a long sigh.

Amidst the distinct yet gentle music, the audience below remained completely silent, just as she began to worry.

The last note of music faded into the air, and the next moment...

A deafening roar of cheers and Kita washed over them like a tidal wave, momentarily stunning Kita.

She paused for a few seconds before breaking into a smile and excitedly calling out into the microphone.

Thank you so much!

Her sincere gratitude elicited another response from the audience.

The other four felt a sense of relief when they heard it sound like the whole world was responding to them.

At this moment, although Bocchi had returned to her half-lowered head position, she could clearly feel the affection of the many viewers for them.

She noticed Kita shouting Kita. Kita's eyes were wide open and shining with Kita. He couldn't wait to introduce them to the audience in the rather noisy venue.

As she introduced herself and Ryo, Bocchi's gaze shifted slightly to the side. Ryo was holding Bess, breathing softly, and looking at the audience with a very calm expression, but she seemed to exude some satisfaction and happiness.

At this moment, Bocchi suddenly paused.

She quickly turned around and looked back, meeting the gaze of Ishikawa Hayato, who had noticed her movement.

Seeing her surprised expression as if she had suddenly thought of something, Ishikawa Hayato gave her a gentle, encouraging smile and nodded.

But at this moment, Bocchi's thoughts were not as simple as Ishikawa Hayato's. She lowered her head slightly in response, her lips pursed, her cherry-red lips seemingly fighting, pressing up and down.

Unusually, she didn't respond much to Ishikawa Hayato, but quickly turned around and faced the audience with her head slightly lowered.

Ishikawa Hayato was taken aback, and realizing what Bocchi meant, his heart beat a little faster.

But he concealed it well, a simple smile masking his true thoughts.

Only Nijika, who was also backstage, noticed their subtle interaction. She gave Ishikawa Hayato a disdainful look with her cat-like eyes.

Couples who are always showing affection without knowing the occasion are really annoying!

These two guys need to know their place!

Soon, Kita finished introducing himself and Ryo, and it was Bocchi's turn to introduce himself.

"And then comes the lead guitar, Bocchi-chan."

The reason she called Bocchi "Bocchi-chan" was because they had discussed what to say and how to introduce themselves during the interlude before going on stage.

Since Bocchi didn't want to use her real name, Kita called her by her nickname, just like everyone else.

Kita, Kita grabbed the microphone and walked over to Bocchi to explain to the audience.

"Unlike me, Bocchi-chan plays the guitar exceptionally well. I learned all my guitar skills from her. She's also the lyricist for all of the band's current songs. Bocchi-chan, show us what you've got!"

This was also a pre-arranged conversation.

Because of the self-introduction that Bocchi decided on during the discussion, all the color disappeared from the eyes of Nijika and Kita.

After a unanimous decision, the group decided that Bocchi should just stick to showing off his guitar skills.

Below the stage, hundreds of people strained to look at the lead guitarist, whose extraordinary guitar skills were evident, but who began to tremble after speaking only a few words and seemed somewhat melancholic.

I'm curious to see what kind of melody she'll play next.

But Bocchi had her head down, her heart pounding. She now felt she had grown a lot.

She remembered what Otsuki Yuyuko had said.

Momentum!

Now that she dares to express herself, there's nothing left for her to fear.

Moreover, she decided to hone her skills further and become more courageous.

Show some spirit, Bocchi!

She said to herself.

Then, under Kita's stunned and even terrified gaze, she resolutely brought the guitar to her face and began biting the strings with astonishing speed.

The next moment, in the audience's eyes, the guitar trembled up and down as if being bitten by a zombie, and the low, roaring sound of the guitar echoed in the venue.

The terrifying sound once again subdued the entire venue.

In an instant, the bustling venue was frozen solid, as if swept by a Siberian cold front.

When Bocchi was halfway through playing, she felt something was wrong, and after she finished, she felt as if the surroundings were as quiet as a funeral parlor. For a moment, she didn't dare to take the guitar down and face the audience.

Her face, hidden behind the guitar, once again became a distorted 6д9 shape, a state she hadn't seen in a long time.

Even Kita, who was holding the microphone, was dumbfounded and didn't know how to respond.

The whole scene froze, as if the performance was about to end.

Ishikawa Hayato chuckled and leaned towards the microphone beside him, completely ignoring the people in the room as he continued his conversation.