Social Anxiety and the Rock of Loneliness

The glasses then flashed with an unreadable light as he walked out.

Leaving the three with confused expressions.

25. Performance (5)

"Please, come out!"

Nijika pressed down on a trash can, yelling into it with a wail.

"The performance is about to start."

Anyone who saw this scene would feel sorry for the cute girl; clearly, something was wrong with her.

But the next moment, a distressed voice, on the verge of tears, came from inside the trash can.

"I... I really can't do it."

Clearly, there was someone with bigger problems present.

"It can't be helped, after all, we're a band that was put together at the last minute."

Nijika, looking resigned, placed her hands behind her back and smiled easily as she comforted Gotou Hitori.

"I'm not playing very well either."

Honestly, she didn't have high expectations for the upcoming performance; she just hoped they could finish playing properly.

Ryo, on the other hand, proudly put a hand on her hip. "I play very well."

Inside the trash can, Gotou Hitori, provoked, let out a broken laugh.

Even the one thing I could be proud of is ruined like this, I shouldn't exist, I'm a water flea, a water flea...

Seeing that things were getting nowhere, Nijika called out helplessly.

"Just get out of there, don't run away from reality."

She urged Gotou Hitori, who was hiding in the trash can, with a tone that sounded like she was about to break.

But even so, she still spoke in a gentle tone, afraid to raise her voice.

Meanwhile, Ishikawa Hayato was in the men's restroom, holding a bag and sending messages.

"Kita-san, there's a problem, come help me quickly."

"I won't be fooled."

On LINE, Kita Ikuyo replied with a tone that suggested she saw right through him.

Ishikawa Hayato: "Then there's nothing I can do."

Kita Ikuyo: "Mm."

Ishikawa Hayato: "Then I'll just have to post this apology video online and pay for expensive ad space so everyone can see it."

The second the message was read.

Kita Ikuyo: "I'll kill you!!"

Ishikawa Hayato: "Our stage time is 18:00. I don't need to tell you what will happen if you're not there."

"Also, I'm not lying about the problem. Apologize before it's over, and everyone will probably forgive you. Otherwise, you'll be resented forever."

Ishikawa Hayato sent the message and waited for two minutes. Seeing no reply, he changed his clothes and walked through the live house lobby, causing a stir of screams.

"If you're scared, how about playing inside here?"

Ryo pulled out a box of ripe mangoes from who knows where.

Nijika and Gotou Hitori stared at her blankly, both stunned by her incredible idea.

But a moment later.

"It feels exactly like how I've always played!"

Gotou Hitori's voice, regaining her confidence, came from inside the ripe mango box.

Nijika, who was going further and further down the path of complaining, stared dumbly at the cardboard box and couldn't help but say.

"What kind of place do you live in?"

But Gotou Hitori, having entered her own world, was lost in the moment.

"Everyone! Let's rock tonight!"

Gotou Hitori's excited voice came from inside the box, making the box itself shake.

This bizarre scene was something even Ryo, who had brought the box over, couldn't have imagined. She couldn't help but comment.

"She's like a different person..."

Nijika, seeing Gotou Hitori (in the cardboard box) willing to go on stage, breathed a sigh of relief and then asked in a relaxed tone.

"By the way, how should I introduce you to the audience?"

She tilted her head uncertainly, her soft side ponytail swaying.

"Hitori-chan? Can we use your real name?"

Upon hearing this, Gotou Hitori quickly peeked her head out from where she had just opened her mouth, her eager but indirect refusal.

"That's still..."

"Do you have a nickname then?" Nijika asked, confused.

"In middle school, they just called me 'that thing' or 'hey'..."

Gotou Hitori said this gloomily, as if accustomed to it, speaking words that made one sad and brought tears to their eyes.

This startled Nijika; it was a topic she could hardly imagine.

"You even have nicknames like that!?"

Gotou Hitori knew this was too pitiful and hastily said in a panic.

"I... I'm not familiar enough with anyone to have gotten a nickname!"

Upon hearing this, Ryo seemed to see that she wanted a nickname.

She was quite considerate, and in a familiar manner, came up with a nickname for Gotou Hitori.

"Hitori, alone." As if she hadn't thought about it at all, she blurted it out.

"How about Bocchi-chan?"

This nickname stunned Nijika next to her; it was a name often used for dogs!

Doesn't this person just speak without thinking!

But...

Gotou Hitori, no, Bocchi, peeking her head out of the box, her eyes lit up, and she exclaimed with joy and emotion.

"I... I... I'll be Bocchi!"

As she said this, tiny happy stars even seemed to appear around her.

She was happy...

Nijika stared blankly at the happy Bocchi.

Meanwhile, while the three were having a lively conversation, a pervert silently crept in. Hearing Bocchi's voice, he nodded with satisfaction.

He had arrived at just the right time.

But he crouched in a corner, waiting for an even more opportune moment.

Don't ask how he hid; a pervert can hide even in a ceiling corner.

"This is my first nickname." Bocchi's tone was filled with a leisurely happiness, and she smiled as if completely softened.

Nijika had never seen her like this before, despite knowing her for so long.

Compared to Bocchi, Nijika felt a pang in her heart. She pressed her chest and sighed softly.

"My tears are about to fall."

Encouraged by them and feeling their concern, Bocchi gained some courage and asked.

"I still don't know your band's name."

This statement immediately made Nijika show a struggling expression; she took a step back as if struck.

"It's 'Kessoku Band'."

Ryo stated calmly.

Then, seeing Bocchi fall into confusion, Ryo covered her mouth and chuckled softly, proud of her naming.

"A masterpiece."

"That name is too cold! I'm definitely changing it!"

Nijika cried out in despair, waving her hand at Ryo, and then clutched her head in pain, wailing.

"Ahhhhh..."

"Why? Isn't it cute?" Ryo asked, puzzled.

"Ah... yes." Bocchi replied.

Seeing that even Bocchi agreed, Nijika's wails grew louder, but her attitude quickly changed.

"Never mind the band name for now, it's almost time for our debut."

As soon as she finished speaking, Bocchi, groaning, fearfully shrunk back into the cardboard box.

"It's okay!"

Nijika comforted her with a smile.

"Even if you play badly, playing joyfully is the core."

"Music easily evokes strong emotions."

Before Nijika's heartwarming words were finished, a very ill-timed person appeared.

"That's right, happiness is the essence of everything."

Ishikawa Hayato appeared, quietly opening the synthesizer and playing the sound he had previously tuned.

"Auntie ya~ yee~~"

The three people in conversation were startled by the sound. They glanced at the suddenly blaring speaker, then immediately turned back to the keyboard.

The three froze.

The sight that greeted them instantly shocked their brains.

There stood Ishikawa Hayato, draped in a rough scarf like a tattered cloth, wearing iron bracers on his hands, and long boots...

and a loincloth.

Ishikawa Hayato, who usually looked like an ordinary build, appeared strong and solid after taking off his clothes.

While he didn't have the massive muscles of a bodybuilder, his smooth yet full physique struck the perfect balance between slimness and strength.

Paired with this outfit, he exuded a sense of fashion that was beyond comprehension.

He stood proudly with his hands on his hips, striking a peculiar pose and saying:

"Even if the performance is bad, as long as I distract them with something else!"

"Oh~"

Ryo was the first to snap out of it. She exclaimed in amazement, then nodded.

"That's very feasible. We could even raise the ticket prices and girls would still come to watch."

Nijika, who had been speaking gently to Bocchi, was completely stunned. Her mouth opened and closed, speechless, until a few seconds later.

"Hayato-kun, put your clothes back on!!"