Social Anxiety and the Rock of Loneliness

He'd just gotten a rough idea of the band's composition—aside from that, it seemed like they could add a keyboard. Come to think of it, why didn't Kessoku Band have one?

He glanced around. A keyboard could simulate other sounds, even replace other instruments.

Though it couldn't let one person form an army, it was still a very interesting instrument.

He felt a flicker of interest.

He'd go ask after school, see if they'd let someone with no experience join.

Besides, wasn't there already a newbie in the band who couldn't even tell a bass from a guitar?

One more wouldn't make a difference.

He wasn't dumb enough to confuse a guitar and a bass—no matter how similar they looked, he could tell them apart.

Because.

He'd ask the shop clerk.

Soon, amid the school bells ringing everywhere, the first day of high school came to an end.

Students of the same age quickly formed little cliques around shared topics, building their safe zones, chattering and laughing as they headed off to various entertainment spots.

And until the very end, no one dared to talk to Ishikawa Hayato, who'd called himself a pervert—but that suited him just fine.

He picked up his bag, ready to head to Shimokitazawa and see if he could run into the other members of Kessoku Band.

"Ishikawa-kun, come to the Staff Room for a moment."

At that moment, the teacher, who'd been agonizing all day, reluctantly waved from the classroom door, calling out to Ishikawa Hayato.

Ishikawa Hayato walked over unhurriedly.

"Sorry, sensei, I've got something after this. Can we talk during lunch break tomorrow?"

Though his tone carried an apology, his face showed none of it, remaining calm and unhurried.

"Ah... okay, no problem."

Completely cowed by Ishikawa Hayato, the teacher nodded timidly, then hurried away.

Ishikawa Hayato watched the teacher's retreating back, his gaze lingering for a moment.

He remembered the teacher's name was Ishida Hane.

A male teacher who'd graduated just a few years ago.

Shimokitazawa—a place full of individuality and novelty. Antiques, secondhand clothing stores, all kinds of unique shops blooming in profusion.

After entering, Ishikawa Hayato noticed more and more people carrying instruments, their clothing extremely artistic.

And because school had just let out, a fair number of students were also around.

This scene was agonizing for Ishikawa Hayato.

Hold it in, you pervert inside me. I've still got to meet a few girls for the first time—if I blow up here, it's over!

Just get through this alley, walk past here.

And I'll be at that place!

Before coming, Ishikawa Hayato had already looked up the location of the shop called Starry. This livehouse, open for five or six years, could be called an old establishment, with plenty of good reviews—it gave the impression of being run with real care.

Exiting the alley, he turned and saw a sunken staircase beside a tall building.

Ishikawa Hayato didn't go down. He knew the shop's official opening time was 5 PM, and it was still a bit before 4.

He walked to the roadside, leaned against the wall, scrolled through band-related knowledge on his phone, and waited for the two—or one—person who would inevitably pass by.

The early spring wind still carried a chill, but the cool breeze brought distant guitar sounds and the laughter of young people, along with a faint touch of loneliness.

Not long after, a woman with blonde hair and red eyes, wearing a black tank top and vertical-striped pants, walked over. She gave Ishikawa Hayato a cold glance, didn't pay him much mind, and turned to go down the stairs.

A little while later.

"Let's go ask my sister to put up the flyers... I'm so excited—what kind of people will come to join?"

"Yeah, there'll definitely be interesting people."

Ishikawa Hayato looked up.

Not far away, a blonde girl with a radiant smile held a flyer, chatting cheerfully with a girl of the same year who had shoulder-length hair and a somewhat androgynous beauty.

Interesting?

Ishikawa Hayato thought for a moment, nodding inwardly.

There was no one in the world more interesting than him—at least in terms of being a pervert.

They'd finally come. His youth story could finally begin.

Ishikawa Hayato straightened up, patted his back lightly, then walked straight toward the two girls.

"Hello, I just overheard you talking about recruiting members..."

As he spoke, Ishikawa Hayato suddenly realized they hadn't said what they were recruiting for. He glanced at the blue shoulder-length-haired girl's bass and corrected himself.

"You're recruiting band members, right?"

"That was fast!"

Ijichi Nijika couldn't help but let out a surprised cry—she hadn't even put up her flyers yet.

She quickly glanced at Yamada Ryo beside her, who looked at Ishikawa Hayato with a flat gaze.

"A guitarist?"

Hayato caught on immediately and waved his hand with a smile.

"I'm a complete amateur. I want to learn with the goal of becoming a keyboardist, and for now, I'm planning to join a band to get a deeper feel for the atmosphere."

"A keyboardist... that's tough without a foundation."

Yamada Ryo shook her head slightly, but she didn't outright refuse.

Seeing that Ryo didn't seem opposed, Nijika broke into a smile and lightly clapped her hands to smooth things over.

"Well, let's not stand around. Let's talk inside Starry first."

4. Formation

A cramped space.

Posters, blueprints, and decorations filled this live house to the brim, yet amidst the clutter, there was a particular sense of layering and style.

That slight messiness also gave off a reassuring sense of freedom.

It was Ishikawa Hayato's first time in a place like this, and his gaze lingered here and there for a while.

Mm, the underground space felt warm and cozy, small, with the surrounding decor leaning toward darker tones—it had a real safe-haven vibe.

Behind the counter, the woman who had met Hayato before and bore some resemblance to Nijika looked up and gave him an extra glance.

"No need to be formal. This is my sister's shop, so relax."

Nijika noticed Hayato's expression and confirmed he was genuinely an outsider.

But she didn't mind at all, greeting him with a bright smile.

Are you sure you want me to relax?

Hayato silently complained in his head—he already felt like running wild through the store.

As they walked down the stairs, Nijika casually waved at her sister behind the counter.

"Sis, I'll start my part-time work a bit later."

"Oh."

Ijichi Seika replied absentmindedly, wiping the table with a cloth, but her gaze lingered on the male figure beside her sister.

The three of them sat down at a table placed in the corner of the live house.

Yamada Ryo wasn't the type to have much to say, and Hayato was busy figuring out how to act just normal enough.

For a moment, a stifling silence began to creep in.

But before it could spread, Ijichi Nijika nipped it in the bud, speaking up first.

"Let's start with introductions. My name is Ijichi Nijika, a second-year at Shimokitazawa High School, and I play the drums. She is..."

Yamada Ryo took over unhurriedly.

"Yamada Ryo, also a second-year at Shimokitazawa High School, bass."

After the two introduced themselves, it was Hayato's turn. Facing two beautiful girls, he remained composed.

"Ah, so I guess I can call you both seniors in every sense. I'm Ishikawa Hayato, a first-year at Shuhua High School."

"Hayato-kun, why do you want to join a band?"

Ijichi Nijika naturally called him by his first name.

Pervert Outburst Value: 15%.

It was Hayato's first time meeting such a warm, friendly girl who was also this pretty, and his heart wavered for a moment.

But he kept a normal expression and spoke his goal in a steady tone.

"I want to create music that lets people relax and feel at ease. I want others to listen to that kind of music together, to unwind together, and enjoy it together."

Yamada Ryo's gaze shifted slightly. Her posture went from leaning on her chin with little interest to sitting up a bit straighter.

She confirmed again.

"That's a path that's both easy and hard, you know. Are you serious?"

"Yeah."

Hayato nodded, then pulled out his phone as if to prove it.

"Actually, I don't know much about music yet, but my little sister is really good at piano. I can learn from her for now. I've also picked out some books to buy, and I've chosen a synthesizer."

He handed his phone over for the two to see.

"Synthesizer Self-Study Growth Tutorial, Prophet XL..."

The two stared at the Amazon shopping cart on the phone and fell silent for a moment.

Ijichi Nijika spoke, awkward and hesitant.

"Hayato-kun... is he rich?"

Ishikawa Hayato knew why she asked—after all, the items in the shopping cart added up to over one million yen.

"Actually, not really..."

He put away his phone and gave an awkward smile.

"Because I've been writing novels up until now, I saved up some money. If I borrow a bit from my family, it should be just about enough..."

"Just that I'll have to go get my allowance from home for a good while after this..."

Ishikawa Hayato let out a silent sigh in his heart. He was probably the most pathetic transmigrator out there.

"But I want to learn seriously. I think it's important to buy an instrument that will last a long time and leave plenty of room for the user to grow. Don't judge me by my looks—I'm a fast learner."

Ishikawa Hayato wasn't lying. Ever since he transmigrated, he felt his thinking was incredibly sharp, and his memory was so absurd he wondered if he'd gained perfect recall. His learning ability was several tiers above what it used to be.

If he hadn't wanted to hold back and live as a free-spirited person, he'd be studying in a gifted class by now.

"I see." Yamada Ryo nodded, then offered a reminder from an experienced perspective.

"But you can buy textbooks at secondhand bookstores, and instruments are a bit cheaper at specialty shops."

"Thanks! It's really good that I found a band first."

After Ishikawa Hayato said that, he added with a hint of apology.

"But... I'm not very familiar with this stuff. The exact addresses..."

Ijichi Nijika stood up and said, extremely considerate.

"Then Ryo and I will take you there."