Chapter 88
After a slight bump, Bocchi asked.
"Falcon, if I grow up, will you accept my confession?"
Ishikawa Hayato's voice drifted from ahead.
"Of course, but let me state first, I might very well have a harem."
"It's alright, as long as Falcon is by my side, that's enough."
Bocchi snuggled up to Ishikawa Hayato's back, wrapped his arms around his waist, and looked happy.
Having received his affirmation, Bocchi finally had no more worries.
But after a short while, Bocchi suddenly felt Ishikawa Hayato's body tense up a bit, Ishikawa Hayato said.
"Bocchi, don't let yourself get thrown out this time!"
Bocchi was startled and peeked to the side. She saw a traffic policeman leaning against a motorcycle not far ahead, calmly watching the two of them.
Bofeng Jihuo spent a full 30 days traveling along this highway.
Do you know how he spent those 30 days?
Rain or shine!
In order to avenge himself, he even secretly installed nitrous oxide in his car, just to catch that couple and teach them a lesson.
That day, he finally got what he had been waiting for.
He took a deep drag of his cigarette, picked it up with his hand, threw it on the ground, and stomped it out.
He turned around and quickly got on his motorcycle.
He didn't try to stop them by shouting; he knew that a real man wouldn't stop because of a few words from others.
Turn the key, engage the clutch, press the gear, accelerate, and release the clutch.
The motorcycle responded with a roar.
Ishikawa Hayato awaited Bocchi's reply.
Although Bocchi had already hugged him tightly, and he could even feel something incredibly soft pressing against his back, he wasn't in a hurry.
If you can shake them off once, you can shake them off a second time.
Soon, Bocchi's voice, a mix of panic and excitement, came from behind.
"N-nothing... it's alright, Hayabusa, please go full speed ahead, do your best!"
Hearing Bocchi's happy words, Ishikawa Hayato suddenly felt that she wasn't so well-behaved after all.
"Come on?"
His words seemed to startle Bocchi hesitated for a moment before speaking slowly.
"Then... slowly?"
"No, I just want to hear Bocchi cheer me on."
"Falcon... Go for it, shake him off!"
"Very good, speak louder."
"Falcon, hurry!"
Bocchi seemed to get excited too, and deliberately emphasized the words "Haya" in Falcon's name and "Haya" in "fast".
Ishikawa Hayato cried out excitedly upon hearing Bocchi's cheerful cry.
"Ishikawa Hayato's history of perversion is about to turn a new page! Ora!"
Just the next second.
Snap, rustle.
The bicycle did not accelerate under Ishikawa Hayato's pedals; instead, it slowed down more and more.
Ishikawa Hayato heard the sound beneath his feet and broke out in a cold sweat.
That was clearly the sound of a broken chain.
The excited Bocchi froze instantly.
The traffic police siren approached quickly, stopping in front of the two men. The officer got out of his vehicle, crossed his arms, and leaned against the motorcycle, watching them.
The two were severely criticized.
Of course, Ishikawa Hayato kept Bocchi behind him the whole time, and the traffic police ignored his little trick.
He finally wrote out the ticket and made them promise not to do it again before letting them leave.
Bocchi hung his head, his face full of guilt.
It was all her fault for urging Ishikawa Hayato to speed things up.
But when she noticed Ishikawa Hayato's expression, she found him all smiles, seemingly unconcerned about the criticism and the ticket he had just received.
Puzzled, Bocchi looked at his face and pondered for a while.
Finally, he asked, "Falcon, you..."
Ishikawa Hayato glanced at her and immediately understood her confusion, then explained.
"I'm so happy to see Bocchi's cheerful side."
Bocchi's heart skipped a beat, and she immediately lowered her head. She touched the back of Ishikawa Hayato's hand with the back of her hand, but as soon as she touched it, Ishikawa Hayato grabbed her hand.
Holding Ishikawa Hayato's strong hand, Bocchi felt a surge of warmth emanating from him.
She wanted to answer Ishikawa Hayato by saying, "I will recognize myself and have courage," but then she thought about her own situation and became hesitant to make that promise.
Just as Falcon said, he was all she had in her heart now, and everything else seemed to be becoming less and less important to her.
Targets other than the falcon...
Bocchi glanced at the azure sea that reflected the blue sky.
78. Together
After having lunch with Falcon, we gathered at STARRY with our guitars.
After the final rehearsal before the audition, the five looked at each other with satisfaction, nodded in unison, and walked outside.
On the stage, the lights were all ready to simulate the effect of a performance, and the light shining obliquely from behind the stage illuminated the stage brightly.
Seika and PA-san were already seated in the audience, waiting.
Under Seika's unwavering gaze, they nervously made the final adjustments.
After tidying up the audio cables, Bocchi stood still.
She had been thinking about what she truly craved since morning.
Bathed in the stage lights, her memories drifted back to the past, gradually recalling her initial goal when she first picked up the guitar.
In the past, she saw a seemingly gloomy and lazy band member on TV who said that even gloomy people can shine in a band.
Inspired by him, and driven by a desire for friends, to shine, and to change, she picked up a guitar.
More than three years have passed since then.
Bocchi took a slight, deep breath.
The rehearsal just now was so tense, but seeing Kita, Nijika, Ryo, and Hayabusa's joy during rehearsal and their happiness after it was over, and then seeing their nervous expressions now...
Everyone cares a lot about the band.
She would have almost overlooked it if Falcon hadn't reminded her.
My friend, Shining, she's already so close to her goal, it seems like she has no further goals to pursue.
Moreover, with the addition of Falcon, she is now in her happiest state.
Surprisingly, she was unusually calm at this moment, as if she could observe and notice every little detail around her.
Behind her, Nijika nervously began announcing, "We are the Kessoku Band."
"Next, let's begin playing 'Guitar, Solitude, and the Blue Planet'."
After exchanging glances with the others, Bocchi looked at the monitor speaker on the stage. The speaker's black casing was illuminated by the light, revealing a slight textured surface.
After acquiring something, the next step is to maintain it, to preserve everything she has, and then slowly increase it.
She wanted to continue like this, staying with everyone.
With Falcon by her side, she'd definitely pass the audition, but that wasn't an excuse for her to run away. To maintain those qualities, she had to muster the courage.
Have the courage to change in order to protect the present!
The cymbals behind her seemed to awaken Bocchi, but she didn't panic. Holding the guitar neck and pick, she calmly raised her hand and strummed the guitar.
The five-member band's voices blended seamlessly into the music, which had been racing at full speed from the very beginning.
But within seconds, everyone in the room sensed that something was wrong.
The performance went smoothly, even quite well, but...
Seika and PA-san, slightly startled, looked towards the stage.
Although Bocchi has played very well before, this time it was completely different from before. The guitar sound that seemed to seep out like a song was so beautiful that it sent chills down your spine.
For the first time, she showcased her unique playing habits and techniques.
Kita was startled and looked at Bocchi next to him, almost losing his rhythm while singing.
Liang noticed her lost in thought and hummed along with the melody twice.
Kita snapped out of his daze and quickly started singing.
"The sudden drizzle made me so fed up with not having an umbrella."
What do I care about the sky's mood?
What clothes should I wear when the seasons change?
Where have spring and autumn gone?
"The pressures of the information age are suffocating."
"Where am I in this dizzying spiral?"
In the park at dusk, Bocchi and Ishikawa Hayato each sat on a swing.
The surrounding buildings and trees were bathed in the setting sun, appearing as desolate as in late autumn. Everything in the world was reflecting the light before its demise. Bocchi looked down at the sand and gravel on the ground and remained silent.
A while ago, after they won the right to perform, they played around for a long time. Later, Bocchi said he was a little tired and wanted to go home to rest.
The others readily agreed, saying they would come to the gathering again tomorrow.
Ryo also wants to put together the next piece; a performance can't be done with just one piece, so at least two more need to be added.
Their group quickly dispersed under Seika's bewildered gaze.
Sensing that Bocchi had something to say, Ishikawa Hayato took her to the park.
Sitting on the swing, Bocchi gripped the chains with both hands, head down, and remained silent for a long time. Ishikawa Hayato thought she wouldn't speak and was about to suggest going home when...
Bocchi moved his foot, the sand and gravel making a scraping sound against the sole of his shoe, but then he pulled it back in fear, making another slight sound.
After struggling with the decision, she spoke in a very distressed voice, as if she didn't know what to do, yet remained calm.
"Hayabusa, what do I really want now... I still don't understand."
"... I may never be able to understand myself and have courage like Falcon said."