Why play in a band if not for life?

"I'm sorry, Gotou-san. I just thought you were a lot like Guitar Hero, and you both play guitar. I didn't expect you to react so strongly. I'm truly sorry. Anyway, I'm a fan of yours..."

"Ah, is this heaven...?"

"Oh, my bad, my bad~" Two guitar-shaped sprites danced around Ichiri! She felt so happy to be able to see Bocchi-chan's imaginary friends...

No!

Snap out of it, Bocchi-chan--

After finally stabilizing Bocchi-chan's three states, the two finally had a normal conversation.

"It's... it's Guitar Hero, right?"

"Ah, yes."

"I'm a fan of yours..."

"I-I-I'm honored!"

"I think you look really, really cool when you play guitar..." The word "cool" was whispered quieter than a mosquito's hum.

"Ehehehehehehe..." She was about to melt again.

On her way home, Shiko clutched a smugly obtained autograph and walked down the bustling street, a silly grin of a shut-in plastered on her face.

The next day during lunch break, Ichiri found Shiko wandering around nearby again.

"(How do I talk to her...)" Shiko wanted to be friends with Bocchi, but she had no idea how to initiate a conversation... She'd never done it before, not even in her past life, as far as she could recall...

She felt a faint gaze coming from the stairwell.

"(Did she notice me...)"

She quickly hid further away.

Shiko hid next to a bulletin board. A notice was about to fall off, so she quickly went to straighten it and reattach it.

She clearly saw the words on it: [Drama Club Recruitment...]

"Acting?" A spark ignited in Shiko's mind.

Meanwhile, Ichiri was also lost in thought: "(Is she trying to talk to me? Should I go talk to her--No, no, if I'm just imagining things, I might as well commit seppuku...)"

Ichiri's inner monologue theater:

Gotou-san would look surprised: "Oh my, I was just out for a stroll, did you think I wanted to talk to you, Gotou-san?

How cute--"

"How cute--"

"How cute--"

Ahhh, it's over, it's over, it's over--

"Hello! Ichiri! Want to have lunch together!" Shiko believed that all she needed to do was act like an extrovert! Just watch, I'm a stage girl too! Okay, let's make my eyes look more natural!

"I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'll disappear right now--" The response she received was a shrill scream.

"I'm sorry, I shouldn't have shouted--" Shiko's apology was even more sincere.

That day, echoing in the corner of the stairs were not only their inexplicable apologies but also Shiko's resolve to "never pretend anymore"...

That evening, Ichiri lay on the tatami mat, tossing and turning, thinking about the day's events.

"(Gotou-san, I sense a kindred spirit.)"

"(I want to be friends with her. But, how?)"

Her mind was blank; she had no experience to draw upon. Moreover, the mere thought of initiating a greeting with someone she barely knew, even if they were a fan, made Ichiri's throat tighten and her breathing become difficult. The more she thought about it, the worse she felt, and she rolled on the floor--

Then she bumped into the cabinet with a "thud."

During lunch break. The two "coincidentally" met again in the stairwell.

"(I still can't do it.)" Ichiri absolutely dared not speak first. She turned her head away, refusing to make eye contact with Shiko.

Fortunately, Shiko could manage it.

"Um..."

Shiko's eyes darted around, and after a long moment, she mustered the courage, "Can... can I eat my bento with you?"

The familiar pressure returned, but it was accompanied by surprise: "Of, of course!"

Come on, Shiko, if you don't say it now, you'll lose your courage! Shiko clenched her fist: "And!" Her voice was so loud it startled even herself.

"You may speak!"

"Can I... call you Ichiri?"

Shiko didn't dare look at the other's reaction, waiting anxiously.

"(Please...)"

She heard an unexpected reply.

"Then, can I call you Shiko?" Looking up, she saw that Ichiri's face was also flushed red.

Shiko smiled, she hadn't felt this relaxed in a long time.

"Mhm, please take care of me!"

The time to leave school arrived in the blink of an eye.

The Gotou household was as harmonious as ever today—Mom was preparing dinner, and Ichiri was playing with their dog, Jimmy Hen—until someone slammed open the Gate of Opening with an extremely loud sound, tossed in a "I'm home!" and ran upstairs.

"Mom, my sister seems really happy today!" Gotou Ichiri watched her sister, who had a blissful expression on her face, dash into the house and immediately hide in her room. She could even hear her rolling around inside from where she was leaning against the door.

"Did something good happen?" Ichiri's father, mother, sister, and dog all looked towards Ichiri's room with a sense of wonder.

"Did she make a friend?"

Meanwhile, Ichiri was unaware of her family's reactions, lost in her own small happiness. (Should I send a message to say hello? Is this what popular people do?) After much thought, she still opened her phone and sent Shiko a message: "See you tomorrow, please take care of me from now on."

The message instantly turned to "Read."

"So fast?" Ichiri rejoiced again. After waiting for a long time, she didn't receive a reply.

Worries began to surface: (This, is this also...)

"...Is this common?" Shiko held her phone, trying hard to think: Do people usually text each other often after making friends? If so, how should one reply?

She looked up at the sky, turning into a statue.

Clouds drifted and parted.

The last ray of the setting sun disappeared.

Ichiri finally received a reply: "Mhm, see you tomorrow~"

"Ehehe, ehehe~"

"Sis, dinner's ready—" Ichiri's voice came from downstairs.

"Coming, coming~" Ichiri walked downstairs, filled with joy. She paused when she saw the food on the table.

"Why are we eating red bean rice?"

She put down her chopsticks, Shiko finished the last bite of her cheap takeout and returned to the table.

She glanced at the open music textbook on the table and opened another can of coffee: "Alright, for Ichiri's dream, let's work a little harder!"

Dozens of Guitar Hero signatures covered the entire wall in front of the table.

Note 1: Reference: Adachi and Shimamura Volume 3, Chapter 5

Chapter 2: Live

"I'm full... sigh..."

Eating lunch at the corner of the stairs had become a routine for Ichiri and Shiko. Compared to the classroom, this place was quieter and undisturbed, despite being a bit dusty. The dusty environment was also suitable for people like them... at least, that was Ichiri's thought.

Shiko's speed in picking up food was a bit languid.

Ichiri looked worriedly at Shiko's dark circles: "Did you stay up late again last night?"

"You could say that... I didn't die suddenly, and I managed to survive another day..." Shiko slumped against the wall, "Guess why..." Shiko pulled out her phone, listlessly swiped a few times, and sent Ichiri a file.

Ichiri took a look; it was a piece of sheet music.

"I finished it yesterday," Shiko's voice was muddled, but not without pride. "I want to write original songs for Guitar Hero in the future, so I started learning. What do you think of my first attempt?"

(This is... for me...) Ichiri's eyelids fluttered slightly. She wanted to tell Shiko not to stay up so late for this, but...

Her words were clumsy and couldn't convey anything.

However, she had other ways. She put down her lunchbox and picked up the guitar beside her. It wasn't plugged in, which was good because it wouldn't disturb anyone with the music right now.

Her hands moved unconsciously.

Passionate notes filled the empty stairwell. Although the music sheet was a bit rough, it was all covered by Ichiri's skillful technique and improvisation.

She couldn't let Shiko's feelings go to waste.

Shiko leaned against the wall, listening with her eyes closed, a slight curve forming unconsciously on her lips.

This is just the beginning... Someday, I'll be able to rely on my songs...

The music paused. Ichiri, snapping back to reality, looked up and found Shiko fast asleep.

Ichiri only woke Shiko up when the lunch break ended.

Then Shiko slept through another class.

"Ah— I'm alive~" Shiko exclaimed as they left school.

"..." Ichiri remained silent. They didn't talk much to begin with, and they didn't speak again on the way.

At the park, where they were about to part ways, Ichiri still tugged at Shiko's sleeve: "Um, I think it's best if you rest a bit from now on... I mean..."

Shiko stopped, putting a hand to her forehead, her voice ethereal and unfathomable: "It matters not, for I have inherited the legacy of Moon Immortal Wangshu..."

"Shiko." Ichiri's expression was more serious than ever.

"...Fine." Shiko returned to her "=w=" expression.

Although she felt there was still much to practice, she was happy to receive Ichiri's concern. She'd relax for the rest of the week.

Let's plan out the weekend itinerary: three meals a day of takeout, sleep until noon, and catch up on some anime...

When she turned her head, a flyer floated through the air and landed on Shiko's face.

Oh no, this feels like a quest popping up.

She tore it off and looked. It really did feel like a massive DLC, and the mission reward was something she couldn't refuse.

It was a flyer for CiRCLE.

CiRCLE is one of the main locations in the Bang Dream universe, a place where several girl bands frequently appear. It was a place Shiko found both familiar and dear. Before this, she had always wanted to find an opportunity to go, but she didn't dare go alone, so the plan had always been put on hold. Now, the opportunity was right in front of her, and all she had to do was—grab it!

Shiko grabbed Ichiri.

"Eh?"

"Please, will you go listen to a live show with me forever—Pah, together?" Shiko, who rarely asked favors of anyone, was so nervous she almost misspoke, even to a friend.

"Eh, why me?"

"Of course, it's because I don't dare go alone!" Shiko's eyes were filled with sincerity. "Look, if I go alone, nothing feels comfortable. I always feel like people will point and whisper, 'Why is she here alone?' or something. But it's different with two people!

Two people are just a pair of good friends going out to have fun on the weekend! It's a completely normal thing to do, a thing for normies! You want to go too, right? Don't you want to form a band? Go see it~ Go see it~" She was sure Ichiri would agree; after all, she was an shut-in who wouldn't refuse.

Ichiri's face turned ashen: "O-okay..."

(Shiko flashed a radiant, normie-like smile!)

Weekend.

Outside CiRCLE.

CiRCLE was open along the street, with a large outdoor cafe area in front. There were few customers at the moment. Through the glass doors, one could glimpse the bright and warm atmosphere inside. The interior was predominantly in warm tones, the walls and floor spotless. The chandeliers were star-shaped, exuding a sense of mystery. The area around the counter was adorned with musical instruments and band merchandise, and posters were plastered on the windows. It lacked the typical coldness of a commercial district, instead possessing a home-like warmth.

But for someone with social anxiety, it was still a no-go zone.