CiRCLE

Ability: [Starlight]: Emits healing starlight

Add-ons: None

Skills: Jazz Drum Technique Lv6, Baking Technique Lv7

Professional Healer—no wonder she's The Great Angel of Shimokitazawa...

"I'm this one!" Kita swiped through the air and summoned a window.

Kita Kita

Physical: 100

Reaction: 100

Intelligence: 102

Sparkle: 150

Mental Strength: 100

Ability: [Kita~]: Manipulates flames as blazing as the sun

Add-ons: None

Skills: SNS Account Operation Lv10, Electric Guitar Technique Lv1, Vocal Technique Lv6

"(Kita Kita?)" The same voice rang out in everyone's hearts.

"It's my real name~" There was an indescribable look of regret in Kita's eyes.

"(How did this get changed...?)" Shiko complained inwardly.

"I'm Water Control." Ichiri plucked her strings a few times. Droplets of water appeared on them and gathered into a mass in the air. "It comes out of my guitar."

"Listen." Ryo picked up her bass, and a powerful melody rang out. Shiko saw the music take physical form as it attacked and danced wildly. Dust submitted to the music's rhythm, letting itself be manipulated into a long, limestone-colored dragon that flew into the distance. "[Sound Beyond the World]. That's the name of my ability."

"Wow." All Shiko could do was applaud. The style was incredibly cool—as long as one ignored Ryo-san's head of sweat.

Kita applauded even more enthusiastically.

Nijika turned her head away. "(She went all out for the demonstration.)" And why could all of them bring their instruments here? Ryo's bass could be explained as being related to her ability, but Little Bocchi's guitar had nothing to do with hers. Why could she summon it anytime, anywhere? Kita couldn't summon hers, but she had been carrying her guitar ever since they crossed over! She glumly glanced at the drumsticks tucked into her clothes and decided it was probably better not to take them out.

Everyone's eyes focused on Shiko again. Fortunately, she had somewhat adapted to the atmosphere and spoke normally. "My ability... you've all seen it before. I can materialize objects whose structures I can imagine, but I can't control their movement afterward." As she spoke, she added another chicken leg to everyone's bowl.

After the basic introductions were finished, everyone sat around the table and chatted casually. Naturally, Nijika and Kita did most of the talking, the two gloomy girls occasionally chimed in, and one person couldn't spare her mouth for conversation.

"I feel like I haven't had such a good meal in ages..." Kita rubbed her stomach in satisfaction. Although the food Shiko imagined looked slightly different from ordinary food and didn't taste quite as good, after their long journey, it was undoubtedly a heavenly feast.

"Thanks for the compliment..."

"Shiko, would you be interested in becoming my chef?" Ryo's mouth was finally free.

"Ah, Little Shiko, don't mind her."

"Nijika, you're so cold~"

"Since everyone's finished eating, let's get going!" Nijika ignored her and stood up.

"Even though I don't know where we're going—let's go!" Kita responded first.

"Even if we get lost, we have to keep moving..." Shiko wanted to raise her hand along with them, but could only lift it halfway.

"Oh, oh..." Ichiri's hand was raised a little higher.

"I ate too much. I can't move. Bocchi, can you carry me?" Ryo lay comfortably against the backrest and picked her teeth with a toothpick that had seemingly come from nowhere.

Seeing that Ichiri looked like she was actually about to listen to Ryo, Nijika hurriedly stopped her. "Little Bocchi, throw her down."

"I'll carry her!" Kita's eyes gleamed.

"No." Nijika's gaze suddenly turned icy.

"Okay..." "Okay..."

"So which way are we going?" Having put aside her regret at failing to carry her senior, Kita asked again.

Nijika thought for a moment, took out the drumsticks, and tossed them onto a relatively flat patch of ground. The drumsticks rolled several times before pointing in one direction.

"That way!"

Although they moved just as they had before, Shiko's presence boosted everyone's confidence, and they searched for unusual activity with even greater enthusiasm. They didn't find the newcomer, but they did encounter several monsters.

"Ichiri!"

"Yes!" Ichiri sent a stream of water rushing toward the monster in front of them. Shiko raised her hand, and sharp icicles gradually mixed into the current. A vortex formed around the monster and soon became a murky black-and-yellow torrent. When the water dispersed, only fragments remained.

"Those two work really well together." Kita couldn't help admiring them. "My ability can't work with Gotou-san's at all."

"It's fine. Aren't you and Ryo working together well too?" Nijika recalled the terrifying special effects created when Kita's flames had merged with the sound waves Ryo had given form to earlier.

"Really? Did I help Ryo-senpai?" Kita immediately let go of her slight frustration and moved over beside Ryo.

"Mm. You helped a lot."

"Yeah—"

Starlight promptly shone down on the two who had finished fighting, erasing all their fatigue.

Before they knew it, the five had begun getting used to battle. But there was still one problem—the sun was sinking in the west. They couldn't simply go without sleep, but where could they find a safe shelter?

They had never seen any trace of human construction here. Everywhere was covered in jagged rocks carved by the raging wind, with only an occasional hillock. They hadn't even seen any animals, only a few stubbornly growing blades of grass.

"I can try building one, but I can't guarantee it won't collapse." Shiko wasn't an architecture student, after all.

"We should keep looking." Nijika still didn't want to give up.

The setting sun was already nearing the horizon, and a hazy color stained the entire world.

"There!" Kita, walking at the very front, spotted a building.

Everyone hurried after her. When they saw the building, Shiko's mouth fell open in surprise.

"CiRCLE..."

Chapter Five: CiRCLE

"It is CiRCLE." Ryo seemed very familiar with it.

"CiRCLE..." Nijika's eyes held a hint of longing.

"CiRCLE?" Kita looked completely bewildered.

"It's the most famous live house in this area. It was founded a year ago and can accommodate up to five hundred people. Although it hasn't been around long, it has an enormous influence. Many girl bands, such as Roselia, often appear here..." Once the topic touched on something she was interested in, Ryo began talking nonstop.

"There seems to be someone there." Shiko seemed to have spotted a familiar figure.

By the time everyone reached the entrance to CiRCLE, a young woman was already waiting behind the door.

It was Marina.

Marina looked delighted. She opened the door and gestured for them to come in. "Come in first. I haven't seen a living person this whole time."

The group entered without much hesitation. As soon as they stepped inside, they saw that snacks and drinks had already been set out on the table.

"I'm Marina Tsukihiro, the person in charge of CiRCLE. Just call me Marina, or Miss Marina is fine too." Marina sat down beside the table, and the others followed suit on the opposite side.

"Hello, Miss Marina. We're Kessoku Band, although we only just formed... I'm Nijika Ijichi, the drummer. It's a pleasure to meet you." Nijika stood and responded with proper courtesy.

"I'm Kita! I'm the vocalist and guitarist! It's a pleasure to meet you!" Kita was just as enthusiastic as ever.

"Ryo Yamada. Bassist." After saying that, Ryo sat quietly in her seat.

"Wu Shiko, a random passerby." Shiko's performance was about the same as Ryo's.

"I-I'm Hitori Goto, Kessoku Band's guitarist. I-It's a pleasure to meet you." Ichiri was far more nervous.

They had all crossed over(?) not long ago, so it was natural that the group soon began discussing their circumstances and supernatural powers.

"Hm? You were suddenly brought here too?" After watching everyone's demonstrations, Marina nodded, her brow furrowing slightly. "I had just gotten off work and hadn't even left yet when I discovered that everything outside had suddenly changed." She tapped the air with one finger, summoning her panel.

Tsukishima Marina

Marina Tsukihiro

Ability: [CiRCLE]: Yes! Bang Dream!

Add-ons: None

Skills: Electric Guitar Technique Lv8, Live House Operation Lv9, Baking Technique Lv8

Was her supernatural ability CiRCLE? Shiko looked around again. At least on the surface, this place was no different from the CiRCLE she knew. The description of that ability was also vague and unclear. Shiko knew what "Yes! Bang Dream!" was, but she didn't know what its appearance here signified.

While she was thinking, Nijika had already begun discussing staying here with Marina.

"...Of course, of course. There are plenty of empty rooms here, so you can stay wherever you like. We don't have any proper bedrooms, though. But those monsters don't seem able to see this place, so it's safe..."

"I can make quilts, mattresses, and pillows!" Shiko was delighted that she could be useful again.

"Wu-san, you're really an all-around life expert!" Kita was extremely envious.

"Hehe..."

Seeing Shiko being praised, Ichiri desperately tried to think of something she could contribute.

She thought of something.

"I'll do my best when you flush the toilet..."

"Eh...? Gotou-san doesn't need to do that..." Marina looked somewhat awkward.

"Speaking of staying here..." Marina brought the topic back, revealing a bitter smile. "When I saw those monsters passing outside the window earlier, I felt that CiRCLE seemed to crave them. I think this building needs to use them as energy. But I can't fight, so I'll have to ask all of you to take care of it. Just think of it as working here!"

Shiko's eyes lit up.

This had the air of a Main Quest!

Naturally, there was no problem with that.

After everyone agreed, several pillars of light suddenly enveloped the four members of Kessoku Band. Miss Marina jumped, but the process ended in an instant. When the light faded, the four were unharmed, apart from being a little startled.

"What happened?" Miss Marina had half her body propped on the table, her expression panicked.

"I don't feel anything, but..." Kita summoned her panel and saw that her Sparkle: 150 had become Sparkle: 170 (150+20), while her Mental Strength had become 120 (100+20). Her other stats had also increased somewhat.

"Us too." The others had undergone similar changes.

"Bang!" Suddenly, all the lights went out at once. Darkness filled the room, and everyone could only make out the vague outlines of one another's faces.

Wild white letters suddenly appeared above the heads of the four members of Kessoku Band!

The Great Angel of Shimokitazawa Dr. Nijika Ijichi!

Owes 350 million Ba. Ryo Yamada!

Yamatsuchi Snake Guitar Hero Gt. Hitori Goto!

KIRAKIRA Gt. & Vo. Ikuyo Kita!

"What!" Marina suddenly put on a shocked expression!

"Th-That is! Kessoku—Band—! A band that had just been formed by four girls with completely different personalities—!"

What was going on? Marina felt as if she had been swept up by a mysterious force and had no choice but to shout those words!

Fortunately, everyone else was completely ignoring her. They were staring at the tops of one another's heads.

"Little Bocchi was actually Guitar Hero?!"

"What do you mean, Ikuyo? Don't look at that name! And was Ryo-senpai really someone who didn't pay back her debts?"

"Little shy one."

"That's not a compliment!"

"My second nickname... hehe."

The room descended into chaos.

This noisy world had nothing to do with someone.

Shiko touched the top of her head. There was nothing there. She grew anxious. "Why don't I have one?"

"Maybe... you don't count as a band girl?" Marina sat back down in her chair and gave Shiko a helpless smile.

Shiko was stunned for a long while. "...Actually, I can compose music."