Why play in a band if not for life?

Abilities: [Starlight]: Emits healing starlight

Additional: None

Skills: Jazz Drum Technique Lv6, Baking Technique Lv7

Professional Healer, truly the Great Angel of Shimokitazawa...

"This is mine!" Kita drew a window in the air.

Kita Kita Body: 100 Reaction: 100 Intelligence: 102 Shine: 150 Willpower: 100

Abilities: [Kita~]: Manipulates flames as scorching as the sun

Additional: None

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

"(Kita Kita?)" The same voice echoed in everyone's minds.

"It's my real name~" Kita's eyes held a hint of disappointment.

"(How did she change that...)" Shiko thought to herself.

"I control water." Ichiri strummed her guitar, and drops of water appeared on the strings, gathering in the air to form a mass. "I release it from my guitar."

"Please listen." Ryo picked up her bass, and a powerful melody rang out. Shiko saw the music gain form, attacking, dancing wildly. Dust and sand submitted to the music, manipulated at its will, swirling into a long, stone-gray dragon that flew into the distance. "[Sound Beyond the World]. That's the name of my ability."

"Wow." Shiko could only clap. The art style was too cool, if you ignored Ryo-san's sweat.

Kita clapped even more enthusiastically.

Nijika turned her head away. "(She used her full power in the demonstration.)" Besides, how could they all bring their instruments? Ryo's bass being related to her ability made sense, but Bocchi's guitar had nothing to do with her ability, right? Why could she summon it anytime, anywhere? Kita couldn't summon hers, but she'd been carrying her guitar since she transmigrated! She glared at the drumsticks stuck in her clothes, deciding it was best not to take them out.

All eyes turned back to Shiko. Thankfully, she had slightly adjusted to the atmosphere and spoke normally, "My ability... you've all seen it. I can materialize objects whose structure I can imagine, but I can't control their subsequent movement." As she spoke, she added another chicken leg to everyone's bowls.

After the basic introductions, they sat around the table and chatted casually. Of course, Nijika and Kita mostly led the conversation, the two introverts occasionally chiming in, while another person couldn't even talk due to being full.

"I feel like I haven't had such a good meal in so long..." Kita said, patting her stomach contentedly. Although the food Shiko imagined looked slightly different from ordinary food and tasted a bit off, after their long journey, it was undoubtedly a feast fit for the gods.

"Thank you for the compliment..."

"Shiko, are you interested in being my head chef?" Ryo's mouth was finally free.

"Ah, little Shiko, you don't need to mind her."

"Nijika's so cold~"

"Since we're done eating, let's go!" Nijika ignored her and stood up.

"Even if I don't know where we're going, here I go--!" Kita was the first to respond.

"Even if we get lost, we must press on..." Shiko tried to raise her hand to join them, but could only lift it halfway.

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

"I'm too full to move. Bocchi, can you carry me?" Ryo leaned back comfortably, picking her teeth with a toothpick from who-knows-where.

Seeing Ichiri about to obey Ryo, Nijika quickly intervened, "Little Bocchi, just leave her."

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

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

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

"So, which way are we going?" Putting aside the regret of not being able to carry her senior, Kita asked the question again.

Nijika thought for a moment, took out her drumsticks, and tossed them onto a relatively flat spot on the ground. The drumsticks rolled a few times, pointing in one direction.

"That way!"

Although their actions were still the same as before, Shiko's addition had boosted everyone's confidence. They actively searched for any unusual disturbances. They didn't find any newcomers, but they did encounter a few monsters.

"Ichiri!"

"Yes!" Ichiri swirled a stream of water and charged at the monster before them. Shiko raised her hand, and sharp ice shards gradually mixed into the water. A vortex formed around the monster, quickly turning into a murky black and yellow flow. When the water receded, only fragments remained in its place.

"Those two are cooperating really well," Kita couldn't help but exclaim. "My ability can't cooperate with Gotou-san at all."

"It's okay, look, you and Ryo are cooperating well too, aren't you?" Nijika recalled the terrifying special effects formed by Kita's flames merging with Ryo's sonic waves earlier.

"Really? I was able to help Ryo-senpai?" Kita's slight dejection vanished instantly, and she moved closer to Ryo.

"Yeah, you helped a lot."

"Yeah--"

Starlight shone down on the two who had just finished their battle, dispelling all fatigue.

Unbeknownst to them, the five had already grown accustomed to fighting. But now, another problem arose—the sun was setting. They couldn't just go without sleep, but where could they find safe shelter?

The group had never seen any signs of human construction here; it was all just rocks sculpted by the wind, with only an occasional mound of earth. Not even animals were visible, only a few tenacious blades of grass.

"I can try to build one, but I can't guarantee it won't collapse," Shiko admitted, as she wasn't an architecture student.

"Let's keep looking," Nijika wasn't ready to give up yet.

The sun was already nearing the horizon, casting a hazy hue over the sky and land.

"Over there!" Ikuyo, who was in the front, spotted a building.

The others hurried to catch up. When they saw the structure, Shiko's mouth dropped open in surprise:

"CiRCLE..."

Chapter 5: CiRCLE

"It's CiRCLE," Ryo said, sounding very familiar with it.

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

"CiRCLE?" Ikuyo looked completely bewildered.

"It's the most famous livehouse in the area, established a year ago. It can hold up to 500 people. Although it's new, its influence is huge. Many girl bands, like Roselia, often perform here..." Ryo began to chatter excitedly when the topic interested her.

"It looks like someone's there," Shiko seemed to spot a familiar figure.

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

It was Marina.

Marina looked delighted, opened the door, and gestured for them to come in. "Come in, please. I haven't seen any living people for a while."

Without hesitation, they walked in comfortably. As soon as they entered, they saw snacks and drinks already laid out on a table.

"I'm Marina Tsukihiro, the manager of CiRCLE. Just call me Marina, or Miss Marina is fine too." Marina sat down by the table, and the others followed, sitting on the opposite side.

"Hello, Miss Marina. We are Kessoku Band, although we just formed... I'm Nijika Ijichi, the drummer. Please take care of us." Nijika stood up and responded with proper etiquette.

"I'm Ikuyo! The vocalist and guitarist! Please take care of me!" Ikuyo was still very enthusiastic.

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

"Shiko. Just a passerby audience member." Shiko's demeanor was similar to Ryo's.

"I, I'm Hitori Goto, the guitarist for Kessoku Band. Please, please take care of me." Hitori was much more nervous.

Having all recently transmigrated (?), they naturally discussed their transmigration experiences and superpowers.

"Hmm? You were all suddenly brought here too?" After watching everyone demonstrate their abilities, Marina nodded, her brow furrowed. "I had just finished work and hadn't even left the building when I suddenly noticed everything outside had changed." She tapped the air, summoning her status panel.

Marina Tsukihiro
Ability: [CiRCLE]: Yes!Bang Dream!
Affiliation: None
Skills: Electric Guitar Technique Lv8, Livehouse Operation Lv9, Baking Technique Lv8

Is her superpower CiRCLE? Shiko observed her surroundings again. At least outwardly, it looked no different from the CiRCLE she knew. The ability description was also unclear. Shiko knew "Yes!Bang Dream!", but didn't understand what its presence here meant.

While she was thinking, Nijika was already discussing lodging with Marina.

"...Of course, of course. There are plenty of empty rooms here, so feel free to stay. There aren't any dedicated bedrooms, but those monsters seem unable to see this place, so it's safe..."

"I can make blankets, mattresses, and pillows!" Shiko was happy to be useful again.

"Shiko-chan is truly a jack-of-all-trades when it comes to daily life!" Ikuyo said with great admiration.

"Hehe..."

Seeing Shiko being praised, Hitori desperately tried to think of how she could contribute.

She thought of something.

"I'll do my best when it's time to flush the toilets..."

"Huh...? You don't need to do that, Hitori-chan..." Marina looked a bit awkward.

"Speaking of lodging," Marina changed the subject, revealing a wry smile. "When I saw those monsters passing by the window earlier, I felt CiRCLE's craving for them. I think this building needs them as energy. But I can't fight, so I'll have to ask you all for help. Think of it as working here!"

Shiko's eyes lit up.

The aura of a Main Quest!

Naturally, it was no problem.

After the group agreed, suddenly, several beams of light enveloped the four members of Kessoku Band. Miss Marina was startled, but the process was over in an instant. When the light faded, apart from being a bit scared, the four were unharmed.

"What happened?" Miss Marina leaned half her body over the table, her expression panicked.

"I don't feel anything... but..." Ikuyo summoned her panel and saw her Sparkle increase from 150 to 170 (150+20), and her Mental Strength became 120 (100+20). Other stats had also increased to some extent.

"Us too." The others had similar changes.

"Bang!" Suddenly, all the lights went out at once, plunging everything into darkness. The group could only vaguely make out each other's faces.

Fierce white lettering appeared above the heads of the Kessoku Band members!

The Great Angel of Shimokitazawa Dr. Nijika Ijichi!

Owes 350 Million Ba. Ryo Yamada!

Tsuchinoko Guitar Hero Gt. Hitori Goto!

KIRAKIRA Gt.&Vo. Ikuyo Kita!

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

"That... that is! Kessoku-- Band--! A band just formed by four girls with different personalities--!"

What's going on! Marina felt as if she were being swept away by a mysterious force, compelled to shout these words!

Fortunately, the others paid her no mind. They were staring at the tops of each other's heads.

"Bocchi is actually Guitar Hero?!"

"What's with that name, Ikuyo, don't look! And Ryo-senpai is a debtor who doesn't pay her debts?"

"Shy little one."

"I wasn't praising you!"

"My second nickname... hehe."

Everything was in chaos.

This noisy world had nothing to do with someone.

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

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

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