After all, Ryo had once loved music so much.
But when Nijika saw Ryo again, she wasn't even carrying the Bass that used to be glued to her side.
And she had already found a new hobby.
So Nijika had to put aside the idea of inviting Ryo to join the band for the time being.
After all, she didn't want Ryo to go through the failure and pain of forming a band a second time.
That was why she hadn't told Ryo about this performance.
Still, Yamada Ryo had always been Nijika's ideal choice for a bassist.
Nijika looked up, her eyes now full of resolve.
Maybe if Ryo performed just once, she could rekindle the fire of her musical soul?
"Thank you, Bai Qiu-kun."
Bai Qiu said it was no trouble.
"Let me ask first."
Of course, Nijika wasn't going to ask Ryo outright if she could fill in as a temporary bassist.
She wanted to ask whether Ryo was home.
Nijika planned to visit her in person.
And honestly, it was already about time she paid Ryo a visit.
If Nijika were alone, it wouldn't matter.
But she had Bai Qiu and Hitori with her now, so it was better to check with Ryo first.
Soon, Ijichi Nijika broke into a happy smile.
"Ryo says we can come!"
Goto Hitori's expression fell. They had to go to someone else's house, too? Waaaah (╥﹏╥)o
Yamada Ryo's house wasn't far from Starry.
The three of them walked there.
On the way, Nijika told them that Yamada Ryo had formed a band once, back in middle school.
As the band grew and its popularity rose, they got a chance to perform at a bigger Live House.
But then Yamada Ryo had a falling-out with the other band members over their differing views.
Ryo's bandmates thought the band should cater to the market and play music that was shallow, somewhat vulgar, and mainstream.
Ryo insisted on creating music with a distinct identity of its own.
They couldn't agree—or rather, Yamada Ryo was the only one who disagreed.
In the end, Yamada Ryo chose to leave.
"That's what happened."
Nijika sighed.
Back then, Nijika had been wondering how she could comfort Ryo.
And didn't this mean she had a chance to invite Ryo into her band?
But Ryo said she had moved on and found a new hobby.
That had caught Ijichi Nijika completely off guard.
"I see." Bai Qiu nodded.
He didn't think there was anything wrong with either catering to the market or staying true to oneself.
It was like writing light novels: sometimes, you had to cater to the market.
After all, you had to put food on the table...!
Of course, if you could stay true to yourself and still capture the market, that was best.
Goto Hitori, meanwhile, hadn't realized that forming a band could be so difficult.
Did that mean Bai Qiu might kick her out of the group one day, too?
Goto Hitori thought gloomily.
"So what's this new hobby?"
Bai Qiu asked curiously.
Goto Hitori also looked at Nijika, curious.
What could make a musician give up music altogether?
"Light novels," Ijichi Nijika said, sounding a little helpless.
Those things had been a real curse for Ryo...
"Light novels?"
Bai Qiu was a little surprised.
Then he sneered inwardly.
Fine! He'd see what kind of masterpiece one of his fellow writers had produced.
It had apparently made Yamada Ryo so obsessed with light novels that she'd fallen into depravity.
Then Bai Qiu turned to Nijika and said,
"Nijika, actually, I really like light novels, and I've studied them quite a bit. Maybe I can talk some sense into Yamada."
Ijichi Nijika was delighted. "Really? That's wonderful!"
Goto Hitori thought to herself that she read light novels, too.
After all, for a woman like her, who never left home and had no friends, once she'd finished practicing guitar for six hours a day,
all she could do was lose herself in the online world, light novels, manga, anime, and the like.
In front of Yamada Ryo's home.
It was a sprawling, luxurious mansion, all glittering splendor.
Ijichi Nijika was used to it.
Bai Qiu had been prepared for it, too.
Goto Hitori was stunned.
"Th-this... th-this is..."
What an enormous mansion! Nijika's friend was so rich!
If her family were this rich, would she still have to worry about what to do with her future?
She could just stay home every day and live off them until the end of time.
Goto Hitori wept with envy.
"Hitori, you don't have to be so dramatic! Ryo's family runs a hospital, that's all. So... you get it." Nijika chuckled.
"Don't worry. Once you become the Rock Queen, you can live in an even bigger, fancier house."
Bai Qiu encouraged her.
She, the Rock Queen!
One day, she could live in an even bigger, fancier house!
"Ehehe... hehehe..."
Watching Goto Hitori giggle foolishly, Nijika thought that might not be very realistic.
Then Nijika entered the code into the keypad by the front gate, her movements practiced.
The massive iron gate opened automatically.
The three of them went inside.
Chapter 15: Camping Outdoors in Broad Daylight
Inside the luxurious mansion,
there were spacious gardens on either side, planted with a few shrubs and trees.
Nijika led the way along the straight stone path paved with small pebbles.
Goto Hitori, who had never been anywhere like this before, looked all around, admiring the surroundings.
She looked like a child who'd never seen the world.
Bai Qiu was equally curious as he surveyed the grounds. It wasn't that he couldn't afford a mansion.
It was just that, for someone living alone, a mansion was too big.
It would feel lonely, and cleaning it would be a pain.
Just then, Bai Qiu's pupils contracted as if he'd seen something unbelievable.
He stopped without thinking.
Goto Hitori accidentally bumped into his back and stopped, too.
Goto Hitori nearly jumped out of her skin. She was about to drop to her knees and apologize.
Nijika turned around and asked, puzzled,
"What is it?"
"Maybe we don't need to go any farther."
Bai Qiu pointed toward a large tree on the left.
There was a tent beneath the shade, and a figure was lying in front of it.
He couldn't see the person's face, but his instincts told him it was probably Yamada Ryo.
Nijika seemed to think so, too.
"Let's go take a look."
They came up to the tent.
The three of them looked at one another, their expressions a little odd.
On the ground was a long, wormlike lump that occasionally wriggled a little.
It was actually a person wrapped up in a sleeping bag.
Why was she sleeping here?
The three of them looked bewildered.
A novel was covering her face, shielding it from the sun.
Nijika could tell from the blue hair peeking out that this person was undoubtedly Yamada Ryo.
Nijika crouched down and picked up the book.
Nijika jumped in fright.
At her cry, Bai Qiu and Goto Hitori's hearts lurched, and they both jumped back.
When Nijika had removed the book, she'd found Yamada Ryo's eyes staring wide open at her.
"Oh, Nijika. You're here."
Yamada Ryo said calmly.
But Bai Qiu couldn't help feeling that she looked a little smug.
With the book lifted from her face, Yamada Ryo revealed her short, dark blue hair.
Before you continue