Kessoku Band's First Meeting

Hoshino stepped between the two.

Her fists clenched.

I can't believe they've already started calling each other by their first names!

"But this guy's a man!"

"So what if he's a man?"

Nijika looked confused.

"Um... How can a girl band have a guy in it?!"

Nijika looked at Hoshino strangely.

"I never said I was starting a girl band."

"Besides, Kikuri's old band had guys in it too!"

"But..."

"No buts."

Ijichi Hoshino was at a loss for words and couldn't argue back.

Besides, she wasn't good at arguing in the first place.

Damn that drunken woman!

Just then, Ijichi Hoshino noticed Yamada Ryo suddenly appear.

As if she'd spotted a lifeline, she pointed at Yamada Ryo and said,

"Right, Ryo. What about Yamada Ryo?"

Ijichi Hoshino thought about Yamada Ryo's strange personality.

She'd even been through a band breakup.

Surely she wouldn't agree to form a band with a guy so easily.

"Ryo agrees too."

Nijika had just looked toward Ryo.

Then she narrowed her eyes.

"Ryo, what are you doing?!"

Everyone's gaze turned to Yamada Ryo.

They saw her sneaking a guilty hand toward the soda in Goto Hitori's hands.

Yamada Ryo reluctantly raised her hand.

"I was just trying to help Bocchi hold it."

"Then help Bocchi by holding her guitar."

Yamada Ryo's expression changed in alarm.

Goto Hitori didn't dare.

Bai Qiu retrieved the guitar for her and hung it on Yamada Ryo.

"I'm counting on you, Ryo."

Ijichi Hoshino was being ignored by everyone.

But she could tell that Bai Qiu seemed to get along well with the others.

"We're going inside, Sis."

"Come on, Sis. Stop fooling around, okay?"

Nijika chided her helplessly.

"Or I'll get mad!"

Ijichi Hoshino's mouth twitched.

Nijika put on her angelic smile again and looked apologetically at Bai Qiu and Goto Hitori.

"Let's go inside."

"And you too, Ryo."

Bai Qiu looked at Ijichi Hoshino and blinked.

"Manager, I look forward to working with you."

Kessoku Band's First Meeting

With a muffled bang,

a shower of confetti slowly drifted down from above.

Nijika had set off the party popper she'd prepared in advance.

"Wow!!"

Bai Qiu, Hitori, and Ryo exclaimed in wonder, then applauded.

"You'll have to help clean up later."

Nijika pointed at the floor.

The three shook their heads frantically and even stepped back.

"Do you have to be that in sync?!"

Nijika said, exasperated.

Bai Qiu raised his hand. "I'll help clean up."

Nijika smiled. "Aki-kun's the reliable one."

"Now then, it's time for our band's first group meeting!"

The four sat around a table.

There were snacks and drinks on it.

Yamada Ryo had already started helping herself.

"It's too close!"

Ijichi Hoshino leaned against the doorway, biting down hard on the straw of a drink from the beverage fridge.

PA Miss peered inside. Bai Qiu had sat down right next to Nijika.

"Oh my, if it bothers you so much, why not go in and join them?"

She covered her mouth as she giggled.

"Huh? I'm not interested!"

"Hehehe...!"

"Ahem! First topic: we need to choose a leader."

Nijika held up a finger, then looked at the other three.

But Bai Qiu, Hitori, and Ryo

all stared right back at Nijika.

"Huh...?"

"What does that mean?"

"You want me to be the leader?"

Nijika pointed at herself in confusion.

Bai Qiu and the others all nodded.

"It's up to you, Nijika," Yamada Ryo said.

Bai Qiu said, "I think so too."

Goto Hitori followed up, "M-me too!"

"Huh? Shouldn't we discuss it more?"

Bai Qiu and the others shook their heads in unison.

Nijika was stunned.

Nijika looked at Ryo. She wasn't reliable!

Hitori, ummm... she didn't seem like a good choice either.

Finally, Nijika looked at Bai Qiu.

"What about you, Aki-kun? Don't you want to be leader?"

Bai Qiu smiled. "I'm not really suited for it."

"In my heart, you're the best person for the job, Nijika."

Being the band leader was a big responsibility.

You had to organize and manage the band well.

You also had to keep an eye on how each band member was doing.

And Nijika was so gentle, kind, thoughtful, considerate, and adorable...

She was absolutely the perfect choice for the position.

The others were all unreliable in one way or another.

Though Bai Qiu felt that, at the moment, he wasn't particularly unreliable himself.

But when it came to being leader, Nijika was still the best choice.

"I believe in you, Nijika," Bai Qiu encouraged her.

"We believe in you too," Yamada Ryo and Goto Hitori echoed.

"I see..."

Nijika's cheeks turned faintly red, which was rare for her.

"Then... then I'll do it!"

Nijika patted her chest.

"It's my first time being a leader."

"But I'll do my best."

"If there's anything I don't do well, tell me anytime!"

Bai Qiu, Yamada Ryo, and Goto Hitori applauded.

An untimely voice seemed to ring out.

Ijichi Hoshino let go of the straw, which was now covered in bite marks.

"You sure know how to make girls happy!"

Still, Ijichi Hoshino was quite pleased that Nijika had become leader. She'd been the leader back in her day too.

PA Miss: "Hehehehehe..."

"Next, the second topic..."