Bai Qiu and the other two looked at Nijika expectantly.
"We need to come up with a band name."
Nijika said happily.
A band's name was its calling card.
She'd done plenty of preparation for this last night.
She'd looked up all kinds of information.
For example, they should definitely avoid the formula of combining a place name with a person's name.
Though, to be honest...
Who would have such a weird naming preference?
Nijika looked at everyone expectantly.
Usually, everyone had plenty of different ideas at this stage.
Yamada Ryo set down her food and spoke first.
"Kessoku Band."
Nijika: "A bond?"
Hitori: "A cable tie?"
Yamada Ryo shook her head.
Bai Qiu explained, "It means unity."
Yamada Ryo spat out her food.
"Ryo, what are you doing?"
"You spat all over Hitori's face."
Ijichi Nijika hurriedly grabbed a tissue and helped Goto Hitori wipe it off.
She was already taking care of her.
"Sorry, Bocchi-chan."
"I didn't mean to."
"It was just too funny."
Yamada Ryo said without a hint of remorse.
Then she looked at Bai Qiu with admiration.
Back to the band name.
Nijika was taken aback, then understood.
Ryo was joking around again.
"Don't pick a name based on a pun!"
"Right? Aki-kun, Hitori-chan?"
"I kind of like it."
Bai Qiu answered honestly.
Yamada Ryo gave a satisfied thumbs-up.
"Ah, yeah!"
Goto Hitori thought it was strange, but she was just happy to be in a band.
How could she dare ask for anything as well as a name?
"Huh? You guys..."
Nijika looked at the three in surprise.
Was she the weird one?
"Next topic."
Yamada Ryo said calmly, seeming eager to settle on the name.
The three looked at Nijika.
"Let's discuss it a little more, please, please."
Nijika pleaded.
Bai Qiu could only say,
"Seems like... we can't think of anything else..."
"I guess not..."
Nijika couldn't think of a good name either.
The cowlick on top of her head drooped.
Were they really going to call themselves Kessoku Band?
That was way too hasty.
Nijika had originally expected the band-name discussion to take ages!
She'd read posts saying other bands couldn't agree on a name for the life of them.
But their band had decided so quickly.
And... why did it seem like everyone had just accepted this name?
Wasn't I the leader?!
Why did I feel like I'd been sidelined right after becoming leader?
Wait, had the three of them discussed this beforehand?
They'd picked a leader in no time.
And now the band name, too.
Nijika couldn't help but doubt in her heart.
Then Nijika shook her head, clearing away those strange thoughts.
"Then we'll temporarily call ourselves Kessoku Band."
"It's just temporary, okay!"
Nijika made up her mind: once they found a vocalist,
she'd definitely push to get this name changed.
Everyone looked toward the source of the laughter.
It was Ijichi Hoshino, covering her mouth as she tried to hold back her laughter.
What a lame joke.
They might as well end things sooner rather than later.
Then she could get this guy away from Nijika.
When she saw them looking over, Ijichi Hoshino quickly suppressed her laughter.
"Hmph, it's not like I was watching you."
Ijichi Hoshino crossed her arms and said haughtily.
Nijika explained, "That's just how my sister is."
"The third topic is that we're still missing a vocalist."
Nijika said seriously.
Without anyone to sing, the band wouldn't be complete.
They couldn't just play instruments every time like they had last time.
Nijika awkwardly took out a photo.
"Actually, if possible, I'd still like to get our former vocalist back."
"Pfft!" ×2
Bai Qiu and Yamada Ryo couldn't hold back their laughter.
That was because Nijika had taken out the memorial photo of Kita that Yamada Ryo had made last time.
"This was really the only photo I could find!"
Nijika explained helplessly.
"Stop laughing..."
Sob, sob. Nijika felt terrible for Kita.
"This photo..."
She hadn't noticed last time.
But now that the photo was right in front of her,
even though it was in black and white,
Goto Hitori realized that the person in it was the conspicuous girl at school with bright red hair.
She was super popular!
A real school celebrity.
Goto Hitori often saw her walking around in groups with girls from all kinds of different classes.
She was the kind of person Goto Hitori couldn't even dream of becoming.
She hadn't expected that even when it came to forming a band, the girl had gotten ahead of her.
Ugh, I'm so jealous...
"What's wrong, Hitori? Do you know her?"
"Ah, y-yeah, she goes to our school."
A glimmer lit up in Nijika's eyes.
"Then could I ask you to get in touch with Kita?"
"I haven't been able to reach her at all."
"I'm worried something might have happened to her."
"No, nothing happened."
Thinking of that black-and-white photo, Nijika hurriedly corrected herself and covered her mouth.
"Th-this..."
Goto Hitori stammered, unable to get the words out.
If she went near someone like that, she'd be burned to ash in an instant.
Ah, she was melting just thinking about it.
"Ah! Hitori, don't force yourself!"
Nijika was startled, then looked to Bai Qiu for help.
They went to the same school.
If Hitori couldn't do it, she could only ask Bai Qiu.
Bai Qiu patted his chest and promised,
"No problem. Leave it to Bocchi and me."
Goto Hitori gave him a grateful look.
Before you continue