Hitori Gotoh Doesn't Want to Work Part-Time

Nijika beamed. Sure enough, when it came to this band, Aki-kun was the reliable one!

"By the way, until we find a vocalist, can anyone fill in as one temporarily?"

Goto Hitori shook her head vigorously.

"If I were the vocalist, the band would turn into a one-woman show."

"Ryo, have you picked up your bass yet?"

Yamada Ryo: "..."

Nijika looked to the most reliable person there, Bai Qiu.

Bai Qiu: "We're a girl band, so of course a girl should sing."

"It's not a girl band!"

Nijika looked toward the door, but Ijichi Hoshino had already disappeared.

Looks like they'd just have to play instrumentals until they found a vocalist.

Chapter 34: Goto Hitori Doesn't Want to Work

"We've finally reached the last topic!"

Nijika looked a little excited.

"Actually, this isn't anything particularly important."

"I wanted to ask if Aki-kun and Bocchi have any interest in getting part-time jobs."

"Ryo and I both work at Starry right now."

"A part-time job?!"

Goto Hitori let out the loudest cry of the day.

"What's wrong, Bocchi?"

As soon as she heard "part-time job," all kinds of images flashed through Goto Hitori's mind: making every possible mistake while working.

In the end, she'd be put on trial.

So this was the one thing—

She absolutely, absolutely, absolutely had to refuse!

Goto Hitori asked in confusion,

"Why do we need to work?"

"Being in a band actually costs a lot of money. Some of what we earn from working can go toward the band's expenses."

"Also, for future shows, we'll have to handle part of the ticket quota ourselves."

Nijika patiently explained everything.

The thought of working with the girls did sound like a lot of fun.

But Bai Qiu wasn't looking for a part-time job right now.

Besides, he had to stop by the Astronomy Club and the Light Music Club now and then.

And he wasn't short on money.

So Bai Qiu said,

"I'll pass on the job."

"That's a little too bad."

Nijika sounded disappointed.

She'd been hoping everyone could work together. That way, they'd have more time to spend with each other.

It would help the band members grow closer.

Bai Qiu nodded. "I'm not short on money right now, so the band's expenses and ticket quota shouldn't be a problem."

"But it'd be even better if I could come in and work a shift once in a while."

"Really?"

Nijika looked pleasantly surprised.

Not short on money?

That caught Yamada Ryo's attention.

"You don't have to pay me for my work, either."

"No, we have to pay you."

"You can give my wages to me, then."

"No way, Ryo. Don't even think about it."

Seeing Bai Qiu turn down the job so easily, Goto Hitori looked envious. He'd managed to do what she never dared to.

"Uh, um..."

Everyone looked at her.

The words Goto Hitori had just been about to say caught in her throat.

"This is the money Mom saved for my wedding. Please don't make me work!"

Goto Hitori swiftly pulled out her Piggy Bank.

"Ah, Hitori! You don't have to do that!"

Nijika was startled.

"Thanks. I'll gladly accept it."

Yamada Ryo hadn't expected someone to actually offer her money.

"Ryo, stop!"

"Aki-kun, please! Hurry and get it back from her!"

After hearing how important the money was, Nijika couldn't let it fall into Yamada Ryo's hands!

Bai Qiu swiftly snatched the Piggy Bank away.

Yamada Ryo looked at her now-empty hand, a little disappointed.

Then she gave Bai Qiu a knowing look.

Bai Qiu-kun always seems to get in my way!

Nijika breathed a sigh of relief.

"Hitori, we won't force you to work."

Nijika reassured her.

Just as Nijika was about to say something, Bai Qiu spoke first.

"I think it'd be better to let Hitori work."

Goto Hitori clutched her chest, utterly disbelieving.

She never would've thought Bai Qiu would be the one to say something so cruel.

And he'd said it with such a gentle expression, too.

"Hitori, have you forgotten? You're supposed to work hard to overcome your social anxiety!"

"Working is the best way to practice."

Nijika thought that made a lot of sense, and looked at Goto Hitori expectantly.

"Can you do it, Hitori?"

"Hitori, I believe in you!"

Nijika had a feeling she'd heard that before.

"This little part-time job won't be any match for you."

"Okay, I'll get a job!"

Once she'd calmed down, Goto Hitori crawled under the table, where Yamada Ryo was teasing her with a twig.

Why was there a twig?

Because she'd eaten the leaves.

Goto Hitori was distraught.

Why did I agree without thinking?

I was supposed to refuse!

Meanwhile, Nijika and Bai Qiu chatted.

"Speaking of which, Aki-kun, are you in any clubs?"

Bai Qiu froze, suddenly feeling inexplicably guilty.

"Uh... I joined the Astronomy Club... and..."

"The Astronomy Club!"

At the mention of the Astronomy Club, Nijika perked up.

"Do you like the stars, Aki-kun?"

"Then you might have something in common with my older sister."

Nijika said that Ijichi Hoshino liked looking at the night sky, too.

That was why the place was called Starry.

Did I just get away with that?

Bai Qiu paused, surprised as he looked at Nijika.

He'd been trying to figure out the best way to explain.

In that case...

Nijika, it's not that I didn't come clean.

You interrupted me!

Yeah, that's it.

Besides, a club was a club.

A band was a band.

Joining the Light Music Club didn't count as betraying anyone, right?

Thinking of it that way, Bai Qiu felt much less guilty.

"I see. Then I'll make sure to get along with the manager."

The afternoon passed with the group chatting and fooling around.

They didn't practice at all.

But there was no need to rush.

As they were parting ways, Bai Qiu suddenly remembered something.

In the story, Goto Hitori was planning to fake being sick.

Bai Qiu figured he should warn her.

"By the way, Bocchi."

"Huh? What is it?"