Want to Start a Band with Me?

And she didn't have a single friend!

"Ding-ding-ding..."

Goto Hitori plucked the strings, venting her emotions.

"Ah, found you."

The guitar fell silent.

With the clue that she was in the Stairwell, and the sudden sound of a guitar...

Not to mention, Bai Qiu was especially sensitive to Goto Hitori's guitar playing now—especially sensitive!

Bai Qiu found her with ease.

Bai Qiu looked around the Stairwell and frowned slightly.

The condition of the place was rather concerning!

It was a Stairwell, after all, and it was full of dust.

There were even faint traces of cobwebs in the corners.

Then his gaze shifted to Goto Hitori, who was trembling nonstop.

Her normally cute uniform took on a completely different style when she wore it.

She had a pink track jacket on top.

Under her skirt, she wore pink track pants.

So conservative... Hitori.

Bai Qiu broke into a cold sweat at her uniquely distinctive outfit.

Since her head was lowered, he couldn't see her expression.

But he could imagine how frightened Goto Hitori must have looked.

"Ah... ah... s-sor..."

Goto Hitori didn't dare raise her head, and she couldn't even open her mouth properly.

All she could do was mumble and whimper.

It was impossible to make out what she was trying to say.

Apologize, Watashi... Apologize, Watashi, hurry up and apologize, me! What am I doing...

If I don't apologize right now, I'll definitely get killed!

Boohoo, I don't want to die yet!

Mom, Dad, farewell!

Nili, your big sister has to go on ahead...

When Bai Qiu heard Goto Hitori start speaking, a trace of anticipation stirred in his heart...

Unfortunately, Goto Hitori couldn't get anything out.

Had she gone so long without speaking that she'd lost the ability to talk?

Ah, how pitiful.

Let me help you.

"Please look at me, Hitori," Bai Qiu said gently.

It's over, it's over.

That was Goto Hitori's last thought before she fainted.

Chapter 7: Do You Want to Start a Band with Me?

I might have taken things too far.

Bai Qiu insisted that watching over a thousand videos of "Guitar Hero" had absolutely nothing to do with his growing resentment toward "Guitar Hero" or his desire for revenge.

Guitar Hero was Guitar Hero, and Goto Hitori was Goto Hitori.

Fortunately, she fainted quickly and woke up just as quickly.

A moment later, Goto Hitori came to.

Ah... I... am I still alive?

Thank goodness I'm alive.

Why is it so bright around me?

As her vision gradually cleared, the unfamiliar face of Bai Qiu came into view.

"Ah! Ah..."

Goto Hitori remembered what had just happened.

In an instant, she prostrated herself on the ground.

"I-I'm sorry. Please forgive my offense... I'll roll out of your sight right away."

At the same time, Goto Hitori prayed over and over in her heart, Don't kill me, don't kill me...

Let me go, let me go!

Though she stumbled over her words, Goto Hitori finally managed to say a complete sentence.

Bai Qiu jumped in fright and darted to one side. "Don't go bowing that low!"

"Hitori, hurry and get up. I won't hurt you."

Afraid that Goto Hitori would run off, Bai Qiu added, "A-and don't roll away, either."

"Ah... really?"

Goto Hitori's body still wouldn't stop trembling.

"Mm. I'm not a bad person."

Bai Qiu nodded solemnly, though Goto Hitori couldn't see him.

"Come on, get up."

"Ah... okay."

Goto Hitori shakily got to her feet.

Her head was still slightly lowered, but she secretly watched Bai Qiu through the gaps in her bangs.

It was a skill she'd honed over many years, and she was confident nobody would notice.

His uniform was neat and clean, his features handsome and refined, and the faint Dark Circles under his eyes only gave him a captivating air.

Ah, that dazzling light...

I'm going to be purified.

He must be popular at school—a top-tier extrovert, no doubt.

Maybe I should... kill her after all!

Seeing that Goto Hitori seemed a little more composed, Bai Qiu breathed a sigh of relief. It looked like he could talk to her now.

If Hiratsuka Shizuka had seen what just happened...

She would definitely have thought he was bullying a classmate.

Then she'd punish him with her righteous iron fist.

Just thinking about it made him shudder. Bai Qiu shook his head, driving the thought away.

"Hello, Hitori. I'm Bai Qiu from Class 3."

What a strange name... Was he an exchange student?

"Ah, h-hello, Bai..."

Goto Hitori tried her best to answer. "Wait, you know my name?"

She was so surprised that the words came out fluently.

At the same time, her heart filled with astonishment and confusion, along with just a tiny bit of happiness.

She was happy because someone actually knew who she was?

Oh no, had she sounded too harsh just now? She hadn't used honorifics, either.

It's over. He must be angry.

I'm going to get killed, aren't I?

Meanwhile, Bai Qiu seemed to have read every thought in Goto Hitori's mind.

Bai Qiu put on the gentlest expression he'd ever worn, doing his best to look harmless. He'd never even acted this way around Akari.

"All right, Hitori. You don't have to be so nervous."

Bai Qiu continued, "That's right, I know your name. I know who you are."

"Why?"

She was an inconspicuous person, rarer than a tailbone snake in Shimokitazawa.

And yet someone at this school knew who she was.

Someone of his caliber, no less.

Had she really become that famous?

No, no, no! Goto Hitori was overwhelmed with terror.

Bai Qiu paused briefly, then quickly understood what Goto Hitori meant.

"I just memorized the names of everyone in our year," Bai Qiu said casually.

So that was it! She wasn't special after all.

Damn it, why did that feel so disappointing? Boohoo...

She had no idea why he'd done something so strange.

But Goto Hitori didn't dare ask. Instead...

"Th-that's amazing."

Bai Qiu gave a faint smile. Showing off in front of Goto Hitori didn't seem very satisfying.

Never mind. He had more important things to do.

"Were you playing the guitar just now, Hitori?"

Bai Qiu glanced at Goto Hitori's guitar.

The Gibson Les Paul Custom her father had given her.

It was supposedly worth 500,000 yen.

"Ah, yes..."

Goto Hitori didn't dare deny it.

Had her guitar playing been too loud and drawn him over?

I'm sorry. I'll never play guitar here again.

Goto Hitori thought about apologizing to make things right.

"I'm... sorry..."

"You're really good at guitar, Hitori."

Bai Qiu praised her sincerely. Even with an ordinary improvisation, she'd played something incredibly difficult.

"Eh...?"