The final school bell rang.
For most students, it signaled the beginning of club activities or the freedom of going home.
For Fujiwara Ai, however, it marked the start of overtime.
He slowly packed his school bag while completely ignoring the abandoned-puppy expression coming from Yotsuya Miko in the front row.
“See you tomorrow.”
Leaving behind only those three words, he slung his bag over his shoulder and walked calmly out of the classroom.
Although his attitude remained cold, for the current Yotsuya Miko, those simple words were already enough to replay repeatedly inside her head all night long.
They were practically spiritual support capable of helping her endure another evening surrounded by evil spirits.
Shimokitazawa.
The sacred land of subculture.
Vintage shops.
Theaters.
Live Houses.
The entire district overflowed with a decadent yet vibrant atmosphere unique to underground youth culture.
Fujiwara Ai walked through the narrow streets calmly.
With 74 points of Charisma combined with his restrained ascetic temperament, he blended into the artistic atmosphere of Shimokitazawa surprisingly well.
Girls carrying instrument cases and vintage store employees occasionally glanced toward him curiously.
“System.
Navigation.”
[Ding!
Target Location: Live House STARRY]
[Distance Remaining: 200 meters]
[Notice: The host is approaching an important storyline node.
Please maintain proper appearance and character settings.]
Fujiwara Ai twitched internally.
Eventually, he arrived in front of an old-looking building before descending the staircase leading underground.
The moment he pushed open the heavy soundproof door, the distinct scent of tobacco, alcohol, and old carpeting hit him directly.
It was currently only 5:30 PM.
The evening performances had not yet begun.
As a result, the live house remained mostly empty.
Behind the counter stood a blonde woman with a mature and sharp aura while casually wiping a glass.
Ijichi Seika.
The manager of STARRY.
A strict-looking older sister who was secretly an extreme sis-con.
Hearing the wind chime above the entrance ring softly, Seika raised her eyes.
“Sorry, performances haven’t started ye…”
Her words abruptly stopped midway.
Her gaze lingered on Fujiwara Ai’s face for several seconds longer than necessary.
Interesting.
Not the standard handsome idol type.
Instead, he possessed the kind of melancholic attractiveness that suggested hidden stories and emotional scars.
Within the music industry, that sort of appearance had natural value.
“Looking for someone.”
Fujiwara Ai walked calmly toward the counter while speaking in his usual cold tone.
The excessive air conditioning inside the live house caused the familiar soul-tearing discomfort to flare slightly, making him unconsciously frown.
Ironically, this only enhanced his gloomy temperament further.
“Who are you looking for?”
Seika placed down the glass while observing him with visible curiosity.
“Goto Hitori.”
The moment she heard Bocchi’s name, Seika’s expression became strangely complicated.
Confusion.
Suspicion.
And concern.
“You know Bocchi?
You’re her friend?”
No matter how she looked at him, Fujiwara Ai felt far too much like a normie.
Sure, he was the cool introverted type, but he still seemed fundamentally different from that pink mushroom who could lock herself inside closets for hours.
“Sort of.”
Fujiwara Ai offered no detailed explanation.
“She’s practicing, right?”
Seika pointed toward an inner room.
“Studio room over there.
Though…
her condition today is a little questionable.
Prepare yourself.”
Fujiwara Ai nodded lightly before heading deeper inside.
Even before reaching the door, he heard the sound.
Or more accurately
A horrifying collection of sounds.
It resembled someone attacking metal with a chainsaw while a dying creature cried weakly in the background.
Fujiwara Ai pushed open the studio door.
Inside, an extremely awkward atmosphere filled the room.
Three girls occupied the studio.
One energetic blonde drummer with a yellow triangular hairpin.
Ijichi Nijika.
One blue-haired bassist whose expression rivaled Fujiwara Ai’s own emotional deadness.
Yamada Ryo.
And directly between them
A pink blob.
No exaggeration.
Goto Hitori had somehow twisted her body into a shape impossible for normal humans while rolling on the floor and clutching her head.
“I’m sorry…
I’m sorry…
I’m sorry…”
“I only produce noise…”
“I broke the sound…”
“Waaah…”
At her feet rested the exact orange effect pedal Fujiwara Ai had gifted her.
The BOSS DS-1.
Unfortunately, every knob on the pedal had been twisted into complete chaos while the indicator light blinked frantically.
“Oh.
Someone’s here.”
Yamada Ryo noticed Fujiwara Ai first.
While lazily biting her drink straw, she stared at him expressionlessly.
“A handsome guy.
Bocchi, is your debt collector here?”
“Eeeek!!!”
The pink creature on the floor screamed instantly before launching herself toward the drum set and attempting to crawl inside the bass drum.
“Um…
who are you?”
Nijika awkwardly stepped forward to smooth over the situation.
As the only normal person in Kessoku Band, she naturally handled social interactions.
Fujiwara Ai didn’t answer immediately.
Instead, he calmly walked toward the drum kit.
The cold air accompanying him somehow reduced the overheated atmosphere inside the room.
Standing before the bass drum, he looked directly at the half-hidden pink creature.
“Come out.”
His voice wasn’t loud.
Yet it carried undeniable authority.
Goto Hitori froze immediately.
That voice… This story is hosted at novelping.com.
Cold.
Calm.
Familiar.
It was the guitar god who gifted her the sacred effect pedal.
It’s over.
It’s over.
It’s over.
He saw me like this.
And I even ruined the divine artifact he gave me.
He’s definitely going to throw me into Tokyo Bay and turn me into pink guitar picks.
Trembling violently, Bocchi slowly crawled back out from behind the bass drum like a frightened snail.
Her face remained deathly pale while her eyes wandered helplessly everywhere except Fujiwara Ai’s face.
“Um…
I…
I…”
Her tongue tangled hopelessly.
Fujiwara Ai sighed softly.
Then he crouched beside the effect pedal.
“The gain is too high.”
While speaking, his fingers skillfully adjusted the pedal settings.
“The tone is also too sharp.
This guitar already has humbucker pickups, so the output naturally runs high.
You don’t need aggressive settings like this.”
His movements flowed smoothly.
Elegant.
Almost intimate.
As his fingertips rotated the knobs, the piercing unpleasant noise gradually disappeared.
In its place remained a thick and warm distortion tone filled with power.
“Try it.”
Fujiwara Ai stood up calmly while looking down at Bocchi.
Goto Hitori stared blankly.
No scolding?
No ridicule?
He remained exactly the same as before.
Cold-faced.
Reliable.
Gentle in strange ways.
She swallowed nervously before picking up the guitar with trembling hands.
Strum.
Boom.
A full and grainy power chord exploded from the amplifier.
Authentic rock distortion.
“It sounds amazing!”
Nijika’s eyes lit up instantly.
“This is the sound Bocchi-chan wanted all along!”
Even Yamada Ryo raised an eyebrow slightly.
“Oh?
He’s actually good.”
“Not just a handsome face after all.”
Goto Hitori’s hands trembled violently.
This time, however, it wasn’t from fear.
It was excitement.
This…
This was the sound she wanted.
With this sound, she wasn’t useless industrial waste anymore.
She could become
Guitar Hero.
[Ding!
Goto Hitori Affection Value +100]
[Current Favorability: 35/100]
[Description: At her most awkward and self-doubting moment, you descended like a savior.
Not only did you solve her technical issue, but your overwhelming professionalism also completely captured her admiration.
Your current image in her mind likely includes holy light effects.]
Fujiwara Ai glanced calmly toward the pink-haired girl now giggling while imaginary flowers floated around her.
Mission accomplished.
“Since it’s fixed, play something.”
Fujiwara Ai suddenly spoke.
Moreover, instead of simply watching, he casually picked up the spare guitar nearby without even asking permission.
“An ensemble?”
Yamada Ryo crossed her arms with visible interest.
Fujiwara Ai didn’t answer.
He simply plugged in the cable.
[Guitar Shredding: Mastery Loaded]
[Soul Resonance Performance Lv.1 Loaded]
Then he looked toward Bocchi.
“Can you keep up?”
Goto Hitori froze from the sudden invitation.
However, the instinct called guitarist awakened deep inside her body the moment she met Fujiwara Ai’s gaze.
“I…
I can!”
Fujiwara Ai nodded.
Then he began playing.
It wasn’t anything flashy.
Just a simple funky rhythm demanding precise timing.
Zheng—
Clean syncopated notes echoed through the room.
Fujiwara Ai’s playing felt unbelievably steady.
Precise like machinery.
Yet every note carried indescribable loneliness and emotion.
The confession of a loner.
The strength and vulnerability hidden only within silent nights.
The emotion instantly pierced through everyone present.
Especially Bocchi.
She felt as though she were being pulled directly into a black hole.
That back…
So lonely.
Yet overwhelmingly powerful.
He’s the same as me.
But stronger.
I also want…
To stand beside him.
Goto Hitori’s fingers moved instinctively.
The hesitant guitar tone from earlier suddenly transformed completely.
Her explosive emotional solos burst forward like a storm crashing against Fujiwara Ai’s stable rhythmic foundation.
Two guitars.
One black.
One pink.
One cold.
One burning hot.
Within the cramped basement studio, the sounds intertwined into something breathtaking enough to send chills across everyone’s skin.
Nijika stood frozen with her mouth open.
She forgot to even touch her drumsticks. Get faster updates on g.com.
The laziness vanished from Yamada Ryo’s eyes entirely.
Even Seika, who had secretly been eavesdropping outside, eventually entered quietly and leaned against the wall while smiling faintly.
Finally, the song ended.
The final notes lingered softly in the air.
Fujiwara Ai lowered the guitar slowly.
A thin layer of sweat covered his forehead.
Using [Soul Resonance] consumed frightening amounts of mental energy.
Still
The results were outstanding.
The studio remained silent for five full seconds.
“THAT WAS AMAZING!!”
Nijika exploded first.
She rushed directly toward Fujiwara Ai while practically sparkling with excitement.
“Hey!
Are you a professional musician?
Or part of some famous band?
Do you want to join Kessoku Band?
We’re still beginners, but with Bocchi-chan around we’ll definitely become amazing someday!”
Fujiwara Ai quietly stepped half a pace backward.
Too bright.
For someone gloomy like him, Nijika’s energy felt almost blinding.
“I’m just a passing student.”
Fujiwara Ai answered calmly before glancing toward the completely melted Bocchi puddle laughing foolishly on the floor.
“Remember to save the pedal settings.”
He pointed toward the effect pedal.
“Y-yes!
Understood, Master!”
Goto Hitori snapped upright immediately before performing an extremely awkward salute.
Her face resembled a boiling tomato.
Master?
That title sounded slightly wrong.
At that moment, Yamada Ryo suddenly approached.
After silently staring at Fujiwara Ai for several seconds, she extended her hand.
“Lend me one thousand yen.”
Fujiwara Ai: “…”
As expected of Scum-Ryo.
Her opening line involved borrowing money.
“Ryo!
Stop asking strangers for money!”
Nijika immediately smacked her friend in frustration.
Watching the familiar chaotic banter, Fujiwara Ai unexpectedly felt a rare sense of relaxation.
This truly was the world of bocchi the rock!.
Compared to terrifying evil spirits lurking everywhere, this place practically counted as paradise.
“It’s getting late.”
Fujiwara Ai glanced toward the clock.
If he delayed too long, Yotsuya Miko would definitely begin overthinking again.
Additionally, the latest Charisma increase had already begun triggering another round of bodily optimization, leaving his body slightly feverish.
“U-um!”
Seeing Fujiwara Ai preparing to leave, Bocchi suddenly gathered every ounce of courage she possessed before rushing over and blocking his path.
Her head remained lowered while her body trembled violently.
Yet her voice sounded unusually firm.
“N-next time…”
“…can we play guitar together again?”
Fujiwara Ai looked quietly at her.
Though her bangs concealed her eyes, the longing radiating from her practically overflowed.
[Ding!
Choice Triggered]
[Cold Refusal: “No time.”]
[Result: Bocchi suffers critical emotional damage and retreats into isolation.]
[Gentle Agreement: “Sure.”]
[Result: Persona break risk detected.]
[Ambiguous Response: “Depends on your performance.”]
[Result: Maintains cool persona while preserving emotional tension.]
Fujiwara Ai selected the third option instantly.
“Depends on your performance.”
Leaving behind those words, he calmly walked around Bocchi and headed toward the exit.
However, before leaving completely, he paused briefly.
Then he glanced back toward the pink-haired girl still frozen in place.
“And stop stuffing yourself into boxes next time.”
“It’s difficult pulling you out.”
After saying that, he opened the door and disappeared into the dim stairway shadows.
Leaving the remaining four people inside staring blankly.
“So cool…” Nijika murmured subconsciously.
“Interesting kid,” Seika commented quietly.
“He probably has money,” Yamada Ryo muttered while still thinking about the thousand yen.
Meanwhile, Bocchi slowly slid downward along the wall before eventually collapsing into a cooked-octopus state.
Depends on my performance…
That means…
As long as I perform well…
I can stay beside him forever?
“Hehehe…”
Walking outside STARRY, Fujiwara Ai found the streets of Shimokitazawa fully illuminated beneath the night sky.
Cool air brushed against him while the excitement lingering from the performance gradually faded.
He removed his phone.
As expected—
Three unread messages waited on screen.
All from Yotsuya Miko.
[Fujiwara-san, are you still busy?]
[It’s raining outside.
Remember to bring an umbrella.
Though…
I know you probably didn’t bring one.]
[I’m waiting for you at the station.
If you don’t come, I’ll keep waiting forever.]
Fujiwara Ai frowned slightly at the final message.
This girl was becoming increasingly bold.
Was that a threat?
Even if soft and emotional, the dangerous undertones were already appearing.
[Ding!
Warning!]
[Target “Yotsuya Miko” currently experiencing stacked emotional states: Unease / Self-Persuasion / Mild Yandere Tendencies]
[Due to the emotional waves generated during your performance at STARRY, the target instinctively sensed potential danger through feminine intuition.]
[Suggestion: Proceed to the station immediately and stabilize the target emotionally.
Failure to do so may trigger indescribable supernatural consequences tonight.]
Fujiwara Ai put away his phone before sighing helplessly.
“What a troublesome girl…”
He adjusted the collar of his uniform before walking quickly toward the station.
Rain had already begun falling.
And beyond the curtain of rain
A black-haired girl stood alone beside the ticket gate while staring gloomily at every passing pedestrian.
Until she finally saw that familiar figure.