Chapter 37: Nijika Confesses to You
[Under your management, Kessoku Band gradually became one of the most well-known independent rock bands in Tokyo.]
[However, as their reach expanded, you also began to notice underlying problems within the band.]
[You decided to seek out Bocchi.]
[Among Kessoku Band's members, Nijika was bright and caring, always looking out for others. Kita was warm, outgoing, and effortlessly sociable. Ryo was fiercely independent, strong-willed, and never needed hand-holding.]
[But Bocchi…]
[She remained timid, afraid of people, unable to meet others' eyes, stammering in conversation. In this four-member band, she was the one who worried you the most.
[Whether openly or discreetly, she was always the one you paid the most attention to.]
[And so, you sought her out, ready to talk about Kessoku Band's ever-growing fame…]
[Although This Was a Good Thing, You Didn't Want Bocchi to Feel Pressured]
[Even though Kessoku Band's rising popularity was a positive development, you didn't want it to become a source of stress for Bocchi, who was already fragile and prone to overthinking.]
[She walked beside you, quietly listening as you rambled about the band's recent activities. But when you voiced your concern about the pressure it might put on her, the usually timid girl suddenly reached out and held your hand.]
The park's streetlights cast scattered beams of light, forming soft shadows on the pavement.
Their footsteps made a gentle, rustling sound as they walked.
Bocchi turned her head slightly to glance at the young man walking beside her.
Now that he was in university, he had grown even taller than in high school. He looked more mature too.
How nice, she thought to herself.
Unable to look directly at him, Bocchi lowered her head again, secretly watching his shadow on the ground.
Her social anxiety had eased somewhat after numerous live performances with Kessoku Band.
Yet, for some reason, when it came to him, she still found it difficult to meet his gaze.
But just walking beside him—just being by his side—was enough.
She followed obediently behind Minami, listening to him ramble about the band's latest happenings.
How Nijika's drumming had improved again, how Ryo kept pestering him for more instrument funds, how Kita would sometimes bring her friends backstage to the practice room…
Then, he stopped walking.
"The band's popularity has been growing fast lately. So, Bocchi, I've been worried… is it becoming too much pressure for you?"
Minami spoke after some thought.
Yes.
He had been worrying about this for a while now.
Bocchi had always been an emotionally delicate girl, easily overwhelmed by her own thoughts.
With the rest of the band steadily progressing forward, would she start feeling left behind? Would the pressure become too much for her?
She didn't respond immediately.
Minami, watching the neon lights of the park, was just about to continue speaking—
But then, his hand was gently grasped.
He instinctively turned to look.
Bocchi was looking up at him.
In her eyes, there was a certain emotion—one that made Minami feel slightly flustered.
She had noticed his awkwardness.
And for the first time, the girl who always kept her head down and avoided eye contact—hidden behind her long bangs—smiled softly.
"It's not just Nijika and the others," she whispered, "I've improved too, haven't I, Minami?"
Her soft, fair fingers didn't let go.
"…Yeah."
Minami turned away slightly and gave a small nod.
He tightened his grip on her hand.
Autumn, a quiet park, neon lights reflecting off her figure—
She was breathtaking.
[After that day, Bocchi began spending noticeably more time with you. The other members of Kessoku Band quickly noticed this change.]
[They requested a short vacation.]
[That day, Ryo—who rarely drank—ended up having quite a few drinks at an izakaya with Kikuri.]
(TL Notes: Izakaya, a type of Japanese bar in which a variety of small, typically inexpensive, dishes and snacks are served to accompany the alcoholic drinks.)
[That day, Seika complained to you about how Nijika kept sobbing into her arms every night after watching a tear-jerking movie.]
[That day, Kita suddenly started posting on social media much more frequently—all pictures of her visiting romantic date spots… alone.]
[When their short break ended and they returned to the band, something was different. They practiced even harder than before.]
[Maybe it was just your imagination, but it felt like they lingered around you more often before leaving.]
[A Turning Point for Kessoku Band]
[As time continued, under your meticulous management, Kessoku Band's influence as an independent band grew stronger by the day. Eventually, several well-known Japanese record labels could no longer sit still.]
[One after another, they approached you with contract offers—enticing deals that promised abundant resources and opportunities.]
[Out of all the offers, you ensured that Kessoku Band would retain their independence before finalizing an agreement with a trustworthy label.]
[Kessoku Band's Major Breakthrough]
[Six months later, Kessoku Band's album 結束バンド was officially released. With the combined efforts of the record company and your promotional strategies, the first edition sold out almost instantly!]
(TL Notes: 結束バンド = Kessoku Band)
[Kessoku Band had finally stepped beyond Shimokitazawa and gained national recognition! They amassed a devoted fanbase across Japan!]
[But to the public, the spotlight belonged solely to the band members. No one knew your name. Compared to their faces gracing the covers of music magazines, your contribution was reduced to a single, unimpressive footnote.]
[You never expected to be remembered. Simply watching them shine on stage, basking in the cheers of their fans, was enough to satisfy you.]
[But unlike you, Nijika—who had always been kind to everyone—spoke up for the first time. Publicly, she criticized the magazine editor-in-chief for dismissing your contributions. Ryo, Bocchi, and Kita followed suit, refusing to grant any further interviews to that publication.]
[Their blunt, straightforward stance didn't cost them any fans—if anything, it made them seem even more genuine. More people found themselves drawn to Kessoku Band's fearless authenticity.]
[As a result, their album sales hit a new record high.]
[It became clear that Kessoku Band was on track to becoming Japan's next major rock band. As music media outlets scrambled to uncover the story behind their rise, Starry—their place of origin—also gained widespread recognition.]
[With Starry now in the spotlight, it became a hub for promising rock bands, attracting both well-known groups and record producers scouting for new talent.]
[At the same time, your story began surfacing in the media. Word spread about how you had once ranked first in the entire nation academically.]
[Everything was moving in the right direction.]
[The Moment That Changed Everything]
[And then, something happened within Kessoku Band that no one could ignore.]
[Nijika Confessed to You]
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