"Let your impulsive emotions roar!"
"Resound, O thunder!"
Kita passionately sang the final line.
The music gradually faded, and the performance came to an end.
[Held a live performance with Kessoku Band. Musical Notes +]
Bai Qiu's eyes lit up in surprise.
The reward for completing a full, official live was quite generous.
At this rate, shouldn't we be performing live every day?
He had accumulated enough Musical Notes.
Without hesitation, Bai Qiu exchanged them for this week's system skill:
[Lv.3 Keyboard]
With that, his keyboard skills officially reached a professional level.
Bai Qiu understood one thing clearly.
This world didn't only have Gotou Hitori, the young guitar prodigy.
There were also exceptional musicians like Kaname Rana, Yahata Umiri, and Wakaba Mutsumi—talents who far surpassed their peers.
If people his own age were already this outstanding...
...then he had to become even better.
After leaving the stage, the members returned backstage.
Everyone in Kessoku Band was beaming with joy. Their flushed faces were covered in smiles—and sweat.
Even Ryo's usually expressionless face wore a faint smile.
As for the more emotional Kita, tears had even begun to gather in the corners of her eyes.
"So... does this count as a success?"
Nijika asked uncertainly.
"Nijika-senpai, it was a huge success!"
Kita was so excited she almost threw herself at Bocchi once again.
"Of course it was."
"In the end, everyone was applauding. They even looked disappointed that it ended so quickly."
Bai Qiu nodded in agreement.
Although the audience hadn't been large, and many hadn't expected much from Kessoku Band at first...
...they had ultimately earned everyone's recognition.
After calming themselves down, everyone returned to reality.
Work still had to be done.
Their part-time shifts weren't going to disappear just because the live had ended.
Another band soon took the stage.
Bai Qiu noticed that the bassist was Yahata Umiri.
She was, as always, wearing the outfit she was known for.
It almost seemed that whenever she performed, she always wore the exact same clothes.
She really is a master of time management, Bai Qiu thought.
She's playing in dozens of bands and never seems to mess anything up.
I should learn from her.
Seeing that her band's performance was almost over, Bai Qiu decided to talk to her afterward.
Before that, though, there was something else he wanted to do.
He walked over to STARRY's bulletin board.
The recruitment poster he'd put up before was still there.
However, it had become worn and was partially covered by other flyers.
He replaced it with a brand-new one.
Just as he finished...
Someone tapped him on the shoulder.
Turning around, Bai Qiu smiled in surprise.
"I was just about to look for you."
The newcomer was none other than Yahata Umiri, who had just finished performing.
"You were looking for me?"
She looked slightly puzzled.
Although she'd arrived a little late, she had still managed to catch Kessoku Band's performance.
It was a very good band.
She had simply come over to greet Bai Qiu.
Bai Qiu smiled.
"Do you enjoy working as a support musician that much?"
Umiri nodded lightly.
"It's not bad."
"I earn money, and my schedule stays flexible."
"Have you ever considered joining a permanent band?"
She looked at him in surprise.
What's he getting at?
Without answering directly, Bai Qiu stepped aside and pointed at the freshly posted flyer.
"How about this?"
The poster was simple and straightforward.
Umiri understood it at a glance.
What caught her attention most was the line:
'A Band That Will Stay Together for a Lifetime.'
A lifetime...
That certainly sounded stable.
Crossing her arms, she commented,
"It's an interesting poster."
"This band currently has two members—they're classmates of mine."
"We're still looking for a bassist and a drummer."
"The vocalist is an incredible songwriting genius."
"Interested?"
Bai Qiu asked.
Umiri appeared to think it over.
Bai Qiu then pointed toward Rana, who was teasing Bocchi nearby.
"And there's Kaname Rana."
"She's interested in this band too."
"Her guitar skills are incredible."
Bai Qiu knew that someone like Umiri—already highly skilled and constantly playing in multiple bands—wouldn't be attracted by an ordinary group.
Only a band filled with passionate and exceptionally talented musicians might catch her attention.
That's why he deliberately mentioned both Rana and the gifted songwriter.
Umiri glanced toward Rana and nodded.
"I know about her."
She truly was becoming interested.
Not only because of Rana...
...but also because of the performance Bai Qiu and Nyamu had given together.
If it's a band that Bai Qiu thinks highly of...
Maybe it'll really be different.
"If you're interested, how about I introduce everyone?"
Bai Qiu continued.
After all, he had personally recruited two of the members.
He should also help Chihaya Anon make a good first impression.
"You could even start as a support member."
"If it feels like a good fit, you can officially join afterward."
Bai Qiu suggested.
Umiri found the proposal reasonable and nodded.
"Sounds good."
"Then it's settled."
Bai Qiu clapped his hands happily.
A few minutes later, after chatting briefly, Umiri said goodbye.
She was already rushing off to support yet another band.
As for Bai Qiu...
He was ready to share the good news with Chihaya Anon.
Taking out his phone, Bai Qiu noticed an unread message from Nagasaki Soyo.
Judging from the timestamp, it had been sent just before Kessoku Band's performance.
He'd been too busy preparing to check his phone.
Nagasaki Soyo:
Bai Qiu-kun, I'm sorry!
I can't make it to the live after all.
My mom suddenly came home.
I hope your performance goes well.
I'll definitely come watch you next time.
Just as Soyo had expected, Bai Qiu wasn't upset in the slightest.
If anything, with the rain pouring so heavily and Soyo only recently recovering from her cold...
He had been worried she'd catch another one if she came.
Otherwise, he'd probably end up cooking for her again.
Since her mother had finally come home...
It was better to let the lonely girl spend some precious time with her family.
He typed a reply.
Bai Qiu:
It's okay.
Our live went really well!
After that, he opened Chihaya Anon's chat.
He informed her that he'd found a potential bassist.
Her reply came almost instantly.
Chihaya Anon:
Really!?
That's amazing!
Bai Qiu:
Don't celebrate too early.
She's only interested for now.
And there's also the guitarist I mentioned before.
Let's arrange a time for everyone to meet.
Always quick to act, Anon immediately agreed.
Chihaya Anon:
Okay!
Then... how about meeting at RiNG tomorrow?
Tomorrow was Sunday.
Bai Qiu had no objections.
Bai Qiu:
Works for me.
I'll ask the others first, and then we'll decide on the exact time.
Before leaving, Bai Qiu looked once more at the brand-new recruitment poster he'd just put up.
It probably wouldn't be needed much longer.
He walked over to Rana, who was happily snacking nearby.
He wanted to ask when she was free.
After all, she'd previously said she was interested in joining a band.
There was something else he wanted to ask, too.
"Rana, why didn't you accept my friend request?"
"Didn't you check your phone?"
"I checked."
Rana answered honestly.
"Then why didn't you accept it?"
Bai Qiu asked in confusion.
"Let me see your phone."
Without hesitation, Rana handed it over.
There wasn't even a lock screen.
After unlocking it, Bai Qiu's eyes widened.
The phone was flooded with 99+ notifications from every imaginable app.
Red notification dots were everywhere.
His obsessive tendencies immediately kicked in.
He had an overwhelming urge to clear them all.
Opening LINE, he found exactly what he expected.
His friend request had already expired.
He looked at Rana helplessly.
"This isn't 'checking your phone' at all!"
Rana looked back at him with innocent, cat-like eyes.
"I don't know how to use it."
For a moment, Bai Qiu was speechless.
What could he possibly say to such an adorable little cat?
He sent another friend request, added her on LINE successfully this time...
...and spent the next several minutes helping her clear away all those notification badges.
-------------------
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