"K-Kanzaki-san! When did you get back?!" Gotoh Hitori froze for a moment before turning her head to speak to Kanzaki Saku.
Kanzaki Saku didn't answer immediately. He just continued to look at her with those gentle eyes, a faint, almost imperceptible smile playing at the corners of his mouth.
That gaze seemed to say, "I've been watching for quite a while," or perhaps, "Please continue your performance, I'm watching."
Bocchi-chan felt like she was about to suffocate. Although as "Guitar Hero," she had always disregarded the gazes of others, Kanzaki Saku was different!
Bocchi-chan wanted to appear even cooler in front of Kanzaki Saku, and what she just did wasn't cool enough!
"I'm asking you," Kanzaki Saku spoke up. "What were you doing just now?"
"I... I..." Bocchi-chan's tongue was tied in knots. "I was... was practicing! Yes! Practicing stage presence for a live performance! As a future rock superstar, stage presence is very important!"
"Stage presence, moves, aura! These all need to be polished repeatedly!"
Her voice grew smaller and smaller as she spoke, because Kanzaki Saku's expression was too calm—so calm that it made her feel like a clown.
Bocchi-chan wished she could knock herself out with her guitar right then and there, or perhaps knock Kanzaki Saku out instead.
Just as Gotoh Hitori was about to crumble under the weight of Kanzaki Saku's gentle gaze, he suddenly let out a soft chuckle.
That laugh sounded a bit like an experienced big sister feeling amused after teasing an innocent little virgin.
"I see." Kanzaki Saku nodded. "That's a great idea. Stage presence is indeed important. Many musicians have great technique, but they stand on stage looking like a block of wood."
Bocchi-chan froze. She was praised by Kanzaki-san.
She was praised again.
Kanzaki-san, you are so gentle!
Kanzaki-san is an angel!
"However, Gotoh-san," Kanzaki Saku clearly didn't intend to let her off the hook just yet. "You mentioned before that you're playing in a band. How is the situation now?"
Mentioning the band, Bocchi-chan's eyes lit up. This was a domain Kanzaki Saku didn't understand, which meant she could brag at will.
"Not bad! We've gelled really well!" Her sitting posture became confident, and she puffed out her chest. "The drummer, Ijichi Nijika, and the bassist, Yamada Ryo, have both received my approval! They can barely keep up with my rhythm."
"Is that so? Is that so? To be able to keep up with Gotoh-san's rhythm, that is indeed impressive," Kanzaki Saku praised casually, resting his chin on one hand as he looked at her.
In his heart, however, he was thinking that he should get a voice recorder to record everything "Guitar Hero" Bocchi said. No matter when or to whom he played it, it felt like it would be great amusement.
"I'm not that good, really." Bocchi-chan wobbled her head from side to side, intoxicated by the praise.
Speaking of this, she suddenly thought of something and stole a glance at Kanzaki Saku.
I remember that blonde saying our band still lacks a capable vocalist. If Kanzaki-san could come and join us...
No, no, no. Although boys playing in bands isn't unheard of, it's too rare. But...
"What are you thinking about?" Kanzaki Saku's voice interrupted her wild thoughts.
"N-Nothing!" Bocchi-chan shook her head. "I was just thinking... is Kanzaki-san interested in bands?"
"It's alright," Kanzaki Saku's answer was concise. "Listening to you talk about it makes it sound interesting. I feel like joining a band would be a nice experience."
"Really?!" Bocchi-chan got excited. "That, that is simply—"
She almost blurted out, "That is simply perfect," but she slammed on the brakes just in time. Too obvious, too desperate; it would scare him away!
"Simply what?" Kanzaki Saku pressed, his eyes smiling.
"Simply... a very great idea!" Bocchi-chan forced a sharp turn in her speech. "Kanzaki-san's voice sounds very nice. I feel like you have the potential to be a vocalist!"
"Is that so." Kanzaki Saku was noncommittal. "Doesn't your band lack a vocalist?"
"Y-Yes..." Bocchi-chan's heartbeat accelerated. What does he mean by asking this? Does he also really want to play in a band with me?
"Then what kind of person are you looking for?" Kanzaki Saku continued to ask, his tone casual. "Someone with good technique? Someone experienced? Or is it fine as long as they are interested?"
"O-Of course, good technique is best..." Bocchi-chan spoke cautiously. "But if it's someone like Kanzaki-san who is interested in bands, we can also teach from scratch..."
As soon as the words left her mouth, she regretted it. Too direct! Wasn't this equivalent to saying, "I want you to join?!"
"Oh?" Kanzaki Saku raised an eyebrow. "Gotoh-san is willing to teach me?"
"Willing!" Bocchi-chan threw caution to the wind. "As long as you want to learn! I can teach you anything! Whether it's singing, or guitar, bass, drums..."
Watching her get more and more flustered as she spoke, Kanzaki Saku finally couldn't help but laugh out loud.
It wasn't that shallow smile from before, but the sound of someone truly amused. The laughter wasn't loud, but it was enough to make Bocchi-chan overheat and turn bright red.
"Gotoh-san is really interesting," Kanzaki Saku said, his eyes curving into crescents.
"In-Interesting?" Bocchi-chan didn't know whether to be happy or sad.
"Yeah." Kanzaki Saku nodded. "Very serious, and very enthusiastic. What forming a band needs is exactly this kind of enthusiasm, right?"
Bocchi-chan hadn't had time to digest this sentence when Kanzaki Saku spoke again.
"So, when does Gotoh-san's band have a public performance?"
"Still, still early!" Bocchi-chan said hurriedly. "We haven't even practiced a complete song well yet... and we haven't found all the members..."
"Then during practice, can I visit?" Kanzaki Saku asked. "I want to see the practice session of a 'World-class Guitarist.'"
Here it comes again! Another statement that makes one's heart race!
"O-Of course you can!" Bocchi-chan's voice was trembling. "You are welcome anytime! Or rather, please strictly do come! I will let you witness a real... um, guitar master!"
"Then it's a promise." Kanzaki Saku smiled. "Next time you practice, remember to notify me."
"O-Okay!"
It turns out Kanzaki-san didn't want to join the band, Bocchi-chan felt a little downcast.
"By the way, regarding the matter of your band lacking a vocalist..."
Bocchi-chan's mood was lifted again with anticipation by Kanzaki Saku's words.
"I can..."
Kanzaki-san wants to form a band with me, he has me in his heart!
"Recommend someone for you!"
"I agree!" Bocchi-chan blurted out before she even clearly heard Kanzaki Saku's last few words.
"Is that so? Then I'll thank Kita-san for you!"
"Ki... Ki... Ta... Ta?"
Who is that? Where is my Archangel Kanzaki! Give him back to me!
"What's wrong? Is there a difficulty? Didn't Gotoh-san say you are the pillar and captain of the band?"
Kanzaki Saku understood Bocchi-chan's psychology perfectly and lifted her up on a pedestal.
____
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