"Hayato-kun, don't joke around at a time like this."
Kita sighed.
"Though the process was a joke, the content isn't false, you know. Next Saturday, the Manager will give us a chance to audition."
Hayato said with some seriousness.
Nijika instinctively wanted to deny it, but seeing Hayato's serious expression and his confident words, even setting a time.
She blinked her beautiful red eyes and asked, "Really?"
Hayato nodded.
Suddenly, the cheers from nearby instantly dispelled her last trace of doubt.
"That's great!"
Kita exclaimed in surprise, looking around at Ryo and Bocchi, and finally confirming with Nijika, "If we pass the audition, we can perform, right?"
"Yes!"
Nijika's mood also soared. After her excitement, she added with some dissatisfaction, "Then she should have just said so from the beginning! Sister is so mean."
Kita once again entered her hard-worker fanatic state, saying in a bright voice that made the others uneasy, "But, from now on, we just need to work hard."
Only Bocchi, who was already used to her appearance, was infected by the emotion and, for once, showed a happy expression, nodding vigorously.
"Mm-hmm."
"That's great." Kita breathed a sigh of relief and celebrated with Bocchi.
"We can finally perform!"
Amidst this cheerfulness, Hayato spread his arms, closing his eyes as if ready for an embrace. He had even, at some point, put a sign on his chest that read 'Please give me a thankful hug!'
But the four glanced at him, their expressions varied, yet no one paid him any mind.
After glancing at Hayato, Nijika shifted her gaze to the two most excited and loudest Guitar players at the moment.
One had good skill but couldn't show it at all, and the other had hastily learned Guitar for nearly two months.
Looking at their happy faces.
When she thought about the audition a week later, she suddenly understood why her sister had become so strict. Instantly, cold sweat appeared on her cute face.
Just then, Ryo came up to her and revealed her thoughts in a hushed voice, "You look like these two are the most worrying."
Nijika, whose thoughts were exposed, immediately panicked, almost collapsing into a Bocchi-like facial distortion.
Ryo didn't bother with her and walked over to the two Guitar players, seriously instructing them, "Then for your parts, we'll use pre-recorded audio. You just need to practice your fake playing postures well."
The two Guitar players had no performer's pride whatsoever and instantly replied in unison, "Okay!"
"Wait, wait, wait, won't the Manager reject us if we do that?" Hayato stepped forward to stop them.
Nijika also agreed with Hayato's idea.
"Yeah, Sister is quite strict."
Ryo looked at Hayato, her opposition significantly reduced, but she still stated, "There's only one week left, no need to try too hard."
Nijika also didn't intend for them to practice too hard, but rather 'encouraged' them by saying, "Even if you play badly, as long as you try your best and convey your passion, it'll be fine."
Bocchi and Kita, hearing Nijika's first sentence, were dumbfounded and slumped their shoulders.
"Playing badly..."
"Pfft." Hayato lowered his head and laughed.
Ryo looked at Hayato and Nijika, speechless.
Nijika immediately panicked.
"Ah, I'm sorry, but you're much better than when you started, right, Ryo?"
She quickly sought outside help.
But Ryo tilted her head back, feigning deep thought.
Nijika then anxiously looked at Hayato next to her.
And this guy, with his arms crossed, sighed heavily.
"Please help me smooth things over!" Nijika exclaimed angrily at the two main pillars of the Band.
And while Nijika was wailing, Bocchi silently squatted down and crawled into a nearby concrete pipe.
However, when Nijika pleaded with her not to hide, she saw the concrete pipe suddenly darken.
She looked up and saw Hayato half-crouching on the ground, looking at them with a smile and saying,
"This place is full!"
"Eh, eh!" Bocchi was startled and backed out of the concrete pipe.
After scaring Bocchi out of the pipe, Hayato stood up and suggested to the others,
"Since time is short, how about a 24-hour training camp first?"
Nijika, Kita, and Ryo's faces immediately showed alert, and they all took a step back.
"Hayato-kun! This is harassment!" Kita warned.
Ryo held her phone, looking as if she was ready to call the police at any moment.
Nijika looked at the two, then at the bewildered Bocchi, and she breathed a sigh of relief.
"A training camp isn't bad…" she thought for a moment and said.
"Ijiichi-senpai!?" Kita looked at Nijika in disbelief.
With Hayato's overjoyed expression, Nijika happily said,
"Except for Hayato-kun, how about everyone rests at my house tonight after practice?"
"No!!!"
Kita looked at the wailing Hayato, smiled, then looked at Ryo, and finally agreed,
"Alright!"
She then said to the bewildered Bocchi,
"Gotou-san, you come too."
"Ah… um… well… okay."
Bocchi agreed after much deliberation.
"Then I'll call home." Kita looked quite familiar with this, and she said, taking out her phone and walking aside.
Bocchi was stunned and copied her.
A moment later.
Bocchi's mother's soft gasp came from the phone, asking,
"Bocchi, you're staying out tonight?!"
"Yes, at a Band friend's house."
"Hayato-kun's house?" Bocchi's mother's voice sounded a bit strange.
"No, no, it's another friend's house."
"Let me talk to Hayato-kun to confirm."
Eh?
Bocchi stared blankly at her phone.
Why Hayato-kun?
Finally, she gave her phone to Hayato, and after Hayato explained, the other end of the line finally relaxed.
Bocchi thought, full of confusion.
Does her mother really trust her?