As the live performance time approached, Ijichi Seika's temper became visibly more irritable.
"This is just the Manager showing signs of nervousness." The PA-san explained very considerately to Asakura.
"I can tell." Asakura nodded with a serious expression.
"You over there! Don't huddle together and spread strange knowledge so formally!" The irritable Manager-san shouted in dissatisfaction.
In fact, Asakura somewhat regretted taking on the job of collecting tickets at the door.
He had originally wanted to go backstage and chat with Hitori Gotoh and the other kids from Kessoku Band before they went on stage.
Others might not know, but at the very least, Hitori Gotoh should be quite nervous right now.
"Ah, it's starting!"
For some reason, Hiroi Kikuri didn't go to squeeze into the front row, but instead spoke while staying next to Asakura's checkout counter.
Asakura followed her gaze and saw that the three members of Kessoku Band were already standing on stage.
Yamada Ryo looked as relaxed as ever, as if she had long since become accustomed to this kind of live atmosphere; she was likely the one in the best state.
Ijichi Nijika sat upright behind the drum kit with a solemn expression, but Asakura could feel a certain surging excitement hidden within that silence—those wine-red eyes seemed to harbor a lion, a lion... sloth?
Asakura smacked his lips, went silent for a moment, and decided to pretend he didn't see it, turning his gaze toward the last person.
Hitori Gotoh's small face was tense, and it was obvious she was very, very, very, very, very nervous.
But even so, compared to when she first took the stage—where she couldn't perform without transforming into a Ripe Mango Mask—the situation was still much better.
It seemed she had more or less grown used to performing.
Of course, it was also possible that facing the crowd twice at the Founders' Festival and the previous School Festival, which far exceeded the foot traffic of a live house, had given her a bit of confidence.
In fact, if the news that "the Miss Mask who performed at Sobu High's Founders' Festival and School Festival was going to hold a live at STARRY" leaked out, those two days would likely be instantly swamped by Bocchi fans, crushing this tiny little live house.
"Why are you looking at me with such a strange gaze?" Ijichi Seika suddenly felt a chill in her heart, and turning her head, she saw Asakura's strange stare.
"Heh heh, enjoy your final moments of peace." Asakura said.
"Why did you suddenly start talking in a strange villainous tone?" The Manager-san complained.
However, Asakura was no longer looking at her, but had turned his gaze back to the stage.
According to the usual live flow, it should be time for the band's self-introductions.
Hitori Gotoh subconsciously looked toward Ijichi Nijika, only to find that both Yamada Ryo and Ijichi Nijika were looking at her, and she immediately panicked.
"Tha-tha-that! Wel-wel-welcome everyone today to Kessoku Band! I-I-we are STARRY! Amazon!"
The girl's eyes instantly turned into spiral eyes, and she spoke in a very chaotic tone that even a passerby could tell was wrong. It felt like an ultra-massive internet was being constructed.
"Why Amazon?" Hiroi Kikuri asked curiously.
"She probably wanted to say Yahoo or wonderful or something like that." Asakura guessed uncertainly.
After all, his little girlfriend's way of thinking was beyond the reach of ordinary people.
However, this messy self-introduction clearly brought some impact to the people at STARRY today——after all, not everyone present was a fan of Kessoku Band; there were also many rock enthusiasts who habitually came to STARRY to listen to music.
Rock music, whether it's recorded music or a live performance, feels completely different. Even if the performer fails to play perfectly many times, that hot atmosphere can better reach everyone, bringing an impact on a completely different level, even making it possible to become addicted and fall in love with this kind of underground live.
It was just that the self-introduction part was so disappointing... It couldn't be called a letdown, but expectations had dropped by quite a bit.
Hitori Gotoh became visibly more nervous.
Asakura lightly snapped his fingers.
Bang! With a sound, several sparks sprayed up from the edge of the stage, making the audience, who were completely mentally unprepared, cry out in surprise, and naturally, the attention on the girl's failed self-introduction wasn't so high anymore.
"Ah? Does our stage have this kind of equipment installed?" The PA-san was stunned.
"How could that be possible, we'd never pass the fire safety inspection! Damn it, it must be that naturally evil Yamada brat who secretly installed it!" Ijichi Seika grumbled in dissatisfaction.
Yamada Ryo on stage sneezed.
And at the moment Hitori Gotoh saw this familiar scene, her lake-blue eyes instantly lit up.
Her gaze swept past the audience below the stage and saw Asakura standing in the back of the room, wearing an encouraging smile and waving his hand lightly at her.
Thus, the girl plucked her guitar strings, using a brief yet incomparable improvised solo to pull everyone's attention back to herself once again.
This time, her expression became much more composed and confident.
"Please listen! Our music!"
Behind the girl, Ijichi Nijika and Yamada Ryo, who was rubbing her nose, looked at each other, and both revealed a smile.
They had already realized during practice that Hitori Gotoh, once she entered the "flow..." was invincible.
Accompanied by Ijichi Nijika's beat, the rock music belonging exclusively to Kessoku Band resonated throughout the entire live house.
It was like hearing immortal music, and everyone was mesmerized——of course, it hadn't reached that level yet.
But even for a layman like Asakura, Kessoku Band's performance could be considered quite good; at least he couldn't hear any difference between them and so-called professional levels.
Before there was time to savor the first pure instrumental piece, what followed immediately on stage was Hitori Gotoh's second form——Humming Bocchi!
Truth be told, even though Asakura had already stationed the [Scale] on the girl, protecting her while also limiting the unconscious dispersive effect of her [Song], at this moment, the girl's voice still greatly enhanced the already excellent music. The extremely impactful music echoed in the live house; at this moment, in the eyes of all the rock-loving guests present, this was undoubtedly heaven.
Now, those guests who could still hold their ground truly fell into Kessoku Band's rock, becoming their captives for a lifetime.
"So strong, too strong..."
When everyone was falling into a frenzy, Hiroi Kikuri, who conversely hadn't completely sunk in because of the alcohol, said with some astonishment: "Although I already knew Little Bocchi had talent in music, I didn't expect her to be this formidable... Why doesn't she just open her mouth and sing?"
Because if she did, your brain matter might just melt from how good it sounds.
Asakura said in his heart.