Chapter 100 (Yay~): Bocchi's First Time
The guitar solo begins.
Bocchi uses her new guitar, playing a solo melody that stirs the heart.
The sound waves swirl around the space in the stadium.
It's amazing.
That's the thought of most of the people in the audience.
Those who do not have the ability to professionally evaluate music.
They simply comment on whether it's good or not.
And what can capture attention and make people lose themselves is the greatest praise.
Bocchi only feels that playing the guitar is becoming smoother and smoother.
The small mistakes she hadn't noticed during previous performances are now easily found and corrected.
It's as if someone else is standing behind her, playing with her.
She feels the magic of it.
This is the first time Bocchi feels like her guitar playing is plucking the emotional strings of her heart.
If were to describe it figuratively.
At this moment.
Bocchi's guitar skills, from "beginner level," have entered "Master level."
Bocchi's heart also resonates with the guitar strings.
...
The performance slowly ends.
The entire auditorium remains immersed in awe, unable to escape immediately.
It's as if they are still submerged in that indescribable feeling.
The vast stadium.
After three seconds of silence.
Suddenly bursts into thunderous applause and intense cheering.
The sound seems to tear through the dome of the stadium.
Bocchi wipes the sweat from her forehead, her eyes full of joy as she looks down at the audience.
Across the stage, she and the boy lock eyes.
The applause around her suddenly fades away.
Only the sound of one person's applause reaches her ears.
Nijika on stage looks at Bocchi with surprise.
The solo just now.
She could clearly hear the difference, a complete change from before.
Even she, at this moment, could only describe the performance as "amazing."
Looking at the blue-pink guitar in Bocchi's hands.
Nijika couldn't help but exclaim.
...
The curtain slowly falls.
The applause lingers, continuous.
"Are you still having the celebration party, right? Then, I'll excuse myself and leave first."
Yukima Azuma smiles, bidding farewell to Ijichi Seika and Hiroi Kikyori.
"Eh? Aren't you coming with everyone to the celebration party?"
"Aren't you going?"
Both of them suddenly realize, quickly trying to stop him.
Yukima Azuma gently shakes he head.
"I'm not participating, I'm not a member of the band, just a spectator."
Hiroi Kikuri, hearing this, grumbles and rushes towards Azuma.
Yukima Azuma quickly dodges.
That being said, aside from Bocchi and Kita Ikuyo, Yukima Azuma isn't particularly familiar with the others.
And getting too close could make them uncomfortable.
Ijichi Seika watches Yukima Azuma leave, unsure of what to say.
He's prepared for everything.
He definitely cares a lot about Bocchi.
...
After Yukima Azuma left, Ijichi Seika and Hiroi Kikuri also exited through the back door of the stadium.
This door is closer to the backstage area.
As soon as the two of them stepped outside, they saw Gotoh Hitori running toward them, holding her guitar.
Even the other three members of Kessoku Band were left behind.
This scene made the two of them exclaim in surprise.
Because Gotoh Hitori usually makes sure to stay behind the other members of Kessoku Band.
She tries to avoid standing out too much, keeping a low profile.
How could she do something so attention-grabbing?
Bocchi ran up to them, stopped, and panted heavily.
She could hardly catch her breath, but she quickly looked up, searching around.
But after scanning the area, she couldn't find the person she was looking for.
Gotoh Hitori's joyful expression suddenly dimmed a little.
"Haa… manager, do you know where Azuma-kun went?"
Gotoh Hitori tried to steady her breathing and asked that question.
Seeing Gotoh Hitori's expression,
Ijichi Seika and Hiroi Kikuri exchanged a smile.
"Yukima-kun went in that direction. You can still catch up."
"Run! Bocchi-chan! Run, hurry up!"
Gotoh Hitori nodded and headed in the direction Yukima Azuma had gone.
But after running a few steps, she suddenly remembered something and turned back.
"Everyone, manager, Kikuri-san, I'm really sorry…"
Because she had promised, after the school festival performance, they would celebrate together.
At that moment, the three little friends had just arrived.
Nijika looked at her, as if to say, "Why are you apologizing now?" with an irredeemable expression.
"Still apologizing at this hour! Hurry up and go!"
Kita Ikuyo waved her hand.
"Go, Bocchi-chan!"
Ryo also waved her hand.
So, Gotoh Hitori continued running ahead.
She passed through the crowd.
Crossed the empty school corridor.
When she set foot on a corner of the grassy field, Gotoh Hitori couldn't stop apologizing to the grass in her heart.
She passed through the gate of Shuka High School.
Finally, the figure of the boy appeared within her sight.
At that moment, Bocchi stopped thinking and rushed forward.
In the surprised eyes of Yukima Azuma, she opened her arms and threw herself into his embrace.
The cars moving on the road.
The people walking down the street.
The students passing by the roadside.
Everything seemed to disappear.
In Bocchi's world, there was only the boy left.
"Why are you chasing me, Bocchi? Aren't you supposed to be celebrating with the band?"
Yukima Azuma was genuinely a little surprised.
"I... I came to return the guitar to Azuma-kun."
Bocchi, with only the image of him in her mind, could only awkwardly say that reason.
Hearing that, Yukima Azuma shook his head and smiled softly.
"This guitar, Bocchi, you can keep it."
Unexpectedly receiving this answer, Bocchi took the blue-pink guitar, her mouth slightly open in surprise.
Seeing her cute expression, Yukima Azuma reached out, gently lifting Bocchi's chin and softly brushing it.
"This was originally a gift for Bocchi."
"That day, when you walked into the music store, you stared at this guitar for a long time, right?"
"Bocchi's guitar seems to be quite old. I heard from Mr. Gotoh that it was the guitar he used back when he was a student."
"So, I thought about buying this guitar and giving it to you at the right time."
"And you don't need to worry about money, because it was your money that paid for it."
"You gave me money with great meaning, like a 'dowry,' and I promised to use it at the right time."
"Looking back, I think I chose the right time, don't you think?"
Hearing Yukima Azuma's words, Bocchi finally couldn't hold back anymore.
Tears began to flow freely, dropping onto the hand that was lifting her chin.
No wonder the guitar she loved appeared at the exact right moment when the strings broke.
It felt like winning the lottery—this unexpected moment.
It must be because the boy in front of her had woven a bit of care for her.
This care didn't feel like a burden.
It only made her want to cry.
Tears continued to flow.
Yukima Azuma took a tissue out of his pocket and gently wiped away each drop of tear on Bocchi's face.
Finally, after a long while, Bocchi stopped crying and, with a choked voice, said:
"Azuma-kun... shall we... go... for a walk?"
Yukima Azuma wiped the last tear from Bocchi's face.
"Are you really okay with not going to the party?"
"Mm, right now I want... to be with Azuma-kun..."
"Alright."
Yukima Azuma took Bocchi's hand.
Bocchi, in turn, tightly gripped his hand with her fingers.
The two of them walked together down the small path of Shuka High School, heading towards the train station.
This path, Bocchi had walked countless times before.
But today, it felt like the first time she was walking on it.
The scenery along the way felt completely different.
When she looked down, all she could see were the neatly arranged paving stones, with some sections of the sidewalk damaged.
And the colorful shadows of trees reflected on the ground.
But when she looked up, the soft afternoon light bathed the street, and the leaves swayed in the breeze.
On the wall next to them were various kinds of street graffiti.
The boy beside her, bathed in sunlight, smiled in a way that made her heart catch in her chest.
Youth gradually reappeared in the fading memories.
They both entered the train station.
Together, they boarded the swaying train, the clattering sound of the tracks echoing.
Since it was the afternoon, the train car was packed with people.
But Bocchi didn't feel bothered.
In fact, this was better.
She stood on one side of the train car.
Yukima Azuma held onto the handrail opposite her, his hand creating a small, comforting space of safety in the midst of the surrounding crowd.
The two of them felt the gentle sway of the train, occasionally getting closer to each other.
They got off the train at Tokyo Station.
Hand in hand, they entered the bustling crowd of Ginza.
They went to a bakery to buy a few cookies.
Then, they entered a bubble tea shop and ordered plain milk tea and mango pomelo sago.
Of course, Yukima Azuma took care of the ordering.
Bocchi, holding a cookie in one hand and bubble tea in the other, felt a little awkward.
At that moment, Yukima Azuma suddenly brought the straw to her mouth.
"Try it, it's really good."
Bocchi hesitated for a moment before she opened her mouth and bit onto the straw.
Awawa! She had just performed an indirect kiss... even though they had kissed several times already.
The straw brought her a sip of the delicious drink.
Unlike the usual milk tea or drinks from vending machines.
Bocchi, who had never been to a bubble tea shop and didn't have the courage to stand in front of the staff, just stared at the menu.
So, she ended up ordering plain milk tea.
As the two walked past a hair salon in Ginza, Bocchi stopped.
Yukima Azuma blinked in surprise.
Bocchi took a few deep breaths.
Then, she took off the hair tie with a strand of hair attached to it and handed it to Yukima Azuma.
Yukima Azuma looked at the hair accessory, which resembled a fruit-flavored Bourbon candy, in his hand.
"Wow, has Bocchi become more outgoing today?"
"Not really!"
Her tense mood was easily eased by that comment.
They entered the hair salon.
Yukima Azuma communicated briefly with the hairdresser.
It was just a trim of her bangs and a slight adjustment to her long hair... no special styling, no need for curling or blow-drying.
A hair salon that could exist in Ginza seemed trustworthy enough.
Bocchi sat in the chair, closing her eyes because of the tension.
After hearing the sound of scissors snipping,
The cute face that had been hidden under the long pink hair was finally revealed.
After the hair was washed and dried,
Bocchi shyly stepped in front of Yukima Azuma.
"H-How do you... feel about it?"
Her deep blue eyes were no longer hidden by her bangs, looking a bit flustered.
"Really cute, and now, I feel like if I don't see you for a day, I'd miss you terribly."
Yukima Azuma said seriously.
"Ehh? Then... then... I'll send you a photo every day, Azuma-kun!"
"Alright, let's make it official then."
With such a pleasant surprise, of course, Yukima Azuma happily agreed.
Yeah, Yukima Azuma had even gotten a membership card for this hair salon.
When they walked out of the salon, hand in hand, the sky had begun to darken.
In the distance, the sun slowly set, painting the evening clouds with a red hue.
The orange-red color gradually faded away.
A cool summer breeze gently blew, making the hair by the girl's ear flutter lightly.
"What should we have for dinner tonight? Or do you want to go home and eat, Bocchi?"
Yukima Azuma asked.
But this time, there was no immediate answer.
When he turned his head with a puzzled expression,
Yukima Azuma's eyes met Bocchi's sparkling gaze.
Bocchi's eyes seemed to be speaking.
"I don't want to go home tonight."
Those deep blue eyes were how she conveyed that message to Yukima Azuma.
Yukima Azuma paused for a moment, then took out his phone.
Well, anyway, he would find a nearby luxury hotel.
"Bocchi, do you have your ID with you?"
"Mm..."
Bocchi felt lucky because this morning, when she left the house, she had put her ID in her skirt pocket.
At that moment, she had thought that if the band's performance at the school festival failed, she would change her name and run away.
Oh, and also change her hairstyle.
But anyway, having it with her was definitely a stroke of luck!
Yukima Azuma chose a hotel and called to book a room.
Since it wasn't a holiday or peak tourist season, the luxury suite was still available.
He directly booked a room over the phone.
After that, the two followed the GPS directions and headed toward the hotel.
Passing by a pharmacy, Yukima Azuma stopped.
"The hotel... it should be have it."
Bocchi's voice was as quiet as a mosquito.
"Umu, but if we prepare, we won't have to worry."
Yukima Azuma left Bocchi outside and entered the pharmacy by himself.
When he came out, one of the bags was slightly bulging.
The two of them checked in at the front desk.
The receptionist looked at the black card Yukima Azuma handed her and smiled brightly.
"Your room is on the 11th floor. The elevator is to the right. Have a pleasant evening."
They received the room key.
Yukima Azuma pulled Bocchi, who was covering her face with her hand, into the hotel elevator.
He swiped the key card to open the room.
The first thing that caught his eye was the lavishly decorated lobby.
This luxurious suite had a shower room, and outside, there was a separate 2.5 hot spring pool.
The towels and new pajamas were high-end and available for free use.
Bocchi ran straight to the bedroom.
She sat at a corner of the pristine white bed.
"T-T-What should we do next? I'm so sorry, but... but I really... have no experience."
Yukima Azuma really wanted to say that not having experience wasn't a problem.
Well, maybe Yukima Azuma didn't have much experience either.
But right now, it felt like anything he said would only embarrass Bocchi more.
"Umu... first, let's take a bath."
Yukima Azuma made a sensible suggestion.
Hearing this, Bocchi quickly ran into the shower room.
Yukima Azuma sat on the bed, letting out a sigh.
After a while, he still didn't hear the sound of water coming from the bathroom.
He turned his head.
Yukima Azuma saw Bocchi half-peeking her head out.
"Do you want... to... take a bath together?"
Looking at her blushing face, Yukima Azuma felt like Bocchi might faint from the embarrassment.
"Maybe next time."
Finally, the sound of water gently flowing could be heard.
About half an hour later.
When Yukima Azuma began to wonder if Bocchi had fainted from soaking for too long,
A cute girl, wrapped in a pink towel, slowly walked out of the shower.
"...."
"...Then I'll go take a bath too."
After admiring her for a moment, Yukima Azuma spoke.
As a result, while on his way to the bathroom,
Yukima Azuma was suddenly embraced by Bocchi.
"No... no need, Azuma-kun smells so nice."
Since their first meeting, Bocchi had really liked the scent of Yukima Azuma.
The two staggered, and in the end, one of them lost balance and fell onto the white bed.
Yukima Azuma looked into her teary eyes and said:
"If you regret it now, it's still not too late."
Bocchi didn't say anything.
She only responded with bedroom eyes.