Their restricted abilities are refreshed every week.

"The Livehouse we're performing at today is called STARRY. I work there part-time."

Goto Ichiri thought that this sentence sounded very professional.

"Ichiri-chan, please hold on a little longer. We're almost there. Look, it's right up ahead!"

Ijichi Hongka and Goto Ichiri stopped at the corner of a small path, then she raised her palms up with her fingertips all pointing downwards in the same direction, as if to say "please".

"This is STARRY!"

Chapter 6.8 Guitar Hero's Defeat (k)

The STARRY that Ijichi Hongka mentioned is a LiveHouse located underground.

Goto Ichiri looked at the underground entrance that exuded a chilling cold air and wondered if this was the devil's land. This must be the cold wonderland at the end of the world!

Goto Ichiri looked at Shirakawa Haru with a pleading look.

Shirakawa Haru walked out from behind Goto Ichiri and said to Ijichi Nijika, "Ijichi-san, Goto-san is a bit introverted, so could I join STARRY as well? Goto-san will follow behind me."

"Of course. Rather, I'm very happy that Shirakawa-san is here as a customer at STARRY." Ijichi Nijika first glanced at Goto Ichiri, who was hiding behind Shirakawa Haru, and then smiled brightly at Shirakawa Haru. "Let's go in quickly."

"I'm back, good afternoon!" Ijichi Hongxia greeted someone at the door of STARRY as if she was coming home.

Shirakawa Haru followed behind Ijichi Hongka and looked at the decoration of STARRY with a polite look.

The decor of this LiveHouse clearly leans towards an industrial style, with red metal frames scattered throughout the space, several workbenches in the corners, dark walls, and a somewhat cramped interior, all illuminated by the bright ceiling lights. The floor appears to be a concrete floor, but after feeling it with her feet, Shirakawa Haru discovered it's likely a cement-like coating, suggesting it's still tile.

While Shirakawa Haru was observing STARRY, Goto Ichiri was also feeling the atmosphere of STARRY.

She thought the atmosphere at STARRY was really great. The dimness and the oppressive feeling that the ceiling was about to crush her made her feel as safe as if she was hiding in a closet practicing the piano.

It's like returning to my own room.

"Ichiri-chan, are you okay?" Ijichi Hongka walked up to Goto Ichiri and asked.

"This is my home!" Goto Ichiri said in a low voice.

"That's not the case!" said Ijichi Hongxia.

As Ijichi Kouka's introduction to this LiveHouse rang in her ears, Goto Ichiri looked at the customers and musicians scattered around STARRY and thought that bands always gave people a scary impression. It seemed that most of the people playing in bands here were stay-at-home moms like her.

"Ah, Nijika, you're finally back." While Goto Ichiri was immersed in the unique atmosphere of STARRY, a blue-haired girl walked towards Ijichi Nijika with light steps.

She wore a black shirt on the upper body, which was simple and stylish, and a pair of loose trousers on the lower body, which had a smooth and natural shape.

The girl has a black leather belt around her waist, which is cleverly inserted into her trouser belt and slightly tightened, perfectly outlining her slender waist, showing her youthful vitality and graceful figure.

"Liang!" Ijichi Nijinka said, holding Goto Ichiri's hand, "This is the guitarist I miraculously met at Hinomori Academy, Ichiri-chan!"

She then told Goto Ichiri that the blue-haired girl was the band's bassist, named Yamada Ryo.

Yamada Ryo moved her gaze from Ijichi Hongka's face to Goto Ichiri. She looked at Goto Ichiri expressionlessly, but before she moved her gaze, she noticed Shirakawa Haru who was behind Goto Ichiri.

Goto Ichiri looked at the expressionless Yamada Ryo with trepidation, thinking that her gaze was so scary!

"Who is this?" Yamada Ryo asked Ijichi Hongka who was standing next to Goto Ichiri.

"Ah~ This is President Haru Shirakawa of Hinomori Academy High School," said Ijichi Nijika. "He's a very handsome boy, and as pretty as a girl. When I met Ichiri-chan, Shirakawa happened to be next to her, so he came with us to STARRY."

"I think Shirakawa-san must be worried about Ichiri-chan, so he came here!" Ijichi Hongka said with a smile, poking Goto Ichiri's waist with her finger. Goto Ichiri squatted on the ground like a slug sprinkled with salt.

"I'm sorry, I'm sorry..." Goto Ichiri kept apologizing to Yamada Ryo.

"Ryou just doesn't like making expressions," Ijichi Nijika said. "She's actually a very nice person. She's the type who gets super happy when people call her 'weird'."

Yamada Ryo showed a happy expression just right.

Goto Ichiri looked at her face and thought that Ryo was really happy.

"Come to think of it, the store manager asked you to practice a little longer this morning, but you went to Hinomori to participate in the academy festival, so she went out to look for you. She just came back with a scary look on her face." Yamada Ryo said, "Well, but meeting a handsome guy like Shirakawa-kun is already a big win."

"Wow!" Ijichi Hongxia screamed.

"The live performance is in a little over two hours. Ichiri-chan, can I test your guitar skills first?" Ijichi Hongxia said, "How about we try playing a few songs first? We're going to play some very simple songs. With a little practice, you should be able to play them right away, just like those catchy pop songs."

"I'll try... try." Goto Ichiri followed Yamada Ryo and Nijigasaki into the rehearsal room, and Shirakawa Haru followed closely behind.

"This time, there are only three of us playing in the band, without a lead singer," said Yamada Ryo.

"By the way, what songs can Ichiri-chan play? When I was hiding in the bushes and watching you playing the guitar, Ichiri-chan seemed to be extremely engrossed in playing." said Ijichi Hongka.

"I can play some popular songs," said Ichiri Goto.

"Oh! It's just like Guitar Hero, right?" Ijichi Hongka said, "That's amazing, just like Guitar Hero."

"Guitar Hero...hehe." Goto Ichiri held the guitar and smiled foolishly, revealing a very dark smile, but because Shirakawa Haru was right next to her, she resisted the urge to reveal a more ominous expression.

"Let's start playing without further ado!" Ijichi Hongka handed the music score to Goto Ichiri.

After taking the music score, Goto Ichiri quickly scanned the score. She thought to herself, "I can definitely do such a simple score. I'm a guitar hero!"

Shirakawa Haru sat opposite them and watched how they played together.

Goto Ichiri picked up the pick, raised his right hand high, and then dropped it like a mountain, and the electric guitar made a deafening roar!

After the three of them finished their performance, Yamada Ryo and Ijichi Nikka looked at each other, understood what the other meant, nodded, and couldn't help but comment "It's so bad".

Why, why, why?

I'm a guitar hero!

Goto Ichiri hid in a cardboard box with the word "Flammable" written on it, and curled up into a ball as if he was scorched by the sun.

She looked at Shirakawa Haru with hope, hoping that Shirakawa Haru would give her a good evaluation: "Shirakawa-kun...how was my guitar playing?"

"Hmm... not very ideal," Shirakawa Haru said, "but the main problem isn't your guitar skills, but your lack of a sense of collaboration. Goto-kun, your solo is amazing, but as for ensemble..."

Shirakawa Haru, Yamada Ryo, and Ijichi Nijinka exchanged glances.

He told Goto Ichiri that the ensemble level of the band's performance cannot be improved by the outstanding skills of one person alone.

If you want to quickly improve the audio-visual effects of a band's performance, the most important thing is for the band members to learn to cooperate with each other. Goto-san, it is because you are unable to cooperate with the band members that the audio-visual experience the band provides to the audience has rapidly declined.

Goto Ichiri thought that during rehearsals, he would either rush the beat or fall behind the overall rhythm, as he was a dark character who couldn't even look others in the eye.

Ah, just thinking about it makes me feel so uncomfortable.

I'm about to become a water flea floating in a muddy pond.

"There's still time, so you can rehearse more during this time." Shirakawa Haru said, "Even though I can't show you around Hinodemori Academy, I will be a good listener."

"Well... Thank you, Shirakawa-kun..." Goto Ichiri lowered his eyes slightly and spoke softly. His voice was as gentle and moving as the breeze blowing through the petals.

When Baichuan Qing made her promise just now, her eyes were involuntarily attracted to his. She saw his eyes sparkling, as bright and shining as the sun.

She wasn't a creature that lived in the sun. She'd spent years hiding in the closet, like a vampire in a coffin. The smell of mothballs and the comforting darkness of the closet had been her constant companions for years. She yearned to become a shining being, a sentiment inseparable from her childhood loneliness. She worked hard to achieve this aspiration, but it always backfired. Although she still wanted to shine, she no longer held much hope for it.

Goto Ichiri has never liked being exposed to the scorching sun. The strong light often makes her feel at a loss and irritated.

However, the look in Shirakawa Haru's eyes when he looked at her was completely different from the scorching sun, making her feel a different kind of peace of mind.

She stared at Shirakawa Haru quietly, with ripples in her heart.

She found that she had no aversion to the sunny look in Baichuan Qing's eyes when he looked at her. In fact, deep in her heart, she even felt a hint of joy, hoping that his gaze could stay on her a little longer.

"Before today, I've never played the guitar in front of others, so..." Goto Ichiri was a little lacking in confidence.

"Just have fun." Shirakawa Haru said to her.

"Yeah, yeah, just have fun!" Ijichi Hongxia said, "It doesn't matter if your skills aren't great. Actually, my skills aren't that great either~"

Hong Xia added, "Besides, we just started forming the band today, so it doesn't matter if our performance is a little worse!"

"Well... my skills are very good... I'm very good." Yamada Ryo said. She covered her mouth and chuckled, looking at Goto Ichiri and Ijichi Nijika, "Nijika and Ichiri-chan need to practice more."

"It's our turn soon." Someone knocked on the rehearsal room door. Ijichi Nijinka opened the door and went out for a while, then looked at Goto Ichiri. "Ichiri-chan, are you ready?"

"I... I don't dare to play in front of others!" Goto Ichiri's expression was very anxious, with tears welling up in the corners of his eyes.

At this time, Yamada Ryo directly put a paper box with "Ripe Mango" written on it on Goto Ichiri.

Surrounded by darkness, Goto Ichiri instantly became quiet. This dim and dark environment was very familiar to her.

In the dead of night, she used to play guitar in the closet, just as she was hiding in the cardboard box now.

The enclosed space was like a small world isolated from the outside world, blocking out all the noise from the outside world and allowing her heart to gradually calm down.

The dim light, like a gentle hand, soothed her flustered emotions, allowing her to immerse herself completely in the world of guitar.

"Wow~ It's quiet now." Yamada Ryo covered her mouth and chuckled. She really liked doing this action. "It's the kind of person who feels safe just by being put in a cardboard box, Ichiri-chan... No, it should be Pochi-chan."

"Liang, stop playing with such a hateful homophone!" said Yidi Chi Hongxia.

"Hehe..." Yamada Ryo smiled back at Ichichi Nikka.

"Anyway, Ichiri-chan," said Ijichi Hongka, "you should hold your head high. You might bleed or cry while playing in a band, but that's not important, because it's also part of rock 'n' roll!"

"There are also emotional disputes." Yamada Ryo added appropriately.

"We're all girls in this band, so there won't be any emotional conflicts!" Ijichi Nijina said blushingly, then she looked at Goto Ichiri, "Ichiri-chan, can you come on stage and play with us now?"

"Yes, sure!" Goto Ichiri's voice came out from the cardboard box, sounding a little muffled.

If it's like this, okay, it seems like it could work! But I'm still a little unsure...

Goto Ichiri told herself to be confident. After all, she was a guitar hero, and her first live performance must not go wrong.

This is her first battle as a guitar hero at a Budokan!

It was soon her band's turn to perform, and Yamada Ryo and Ijichi Nijika kept asking her if she was ready to go on stage. Even Shirakawa Haru kept staring at her, as if he would do anything to help her not get nervous on stage. Goto Ichiri's mind was a mess.

Looking at Shirakawa-kun's expression, would he agree to anything she asked right now? Goto Ichiri was surprised by her own absurd thoughts, but he was right in front of her, staring at her through the thick cardboard, his gaze so intense it seemed to burn through her. She was about to perform at a live show, and he would undoubtedly be in the audience. Would Shirakawa-kun be looking forward to her performance on stage? He would definitely care, because the look in his eyes told her the answer.

As for Shirakawa Haru, Goto Ichiri's questions and doubts are self-evident because he is that kind of person.

Goto Ichiri shook her head inside the cardboard box. If Shirakawa-kun wanted to help her, she could ask him for anything. Logically speaking, he had already cared about her very much by accompanying her to Shimokitazawa. But if she didn't do something now, she would feel like she had lost something.

No, no! What the hell am I thinking about?

At this moment, a bold and extremely abrupt idea rushed out from the depths of his mind like a runaway horse.

This thought seemed to possess powerful magic, instantly plundering Goto Ichiri's ability to think.

At that moment, it was as if everyone else in the rehearsal room had disappeared. In her eyes and heart, there was only Shirakawa Haru in front of her. Then, she couldn't help but blurt out:

"Shirakawa-kun, could you lend me this leather jacket of yours? I want to put it in the cardboard box. Surrounded by the familiar smell, maybe I can feel more at ease."

"Eh? Ichiri-chan, do you know what you are saying? This is too insane!" Ijichi Hongka's face turned red in an instant.

She covered her cheeks with her hands, and looked at Goto Ichiri with her watery eyes through the gaps between her fingers.

"Ugh—huh—" Yamada Ryo let out a strange cry, "So Pochi-chan is the real weirdo. She can actually say such sexually harassing words without batting an eyelid. That's amazing. I need to learn more from her."

"Eh? Eh?" Goto Ichiri didn't expect that she was actually alone. She stood up suddenly, opened the cardboard box, and propped it above her head with both hands. Then she closed her eyes as if she had used up a lifetime of courage. "Shirakawa-kun, I was just joking just now. Don't take it seriously!"

Now that Shirakawa-kun is going to hate me, how will he view me?

He must think that I am that kind of frivolous girl!

After all, what girl would ask a boy who is just a friend to borrow clothes?

"Sure." Shirakawa Haru looked at the flustered Goto Ichiri and casually took off his coat to cover the cardboard box. Looking at the expressions and tones of the girls around him, Shirakawa Haru naturally knew how bold Goto Ichiri's request was, but he didn't care at all.

For him, Goto Ichiri's request was very simple. She asked to borrow his coat, but he didn't think his coat was that valuable, so he gave it to Goto Ichiri.

"How's it going, Goto-san? Does this help you calm down?" Shirakawa Haru watched Goto Ichiri take his coat and get back into the cardboard box. "I hope this helps."

"Hmm! Hmm!" Goto Ichiri sniffed the unique scent on Shirakawa Haru's coat.

"I'm glad I could help you." Shirakawa Haru said.

This afternoon, Shirakawa Haru changed into his usual suit. He wore a brown leather jacket, which cost quite a lot of money when he bought it.

Because it has been worn for several years, the leather part has been damaged, revealing the dark lining, so its value has dropped a lot.

But Shirakawa Haru still likes this dress very much. After all, she has worn it for several years and has developed feelings for it.

"Hey! Why are you still here? It's your turn to perform!" A woman walked in from the door of the rehearsal room. She had the same shiny blonde hair as Ijichi Hongka.

Shirakawa Haru's gaze lingered on the woman's face for a few seconds, and he discovered that her facial features were highly similar to those of Ijichi Kouka. It seemed that the two were related.

He thought that these two people must be sisters.

"Hmm... two unfamiliar faces," Ijichi Hoshika said, "One is the newly found guitarist Nijika mentioned, and the other one is Shirakawa-san from Hinomori?"

"Nice to meet you. I'm Shirakawa Haru." Shirakawa Haru said politely to Ichizhi Xingge.