Pochi-chan, I used to be a princess.

"Are you watching?"

Dad walked to the sofa, picked up the remote control, and sat down.

【"No."】

After hearing Goto Ichiri's answer, Dad used the remote control to change the TV program.

“When I was a student, I would hide in the corner of the classroom and pretend to read because I had no friends.”

[On TV, the guitarist of a rock band is being interviewed.]

"But now you're part of a popular band that's hugely popular among teenagers."

"Even gloomy people can shine in a band."

"I see. Now, let's listen to 'Trigger' brought to you by IN STROMS."

【Goto Ichiri's eyes lit up, and she suddenly stood up.】

【"What's wrong?"】

"Dad, lend me your guitar!"

【"sure."】

【"Thanks!"】

After Goto Ichiri runs off, his mother approaches him and says, "I see, Ichiri is finally interested in guitar..."

At the Folger household, Lloyd seemed to understand something: "So that's how it is. To guide the child's interests?"

Lloyd looked at Anya, who was staring at the TV screen with wide eyes in surprise.

You can learn from the Goto family's educational methods.

It is difficult to expect this child to improve his academic performance, so he must look for strengths in other areas.

No matter what, this child must have a special skill, right?

Goto Ichiri, who has become a high school student, still has no friends.

"It's not like I haven't tried hard." Hiding in the closet, Goto Ichiri complained to himself.

"Bring the CD and place it on the classroom table."

"Come and chat with me!"

"Or carry band merchandise with you."

"Come and chat with me!"

[“Even during lunch break when requesting songs…”]

"The next song is the one Goto-san from Class 2A requested... I'm going to... I'm going to crush... I'm going to crush your skull!"

“I ordered the death metal that I was into at the time.”

At Toyosaki Academy, Eriri couldn't help but grumble, "Is this social phobia? To dare to request death metal during song requests is clearly a social terrorist."

Eriri couldn't help but think of her childhood sweetheart, whose outrageous behavior of playing animation at the school anniversary was exactly the same as this behavior.

Aki Tomoya's eyes were full of praise: "Well done! When it comes to things you like, don't worry about what others think!"

[Pervert behavior]

On the streets of Shimokitazawa, Ichichi Nijika and Goto Ichiri walked on the sidewalk, one after the other. Ichichi Nijika asked cheerfully, "Ichiri, do you come to Shimokitazawa often?"

Goto Ichiri hunched over and whispered, "No."

"How could I possibly come to such a unique and fashionable city?"

"We're almost at the performance hall."

"Hongxia is so stylish, like a real band girl. In comparison, I'm wearing a tacky sport coat, dark circles under my eyes, and a hunched back. Ugh, maybe even smells musty, since I'm in the closet all the time. No, it's the smell of insect repellent."

"Hongxia, on the other hand, smells wonderful, just like a high school girl should."

Ichichi Nijika's blonde hair fluttered in the wind, and Goto Ichiri couldn't help but move closer, sniffing the tips of her hair. A faint blush crept onto his face, and when Ichichi Nijika turned around, he immediately ducked away, his overall performance almost like a creepy old man.

Chapter 3 Pillow Business

At the STARRY performance hall in Shimokitazawa, Ijichi Kouka looked at Goto Ichiri awkwardly. She had no idea that this had happened.

Goto Ichiri's eyes went dark and he fell off the chair like liquid.

"Don't let it flow away!"

Ijichi Hongxia was shocked and hurriedly dragged Goto Ichiri up.

Yamada Ryo poked Goto Ichiri's face, and Goto Ichiri trembled.

'Are you going to scold me? Are you going to call me a pervert? Sorry, I am a lowly pervert!'

In Goto Ichiri's mind, she had already been hung with a metal sign that read "chikan pervert" and was standing in the corner like a prisoner, accepting scolding.

Yamada Ryo said: "Special service, smell once for 500 yen, hug once for 1000 yen, kiss once for 5000 yen, no bargaining or credit."

Kita Ikuyo's eyes sparkled, and she immediately took out her wallet: "Is this the service provided by Senior? I want to do it all."

Ijichi Hongka slashed Yamada Ryo on the head with her knife: "Pillow business is prohibited! Kita, don't cooperate with Ryo's reckless behavior!"

Yamada Ryo sat down obediently, while Kita Ikuyo's face was full of disappointment.

【Delusions are petty】

"Think back to the cultural festival performances I fantasized about every day, as well as the solo concerts, ZEPP, and the Super Arena!"

“One mile! One mile!”

Goto Ichiri closed his eyes, fantasizing about being a winner in life, and countless audiences cheered.

"I'm the woman who can fill a martial arts gym."

【Goto Ichiri's eerie delusion, like a otaku.】

[“Eh?”]

[Ijichi Nijika looked at Goto Ichiri strangely.]

"Please, don't think you're asking the wrong person."

【Goto Ichiri excitedly requested in his heart.】

"Did I ask the wrong person for help?"

【Ichichi Hongxia thought anxiously.】

"No!"

Ijichi Hongxia said gently, "Because we invited Pochi-chan, the Bond Band will have an excellent guitarist, and Kita-san is back too."

Goto Ichiri was so moved that tears streamed down his face: "Wow! You are so gentle, Hongxia, are you an angel?"

【Normal performance is terrible】

“Here’s today’s playlist and sheet music.”

Goto Ichiri takes the playlist and sheet music from Ijichi Nijika: "Ah, may I ask the band members..."

"Everyone is here. This time we're forming a band to play instrumental music."

"This song is fine, but without a vocalist, I need to play it even harder. Everyone says I'm a good guitar player, so it must be fine. It's definitely fine."

【Goto Ichiri beats his chest to encourage himself.】

"Gorilla?"

[Bassist Yamada Ryo complained.]

"Then let's try it from the beginning. It's our first time after all, so take it slow and then get used to it. So, let's get started."

Ijichi Kouka plays the music and sits down in front of the drum set, while Yamada Ryo picks up the bass.

Goto Ichiri thought, "They might be surprised to hear my performance. The reviews online are okay—no, really good! And I still have 3 subscribers. I might as well give it a try."

[Rehearsal begins, Goto Ichiri's fingers pluck the guitar strings, pouring all his attention into it.]

[After the song ended, Yamada Ryo and Ichichi Nikka exchanged glances, and Ichichi Nikka nodded to Yamada Ryo.]

“It’s terrible!”

【"puff!"】

[The two people's harsh comments almost drove Goto Ichiri into the abyss.]

At the private Shuchiin Academy, Fujiwara Chika bluntly stated, "At this level, I really can't say it's good in good conscience."

Ishigami Yu asked in surprise, "Does the cheating Fujiwara-senpai actually have a conscience?"

Fujiwara Chika puffed up her cheeks and said angrily, "Ishigami-san is really terrible for fussing over a lady's little flaws!"

Ishigami Yu complained: "No matter what kind of problem it is, if it's repeated all the time, it's no longer a minor problem, right? Being strict with others and lenient with yourself to this extent is too shameless. Even after being found out and exposed, you still refuse to change, and even accuse others of telling the truth and justify your cheating. How shameless! Is Fujiwara-senpai really that shameless? I didn't expect it, but when I think about it carefully, if you don't have such a thick skin, you can't continue to cheat after being exposed again and again..."

Fujiwara Chika's face became redder and redder, and Shirogane Miyuki tried to smooth things over: "Okay, Ishigami, let her go."

Shirogane Miyuki's words were like the last straw that broke the camel's back. Fujiwara Chika screamed and stumbled out of the student union: "I'm so shameless! I'm so sorry!"

Ishigami Yuu pressed on: "It's okay, we are already used to Fujiwara-senpai's thick skin. We have experienced it too many times when we were together, so don't mind it. It's okay to inherit it."

Yui Hirasawa, a fellow guitarist at Sakuragaoka Girls' High School, praised Goto Ichiri's performance: "Excellent guitar."

Tian Zhongli couldn't help but complain: "What's so great about it? It's just terrible. Saying that you're good at guitar is probably just encouragement from family and friends."

Kotobuki smiled slightly. "No, it's not like that. Although the coordination is poor, I can definitely tell that Goto Ichiri's guitar playing is extraordinary. Yui's sense of pitch is amazing, so I guess I could tell that Goto Ichiri was the only one playing."

Akiyama Mio pondered for a moment and said softly, "The guitarist with 3 subscribers should be that person, right?"

Tian Zhongli asked curiously: "That person?"

Akiyama Mio said seriously, "Guitar Hero, a very good guitarist on the Internet. His subscribers exceeded 3 some time ago. I even recommended this person's work to Yui."

"A famous guitar hero? This guy?"

Several people looked at the computer screen in surprise. Goto Ichiri, who was curled up on the ground like a puppy with a pale face, did not look like such a powerful person at all.

[Not presentable]

"If I feel scared, should I stay inside and play?"

Yamada Ryo brings over a mango box, and Goto Ichiri gets inside, excited as if he's back home. "It's exactly like the environment I usually perform in!"

Using Dog as a Second Name

Ijichi Nijika asked, "By the way, how should we introduce ourselves during the performance? Should we call you Ichiri? Is it okay to use your real name?"

“This is a bit…”

Goto Ichiri's head popped out of the mango box like a dog's head popping out of a kennel.

Ichichi Hongxia asked again: "So, do you have a nickname?"

“When I was in junior high, everyone called me ‘that’ or ‘hey.’”

Ichichi Hongxia was dumbfounded: "That shouldn't be a nickname, right?"

"Because I've never been close enough to call each other nicknames!"

"How about a little loneliness... all by yourself?"

Yamada Ryo came up with a nickname, but, phonetically, Pochi is a common nickname for dogs.

Ijichi Nikka: "Why are you bringing up sensitive topics again..."

"I'm Pochi-chan!"

【Goto Ichiri's eyes lit up as he shouted happily.】

At the Goto household, Goto Naoki covered his face with his palms: "My child... is so easy to handle."

Goto Michiyo smiled and said, "This is also a good start."