Chapter Text
The last E Chord rang out on Flashbacker, ending Kessoku Band’s first One Band Live to a chorus of applause and cheers for an encore.
The Extroverted Redhead of Kessoku Band, Ikuyo Kita (Although I believe she goes by Kita Kita), was filled with so much energy, she felt like she was levitating. Her bandmate- no, her closest friends were all glowing under the stage lights, facing a crowd that packed the industrial basement walls of Starry to the brim. Months of hard work went into this live, into this band, and into Nijika’s dream.
Nijika’s dream. Although she didn’t know the specifics, Kita knew that Nijika had a deeply personal reason for starting Kessoku Band. Although she didn’t know Ryo’s specific reason, she knew that Ryo must also have a reason for why she continued to stay in this band, even if she could easily outshine everyone else. But Hitori Gotoh… despite Kita being closest to her, she still couldn’t understand her. Both her lyrics, and her motivation seemed so incomprehensible to the extrovert, but her motivation and her love for the guitar absolutely fascinates Kita.
To be honest, it wasn’t her lack of skill that bothered her most in comparison to her bandmates. Nijika, Ryo, and especially Hitori always played their instruments with an incredible passion and motivation that Kita never felt that she could ever have for anything.
Ikuyo Kita. An extrovert who does everything, and has nothing. Jack of all trades, master of none, love for none. Deep inside, Kita wishes she could be more like them; so passionate and driven to succeed, instead of floundering from trend to trend, trying to fit in everywhere to make up for a lack of personality. If you shine bright enough, nobody can see the void inside. Despite this, Kita knows that her friends deserve to shine. Hitori deserves to shine.
As passion grew inside Kita, a determination to let her friends be seen and recognised for the talent they have, Kita grabbed the microphone amongst the cheers of the crowd. A fire ignited in her soul, and she screamed a final declaration into the Starry night.
“Thank you so much for coming! Please continue to support us when we fill the Budokan! Goodnight Shimokitazawa!”
------------ An Hour Later -------------
“That was amazing! That was the best live we’ve ever had!”
After helping to clean up and close the live house for the night, Nijika was practically bouncing off the walls with energy. The band were currently sitting around a table in Starry, all buzzing with energy.
“I’m certain we might get scouted from tonight, Sis saw a few music label representatives in the crowd tonight, so it's only a matter of time!” Nijika exclaimed excitedly, eyes shining with a fierce determination. Ryo sat next to her, eyes staring at Nijika’s face and unable to keep a smile off her face as she watched the drummer yap at a breakneck pace, her dorito vibrating at speeds imperceptible to the naked eye.
Bocchi had even managed to stay in a humanoid form this time, with only 5% Liquidation!
“Hehehehehe~ Fill the Budokan~ Hehehehehehe~~”
15% Liquidation.
“Right! I was so surprised by your declaration today Kita-san!”
Eh?
“Very bold Ikuyo. Even I wouldn’t declare that so early.”
Wait what?
After the adrenaline rush wore off, Kita had all but forgotten her passionate statement that she made to a room of a few hundred people, but now that she was being reminded of it, there was only one thing to do.
“I’M SO SORRY! I GOT AHEAD OF MYSELF!” Kita threw herself to the floor, her Dogeza forming a perfect golden ratio. A blast of golden energy emanated from her, Kit-Aura launching her bandmates to the wall.
“It’s alright Kita-san! Please calm down, Hitori-chan can’t withstand the pressure!”
As Kita looked up, she saw a thin pink smear on the floor where Bocchi once stood.
100% Liquidation achieved.
--------------------------
“It's alright Kita-san, we all say things when we get caught in the moment! I mean, I accidentally told Ryo I would make her Karaage tonight after the live!” Nijika reassured, trying her best to ignore the sudden accusatory glance from the Blunette Bassist.
“I know, I just got so caught up in the moment, and I realised I want to let you all shine on stage! You’re all so talented and cool, you guys deserve to be on the biggest stage!”
Hitori’s ears perked up at Kita’s statement. Nijika was thanking Kita for the compliment and trying to be humble, and Ryo was just… staring at Nijika, probably waiting for Karaage, but Hitori noticed.
Hitori notices, and Hitori listens. Despite her complete social ineptitude, Hitori is extremely observant of the people around her, honed from years of trying to find the right time to interrupt a conversation and join in (and chickening out anyway). That being said, she can tell when someone is off, and currently Kita feels off. Her aura is still bright, but it feels like a barrier now. If she had to describe it, Kita’s usual aura is like the Sun: warm and bright, but it can burn if you’re not used to it, or if it's too intense. Currently, Kita feels like a laser. Her aura is still bright, but the warmth is gone. The intensity is focused, like she will blind you if she wants to. Kita has always been a source of warmth for Hitori, in those lunch practices spent under the stairs, and in that time she’s gotten used to it, even longing for it sometimes. This cold light that shines off of Kita is uncomfortable, false. It feels like a bad imitation, and the more Hitori watches, the worse it feels.
“Hitori-chan? You’ve been staring at us for a while… is everything ok?”
Bocchi the rock. Hitori’s sudden scream at being acknowledged is suddenly cut off as her body crystallises and forms a hard sedimentary layer covering her body, a perfect statue depicting absolute terror at being perceived.
“Ah…” Kita sighs, “I’ll go get the chisel again.”
--------- One Sculpting Session Later ---------
“As I was saying, after relentless begging by a certain broke bitch…” Nijika elaborated, holding a particular ‘Broke Bitch’ by the collar, “I have decided to celebrate our amazing live with dinner at my place! Sis is going out with PA-san tonight, so don’t worry about intruding.”
Nijika looked at the Bocchi Blob, who was definitely about to melt from the thought of potentially intruding on the Manager’s domain.
“Nijikaa… free meee…..” cried Ryo helplessly, and Nijika mercilessly dragged her up the stairs and out of Starry.
Kita sat silently, watching the banter between the two. Now that she’s gotten used to the pair’s unique bond, she feels even more out of place in the band than ever. Every time Nijika and Ryo argue like an old married couple, every time Ryo and Bocchi show off their strange introvert bond, every time Nijika helps bring Bocchi out of her comfort zone, it makes her feel like a stranger, a square forcing itself into a circular hole. A brief flash of discomfort and disgust flashed across her face, before the sight of bubblegum pink hair disappearing into a trashcan caught her eye.
‘Right, we should probably head up too… I should at least make sure Hitori goes, she did so much for the band, she deserves the celebration the most.’
“Hitori-chan,” She coaxed the trashcan, “Don’t you want to get some karaage? I know Nijika-chan’s karaage is the absolute best!”
Kita tried her hardest to clear her mind and let her natural aura out, unaware of the sky blue eyes peering deep into her very core.
“Ah- sorry… I just…”
Hitori glanced at the fiery redhead, trying to place the feeling that crossed her face moments ago. As thoughts raced through the introvert’s head, her train of thought was suddenly derailed by a loud growl from her stomach.
“Um- I’m sorry- Let- Lets go…”
Kita laughed, and it felt like the clouds parting for Hitori as Kita grabbed her by the hand and led her out of Starry.
“It’s alright Hitori-chan, lets go together alright?”
“Yea - yeah! Thank you for dealing with me…”
A dim smile, soft and gentle.
“Hitori-chan, I should be thanking you. Because of you, I’ve gotten to meet so many talented musicians. I want to be there to support you all as you grow, especially you Hitori-chan.”
A flash of an inscrutable emotion crosses Kita’s face.
“Kessoku band will become huge one day, I just know it. Just remember I will always be there to support you, no matter how big you get ok?”
As the pair climb the stairs to Nijika’s apartment, and the storm clouds gather overhead, Bocchi has a sudden realisation about her fellow guitarist.
Why does Kita-chan talk like she isn’t part of the band?