Uneasy daily life

"climb."

The store manager rolled his eyes and ignored him. Anyway, he had encountered strange musicians before, and even more outrageous ones.

She crossed her arms and couldn't help but watch the band her sister had set up... This genius, who left everyone speechless, could stride forward smoothly, but for ordinary people, the small stones that the other person seemed to easily step over might be high walls that could hold them back for a long time.

Don't let your dreams make you forget the hardships you've faced.

Can we really do it?!

The pink-haired girl couldn't help but want to interview her teammates about their feelings.

"Don't worry, Pochi, we can do it."

With her short blue hair, Yamada Ryo is the band's bassist and composer. As she does this, she moves the chair that was moved to the left to the right, leaving one wondering if she's slacking off or nervous. But she's probably just stealing time, after all, she's Ryo.

"Anyway—Goto-kun, I don't want to have any more regrets! Let's do our best! Yeah!"

With her long red hair, the band's lead singer and guitarist, Kita said, "She was wearing an apron, holding a mop, making a peace sign, and her sunny smile blinded me, turning my dark and insignificant self into ashes."

"Don't worry, Pochi-chan! It'll be fine! At worst, I'll just act cute with my sister. After all, she's a tsundere, so as long as we can get rid of the 'tsundere' part, it'll be fine! Besides, Haruno-nee said we can do it!"

With long blonde hair, the band's drummer, Natsumi Ijichi hummed a lighthearted tune as she tidied the disposable beverage cups in the counter.

Everyone looks so confident, that's great...

Carrying a trash bag, I walked out of the exhibition hall and came to the pink-haired girl who was throwing away trash upstairs. Looking at the midday sun, it was as if the guillotine was already counting down, and a tear couldn't help but well up in my eye.

I, Goto Ichiri, have absolutely no confidence!

……

People came and went on the street, and every now and then a curious glance would fall on the girl squatting next to the trash can, but they would look away quickly and continue to look in the direction they were going.

Occasionally, passersby might hear strange noises.

"Hehe... Mmm... Very good... yeah..."

An indescribable pinkish-brown ball of fur chanted strange incantations toward a barrel piled high with filth.

The passersby silently quickened their pace.

Yes! Shocked for me! Cheers for me! Applause for me!

"Perfect score! You pass!"

The store manager nodded and showed the "Excellent" sign.

"Great! Goto! Goto!"

The band members threw themselves into the air.

"Goto Ichiri, you are outstanding! From now on, you will be the No. 1 star!"

A smiling older sister handed over a trophy.

How is it possible to do that?

Because I am a guitar hero with over 30,000 fans online!

That's amazing... You must be really amazing, right? Yeah, so many people say I play the guitar well... I must be really amazing!

Even though I'm a bit introverted, things have been going well so far! I've found like-minded people, formed a band, and started training!

Performing on stage is just a matter of a few minutes; you can close your eyes and it's over, and open them and you're done!

"Hehe... I need to step it up... I just need to grit my teeth and I can do it..."

Goto Ichiri clenched his fist in self-motivation, his psychological inflation index: 100%!

"Could you bite yourself to death?"

A boy squatted down next to him, keeping in the same posture, and turned his head to ask curiously.

Gah...

Goto Ichiri remained motionless, transformed into a stone statue known as the Girl Guarding the Trash Can.

She could vaguely hear sounds and noises, but her heart was as cold as stone, and she had no energy to look.

"Hey hater, what are you doing?"

"Human observation—I think I just saw a thrilling and exciting novel story!"

"What nonsense are you talking about? Stop acting crazy. Where is this place?"

"Laughable humans! Standing before you is the War God, the Dragon King, and the King of Soldiers! Watch as I show you a little skill, shocking everyone and stealing your amazement and cheers! Rejoice! The great me will win a great victory!"

"……what?"

Cut off external sensing devices.

Psychological inflation index: -100%.

The world has left me.

Goto Ichiri turned into pale ash.

Chapter Sixty-Four: Instilling Confidence!

Goto Ichiri lay there uneasily, his eyes closed, his bangs covering the upper half of his face, and a grayish-white soul seemed to float outside his body from his slightly open mouth.

"Hahaha... It's turned into this again."

Ichika called out worriedly, "Pochi, are you alright?"

"Namo".

Yamada Ryo mercilessly clasped his hands together.

"Huh? Senior! This isn't the time for Namo!"

Kita exclaimed in a panic, "Goto-kun! Cheer up! The manager is going to review it soon!"

The band is facing a major crisis!

This 'end' is not the end of the beginning, but rather the 'end' of 'several threads tied together into a bundle'.

"So, can it be translated as unity, bond, or everyone being strangled together?"

The white figure rested her chin on her hand, listening to Yukinoshita's introduction and nodding in agreement.

"Although I expected that Pochi's mischievous nature would probably have a negative impact on Pochi-chan, I didn't expect it to happen so quickly." Yukinoshita Haruno glanced at Sakurajima Mai, who had ordered a glass of lemonade, and said with a smile, "Pochi-chan only took out the trash for a moment, and came back as a little good-for-nothing."

Mai Sakurajima looked at the chaos over there and said with a subtle expression, "This is a bit too introverted."

No, even "introverted" doesn't quite capture it. This is the first time I've seen someone fall to the ground and start strutting around after hearing just one sentence from a hater, someone who sinks into despair at lightning speed...

"What a brave warrior!"

Bai Ying exclaimed admiringly, "With this kind of personality, playing in a band is like having a very simple life questionnaire—just a stroke of the pen and a challenge—brave! Incredibly brave!"

The three band members exchanged subtle glances after the band ended.

The person Yang Nai found is strange, but now is not the time to think about that!

Ichiji Nijika pleaded in a cutesy voice, "Yinuo-nee~!"

"Don't look at me, I didn't do it. Let's quickly figure out a way to get Pochi-chan up." Yukinoshita Haruno said with a smile, "After all, the impartial manager will never let anyone off the hook."

The manager behind the bar, arms crossed, said, "...Ahem, that's right! If you can't even overcome this little obstacle, how are you going to perform in front of a double-digit audience?"

“mo——”

Ijichi Nikka puffed out her cheeks and turned back to continue trying to inflate the deflated Goto Ichiri.

"I now fully understand what happened."

Bai Ying stood up, raised her hand to adjust her collar, and slowly walked over with her hands behind her back.

Why is the band facing disbandment? Why was the lead guitarist admitted to the ICU? What secrets lie hidden in the quarrel between the sisters? Behind the seemingly tragic situation, a sly smile is surfacing. What heavy past is the person who is trying so hard to cheer them on carrying? Is all of this a distortion of unity, or the tragedy of social anxiety?

"The only one who saw through the truth was a famous detective whose body looked like a high school student, but whose intelligence was that of an ordinary person!"

Detective Conan? Not just the dialogue—that voice is Conan's, right?!

As the most influential cultural and entertainment medium in Japan, manga is something that even Yukino Yukinoshita has heard of, let alone ordinary high school girls.

The three were shocked for a moment before remembering that Yukinoshita Haruno had previously introduced the other party's technique of disguising their voice.

"My name is Holmes White, and I'm a detective."

Special Episode – The Shimokitazawa Band Murder Case!

With a voice that was both endearing and terrifying, Bai Ying walked over as if it were the most natural thing in the world. He looked at Goto Ichiri, who was lying on several chairs, looking almost like his soul had left his body, and nodded, saying, "Let's interview the deceased first."

"Hello? Are you there?"

Goto Ichiri remained motionless.

"The deceased was in stable condition, and an autopsy is underway."

The white figure paced around the chair, describing it precisely.

"The deceased's name is transliterated as Goto Ichiri, translated as Goto Doku, and his nickname is transliterated as Pochi-chan or Little Pochi, translated as Little Lonely."

"Identity of the deceased: Lead guitarist of the band Shimokitazawa End".

"The deceased's age: 16 years old."

Cause of death: suicide.

Bai Ying looked at the other three and said heavily, "I'm sorry, we've done our best... Have you considered changing the guitarist?"

"No—wait, what exactly did you say to Goto outside?" Kita asked, puzzled. "You were perfectly fine when you went out to throw out the trash."

Ichiji Nijika patted her forehead and sighed, "It's normal for Pochi-chan to act like this, but please stop causing trouble. We're very busy right now..."

"Is Pochi-chan going to die?" Yamada Ryo sighed softly. "It was such a short but happy time."

Kita: "Senior! (〃＞＿＜;〃)!"

Nijika Ijichi: "Wow! Pochi-chan isn't dead yet! (｀Д′)!"

“It’s okay. Out with the old, in with the new. Although the cause of death was suicide, I also bear some responsibility.”

Bai Ying crossed her arms and offered a suggestion: "How about we ask the hero's older sister, Yukino Yukinoshita, for help? She doesn't have a band, and you're missing a guitarist. Combining the two would be a win-win situation. Don't be fooled by her popularity and achievements; she's really just doing it for fun and doesn't care much. It could even help support your yet-to-be-born band."

"She's also a talented composer and lyricist, a student at a top-tier university in Tokyo, nicknamed 'Perfect Superman,' and could easily crush a Pochi-chan. Everything your guitarists can do, she can do; and things they can't, she can still do. Let's take this opportunity to reform the band and start off with a bright future..."

boom!

I was startled awake from my deathbed, and I didn't want to send Goto Ichiri!

But these words make so much sense. Compared to my own dark, insignificant, and troublesome self, the smiling older sister is the perfect superhero...

A bright, sunny smile versus a damp, gloomy smell—the latter is utterly outclassed.

A confident and generous attitude versus a cowardly and insignificant one—the former is completely outclassed.

The real-world fans versus the parasitic self on the internet – the one who gets completely crushed.

But, but! Even though I'm a complete failure at everything...

Goto Ichiri subconsciously glanced at her three teammates, her eyes like those of a puppy about to be abandoned.

"Hey! Don't do that! Pochi-chan, we would never abandon you!" Nijika Ichiji quickly said, "We're the End Band!"

Yamada Ryo: "Let's see how you perform... *sigh*."

Ichiji Nijika elbowed her friend in the stomach.

Kita breathed a sigh of relief: "That's great! Goto-kun has finally recovered!"

"Hey! Are you guys ready?"

The store manager's impatient voice rang out: "Get ready and go to the stage!"

Dance, stage! The assessment!

Goto Ichiri shuddered, frantically chanting in his mind, "It's...it's okay!"

It's just an assessment; there aren't that many people...

"You are the best, the most amazing."

Huh? Is that Nijika?