Lately, something's been off with Nijika Ijichi, the leader of Kessoku Band, and the band's resident ray of sunshine, Ikuyo Kita.
Even someone as oblivious as Hitori Gotoh had picked up on it.
Nijika still wore that gentle smile, always kind to others, but... the moment Shouji Minami's name was mentioned, her eyes would drift off, unfocused.
She'd messed up drink orders for customers more than once at STARRY, their studio café. Her older sister, Seika Ijichi, had even grown worried and adjusted Nijika's work shifts to give her more time to rest.
Now, if Nijika's odd behavior still needed close observation from Hitori, Kita Ikuyo's actions were another story — loud, obvious, and hard to ignore.
Whenever Hitori tried to bring up Shouji Minami, Ikuyo, who'd been chatting away happily just moments before, would suddenly clam up, awkwardly claim she had something urgent, and escape at full speed.
"That reaction... that reaction..."
Hitori Gotoh's anxiety grew worse with every passing day.
Could it really be like that dream she had?
Not just her... but Ryo... Nijika... even Kita-san... together with Minami-kun?
Th-th-that wouldn't be so bad, honestly.
B-but still...
Hitori was spiraling. Decision-making wasn't exactly her strong suit, and now this? She had no idea how to handle it.
With no better options, she figured the only person she could talk to was Minami himself.
But then—
"He got sick... Minami-kun...?"
Slumped over her desk at Shuka High School, Hitori idly scratched at its smooth surface with her fingers, worry etched all over her face.
She knew Minami's physical condition — he wasn't the type to catch a cold over nothing.
Still...
"The weather's been chilly lately... flu season and all..."
I'm worried...
Minami-kun...
Is he okay right now...? Has he eaten?
Her head rolled back and forth on the desk. Strands of pink hair flopped about, a chaotic mess to match her mood.
Decision: made.
Like someone having a dramatic anime moment, she sat upright and clenched her tiny fists. "I'll go visit him!"
That's right!
I'll check on Minami-kun!
But first—
She fished her phone from her desk and opened LINE.
Scrolling through her contacts, she found the chat group "Kessoku! Kessoku!" and hesitated, fingers trembling.
Then, she typed:
[Probably Dead]: @everyone Um... Minami-kun seems to be sick... I'm thinking of visiting him today to check in... so I probably can't make it to band practice.
[Probably Dead]: I'm really sorry!! （Image: pink-haired girl bowing apologetically）
"T-this should be okay, right...?"
First time ever @'ing everyone in the band group chat. Her heart raced.
But then — mere seconds after she hit send — the previously silent chat exploded like a kettle set to boil.
[Lone Bass Freak]: Minami's sick??
[Lone Bass Freak]: I'm coming too.
[Lone Bass Freak]: Bocchi, buy more stuff. I'm eating too. （Image: 'Thanks for the meal!' emoji）
Hitori froze.
Just as she tried to type a response—
Ping!
[Hello~ Be Happy, Okay! (Ikuyo Kita)]: Eh? Minami-san's sick?? Is he okay? Is it serious? Did Bocchi-chan ask him? What's the situation??
"Ahhhh..."
Her soft lips parted in dismay, a small squeak escaping. Too many words. Too fast.
She could barely read it before—
Ping!
[Hello~ Be Happy, Okay!]: I'm at the corner store with some friends and can't text properly! Sorry, Bocchi, I'll talk to you back in class, okay?
"You... don't have your hands free?!"
Kita-san, the speed at which you typed all that... it's easily ten times faster than me...
So this... this is what peak social dexterity looks like?
Lifelong social anxiety survivor Hitori Gotoh couldn't help but admire Kita Ikuyo's ability to churn out long messages—even one-handed.
And then...
"Literally no one was talking a second ago..."
Hitori stared blankly at her phone.
Moments ago, the 'Kessoku! Kessoku!' group chat had been dead silent, not a peep.
But the second she mentioned Shouji Minami, messages started pouring in.
It was like Minami was some kind of social catalyst.
Still... maybe this wasn't such a bad thing.
If everyone was visiting Minami-kun, she wouldn't have to go alone—meaning way less awkwardness.
That was a relief.
Just as she was breathing easier, a new icon popped up at the bottom of the chat—gold hair, tiny ahoge, triangle icon.
[Aiming for the Stars (Nijika Ijichi)]: Bocchi, have you asked about the specifics? Is Minami-san okay? Don't rush—just type slowly and explain.
"Nijika-chaaan..."
Hitori teared up at the warmth radiating from those gentle words.
If we're ranking pure kindness, Nijika Ijichi is easily number one in Kessoku Band. Totally unbeatable.
Taking a deep breath, Hitori organized her thoughts and started typing back.
[Probably Dead]: I don't know the details, but Minami-kun took a sick day today... He's never taken one before, so it must be pretty serious.
[Aiming for the Stars]: Got it. Let's cancel today's band practice for now. We should go visit Minami-san together.
[Aiming for the Stars]: Ryo, your school's close to Minami-san's place, right? Let's you and me buy some stuff and head over first.
[Lone Bass Freak]: Huh? I have to spend money?
[Aiming for the Stars]: No complaints! Decision made!（Image: chibi gold-haired girl looking exasperated）
"Phew—"
After sending her final message, Nijika Ijichi set her phone down and stretched out in her chair.
"So Minami-san's sick, huh..."
Staring at the ceiling with her crimson eyes, she propped her face up with her hand, murmuring softly, "I wonder how he's doing."
She closed her eyes.
And the moment she did, memories surged.
Minami tutoring her into getting into her dream university...
Kessoku Band fulfilling their dream of playing at Tokyo Dome, thanks to his help...
The bitter regret of her failed confession...
Years of waiting, finally living together with Minami... and then... that happened—
"No no no no no no!"
Her face flushed pink in an instant.
Vigorously shaking her head, she muttered, "That's impossible, right?!"
It was unclear whether she was talking to someone or herself.
Face burning red, Nijika Ijichi grumbled, "Living together with everyone... doing that... just imagining it is impossible, right?"
Fine—she admitted it.
Lately, just like those memories, she'd started liking Minami-kun, especially after all the effort he put into tutoring them.
But it's just a crush! Just a tiny bit more than friendship!
Totally not love!
And think about it!
It's not just her.
Bocchi and Ryo had already shown interest in Minami-kun.
If she barged in now, wouldn't that just make an already chaotic situation even worse?
So liking Minami-kun? Nope. Not happening!
Definitely not.
That's what she kept telling herself.
But those memory fragments of her living together with her bandmates and Minami...
Nijika Ijichi fell silent.
If things really turned out like that, and every member of Kessoku Band ended up falling for him...
"What would even be the right answer...?"
She let out a sigh.
Knowing her own personality, if she fell for someone, she'd give them everything. Even if she were rejected, she'd never give up—just like in those memories.
And knowing that scared her.
If it really did become like the dream... if she did fall for Minami like the others...
What was she supposed to do?
Lately, even her work was suffering.
Golden locks swayed as she sighed again.
No clue.
Just... lost.
From morning to afternoon didn't take long.
But—
"Ryo, that jerk—!"
Stepping out of Shimokitazawa High, Nijika Ijichi was dumbfounded.
They'd agreed to head out together.
Yet when she went to Ryo's classroom, ready to leave, she was told Ryo Yamada had disappeared right after class.
Even though it was her duty day, she just ghosted.
Nijika suspected Ryo had bailed early to avoid paying for Minami's get-well gifts.
"Whatever..."
No point stressing.
With Ryo AWOL, she had no choice but to go alone.
Buying supplies, she caught a train from Shimokitazawa Station to Meguro, where Minami lived.
It was within Tokyo, so the trip wasn't long.
Soon, Nijika Ijichi stepped off the train, following the address Minami had given them.
Unlike Ryo or Chisato Nishikigi, who often freeloaded at Minami's, Nijika had never visited his place.
From Ryo's vague comments, she'd guessed Minami's living conditions were... not great.
But—
"This is way worse than I expected!"
Her eyes widened.
Before her stood a two-story building. The walls, once white, were now covered in grime and soot—clearly neglected for years.
The blue railings were rusted, the paint peeling.
A row of cramped, coffin-like apartments stretched before her.
Nijika's family wasn't wealthy, but seeing this... even her gentle heart winced.
This place... it probably leaked in summer and froze in winter.
Still, maybe it just looked bad on the outside?
Trying to convince herself, she found Minami's nameplate and rang the doorbell.
Ding-dong.
A chime rang out. Footsteps approached.
Then the door slowly opened.
"Huh? Nijika?"
"Sorry for the sudden visit."
She instinctively looked up at Shouji Minami.
He didn't look great—yawning, pale, dark hair messy, visibly worn out.
Must still be sick...
She spoke up quickly.
"Sorry to barge in, Minami-san. I heard from Bocchi that you caught a cold, so I wanted to check in. Do you mind if I come in?"
"From Hitori...? Ah, never mind. Come in, Nijika. Sorry to trouble you."
"Excuse me."
Heart fluttering with nerves and curiosity, Nijika Ijichi stepped into a boy's room for the first time.
Unlike the messy scene she had imagined—
The room was unusually tidy.
There was no clutter, no scattered clothes or trash on the floor, and no strange or unpleasant odors lingering in the air.
It was clear that Minami Shouji was someone who took cleanliness seriously in his daily life.
But beyond all that...
The one thing that Nijika Ijichi felt most strongly was—
Cold!
Extremely cold!
Calling this a "room" felt like a stretch—it was more like an icebox in disguise.
Even though the windows were shut tight, she could still feel cold drafts sneaking in from who-knows-where.
No wonder someone like Minami Shouji, with his strong physical constitution, had ended up catching a cold.
Staying in a place with drafts like this... how could anyone not fall sick?
No...
Actually, the real mystery was how Minami Shouji could live in this kind of environment every day and still focus enough to top the class academically...
That was the truly incredible part.
The longer she looked around—
The more Nijika felt an inexplicable ache of sympathy for him.
So the Minami Shouji who always appeared so relaxed and carefree in front of them... was actually living in conditions like this?
Nijika Ijichi stole a glance at him.
It felt like hardship simply couldn't knock down the young man lying before her.
At the very least, she had never once heard him complain about his current way of living.
No wonder the fragments of memory in her mind had her feeling such deep affection for him.
Even just the way he faced adversity head-on...
That alone already fit her ideal standard for someone she'd want to date.
As she was lost in these thoughts—
She heard Minami's voice from the bed.
"Sorry, I'm not feeling great, so I won't be much of a host. Just take a seat wherever you like, Nijika."
"Ah... okay."
Nijika nodded reflexively.
She glanced around once more before finally settling down at the small round table nearby.
And then—
She noticed something.
Laid out neatly atop the table—
Were practice test papers.
The very ones Minami Shouji had poured so much effort into preparing... for Kessoku Band.