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Chapter 17: Style and Identity
🕑 Added 2025-07-30 20:17:00 +0000 UTCIn Aoki Kei’s memory, whether in Japan or overseas, most famous rock bands rose to prominence through their original debut albums.
So when Nijika asked, “How can we seem more like a real band?”, Kei gave his honest answer:
“A song of your own. An original.”
Nijika paused, thinking it over as her gaze settled on Aoki Kei.
Thanks to a random discovery on Youtube, she already knew Kei was actually “Suki-san,” the one who composed Lemon.
If someone capable of writing a song like that could guide Kessoku Band, they’d be in incredible hands.
Still, since Kei never brought up his Youtube identity himself and always concealing his face in his uploads—Nijika respectfully chose not to mention it.
“Well… if it’s an original, Ryo could try composing,” she offered. “And like we said before, Bocchi-chan might be able to write lyrics. But… there’s just one small problem.”
She hesitated a bit, then gave a sheepish smile.
“Kessoku Band doesn’t have a vocalist right now. Whether it’s Ryo, Bocchi-chan, or even me… none of us really have the confidence to sing on stage. So even if we manage to write the song…”
“What about Kita-san?” Kei suggested, glancing at her, then at Nijika. “She seems comfortable singing on stage. Would you consider joining Kessoku Band?”
“Eh? Me?” Kita Ikuyo blinked in surprise before shaking her head rapidly.
“No no no! I mean, yes, I do like singing, but… I already ran away once at a really important moment. I don’t want to join and cause more trouble for everyone…”
“You wouldn’t be causing any trouble, Kita-chan,” Nijika said gently, shaking her head.
Bocchi-chan was still off in her own world, visibly struggling to figure out how to thank Kei, and Ryo, as usual, was zoning out with her chin propped on her hand.
Kita hesitated for a moment longer, then added, “I… I still don’t think I can. I was so irresponsible last time. I’ll support you all from the sidelines, but as for joining… I’ll pass.”
Just a single, kind sentence from Nijika clearly wasn’t enough to change her mind.
And without any words from Bocchi-chan, it felt like this was it—the end of Kita’s relationship with Kessoku Band.
————————————————————————
As he watched Kita Ikuyo refuse to rejoin, a subtle frown crossed Aoki Kei’s face.
Bocchi was still stuck in her thoughts, and Kei realized that perhaps his involvement had unintentionally led to this outcome.
After a short silence, he decided to step in again—this time, more directly.
“Didn’t you say on the way here,” he began, looking at Kita, “that the reason you picked up the guitar and wanted to join a band…
Was because you admired a certain senpai in the group? That chance is right in front of you now. Are you really okay letting it slip by?”
That was the part of her motivation that always made Kita hesitate—she’d joined Kessoku Band not out of love for music, but to get closer to the senpai she admired:
Yamada Ryo.
And Kei had hit the nail on the head.
Sure enough, Kita’s expression faltered.
Sensing her wavering, Kei followed up, this time turning to Nijika for backup.
“Besides, everyone in Kessoku Band would be happy to have you back. The band needs a second guitarist and a vocalist right now. If you practice seriously, you’ll definitely be able to handle it.”
Then, after a small cough, Kei turned his eyes toward Bocchi-chan, still trapped in her thoughts, and added:
“And if you’re worried about playing guitar, you can always ask Gotou-san to teach you. She’s really good.”
“Eh… huh?” Bocchi blinked in confusion at the sudden mention of her name.
“Would that be okay…?” Kita asked timidly, eyes shining as she turned toward Bocchi.
Still half in shock, Bocchi looked helplessly at Aoki Kei, as if begging him not to do this to her.
But Kei only smiled gently. “If Kita-san joins, I’m sure you wouldn’t mind helping her learn, right?”
“Ugh…” Bocchi gulped, glancing back and forth between Kei and Kita.
Seeing the way Kita’s eyes sparkled with hope, she just couldn’t bring herself to say no.
“…O-Okay. Sure… no problem…” she said, nearly in tears.
————————————————————————
And so, under Aoki Kei’s not-so-subtle encouragement, Kita Ikuyo ultimately gave in to her admiration for Ryo and agreed to rejoin Kessoku Band.
Naturally, Nijika, Bocchi, and even Ryo had no objections.
After a warm, if slightly chaotic, welcome back, the group turned their attention back to the original topic: creating a new song.
Ryo, who had momentarily come back to life just long enough to mutter a flat, “Oh. Welcome,” had already returned to her daydreaming state, chin in hand and eyes lost in the void.
Yamada Ryo had been zoning out or lost in thought for most of the conversation, so naturally, the others hadn’t paid her much attention.
But now that they had officially confirmed they had a vocalist, the topic of original music came up again.
The group began a fresh round of discussion—starting with task assignments, brainstorming ideas for original songs, and even touching on current trends in popular music.
Aside from Ryo and Aoki Kei, who mostly just listened, the rest—Nijika, Kita Ikuyo, and Bocchi were all actively involved.
This time, Bocchi wasn’t lost in her own world.
Despite her nerves, she gathered the courage to speak up with a hesitant, trembling voice:
“U-Um... Nijika, you mentioned before that I could try writing lyrics, so I’ve been working on that at home…
But I’ve been having a hard time figuring out what kind of style fits Kessoku Band best.
I’ve been trying to imitate some of the popular music that's trending among high schoolers lately... Do you think that could work?”
‘Popular music among high schoolers?’
Aoki Kei blinked, a bit puzzled.
He wasn’t quite sure what was trending among teens these days, but somehow, he doubted that kind of music would align with what Kessoku Band was meant to be.
‘Is Bocchi heading in the wrong direction?’
He didn’t speak up right away, silently weighing things—until his eyes were drawn to Yamada Ryo.
She had been silently propping her head on one hand, gazing off to the side in a daze.
But at the mention of “pop music,” he noticed her attention subtly shift to the group’s conversation.
“Pop music, huh...” Nijika muttered in thought. “Actually, that might not be a bad idea? Since this is our first original song, and we’re still figuring out our style, learning from what’s popular could be helpful!”
“......”
Right as Nijika finished speaking, Aoki Kei caught something a flicker in Yamada Ryo’s expression.
Her gaze, which had just been directed toward the others, quietly shifted away again.
Without a word, she let out a nearly imperceptible sigh, as if the very breath carried the weight of something unspoken.
Aoki Kei’s eyes lingered on her for a few moments, then slowly turned away.
Pop music.
Copying what’s trendy.
Uncertain direction...
He was beginning to understand why Ryo reacted that way.
Yamada Ryo had always been someone who chased individuality—someone who sought to create something truly her own.
In the past, she had even quit a band when it started to conform to mainstream trends.
So, whether it was the earlier talk about "how to feel more like a real band," or now—deciding on a musical style for their first original song—it was all bringing back memories Ryo likely didn’t want to revisit.
“......”
A quiet breath escaped his lips.
Then, after a moment of thought, Aoki Kei finally spoke up.
“Rather than blindly chasing after trendy pop styles... wouldn’t it be better for a new band to find its own identity first?”
“Kessoku Band isn’t just another carbon-copy pop band, following whatever’s popular. Whether it’s composing or writing lyrics—before mimicking others, we should figure out our own path first.”
In the corner of his vision, Yamada Ryo, who had just lowered her gaze, suddenly paused.
Style. Identity...
She slowly looked up, blinking.
Her deep blue eyes shimmered just slightly as they settled on Aoki Kei.
