"Megumi-san, more and more people are coming. Should we go to the front and claim a spot?"
As the clock neared two o'clock, the interior of 'STARRY' grew increasingly crowded. Kasumigaoka Touji glanced over his shoulder at the bustling crowd before looking down at Kato Megumi, who was nestled in his arms.
"Toujii-kun, would you prefer to go closer to the stage?"
Kato Megumi shifted in his lap to meet his gaze, then gracefully stood up, steadying herself before turning fully toward him.
"Hmm… I don't really mind either way."
Kasumigaoka Touji rose as well. "Weren't you always the type to stand at the very front before?"
He understood the unspoken implication in her question.
"I used to be, at first. But over time, I started preferring the back. Since this is your first time here, Toujii-kun, let's go right to the front today."
Gathering their drinks and glow sticks, Kato Megumi took the lead, weaving a path toward the stage. Kasumigaoka Touji gave a soft hum of agreement and followed closely behind.
For him, standing at the front or the back made little difference—but since this was his first live house experience, part of him did want to immerse himself fully, to feel the energy from the closest possible vantage point.
"Sumimasen… Excuse us, coming through~"
The two navigated through the lively, shifting crowd until they finally emerged right before the elevated stage.
…
Not long after they secured their spots near the front, the overhead lights in the live house faded to a deep dim. In stark contrast, the stage lights blazed to life, brilliant and focused, instantly pulling the attention of every person in the room.
The resident MC of 'STARRY' stepped onto the stage, offering a brief, energetic greeting before introducing the first band of the afternoon. Immediately after, the four-member rock band 'lightband'—two men and two women—made their dazzling entrance!
The atmosphere in the room ignited in an instant.
"Hoshino-sama!"
"Uwaaa—! Chino-san! Look over here, please!"
"Lightband! Lightband!"
"Will the first song be by Lightband?"
"Is 'lightband' doing the warm-up set today? That's amazing!"
"Let the show begin!"
…
Are they that popular?
Sensing the fervent reactions from the fans around him, Kasumigaoka Touji stood just below the stage, his eyes curiously tracing over the band members now illuminated above.
At that moment, the four members of 'lightband' were waving warmly to the crowd below. Hoshino Chiki, the bassist and lead vocalist, leaned into the microphone with a bright, welcoming smile.
"Hello, everyone! We are 'lightband'! We'll be playing five songs for you today… First up, our opening number—'Lightband'!"
With those words, he exchanged glances with the drummer, the guitarist, and the other bassist. Their four gazes met, a subtle, understanding nod passed between them, and then—the performance began.
A powerful, rhythmic drumbeat erupted, swiftly joined by the deep, resonant melody of the bass and the crisp, driving chords of the guitar. The sound, amplified through the live house's powerful system, exploded around Kasumigaoka Touji with almost physical force.
It was a true sonic explosion!
For a moment, the volume was overwhelming, a deafening rush that felt almost disorienting. But as his ears gradually adjusted, something else happened—his heartbeat began to sync with the driving melody, and the blood in his veins seemed to pulse faster in response…
On stage—
Hoshino Chiki, bass in hand, leaned into the microphone once more and began to sing, his voice clear and passionate, riding the wave of the instrumental…
…
Below the stage—
"Jazz rock…"
Kasumigaoka Touji listened to the intricate, powerfully rhythmic music filling the air, his eyes fixed on the four performers above as he murmured the genre to himself.
After all, he was an independent musician himself. Instinctively, his mind shifted into an analytical appreciation of 'lightband's' sound.
The solid, distinctive tone of the electric bass was unmistakable—this was jazz rock. The overall rhythm was tight and compelling, the melody excellently crafted, the harmonies sophisticated… They were clearly a mature, professional unit.
The overwhelming sound in his ears, combined with that irresistible rhythm and skillful melody, created a kind of spiritual resonance that was hard to ignore. Without even realizing it, his body began to sway gently along with the beat.
…
Kato Megumi, swaying her blue-violet glow stick in time with the music, glanced sideways at Kasumigaoka Touji. Seeing him utterly captivated, his gaze locked on the band members as if in a trance, she paused momentarily, a thoughtful expression crossing her features. Then, a subtle, knowing smile touched her lips.
…
Kasumigaoka Touji watched the four individuals pouring their hearts into the performance on stage—
The drummer, whose hands flew across the kit with precise, dazzling complexity, masterfully controlling every shifting beat; the guitarist, whose playing conveyed deep emotion while maintaining a sharp, almost logical clarity; and the electric bass, steady and foundational as a pillar, supporting the entire structure of the sound…
They were shining. Truly, brilliantly shining.
And in that moment, he felt it too—a deep, instinctive desire to shine like that himself!
****
However, as the final notes of the two-hour live faded and he stepped outside 'STARRY' into the cool evening air, that fleeting impulse—the dream of forming a band and standing on a stage like that—quickly dissipated.
After all, forming a band wasn't something done on a whim. Just thinking about stories like Bocchi the Rock! was enough to remind him of all the complications involved. He simply didn't have that kind of time to spare.
"All the bands today were quite good, don't you think, Toujii-kun?"
At the entrance of 'STARRY', Kato Megumi stood with her hands clasped behind her back, looking up at Kasumigaoka Touji with a charming tilt of her head. Her bright eyes remained fixed on his face, unblinking.
"They were all very professional, and their songs were well-made. There were a few minor slip-ups here and there, but overall, it was a solid show."
"The volume was just a bit much for me, though—I feel like my ears are still ringing."
Kasumigaoka Touji replied, instinctively poking a finger at his ear before chuckling. "But I guess that's just part of the rock experience, isn't it?"
"Mmm."
The two chatted amiably as they made their way toward the train station. Today's plans ended here, and arriving at the station meant their first official date had come to a close.
In front of the station entrance, Kasumigaoka Touji gently cupped Kato Megumi's delicate face in his hands and leaned in for a soft, parting kiss. Then, with a final exchange of smiles, they went their separate ways.
As he arrived on the platform, a familiar, translucent blue window materialized before his eyes—
[★★★★Dream—"A Girl's Love Story!" (Stage One - Complete!)]
[You have gained 11 Experience Points and 15,000 Dream Points!]
[Dream Fulfillment Level: Apprentice (81/100) → Apprentice (92/100); Dream Points: 6,411.5 → 21,411.5!]
"…"
Now, his Dream Fulfillment Level was genuinely on the cusp of reaching Level Three. Completing just about any task—whether a routine one or another stage objective—would push him over the threshold.
His Dream Points had also surged past twenty thousand. Kasumigaoka Touji considered for a moment and decided to save them for now. There was no pressing need at the moment, and with Level Three imminent, it would be wiser to reserve his points for the higher-tier abilities or items that would soon become available…
As these thoughts drifted through his mind, a series of mechanical clack-clack sounds echoed through the station, signaling the approach of his train. It slowly rolled into view, its lights bright against the darkening evening.