A few minutes, both fleeting and endless.
Silently passing by.
Starting like a recitation.
And finally, gradually turning into a shout.
Takanashi Hikari stopped.
Her face was a little flushed, and her chest rose and fell slightly.
Then, with a very apprehensive gaze, she looked at Hakushu and Chihaya Aine.
This was Chihaya Aine's first time hearing it.
But I just watched the video too.
She couldn't help but wonder if her voice would be drowned out if she were the lead vocalist with Hikari?!
No way!
Hakushu clapped his hands and gave an objective evaluation,
"Hikari sings very well."
If Bocchi the Rock! didn't have Kita.
He would have liked to poach her.
With professional training, Takanashi Hikari's singing ability could reach even greater heights.
Chihaya Aine took the opportunity to invite again,
"Hikari, will you be our vocalist?"
Aine thought, if worst comes to worst, she could let Hikari be the vocalist, she could still shine as the lead guitarist.
Hikari looked up at Aine, who nodded frantically.
Then she looked at Hakushu.
"Hakushu, do you want me to be the vocalist too?"
Hakushu thought for a moment, then said, "Yes, I want to see Hikari on stage."
"But..."
"The band will just disband again."
In a flash, Takanashi Hikari lowered her head.
"Disband?"
Chihaya Aine was still somewhat puzzled.
Hakushu was stunned.
It was probably fear of ending up like Crychic.
"We can't stagnate just because we're afraid of disbanding."
Hakushu thought of Otsuki Yuyuko next door.
He was also somewhat impressed.
Whether it was kicking out teammates, or being kicked out by teammates, she had always persisted in forming a band.
Aine also said to Hikari, "That's right, we need to look ahead."
"How can you know for sure that you'll disband if you haven't even tried?" Hakushu encouraged. "Hikari, do your best! I'll help too."
Takanashi Hikari didn't answer for the moment.
The atmosphere fell silent.
Hakushu and Chihaya Aine exchanged glances.
Even though they knew Hikari wanted to form a band, if she still wasn't willing to try...
They wouldn't force it anymore.
Then, both of them looked at Takanashi Hikari with anticipation.
Hikari also raised her head, her eyes shining with a strange light.
Her golden eyes met Hakushu and Chihaya Aine's gazes.
Hikari spoke slowly, but her words were so powerful!
"Then, you..."
"Will you be in a band with me for a lifetime?"
A lifetime?!!
Hakushu and Chihaya Aine were frozen in place.
Hikari didn't blink, intently watching the two, waiting for an answer.
The colorful lights flashed across their faces again and again.
This made their faces appear and disappear in the light.
Silence!
Utter silence!
Even though the voices of Misumi Hatsuka and Sumida Mana from the sumimi group were still coming from the screen.
The three of them acted as if they hadn't heard anything.
Hakushu and Chihaya Aine felt an unprecedented quiet!
Only…
Forever, forever, forever, forever, forever, forever, forever, forever, forever, forever, forever, forever, forever, forever, forever…
Three words echoed endlessly in the closed box.
Then.
Again and again!
Over and over!
It entered his ears with perfect clarity.
"Gulp..."
Hakushu swallowed silently.
Having experienced a lifetime of questions once, he was the first to regain his composure.
Looking at Hikari opposite him, Hakushu felt a heavy emotion wash over him.
He had to look away.
Then, he glanced at Chihaya Aine beside him out of the corner of his eye.
He was curious about her reaction.
Chihaya Aine looked bewildered, clearly still reeling from Hikari's words.
Hakushu thought to themself.
At this moment, if they didn't say something...
Hikari would definitely run away like last time!
But what should they say?
"Forever is too long" wouldn't work, right?
That's no good!
Hikari, realizing she'd misspoke, would flee with the same guilt she felt at the Astronomy Club.
That… is the same as the Astronomy Club.
How about we start with three years?
Hakushu thought so.
For a student band that's just for fun, three years is quite a long time.
The turnover of band members, and the enthusiasm of band members, both fade and change much faster than one might imagine.
And to be honest, after three years… it's very possible.
Everyone will go their separate ways, everyone will have a bright future.
Many bands often disband around that time as well.
Hakushu recalled their time in the Astronomy Club.
Indeed, Hikari was unusually burdened by emotions!
And, it seemed she had no concept of time.
A bit of a space cadet.
But actually, she was still reasonable; as long as you explained things clearly, there was no problem.
Back then, Hikari even said she'd stay in the Astronomy Club forever.
But, they had to explain to her that they were only in school for three years.
So, they formed a band first.
After that.
In the following days.
We need to instill a proper sense of time in Hikari.
She needs to understand that a lifetime is actually very difficult to achieve.
After all, all good things must come to an end.
Although, it's not entirely impossible.
With that, there shouldn't be any problems.
I understand now.
Hakushu felt relieved as well.
It was a good thing he came.
Nearby.
Chihaya Aine also gradually calmed down, a dry smile appearing on her pale cheeks.
"A, a lifetime, it's not..."
Takanashi Hikari's gaze became increasingly timid.
"Hikari!"
Hakushu felt something was wrong and suddenly shouted.
"If it's for a lifetime, I could give it a try."
"Eh? Eh eh?!"
"What does that mean?"
Chihaya Aine looked at Hakushu, bewildered.
Are you serious? This is for a lifetime!
"Really?!"
Takanashi Hikari's face flushed with excitement as she looked at them both.
Hakushu breathed a sigh of relief, then slowly began to speak,
"A lifetime is hard, and also very long…"
Hikari's gaze dimmed again.
Aine's eyes brightened slightly.
Hakushu continued, and Aine's expression gradually stiffened.
"But if we accumulate week after week, month after month, maybe we really can form a band for a lifetime."
As Hakushu spoke, they also gave Chihaya Aine a look, even gently nudging her under the table with their foot.
The two of them had been frequently exchanging glances recently, and Aine quickly understood Hakushu's meaning.
"Accumulating week after week… is a lifetime…"
Takanashi Hikari murmured thoughtfully.
Looking at the expectant Hikari and Hakushu winking at her, Chihaya Aine felt a little confused.
She gave a smile that didn't seem very confident.
"Then...then I'll try my best?"
Is this my whole life just given away?
But in Takanashi Hikari's eyes, this meant that Chihaya Aine was willing to form a band with her for life.
"Thank you! Aine-chan!"
The sound of "Aine-chan" surprised and startled Chihaya Aine a little.
"And Hakushu!"
Takanashi Hikari looked seriously into Hakushu's eyes again.