01x04 - Jumping Girl(s)

[bunniefuu]

NOTICE OF CLOSURE

SKATE RINK

B.B.B. BATTLE OF THE BANDS

I'm no good.

Oh, but you managed to play it to the end.

-That's the problem!

-Yeah?

Thinking about it,

aren't I also the vocalist?

Except right now, it takes my all

just to play the guitar.

I can't focus on singing too.

Y-You have a point.

Perhaps it's better if I dedicated

myself only to singing.

But that'll leave me with

nothing to do in the interludes.

I can picture myself floundering about.

Oh, umm, yeah!

In that case…

I'll just have to try a lot harder!

Kita shinin' atcha!

-My eyes!

-Huh?

Oh, nothing.

That refreshing aspiration to improve

is as bright as the sun.

By the way, are you sure

about leaving the vocals to me?

-Wha--?

-How about we sing together?

A-Aboslutely not. Never.

-Why not?

-No, no, no…

Sorry, I didn't think

you'd be so against it.

That's nice.

Is that interpretive guitar playing?

Could it be that you're into this?

I'll get to learning it right away.

Don't even think about it.

I see the band's all here.

Let's head over there!

Okay!

I declare the start of our band meeting!

Applause!

The first thing on our agenda:

What will make us even more of a band?

How very vague.

I liked dark, cramped spaces

So I'd bury my face deep in my hood

My eyes resented the heartless world

But yearned for love

I liked being soaked by the rain

Because my face looked better clouded over

I pretended to be afraid of the storm

While waiting for the sky to burst

Strum through the light's distortion

I want to make thunder roar

Drum beyond the pain

What can I do?

This fierce pounding is out of control

Strum in a harmonizing quartet

I want to cause a revolution

Drum in a lamenting forte

What can I do?

My savage nature is beyond wild

We finally have a full band.

So now I'd like to focus

on making us more band-like.

I-I see.

I know practice makes perfect,

but there has to be more to it!

A healthy discussion

will help us on our way.

Could it be that she's doing this

as a breather for Kita-san

since she's been working so hard?

I figured we could try looking the part.

I get you!

Like when you adopt

the latest fashion fads

-and gradually, you come to own the look.

-Yeah, that!

I can't relate.

With that in mind,

I had some band merchandise made!

This girl doesn't waste any time!

Isn't that a plain old cable tie?

Don't you find it cute?

It comes in different colors.

Let's sell them for 500 yen a pop.

What a ripoff!

And 650 yen autographed.

That's a steal! I'll buy one!

Won't that defeat the aim

of profiting from the sales?

Anyone have other ideas?

If we're going to do social media,

I can do that!

Nice one! I hereby appoint you

Minister of Social Media.

I'll be posting every day once we start.

What's next, a fan club?

Really jumping the g*n here.

-We'll charge 10,000 yen a year.

-Expensive, too!

As a bonus, we'll have meet and greets

plus an annual takoyaki party.

-Fans bring the food.

-That's a steal! Sign me up!

Please remember that you're in the band.

What about you, Gotoh-san?

-Anything you'd like to add?

-W-What?

What do I do, I've got nothing.

N-No.

Look at the glitter in those eyes!

I can feel the anticipation!

Well, err…

I've got to say something. Think. Think!

Nothing comes to mind!

Oh, Bocchi-chan doesn't need

to help with this.

Huh?

She has the important role of

writing an original song for us.

Eh?

We agreed on it last time!

Ryo will compose

and you'll write the lyrics!

You could write lyrics

that will run foul of the censors.

You could write lyrics…

You could write lyrics…

No way! I can't wait to hear

how it'll sound! Is it ready?

Not yet.

I'll do it when inspiration strikes.

Gosh, this is exciting!

We're counting on you Ryo!

You too, Minister of Lyrics!

Y-Yes.

It's so cool

that you have such a vital role.

Cool?

W-Well, I could write

those lyrics in my sleep.

They'll be done lickety-split!

Doesn't take much for you

to get carried away.

One set of popular band lyrics and

a guaranteed chart-topper coming up!

Popular band…

ONE WEEK LATER

Nothing.

I can't think of anything.

Instead of lyrics,

all I've come up with is my autograph!

N-Now's not the time for this!

Futari, dear.

I even procrastinated yesterday and spent

five hours editing my own video.

Done.

Argh, you big dummy. You lowly paramecium!

What are you writing?

Don't look!

There it is.

My notebook of lyrics from middle school.

LYRICS

NAILS, WHITE ROBE, STRAW DOLL

HAMMER IN TOW

Is this a curse?

Let's start from the top.

Kita-san is the singer.

Bright lyrics, a song about youth?

Kita shinin' atcha!

I have plenty of

gloomy lyrics to spare, but…

Kita shine!

They wouldn't want that.

It should be band-like

and screaming 'Shinin atcha'!

I'll become a cheerful person!

I am an extrovert!

A woman who surfs in night pools!

People hail me Queen Partyfah

as I make the name mine own!

Let's partaaay!

Gulp it down! Gulp it down!

Get those sick vibes goin'!

Hey Mistah, keep the tequila flowin'!

Hold up!

This isn't how a bright person acts.

I'm being a crazed party animal!

Words alone won't cut it.

I have to act like Kita-san.

Anyone who wants

to go to Shibuya, say aye!

This spot is Insta-famous!

Fireworks go boom in ten minutes.

Huddle around for a selfie!

Eh?

I know a good exorcist.

Y-You have the wrong idea!

NO PEEKING

No more youthful songs.

I'll write something encouraging.

I don't really like lyrics that

irresponsibly validate others though.

EVERYONE'S WITH YOU

YOUR DREAMS WILL COME TRUE

BELIEVE IN YOURSELF

So shallow.

A song like this would only make

someone who's down feel worse!

F-Forgive me!

Gotoh-san?

What's gotten into you?

D-Didn't you call me out to give me hell

for not having any lyrics ready

despite my talking big?

We're not scumbags!

Then what are we here for?

It didn't occur to me that day, but

there was another band-like thing to do!

What?

We need PR photos!

-PR?

-Promotional photos.

You're not in our existing band photo.

T-There's one?

Wanna see?

We took it before our last gig.

-It was after Kita-chan bailed.

-I'm so sorry!

I've never seen such a bad PR photo.

Since the weather's great

and we don't have anything going on,

I figured now would be a good time.

Here, outside?

It costs money to do it in

a studio, so we have no choice.

Taking a photo in the middle of Shimokita

is a tough hurdle for introverts!

Starry is also an option,

but it's vital for a PR photo

to accurately reflect the band

and its members in a single shot.

That means we can't take this lightly!

Exactly! It has to have an impact

no matter where it's used for promotion,

be it venue websites,

flyers, or magazines.

There you have it.

I-I understand. I'll have to brace myself.

Brace for what?

Off we go to find a good photo spot!

-Yeah!

-Yay.

Stairs, fences, foliage, and the park.

These are places you'd expect a

poverty-stricken band to pose in front of.

Oh right, a good-looking wall too!

CALPICO DRINK

We should have brought our instruments.

Y-You're right, we'd look

cooler with instruments.

-You three would.

-Eh?

Only the guitar and bass will look good.

Think of the poor drummer!

All they can hold are the drumsticks!

I think it's cute.

Then you can be the drummer for the day!

No thanks, it's lame.

How about here?

Isn't it great?

Look at all the posters.

It's got that Shimokitazawa feel to it.

This used to be a CD store we frequented.

Record stores and live houses

are closing one after the other.

All these old shops are disappearing.

S-Sorry, I feel bad for bringing this up.

You were so happy when

that new bookstore opened.

I love B&C.

Kita-chan, try not to let her give you

the runaround too much.

More often than not, she just

says whatever comes to her.

I don't mind if she spins me

right 'round any time.

Bocchi-chan, you scared me.

U-Um, over there, I think.

There's a good wall we could use.

Sweet, good work!

Ready? Say cheese!

Our personalities are on display,

but it's missing that band feel.

We need something that says

"we're a band".

Try imitating me,

the very definition of a bandsman.

Where do you get all that confidence?

She can do no wrong,

so we should try her suggestion.

-Right, Gotoh-san?

-Uh, sure.

You two are such sheeple. Oh, fine.

-It looks like someone died.

-Spot on.

Kita-chan, you're so cute in every shot.

You don't have to flatter me.

But it's true. It's like you're

used to being in photos.

Maybe it's because

I post a lot on social media?

See?

Wow!

You're living up to that

Minister of Social Media position.

Bocchi-chan's dying!

What's wrong Gotoh-san? Stay with us!

She's having a seizure!

-What's the matter? Wake up!

-I've never taken a photo with friends.

Because I didn't have any.

The only other photos that weren't

with my family, were my class photos.

When you've lived 15 years

with only those to prove you exist…

Bocchi-chan, you should see your face.

It makes me wonder if I'm

the only high school girl who's like this.

Perhaps I'm as rare as

the fabled tsuchinoko?

Hey there, it's me.

The tsuchinoko of Shimokitazawa.

She's saying crazy things now!

This isn't the first time.

How about you start an account?

What do you say, Minister?

Great idea! Let's be friends.

It will also be good for the band

if we are all on the platform.

Gotoh-san!

If I had a social media account…

It's bad enough

that I'm a gloomy pain in the a*s

trying to be famous by joining a band.

Put me on social media…

and it will be born!

An attention-seeking monster!

Give me likes! Give me likes!

Video sharing sites

are good enough for me.

Gotoh-san! Bocchi-chan!

Forget about social media.

Come back to us!

-You alright?

-Yes.

Let's get back to the photo sh**t.

It's hard to decide on one.

-How about if we jumped?

-Jump?

It's a good look, and our

personalities will show through.

I like that! You're a genius!

Experts say that all anime where the

characters jump in the OP, is godly anime!

What?

Won't it mean that if we jumped,

it will make us a godly band?

What logic is that based on?

I'm not following you at all…

But let's give it a shot anyway!

Huh, what?

-5, 4, 3, 2, 1.

-I can't even recall

the last time I j-jumped.

Whoops, Bocchi's panties are in view.

That sure is a heck of a photo we took.

Sorry for exposing something so worthless.

Please delete it.

I expected a more endearing reaction.

I can't even do a simple jump.

Come on, let's have another go!

Nice! It's got a youthfulness to it

on top of being band-like!

Can I have a copy?

Ah, me too!

Now this is more like it!

We're a step closer to our dream

of becoming a popular band!

Y-Yeah.

Kessoku Band has lifted off!

Next up! A gig and demo CD

handout in summer. Both TBC!

Winter will be the release

of our first album, again TBC!

We'll be the emoest emo rock band

to hail from Shimokitazawa!

Not a single thing has been confirmed!

You can say that again.

We don't even have a song yet.

I forgot all about those lyrics!

We'll have to leave this

to Ryo and Bocchi-chan.

Hey, where's Ryo?

She was gone before I knew it.

There's no keeping her still.

Thanks a lot for today! You can go now!

Feels like the weight of their

expectations grows with each passing day.

W-What if they don't like what they read?

Even worse, they take pity

and try to be nice about it.

M-Maybe I should have someone

go through them first?

Ryo-san, she won't mince her words.

BOCCHI HERE. I'M STILL AROUND,

WOULD YOU BE SO KIND AS TO

LOOK AT THE LYRICS I HAVE PREPARED?

She already saw my text.

I'M HERE NOW

W-What a chic cafe!

LA CHIC - GRAND OPENING

I-I've never eaten out on my own.

It takes courage for me to even

enter a convenience store.

C-Can I go in now?

How do you make an entrance?

How do they do it in the dramas?

I think it was…

W-What's cooking, good looking?

Over here, Bocchi.

A-Awkward.

This might be the first time

we're alone together.

I still don't know her well.

Why hasn't she said a word?

Thanks for the food.

S-She's finished eating!

W-What do I do? Should I go first?

-Wasn't that photoshoot fun!

-Not really.

What if that happens?

-Show me the lyrics.

-Oh, right.

Please have a look.

Very well, I shall.

It managed to shake her up?

Are you fine with this?

Not really, but it's for the band's sake.

Y-Yeah, I think it's a work of art.

I think this autograph is

a bit childish for a rock band.

Not that page!

How do you personally feel

about these lyrics?

Uh, well, it's about what you'd

expect from a hit band.

Did I mention that I used to be

in another band?

Their songs were a little

immature, but I liked them.

However, we got desperate seeking fame

and based our lyrics on

whatever we thought would sell.

I left because I had had enough of that.

We even had a fight when I did.

Just as I was fed up

with bands altogether…

If you've got nothing to do,

how about you be my bassist?

Why should I?

Because I love the way your bass sounds.

Nijika's words made me give it another go.

A band that abandons

what makes it unique, is a dead band.

Ryo-san?

That's why you shouldn't feel

compelled to write these dull lyrics.

Do it the way you want to.

B-But if I did that, they'll

all be glum and heavy.

Wouldn't it be funny if someone who's

the complete opposite sung them?

-What?

-Every day I'll curse someone!

Our respective quirks come together

to form a single tune.

That's what makes Kessoku Band special.

Ryo-san's a lot more

dependable than she lets on.

-We should go.

-O-Okay.

Umm, Ryo-san. What about the bill?

Sorry, I don't have any cash

on me, could you pay?

What! W-Weren't you the one

who chose this place?

I've been eating nothing but grass

and needed proper food.

You mean you're still keeping that up?

Plus, this place just opened recently

and I had to check it out.

-Do me a favor, please?

-I-I take what I said back!

So sorry about this. I promise

to pay you back next month.

No need to hurry.

So, umm.

I-I'll try writing again!

Looking forward to it.

H-Hey…

The lyrics are done.

H-Here.

Those eyebags look terrible.

Y-Yeah. I was so occupied

with writing that I didn't sleep.

Let's have a look

at the fruits of your labor.

It might be a bit too g-gloomy.

It is.

Don't say that!

But it's very you.

There may not be many, but I'm sure

some people will relate to this.

When did you two become so close?

Seriously though, these lyrics rule!

I love this phrase!

Me too.

I-I somehow finished those lyrics.

Let's keep at it.

That way the band will carry on…

I hope we'll take many photos together.

I sleep

With big problems weighing down on me

Though you can't beat that feeling

Of being loved, it's true

When I awaken from cold dreams

My body feels numb

You shine so brightly

It could make me a shadow

It's time to take that step

Though there's nothing certain about it

It carries my childish heart into tomorrow

It's time to blast out the thoughts

Rattling around in my brain

And live, to its fullest, a life

I've been taking advances on for so long

But I also love the days I spend

Lying around, doing nothing

So I know I'm going to go see you

Before it all disappears some day

Tune in next week!