01x06 - Eight Views

[bunniefuu]

"The story so far!"

Hitori Gotoh is a slightly shy, socially

awkward, guitar-loving loner girl.

The guitar is my friend, but I'd

Still like to form a band someday

And before she knew it…

Join our band!

Stuff happened, and she found herself

in a rock band with some merry friends!

Since then, every day has been a hustle.

The manager told them, "Pass this audition

or you're never getting another gig"

and sent them into a flurry!

RUMBLING

MANAGERIAL AUTHORITY

After heaps and heaps of practice…

PASS

-Hurrah! Hurrah! Hurrah!

-They passed with flying colours.

-Hurrah! Hurrah! Hurrah!

-Happy smiles all around.

Or so it should have been, except

Hitori Gotoh was faced with a new hurdle!

It's called…

A five-ticket quota!

A tremendous pickle for someone with

no contacts outside her band and family!

What will she do? Can she overcome this?

Ten days to go before our next gig.

LAST NIGH

Dad, Mom, sister, dog.

That leaves one more…

Granny?

Asking her to take a three

hour trip just for this is too much.

I don't think Jimihen would be allowed in.

-You think so?

-Yeah.

I did consider that too.

Futari wouldn't be able to enter either.

She's only five.

Aww, that sucks.

It's a scary place to be.

STARRY NIGHT TICKETS

Dad… Mom…

Dad, Mom, Dad, Mom, Dad, Mom…

Dad… Mom…

Shall I invite my friends?

Shall I invite?

Shall I invite? Shall I invite?

-Mom.

-Sis has zero friends, right Mom?

I may not talk about them, but I do

have tons of friends at school, got it?

No way!

You mustn't say that to anyone,

not even as a joke.

Learn to sympathize

with the plight of others.

I'm sorry.

Alright, I'll ask some of my friends.

-There's no…

-So will I.

There's no need to!

Like I said, I have lots of

friends at school to reach out to!

Look forward to seeing us perform!

I shouldn't have tried saving face.

What do I do?

I still have three tickets to sell…

KESSOKU BAND

I made some flyers to

promote us around the neighborhood.

Hand-drawn flyers are more endearing,

at least that's what the Internet says.

Come to think of it…

How can I give these out

when I can't talk to people?

I've run out of options. What should I do?

I'm too scared to even move.

Some of my friends are coming!

Isn't that great?

I sold them somehow.

How are you selling, Bocchi?

Think you can make it today?

I'd like to discuss our new song.

It's smooth sailing for the others.

How should I reply?

I laugh in the face of quotas!

I could put up a front. Maybe I should

be honest and say it's impossible.

But that would mean…

Anyone who can't sell tickets is fired!

Guess what?

I found us a bright and jolly guitarist

through my oh so

expansive web of contacts!

Why did I act so tough in front of Mom!

Wha… Someone's collapsed.

Oh no, I should see if they're okay.

Actually, I better call an ambulance!

Ah, hello?

-It is now 4:30 in the afternoon.

-Wa… ter…

Please give me some water.

Sure! I'll buy one right away.

-Some hangover meds too.

-On it!

And some clam miso soup.

I also crave porridge.

Rest me on a freshly sun-dried fluffy bed.

That's a lot of orders.

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

NAUSEA RELIEF: FOR HANGOVERS

AND UPSET STOMACHS

CLAM SOUP

Felt that all the way to my liver.

Thanks so much. You're a lifesaver!

Didn't think you'd

actually get me the miso soup.

You're welcome.

I wanna take my head

and stick it in the washer!

-I may have helped a nutcase.

-Wring out the alcohol from my innards!

I'll be on my way then.

What's your name?

Hitori Gotoh.

That's a cute name.

Thank you.

Alcohol's best taken in moderation!

Cheap words from

someone who's gonna drink again.

Fight alcohol with more alcohol!

That hit the spot!

DEMON SLAY SAKE

She's guzzling booze

like there's no tomorrow.

What am I supposed to do?

Can I go home now?

Want some, Hitori-chan?

It's the cheap stuff though.

I'll pass.

Wait, are you underage? You listening?

-Why so quiet?

-Yup, she's off her rocker.

-You're cold to the touch!

-Not sure if she's serious or joking.

-You feel like concrete!

-Run on the count of three!

So what's it gonna be? Wanna drink?

I have to go now.

Look, a guitar!

Can you play?

I'm in a band, an indie one though.

-Oh god, she's a musician?

-So, can you play?

-This guitar!

-I'm scared.

I've never spoken to

an adult bandsman before.

Not sure why, but she might get mad?

Lemme have a look.

Kids these days…

Don't know sh*t about rock!

I have to get away

before I step on a landmine.

What's up, Hitori-chan?

Oh, nothing. I bought

this and got discouraged in a day.

So I'm off to get rid

of it at the pawn shop!

What?

It should be in the hands of someone

more deserving, who can make it soar.

I can't play to save my life!

So sorry! Wonder how much it'll sell for?

We're having barbeque tonight!

Wait.

You shouldn't give up in only one day.

You can always sell it at any time.

So how about you keep at it?

You might find yourself

becoming worthy of the guitar.

-Or something like that!

-Huh?

-I said something motivational!

-She may not be such a space case.

I know! How about I show you the ropes?

No, I'm sorry.

Everything I said was a lie.

Is lying second nature to you or what?

Whoa, you've got a great guitar!

I can tell you're handling it with care.

Thank you.

I play the bass.

The bass and alcohol

are the two loves of my life.

Which is why

I always have both by my side.

Where is your bass?

I left it at the bar.

Let's go fetch it, Hitori-chan!

So much for that love.

Hey.

Have you heard from Bocchi-chan yet?

Still nothing.

Maybe I shouldn't have sent that text.

You're overthinking it.

Today's supposed to be self-practice.

She could be held up by something.

I wonder.

What if I gave her unnecessary pressure?

I feel her. I know what it's

like to be under your oppression!

Yeah, right!

Geez…

I sure hope she's okay.

Tadah! Here's my lovely bass!

-Super Ultra Shuten Doji EX!

-What have I gotten myself into? Help.

Isn't it cool?

Yeah. Really cool.

This baby stole the show

at our concert yesterday!

After that, I had one

drink too many at the after party.

Next thing I knew, the sun was up.

And there I was in the middle of nowhere!

How long were you at it?

Let's see, we started at 10:00…

and I only remember about half of it.

Personally,

I wouldn't mind going all night long.

You must really love to drink.

Sure do!

Cause it helps you forget everything.

Everything?

Worries about the future and all that.

Pension woes! The decline

of rural populations! Poverty gap!

STRESSFUL SOCIETY - ISSUES WITH PENSIONS

ANXIETY ABOUT THE FUTURE - MARRIAGE

AGING - CAREGIVER

I call this the spiral of happiness.

Give it a try.

No thanks.

What a miserable form of happiness.

Guess it's still too

soon for you to get it.

You'll understand

better when you're older.

I see.

-I'd rather never understand.

-You're a future alcoholic!

I'm sure of it!

It's written all over your face!

What would I be like as a drunkard?

XX YEARS LATER

STRONG c*ck

Mom no longer badgers me

to try the job agency.

She must be occupied with the grandkids.

I mean, Futari's a mother now.

I know things can't carry on like this,

but why even bother with life?

Oh yeah, I was in a band in high school.

Those were the days.

Thinking back on it,

I shined like a star back then.

I wonder how everyone's doing.

What would I even say

if I ever had to face them?

No!

No?

Could it be that you're pretty deranged?

Sorry, I lost myself.

I never said it was a bad thing.

By the way, what were you up to earlier?

Well I…

Blah blah blabbity blah.

I get it now. You poor Little Match Girl.

She's taking pity on me.

It's hard selling tickets.

I had it rough when I started too.

Is that so?

That settles it!

Time for me to bare it all for my savior!

Come on, get ready.

The two of us are about to…

…Have a street performance.

Right here, right now!

Wait!

What?

Perform on the street?

Yep! You have fliers ready, so the best

thing to do is grab their attention

through a performance

and get them to buy tickets.

Isn't… How… But…

Looks like there are lots of

people here for a festival or something.

It's the perfect place

for a street performance.

Oh, but we don't have

an amplifier and other equipment for this.

That's too bad.

Guess we'll have to do this another time.

Hey there, it's me. Still alive, yes!

I'm about to have a street

performance, can you bring the gear over?

-We only need the gear. Yup. Thanks!

-Oh no, there are no breaks on this ride.

Attention, please!

We're about to rock the street!

No money needed,

check it out if you've got time!

Good people of Kanazawa-Hakkei!

A performance is underway!

Please have a look!

Wow, sounds fun!

Get over here, you.

You've never played

your guitar out in the open?

How about closing

your eyes if you're that frightened?

Just kidding.

-You're pretty shy. I get you.

-That might actually work.

I've been playing in the dark

where I could hardly see my hands.

I could do this.

Let me get this straight.

The audience before you

aren't your enemies.

Don't make that mistake.

What?

Enemies?

What does she mean by that?

You want to know what

Gotoh-san is like at school?

Yeah, I can sorta guess but…

Is she all alone?

Hey now,

you didn't have to be so tactless.

Well, we're in different classes

so I can't say what she's like there.

But I've never seen

her with anyone else before.

It's not like she's

being bullied or anything.

That's a relief.

Gotoh-san's reserved,

which probably makes her hard to approach.

They're unsure of how to handle her.

Really?

What a shame, she's a hoot to be with.

I know, right?

We're starting now!

We'll be playing an original

song from her band, Kessoku Band!

Clap, clap, clap!

After you.

Okay.

She helps me out with my guitar practice.

But she declines to

have lunch with my friends.

She's never around

when I go to her classroom.

She's…

She's improvising on the spot,

yet there's no hesitation in her sound.

She plays with utter confidence

as she supports my performance.

I can tell how much she's enjoying herself

from her sound alone.

Me, on the other hand…

I'm so worried if the audience is

laughing at me that I can't raise my head.

You can do it!

What're you doing?

Well, the guitarist seemed kinda anxious.

So you called out to her?

CAN YOU MAKE IT TODAY, BOCCHI?

I'D LIKE TO DISCUSS OUR NEW SONG.

Bocchi-chan.

Hope she's alright.

I get it.

There were never

any enemies in front of me.

It was all in my head.

She opened her eyes.

Her playing instantly became consistent.

So this is what

her guitar really sounds like.

Fascinating!

You've got it.

Everyone here

was drawn in by your performance.

In this short time, she managed

to realize and overcome her problem.

That's impressive!

This girl's going places.

My instincts were spot on!

Everyone's smiling.

Will I see more if I keep on performing?

PLEASE BUY A TICKET!

I really hope I will.

You knocked it out of the park!

Thank you very much.

Great, she never noticed

that I only had one eye open.

-What's up?

-Nothing.

Forgive me, I can't

change that much in one day.

-Excuse me.

-Yes!

May we buy tickets for this concert?

Two, please!

Good for you, Hitori-chan!

Did you blue screen out of joy?

Umm, it's 1500 yen per ticket,

so that'll be 3000 yen!

-Is that right?

-Yes!

Pardon me, are you sure about this?

Don't question them!

But, they're…

This was my first time seeing

a street performance, but it was great.

We'll be rooting for you

at your next performance!

Thanks, I'll do my best!

Will you be playing that song again?

Yes. We will.

Can't wait!

I used to shine like that too.

I'll be drowning myself in booze tonight.

Why are you crying?

Sorry, I'll be in my happy spiral soon.

That can't be good for you.

Excuse me,

could you refrain from performing here?

-The police!

-Sorry about that!

Am I under arrest?

Chill, you're not.

We did get told off though,

time to pack our bags.

Oh right. I was too happy

to notice I still have one more ticket.

On the bright side,

I managed to sell four tickets.

I did well for my first time.

I'll take that last one.

The ticket.

You'll meet your quota with that, right?

Will you really?

I sure will.

I usually perform around

Shinjuku, so it's not far away.

Plus I'm familiar with this venue!

Thank you so much!

I'll be expecting a gig that's

worth over five Demon Slays!

Count on it!

Let's do this again sometime!

She was a peculiar person.

Bandsmen really are cool.

I'm all out of cash

after buying your ticket.

Spare me a few yen for my train ride back?

-I'll pay you back at your gig.

-Feeling some major deja vu right now.

Bandsmen are way too poor.

Wow, look at that!

Sorry I couldn't join you today.

By the way, I sold all my tickets!

And send.

I hope our next gig is a success!

She said she sold all her tickets.

-What a bald-faced lie.

-No kidding.

Perhaps our group chat

really was pressuring her.

Poor girl.

Let's treat her kindly at

our next practice session.

Yeah.

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!