Rewrite Our Love? Too Late-Chapter 99: Emergency String Swap – The Sound Must Go On

Yukima Azuma blinked in surprise as a purple-haired woman with an unmistakable scent of alcohol waved enthusiastically at him.

"Ijichi-san... is this your friend?" he asked, turning to look at Ijichi Seika.

Seika looked mildly embarrassed and rubbed her temple before replying.

"She's a junior of mine from college. Hiroi Kikuri."

"She bumped into Bocchi-chan on the street in Shimokitazawa after school, and now she's here to cheer her on."

Azuma gave a slight nod. Of course he recognized her—Hiroi Kikuri, the alcoholic bassist known for being unable to put the bottle down. In the original story, she had been a mentor of sorts, helping guide Bocchi onto the stage for the first time.

"Hiroi-san, nice to meet you," he greeted politely.

"Hehe, just like Bocchi-chan said—you are handsome!" Kikuri laughed and staggered over, throwing an arm around his shoulder. The smell of alcohol intensified as she leaned in close.

Azuma endured it. If she was Bocchi's friend, then she was half a friend of his, too. And Azuma had a very high tolerance—for people he considered friends.

"Has Hiroi-san had a bit too much to drink?" he asked lightly.

"It's fine, it's fine! I'm super sober!" she insisted, swaying a little.

"I brought hangover medicine and red bean soup," Azuma said, pulling them from his bag. "Please, have some."

"Eh!? You're so thoughtful!" Kikuri beamed. "I might just fall in love with you!"

She downed the concoction and plopped herself by the stage to rest and sober up. Nearby, Ijichi Seika and Yotsuya Miko exchanged glances.

"...Why do you carry hangover medicine?" Seika asked, eyeing him.

Azuma simply shrugged. "It's better to be prepared."

Their skeptical looks said it all.

What kind of prevention is that? they both thought. It's like he can predict the future...

"Yukima-oniisan!"

A tiny voice called out as something hugged his leg. Looking down, Azuma saw a small pink-haired girl with a bright smile. He picked her up gently.

"This is Gotoh Futari, Bocchi's little sister."

"Gotoh Futari desu!" she said cheerfully, bowing in his arms.

Ijichi Seika smiled in surprise. "This is her sister? They look so alike... but also totally different."

It was true. While they shared about 70–80% resemblance, Futari was like a bright beam of sunshine, the very energy Bocchi seemed to lack. It was as if all the extroversion had been concentrated into the younger sibling.

Just then, Mr. and Mrs. Gotoh arrived as well—clearly here to support their eldest daughter. Mr. Gotoh had even brought a video camera. They looked proud and enthusiastic, especially toward Azuma—the first friend their daughter had brought home.

As time passed, the auditorium filled rapidly.

In the crowd, Azuma spotted familiar faces—fans from the live house. Despite only two public performances so far, Kessoku Band had already gained a cult following. Bocchi's unique appeal seemed to draw people in like a quiet magnet.

"Wait, Gotoh's going to perform today, right?"

"Yeah. I heard she's in a band. I didn't even know she played an instrument."

"Maybe that's why she's so quiet all the time—just thinking about music."

Whispers swirled. Even her classmates had gathered to see this quiet girl come alive on stage.

Azuma smiled faintly.

From spring to summer, she had grown so much. Bocchi was no longer alone.

Backstage, the four members of Kessoku Band did their final instrument checks.

Bocchi's heart was pounding. It felt like it might leap right out of her chest.

"...Why is there a drum sound already? We haven't even started," Yamada Ryo muttered, confused.

"It's Bocchi-chan's heartbeat!" Kita Ikuyo laughed, gently patting her friend's shoulder. "Deep breaths!"

Once preparations were complete, the four girls formed a circle and placed their hands together.

"Kessoku Band! Let's give it our all and enjoy the school festival!" Nijika said with a bright grin.

They pressed their hands down, then raised them high.

As the curtain slowly lifted, blinding stage lights flooded their vision. The massive auditorium stretched out before them, packed wall-to-wall with people. Orange light sticks shimmered like stars in the crowd.

Bocchi instinctively wanted to close her eyes. The roaring noise was overwhelming.

But then—

"Good luck, onee-chan!"

She looked down and saw her little sister waving a glowing light stick, her parents beside her.

"Do your best!"

Fans joined in. Her classmates. Her friends. Everyone was watching.

Even Hiroi Kikuri, already half-drunk again, was flailing enthusiastically by the stage. A bottle of alcohol sat suspiciously close.

Bocchi ignored her, eyes scanning until she found him—Yukima Azuma. He didn't shout. He only mouthed the words:

"Do your best, Bocchi."

And just like that, her fear melted away.

Nijika tapped her drumsticks together—one, two, three, four!

The beat launched the performance, and Bocchi struck the first note.

The guitar roared, flawless. The sounds merged into a tidal wave of rhythm and energy. It was Bocchi's first time on such a big stage—but she gave it everything. 120%.

The crowd was captivated.

—

[Lyrics Translation - Seishun Complex]

I used to hide in dark corners, drowning in my hoodie

Eyes that hated the world but craved love deeply

I liked getting drenched by rain—it made my face harder to see

I faked fear of storms while praying for lightning to strike

Strumming distortion—I want to roar like thunder

Drumming the pain—this pounding can't be stopped

Strumming in harmony—I want to spark a revolution

Drumming louder—what can I do? My heart is too wild

Kita's crystal-clear voice soared across the hall, elevating Bocchi's lyrics with passion and grace. Their synergy, the power of youth, the spark of rock—it was all there.

The first song ended with a final flourish from Bocchi's guitar.

"This was Seishun Complex! We're Kessoku Band, performing in Shimokitazawa!" Nijika announced brightly.

Back in the audience, Hiroi Kikuri curiously eyed the guitar case Azuma was carrying.

"Hey Yukima-kun... are you going to perform later? Got a bass in there?"

Azuma smiled and pulled the bag to his chest, rubbing it gently through the fabric.

"...No. It's not that. This is just for... precautions."

Ijichi Seika glanced at him curiously, just as—

"Next up is our second song—Seiza ni Naretara!" Kita shouted.

The crowd roared again. The excitement was building.

That's when it happened.

Hiroi Kikuri's drunken eyes sharpened. She stared at Bocchi intensely.

The moment the song began, something felt... off.

The tuning sounded wrong. Bocchi glanced down. The first and second strings—

Snap!

Her eyes widened. The first string had broken.

She reached for the tuning knob—but it was jammed. And then she saw it.

A crack.

No... the second string's going too.

Kikuri muttered from the audience, "She won't be able to finish the solo..."

Bocchi panicked. What should I do? I can't fix it in time!

She bent down, desperate. Her heart raced. The solo was approaching.

And then—

"BOCCHI!"

A familiar voice cut through the chaos.

She looked up.

There he was—Yukima Azuma, holding out a light blue-pink guitar.

Bocchi rushed over, exchanging instruments in seconds.

The new guitar felt cold. Unused. But perfect.

She strummed—flawless.

It was the guitar. The one she had stared at in the store.

The strings were perfectly tuned—someone had prepared it meticulously.

She didn't play alone anymore. It felt like someone else's hands were there with hers, guiding her.

Together, they kept the music alive.

The sound of her soul... never stopped.