BanG Dream: The Unexpected Part-Timer

A Lurking Supporter

As they wrapped up a song, Ran gestured to the others, "Alright, everyone, time for a quick short break."

The band members filed out of the studio and headed toward the lounge area, opting for the comfy sofas.

Meanwhile, I silently approached with a tray of meticulously arranged macarons.

"Hey there, everyone,"

I greeted them with a smile, setting the tray down at the center of the coffee table.

Himari, still engrossed in her phone, looked up with surprise, "Oh, goodies? Seriously?"

"Absolutely, Marina-san suggested I provide some treats for the studio users."

Tomoe reached for a macaron, her eyes glinting with delight. "Well, if you insist, I won't turn it down."

Feeling a little shy, Tsugumi followed suit, "I guess I'll take one as well."

Moca, who had been nonchalantly inspecting a macaron, suddenly perked up. "He-he-he, Good job."

"Well, they're almost like miniature pastries, aren't they?"

Himari's eyes sparkled with excitement as she snapped a quick photo of the macarons. "Hehehe, looks like another post for my feed."

I raised an eyebrow, intrigued. "Oh, really? You're going to post this?"

Himari nodded with enthusiasm. "Yeah! Why not?"

Curiosity got the best of me.

"Mind if I take a look at the photo?"

Himari beamed and showed me her phone. "Here it is!"

I examined the image and if I were honest, It's not good since...

"It's a little blurry, you see."

"Eh?! Really!?"

Why do you look surprised?

"Yep, How about changing the angle and finding better lighting?"

Eh? A-alright!"

With that, Himari jumped up and started adjusting her position to capture the perfect shot. Her dedication to improving her photo was evident, and it was quite endearing.

As I was giving Himari some photography tips, Ran walked into the lounge, her eyes sweeping across the scene. "Oh, so this is where you guys are."

Himari immediately greeted her, "Ran! We're just taking a little break."

Ran noticed me and nodded in acknowledgment. "You again."

"Hello. I was just about to leave and clean."

"Really?" Tomoe asked with a macaron in hand still munching.

I smiled at them, "Yeah, feel free to enjoy the macarons."

"I see... Thank you." Ran walked past me with a nod of gratitude and took a seat beside Moca.

Eh? Is that it? Not even questioning my motivations? I'm pleased she isn't suspicious, though.

Wait, Does she dislike me!?

As I returned to the reception desk, pondering how to support without raising suspicion, a sudden idea struck me.

"I know!" I exclaimed, springing from my chair. With newfound determination, I headed back to the studio to find the members taking a break.

"They're still on a break, so maybe I should clean their instruments," I thought to myself.

Starting with the drums and drumsticks, I meticulously cleaned each piece of equipment. Then, as I worked on the guitars, disaster struck. Accidentally plucked a string.

What?

My heart raced, but instead of stopping, I hesitantly started to play a gentle melody. My fingers danced along the fretboard, plucking the strings with precision, producing a soft, mellow tune that flowed through the studio.

The electric guitar's notes carried an air of emotion and beauty as they filled the room, creating a serene and captivating atmosphere.

What is this feeling?

An overwhelming tingling of sensation.

the feeling of a tingly, electric sensation that courses through my body when I hit these first chords. It's a feeling that is hard to describe but is absolutely exhilarating.

This electric feeling comes from the vibrations of the strings that are picked up by the pickups on the electric guitar and turned into an electrical signal. This signal is then amplified and sent to the speaker, where it creates the sound of an electric guitar.

I continued to let my fingers dance on the strings as if they had a mind of their own. The music flowed from the electric guitar in a mesmerizing rhythm, each note blending seamlessly into the next.

The sound echoed through the studio, a heartfelt melody that expressed emotions words couldn't capture. I couldn't stop, as the music seemed to have taken control of me, guiding my every move on the instrument.

But then my mind snapped back to reality as I noticed the Afterglow watching me from the door. I immediately stopped and slowly placed the guitar on the speaker.

"Erm... Sorry," I stammered, my cheeks flushed.

"Nakasone-kun! That was a really good guitar session you just did!" Himari exclaimed, taking a photo of me and quickly uploading it to her feed.

"E-Eh!? Really?" I asked in surprise.

Everyone in Afterglow nodded in agreement.

"Argh... That was embarrassing," I muttered, feeling my face grow even warmer. I covered my face with my hands, still trying to process what had just happened.

"Anyway, let's continue practicing," Ran said, taking the lead as she got up on the stage.

I nodded at them as they followed Ran to the stage.

"I should leave them be for now," I thought to myself as I walked out of the studio.

As I walked out of the studio, heading back to the reception desk, I couldn't help but feel a sense of fulfillment for the secret support I had provided.

Meanwhile, while Afterglow continued practicing, Moca happened to look down and noticed a dry cloth on the floor. She stopped, picked it up, and examined it.

Everyone paused and looked at Moca, puzzled by her actions.

"What's wrong, Moca?" Ran asked, concerned.

Moca held up the cloth. "Could it be that Nakasone-kun was cleaning our instruments?"

Tomoe, following Moca's gaze, inspected the cloth and then looked at the drums. "You're right."

Tsugumi also inspected her instrument. "It appears so."

Tomoe then mused, "Is he perhaps helping us without us noticing?"

"Everyone, let's finish this practice, and then... investigate this case," Ran said in a serious tone.

"Yeah~," everyone agreed in unison, their curiosity piqued.