BanG Dream: The Unexpected Part-Timer

The Past Where It All Started (2)

Coughing and feeling under the weather, I lay in bed, staring up at the ceiling.

"Urgk... Damn it... I caught a cold," I muttered to myself.

I had planned to go to school earlier, but I ended up passing out while trying to take a bath. Thankfully, my sister was still around the house.

Sighing, I shifted position on the bed, wincing as my throat throbbed with pain. "Argh... My throat hurts."

Turning my head to the right, I glanced at the familiar sight of my room - my monitor, posters, novels, and my guitar, displayed prominently.

It had been two years since I last touched that guitar.

And I'm sure as hell ain't touching it.

Rest was the only remedy I could think of as I succumbed to sleep, hoping it would ease the pain, both physical and emotional.

In my dream, a haunting memory from my middle school days resurfaced.

We were in the middle of our second song at the festival when suddenly, my guitar string snapped, producing an awkward twang that echoed through the festival grounds. I winced, realizing the mishap.

"Ack! What happened, Kyo-kun?" Koishi asked, concern evident in her voice.

Determined not to let the show falter, Koishi grabbed the microphone. "Hey, everyone! Sorry for the technical difficulty. Give us a moment to fix it, and we'll be right back!"

As the band attempted to regroup backstage, Kenji gave me a stern look. "Hey! Nakasone! What was that all about?!"

Tension filled the room as Kenji's frustration reached its peak. I clenched my fists, feeling the weight of his words.

"B-But... I didn't know," I stammered, trying to defend myself.

Kenji gritted his teeth, his frustration evident in his tone. "Hey! Because of you, everything is now a mess!" He shot a disgruntled look at the guitar in my hands. "This old piece of junk... that's why..."

I couldn't let that slide. My hands tightened around the guitar.

"Hey... What did you say again?"

Are you... making fun of my guitar...!? My... grandfather's guitar!?

Right... Just because this guitar is old doesn't mean it's not functional!

The door suddenly burst open, and the club advisor, who had been enjoying the festival, entered the room with a stern expression. "What's going on here? This is not the way a band should behave, especially during a performance."

Kenji and I shot each other one last glare before reluctantly falling silent. The advisor sighed, "Settle your differences and focus on improving. Bands face challenges, and how you overcome them defines your success. Now, pull yourselves together."

"No, Sensei... I don't think I will be joining this club anymore," I declared, my voice firm.

Kenji's eyes widened, shock and disbelief written all over his face. "What did you just say...?!"

"You heard me, Kenji-senpai. From now on, I'm leaving this club."

"H-Hey! You can't do that!"

"Yes, I can!" I paused, frustration building up. "I realized something was off. Suddenly inviting me into a club because of what? My talent? Don't give me that crap. If you want to be famous that much... WHY DON'T YOU USE YOUR OWN TALENT!?" I gestured emphatically, letting my pent-up feelings flow. "Ahh! That's right! You're talentless! You just learned how to play bass, right?"