Chapter 242 — The Ascended Bocchi

On Thursday, the group went through a short rehearsal.

There wasn’t a full run-through this time—the performance would be broadcast live, after all.

Once that wrapped up, Kessoku Band spent a bit longer in the recording room for some light practice.

The song had been chosen by Kei even before they left Japan, and they’d been rehearsing it for weeks.

When practice finally ended, the girls decided to take one last stroll around Okinawa.

This time, they visited Ryukyu Onsen Senagajima to relax before the cruise ship departed the island on Friday night.

“Aaaahh… this feels sooo good~,” Kita sighed in bliss, stretching her arms above her head.

“Yes… it’s been a while since I went to a public onsen,” Nijika murmured, sinking deeper into the water.

“Mm…” Ryou, seated beside her, simply nodded in agreement.

Her eyes stayed fixed on the horizon, watching the sun melt into shades of gold and crimson.

The cool evening breeze brushed against her face, blending perfectly with the warmth of the water—it was pure serenity.

For Nijika, just being on the cruise ship already felt like a once-in-a-lifetime luxury. And now, spending a night at this resort-style hotel? It was almost overwhelming.

When the production team mentioned that each checkpoint would include stays like this, she couldn’t help but wonder how much money this kind of show was actually making.

‘Well… the downside is that most of our free time is still being filmed for the documentary,’ Nijika thought, letting out a small sigh.

Since Kessoku Band was the only Japanese team in the entire competition, they’d been given two rooms all to themselves—one for the girls, and another shared by Kei and Kikouka-san, and each room have their own private onsen.

“Well, it’d be nice if Kei-senpai were here too…” Nijika murmured absentmindedly, her voice barely rippling through the calm steam rising around her.

But the moment his name left her lips, her thoughts began to wander—drifting back to that night.

Her heartbeat quickened.

She could still remember the warmth of the light house room’s dim light, the scent of Kei smell clinging to his clothes, and the way Kei’s eyes—usually sharp and composed—softened when they met hers.

She didn’t know what come over her to get that kind of courage to be that bold, the moment she pulled him for a kiss for a second, she forgot to breathe.

It wasn’t long or dramatic—just a brief, gentle touch—but it was enough to send a shock through her entire body.

Her hand, trembling in surprise, had brushed against his chest by accident.

It was firm, warm, unmistakably him.

Her heart nearly leapt out of her chest.

Nijika then unconsciously touch lips as she remember the felling, if she

“Splash!”

“S-senpai!?” Kita yelped as Nijika suddenly dunked her face into the water, bubbles bursting up around her.

She resurfaced seconds later, steam rising from her flushed face.

“A-Are you okay!?”

“Yes! Don’t worry, Kita-chan!” Nijika said too quickly, waving her hands, her tone just a bit too high-pitched.

“But your face is all red, senpai! If you’re feeling too hot, I can walk you back to the room—”

“N-No, really! I’m fine! Just… a little dizzy, that’s all!”

Kita tilted her head suspiciously, but Nijika forced a laugh to brush it off.

In truth, her heart was still racing so fast she could feel it echo in her ears.

Trying to regain her composure, she looked around the bath and realized something.

“Wait… where’s Bocchi-chan?”

Ryou, half-asleep beside them, cracked one eye open.

“Hmm… don’t know…” she mumbled before sinking back into the water like a lazy cat.

“Ryou, if you want to sleep, go to the room not here!” Nijika sighed.

“Hmm… blurgh…” came Ryou’s muffled response.

“You’re hopeless…” Nijika muttered, standing up and scanning the steamy area. “Bocchi-chan! Bocchi-chan, where are you?”

“Here…” came a small voice from behind a rock.

“Bocchi-chan?”

As she goes toward the voice, she stumble upon Bocchi who was half-submerged in the steaming water, her eyes distant and glassy, as if she were on the verge of a spiritual departure.

For someone like her, these couple of days have been rough.

For her in her usual day to day life just leaving home was already a courageous act.

But now being surrounded by cameras, strangers, and constant conversation for several days straight?

That was no longer just “outside her comfort zone.” That was beyond the borders of sanity.

Normally, spending time with her bandmates didn’t drain her too much.

But the endless interviews, the polite smiles for staff, and the awkward small talk with contestants from other countries had completely shattered her fragile mental stamina.

She though being popular is a good thing, but if she knew it will be like this, she want to punch her past self for just thinking of it.

‘Mom… Dad… Hime-chan… Jimihen… I think this is it for your daughter…’

‘Thank you… for everything…’

Bocchi’s final thoughts echoed as she began to sink lower and lower into the steaming water, bubbles rising around her.

“Bocchi-chan! No! Keep yourself together!” Nijika cried, splashing toward her in a panic.

———————————————————————

Meanwhile, on the other side of the onsen, Kei could clearly hear Nijika’s panicked shouting echoing across the walls.

He sighed. ‘…What on earth are they even doing over there?’

Beside him, Kikuoka chuckled, his shoulders relaxing as he leaned back against the rocks. “Ahaha… sounds like they’re having fun, Aoki-sensei.”

Kei gave a dry laugh, rubbing the back of his neck. “A-hahaha… yes fun,…”

The faint sound of splashing and Nijika’s voice shouting “Don’t die on me, Bocchi-chan!” carried through the steam.

Kei stared at the cloudy surface of the water, trying to pretend he wasn’t hearing any of it.