Mash-up Anime World: Creating the SCP Foundation to Contain Anomalies-Chapter 332 - 326: Bocchi’s Leap of Faith

Watching Bocchi on stage with one eye open and the other closed (literally), Haruto couldn't help but feel both amused and exasperated.

Was this some new form of stage performance?

o.O?

After the opening song, the girls performed three more songs.

They took their curtain call and exited the stage amid the warm atmosphere of the performance hall.

The stage effects were excellent.

Watching the Kessoku Band step down, Haruto recalled something amusing.

"By the way, has Bocchi ever suddenly jumped off the stage before?"

Hearing this, Ijichi Seika couldn't help but burst into laughter.

"She has, actually. But how did you know? Photography is supposed to be prohibited in the performance hall."

She was certain that Haruto hadn't attended the performance when Bocchi suddenly fell ill.

Could it be that someone had secretly brought recording equipment into the hall?

Haruto shook his head.

"Well, how should I put it... it just feels like something Bocchi would do."

Seeing the certainty on Haruto's face, the manager laughed so hard she nearly doubled over.

Then, Ijichi Seika began to recount what could only be described as an incident.

During a performance, Bocchi's guitar string snapped.

Since she always used the same guitar and had never experienced such an event before, she had no backup instrument, nor was it possible to replace the string on the spot.

Also, the band's guitar section was largely propped up by Bocchi alone.

The secondary guitarist and lead vocalist hadn't been practicing long enough to carry the entire ensemble.

It was practically a stage disaster.

Although she could've ignored the snapped string and continued playing on the higher frets...

In reality, things weren't so simple.

Guitar strings work together to maintain tension—snap one, and the rest lose balance, altering the tuning.

Without knowing the new equilibrium, the guitar would need real-time sound testing and retuning.

To make things worse, Bocchi's tuning pegs were old and unreliable.

But in the end, the stage disaster...

Was resolved by Bocchi using a nearby wine glass as a slide to perform slide guitar.

This style of playing allowed her to bypass the broken string and the need for manual tuning adjustments.

One had to admit, while Bocchi was a social disaster...

At critical moments, she never let the team down—often even turning the tide.

However... after bottling it up for so long...

In an attempt to lighten the stage mood, and following a senior's advice, Bocchi went for a "leap of faith."

In rock bands, a few do use this technique to hype up the crowd—

That is, jumping straight off the stage to be caught by fans.

However, what that senior didn't tell Bocchi was...

This leap of faith requires either a loyal fanbase or planted staff below the stage. Otherwise, accidents are likely.

At worst, she could suffer groping, or worse, get seriously injured.

So Bocchi...

Jumped off the stage, and the crowd parted instinctively, leaving a vacuum beneath her.

Bocchi crashed to the ground.

Cough... Thankfully, the stage wasn't too high.

Afterward, Bocchi was carried off.

Oddly, the stage atmosphere became even more intense.

After all, that's rock.

Leave rock things to rock people!

After the story, Haruto couldn't stop himself from laughing.

The leap of faith alone was about 10% funny. The manager's vivid storytelling bumped it to 100%. Then, midway through the story, Bocchi herself showed up—instantly shooting the hilarity to 10000%.

Seeing Haruto struggling not to laugh...

Ijichi Seika realized something was wrong.

She turned around—

And saw that, at some point, the four girls had quietly slipped out from backstage.

Clearly, they had come to find Haruto and ended up hearing the entire story.

Now, Bocchi was completely pale.

Like a candle flickering in the wind—one breeze away from perishing. After all, social death itself isn't that scary.

What's scary is someone reminding you of it afterward.

Ijichi Seika glared at Haruto, scolding him for not warning her earlier. Haruto spread his hands helplessly, indicating he had tried to signal her several times.

Unfortunately, the manager had been too caught up in her storytelling.

"Anyway, let's head backstage first."

Ijichi Seika rubbed her forehead and waved her hand.

Staying out here any longer might draw attention if Bocchi had a breakdown.

Times were different now.

These days, Kessoku Band had quite a few fans.

Ijichi Nijika picked up the ghostly Bocchi and dragged her backstage.

Kita Ikuyo shot a glare at Haruto.

As expected, whenever this guy shows up, nothing good happens! Hitori-senpai always ends up getting played like a fiddle.

Once backstage in the performance hall—

Haruto reached out and poked the socially-dead Bocchi.

Honestly, her socially-dead aura was so strong it seemed to alter the style of reality itself!

You little gremlin, are you a reality-warping entity!?

After who knows how long, Bocchi finally snapped out of her social-death state.

She looked up to find Haruto smiling gently at her.

That warm aura, like a soft breeze brushing past her face—

Kawai~

Senpai Haruto was just as gentle as ever!

"Don't fall for it, Bocchi! That guy's a demon!" Kita Ikuyo quickly warned.

"To say such a thing, Kaere... how harsh," Haruto tilted his head.

Hearing that name, Kita Ikuyo blushed red with shame.

All her fighting spirit was instantly drained.

Clearly, not only had she failed to save her comrade, she got dragged down too.

So far, two of the four had been taken down.

As for the rest—

"Ryo, I heard Fender recently released a new bass guitar, and I was wondering if you..."

The usually expressionless and aloof bassist, Yamada Ryo—

Her eyes instantly lit up. She slid up to Haruto in a flash, grabbed his hand, and looked up with expectation.

Fender was a famous bass brand from Japan, and one that Ryo particularly liked. She wasn't interested in most things, but this—she had absolutely no resistance.

Ijichi Nijika watched the scene and facepalmed.

This was too much!

Originally, the four girls had privately agreed—

Since Haruto hadn't shown up in so long after their last meeting, they should teach him a lesson.

Kita Ikuyo had suggested it confidently.

Yamada Ryo seconded the motion.

Ijichi Nijika mostly agreed.

Bocchi, though reluctant, didn't have the power to say no.

You know how it is—socially anxious people have a hard time going against the group.

And so—

They had all agreed just moments ago. But now, three out of four had already fallen. Seeing Haruto's gaze shift toward her, Nijika shivered.

"Are you the devil!?"

The comedy quickly died down.

The four girls now sat obediently across from Haruto.

Truthfully, no matter what—reuniting with Haruto still made them genuinely happy. Even though tricking them into Tokyo Dome had been a bit much...

It was still a precious and "beautiful" memory.

"To see how far you've all come, to witness your performance—it's been a truly wonderful experience."

Haruto said with a heartfelt smile. The four exchanged glances and smiled as well.

However—

"But Bocchi, why were you squinting on stage with one eye closed?"

Haruto suddenly asked.

Bocchi immediately stopped smiling.

Ijichi Nijika quickly changed the subject to prevent Bocchi from falling into emo mode.

As expected of Shimokitazawa's little angel.

"Senpai Haruto, your sudden visit—was there another reason?"

The others straightened up as well—like rookie adventurers awaiting their next quest. Haruto, however, shook his head.

"Nope. I just happened to run into Kita on the street, so I dropped by to catch a show. Speaking of which, thanks for the ticket, Kita. I'll treat you to a meal next time."

He said, shaking the ticket in his hand.

Kita Ikuyo nodded happily.

Though she'd called Haruto a demon earlier, that was only to protect the endangered species known as Bocchi.

Normally, Kita was a sunny girl who practically radiated light. Naturally, she gladly accepted the invitation.

However, Haruto's words did surprise them a little.

They thought he had shown up suddenly to scout them for an entertainment agency.

After all, he had done that before...