Shimamura Musical Instruments store in Susukino.

As soon as you step through the automatic doors, it's instruments, instruments, instruments! "Wow!" Everyone exclaims as they rush into the booth lined with guitars.

However, the youths are met with the harsh reality. "Expensive..." "Even the cheap ones are 20,000 yen! Can't afford this..." "What should we do..." "...Maybe we should just go home..."

Where did all the energy from earlier go? Everyone leaves the store with drooped shoulders.

They gather at Ryo's house for a strategy meeting. They can't give up just yet! After all, they don't want their newly formed band, "The Youth Band," to disband on the very day of its formation.

Even though it's called a strategy meeting, no ideas are forthcoming. Everyone remains silent. "How about getting a part-time job?" Tooru breaks the silence. "Is part-time work allowed at our school?" Koji asks. "How about working at my family's Chinese restaurant? You could say you're just helping out!" Masaya suggests.

"Hmm, is there any other good way?" "I'm home!" Ryo's father comes in carrying bags full of things he bought on his way home from work. "Hey! What's with the gloomy faces?" "Actually..."

They explain to Ryo's father without hiding anything—the unexpectedly high prices of the instruments at the music store, their determination not to give up, and their desire not to disband the band they formed that day.

"Hmm, I see..." Holding a glass of beer, Ryo's father seems to have an idea. "Leave it to me!" With that, he starts making a phone call...

"Oh, Arai?" Huh? Mr. Arai? "Yeah, so, on weekends and holidays, I'll take care of these brats at my place... Oh, sure, thank you!" "Alright, that's settled!" "What?" "Anyway, next Saturday, gather here at 5 AM! That's it, disband! And for the next month, keep your weekends and holidays open! No dating allowed either!"

Everyone is dumbfounded. "Give me an answer!" "Yes! Thank you very much!" They reflexively reply.

After everyone leaves, despite asking his father, he doesn't reveal anything. What could he be thinking?

And so, Saturday arrives. 5 AM. Everyone looks sleepy.

"Alright, everyone's here!" Ryo's father's booming voice resounds. "Thank you very much!" "Okay, get on!" He points to the back of the truck.

The back of a 10-ton truck... "Get on!" Reluctantly, everyone gets onto the truck, and Ryo's father closes the door.

"Huh?" "Dad! We can't see anything!" "You'll get used to it!" "I'm gonna suffocate!" "You'll be fine!"

As the truck starts to shake, fear sets in. They sway in the darkness for quite some time... When their consciousness starts to blur, the door opens. "Alright, we're here!"

Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on Royal Road.

It's clear they've arrived in Otaru.

"What are we doing here?" "What are we doing? You're the truck driver, and we're the ones who got onto this cargo bed, got it?" "You're not going to sell us off, are you?" "Are you stupid?"

Seeing the piles of luggage, they quickly understand what they're supposed to do. "All of this?" "Yes, all of it!"

They start unloading the luggage. Koji, a big guy, carries the luggage effortlessly, while Tooru, with a slender frame, becomes wobbly.

Surprisingly, Masaya is quite agile, explaining that he's used to this kind of work from helping out at the store. Two hours pass. They're exhausted... When they collapse, "Come on, get back on!" They're locked back into the cargo bed.

Next, they arrive in Aomori Prefecture, where they unload and load cargo. Then, Toyama, Osaka, Shikoku... They stay overnight in Takamatsu.

While on a trip, you'd soak in the hot springs at a ryokan, enjoy a luxurious meal, and play games like pillow fights at night. But at night, they're still working their way back to Hokkaido, eating the cheapest set meals at diners and taking naps in the back of the truck.

Finally, they return to Hokkaido. It's Sunday evening. "Ah, we're back!" Everyone says in unison. "Alright! I'll treat you all to dinner tonight, so come over to my place!" "Huh...?" Everyone wants to take a bath and go to bed early. "I'm coming...?" "Yes! Thank you for the meal!"

When they get home, Ryo's mother has prepared a feast for them: fried chicken, hamburg steak, spaghetti, grilled salmon, a full-course meal! "Wow!" Everyone's eyes sparkle. "Eat as much as you want!" "Thank you!"

As everyone eats absentmindedly, Ryo's father talks to his mother. "They worked hard yesterday and today! Without a single complaint! These kids are amazing!"

Hearing this conversation, everyone stops eating. "You did well!" "Thank you!" "Alright, eat up, eat up!"

After helping out for a month, they receive a summons from Ryo's father. They follow him. They arrive at Shimamura Musical Instruments store, the same place they went together before.

"Alright, gather 'round!" "Today, I'll announce each of your parts!"

Suddenly, what's he talking about? Ryo's father says, "Koji! You have strength, so you're on drums!" "Huh? But I wanted to play guitar." "In a band, the powerful beats and tight rhythm of the drums are essential. Luckily, you're tall. Use your long limbs and power to play the drums!" "Yes! I understand!"

"Next, Masaya! You have strength after Koji! You're on bass!" "Um, I also wanted to play guitar. Why bass?" Ryo's father explains, "The bass may seem dull at first glance, but it's essential for highlighting the coolness of the drums and enhancing the coolness of the guitar. Besides, there are ways to play the bass that are cool in their own right!" "I understand! I'll play bass!"

"Next, Tooru!" "Yes!" "You're on lead guitar!" "Thank you!"

Just to be sure, let's ask for the reasons. "Dad, why is Tooru on lead guitar?" "That's easy! Because he's a pretty boy!" "Think about it. A pretty boy playing a cool guitar! That'll attract more girls to the band!"

With a sigh, I whisper softly, "But you know, pretty boys playing guitar get bored quickly. You have to practice a lot, or it's dangerous."

"Next, Ryo!" "Yes!" "You're on lead vocals and side guitar!" "Huh? Singing and playing guitar at the same time? Isn't that difficult?" "Listen, son..." "You have the strongest leadership among everyone here! You're also looking out for others besides yourself! Playing side guitar means providing

"That being said, you've been through quite a lot," a man in his forties remarks, happily enjoying beer with dumplings as his snack.

"I really thought I was going to die back then," the shopkeeper, with no other customers around, prepares the next round of drinks across the counter.

"But you know, the instruments we obtained through all that are irreplaceable," he adds.

"Do you still have them now?"

"Of course, they're still treasures to this day."

"So, is it finally time for a live performance?"

"We're still a long way from that."

"As for what's going to happen from now on..."