01x01 - Lonely Rolling Bocchi

[bunniefuu]

If you want to play hide and seek,

gather around me and speak!

-I do! I wanna!

-Do I deserve to join them?

-What's the matter, Hitori-chan?

-Lost in thought, the girl was alone

having botched her chance to participate.

On the school trip,

-Have this.

-the lonely girl shared her meal

with her teacher.

I'm home.

Having no club activity to keep

her busy, she comes straight home.

The only messages she receives are

from either her parents or advertisers.

That girl is me, Hitori Gotoh,

a first-year middle school student.

Sometimes I wonder

if this is the life I want to lead.

But… I always freeze at

the first syllable when I speak.

And I can't look people in the eye.

This introverted life suits me just fine.

-You watching this?

-No.

I used to be the guy who pretended

to read in the corner of the classroom.

I had no friends.

Now you're part of a super popular

band known to every teen.

Well, even introverts have

a chance to shine in a band.

Is that so?

Please give a warm welcome to

In Storms performing their song Trigger.

-What's up?

-D-Dad, lend me your guitar!

Sure.

Th-Thanks!

Hitori's finally going for it.

Could someone like me,

be like them if I started a band?

I'll do this!

I'm going to master the guitar!

Then I'll form a band in school and…

E, A, G?

Why is it teaching me the alphabet?

We'll perform at the school festival

and everyone will be all over me.

THREE YEARS LATER

All over… me?

I liked dark, cramped spaces

So I'd bury my face deep in my hood

My eyes resented the heartless world

But yearned for love

I liked being soaked by the rain

Because my face looked better clouded over

I pretended to be afraid of the storm

While waiting for the sky to burst

Strum through the light's distortion

I want to make thunder roar

Drum beyond the pain

What can I do?

This fierce pounding is out of control

Strum in a harmonizing quartet

I want to cause a revolution

Drum in a lamenting forte

What can I do?

My savage nature is beyond wild

I put in six hours of practice a day so

I could play before a crowd

I never quit

Yet middle school

Was over before I knew it

So much for that performance

At the school festival!

Recruited exactly zero people

As band members!

Didn't even make any friends to begin with

All three years!

This time, for sure

High school is where

I'll form my freakin' band!

Fast forward

a month after that declaration

I'm this close to becoming a hermit

The guitar my only salvation

Lyrics and composition: Me.

From my closet with love.

Instead of having the neighbours report

my shitty song

as late night noise pollution,

I should upload my latest

cover of that hit band.

It's been some time since

I took my dad's suggestion

and uploaded my guitar videos

under the alias Guitar Hero.

My previous video

has been getting comments.

My views are increasing and

they're praising my skills.

Reality may suck, but who cares as long as

I'm getting all this attention online.

Everyone here is

a gloomy introvert just like me.

I played this

with my band at the school fe--

I did my best.

I brought CDs and left them on my desk.

Someone, talk to me!

I flaunted my band merch.

Talk to me!

I put in a request for

the lunchtime broadcast…

The next song was requested by

Gotoh-san of class 2-A.

…to play the death metal song I was into.

I'm gonna gonna gonna

Pulverise your skull!

The flashbacks won't stop!

Get out! Out of my head!

I PLAYED THIS WITH MY BAND AT THE SCHOOL

FESTIVAL! WE ROCKED THE STUDENT BODY!

That must've been so nice.

TWO REPLIES

I PLAYED IT WITH MY BAND TOO!

MAN, I WISH THERE WERE SOMEONE

WHO PLAYED THE GUITAR IN MY SCHOOL

That's…

That's it!

Check me out!

I'm rocking that band girl look.

Major 'This girl means business'

aura going on.

I'm sure someone will want to

strike up a conversation.

There'll be no time to rest

at this year's festival!

So, about that corgi butt…

-Where are we next?

-Science room B.

Up for some karaoke and stuff later?

-Sure, I'm so in.

-Really?

What'll we sing?

Huh?

Did my midnight high make me overdo it?

I was practically holding up

a neon sign saying I'm into bands.

Maybe they didn't want to

approach me in spite of it?

No, no, no! My fragile mind will crumble!

Yikes! Look at that!

Forget crumble,

my mind would be obliterated

if I'm being laughed at!

Gosh, it's so darn cute!

-So soothing.

-A guitar…

Hey, Kita-chan.

Kita-chan?

Oh, sorry. What's up?

I knew it wouldn't be this easy.

I can't wait for others to make a move

and expect everything to work out.

Anyone here must be wallowing

in their solitude like me.

-That man's household must be in shambles.

-Daddy!

Sorry to keep you waiting dear.

No worries. Let's go eat something.

It's a picture perfect family!

I'm sorry for assuming

you were miserable like me.

Oh, I passed 30K subs.

That's right,

online is where I truly belong.

I don't want to go to school anymore.

I spy a guitar!

That's a guitar, right? Can you play?

Hello?

I've been monologuing

for so long I forgot how to speak.

Sorry to come at you so suddenly.

I'm Nijika Ijichi, a second year

at Shimokitazawa High.

Umm, Hitori Gotoh, Shuka High first year.

-By the way, Hitori-chan.

-We're suddenly on a first-name basis!

How well can you play?

So-so.

I see! So like,

we're in a bit of a pinch here.

It's okay if you can't help us.

It's not like we're screwed but…

Her tone says otherwise!

I'll cut right to the chase!

Please, won't you help

my band out just for today?

Band?

We have a gig today, but our

guitarist bailed on us without warning!

-A gig!? Today!

-The songs are easy, even for beginners.

Please say yes!

I, uhh…

What?

Thanks! Off to the live house we go!

I haven't said anything!

I ended up following her.

-You come here often?

-Umm, no.

I could never step foot in this

chic and trendy part of town.

We're almost at the live house.

She sure looks like she

belongs here, like a real band girl.

I on the other hand, am in a drab

tracksuit, baggy eyes and slouched over.

I probably also reek of a weird

closet smell since I'm always in there.

Nope, I smell like mothballs.

On the other hand,

Nijika-chan smells amazing.

This is the scent of

a proper high school girl.

-Am I walking too fast?

-N-No.

The live house we're playing

at today is called Starry.

-My sister runs the place.

-They play at a live house…

It really sounds like I'm joining a band.

Oh no, my heart is racing.

Anyway!

I work part-time there.

Could it be that you've got good reflexes?

Not really, though I'm somehow

always the last one standing in dodgeball.

I-I see.

I'll be playing at a live house.

Oh god, my feet are going cold.

Quick, think of the festival

performance you've been dreaming of.

Next comes my solo tour.

At the ZEPP! The Super Arena!

Hitori! Hitori! Hitori!

I'm the girl who packed

every seat of the Budokan.

-Come again?

-Oh, nothing.

Please don't regret asking me.

Maybe I asked the wrong person.

Here we are! This is it!

Am I headed straight to hell?

Good morning!

My first live house.

This poor lighting

and constricting atmosphere…

I-It's so relaxing.

You okay, Hitori-chan?

-I'm home!

-No you're not!

Wanna ask the PA for video help?

-They'll also be on stage today.

-Bands have a scary image but

after all, they're the indoorsy type.

Shadow dwellers and introverts.

Just like me.

And that's the PA.

DRINKS RUIN THE EQUIPMENT!

Good morning.

-Sorry for being so full of myself.

-What happened to you!?

-Took you long enough.

-Ryo.

This is Hitori Gotoh, a guitarist

I miraculously found at the park!

You don't say.

Eeep, is she staring me down?

Meet our bassist, Ryo Yamada.

Hitori G-G-Gotoh,

terribly sorry for offending you.

Wait, what?

Relax, she's just a little stiff when

it comes to expressing herself.

She loves being called a weirdo.

I do not.

Maybe she does.

-By the way, the manager…

-Eh.

She told us to practice until we're up.

Also, she stormed out in a rage

to buy things after you snuck off.

Seriously? Let's head to the studio

before she comes back!

You too, Hitori-chan! Come on!

O-Okay!

Reality's a scary beast.

But I feel like many fun things

are up ahead.

Here is today's setlist and sheet music.

W-What about the other band members?

This is everyone! We're playing

as an instrumental band today!

Yeah, I can play this song.

I'll have to make up for no

vocals with my performance.

I seem to be good with the guitar.

I can do this!

Is she King Kong?

They might be shocked by my skills.

I'm a little, more like,

pretty well received online.

I have 30k subs after all.

Alright, let's do this!

Here we go.

She sucks.

What!?

-I was joking! Well, not really.

-But how!? I am Guitar Hero!

-Uhh, sorry!

-I have 30k subscribers!

-Allow me to explain!

-Huh!?

Timing yourself to others

is vital to being in a band.

Hitori, an introvert, can't even look them

in the eye, and thus isn't in sync!

She's great solo, but in a band

she's rock bottom, below water fleas!

Hi there, this is Plankton Gotoh.

She's acting like a washed up comedian!

And so, Hitori Gotoh turned to ash,

never to hold a guitar again.

BOCCHI THE ROCK! - FIN

Wait, wait, wait a sec!

Please come out!

We're about to go on stage!

I can't do this!

We're an improv band,

of course things wouldn't be smooth.

I'm not so good myself.

Well, I definitely am good.

Look this way, please?

Come back down to Earth.

I'm no help with emceeing either.

I know, I can offer my life

in a harakiri show.

A-At the very least, they'll

remember our band name.

-Sorry for sucking this bad!

-That's way too rock!

I'll bonk anyone who

heckles you with my bass.

Does hitting someone with that

stop at only being a bonk?

-Carnage is a very rock thing to do.

-It is.

There's too much

rock and rolling going on!

Besides, the only people coming to

watch us are probably my friends.

-Eh?

-And Nijika's my only friend.

The average high school girl hardly knows

what makes a good or bad performance.

She'd be roasted if she said that online.

Nothing to worry about, okay?

Easy for you to say.

Well, I certainly know what's good or bad.

You're not average, that's why.

Don't be happy about that remark.

I'm sorry.

-Look…

-Don't push her if she doesn't want to.

You have a point.

Sorry for forcing you into this.

I, no, that isn't it!

I-I was really happy

that you approached me.

I always wanted to start a band

but couldn't get any members.

That's why I switched to

uploading cover songs online.

What do you normally play?

S-So that my band

could get started right away,

I learned every hit song

from the past few years.

Wow, that's awesome!

Not at all. I mean, look at how I am now.

Maybe I was never meant to be in a band.

She only covers popular songs.

That's just like Guitar Hero.

Heard of 'em?

-Guitar Hero…

-They seem to be around our age.

That's me!

I can send you a link later if you want.

Have a listen, they're the best!

The… best…

They've been in my suggested

videos a few times. They're really good.

Right!? That name's kinda cringe though.

Is it?

I subscribed and even turned on

notifications for their channel!

I'd love to perform with them someday!

You just did.

Anyway, what I'm trying to say is

all the famous guitarists must put in

a lot of work we can't see.

You can tell from their videos.

I didn't think anyone

in the real world cared about me.

Just because today didn't go well,

it doesn't mean you should give up!

It could be that we're just

kind of, you know.

Kind of…what?

Hitori-chan?

Yet here's a kind person

who paid attention to me,

called out to the likes of me.

She got up.

This miracle may never repeat itself.

Don't let it go to waste!

I-I, umm.

Did you change your mind

about not performing?

H-Hitori-chan?

I know I have to do this

but I'm still scared.

The gaze of the audience will end me.

If you're that afraid,

how about playing from inside this?

This is just like my own setup at home!

What kind of place do you live in?

Let's light up some fireworks

here in Shimokita!

She's perked up a little.

What should we call you on stage,

anyway? Hitori-chan?

Are you okay with your real name?

No, not really.

Any nicknames?

In middle school, I was

always called 'Hey you' or 'You'.

Those aren't nicknames!

I've never had friends close

enough to have nicknames.

She has no friends. Hitori botched it.

-How does Bocchi-chan sound?

-You're hitting her where it hurts!

-I'm Bocchi!

-She likes it.

I've never had a nickname before.

You're making me sad here.

Oh, I still don't know the band name.

We are Kessoku Band.

Kessoku Band… as in a cable tie?

It's impec-cable.

More like intolerable!

We are so changing it!

But why? Isn't it cute?

Yeah, I guess.

We'll discuss the name later!

It's time to get on stage!

Don't sweat it!

What's important is to have fun

even if you're not good.

Your feelings show through your sound.

Got it.

You can focus on playing better next time!

Next time?

Let's go!

There's a next time for me?

How do you do? We're Kessoku Band!

We'll be playing a few tunes

you probably know today!

What's with the box?

Feels bad to not be at my usual best

but being in a band is so fun!

I'm shining like a star…

Not!

In fact I may have even reached a new low!

I sure messed up the whole way!

You bungled your emceeing.

Excuse me!

What?

Okay you're scaring me!

I'll strive to be able to greet

my classmates by our next gig!

What resolution is that?

She's come so far.

Well, okay! In that case, let's have

a Bocchi-chan welcome party

c*m performance review party!

I've had enough human interaction

for today. I'll be going now.

-Eh?

-Sorry, I must sleep.

-Wait!

-If you'll excuse me!

What?

This cable tie's not holding

anything together!

I'll get over my people problem and

show them what I can do as Guitar Hero!

For Nijika-chan, Ryo-san

and the band's sake!

I'm sorry! So sorry!

The tune that plays when my loneliness

And the pedal are stepped on

Tracks down my cheeks over and over again

The pounding of my loneliness

Is joined by the rhythm of the snare drum

To create a solid pulse

Someone, please remove

The distortion on my heart

And take a look inside me

Nobody can get inside my heart

But it's the kind of night

When I hope someone will

Distortion it's Motion

Once it starts, there's no stopping it

Limits can be overwritten with experience

Isn't that right?

Distortion is always like that

My heart takes off

Outpacing my left brain

Toward where you are

An escort to the next note

Distortion on my day-to-day anguish

The chord I play when I'm alone at night

Is it the same for you?

I spent all those days

Chasing my ideal image

Play an F chord with distortion

So loud that

The needle swings off the scale

Tune in next week!