Volume 5

This is the fifth volume of the manga series, *Bocchi the Rock!*. It was released in the Japanese version on November 26, 2022. This volume contains 8 chapters.

## Description

If it's a gloomy character, let's do the rock!! Debut from an indie label has been decided, and Kessoku Band is about to start producing their first mini-album. Each member is challenging various things, such as Hitori Gotoh struggling with her first arrangement work. Also includes a special edition depicting the past of Nijika Ijichi and Seika! Reiwa's new standard of Kirara that is cute, interesting, and "hot"!

## Plot

### Chapter 61

This chapter takes place 8 years prior to the start of the series. It focused on Seika and Nijika's relationship in the past.

Seika was a 21-years old guitarist of a band while Nijika was 9 years old, back then their relationship is pretty strained. Seika often neglects her family because of her prioritizing her band activities, and Nijika, feeling the loss of attention from her, always cried about it. One day, Seika's band got an offer to perform in Rainy Bar in Shimokitazawa where label scouts are known to be there, but when asked about who to invite to see them, she tried to ask Nijika, which ended in a harsh rejection from her. Pissed by that, she decided to leave the house for a while so she would not be annoyed by her family again. Nijika was very frustrated by Seika's act, and only her mother tried to comfort her. At night Nijika complained to her mother about how she has started to hate bands because of how it affected her sister and just wanted an ordinary dream to be a civil servant, and nothing else.

Seika lived in Rina's house for a month without even being in contact with her mother until one day her mother came to visit her at Rina's house and had a talk in a cafe nearby. Her mother mentions how Seika need to be back together with Nijika since it is the only thing that she cared about both of them. Seika is still pretty annoyed with her mother bringing it up, but listened to her anyway. Before her mother leaves, she asked Seika to bring Nijika into her life one day, which she feels reluctant to do.

Just a while after that, their mother died in an accident. Nijika cried badly during the funeral. Seika tried to act nothing about it and continued her band activity as usual, but the loss do affect Seika that who was still away from her home a month after. One day, when her band was supposed to perform, she got a call from her father urging her to go back home. She found out that Nijika's behavior has turned worse because of their mother's death, and that she refused even to go to school anymore. Seika, shocked to see it, tried to comfort her by asking her to prepare for school, but Nijika refused since their mom is gone so she cannot do her hair anymore. At that moment, only then Seika realized that all she had done is running away from the reality of their mother's death, and left Nijika alone to deal with it. Seika reflects on herself and decided to give more attention to Nijika from then.

She dressed Nijika's hair and brought her to see her band live. She later left her with her acquaintance in the live house, who later accompany her seeing Seika and her band on stage. Nijika, initially feeling just curious and reluctant, feels that her world shines again when she saw the band perform, and cheers for them. Seika, glancing from the stage, felt satisfied that Nijika is back to her cheerful self. Seika later vows to Nijika that she would not run away anymore and wanted to support each other. Some days later, Nijika started to go to school again and also started to develop her interest in music. Although she's quite sad that Nijika prefers to be drums than the guitar as it looks cooler. Seeing Nijika has a new dream to live on, Seika has the wish to convey to Rina and her band - to leave her band and start a new live house.

Eight years later, preparation is complete and the live house is ready to operate. Nijika, now a high schooler looked at the sign and asked the meaning of the new live house name. Seika explains how bands will be stars in the sky and how their live house will be the place where it gathers and shines so brightly - a wish to her new live house - STARRY.

## Allusions of cover page

* Chapter 52 - "lemonade" by Chilli Beans.
* Chapter 53 - "Hikaru Toki" by Hitsujibungaku
* Chapter 54 - "Futsuu" by CRYAMY
* Chapter 55 - "Fukkatsu no Jumon" by sumika
* Chapter 56 - "Centimeter" by the peggies

## Characters

List of characters in order of appearance:

* Aiko Sato
* Michiyo Gotoh
* Ryo Yamada
* Nijika Ijichi
* Ikuyo Kita
* Hitori Gotoh
* Futari Gotoh
* Naoki Gotoh
* Seika Ijichi
* Nene Ohyama
* Elena Hinata
* PA-san
* Uemura
* Rina

## Gallery

### Chapter covers

Chapter 51 coverChapter 52 coverChapter 53 coverChapter 54 coverChapter 55 coverChapter 56 coverChapter 57 coverChapter 61 cover
### Miscellaneous

Clean coverCharacter illustration ft. Seika Ijichi
## Trivia

* The volume cover is the first that does not include Kessoku Band members in it.
* This volume contains the shortest number of chapters, which is 8 chapters.
* Chapter 61 is the first with a title: "Love Flowers Pointing at the Stars" (星に手向けるあいの花, *Hoshi ni Tamukeru Ai no Hana*).
	+ The reason for the chapter number jumps between 57 and 61 is that chapter 61 was featured in January 2023 issue of *Manga Time Kirara MAX* although is meant for supplementary content of this volume. The original cutoff point for volume 5 is on chapter 57 (September 2022 issue) so chapters 58-60 are not included in this volume.
	+ This chapter also contains 37 pages, the longest ever for the series.
	+ This is the first serialized chapter that is not presented entirely in a 4-koma style.