This is the fourth volume of the manga series, Bocchi the Rock! was released in the Japanese version on August 26, 2022. This volume contains 12 chapters.
Description[]
If it's a gloomy character, let's do the rock!! Kessoku Band has advanced to a concert screening of "Mikakunin Riot" rock festival, which band is for teens only. Hitori Gotoh can put out her power in front of the powerful people who are in line with SIDEROS?! Reiwa's new standard of Kirara that is cute, interesting and "hot"![1]
Contents[]
| Chapter | Issue | Release date | Pages |
|---|---|---|---|
| One-shot | - | 6 | |
| 39 | February 2021 | December 19, 2020 | 10 |
| 40 | April 2021 | February 19, 2021 | 8 |
| 41 | May 2021 | March 18, 2021 | |
| 42 | June 2021 | April 19, 2021 | 10 |
| 43 | July 2021 | May 19, 2021 | 8 |
| 44* | August 2021 | June 17, 2021 | 10 |
| 45* | September 2021 | July 16, 2021 | 13 |
| 46* | October 2021 | August 19, 2021 | 8 |
| 47* | November 2021 | September 18, 2021 | 11 |
| 48* | December 2021 | October 19, 2021 | 8 |
| 49* | February 2022 | December 18, 2021 | 10 |
| 50* | July 2021 | May 19, 2021 | 6 |
Plot[]
One-shot[]
Envious with Bocchi's guitarhero channel success, Yoyoko made an OhTube! channel for herself. She uploaded her band performances only to return zero views, much of her disappoinment. She then tried doing the popular Mentos Cola video, but Akubi do not feel that it's right for her. Tired of advising Yoyoko alone, she and other members "borrowed" her channel.
Each member comes with their own content. Akubi streams games, Fuko made cooking videos and Yuyu doing clairvoyance and occult videos. Even Kikuri and Ginjiro tags along with their own alcohol and cosmetic videos. All of them (other than Yoyoko) gets thousands of views in OhTube! and eventually, Yoyoko's channel has become FOLT general channel, reaching 100,000 subscribers.
In STARRY, Kita, Ryo and Nijika is watching Ginjiro's video and commented on FOLT channel success, suggesting STARRY does the same too.
Chapter 39[]
Kessoku Band is now competing in the online voting phase of Mikakunin Riot.
Michiyo promoted her daughter's band to one of her neighbour, even explaining all her effort including wearing high school uniform to do it. After done with her neighbour, she changed into the high school uniform and continue promoting it with Jimihen. Back at the Gotoh family home, she told about it to Bocchi. Futari added that she even "forces" her kindergarten friends to vote by saying they will die if they do not do so, and Naoki telling her about making fliers through the night.
In Shuka High, Kita promoted their band to her classmate and wanted to bring Bocchi along, but she is in her hideout so Kita has to call her over Loine. Bocchi, still being gloomy with Kita's friends surrounding her place was found out by Sasaki, who told that she has voted for her band and even made a T-shirt to promote it.
In STARRY, Nijika put up posters promoting to vote the band only to find out she was putting it on men's washroom door. When asked about how Ryo is doing it, she remembered about her parents being too excited trying to shut off the hospital for the whole voting period just to promote it, so she just suggested to put the band songs playing in her parents hospital instead. Thats where Kita and Bocchi finally come, with Kita excitedly talking about her promoting it to her classmate and Bocchi singing the voting slogan.
Seika was reluctant to help Nijika promote it in STARRY, but did it otherwise to other customers. PA-san told them she also voted them every day. She told them she also asked her "global online friends" to vote for them too, although what she really did is her mentioning it in her VTuber stream as Alto Otogi (in order to mask her identity).
In FOLT, Kikuri tried to vote for Kessoku Band but is caught by Yoyoko who threaten to ask for her debt, before Kikuri immediately changed her vote to SIDEROS. There are others which they did meet vote for them too, like Usui's band and Angel's Cuticle. Fan 1 and Fan 2 voted too, but Fan 2 gloomily thought of the band's future where she are afraid will leave them behind.
Back in STARRY, the band is happy that a lot of people they know voted on them, and Seika secretly ordered a cake to celebrate. Bocchi was happy with how it is going. Meanwhile, Kikuri cannot vote any further as her phone was dropped in the toilet while being drunk.
Chapter 40[]
Halfway the online voting phase, Kessoku Band only managed to get the 48th place so far, still off from the cut of 30 top bands, putting their morale low. PA-san who panicked smashed the cake Seika ordered on Seika's face to avoid things getting worse (they still enjoyed the leftovers, and Seika forced PA-san to eat all pizza and sushi she ordered too). Not much words spoke by the members, especially Bocchi who lost her voice in a vocal practice earlier.
The band, still trying to not lose hope part days for that day, where Bocchi stumbled upon SIDEROS in Shibuya. SIDEROS invited her to share a studio together (so they can get a big room). Bocchi is pretty awkward as she barely communicated with the rest of the band before, so she tried to approach Akubi "in an interesting way" that she got creeped out.
The session begins with SIDEROS invited Bocchi playing together with them. Break time, Bocchi had a conversation with Yoyoko, where Bocchi asked about her motivation to win. Yoyoko shared a bit about her backstory and her aim to always be at the top of everything she is in, including Mikakunin Riot and their future plans including topping the Billboard. Bocchi found the motivation she needed from that, and rushed out from the studio. After struggling to get out from Shibuya and its swarming people, she requested a late-night meeting with other bandmates. At the same time, a blog releases a certain interesting article.
Chapter 41[]
Bocchi was surprised seeing Kita treated like a celebrity in the school, and they even put a big banner to celebrate the band being in ROCK IN JAPON (which is not true).
What happened is a day before, Kessoku Band finally passed the Mikakunin Riot voting phase cutoff, placing 28th place. The band is in relief, and Kikuri is celebrating in FOLT (with SIDEROS glanced of her). Originally puzzled of the sudden increase, they found out that Band Lab releases article that highlighted them as a promising band in the future with the author being unknown. Seika do have a clue who the writer is, so she called her secretly (as her phone number was leaked) and thanked her for that.
Back to the day. Kita and Bocchi keep getting nonstop praises from teachers and students (to the point people mistaken it for participating in ROCK IN JAPON). Kita always be on the front to receive the praises and what Bocchi could do is just smiling and offered her friends to touch the guitar. Sasaki congratulated Bocchi too with a sweet and some story about her dog. They are even offered interview by the newspaper club and student council. The principal even called them to the office and offered his congratulations, and he ordered a special assembly just to have them perform, much to Bocchi's fright.
The special assembly happens. Kita goes on front to reply to all praises (including mentioning Hitachinaka Park) and at the same time struggled to keep Bocchi in control too. Bocchi, again asked to perform her guitar solo ended up doing a prop comedy, but Kita covered it up as an accident. They finally performed properly, resulting to a situation even colder than their first live.
Chapter 42[]
One day, after practice, Kita thrown a tantrum as the band keep ignoring her request - to have a fun day in Shimokitazawa just like other high schoolers (and she does not updated her Isosta for a while). So she pulled all the band together to the town, and setting up Ryo as the guide eventhough her mood is just to go to the thrift stores.
At the town, Kita brought them to the dessert store first, where they enjoyed some cake (with Bocchi struggled with it). They later go to a vintage thrift stores where they tried a lot of vintage-styled dress. Ryo especially is very hyperactive on this and even offered advices to the members about their fashion styles. Each of them bought some dress (except Bocchi who just sucked with it).
Later they go to Hard*Opp, a second-hand gear shop. Ryo who's a regular explained everything about the shop to Kita, but she just don't get her excitement, but Bocchi joined Ryo on their gear bargains. Feeling alienated, Nijika treated Kita with a meat roll and they went to BillePan for crepes. In BilliePan too, the band enjoys the shops aesthetics and build hopes for their band products to be distributed there. Ryo however though that selling things with BillePan sign style might work for their merch, so she asked Bocchi to train writing BilliePan font.
They then take another stroll on their way back to the station, and enjoyed a street performance there. Kita can finally be relieved and motivated for their big day tomorrow. That's before she sees Kikuri being wasted again on the street.
Chapter 43[]
The day of live judgement phase of Mikakunin Riot, where Kessoku Band would perform to proceed to the final stage. The venue is Shinjuku FOLT and SICK HACK will be the opening act. Ryo and Bocchi came let to Shimokitazawa station for each of their own reason (Bocchi was locking herself in the bathroom that Futari had to accompany her and Ryo is just overslept).
Arrived in FOLT, they are greeted by Ginjiro who are busy handling the wasted Kikuri. While at it, he gives some advices to the band as well. At the live house, Bocchi is deep in thought seeing a lot of audiences and bands too, even if she's a bit demotivated seeing Kemonoria in crisis. They greeted SIDEROS Akubi and Fuko too, who later informed it to Yoyoko, who is excited earlier but acting annoyed later.
The staff explains the performance procedures and invited each band representative to draw their turn. Nijika picked up the 5th turn, as opposed to the last turn the band wanted. They later had lunch prepared by Seika, and proceeds to their rehearsal.
Kessoku Band takes their time before their turn to prepare, including putting in the Ketsuban-chan sticker. Kita takes a picture of their instruments together for their Twitta.
Chapter 44[]
Continuing the last chapter, now the live judging performances begins. SICK HACK takes the opening act with Kikuri, not getting her hangover done yet performs with a vomit bag. Kemonoria and SIDEROS proceeds to perform later, exciting all audiences. On the audiences part, Gotoh family is watching and so does Kita and Bocchi's classmate with Sasaki leading the "cheer group" for the band.
As for the band, they are getting more nervous each time other bands getting the applause. Bocchi tried to go to toilet again only to be blocked by the members. Peeking out of the preparation room, Ginjiro brought PoisonYami over to meet the band, but she ran away after chocking Ginjiro. Ginjiro later explains she was the one wrote about Kessoku Band good article in the Ban Lab.
Kessoku Band's turn. After opening lines by Kita, she passed on to Bocchi to give some word - which she did it, properly. She talked about how it means to be Kessoku Band and how this performance will be a manifestation of their established bond. The band proceeds to play their song, which performance amazed every audiences, even PoisonYami. Many audiences now thinking of voting the band, and the final result will be.....
Chapter 45[]
It's the final stage of Mikakunin Riot. The band is securing their spot at the venue like a picnic.
Bocchi is reminiscing about the past result; the band did not make it past live judging despite giving tough competition and Kemonoria and SIDEROS is the one passing it. Being distracted by other spectators, the band decided to take a stroll around the venue and bought some food. Kikuri is working at a kebab stall to pay up her debt after being tricked by Ginjiro.
The final performances is now begin and the band goes to the stage area again. A mosh pit is forming their group circle and Ryo wanted them to join. The band, except Nijika joined in the group and got squeezed. Kita made it safely out of the circle later, but Ryo and Bocchi ended up being worn out and lost contact with the rest after Ryo loses her phone. As they going insane, the mosh pit leader brought them drinks, refreshing them back up.
SIDEROS performance is coming and the Kessoku Band is now reunited in time to watch it. Yoyoko gives her speech, where she indirectly mentions Bocchi as an amazing guitarist she met in her journey to the top. The spectators, including Kessoku Band watched them until the very end, and even after that, Bocchi is in daze. As the members approached her, she started crying, venting all her frustration for not being able to bring the band to the stage they wanted. The rest of the members later shared their feelings too.
PoisonYami broke the atmosphere by approaching them, and apologises for all criticism she has made on the band. Not only that, she also brought Miyako Shiba, who is a label manager of Stray Beat with intention of interest of discussing with them. The band, originally in tears are back in cheers as they now close to a label debut, and celebrate it with playing fireworks. Miyako and PoisonYami are watching them from afar.
Chapter 46[]
The band is just going for the talk with the label, but Ryo and Bocchi overcelebrated that occasion by getting a loan for high-end bass and luxury outfit (still tracksuit for Bocchi). Bocchi even tried to quit her part time job again. With high expectation, the band went out to the label office. The band expectation broke when seeing the label office is actually quite rundown, and Miyako apologises for the inconveniences. PoisonYami is working there as well as the assistant.
Miyako explained about how challenging it is for a label nowadays which made luxuries not possible to them anymore, and they might not be able to release CDs immediately as they wont sell well that easy. But Miyako offered a plan for them to release songs digitally under their label, which success will make them possible to release an extended play CD, and the label will also bear the promotional costs. Miyako also mentioned that the famous duo Klimt's Night is under them too. Ryo and Bocchi is already on the state of despair after facing the truth.
Miyako mentioned about Bocchi's guitarhero activity, where she mentioned that her personal account may be used for promotional purpose. The band is pretty reluctant as that might affect Kessoku Band's true image. While Nijika tried to submit her rebuttal, PoisonYami interjected by supporting the band, citing differences between Bocchi's band and solo ability. While the guitarhero proposal is considered rejected, Kessoku Band has now entered an agreement with the label. The band thanked Miyako for the opportunity, where Miyako stated she herself is pretty young for the job and PoisonYami added that Miyako is just 23. Miyako added that the first song would be on early next year, so she hoped she will hear a hit from the band and manage their responsibility well.
Back from the office, the band has been more motivated as now they are under a label, and they suggested Bocchi composing a song. Kita offered herself to write song lyric. Later, Bocchi and Ryo had to work a lot to cover back the costs they have overspent.
Chapter 47[]
Nijika is having her driving class and so does Ryo, though she is too busy with her job. The reason is that getting a license will make them able to travel far away with their band equipments.
At the driving school they met Yoyoko, who is also taking driving class for manual license just to assert her dominance (as Nijika is taking automatic license). When asked if they will take further class, Ryo just said not for a while because she's busy (actually was too nervous from all the failures before). Ridiculed by Nijika, Ryo replied about how Nijika struggled to not assume the pedals as drum pedals. Yoyoko left them for her class, but she struggled to the point she changed for automatic classes.
Back at their conversation where they talked about label signings, apparently SIDEROS decided to stay indie as they feel not fit to the policies of labels that approached them. Yoyoko also talked about them going for a tour soon and flusteredly asked Nijika about any good bands that can join them (although her intention is to invite Kessoku Band along). Nijika changed topics about vans for touring, where Yoyoko suggested Hieight (reference for Hiace), but Nijika was afraid of its price and security concerns.
Meanwhile, Ryo is bored and spend the entire time reading manga, and picked up the Initial D manga. She interjected into Nijika and Yoyoko argument, and claims she will be the fastest of Shimokitazawa. Back to the circuit, Ryo now takes the challenge for another practice and managed to make turns smoothly. She meets with the "devil S-curve" and tried to pass it, but each time she always goes off-road, and quits.
After class, three of them talked about their graduation plans. Yoyoko and Nijika wanted to continue their studies, but Ryo does not seem interested with it. As Yoyoko left them, Nijika expresses concern about Ryo's future, where Ryo says she gonna mooch her out for as long as she lives.
Chapter 48[]
Ryo continues her busy routine - part time job and driving school (where she still fails the S curve) to the point she nearly broke down. Nijika suggested that they go out on a trip, where they make use of Ryo's villa on the seaside.
Ryo's mother brought them to the villa. They changed into their swimsuit, where each of them show off their own. Bocchi had to change into a random swimsuit she bought at Shibuya 108 as the band criticized her earlier swimsuit. The band later had a swim, at least for Nijika and Kita, as Ryo's too bothersome to dip in and Bocchi cannot even swim. Nijika brought Bocchi to play floats in the sea for her to only sink after a few step. Kita brought a lot of float just to take pictures. They later play with the beach sands. Ryo goes for swim in the sea after finished watching a movie about shark, only to be "chased" by Kita's shark float.
BBQ time. Kita and Nijika once again taking the lead preparing the food, with Bocchi and Ryo just stood still and poked charcoal. Bocchi feeling guilty just eat the burned vegetables. Nijika went angry as she realized the BBQ quality don't fit her qualifying level. Kita said that she just put some random food because she thinks it is exciting. Come night, Kita suggested to Nijika to stay up and play test of courage, makeup and cards, which drains Bocchi and Ryo's energy even more.
In Stray Beat office, Miyako and Aiko looked at the band's beach trip pictures sent to them.
Chapter 49[]
Continuing from last chapter, Kita prepared for test of courage only to find out the rest is sleeping. She wake them up, and explains everything she has set up for the game. She even streams it in Isosta. Bocchi bended her body like a ghost because of reaction to the camera, and Ryo's face just remain expressionless. Nijika endures the entire game by being surprised by all the "specialty" surprise, which is just local desserts of Japan. Kita sees Bocchi do not even react, where she explains she does not feel scary about ghosts. Bocchi even said she just unconsciously followed the ghost to places they lurk.
As the game is completed, Kita invited guests to her stream. Kikuri is first to appear and told about her scary experience with something knocking on her door (which is just loan sharks). Midway, Yuyu joins the stream and explains the entire lore of the paranormal underworld. Kita feels something wrong with the room behind them, so they opened it and found out some instruments and also Ryo's mom hiding in the room. She explains she is in hiding just to record how Ryo enjoys her trip, told some stories about the instruments Ryo's father bought as collection and vanished.
Ryo looked at the acoustic guitar in the room, and played some random made-up songs for the members. Bocchi suggested to create a song based on the themes created by Ryo, and the band started brainstorming for their song ideas. Ryo ended up composing the song and Bocchi offers herself to make an arrangement of it. Kita remembered they are still in the stream, so they made some closing words before ending the stream.
The next day, the band returns to their own homes and is motivated with their upcoming song projects.
Chapter 50[]
This chapter happens before the live judging.
Yoyoko give some band analysis to the SIDEROS members, though they immediately leave before Yoyoko had a chance to wrap out. The band members gives some activity suggestion, but Yoyoko wanted to go for an afterparty. The band once again has different suggestion for the afterparty, so she is forced to abandon her Kusto suggestion for more expensive Jojoen steamboat. At the restaurant, the band enjoyed the meal, but Yoyoko won't stop blabbering about all the nutritions and their food intakes, so the band eats more in response. Yoyoko observed that Yuyu does not eat as much as others, so Yuyu explains her (cursed) puppets need to eat too.
Yoyoko asked if they have something they are unsatisfied with the band, and the members speak a lot about it, including the studio cleanliness, a break day on Saturday and better costumes. They added about every bad habit Yoyoko does like wasting resources and leaving rubbishes. Yoyoko panicked that they would leave the band too, so they explained that they won't, as they already concerned about Yoyoko and still have faith on her as a leader. Yoyoko cried of relief.
Time for payment. Yoyoko had to pay 40,000 yen of meal, but her money is flown away by a gust of wind. They ended up working part time at the restaurant to pay up all their meal. Later, they had to serve Ryo and her mom.
Allusions of cover page[]
- Chapter 39 - "Koitsura Aiteru" by Nigami 17th birthday!!
- Chapter 41 - "MATATABISTEP" by Passepied
- Chapter 43 - "Kara No Waremono" by hitorie
- Chapter 46 - "Wo Ai Ni" by Cody・Lee
- Chapter 47 - "Kohakushoku no Machi, Shanghai Gani no Asa (Amber Colored City, The Morning of The Shanghai Crab)" by Quruli
- Chapter 48 - "TAKE MY HAND" by Yoru no Honki Dance
- Chapter 49 - "Bankuruwase" by Hump Back
- Chapter 50 - "PAPER ROLL STAR" by domico
Characters[]
List of characters in order of appearance:
- Yoyoko Ohtsuki
- Akubi Hasegawa
- Fuko Honjo
- Hitori Gotoh
- Kikuri Hiroi
- Yuyu Uchida
- Ikuyo Kita
- Nijika Ijichi
- Ryo Yamada
- Michiyo Gotoh
- Futari Gotoh
- Naoki Gotoh
- Tsuguko Sasaki
- PA-san
- Seika Ijichi
Gallery[]
Chapter covers[]
Miscellaneous[]
Trivia[]
- This is the first volume where the cover does not feature one of the main characters, Ryo Yamada.
- This volume contains a total of 8 allusions.
- This is the second volume that contains 12 chapters.
- On August 19, 2022 prior to the anime PV, a character voice message was announced through the physical edition of this volume from August 26 until October 31, 2022.
- English release of the volume was originally scheduled on August 20, 2024, before amended to August 27 few weeks before release.
- Chapter 50 is regarded as a bonus chapter and was released in the same issue with Chapter 43
- It is also the only chapter that puts Yoyoko as the focus of the chapter and has SIDEROS largely appear in the chapter.
- ROCK IN JAPON is a reference of ROCK IN JAPAN, the largest outdoor music festival in Japan. Originally held in Hitachinaka (specifically Hitachi Seaside Park mentioned in the volume), the festival moved to Soga Sports Park in Chiba on 2022.
- Kessoku Band (as in the real performing group) had an opportunity to perform in the festival in 2024 with all four voice actresses present and performed 8 songs in the festival.
- Name places mentioned in Chapter 42 is slightly modified names of real businesses in Shimokitazawa.
- HARD-OPP is based on HARD-OFF, a second-hand chain in Japan
- BillePan is based on Village Vanguard, a book store chain in Japan.
- Mentos Cola mention in the official English version is changed to Mints and Cola.
References[]
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