Tokyo girls have a big problem

Chapter 133 Sooner or later, people will have to recognize themselves. For Aoyama Rin, that day is today.
Monday's third period physical education class was still for preparing for the long-distance running competition.

Aoyama Risa found it much easier to run than before.

Progress can be felt.

It shouldn't be long before the [Speed] rating improves, right? After all, the current rating is 'D', which means there's a lot of room for improvement.

Before the fourth biology class began, Aoyama Risa said to Kobayashi Shiki and Aizawa Jun, "After we finish eating, come with me to check the rankings."

Both nodded.

Every time the exam results are released, the list of the top fifty students is posted during the lunch break.

The school has many bulletin boards, and you can see the second-grade rankings on any of them, except for those specifically for first and third graders.

After lunch, the three of them went to the notice board closest to the cafeteria, where a dozen or so people had gathered.

Aoyama Ryo saw these people from afar.

Aoyama Ono's family has finally gotten to the starting line, and when interacting with the students around him, he feels much less psychologically burdened.

You don't need to worry about anything other than studying.

Based on this, any other troubles can be categorized as beautiful memories of youth.

Aoyama Ryo felt a surge of power within him, and the source of that power was making his family happy.

The three walked over, and the person in front instinctively made way for them.

"No need, no need," Kobayashi Shiki smiled smugly.

The three of them stood at the very back, and they could see very clearly without having to squeeze in.

Individual rankings from the midterm exams will be written directly on the report card, so Aoyama Risa doesn't need to start looking for herself from last place this time.

He looked directly at the first place.

Rank: 1
Class: Grade 2, Class 2

Name: See Love
Mandarin: 100
Mathematics: 98
Science: 99
Society: 100
English: 100
Total: 497
Aoyama Ryō is 459.

The difference between the two can be described as 'vast as heaven and earth'.

During her time at school, she didn't seem to study very hard, but she was never absent from club activities.

Even if you work hard at home, time is limited.

Moreover, judging from her snow-white skin and slightly bluish-white eyes, she clearly gets plenty of sleep and never stays up late.

Rika Aoyama goes to bed at 2 a.m. every night, and it used to be 4 a.m., but recently it has become 5 a.m.!

"Jian Shang's classmate must be in the top ten nationwide, right?" Jun Aizawa exclaimed in surprise.

“Even if I were to live my life once, no, twice, I still wouldn’t be able to get this score. I would need to have my IQ randomly reset to have any chance,” said Kobayashi Shiki.

Aoyama glanced at him.

"I'm serious," Kobayashi Shiki wasn't joking. "But Aoyama, if you tried again, you could definitely surpass her!"

This is his second time.

Aoyama Ryo felt his own incompetence.

Starting today, he will take things seriously, reclaim his identity as a 'system holder,' and demand more of himself in every aspect.

“At that level, rankings are meaningless; it’s mainly about comparing yourself to yourself and seeing who can persevere the longest—that’s what my tutor told me,” Jun Aizawa said.

Rankings are meaningless because humans have limits.

Aoyama Rin, who considers himself the owner of the system, is not a human being. He cannot always be number one in the country, or he will be ridiculed.

Getting second place is like going to college and still wetting the bed.

A surge of power welled up within Aoyama Risa—the power of shame.

He continued to look down.

Rank: 2
Class: Grade 2, Class 1

Name: Miyako Yaeko
Mandarin: 96
Mathematics: 100
science
and many more.

Math? 100? That surpasses his and Jian Shang's love?
He wasn't even number one in math?
Aoyama Ryo's feelings at this moment were as if he had really wet the bed last night, and from now on, he would have something absolutely forbidden to tell anyone.

Science: 100
Society: 100
English: 100
Total: 496
"Four perfect scores, I think the student council president is even stronger!" Kobayashi Shiki said, tilting his head back.

“It’s not necessary to get full marks in every subject; the one who gets the total score wins.” After saying that, Jun Aizawa added, “That’s what my tutor said too.”

Aoyama Osamu then searched for the rankings of the Ono sisters on two other lists.

Ono Mizuki was 43 last time, and 41 this time.

Mika Ono was 21 last time, and she's 22 this time.

The fluctuations are all within the normal range.

Although it's within the normal range, Ono Mika's mood probably won't be relaxed until the next exam.

However, worrying about studying is itself a way of enjoying youth.

During the rest of the lunch break, Aoyama Rin didn't go anywhere and studied diligently in the classroom.

Ono Mika was already working very hard, but since others were also working hard and attending cram schools, she couldn't slack off either. After school, Aoyama Osamu went to the Sunny Day Band Club.

The five members, now reunited, are playing their instruments with great enthusiasm, seemingly unaffected by the drop in their ranking.

[The distant planet floating in the Milky Way]

Longing fills my heart, gradually drifting into my dreams.

The future you choose, and the path you hope for.

Wherever we go

I will live on with you.

Aoyama Ryo took out his phone to record.

During the break, he asked, "Has the song been decided?"

“They’re all popular songs, and they’re the kind of songs that students like,” Akika Wagatsuma said.

"Not a single original song?" Aoyama Risa laughed.

"Now is not the time to talk about dreams, the most important thing is to survive." Bess Sakura rubbed her fingers.

"It's up to you," said Aoyama Risa. "But, Mika-nee, you can loosen up a little more."

"Loosen up a bit?" Ono Mika took a small sip of water to moisten her throat.

"You sing very well, so believe in yourself. Be confident and relaxed. Occasionally, you can sway your waist. When you don't need to sing, you can just sway your head and nod to the rhythm like an audience member."

“But I’m going for the style of Izumi Sakai,” Mika Ono said.

No wonder I've been hearing her humming Izumi Sakai's songs a lot lately.

“Even Izumi Sakai would move to the rhythm, right?” F. Rino said.

"Who is Izumi Sakai?" Bess Sakurako asked.

"."

"Are you an idiot?" My wife Akika said helplessly.

"Me? An idiot? I'm third in the whole grade, thirtieth in the whole country, Xiaomingxiang."

If there is harassment based on authority, is there also harassment based on performance?
"Dong Dong~"

There was a knock on the door.

As drummer Yumemi and F. Rino were about to get up, Aoyama Risa raised his hand and made a downward pressing motion: "You guys rest, I'll take over."

Open the door, and there stands Shang Ai.

"Congratulations on winning first place again," said Aoyama Risa.

Looking at Aoi's expression, it was as if Aoyama Osamu had just said, "Are you done with get out of class?"

It's both strange and nonsense.

She bypassed Aoyama Rin and went straight into the Sunny Day Band's clubhouse.

What's there to be so proud of? You only scored one point higher, and you didn't even get as many perfect scores as Miyako Yaeko!
After greeting everyone, Jian Shangai said to them, "I watched your practice videos and I think we can add some performative elements."

“Performative?” they repeated.

"Simply put, there's not much need for improvisation. Treat it like a stage play, and even bring out the passion."

No one spoke; they just looked at each other in silence.

"Do you think it's fake? Do you think it's tiring?" Jian Shang Ai asked rhetorically. "But this is a stage. What time to talk about what topics is all decided in advance. Even seemingly impromptu stand-up comedy has a script."

If we let Ono Mika, Gasai Akika, and the others speak, it will inevitably cause conflict.

So, Aoyama said, "Is it really necessary for high school clubs to be like this?"

"Isn't the goal the martial arts dojo?" Ai looked at the blackboard. "In an audience of tens of thousands, are you really going to leave the stage entirely to improvisation?"

She looked at everyone:
“You might think that professional bands are different, and that you’re just a high school club activity. But your level is only that of a high school club activity. You have to give it your all to attract fifty audience members and accomplish the impossible.”

“Do it!” Bess Sakura suddenly said.

Everyone looked at Bess Sakura.

“I’ve had a belief since I was a child,” she said, “I’m going to college anyway, and I’m going to go to the best college I can dream of—and since I’m going to be in a band, I’m going to give it my all.”

“I don’t have any particular beliefs,” drummer Meng Shi said, “but I don’t want it to end. I want to continue playing music, chatting, and organizing study sessions with everyone.”

"So, what exactly should we do?" Ono Mika asked, a little confused.

Seeing that Ai took out her phone, she said, "I've had someone collect a lot of performance videos of idol groups and bands, for every single one of them. You can watch and learn from them yourselves."

"The key is to find the feeling. If you can't find the feeling, then you can only rely on acting. Make the right move at the right time, just like stopping at a red light and going at a green light."

“Senior Mika, as the lead singer, you are the one who mainly interacts with the audience. You need to loosen up a bit more.”

“Exactly the same, hehe~” F. Rino laughed in a disgusting way.

Seeing that Shang Ai looked at her with a puzzled expression, like a lively little tigress eyeing a vulture that had its eyes on her.

(End of this chapter)