Am I being simulated by their love affair.

Chapter 312 Unit Two, Appointed to a Critical Mission
It was the last day of June, during the band's usual afternoon rehearsal, when Izumi Mizuki's phone, which was on the cabinet, suddenly rang.

A sharp, urgent bell suddenly pierced the music, completely destroying the harmonious melody. Jun Matsue put down his drumsticks, and Maki Yamami, who was sitting not far away, looked up in confusion.

To stay focused during practice, Minister Izumi's phone is usually on silent. A sudden ringtone means either the girl is having a bad day, or something important has happened.

Yamami Maki had just arrived at the practice room. She had sneaked over after noticing on the security camera that the band had no visitors that day.

The girl frowned slightly as she watched Izumi Mizuki answer the phone. Today was a rare day when no one came to visit the band and she had free time. It would be a real shame if she couldn't practice because of an unexpected event.

Maybe it's a good thing? The girl thought about it again. Even if the practice was canceled, Matsueda would probably stay. Maybe she could take this opportunity to show him around the area?
"Do you have time this afternoon?" Izumi Mizuki put down her guitar; it seemed the call wasn't going to end anytime soon. "I am free."

"A band?" The girl holding her phone turned around and looked around at the people in the room. "They should be free, right? I'm not sure."

"Two hours later?" Her tone rose slightly, a hint of surprise in her voice. "Let me ask."

"Okay, I'll get back to you shortly."

Izumi Mizuki put down her phone, and all eyes in the room turned to her. The girl cleared her throat and said, "Chikamatsu has a performance opportunity today. The performance is in three hours, but the audition needs to be done an hour earlier."

Jun Matsue remembered the name. Chikamatsu was the first livehouse they auditioned for, not far from Shimokitazawa. He glanced at his phone; it was 5 p.m.

"So, are you going?" the girl asked directly.

“I can.” Jun Matsue is usually free when he’s not working part-time. He’s at the company today shooting new promotional photos, so no one is urging him to go home.

“Me too~” Miyamura Aya raised her hand. Her schedule was basically the same as Matsueda’s. When she wasn’t working part-time, she would study in her apartment.

"Hmm," bassist Xiaoxing looked around, her expression a little troubled, "I was originally planning to go out with my boyfriend tonight."

"Sachi-chan!" Aya Miyamura hugged the girl's arm. "You can play with your boyfriend anytime, but performance opportunities are rare!"

"Okay, okay," the girl nodded helplessly. "Can I free up some time?"

"Then I'll reply to Chikamatsu that I can play?" Izumi Mizuki typed quickly on her phone and pressed send.

"We need to submit the setlist, and the livehouse needs to make new posters." She looked up. "Re:Re and Paranoid Parade, is that alright?"

"No problem!" Caijiang raised the microphone. "I definitely won't sing the wrong lyrics again!"

“In that case, we still have two hours before the audition, so let’s say half an hour is for travel time.” Jun Matsueda tapped his fingers on the drumhead and began to calculate.

"We still have an hour and a half left. Should we practice a few more times?"

"Let's take a break first." Xiaoxing took off the straps and hung the bass on the wall. "I need to call my boyfriend."

During the short break, the girls came out of the room one after another, taking the opportunity to breathe fresh air and adjust their state. Jun Matsueda did not intend to pick up the drumsticks again, but sat in a chair and massaged his forearms.

"So... we're going to have a performance soon?" Yami Maki finally came to her senses.

"It really came as a surprise," Jun Matsueda nodded. "I had no idea I was going to be on stage."

"Chikamatsu said the band that was supposed to open for the night can't make it." The practice room door opened again, and Izumi Mizuki came back and took a sip of water.

"The flight was delayed and hasn't arrived in Tokyo yet. Luckily, we're nearby, so they contacted us."

"I see." The boy nodded. "After all, our performance fees are relatively cheap, so it's understandable."

"The boss is very generous," the girl said, putting down her water bottle. "He said the performance fee will be doubled." The boy nodded again. "It's understandable, given the emergency."

I don't know which sentence made the senior laugh, but the corners of Yamami Maki's mouth turned up slightly.

After finishing her water, Izumi Mizuki left, leaving only the two of them in the room. Yamami Maki looked at the boy still sitting in front of the drum set and asked, "Shall I take everyone there later?"

"Your senior gave you a ride?" Jun Matsue looked at the girl. "You got your driver's license?"

It's hard to imagine whether the senior student is clumsy or skilled at driving.

“I mean, let the studio drive us there,” Yami Maki waved her hand. “The studio’s van, that way we can take all of everyone’s instruments.”

"You can bring the drum set too!" the girl added.

"Should we bring the drums too?" Jun Matsue asked, somewhat surprised. "We can use the ones provided by the venue."

"No way!" Yami Maki shook her head firmly, showing a bit of her senior's demeanor at this moment. "Matsueda-kun, you'll be using the drumsticks I gave you, right?"

"Since I'm using my drumsticks, I'll play the best drums!"

"I'll be there too, so I really want to see Matsueda's best performance."

The girl's eyes flickered, indicating that this matter was not open to discussion and was settled.

“Then let’s listen to what senior says.” Jun Matsueda took out his phone and sent a message to the other members.

Although the senior student was just an observer, she was probably the one with the most serious attitude, he thought to himself.

Tomatsu basically doesn't care about his drumming skills. Even if every single one of his drumbeats is off-beat, the girl will say it sounds good without hesitation, and will act as if she has heard heavenly music.

If it were Mochizuki, she would probably scold him while saying, "Only I can stand listening to this kind of drumming."

Kurusu will probably ask him how he felt after the performance, "As long as Matsueda is happy, it's fine~" Matsueda Jun can even imagine her tone.

And Yamami-senpai really cares about whether he plays the drums well or not, as if the drummer isn't Matsueda Jun, but herself.

However, the girl's wholehearted anticipation does not feel harsh or heavy; instead, it can become a driving force to move forward.

"Maybe this is the magic of my senior?" Jun Matsue said subconsciously.

"Hmm?" Yami Maki tilted her head, looking at him with a puzzled expression.

"It's nothing." The boy smiled. "Let's practice a couple more times after everyone has rested, and do it in our best condition."

An hour and a half seemed exceptionally long at school, but flew by in the practice room. Yamami Maki was the last to leave the room, locking the door behind her as she watched the band members carrying large and small bags down the hallway.

"Let's go!" Caijiang's voice was filled with barely suppressed excitement.

Sitting in the spacious van, Yamami Maki gave Matsueda Jun her usual smile. After the van started moving, the girl suddenly thought of a question.

Perhaps it was because everyone was a little nervous—

Neither Matsueda nor Aya-chan seem to have informed Yuka and the others about the upcoming performance.

(End of this chapter)