Anime Crossover: There are a lot of beautiful girls who like me.

At the same time, perhaps worried about being separated by the crowd, Anna unconsciously reached out and grabbed Kitagawa Yu's... sleeve.

"probably."

As Kitagawa Yu spoke casually, a slight thought stirred within him.

With such a great opportunity, should he take the initiative and seize the chance to get together with Anna Hanami?

If they really held hands, would Anna Hanami notice his little secret and guess that he liked her?

Hakamada Sosuke has clearly fallen for Himemiya Karen, and at the same time, he has a somewhat ambiguous relationship with Shirakawa Tsukiai in private.

As long as Hakamada Sosuke hasn't officially started dating either of these two people, Hanami Anna won't give up on Hakamada Sosuke.

Given Anna's views on love, she might deliberately keep her distance from him to avoid suspicion.

This is clearly not what he wanted to see.

so......

"Even if we're going to hold hands, we need the right timing and enough acting skills!" Kitagawa Yu thought to himself.

Just then, Anna Hanami suddenly said with some confusion, "That's strange, why is the band's lead singer carrying a carton of milk on stage? Aren't they about to perform?"

"Boxed milk?"

Kitagawa Yu, who had been secretly glancing at Hanami Anna to find an opportunity to make a move, paused for a moment upon hearing this and subconsciously looked back at the stage.

Then he saw the female lead singer that Yanami Anna had mentioned, who had just gone on stage with her companions and was standing at the front of the band. At that moment, she was holding the bass strap with one hand and drinking a carton of milk with the other, in a very bold manner.

This startled him again, and then his pupils dilated, his eyes widening involuntarily.

"Holy crap! It's her!?"

"Huh? Does Yu know this guy who's already on stage and still drinking milk?"

Seeing Anja turn to look at Kitagawa Yu, Hana became even more curious after seeing Kitagawa Yu's shocked expression.

"Well... I guess you could say we know each other..."

Coming to her senses, Kitagawa Yu's eyes flashed with a strange look as she explained, "This girl is Hiroi Kikuri, the lead singer and bassist of the band SICK HACK. Their band's main style is ecchi rock, and they're considered one of the most popular bands in the 'underground indie band' scene. As for the plastic box she's holding... that's not milk, it's Japanese sake."

"Huh? Japanese sake!?"

"That's right, this guy is a drunkard. As long as he's alive, he's never without a drink."

"..."

Anna finally understood why Yu Kitagawa had that strange expression of shock.

After listening to Kitagawa Yu's introduction, she couldn't help but widen her eyes and show the same expression as Kitagawa Yu, while feeling very puzzled.

"I can understand drinking milk, but why drink alcohol? Alcohol tastes awful!"

"...Come on! Drinking milk on stage is pretty unusual, isn't it?"

Kitagawa Yu was somewhat amused and exasperated, but then a thought struck him, and he continued, "But we're really lucky to hear her perform today. Sick Hack is a very niche genre these days, and Sick Hack bands are already top-tier in that field—"

At this point, Kitagawa Yu couldn't help but suppress the tension that made his heart feel like it was about to jump out of his chest, and quickly adjusted his breathing and facial expression.

While keeping her gaze fixed on Hiroi Kikuri, she reached out and took the hand of Hachimi Anna.

"Let's get a little closer, this is my first time listening to psychedelic rock live."

Before he finished speaking, Kitagawa Yu had already pushed through the crowd with one hand and pulled Yanami Anna with the other, quickly squeezing forward.

Meanwhile, Anna Hanami, who is very sensitive to social distancing and physical contact, was stunned the moment Kitagawa Yu held her small hand in his.

You should know that since starting elementary school, she has never held hands with any boy, including Hakamada Sosuke!

Even an 'accidental' hand-holding has never happened before!

"Yu——"

As Banami heard Anja call out softly, a shiver ran through her petite body as if an electric current had passed through it, and her heart felt as if it were about to stop beating.

At that moment, Anna looked up blankly at Yu Kitagawa's profile, her body subconsciously moving forward with him, her mind completely blank.

Kitagawa Yu, pretending not to hear or notice anything, finally pulled her through the crowd to the edge of the stage. Then, suppressing his increasingly agitated heartbeat caused by unconsciously holding his breath and the intense reluctance in his heart, he casually let go of her slightly cold but very soft little hand.

Her completely shut-down brain finally started functioning again, and her heart began to beat again.

However, the powerful guitar and bass sounds, along with Hiroi Kikuri's uniquely styled vocals, still couldn't reach her ears, which were firmly occupied by the sound of her own heartbeat.

Everything around her, including the colorful lights, seemed to dim and blur, except for Kitagawa Yu's tall and handsome figure, which remained clearly reflected in her pupils and imprinted in her heart.

"Yu...you didn't mean to do that, did you?"

"Hmm...that's right...Yu definitely didn't do it on purpose...otherwise...he wouldn't have let go so quickly..."

"But...this is the first time I've ever held hands with a boy..."

Anzu's mind started to wander.

It was only then that she suddenly realized that, if we don't count the time when she was two or three years old and took baths with Hakamada Sosuke, when she was four years old and went to kindergarten hand in hand with Hakamada Sosuke, and when she was in elementary school, she had accompanied Hakamada Sosuke to buy computer games by herself.

Her first time holding hands, her first indirect kiss, and even the first time she went out to eat and shop alone with the boy was all Kitagawa Yu!

I've only known Kitagawa Yu for less than a week!

"Why...we've only known each other for less than a week..."

Anna stared blankly at Yu Kitagawa, her mind replaying the events of the past week like a movie on fast-forward.

Then she suddenly realized that in the past week, she had actually spent more time with Kitagawa Yu than with Hakamada Sosuke!

Furthermore, the scenes with Hakamada Sosuke have become blurry, but almost every frame with Kitagawa Yu remains incredibly clear.

Chapter 80 Taking the Stage (Fourth update, please subscribe~~)

"This must be because Yu and I just met, and it's still new to us, so I remember it more clearly, right?"

Hana quickly came up with a seemingly reasonable excuse for herself, and then... she just stared blankly at Kitagawa Yu, her long eyelashes trembling slightly, her mind gradually giving up on thinking.

Until Hiroi Kikuri on stage had unknowingly finished singing the first song, Kitagawa Yu turned around and asked her how she felt.

She hurriedly looked away, and then a blush spread across her cheeks.

"Hmm... it's... it's alright... I feel like it's not as good as your singing..." Anna said softly.

Her small hands habitually rubbed the ends of her hair, twisting them into a thin strand before letting them fall apart again. If it weren't for the incorrect position, Kitagawa Yu would have thought that the ahoge (cowlick) on her head was something she had rubbed herself.

However, although she hadn't listened to Hiroi Kikuri's first song much, she really thought Kitagawa Yu sang it better.

Whether it was "A Romantic Moment" at the beginning or "Horizon" later, they all really touched her. Coupled with that strange feeling that she couldn't quite explain, at this moment, whenever she thought of Kitagawa Yu singing, she suddenly felt that Kitagawa Yu was really too handsome and his singing was too good.

"Yeah--"

Looking at her adorable, shy face, Kitagawa Yu was instantly captivated and almost couldn't resist reaching out to pull her into his arms.

However, to avoid upsetting her, Kitagawa Yu silently took a deep breath and tried her best to hold back, deliberately showing a slightly narcissistic look, and said casually, "I think so too~"

Then......

"Young man, would you like to come up and sing a song?"

Before Banai could speak again, a voice reeking of alcohol suddenly rang out above them, startling her and Kitagawa Yu.

Then, when the two hurriedly looked up, they suddenly realized that Hiroi Kikuri was squatting on the edge of the stage, grinning at them. Judging from her expression, she had most likely overheard their conversation.

Indeed, that was the case. Although Kitagawa Yu and Banami Anna didn't speak loudly, because they were right next to the stage, and Hiroi Kikuri had particularly sharp ears, she heard their conversation clearly.

At this point, if it were any other band, they might just pretend they didn't hear it. After all, everyone has their own interpretation, and it's normal for some people not to like their songs.

Moreover, not all of the more than 300 audience members were there to see their band perform.

However, as an unreliable, eccentric, and somewhat quirky drunkard, she naturally had to tease the outspoken young couple to liven up the atmosphere.

Yes, in Hiroi Kikuri's opinion, Kitagawa Yu and Yanami Anna's conversation was clearly that of a young couple.

To be honest, having been single since she was born with an M-type uterus, she's still a little envious.

But this made Banana completely bewildered when she saw Anzu.

As soon as Kikuri Hiroi spoke, everyone around turned to look at her and Yu Kitagawa.

This made Anna Hanami, who had never been stared at by so many people with such scrutinizing and curious eyes, feel very uneasy. She subconsciously moved closer to Yu Kitagawa and reached out to hug his arm.

—Well, since we've already held hands, it's not a big deal to hug each other's arms for protection...right?

Realizing what she had done, Anzu Hachimi buryed her head in the sand like an ostrich facing danger. Her heartbeat, which had just slowed down a little, became rapid and flustered again, and her flushed cheeks became even hotter.

At this moment, Kitagawa Yu, who had been frowning and annoyed by Hiroi Kikuri's meddling, instantly changed his mood and almost couldn't help but give Hiroi Kikuri a thumbs up.

At the same time, the thought that he had originally intended to refuse was quickly replaced by another new thought as he had a sudden impulse.

"Okay~"

After finishing speaking, Kitagawa Yu first turned his head and smiled, patting Hanami Anna's head and giving her a look that said, "Don't be afraid, watch my performance." Then, before Hanami Anna could react, he gracefully leaped onto the stage, which was more than a meter high, in front of everyone's astonished gaze.

"Huh? You really want to sing?" This time it was Hiroi Kikuri's turn to blink her eyes with a blank expression, and she couldn't help but let out a burp after speaking.

"Yeah~ Didn't you invite me to sing?"

As he spoke, Kitagawa Yu approached guitarist Shimizu Eliza and said to this British girl with a sweet face, a stunning figure, and a Devil Fruit that was at least F-rank, who was a big fan of ACG culture, "Can I borrow your guitar for a moment?"

"of course can!"

Eliza Shimizu, who always enjoyed watching the excitement, immediately showed an excited expression after realizing what was happening. She handed the electric guitar in her hand to Yu Kitagawa, and at the same time gave him the microphone in front of her and the effects pedals at her feet.

"Thank you~"

Kitagawa Yu stepped in front of the microphone, facing the audience below the stage, and introduced himself generously: "I am Kitagawa Yu, the keyboardist and lead vocalist of the band White Sand. Next, I will perform my own song, 'Time Paradox'."

White Sands was the band name he finally decided on this morning after racking his brains for several days.

Its origin is not the anime called "The Aquarium of White Sand", but refers to the most beautiful Shirahama Beach in Izu.

In addition, Shirahamazaka High School, where Okita Sawa and Sakai Kazuna are currently studying, is also located near that beach.

As for the song "Time Paradox," it was composed by Vaundy, a male singer-songwriter who was ranked among the top ten or even top five in popularity in Japan in his previous life, for the movie "Doraemon: Nobita's Earth Symphony."

After its release, it remained on the Billboard weekly chart, reaching as high as number seven. Because it was relatively easy to sing, it was also one of the candidates for his debut single.

"So you were in a band too?" Hiroi Kikuri finally realized, realizing she had shot herself in the foot.

However, she wasn't too bothered by it. After all, Kitagawa Yu had bravely stepped forward to protect his 'girlfriend' in this unexpected situation, taking all the attention and pressure upon himself, which made her, as a girl herself, quite fond of him.