Joker's Band Game Story

Deng felt it was her fault that Xiangzi left Crychic, and she really wanted to tell Xiangzi that she hoped they could continue to have fun together.

But Xiangzi remained silent, watching the performance unfold.

After the song ended, everyone breathed a sigh of relief, and Shuangshi began to prepare to take off his bass.

As agreed, they would only play one piece. Shuangshi felt that they had finished playing and it was time to bow and leave the stage.

But what she didn't expect was that Deng was still holding the microphone at that moment.

"I'm very happy that you're willing to come..."

These words made the group of people who were about to leave the stage turn to look at Deng. Deng looked at Xiangzi and continued, "Back then... I didn't sing well... which caused the band to fall apart... I was so upset... I never want to go through that again... and I felt like I never wanted to form a band again..."

At this moment, the cat remembered what Lixi had mentioned before, so she started playing music to provide ambient sound for the lamp.

"All I can do is sing my heart out! Because... my songs are the cry from my heart!"

At this moment, Maomao also felt that it was about time, so she subconsciously started playing the only other piece of music that the band members could play - Spring Shadow.

　??扒氵令〉IXOVII?氿午【覇丸辣！

These were the words that someone couldn't help but exclaim inwardly.

Chapter Seventy-Four: Why Play the Spring Shadow!

This was something no one had expected; the cat had actually bounced onto the Kasuga Shadow.

The boomerang came back completely. Lixi had told the cat to wait until the lamp finished speaking before starting to play, and she instinctively began to play when the atmosphere reached its peak after the lamp finished speaking.

Amamiya, backstage, found it hard to judge what Neko's intentions were in playing Kasuga Kage at this time. Did she choose to play Kasuga Kage because she knew that only these two songs were played by the group?

Or is it that... you just want to play it, that's all?

Sometimes people really can't figure out what cats are thinking, and Lena did something that left everyone completely baffled.

But Riki on stage immediately realized what was happening and started playing the drums, and Aine also subconsciously started playing as well.

She had been diligently taught by Ren Amamiya for almost three weeks, and she had truly mastered these two pieces.

Amamiya had mentioned before that it would be impossible for Aine to learn to play the guitar in three weeks. But if she only knew how to play these two pieces, it would be more than enough.

Sosei looked at everyone with concern and then started playing the bass, but her gaze was fixed on Shoko in the audience.

Because this performance didn't have Ren Amamiya to keep the audience engaged from the start, and the new band had no popularity, many audience members were already satisfied and went to rest while waiting for the next performance. There weren't many audience members in the venue, and Xiangzi and Mutsuko's seats were easily visible.

My heart is weary, my eyes tremble uncontrollably; I am utterly alone in this world.

The lamp began to sing, and unlike the previous song, this one immediately got into tune, her voice full of power.

She wanted to convey her inner cries to Xiangzi, to let her know that the reason she sang so hard last time was simply to express all the cries in her heart.

“That’s great…”

At this moment, Renna couldn't help but wipe her eyes. Listening to the song by the lantern, she felt her heart was healed.

"So, band, isn't it interesting?"

Momoka stood beside her and asked Nina a question, and Nina nodded slightly: "That's amazing."

"How about we form a band together?"

"No, I still want to go to school."

Although she could tell that everyone was having a great time in the band, she still declined Momoka's invitation. She wanted to study and go to university!

No one can stop her from doing that!

But at this moment, Momoka couldn't help but smile. She was still very grateful to Ren Amamiya this time.

If they hadn't been given this ticket, Nina wouldn't have come to the live show, nor would she have seen the bands' joyful expressions during the performance.

No amount of words can compare to showing her in person and letting her understand that forming a band is actually a very joyful thing.

"Let me go..."

At this moment, the black-haired beauty next to Momoka seemed to be trying to break free from Momoka's grasp, but Momoka just scoffed, "No, who told you to run away alone in the first place?"

"That's because I wanted to get an autograph, hehe. I already have the autograph, I won't run away, don't worry."

"No, I don't believe it."

Momoka's answer made the beautiful girl scream, but no one paid attention to her and continued to listen to the Spring Shadow being played on the stage.

'It brings happiness and intoxicates, illuminating me who cannot weep; its gentle light carries me on its journey!'

The five people on the stage were so dazzling that Xiangzi in the audience couldn't help but clench his fists.

Why! Why can you all still perform so happily on stage, while I can only work hard to make ends meet?

Playing the piano for a short while after school each day makes me feel relaxed and happy.

To make a living, I even turned down an invitation to end the band. I left Crychic and refused other people's invitations, all so I could work and try to survive.

Why! Why are you all so dazzling! While I have to climb through the mud!

I'm not reconciled, I'm really not reconciled! I'm so upset, I'm really so upset!

It was a spring scene we created together, and those were such happy times, so why am I the only one who can't go back?

I really... hate it, I really hate this feeling!

Mu, who was standing nearby, was enjoying the performance on stage, a happy smile on her face.

She watched the lights walk out of the past, saw them become a new band, and sincerely wished them success from the bottom of her heart.

But the next second, she saw Xiangzi run away from her, and she quickly fled the scene alone.

Do you want to catch up?

Mu's lips, which had just curled up, fell back down as she looked back at the stage.

Forget it... Xiangzi... needs to calm down.

As Xiangzi's other half, Mu probably guessed what Xiangzi was thinking. She didn't chase after him and make him feel even more embarrassed. She knew that when Xiangzi was unhappy, he needed to calm down by himself.

What about yourself?

Let's continue watching their performance.

Mu withdrew her gaze and continued watching the performance on stage.

Mu was not the only one who noticed Xiangzi's departure; Shuangshi did as well.

She was genuinely happy when she saw Xiangzi come to watch their performance.

But seeing her run away so quickly, she wanted to chase after her immediately.

But she couldn't catch up; her legs held her tightly.

She couldn't do it. She couldn't leave midway through a performance, causing the show to fail. She couldn't let people down.

She had always worn a mask, a mask meant to meet the expectations of others. Looking at the gleaming eyes of the audience, she couldn't bring herself to end the performance.

In a panic, she instinctively looked at the light and discovered that the light was being sung happily.

She then looked at Lixi, who was also immersed in the music.

Why are you all singing so enthusiastically? Why didn't you notice Xiangzi leaving?

Could it be... that I'm the only one still searching for the past?

Sōse couldn't help but recall what Ren Amamiya had told her back then: 'You can't pull Sōko back into the band, that's a fact.'

'Xiangzi doesn't have time to play house with you anymore.' (The rest of the text appears to be gibberish and unrelated to the previous sentence.)

So, when he said he couldn't bring Xiangzi back into the band, was it because there was no longer a place for Xiangzi in the hearts of the other members?

They've started accepting new bands instead of the old Crychic.

Why is this happening? Why!

Shuangshi's eyes became somewhat vacant, and her hands unconsciously played the Spring Shadow. She didn't know how many times she had practiced this piece, or how long she had practiced it.

Her muscle memory was even stronger than Ai Yin's, so even when she was completely out of control, she was still playing the bass.

But during the harmony, her voice could not be heard.

'In this sun-drenched world, those who proudly bloom are truly important! Knowing what the warmth of spring is, tears have been shed because of you and me!'

Xiangzi had already run out of the concert hall, but she could still hear Deng singing.

The sound from the livehouse is very loud, which is also to make it easier for outsiders to hear the singing inside and become curious enough to walk in and listen.

But among the group of curious people who went back inside, only Xiangzi was running against the flow of people to go outside.

Everyone around her is moving towards a better future, but what about her?

Why did she have to go from being a pampered young lady to an ordinary person? Why did she have to live in that dilapidated little house? Why did she have to do all the things a servant should do all by herself? And why did her father become like that?

In the past, she had deliberately ignored these issues, numbing herself to stop thinking about them, but Deng's singing reminded her of the time she used to play music with everyone in Crychic.

What wonderful times those were! What unforgettable times those were! In that paradise-like life, why have I now stepped into hell?

Tears welled up in Xiangzi's eyes, and she fled the scene in tears.

Mom, I really can't hold on anymore...

When she ran until she had no strength left, she had no idea where she was.

She looked at the large screen above her head, which was showing an advertisement for Sumimi. On the screen, Hatsuka and Mana were singing one of their classic songs, Hello World.

Looking at Chu Hua, who was bathed in such bright sunshine, she couldn't help but recall Chu Hua's past.

She was just an islander from a small island, a girl from an ordinary family, but now she has become a popular idol and transformed into someone from the upper class.

Can I... do the same as her?

'You can't let go of music.'

Ren Amamiya's words echoed in her mind.

Yes, I can't let go, but can I do it again?