Even if you're a corrupted magical girl, you still have to try to redeem yourself.

From the perspective of someone like Yuuki Yukino, who is used to listening to girl bands, this band's performance was actually not very good.

Yuki En was able to find all sorts of problems that often occur in bands, such as off-key singing, rushing the beat, and being out of tune. Even their original songs were not catchy enough.

This is from the perspective of someone who is not a professional at all, but merely a viewer. If viewed from a more professional perspective, there would certainly be more problems.

However, these flaws did not affect the enthusiastic atmosphere at all. Even Yuuki Enishi, who did not know what their songs should be like or what the effect of a perfect performance would be, felt a sense of unease.

It was the echo left by the music striking the soul, which, along with the dazzling lights and powerful drumbeats, was driven into Yuuki Yukino's body, surging even more intensely within her.

This is the atmosphere at the scene; this is a true reflection of this band.

That's right, music isn't something that's very far removed from us.

The lullabies sung by mothers to their children, the nursery rhymes shouted by children while playing games, the school songs sung by all the students, the stirring military songs, and the folk tunes sung in the streets and alleys—all of these are music.

What moved Yuuki Yuuki was not just the music, but the authenticity of the living, breathing people standing right in front of her that the music conveyed to her.

The singers, the musicians, the audience—from different places, yet all converging here—that is the most moving power when all the real things come together.

Even after the musicians on stage bowed to express their appreciation and wished everyone a good time, the feeling of excitement lingered for a long time.

Before coming here, Yuuki Yuuki had never thought too much about it, thinking that this was just an ordinary trip to accompany Helica in order to fulfill her wish.

But looking back, whether it was going to a family restaurant together, going to the beach together, visiting festivals together, going on school trips together, or enjoying music here now, it's all part of Yuuki Yukino's youth.

I am currently enjoying an unparalleled youth.

Even after the girls on stage had left the stage, the atmosphere that had been hyped up showed no signs of fading.

After all, a show isn't just about one band.

During the brief transition between venues, Yuuki Enishi turned to look at the girls beside her. Regardless of their knowledge of music, they were all completely immersed in it and eagerly awaiting the next band to take the stage.

Just as Yuuki Yuki was about to refocus her attention on the stage, she noticed out of the corner of her eye that Tenrai Herika was squeezing out of the crowd and walking towards the sparsely populated back.

The restrooms at this live house are very close to the exit, so it's reasonable to use them at this time.

However, Yuuki Yuki didn't really want to let Helica go out alone like that.

Rather than saying I didn't want to let her do that, it was more like I was worried.

"I'm going to the restroom," Yuuki Yuen nudged Baqi next to her with her elbow and whispered a reminder.

"Oh, okay," Baqi replied softly, without saying anything more.

Following Helica Tenrai's footsteps, Yuuki Yuuki arrived at the back of the room, the part closest to the beverage counter.

To see the performance, people usually like to squeeze forward, so the back is definitely quite spacious.

Just by squeezing out of the crowd, Yuuki Yuki couldn't help but breathe a sigh of relief.

The oppressive feeling that had been temporarily numbed by the music vanished the moment it appeared, along with a sudden sense of clarity.

Several small lights were also installed overhead near the counter, and on the chair next to it, Lava Mountain Lamp was leaning back with his legs crossed.

However, Yuuki Yui's attention was not on Lava Lantern, but rather on watching Helica pull up a chair near Lava Lantern and then plop down on it.

Is there something you want to say to Lava Mountain Lantern?

This idea was immediately rejected by Yuuki Yuki, whose relationship with Lava Lantern was relatively good because Lava Lantern had helped him more than once.

He saved me, provided me with a place to work, and recently gave me a lot of useful clues. Even though our relationship wasn't close, it was closer than that of ordinary people and Rongshan Lantern. We could talk to each other.

But Helica is a bit different. She doesn't need anything from Kouyama, and she doesn't have the quirky thinking of Mizuno Yu. She's completely out of sync with Kouyama, so she probably won't come to talk to him.

As it turned out, Yuuki Yuen was absolutely right. Herika sat there, her eyes slightly closed, leaning back completely against the chair as if resting, without moving a single lip.

The Lava Mountain Lamp next to it was the same; it just leaned against it without any intention of communicating with Herika.

The absence of the Lava Mountain Lantern does not mean that Yuuki Eri is absent.

No matter how small the anomaly, it would not escape Yuuki Yukino's eyes.

Helica's current behavior is abnormal.

Yuuki Yukina moved behind Helica, and under the cover of the music gradually rising on the stage, Helica did not notice the sound of Yuuki Yukina's movements.

Yuuki lowered her center of gravity, rested her arm on the back of the chair where Helica was sitting, and asked softly while propping her head up.

"What's wrong? Are you unhappy?"

It wasn't until Yuuki spoke softly that Herika realized there was someone standing behind her.

However, this only made Herika realize that there was someone standing behind her. The noisy music at the scene made Herika only know that Yuuki was speaking, but she couldn't clearly hear what Yuuki was saying.

Herlica opened her eyes, looked up in confusion at Yuuki Yuki who was leaning against the back of her chair, and turned her ear to the side.

"What did you say?"

Yuuki raised her voice even louder, and taking advantage of the moment when Helica couldn't hear her clearly, she changed her words, making her greeting more gentle.

"I mean, why are you here all alone?"

"If you're tired of the show, just find a place to sit for a while." Helica stretched, creaked as she moved her chair, and sat up straight. "What about you? Weren't you enjoying the show just now?"

"I was tired of watching, and the front row was a bit crowded, so I came out for some fresh air," Yuuki Yui replied simply.

Both parties knew that the other's answer was merely an excuse, not a genuine response.

However, neither of them tacitly revealed their feelings. Yuuki Yuki remained leaning on the back of the chair where Helica was lying, while Helica slumped back and continued to gaze at the stage lights and the glimpse of heads peeking out from the crowd.

Even though the stage was deliberately raised by several tens of centimeters, Yuuki Yuki could only see a tiny bit clearly, and Helica probably couldn't see the performance at all.

But none of this affects their current situation.

A gentler style of music, quite different from the previous band, is quietly flowing through every corner. The soothing piano and guitar strumming seem to pull the audience into a stream, and together with the melodious singing, they bask in the sunshine of this concert music in this season that is neither the height of summer nor has blue skies and white clouds.

So there are bands with this style?

Indeed, it's not uncommon; this kind of light, rustic tune easily reminds Yuuki Emi of folk songs.

It is Yuki Enishi's narrow-mindedness to think that live houses can only host lively rock performances.

Musical styles are always diverse, and all have the potential to be showcased.

She said she wanted others to know about the band before coming to see the live performance, but in reality, Yuuki Yukino herself still has a lot to learn.

As the last note faded, the lead singer on stage began her MC segment, and Helica followed suit by raising her hand and clapping a few times. Then, just like when she first discovered Yuuki Yuuki, she tilted her head back.

"what do you think?"

"Me?" Yuuki straightened up so she could better see the girl on stage, who didn't look much older than her, speaking her true feelings in a calm tone: "I think it's pretty good."

"Not bad? What's so good about it?" Herika asked out of the blue. Yuuki Yuuki couldn't tell whether Herika was asking her seriously or just giving a dismissive retort.

Regardless of the situation, it doesn't affect Yuuki Eri's heartfelt answer.

"It's very pleasant to listen to, it's just good."

"Hmm, did you enjoy listening to that?" Helica pondered, repeating what Yuuki had said, then turned her head back, but her expression seemed to suggest that Yuuki should ask for her opinion.

Yuuki Yukino was now quite adept at reading Helica's expressions, and immediately understood what Helica meant: "So what do you think? How did they perform?"

"The first band is still immature and there are many areas that need improvement, such as pitch. Anyone can make mistakes in these basic skills. The process of becoming mature is to make fewer mistakes or even no mistakes. They also lack the ability to handle the atmosphere of the live performance."

Herlica spoke calmly and fluently, making Yuuki Yuuki wonder if Herlica had already prepared a draft in her mind before asking her.

If even Yuuki Yukino could spot the problem, it would be strange if Helica couldn't. Given Helica's personality, she would indeed be able to point it out so incisively.

"Is there anything else?" Yuuki Yuen asked again.

"Yes, there are many, but the store manager here made a good choice to put them first. Their style is suitable for warming up the crowd, and they have a certain level of skill. The only thing they lack is a little coordination and mindset during the performance. The pressure of being the first to perform is very high. Even if they were put second, their performance would be much better than it is now."

"Then why were they made to go first?" Yuuki Yuen was a little confused.

"Because of growth. Every band, or every individual, needs to grow. Some people need the trials and tribulations along the way, while others need a well-timed success. For example, they need to make a breakthrough under greater pressure."

It turned out to be the case.

Yuuki nodded in deep agreement.

In the world before she became Yuuki Yuuki, her greatest enemy was that "other people's child," and she herself had once been that "other people's child."

However, efforts without recognition will not bring corresponding emotional feedback. She can only climb step by step, without knowing why, over one mountain peak and then move towards an even higher one.

If she could, Yuuki Yuuki wouldn't want to be the one standing at the highest point, but rather the one who pulls up the children who can't climb any further halfway up the mountain, telling these children who are about to give up that they have already done very well.

As the next song began, Yuuki Yukino couldn't help but fall into deeper reverie.

So much so that she didn't hear Herika's very soft muttering at all.

"But I'm the only one who hasn't grown at all."

"Ok?"

Yuuki Yuuki let out a soft "hmm," but she could only make out what Herika said.

"It's nothing, I was just saying that this band still has a lot of room for improvement."

"If we practice like crazy for a month, is it possible for us to catch up with them?" Yuuki asked casually, a question that even she herself felt was unrealistic.

"What are you thinking? Absolutely impossible." Helica rolled her eyes at the air. "Nothing is ever that simple."

“That makes sense. So, how far away is this band?” Yuuki asked again.

"They're even further ahead. Don't be fooled by the fact that this band only has one guitarist, one vocalist, and one keyboardist; their skill level is miles ahead of the previous one." Herlica, known for her sharp critiques, didn't find a single fault when talking about this duo.

"Is it really that good? It seems like the song is much easier than the last one."

Yuki's doubts deepened. The song being played on stage made Yuki feel that with her current skill level, she could play it roughly after practicing for one night.

Herlica nodded, and even though Yuuki couldn't see her expression, she could tell how serious Herlica was.

"Yes, normally, in a show with five or six bands, the first band is there to warm up the crowd, the second band is there to build up the atmosphere to a climax, and then the tempo slows down. But in this style of show, the band is the second one. Do you understand what that means?"

"What do you mean?"

“Idiots,” Helica muttered under her breath, “because they are good enough.”

“Oh…oh…” Yuuki nodded again, still looking rather bewildered.

"Sigh." Helica sighed helplessly and explained to Yuuki Yuuki in more detail: "Bands are unreasonable. Having superb playing skills is important, but the stage never belongs to one person."

"Mmm," Yuuki Yukino continued to agree, eagerly awaiting what Tenrai Herika would say next.

"The coordination between instruments, and between instruments and the human voice, the emotions conveyed to the audience through music, and the charm that can attract the audience's attention on stage—these require not only hard work but also talent. But one thing is certain."

Helica sat up straight again and then stood up from the chair she had been sitting in.