I, the mastermind behind the scenes at Soubu High, refuse to be caught in a bloodbath.

During this brief silence, Setsuna, holding the microphone in one hand and gesturing to the crowd with the other, smiled sweetly and said, "Hello everyone, we are the Light Music Fan Club. Thank you all so much for coming to the Soubu High School Cultural Festival today..."

After saying all that, mainly asking for everyone's thoughts on the song "White Album," she then said, "Now, please allow me to introduce our members. Well, let me start with myself. I'm the lead vocalist, Setsuna Ogiso~"

That sweet smile really sparked another wave of cheers from below.

"Next up is the guitarist, Haruto Himekoji~"

Haruto, I love you!

Ji Xiaolu's mother cupped her hands into a megaphone and shouted, which drew cheers and laughter. She herself started waving her hands high in the air, making Yaozi, who was sitting next to her, want to put on an expression that said, "I don't know this silly woman."

"And—, the guitarist, Takeya Iizuka!"

At this moment, Iizuka made his appearance amidst her introduction, and Himekoji also switched places with Kazusa as he wished, standing in front of the keyboard. Kazusa took the bass that Iizuka had brought from backstage and tried it out with a flourish.

"And also, keyboardist, Himekoji Haruto; drummer, Himekoji Haruto; keyboardist, Touma Kazusa! Saxophone player, Touma Kazusa; bassist, Touma Kazusa!"

As Setsuna introduced herself, the cheers below grew even louder, though many others found it hard to believe.

"The next song will have a really great guitar solo, I hope you all like it."

The moment Setsuna announced the song title, the accompaniment started playing smoothly, and the tacit cooperation of the four over the past few days immediately paid off. During the usual time, Iizuka played his guitar skill without any hesitation, while Kazusa played the bass and Himekoji played the keyboard. With the four of them working together, after the song was finished, Himekoji took her hands off the keyboard, picked up the guitar, and started playing high-speed glissando.

"Hey, hey, hey, you're kidding, right? What you just said was for real!"

After the performance, the officials from the Ministry of Revenue who came to the front of the stage were also stunned.

"Holy crap."

"Holy crap,"

"That's really awesome."

"Well, after all, someone who can become the student council president has to be quite capable." Yumiko seemed quite relieved. She smoothed her hair and looked confidently at Hayama, then said, "If Hayato practices hard, he can reach that level too, right?"

"Then you'll probably have to practice like crazy to get there."

Ye Shan smiled and shook his head. Generally speaking, a person's talent is limited. Being able to play multiple musical instruments and become proficient in them is definitely not something that can be achieved by hard work alone.

He believes he still lacks the talent.

"Oh, it seems his guitar skills haven't declined at all."

Watching Himekoji energetically playing the guitar on stage, Yoko whispered to Daphne from below, because it was so noisy inside that you couldn't hear her unless you got close.

"Well, with your terrible guitar skills, you couldn't have taught him to be like this."

"Huh? What did you say? You dare say I play the guitar badly?"

"Oh? Or is that not it?"

"Damn it, you just wait, I'll come to your house and beat you to death with a musical contest another day."

"Sure, no problem. This time, I'll make you completely submit to me on the piano!"

"No one would respect you!"

"Go to hell, you piece of shit, Touma Yoko!"

"Damn Himekoji Daphne, I'll tear your mouth apart!"

Since the two were communicating in French, the audience around them were completely baffled.

So, right before Himekoji's eyes, the two of them started arguing again. I said, "Are you two actually on good terms or not?"

"call--."

Himekoji, whose fingers were a little numb from playing the guitar, took a breath and finished the final high-speed glissando phase. All the spotlights went out, and cheers rang out again.

A few seconds later, the spotlight came back on, and Kazusa came over to switch places with Himekoji. As she passed Himekoji, she gave him a fist bump. Himekoji then gave him a fist bump as he passed Iizuka. She took off her guitar and put it on the shelf, then sat down behind the drum set on the other side.

“This is the last song,” Setsuna lowered her head slightly, then looked at Himekoji and extended her hand to him. “This is an original song by Himekoji Haruto, the student council president who has always supported our band. He wrote both the lyrics and the music himself… The song is called ‘Yukitoki.’ And lastly, I’d like to introduce…” Seeing the staff bring out another standing microphone and place it in front of Kazusa’s keyboard, Setsuna playfully twirled around and extended her hand to Kazusa, saying, “The sub-vocalist is Touma Kazusa!”

(The song title "Yukitoki" does not mean "the season of snow," but rather "the melting of snowflakes," and it refers to the natural melting of snowflakes, not the kind caused by human intervention. This is a song about Yukino Yukinoshita.)

"...Today is their personal showcase, isn't it?"

The noisy Minister of Revenue below was holding his head and complaining in frustration.

"When the closing act was taken away at the beginning, wasn't it you, Hubu, who was the most outspoken?"

“Things have changed! Who knew those two could play so many instruments, and one of them even composed music and wrote lyrics…” Tobe grabbed Hayama’s arms, tears welling in his eyes, and shook them repeatedly, saying, “Hayato, this isn’t something a normal human could do, ah, this isn’t something a normal human could do!”

Finally, Ebina, who was standing to the side, coughed up blood from his nose and muttered before he died, "Ah... Ye♂Dou has started too..."

The searchlight beams shone excitedly in all directions, while the Disco ball overhead emitted dazzling light.

Beth howled with hunger and greed.

The drumbeats leap and bounce as they please, to assert their presence.

In Chapter 212, by the end, everyone had found their place.

With each instrument playing its part to its fullest, the guitar uses precise and meticulous plucking to control the entire piece, achieving a restraining effect.

Finally, there was a light and bright vocal performance. The lead singer occasionally jumped up and down, but still managed to sing every note and every lyric.

Among the audience, some swung their arms back and forth, some shook their heads; some waved their phones, which emitted a faint glow, like a sea lily; and some were so excited that they jumped into the crowd from above, making everyone lift them up.

The drummer issued a challenge, speeding up the tempo, and the guitarist accepted, plucking the strings forcefully. Just as the melody was about to crumble, the bassist delivered a timely shout with a hammer-on.

Then, the lead singer stretched out his hands and began to sing, as if embracing everything.

Between songs, the lead singer interacted with the audience, leading them in cheers one moment and then running from right to left in a wave-like dance the next. The audience emitted glow sticks of various colors, resembling countless twinkling stars.

At this moment, everyone in the darkness became one.

“But to be honest, they’re really amazing…” Yui looked at the four people working together perfectly above her and said with a touch of longing, “Everyone of them is shining.”

"That's already at a non-human level."

Hikigaya's voice suddenly came from behind Yuihama, startling her so much that she jumped up. After realizing it was him, she kept patting her chest to calm her breathing.

"Seriously, you're so elusive when you're staying home. How did you get here without making a sound? Where's Yukino?"

"Well, she's still backstage directing the whole thing. When the Chairman is playing, the Vice Chairman's workload gets even heavier."

Although Hikigaya appeared indifferent, he was actually thinking: I can't exactly tell you that I just talked to Yukino and she ignored me, so I ran away from home.

"A small room where I am all alone"

I always feel like something's missing.

I only realized this now.

The two of them can be so happy

In those days of confused waiting

It will transform into the warm spring breeze along with the winter snow...

In the final part of the song, when Kazusa and Setsuna sang together, Himekoji glanced out of the corner of his eye in the direction he felt being watched. Behind the curtain, Yukinoshita was patting her chest and watching him.

When Yukinoshita looked at her, because she was busy drumming with both hands, Himekoji deliberately winked at her, and Yukinoshita was stunned.

"It transforms into clear, transparent water...and then—"

Azaleas are about to bloom

After this long winter has passed

No matter how many times

It will all bloom in this sun-filled room.

"

Finally, the curtain fell.

In Yukina's understanding, this was a song that Himekoji wrote for Kazusa. However, when Himekoji looked at Yukinoshita at that time, Yukinoshita also had an unlikely premonition. Although the possibility was extremely small, she couldn't help but think about it.

The four bowed and, amidst the final cheers, said, "Thank you very much, everyone."

After the final performance, and after the staff took all the instruments off the stage, Himekoji returned to the stage to announce the end of the festival, followed by the reading of the winners' list.

"Finally," Himekoji said, taking the sealed envelope handed to him by Yukinoshita. He waved to the audience and said, "Please welcome all the candidates for this year's Soubu High Beauty Pageant to the stage."

Then, Hiratsuka Shizuka, Kasumigaoka Utaha, Yukinoshita Yukino, and finally Totsuka Saika also came on stage. As a boy among so many girls, he appeared unusually reserved.

"Well then, it's about time to reveal the rankings..." Himekoji opened the envelope and said as she walked, "Ah, since there are fourteen candidates in total, we'll be using a differential system, with seven winners. Why don't you all guess who will win the crown of the first Soubu High School Beauty Pageant? Also, just a heads up, the results of this election will be recorded in the history of Soubu High School."

"Himekoji Haruto!!"

Some girls, always eager for chaos, shouted his name, causing a burst of laughter from below. No wonder, Himekoji's performance was just too dazzling. Iizuka was only responsible for the guitar in two songs, and those were the simpler parts. Himekoji, who was also a boy and a year younger than him, undoubtedly became the focus of the girls' attention.

"Hahaha, I'm so happy everyone could support me! But this competition doesn't allow ordinary boys to participate, and I refuse to wear women's clothing. Ahem, without further ado, I'll announce the winner of the first Soubu High School Beauty Pageant: Seventh place—Hiratsuka Shizuka...Teacher!! And tied for seventh place, Kawasaki Saki!!"

Hiratsuka Shizuka came in seventh, which was beyond Himekoji's expectations. She looked like she was about to faint. Yuihama presented the award to Hiratsuka Shizuka. Holding the flowers, Hiratsuka Shizuka bowed to the audience with tears in her eyes, and then bowed again. Her younger brother, Taishi, presented the award to Kawasaki. The two hugged each other on the stage, which was the envy of everyone.

"Sixth place—Totsuka Saika!!"

Himekoji barely suppressed the urge to burst out laughing and loudly proclaimed his name. The person who came out to present him with the award was Hachiman. The two looked at each other affectionately on the stage, which made Himekoji cough twice to bring Hachiman back from his new world.

"Very good, very good. By the way, Totsuka Saika is a boy, but he's an incredibly cute boy, don't you all agree?!"

"yes--------!!!"

The boys responded with a deafening roar.

"Alright, then fifth place goes to Gidou Mariya!"

The spotlight shone on Mariya again. This time, the person who came up to present the award to Mariya was her "younger brother" (actually her younger sister), Shizuka Gidou. After Shizuka stuffed the bouquet and certificate into Mariya's hands, she immediately snorted and turned to leave. Mariya, on the other hand, kept grinning mischievously until Himekoji glanced at her with a meaningful look.

"So, fourth place... Yumiko Miura!!"

Himeko turned to face her and extended her hand. The spotlight shone on Yumiko, who confidently stroked her long golden hair and gave a soft "humph." However, it was Hayama Hayato who came up to present her with the award, which immediately shattered Yumiko's confident demeanor, turning her into a shy little woman.

He kept saying things like, "I'm useless, I'm useless."

"Ahem, now we've reached the crucial top three. Can we take a short commercial break first?"

Hahahahahaha————

"Alright, alright, enough joking around, let's get back to the point. Third place goes to Eriri Sawamura Spencer! Congratulations!"

Eriri was presented with the award by her mother, Sayuri Sawamura, who handed her a bouquet and a crystal trophy, as there is a difference between the top three and the bottom four.