After dropping out of school, I chose to join a girls' band.

Xiangzi formed the band after seeing Morfonica's performance at the Moon Forest Music Festival. If he could, Xiangzi would definitely want to perform on the music festival stage.

As Yue reminisced about the past, a student from the Moon Forest stood at the school gate and asked, "Are you a band here today for the qualification audition?"

Her voice was gentle and polite, she wore the typical uniform of Tsukimori, and had a friendly smile on her face. Her neat appearance and confident demeanor highlighted the temperament and etiquette of a Tsukimori student.

"Yes, we are here for the qualification review," Yue replied with a slight bow.

The student nodded, looking understanding. "Welcome to Moon Forest. I'm one of the student council leaders, and today I'm here to welcome students from other schools who are here for the qualification review. Please let me know if you need any help."

Aine followed with a polite smile and said, "Thank you."

Looking at the student from the Moon Forest in front of him, Yue asked, "Excuse me, where is the venue for the qualifying performance?"

The student smiled and replied, "It's in the school auditorium. Please follow me, I'll take you there."

Yue shook her head. "We can go to the auditorium ourselves. I came here once during the welcome party last time."

The student was clearly puzzled, her brows furrowing slightly. "Is that so...?" She looked closely at Yue's face, as if trying to confirm whether Yue was telling the truth.

Seeing Yue's determined expression, the student finally nodded. "Then I won't accompany you. There are student council members on duty in other parts of the school. You can ask them anytime if you have any questions."

Yue bowed again, saying, "Thank you very much for your help."

"It's alright, good luck!" the student replied kindly, then turned and walked away towards the others.

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Upon entering the Moon Forest School, compared to the last time when they came with Shoko, when they had to hide from Nagasaki Motoyo and Wakaba Mutsu twice, this time they were much more at ease and had time to slowly appreciate the scenery of the school.

"Moon, do you think Su Shi will come back today for the qualification review?" Ai Yin asked curiously on the way, her tone filled with a hint of anticipation and unease.

Yue shook her head and replied softly, "I don't know either. Su Shi won't tell us where she went."

Ai Yin frowned slightly and slowed her pace. "If only we knew Su Shi's class, we could go directly to her class and ask her."

Yue looked at Aine, pondered for a moment, and said, "Suise's class is a good question. Maybe we can try asking Rui-senpai Yashio."

"But that depends on us passing the qualification review first. If we can't pass, we won't be able to participate in the Moon Forest Music Festival."

------------

As Yue and her companions entered the auditorium, they found it already filled with people, most of whom were acquaintances. The auditorium was brightly lit, the stage was set up, and various musical instruments were neatly arranged, creating an atmosphere of anticipation.

"Ah! Tsuki-chan, Aine-chan! Over here!" Kasumi Toyama stood to one side, waving to them. Kasumi's enthusiasm and energy made the entire auditorium feel warmer and more vibrant.

"Kasumi-senpai," Yue led everyone over to greet her, "Has the qualification review started? Where are Arisaki-senpai and the others?"

"Not yet. I just heard from Shiro that it seems they're going to wait until everyone has arrived before starting, to avoid anyone coming in or out and affecting the performance. I saw Ruyu go up to say hello just now," Kasumi said.

“I see.” Yue nodded in understanding, glancing around. She saw that a large number of people had already gathered in the auditorium, and every corner was filled with an atmosphere of anticipation. Yue not only saw the members of Popipa, but also the members of Hello Happy World and Afterglow in the distance, but she didn’t see Roselia, Ras, and PP.

"I didn't expect everyone to come to the Moon Forest concert. This stage is sure to be very lively and very kirakira, dokidoki," Kasumi said with sparkling eyes.

"I feel the pressure is greater than I expected," Lixi said softly as she walked to Yue's side.

Yue nodded, her expression becoming even more serious, and replied to Lixi in a low voice, "Well, this is actually pretty much like a small rehearsal. If you're not satisfied, you probably won't have another chance to participate in a second qualification review."

"Oh, right," Kasumi said, pointing to a spot not far away, noticing that everyone was still wearing their school uniforms. "There's a changing room over there. If you have any costumes for your performances, you can go there to change."

"Thank you!" Yue replied with a smile. She had indeed been looking for a place to change clothes. Although their performance costumes looked quite casual, it would still be a little awkward for everyone to walk around in them on the street.

When the Stage Opens: Chapter 185 Qualification Review (Part 1)

"I feel so nervous..." In the dressing room, Aine had already changed her clothes. Looking at her somewhat pale face in the mirror, she couldn't help but whisper.

Although her guitar skills are much better now than when she made mistakes on stage during her first performance, she still felt a little anxious when she thought about how if she failed the qualification review, their chances of getting to know Su Shi would decrease, and Su Shi might even leave their band completely.

Takamatsu Akari had just changed her clothes and came out when she saw Aine's nervous expression. She frowned slightly and quickly walked to Aine's side.

"Xiao Ai... are you alright?" Gao Songdeng tried to comfort Ai Yin.

"I'm fine..." Aine managed a weak smile, but her nervousness still lingered. She took a deep breath, trying to calm herself down, but her heart was still racing and her complexion hadn't improved.

Looking at Aine's expression, Xiaodeng thought for a moment, then took out a small bag of colorful konpeito (Japanese candy) from her pocket and handed it to Aine. "Here, this is for you. It's my favorite candy. Eating some will make you feel much better."

Aine took the konpeito, paused for a moment, then smiled, a hint of emotion flashing in her eyes, "Thank you, Kodama."

She opened the bag, took out one and put it in her mouth. The sweet taste melted in her mouth, and her mood seemed to improve a lot.

Yue, having changed her clothes, came out of the dressing room. Seeing Aine holding a bag of candy, she looked curious and approached.

"What is this? Konpeito? Aine, you used to like this?" Tsuki asked with a hint of curiosity.

Aine smiled and shook her head. "It's not that I like to eat it, it's what Kodama gave me. She said it can effectively relieve tension! Tsuki-chan, would you like some?" She handed Tsuki a konpeito.

Yue paused for a moment, then took a piece of konpeito and put it in her mouth. The sweet taste melted in her mouth, and it did relieve some of her mental stress. She smiled slightly, "Thank you for the candy, Aine and Kodama!"

Just then, Lixi and Lena finished changing and came out of the dressing room. Seeing Yue, Aine, and Xiaodeng chatting together, Lixi walked over curiously, "What are you talking about?"

Aine handed the konpeito to Riki and Rakuna, explaining, "These konpeito were given to me by Kodama. They can help relieve tension. Would you like some?"

"It was given to me by the lamp!" Upon hearing that it was given to him by the lamp, Lixi picked up a pill without saying a word and put it in her mouth.

"Little Lena, would you like some?" Aine handed the candy wrapper in her hand to Lena.

After hesitating for a moment, the other person took one and put it in their mouth, saying, "It's too sweet."

"Ah... Rakuna usually eats matcha candies, so it's not surprising that she doesn't like konpeito, right?"

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"梦ならばどれほど"

When Yue and the others returned to the auditorium, an unknown band was already playing on the stage. The band had chosen to cover a relatively popular song.

The band's lead singer sang with all his might, but his pitch was completely unstable. The guitarist's fingers danced rapidly across the strings, but the melody he produced sounded somewhat chaotic and seemed to have completely deviated from the score.

The drummer's rhythm often veered off track, sometimes too fast and sometimes too slow, as if he couldn't keep up with the music.

Standing at the back of the auditorium, Yue looked through the crowd at a row of judges who appeared to be teachers, clearly the teachers from Tsuki no Mori. They all had their brows furrowed, clearly very dissatisfied with the band's performance.

The lead singer's voice was clear, but he seemed a bit weak in the high notes, and there were several problems. The guitarist's skills were proficient, but he made mistakes in coordinating with the drummer several times. The bassist had a good sense of rhythm, but he seemed less confident at several key turning points.

Even Yue, who is not usually very demanding, couldn't help but shake her head after hearing the band's performance, effectively sentencing them to "death."

As expected, after the performance, the judges in the first row unanimously raised their "Failed" signs. Their expressions remained stern; in their eyes, this performance was an unacceptable failure. Yue stood at the back of the auditorium, her gaze fixed on the girls on stage. Their faces were somewhat pale, clearly realizing that their performance had contained too many problems.

The girls didn't offer any explanation; they simply bowed deeply and then silently walked off the stage with their instruments.

Yue's gaze followed them until they walked to the last row of the audience and sat down silently.

They didn't argue or blame each other; they simply sat there in silence. Each of their faces was etched with disappointment and exhaustion, but there was no resentment in their eyes.

Yue quietly observed everything, a pang of regret rising in her heart. She knew that the members of this band must have put in a lot of hard work to be able to stand on the stage of this music festival.

"It seems like the band members get along quite well. They must have performed in live houses before to be able to sign up for the show. Maybe they were just too nervous and that's why they made the mistake."

Tsuki turned her gaze away from them and looked at the second performer to take the stage—Moon Forest's only all-female band, Morfonica.

Judging from the order in which they went on stage, Tsukinomori was clearly showing some favoritism towards Morfonica. She frowned slightly, silently speculating about the meaning behind these arrangements.

The first performer can effectively help test the working condition of the various sound equipment. Although given Moon Forest's financial resources, the possibility of such high-end sound equipment malfunctioning is extremely small, on-site adjustments cannot be ruled out. The first performer's performance is undoubtedly a comprehensive test of the equipment.

If the first performer's performance is excellent, Morfonica's appearance can further showcase that Tsukimori boasts a remarkable all-girl band. This arrangement not only elevates the overall quality of the performance but also leaves a lasting impression on the audience. Conversely, if the first performance encounters problems and fails the review, Morfonica's performance can serve as a benchmark, setting an example for other participants and clearly defining the standards and requirements for passing the review.

Yue quickly processed this information in her mind, gradually understanding the deeper meaning behind the arrangement: "In this way, it actually increases the likelihood of it passing..."

After figuring this out, Yue said softly with a sigh, "It seems... the other board members still have some reservations about inviting people from other schools."

When the Stage Opens: Chapter 186 Qualification Review (Part 2)

"This is the day..."

"Private and private"

The stage lights gradually dimmed, leaving only a few soft rays of light shining on the Morfonica members. As Kurata Mashiro finished singing her last line, the entire auditorium erupted in thunderous applause.

The members of Morfonica exchanged smiles, their faces beaming with undisguised joy and pride. Kurata Mashiro bowed first, followed by the other members, who bowed their heads to express their gratitude to the audience.

"Thank you everyone!" Mashiro's voice was exceptionally clear through the microphone. She had a bright smile on her face and her eyes were slightly red, clearly moved by the audience's enthusiasm.

The teachers on the judging panel all smiled, clearly very satisfied with Morfonica's performance.

The final selection result was also without a doubt: morfonica passed the qualification review with a unanimous vote and qualified to perform on the stage of the Moon Forest Music Festival.

As Morfonica's performance ended, one of the judges stood up, microphone in hand. She adjusted the microphone slightly, cleared her throat, and turned to face all the band members who had participated in the qualification review.

"Hello everyone," the judge's voice echoed in the auditorium, instantly drawing everyone's attention. "You have all just witnessed Morfonica's performance. Their performance was undoubtedly outstanding, meeting our expectations for participating bands. Therefore, we have decided to use Morfonica's performance as the benchmark, and subsequent judging will take their level as a reference."

Her gaze swept across the auditorium, paused for a moment, and then continued, "Specifically, you need to reach at least 70% of Morfonica's level to pass the qualification review."

As soon as the words were spoken, a chorus of discussions erupted in the auditorium. Many contestants whispered among themselves, their faces filled with surprise and worry.

"As expected... it's pretty much what I predicted. Although the board members can't directly refuse participation from other schools, they can still indirectly raise the standards to filter out most of the participants, and other people can't really say anything about it."

Sitting in the back row of the auditorium, Yue could clearly feel the tense atmosphere around her. She looked at the band members who were about to go on stage and noticed that their expressions changed from anticipation to unease.

Someone complained in a low voice, "This is too difficult. Morfonica's level is so high. It's hard to even reach 70% of their level."

Another band member seemed even more anxious. She grabbed her teammate's arm and whispered, "Our rehearsals don't seem to be up to par. What should we do?"

Just then, Yue felt her clothes being gently tugged. Looking down, she saw that Aine's fingers were tightly gripping her sleeve.

"Moon, can we really reach that standard?" Aine's voice was almost trembling. She tried to remain calm, but the unease in her tone betrayed her inner tension.

Yue took a deep breath, reached out and gently patted Aine's hand, trying to convey some comfort. She knew that at this time, Aine needed more confidence and encouragement.

“Aine, don’t worry,” Yue said gently, her voice firm. “Morfonica’s performance was indeed excellent, but we’re not bad either. If we perform normally, our chances of passing the qualification audit are 1000%.”

Yue's words were like a warm force, gradually calming the turmoil in Aine's heart. She smiled and said, "1000%? Yue, are you that confident?"

Yue nodded naturally, her heart filled with confidence. She recalled every rehearsal and performance of her band, and images of excitement and sweat flashed through her mind.

If the judges asked her to reach 70% of Roselia's or RAISE A SUILEN's (Ras') level, she might hesitate and worry, but she firmly believed that she and her band could absolutely achieve Morfonica's 70% level.

The judges finally took their seats, and the murmurs in the auditorium gradually subsided. Amidst enthusiastic applause, the members of Morfonica bowed to the audience in thanks, then one by one left the stage. Their faces beamed with the joy and satisfaction of success; they were clearly very pleased with their performance.

Her attention shifted to the next band to take the stage. This band didn't particularly impress Yue; they were clearly unknown newcomers.

The newly arrived band members seemed nervous; their steps were hesitant, and unease was written all over their faces. Yue carefully observed their expressions, sighing inwardly. She could tell their chances of passing the audition were almost zero. Especially the lead singer; her hand holding the microphone trembled slightly, clearly unable to hide her nervousness.

The stage lights came on again, and the new band's performance officially began. However, Yue's premonition was quickly confirmed. The band had barely started playing when the guitarist made a glaring mistake. Her rhythm was noticeably half a beat behind the other members, making the entire performance sound discordant. Yue's brow furrowed slightly; she could feel the growing unease and disappointment spreading through the audience.