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

Miss Aine wore a bright orange yukata, a vibrant color that perfectly matched her cheerful personality.

The yukata features a delicate chrysanthemum pattern, symbolizing passion and vitality.

Her long hair was casually tied back, with a few strands falling unintentionally over her shoulders, making her look particularly playful.

Meanwhile, Nagasaki Motoyo was wearing a pink yukata, the soft color contrasting sharply with her usual calm and gentle temperament.

Her yukata was adorned with cherry blossom patterns, and the pink flowers accentuated her fair skin, making her appear gentle and elegant.

Her long hair was neatly combed up, revealing her smooth neck, making her look exceptionally beautiful.

Su Shi gently clasped her hands in front of her, her movements elegant and her expression calm, displaying the demeanor of Miss Tsukinomori.

Hinasaki's gaze swept over the two of them.

The two of them chose yukatas in each other's signature colors, which just doesn't seem right.

On the stairs, Yutenji Nyanmu came down with Kaname Rakuna.

"Ugh...it's so uncomfortable." Lenai tugged at her clothes, her face full of discomfort and awkwardness. Clearly, this yukata was very different from her usual style of dress.

She wore a pure white yukata, the fabric of which was light and soft, with the neckline slightly open, revealing her fair collarbone. Although the cut was simple, it made her look elegant and graceful.

However, the most incongruous thing was that she was wearing a pair of white cat ear hair accessories on her head. The round and cute cat ears were very eye-catching and obviously did not match the yukata.

Hmm... Yue glanced at Miaomeng beside her, and probably guessed the reason.

Meow Dream also wore a pair of cat ears, but hers were purple, perfectly matching her purple yukata.

The yukata worn by the cat was printed with intricate cat paw patterns, and the sash around her waist was tied tightly, highlighting her slender waist and magnificent figure.

She was squatting next to Lena, holding a camera, trying to take a picture of the two "cats" together, but Ms. Lena was clearly not very cooperative.

"Okay, Miaomeng will buy you candy later! Just bear with it a little longer!" Miaomeng coaxed Lena softly.

"I want matcha flavor!" Lena looked up and stated her condition.

"Okay, okay, Meow Dream will buy it for you later, so please cooperate with Meow Dream for now."

Miao Meng responded with a smile, then stood up, made a cat paw shape with her hands, raised them to her face, and waved them gently, signaling Le Nai to do the same.

Her purple cat ears swayed slightly with her movements, making her look both playful and lively.

"Meow! Meow!"

"Meow...meow?"

Lena's somewhat indifferent expression, paired with those white cat-ear hair accessories, made her look unexpectedly cute and adorable.

Watching Le Nai's earnest imitation, Miao Meng seized the opportunity to snap photos non-stop.

"Alright, Miss Meow Dream, don't cause any more trouble for Lena."

A calm and clear voice came from the side, breaking the excitement of the scene. Everyone looked up and saw Hachiman Kairin in a black yukata, walking over from the other side of the hall with Wakaba Mukuro (Three) siVIII吧泗Qun.

Hailing's black yukata exudes composure and tranquility, with only a few dark gold cherry blossom patterns on the dark fabric, understated yet elegant.

She simply tied her hair up, revealing her slender neck and jade-like white skin, and her cold temperament was further highlighted by the black bathrobe she wore.

Following behind Hailing, Wakaba Mutsu was wearing a bright green yukata, the vibrant color making her appear full of life.

The yukata is embroidered with a few faint bamboo leaf patterns, as if a spring breeze is blowing through a bamboo forest, fresh and natural.

Wakaba's long hair was loosely tied back, with a few strands falling over her shoulders, making her features appear even softer.

"Ah! Hai Zi, Mu Zi! Let's take a picture together!" After pulling out a bag of matcha candies from who-knows-where and placing it in Le Nai's hand, Miss Miao Meng then "started something and then abandoned it" and moved closer to Hai Ling and Mu Zi.

"Come on!" Miao Meng quickly walked between the two of them, squatted down slightly, and Hai Ling also cooperated by posing.

"No, that won't do!" A calm and serious voice came from behind.

Toyokawa Shoko strode forward and deftly snatched the phone from Miaomeng's hand.

She wore a pure white yukata, neat and tidy, with geometric patterns embroidered on the white fabric.

Behind Xiangzi stood Takamatsu Akira, Sankaku Hatsuka, and Kurosawa Momoko in that order.

Takamatsu Akari wore a dark blue yukata embroidered with delicate star patterns, resembling stars in the night sky, making her appear as serene and mysterious as the night sky itself.

Mitsumi Hatsuka was wearing a bright yellow yukata, the vibrant color making her stand out. The yukata was adorned with small floral patterns, as full of vitality as the spring sunshine. She stood to the side, a warm smile in her eyes.

Momoko Kurosawa wore a pink yukata, the pink background making her already fair skin appear even whiter. However, what was most eye-catching was the pattern on her yukata—it was a series of round peaches.

Hmm, this makes me want to eat peaches.

Hinasaki couldn't figure out where he bought this yukata. Why would a merchant embroider peach patterns on a yukata?

And surprisingly, some people actually bought them!

"Hey! Why is Xiangzi like this! This is clearly his private time. It's perfectly normal for him to take some photos with the band members!"

Yutenji Nyanmu waved her hand angrily, clearly dissatisfied with Toyokawa Shoko's strict attitude, and raised the flag of rebellion against Toyokawa Shoko's long-term oppression!

Toyokawa Shoko stood in front of her, expressionless: "Well, even so, you'll definitely upload her to your channel, right?"

Upon hearing this, Miaomeng's imposing manner vanished instantly. She gave a guilty laugh, her eyes darting around: "Ahaha... Oh right, I suddenly remembered, I think I forgot to take something!"

The Mygo members watching this scene smiled helplessly, then turned their attention to Takamatsu Akari.

"Little lamp, so cute!"

“Of course! Little Lamp is the cutest!” Li hope immediately chimed in, her tone full of pride.

"Hmm? What about me?" Hinasaki suddenly interjected, her voice carrying a subtle emotion.

Upon hearing this, Li hope immediately realized the danger and his survival instinct kicked in. He quickly added with a smile, "Xiao Yue, you're the cutest too!"

Listening to their conversation, Takamatsu Akari's cheeks flushed slightly. She lowered her head shyly and explained softly, "Um... this yukata was picked out for me by my mother..." Her voice was soft and sweet, tinged with embarrassment.

Side Story: A Trip to Hikami Mountain - Chapter Twenty-Four: The Celebration

The celebration at Mount Hikami is the first of its kind since the mountain was rebuilt.

Neither Hinasaki, who frequently returned to Mount Hikami for leisure, nor Momoko, a true local, had a single memory of the festival. It was as if it were an old dream washed away by time, leaving not even the most minute fragment.

However, tonight, this long-silent mountain town has finally been ignited, and the long-lost joyful atmosphere seems to rise slowly from the depths of the earth, blending into the air and permeating every wisp of evening breeze.

Colorful lanterns hung high on the streets, and the sounds of laughter and footsteps echoed in the quiet mountains, carrying a warm feeling of a long-awaited reunion.

Hinasaki looked up at the huge banner spanning the street in front of her—the words "The 33rd Hikami Mountain Festival" stood out prominently against the lights.

Her gaze settled on the number, a hint of doubt rising in her mind. This was the thirty-third edition, as if the celebration had a long history, yet she had never recalled any fragments of it.

"So it really is a fresh start?" she thought to herself.

It's likely that the festival was discontinued after some unforeseen event occurred at Mount Hikami.

She didn't know much about that past event, only occasionally hearing snippets of information from her sister Mihua and her family.

Whenever she tried to delve deeper into the matter, everyone would fall silent and shake their heads gently, as if they wanted to keep that history buried in some untouched corner of history.

Over time, Hinasaki completely lost the desire to explore further.

"Cuckoo..."

A hungry cry interrupted her thoughts.

Rather than dwelling on those distant memories, the more pressing task now is to fill our stomachs.

To enjoy the delicious food at the celebration, everyone deliberately skipped dinner before heading out.

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"I feel like I've never seen so many people on Rishang Mountain before."

Hinasaki and Shiina Tatsuki weaved through the crowds at the festival, their ears filled with the sounds of laughter and vendors' calls.

"It's completely different from what I remember."

Hinasaki's gaze, lost in reminiscence, was gradually drawn to the food stalls nearby. The aroma of grilled squid, the sweet scent of candy, and the smoky smell of grilled dumplings filled the air, whetting her appetite.

"what happened?"

"What's wrong?" Li hope suddenly felt a slight tug on her hand, and Hinasaki's steps had stopped at some point.

"Xiao hope! Let's go buy some food!" Hinasaki smiled and pointed to a takoyaki stall surrounded by people not far away.

Lixi followed her finger and saw the stall owner skillfully flipping the takoyaki on the grill. Each small ball sizzled in the hot oil, the golden crust gradually crisping, and an enticing aroma filled the air.

"Two takoyaki, please." Hinasaki took out some change from her handbag and handed it to the vendor, receiving two freshly baked takoyaki in return. The takoyaki were slightly hot to the touch through the paper box.

"Here you go, Riki." Hinasaki handed one of the portions to Riki, and couldn't wait to pick one up herself, poke it with a bamboo skewer, and take a bite.

"It's so hot!" The piping hot takoyaki had a crispy outer layer and a soft inside. The scalding temperature as soon as she put it in her mouth made her eyes widen instantly. She hurriedly gasped for breath, making a whooshing sound as she tried to relieve the burning sensation.

Lixi couldn't help but laugh out loud at Xiaoyue's comical appearance, and then took a small bite herself.

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Momoko Kurosawa strolled alone through the festival streets, occasionally picking out a snack from the various food bags in her hand. Her pace was leisurely, her gaze occasionally sweeping over the stalls on both sides, but most of her attention was focused on the food stalls.

Compared to those blatantly deceptive celebratory games—like goldfish that are impossible to catch, or shooting games with nails hidden in the ground—she felt it was more worthwhile to spend her money on food.

The aroma of various snacks wafted through the air, as if beckoning her to come and taste them, and these were far more appealing to her than the fake game prizes.

As for why she was the only one?

This brings us to a somewhat poignant situation. Everyone did arrive at the celebration together, but twelve people crowding together was clearly too much. So, they naturally split into several smaller groups to explore on their own, agreeing to meet back at a designated time.

Originally, Momo was traveling with Meowmon and Lena. However, while she was buying food, the three of them got separated by the surging crowd.

Miss Meow Dream quickly found Lena thanks to some kind of magical "kinship connection," but Momo was unable to reunite with them.

After confirming that she was safe and sound, Peach gave a brief report in the group chat, and then decided to wander around the festival by herself, since that would make her feel more at ease.

Just as she was enjoying her meal and preparing to stroll around, a familiar voice called out, "Peach?"

Momoko looked in the direction of the sound and saw Hinasaki standing alone on the street corner, her eyes filled with a sense of helplessness.

"Moon? What a coincidence... Aren't you with Lixi?" Taozi was a little surprised. Logically speaking, Chuhua should be in a group with Xiangzi.

Yue gently shook her head and simply uttered four words: "There are too many people."

This brief answer made Peach instantly understand her situation.

Clearly, Xiaoyue, like her, had been separated by the crowd.