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

The two people, who had the same experience, naturally began to tour together.

With Xiaoyue joining the team, Taozi's goals could no longer be limited to just the snack stall.

"Bang, whoosh, smack—"

With several crisp sounds, plastic pellets flew from the muzzle of the toy gun and accurately hit the balloon hanging on the string.

"Click".

When Peach prepared to pull the trigger again, the gun only made a hollow sound. The bullets were all gone.

Seeing this, the stall owner exclaimed with a hint of amazement, "Looks like the game is over. You're really amazing, young lady! I can't even pop the balloons as fast as you!"

"Thirty bullets in total, and you hit 24 balloons." The shopkeeper rummaged under the table for a moment, then pulled out a cute little dog plush toy and handed it to Peach. "This is your prize, congratulations!"

Standing to the side, Hinasaki watched this scene with an "I knew it" expression. Momoko's shooting accuracy was almost flawless. Except for the first few shots where she wasn't quite used to the toy gun that had obviously been used loosely, every subsequent shot hit the target.

But she herself... seemed quite different.

"Oh, and this young lady too." The stall owner looked at Hinasaki and said consolingly, "Although you only hit 6 shots, don't be discouraged, we still have a consolation prize."

The shopkeeper chuckled and pulled another carton of milk from under the table, handing it to Hinasaki.

Hinasaki took the milk, glanced at Momo who was smugly hugging a puppy plush toy, and then looked at the consolation prize in her hand. A complicated feeling welled up in her heart.

She couldn't help but sigh, thinking that in the future, it would be best not to compare shooting games with peaches, otherwise it would be too hurtful.

Side Story: A Trip to the Mountain - Chapter Twenty-Five: Peach and the Moon

"Hmm... the events at the festival were really not very interesting."

While holding the puppy doll she had just won, Momoko Kurosawa casually made her "Versailles" declaration, her tone calm, as if winning these prizes was nothing more than an easy thing.

Hinasaki glanced at Momoko, who was beaming with pride, then looked down at the pile of consolation prizes and scattered small prizes in her hand.

She was holding a jumble of dolls, candy boxes, and even a bottle of milk that she could barely carry, and she felt a little helpless.

"Yes, it's really not very interesting." She nodded slightly.

The two walked side by side down the festive street, where lanterns cast a warm glow that spilled across the crowd, creating a flowing golden light.

Amidst the bustling noise of the crowd, Hinasaki turned her head slightly, her gaze inadvertently lingering on Momo beside her.

"It feels like...it's been a long time since the two of us went out for a walk like this."

She took a bite of the grilled squid in her hand, chewing casually, her gaze still calm, yet tinged with a hint of nostalgia: "Hmm... the last time the two of us came out together was probably... a year ago."

"Around this time last year, we went to the festival together, didn't we?" Hinasaki asked with a smile, reaching out and casually taking a skewer of grilled meat from Momo's food bag.

Peach glanced at her sideways, a slight smile playing on her lips, and a mischievous glint in her eyes.

“I remember back then, someone really didn’t want to come to the celebration,” she quipped softly, “but I had to drag you out in the end.”

Hinasaki took a bite of grilled meat and replied with a smile, "Yeah...who would have thought that a year from now we'd be like this?" As she spoke, she casually snatched an apple candy from Momo's hand.

“Life is an unpredictable stage,” Peach replied.

Hinasaki lowered her head and licked the apple candy in her hand; the bright red candy glistened under the light.

She raised her eyes, her gaze gentle and profound, and said softly, "I didn't expect you, Peach, to actually catch up with me."

Peach smiled slightly, with a hint of mischief and relief: "After all, I won the audition, but my wish hasn't been fulfilled yet. Mr. Giraffe should give me some compensation."

Hinasaki Tsuki listened, then suddenly stopped licking the candied apple, turned to look at Momoko intently, her eyes becoming deep and probing: "Finally willing to tell the truth?"

Peach's smile slowly faded at that moment, the ease on her face disappeared, and in its place was a rare seriousness.

She looked directly into Hinasaki's eyes and nodded slightly. "Yes." Her voice was gentle, yet firm. "After all, if I don't say it, you'll only drift further and further away from me, right?"

A gentle night breeze stirred, causing the faint light from the lanterns beside them to sway, casting a soft glow on their faces.

Hinasaki and Momoko stood in the middle of the festival road, their eyes meeting, and the surrounding noise seemed to stand still.

An indescribable, subtle atmosphere filled the air, as if the world had shrunk to just the two of them.

Just as this romantic moment was gradually rising, the warmth of the clothes began to rise.

"Hey! This is a celebration! You two, stop blocking the way!" A passerby's shout suddenly broke the peaceful atmosphere.

"Ah..." The two were stunned for a moment, and their deep gazes instantly turned into an awkward stare.

"Sorry, sorry!" Hinasaki and Momoko reacted immediately, turning around almost simultaneously to apologize to the passersby, their faces flushed with embarrassment. The two quickly moved to the side of the road, their movements somewhat flustered.

The passersby shook their heads helplessly and continued walking. The clamor of the celebration and the laughter of the crowd flooded back into their ears, and the delicate atmosphere was broken by this little incident.

Hinasaki sighed softly, turned her head, and said with a slightly helpless smile, "It seems we should find another place to have a proper chat. The streets of the festival are really not a good place to talk."

Momoko Kurosawa, a local, pursed her lips, nodded, and said, "I know a place where there aren't many people."

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

"Are you sure you didn't lead me to the wrong place?" Hinasaki couldn't help but frown. Clearly, the experience of Momo leading them on a two-hour hike through the mountains was still fresh in her mind.

"Uh... it shouldn't be wrong, right?" Momoko Kurosawa scratched her head, her tone revealing a hint of uncertainty.

Her eyes flickered slightly, clearly indicating that she was a little unsure about her sense of direction.

Hinasaki suddenly sensed something was wrong, stopped in her tracks, and stared at her suspiciously: "Do you still remember the way you came?" She was now beginning to regret why she had so easily trusted Momoko.

Seeing this, Peach quickly smiled and waved her hand, trying to reassure her: "Don't worry! Although the mountain has changed a lot after the renovation, I'll be able to find the way as soon as I find the road signs!"

After she finished speaking, her tone was full of confidence, as if she was certain that she would never get lost again.

Looking at Momoko's confident expression, Hinasaki sighed and rubbed her forehead, filled with distrust: "It sounds like it's going to be another few hours of walking..."

Hinasaki muttered to herself, silently calculating how much energy she still had to keep "getting lost" with Momoko. Even though she was a member of the Mygo band, why was it always her who ended up "lost" whenever she was with Momoko?

However, this time Peach's words actually proved to be reliable. They wandered through the woods for more than ten minutes, occasionally taking the wrong turn, but eventually managed to reach the edge of a cliff.

Peach pointed ahead triumphantly and said, "We're here! This is it! I didn't expect there to be such high railings here now." Her tone was full of confidence, as if getting lost earlier had never happened.

Hinasaki looked up at the high railing and couldn't help but remark, "I guess it's to prevent some people from accidentally wandering in and falling down."

The two stood on the edge of the cliff, a gentle breeze caressing their faces, with the distant festival street spread out before them.

The streets were brightly lit, with lights twinkling like stars in the night sky, illuminating the laughter and noise of the people. Lanterns swayed in the wind, reflecting the bustling crowds below, creating a lively and festive atmosphere.

Although Peach had almost led them astray, the beautiful scenery before her eyes made her admit that the place Peach had chosen was indeed excellent.

The view here is expansive, offering a perfect panoramic view of the celebration below. The streets are bustling with people, and the lights are twinkling, showcasing the vibrant atmosphere of the entire event.

The two sat down under a large tree nearby, the leaves swaying gently in the wind, casting dappled shadows on them.

Looking up, the night sky above was deep and dark, dotted with stars, quiet and distant.

The stars in the sky and the celebration at our feet formed a stark contrast—on one side was the tranquil and distant starry sky, and on the other side was the noisy and bustling human world.

Side Story: A Trip to the Mountain - Chapter Twenty-Six: Cinderella?

"This is really a great place to watch the fireworks show."

"I can't speak," Momoko Kurosawa said softly, gazing at the distant sky with a faint smile on her lips.

Although her voice was soft, the expectation and longing it contained were not difficult to understand.

Hinasaki naturally noticed this subtle emotion as well. Momoko's unspoken meaning was clearly that she hoped to enjoy this moment alone with him.

Unfortunately, this wish is probably impossible to fulfill right now.

"What a pity..." Hinasaki smiled gently, her eyes filled with a hint of apology and teasing, "I won't be able to watch the fireworks alone with you, Momoko, anymore."

Upon hearing this, Peach turned her head to look at her, a hint of helplessness flashing in her eyes, but then a faint smile appeared on her face, her tone tinged with a touch of teasing: "That's true, the hand that Xiaoyue is holding now is no longer mine."

Hinasaki was stunned for a moment, then couldn't help but laugh out loud, covering her mouth and saying, "What you're saying sounds like you're saying goodbye to me."

Peach raised an eyebrow, a mischievous glint in her eyes, and continued teasing with a smile, "If you jump from here, maybe you can recreate that scene?"

Hinasaki followed Momoko's gaze downwards. The festival lights flickered slightly in her eyes, as if reflected in the ripples of her heart. She glanced at the precipice below and couldn't help but chuckle, shaking her head slightly: "Isn't it a bit too low? The final result will probably be a very ugly fall."

Upon hearing this, a mischievous glint flashed in Taozi's eyes, and she suddenly asked out of the blue, "Will Xiaoyue help me clean up the mess?"

Hinasaki raised an eyebrow slightly, her smile undiminished, and answered decisively, "I'll probably jump down with you."

"Does this count as a double suicide?" Peach asked, feigning seriousness, with a hint of amusement in her eyes.

"Not really." Hinasaki answered without hesitation, her tone light as if she were talking about something trivial.

After hearing this, Peach pretended to be aggrieved, deliberately wiping her eyes and saying with a hint of coquetry, "How heartless of you, not even planning to comfort me."

Hinasaki couldn't help but chuckle at Momoko's "pretending to cry" expression, a smile gently rising at the corners of her lips: "I thought you were going to ask me why I jumped down with you."

Peach didn't answer immediately, but slowly moved closer. The two instantly closed the distance between them, their eyes meeting in the air, as if they could see through each other's thoughts.

She raised her head slightly, her gaze gentle yet playful, and said softly, "If I really asked, wouldn't that mean we've lost all our understanding?"

Hinasaki paused for a moment, then her smile deepened, and her gaze softened.

She nodded gently, with a hint of indulgence and helplessness, "That's true."

"But what will happen to Lixi if Xiaoyue chooses to jump? She'll be heartbroken, won't she?"

Peach's voice was gentle, yet tinged with a hint of probing. She slowly approached, her breathing almost audible, and the distance between them drew ever closer.

Hinasaki instinctively tried to back away, taking a small step, but her back bumped into a tree trunk.

The hard feel of the tree through her yukata made her freeze abruptly. With nowhere to retreat, she could only helplessly watch as Momo approached little by little, her heart pounding faster than ever.

Momoko's face drew closer, their breaths mingling in the cool night air. Hinasaki could clearly see every change in Momoko's expression, the playful glint in her eyes, and the faint smile playing on her lips.

The distance between the two eventually shrank to almost a fist's width, their breaths mingling, and an ambiguous atmosphere gradually filled the air, quietly warming up like the night fog.

"Xiaoyue...you really can't live without me, can you?" Taozi spoke softly, her voice gentle yet tinged with a hint of teasing.

She slowly extended two fingers, her fingertips lightly touching Hinasaki's lips. The delicate touch glided across her skin, then gently slid upwards, drawing a smile to Hinasaki's lips.

Hinasaki did not refute or try to break free; she simply smiled mechanically and passively.

As a stage girl, she understands that she needs an opponent on stage. Without an opponent, the existence of the protagonist is meaningless, like a lonely starlight that has lost its radiance in the darkness.

Momoko's smile deepened, her fingertips still lingering on Hinasaki's lips, as if playing a silent game.

She said softly, "Xiaoyue... is actually quite arrogant too."

As she spoke, Momoko's lips unconsciously curled up, revealing a smile similar to Hinasaki's.