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

“Cinderella doesn’t want the prince to keep looking for her, so…” Hinasaki Tsuki said softly, with a hint of teasing, but her tone was gentle and firm, “she has decided to return the keepsake to the prince.”

As she spoke, she gently extended her finger and softly touched Peach's cheek, slowly curving the corners of her mouth into a smile, just as Peach had done to her before. The warmth of her fingertip traveled through her skin to Peach's heart, as if trying to soothe the turmoil within her.

“I don’t want this moment of returning the keepsake to be so sad,” Hinasaki said softly, her voice gentle and encouraging. “So, smile.”

Momoko paused, a barely perceptible hint of emotion flashing in her eyes. Hinasaki gently lifted the corner of her mouth, the soft touch causing her lips to involuntarily curve upwards slightly.

However, a trace of bitterness still flashed in her eyes, and she whispered with a hint of self-mockery, "Xiaoyue, won't you even give me the last hope?"

Hinasaki listened to her words with a smile, but her eyes held a firm tenderness as she gently shook her head: "Hmm... I won't give you my last hope either."

"How heartless..."

Peach's gaze trembled slightly, and finally she lowered her head helplessly and closed her eyes.

Her voice was soft yet firm, as if she had resigned herself to her fate, as she said, "Then... please return the token."

Hinasaki gazed at her quietly, her eyes filled with tenderness, as if she had made some kind of decision in this brief silence.

She slowly approached, raised her hand and gently stroked Peach's cheek, bringing the corners of her mouth up again.

Then, she whispered softly, "Then please accept this 'token' as a token of your love, Your Highness."

Before she could finish speaking, Hinasaki's lips gently covered Momo's lips. The touch was warm and soft, with a hint of cautious tenderness, as if she was afraid of disturbing the person in front of her.

The two slowly drew closer, their breaths mingling, their warmth spreading gently between them. The whole world seemed to fall silent in that instant, leaving only their unspoken understanding.

Momoko trembled slightly, feeling the warmth of Hinasaki's lips, and her heartbeat quickened quietly.

She responded slowly, closing her eyes, gently tilting her head, and surrendering herself to this quiet and affectionate kiss.

The subtle touch spread from her lips, carrying a warmth that seeped into her heart little by little, enveloping all her unease and loss.

Hinasaki felt Momoko's response and her heart tightened slightly. She raised her hand and gently stroked Momoko's cheek, her fingertips gliding over her slightly warm skin, and gently pulled her a little closer.

Side Story: Hikami Mountain Trip - Chapter Twenty-Nine: World Famous Painting, Moon and Peach Kissing

Half an hour ago.

"There are so many people... Yue, are you alright?"

Shiina Ritsuki struggled through the crowd, took a breath, and instinctively turned around to look for Hinasaki. However, there was no one behind her; Hinasaki, who should have been beside her, was nowhere to be seen.

"Moon?...Moon?" Li hope's heart tightened, and with a hint of panic, she anxiously looked around.

Her gaze swept quickly across the crowd, and she called out in a slightly trembling voice, "Hinasaki! Where are you?"

The clamor of the crowd at the festival completely drowned out Riki's calls, and her heart pounded with the noise. She stood on tiptoe, trying to look around, but all she could see was a endless stream of heads; she couldn't see Hinasaki at all.

"Oh right... make a call!" Li hope suddenly had a flash of inspiration, quickly took out her phone from her handbag, and her fingers flew across the screen.

Just as she was about to dial, a familiar name appeared on the screen—Chusaki Tsuki was calling.

"Yue!" She answered the phone almost impatiently, calling out the other person's name anxiously, her voice trembling slightly, "Are you alright? Where are you?"

The other end of the phone also carried a cacophony of voices and Xiaoyue's reassuring voice: "Xiaoxi, don't worry, I'm fine. I just got pushed aside by the crowd."

Upon learning that Hinasaki was safe and sound, Ritsuki finally breathed a sigh of relief and regained some composure. She let out a soft sigh and softened her tone: "Xiaoyue, where are you? I'm coming to find you."

Hinasaki's voice came from the other end of the phone, her tone somewhat helpless: "Hmm... there don't seem to be any particularly obvious landmarks around here, just a goldfish scooping stall..."

Lixi looked around and then at the stall next to him—there was another goldfish scooping stall... This kind of thing wasn't exactly a prominent landmark at the celebration.

Hinasaki thought for a moment and suggested, "How about this... we meet at the shrine upstairs later, and we can watch the fireworks there too."

Li hope was silent for a moment on the other end of the phone, seemingly considering the feasibility of doing so, "...Okay, see you in a bit."

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

After hanging up the phone, Shiina Tatsuki immediately prepared to rush to the shrine, her steps hurried. However, she had only taken a few steps when a familiar voice called out from behind her.

"Oh, Li Xi?"

She turned around and saw Hachiman Kairin with Wakaba Mutsumi. The two stood to one side, Wakaba Mutsumi's long light green hair standing out under the light.

At this moment, Lixi was a little troubled. Why did she and Xiaoyue both have black hair? It was really hard to spot them at the festival.

If it were as obvious as with Wakaba Mutsu, they probably wouldn't have gotten separated just now.

"Where's Hinasaki? Wasn't she with you just now?" Hachiman Kairin looked around but didn't see Hinasaki, so she asked in confusion.

Lixi snapped out of her daze and explained, "We got separated in the crowd. I arranged to meet her at the shrine."

"I see." Hailing nodded slightly, then looked at Lixi, who was standing alone to the side, and suggested softly with gentle concern, "Would you like to come with us? It would be good to have someone to look after you."

Li hope shook his head with a slight hesitation and declined with a smile, saying, "No need, I just want to get to the shrine as soon as possible, I'm afraid Xiao Yue is waiting for me."

Hailing didn't rush to retract her suggestion. Instead, she smiled gently and said naturally, "We were just about to go to the shrine too, so let's go together. It's on the way."

Having said all that, Li hope hesitated for a moment, then decided it was no longer appropriate to refuse.

So the three of them started walking together toward the shrine.

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

On the way to the shrine, in the quiet atmosphere, Hachiman Kairin suddenly spoke up, asking softly with a hint of probing, "Tachiki, may I ask you some questions?"

Li hope frowned slightly and looked at her with a puzzled expression. "What is it?"

Hai Ling smiled knowingly, feigning a gossipy air, her gaze slightly mocking: "I'm just curious, Li Xi, what was it about you that led you and Hinasaki to get together?"

Hearing this question, Wakaba Mutsu, who had remained silent the whole way, also raised her head curiously, her eyes sparkling with inquiry.

"Why are you suddenly asking this?" Li hope raised an eyebrow, looking at Hai Ling with some confusion.

“Because,” Hailing smiled at her, her tone light and joking, “festivals, fireworks…don’t these scenes look like scenes from a romance novel? In this atmosphere, wouldn’t it be perfect to talk about things related to love?”

Romance novels...

In fact, Shiina Tatsuki's understanding of romance novels is almost zero.

On weekdays, she either buries herself in practice or simply takes a nap in the classroom.

The only chance she ever heard about these topics was from snippets of conversation among her classmates.

Therefore, even when Hailing brought up the topic, she was completely baffled and didn't understand what these celebrations, fireworks, and similar scenes had to do with romance novels.

However, what surprised Lixi even more was that Hailing would actually care about this kind of topic.

Her previous impression of Hachiman Kairin was that she was someone who was busy supporting different bands all day long. She thought that she was already occupied by band life and would not have time to care about these girlish scenes.

Her gaze lingered on Hailing for a moment longer than expected, and she thought to herself, "Hailing would actually read this kind of book? That's really unexpected."

However, if Hailing knew what Lixi was thinking at this moment, she would definitely burst out laughing and then bluntly complain, "Being a support musician in so many bands, you're bound to be overwhelmed by all sorts of girly topics, okay? After a while, after hearing a lot, you'll understand it to some extent."

"Our story is nothing special, quite ordinary, without any of the bizarre twists and turns found in typical love stories."

Lixi's answer was concise and straightforward, clearly indicating an unwillingness to discuss the matter further.

Hachiman Kairin nodded slightly, catching the implication in Riki's words, and wisely refrained from asking any further questions.

With a knowing smile, she softly hummed in agreement, her eyes revealing a thoughtful gentleness.

After hearing Riki's answer, Wakaba Mutsu looked a little disappointed, as if she was disappointed that she hadn't heard anything that interested her.

Seeing this, Shiina Tatsuki paused for a moment, then turned the topic to Hachiman Kairin: "Kairin? Are you close to Mutsuko in Ave Mujica?"

"Hmm? I guess so..." Hai Ling was slightly taken aback, then looked at Ruo Ye Mu beside her and gently patted her head, the action was natural and familiar.

Ruo Yemu was clearly used to such intimacy. She simply tilted her head slightly, quietly tidying her slightly messy hair, without making much of a reaction.

“Mu usually stays alone,” Hailing explained.

Li hope watched as Ruo Ye Mu carefully tidied the hair that Hai Ling had ruffled, then glanced at the gentle smile that unconsciously appeared on Hai Ling's lips, and couldn't help but whisper, "It feels good to see you like this."

The title is a Soviet joke.

Bonus Chapter: My Trip to the Mountain: Chapter Thirty - I Kissed Peach

"Sorry to keep you waiting..."

Hinasaki jogged up and down the steps, her breathing slightly rapid, and ran towards the shrine with a hint of panic.

She ran to the top of the steps and immediately saw Shiina Tatsuki standing in front of the shrine.

Upon seeing the other person, the anxiety in her heart finally subsided, and a relieved smile appeared on her face.

“It’s alright… I didn’t wait long.” Li hope met her gaze, a gentle smile on her lips, her tone full of comfort.

However, Hailing behind her smiled slightly and gave Lixi a silent look—they had been watching Lixi for a full twenty minutes.

Hinasaki ran up to Ritsuki, still breathing heavily, and said apologetically in a low voice, "Sorry, something came up on the way and I was delayed..."

Lixi shook his head and smiled to show his understanding.

However, Hinasaki then took a small toy panda out of the bag in her hand and handed it to Riki.

"What is this?" Li hope was stunned for a moment. Looking at the cute little panda, she blushed slightly and touched the plush surface of the toy with her fingertips, looking a little at a loss.

Hinasaki explained with a mischievous smile, "It's a prize from the game I just played."

"So, Xiaoyue, you were late because... you went to help me win this panda plushie?" Lixi looked down at the panda plushie in her hand, her tone tinged with a hint of emotion.

Hinasaki Tsuki paused slightly, then gave an awkward smile, raising her hand to gently scratch her cheek as if to hide her embarrassment. "Um... I guess so. But, as for the specifics... I'll tell you about them later, okay?"

As soon as she finished speaking, Hinasaki's gaze passed over Riki and saw that Hachiman Kairin and Wakaba Mutsumi were looking in their direction not far away.

She waved to the two of them, gave them a friendly smile, and greeted them. Hailing also waved back to Xiaoyue.

Hinasaki then said, "Let's find a place with a better view to watch the fireworks show later."

Lixi realized that Xiaoyue probably wanted to talk to her alone, "Hmm..."

She nodded, and then followed Xiaoyue to the other side.

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

In a corner of the shrine, all around was quiet and dim. The lush trees towered into the clouds, their layers of leaves almost completely obscuring the night sky, with only faint starlight peeking through the gaps in the branches.

A gentle breeze rustled the leaves, and occasional dappled sunlight cast shadows on the ground, creating a hazy, dreamlike effect, like scattered stardust.

The view here is extremely limited; the sky is completely obscured by thick foliage, and even if fireworks bloom not far away at night, they cannot be seen in their entirety.

If you're looking to watch spectacular fireworks, this is clearly not the ideal place.