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

Lixi's double sticks suddenly attacked, their fierce momentum heading straight for her flank.

Hinasaki quickly crouched down, nimbly dodging the sharp edge of the staff. Then, with lightning speed, she spun to the side, her left arm snapping back to deflect Riki's attack. The two staffs were immediately knocked off course by her.

Lixi was slightly taken aback, but before she could adjust her posture, Hinasaki pushed her back several steps.

Immediately afterwards, Hinasaki felt a chilling aura behind her—Momoko's katana swept across from the other side, its sharp blade aimed at her side.

She didn't have time to turn around, so she could only dodge to the side, avoiding the blade while grabbing Peach's wrist with her other hand and twisting it forcefully to deflect the blade from its original direction.

Momoko gritted her teeth, trying to break free from Hinasaki's grasp, but Hinasaki gave her no chance to breathe, gently pushing her wrist and using the force to fling Momoko to the other side.

The distance between Riki and Momoko instantly increased, while Hinasaki Tsuki remained standing between them.

Momoko Kurosawa's gaze was sharp and resolute. She slightly raised the katana in her hand, pointing it at Hinasaki Tsuki, and her tone was icy and pleading: "Tsuki, this is between her and me. Please do not get involved."

“That’s right, Tsuki,” Shiina Tatsuki’s gaze was equally unwavering, his hands clasped together with a wary expression, his voice low and urgent, “You just need to watch from the sidelines.”

Hinasaki slowly raised her eyes, her gaze calm and resolute, and gently raised the sword in her hand, showing no sign of backing down.

Her gaze swept between Taozi and Lixi, and a slight smile appeared on her lips: "No matter how much you say, it's useless."

Before she finished speaking, the blade flashed with a sharp light. She twirled the sword, and silver light radiated everywhere, as dazzling as burning flames.

She said coldly, "If you really want me to withdraw, then show me with your actions!"

Momoko and Riki exchanged a glance and nodded knowingly, then launched an attack on Hinasaki at the same time.

Momoko's katana swept across like a swift lightning bolt, its blade carrying a sharp chill, aimed directly at Hinasaki's waist.

Riki's double sticks followed closely behind, generating strong wind pressure as they spun, and suddenly attacked Hinasaki's shoulder from above.

Despite being opponents, the two were now cooperating almost flawlessly, intending to force her out of the arena in one fell swoop.

Hinasaki's eyes sharpened, and she turned her foot, swiftly and lightly dodging Momoko's katana, while simultaneously raising her sword to meet Ritsuki's double clubs.

With a crisp clang, she used her sword to firmly block Riki's attack. As they were locked in a stalemate, Hinasaki suddenly redirected Riki's staff strike to one side with such skill that she forced Riki back several steps.

Before she could catch her breath, Peach swiftly pressed forward again, her katana slashing down from the side with lightning speed.

Hinasaki's gaze sharpened slightly. Without hesitation, she swiftly dodged, perfectly avoiding Momo's blade. At the same time, she swung her sword backhand, aiming directly at Momo's vulnerable spot.

Upon seeing this, Momo immediately retreated, quickly adjusted her position, and held the katana horizontally in front of her, the blade gleaming with a sharp, cold light.

Riki and Momoko surrounded her from the front and back, launching another coordinated attack. Riki's twin sticks rained down, pressing forward relentlessly, giving Hinasaki no chance to breathe; while Momoko's swordplay was more steady, cutting in at tricky angles, constantly forcing Hinasaki to react in a very small space. The two worked together seamlessly, their attacks coming wave after wave, striving to suppress Hinasaki's every move.

Despite the relentless onslaught, Hinasaki showed no sign of panic.

She moved nimbly among the knives and staffs, the sword blades drawing streaks of light in the air, both agile and sharp.

She used offense as defense, deftly parrying Lixi's double sticks, then turned and slashed, the blade aimed directly at Taozi's shoulder, forcing her katana back a few steps.

Peach was startled, but unwilling to be outdone, she quickly turned around and slashed horizontally, rejoining the attack.

Hinasaki suddenly smiled, her eyes filled with determination and coldness. She no longer passively parried, but reversed the offensive, skillfully turning each blow into a counterattack.

Faced with Peach's diagonal slash, she dodged to the side while simultaneously flicking her sword at Peach's blade, causing the sword's momentum to falter.

Taking advantage of the opportunity, Li hope attacked from the other side, his two sticks striking her side like meteors.

Hinasaki swiftly dodged to the side, touched the ground with one foot, nimbly spun around, and swept her sword horizontally, forcing Riki to retreat repeatedly.

Then, she took a step forward, slashing diagonally with her sword, her power overwhelming, directly closing the gap between the two.

Lixi and Taozi realized her intention in an instant and took a step back at the same time, temporarily creating distance between them.

"Is that all you've got?" Hinasaki asked breathlessly, a cold smile playing on her lips, her tone full of provocation.

Lixi and Taozi exchanged a glance, their eyes igniting an even fiercer fighting spirit.

They charged at Hinasaki again, their coordination becoming even closer and their attacks even more ferocious.

Riki's double sticks slammed down towards Hinasaki's left side with lightning speed, while Momoko's katana slashed down from the right, forming an interlocking encirclement.

Hinasaki's eyes sharpened, she stood firmly, and calmly awaited the approaching attack.

Just as Shiina Riki's double sticks and Kurosawa Momoko's katana attacked almost simultaneously, she suddenly leaped, nimbly dodging the overlapping attacks, and spun into the air. The blade in her hand drew an elegant and swift arc in the air, directly approaching the gap between Riki and Momoko.

In the instant of spinning in the air, Hinasaki's sword flashed like lightning, precisely striking the center of Riki and Shichier0 (M4) Momoko's intersecting attacks, bursting between the two with an irresistible force and instantly separating them.

Caught off guard, Riki and Momoko stumbled backward, creating several steps between them. Hinasaki landed steadily between them, the blade in her hand trembling slightly, reflecting a cold light.

“If you want me to quit, don’t just talk the talk,” she said coldly, her gaze sharp as a knife. “Try it with all your might.”

As she finished speaking, the stage lights slowly focused, locking her figure firmly in the light.

Hinasaki stood quietly in the center of the stage, her face slightly raised, naturally displaying the dazzling brilliance of the protagonist.

Shiina Riki slowly propped himself up, his gaze fixed on Hinasaki in the center of the stage.

She adjusted her breathing, but her eyes were filled with shock and confusion as she looked at Hinasaki. "How did you suddenly... become so strong..."

The undeniable aura emanating from Hinasaki at that moment made Hinasaki feel a momentary fear.

Momoko Kurosawa, standing to the side, was also stunned by Hinasaki's transformation. She gripped the hilt of her sword and slowly stood up, gazing at Hinasaki's dazzling figure with deep satisfaction and joy in her eyes.

She gently raised the corners of her mouth, her eyes revealing an unusual tenderness and pride, and whispered, "I see... Xiaoyue's determination is indeed terrifyingly strong... What exactly did she say to the giraffe just now?"

She unconsciously tightened her grip on the knife, her palms growing slightly warm. Before her, Hinasaki, under the lamplight, shone like a dazzling star, radiating an undeniable sharpness and power, as if she had finally unleashed her full potential.

Peach's heart skipped a beat. She took a deep breath, her eyes revealing a deep fighting spirit and joy. "However—" she said softly, a smile playing on her lips, "this is the Xiaoyue I've always wanted to see."

My grandmother passed away. This chapter was typed on my phone in a spare moment, so there might be a lot of typos these past few days.

Side Story: A Trip to the Mountain - Chapter Thirty-Nine: Mutual Assistance from Rivals

As Momoko Kurosawa gazed at Hinasaki, who stood dazzlingly in the center of the stage under the lights, her joy surged like a tidal wave, which she couldn't help but show on the slightly upturned corners of her mouth.

“That’s right…this is the Tsuki I know!” Momo whispered, her eyes sparkling with excitement. She gripped her weapon tightly and charged towards Hinasaki Tsuki without hesitation.

"Hey! Didn't we agree to team up and eliminate Xiaoyue first?" Shiina Riki hurriedly shouted. Seeing that Momoko had ignored the previous plan and launched an attack on her own, she gritted her teeth and chased after her.

Faced with Momo's sudden attack, Hinasaki remained calm and composed, holding her sword with both hands, her eyes focused and steady.

She slightly adjusted her stance, as if she had already entered a battle state, her aura as firm as a mountain, showing no sign of retreat.

Momoko's katana came slashing towards her with a sharp whistling sound. Hinasaki narrowed her eyes slightly, dodged the blade to the side, and with a backhand slash, the blade drew an elegant and swift arc, accurately blocking Momoko's attack.

"This isn't like you, Momoko." Hinasaki chuckled, turned her sword, and slightly shifted her body, quickly forcing Momoko back two steps.

Peach stepped back slightly, but her eyes flashed with an even more intense fighting spirit. She laughed and said, "It's only interesting when I see Xiaoyue like this!"

Before she finished speaking, she quickly steadied herself and charged forward again with her knife.

However, just as Momoko approached, Riki swiftly closed in from the flank, his twin sticks striking Hinasaki's shoulder like thunder.

Hinasaki's eyes sharpened as she sensed the attack from the side. She suddenly bent over and spun around, a graceful and swift sword flower with a cold light blocking Riki's double sticks. The sword's edge was sharp, easily neutralizing Riki's attack.

Lixi was startled, her wrist went slightly numb, and she had to take a few steps back. However, she was not to be outdone. She readjusted her breathing and, in perfect harmony with Momoko, split up to attack Hinasaki from different angles.

The two exchanged a glance, understood each other, and launched an attack on Hinasaki almost simultaneously.

Faced with the seamless onslaught from the two, Hinasaki remained completely calm, her gaze as composed as still water, a confident smile playing on her lips.

Momoko's knife came from above, while Riki's double sticks swept horizontally, trying to force Hinasaki to lose her balance from the side.

Instead of retreating, Hinasaki advanced, raising her sword to block Ritsuki's staff strike. With her other hand, she deftly grabbed Momoko's knife hilt, skillfully deflecting her force. With a quick twist, she pushed Momoko away.

Seeing this, Li Xi quickly stepped forward to provide support, and once again swung his double sticks at Hinasaki's front.

Hinasaki nimbly took a half step back, lightly leaping up to avoid the attack of the staff shadows. Then, she swung her sword down in mid-air, the blade accurately striking the side of Riki's staff, sending her flying backward.

Not to be outdone, Peach quickly closed in, and the blade flashed again from the side.

Hinasaki parried with her sword, instantly neutralizing the attack. She turned slightly and used her strength to deflect Momoko's blade. Momoko lost her balance and staggered backward.

During the battle, Hinasaki exuded an aura of composure and calmness, with all attacks under her control.

Her sword-wielding movements were both sharp and elegant, moving swiftly amidst the flashing blades and sticks, her steps light and agile, showing no sign of panic in either offense or defense.

Lixi and Taozi adjusted their positions again, attacking from the left and right once more.

Hinasaki's sword drew a beautiful and sharp arc in the air, carrying a cold and sharp edge, cleverly separating Riki and Momo's attacks.

Her movements were swift and decisive, without any hesitation, and she seemed to move with ease amidst the flashing swords and daggers.

"Is that all?" Her voice was calm, yet carried an undeniable confidence.

As she finished speaking, Hinasaki landed steadily on the position Zero sign in the center of the stage, her posture elegant and composed.

A hint of surprise flashed across Lixi and Taozi's eyes—she had never looked down at the signs throughout the entire process, relying entirely on her precise control and familiarity with the stage to calculate every step with unparalleled accuracy.

Every movement she made was perfectly timed, guiding the audience step by step until they naturally returned to the center of the stage, as if she had known it all from the very beginning.

Hinasaki's gaze swept over Shiina Tatsuki and Kurosawa Momoko below: "If they don't attack, then it's my turn to attack?"

Before she finished speaking, she moved like lightning, lunging towards Shiina Ritsuki, the halberd in her hand gleaming coldly, aimed directly at the rope tied to her collar.

The sharp blade sliced ​​through the air, carrying a suffocating sense of oppression, as if even space itself had frozen.

"Oh no..." Shiina Riki felt a surge of panic when he realized this, and his eyes revealed disbelief and terror.

She wanted to back away, but that momentary hesitation had already cost her the chance to dodge, leaving her with nowhere to escape.

Just as Hinasaki's attack was about to hit, Momoko Kurosawa pounced out from the side and decisively reached out to block Shiina Tatsuki's attack.

Her movements were swift and decisive, as if time had frozen in that instant, as she forcefully pushed Shiina Tatsuki away.

The blade grazed almost the hem of Momoko Kurosawa's clothes, bringing with it a gust of cold wind.

At the critical moment, Momoko acted decisively, suddenly pulling Shiina Tatsuki away from Hinasaki's attack. The two stumbled and almost fell to the ground, but they finally escaped danger at the last moment.

Hinasaki's blade traced a weak arc in the air before missing its target with a soft, disappointed sound.

"Thank you!" Shiina Riki blurted out in a panic, her anxiety turning into gratitude in an instant, her eyes shining with trust and reliance on Kurosawa Momoko.

At this moment, her heart was still racing, and the thrilling moment from just now was still echoing in her mind.

"No need to thank me." Momoko Kurosawa's gaze was cold and resolute, not even glancing at Tatsuki Shiina out of the corner of her eye. She stared intently at Hinasaki in the center of the stage, her eyes burning with fierce fighting spirit, her tone tinged with coldness, "It's just because the battle between us hasn't been decided yet."

She turned slightly to the side, closer to Lixi, and whispered in a voice so low that only the two of them could hear, "Besides, after we remove Xiaoyue from the stage, it's time for us to settle our differences."

Shiina Ritsuki paused slightly upon hearing this, then a smile crept onto her lips as she gripped her twin sticks tighter, her eyes regaining their indomitable fighting spirit. "Of course," she replied softly, her gaze also fixed on Hinasaki.

Standing in the center of the stage, Hinasaki watched the two people's interaction, which was both hostile and tacit, and a satisfied smile appeared on her lips.

She slightly raised the blade of her sword, poised to strike.