Tokyo Soft Rice King.

I want to convey my feelings through singing.

This also serves as a declaration of war against Hitomi Anri.

I haven't lost yet, nor am I behind; we're just back to square one.

Even if a wise ruler is temporarily bewitched by you, he will eventually return to my side.

It's not because I'm better than you, nor because he likes me more...

It's because your 'infatuation' is not as good as my 'love'.

……

The once-delayed performance has finally resumed.

At this moment, Kuroba Akira and Anri Hitomi had returned to the audience below the stage and looked up together at Shion, who was stunning all the audience with her heavenly voice.

Kuroba Akira suddenly realized that this was also the first time he had heard Shion sing.

And this singing is so...touching.

Her singing voice is like a storyteller, gently recounting a deeply moving story.

There's the thrill of first meeting, the joy of spending time together, the sorrow of unrequited love, and... giving all your love to the one you love.

A variety of emotions intertwine and blend into every syllable, like a chord being gently plucked, vibrating in the listener's heart, making them unable to help but immerse themselves in it, feel the emotions as if they were their own, and be unable to extricate themselves for a long time.

This is a soulful ballad sung by a young girl in love.

Akira Kuroba was also immersed in Shion's singing. He knew that this song was sung only for him, and that it was yet another bold public confession from her.

This also made him realize that he himself had been underestimating Ziyin's talent all along.

This guy calls himself a talent scout? How ridiculous... This could be considered misleading young people.

He always dreamed of clinging to the coattails of a 3S-level genius beauty, but he never truly verified the importance of talent.

They also felt that talent was just an experience-accelerating card, and only proficiency could truly represent a person's skill level.

But in reality, talent is still a 'restriction remover'; the higher the level of talent, the more likely it is to grant 'temporary bonuses'.

This is what is commonly referred to as 'extraordinary performance', 'a flash of inspiration', or 'a sudden realization'.

It was as if they were blessed by the gods, bewitched, or awakened...

That is the ultimate state of flow.

Shion Murasaki's first performance exceeded everyone's expectations, including Akira Kuroba's and even her own.

When the song ended, thunderous applause erupted from the audience.

Thus began the legend of the songstress.

Chapter 246 The Cultural Sacrifice Scattered by the Wind and Clouds, Part 18

Six p.m.

Logically, the band's performance should have ended, but the audience's response was so enthusiastic that the overwhelming calls for an encore forced the student council president, Senior Sister Miao, to step in and say that they would sing a few more songs, but they needed to give the band some more time to prepare.

Kuroba Akira didn't go backstage to see Shion. Instead, he sat on the outermost edge, gazing absently at the stage and the concert-like atmosphere.

"My lord, won't you go and see Ziyin?"

Hitomi Anri sat down next to Akira Kuroba, hugging her knees.

"...We can pick her up after everything is over. For now, let her focus more on the stage."

The combination of Shion and Mirai produced a chemical reaction that was far greater than the sum of its parts.

That guitar solo and Ziyin's a cappella performance were the killer moments that completely ignited the atmosphere, reminding Kuroba Akira of Queen's legendary live performances.

People around were already recording it, and it will probably be uploaded to the internet later. It is likely that several years after Ziyin became famous, this original live performance will be unearthed and given a legendary status.

Kuroba Akira became a witness as he wished, which was exactly what he had told Anri Hitomi before that he wanted to do.

This is the first page of the legend known as "Shine Murasaki no Miyako," the starting point of dreams, the beginning of everything.

This is only the first time, and there will be countless more, until she stands at the top and incorporates her story into human history.

From ordinary to extraordinary, like a butterfly emerging from its chrysalis, even Kuroba Akira was captivated by it.

Despite the excitement, there was still a touch of melancholy and loneliness in the corner of my heart.

It's that feeling of 'not fitting in' that I felt at the very beginning of my transmigration. I thought it was almost gone after more than half a year of transmigration, but it was only temporarily suppressed and is now starting to resurface.

Perhaps it was because Shion was so close to him that when she was about to leave him, Kuroba Akira felt a sense of loneliness similar to that of 'sending one's child to university'.

Beyond that, there might also be some envy and jealousy towards the talent itself?

It's when you see others achieve success in a certain field, concentrate on one thing, and reach the pinnacle, while you feel ashamed that you have accomplished nothing.

However, this feeling is the mildest. After all, Kuroba Akira has a cheat code in his hand. If he really wanted to do it, he could do it. It's just that he's not really interested in it in the end.

It's somewhat similar to someone who enjoys watching game videos and watching others play games, but doesn't like playing games themselves.

Akira Kuroba's greatest interest lies in reading other people's stories.

Speaking of the story, this time, in addition to witnessing Shion's future, Kuroba Akira also glimpsed the class president's past.

Earlier in the library, the words the class monitor said to Ziyin to provoke her surprised Kuroba Akira, who was overhearing them. This was also the reason why he stayed out of it at the time. In fact, his mind was overloaded with information, which made him unable to keep up with the changes in the situation.

The class monitor... she really is Grandma Kobayashi's granddaughter?

Since the class monitor was right beside him, and it was during the encore's waiting time, Kuroba Akira couldn't help but bring up the topic.

“I’m telling you, class monitor, you’ve known my ‘true identity’ all along, haven’t you?”

“‘Myeong-kun’s’ true identity is ‘Myeong-kun’.”

The class monitor wasn't pretending to be confused when he said that. The first "wise ruler" was said in Japanese, while the second "wise ruler" was said in very standard Mandarin, and the meaning was self-evident.

The class monitor did indeed know.

Seeing Kuroba Akira's expression of realization, Anri Hitomi added.

"But I didn't know from the beginning. It was only after I told my grandma that I had become friends with you, Mingjun, that she told me about these things. And she also specifically told me not to tell anyone about your affairs, so don't worry, Mingjun, only I know about it now."

"I haven't worried about that at all..."

Kuroba Akira unconditionally trusted Granny Kobayashi, so he never thought that Granny Kobayashi would sell him out. What puzzled him more was a very basic thing.

"Although I had guessed that you, class monitor, were probably related to Grandma Lin, I never imagined that you were the legendary 'granddaughter'..."

"Yes, wise ruler, when did you realize it?"

“When Grandma Lin invited you in for a chat, I noticed it. She’s not the kind of person who’s very hospitable. The fact that she invited you in means that you have a special status. So you and she are very likely related.”

At this point, Kuroba Akira scratched his head and said.

"But I didn't expect that you, class monitor, really are the granddaughter she mentioned, after all, your surname is Anri..."

In Japan, women take their husband's surname after marriage. So if the class monitor is Grandma Kobayashi's granddaughter, then she should also take the surname Kobayashi.

But that's not actually the case. Perhaps her father allowed her to keep her wife's surname, or perhaps she... married into his family.

"Yes, it's normal for you to have doubts, Myojun, because my father married into the Anri family."

"I knew it..."

But marrying into the family...

Grandpa Lin, a time traveler, is already so powerful, why would he need to have his son marry into the family?

Is this a political marriage?

Or is there some other reason?

"It is said that my father was initially adamant about not agreeing to marry into the family and did not want to change his surname, but my grandfather was very firm in his stance. I heard that my father and grandfather had a big argument over this matter, and my grandfather even said that if my father did not agree, he would kick him out of the house."

Kuroba Akira used to wonder why Kobayashi's son never came home to visit his elderly mother. Later, he asked Kobayashi about it and was told that it was because the father and son had severed ties.

But now that Kobayashi-senpai has passed away, why doesn't he go home to visit?

Now that I've heard it, I understand. It seems that Grandpa Lin never agreed to let his son return to his hometown until his death, which is why he hasn't come back yet.

This father and son... they really are stubborn.

However, the relationship between father and son is inherently contradictory and complex. Kuroba Akira had experienced many things with his father in his previous life, so he could understand it very well.

"Later, after Dad met Mom, he agreed to marry her, but he still didn't agree to let Dad live with his wife's family. So Grandpa kicked Dad out of the house and wouldn't allow him to use his own surname. So now Dad only has his given name, but of course he's still called Anri in public... And he can't give me the surname Kobayashi, so that's why I'm called Anri now."

"I see... that's how it is."

To be stripped of one's surname is truly outrageous; Grandpa Lin's actions are truly ruthless.

Kuroba Akira could understand the feelings of the class monitor's father. If she had received a traditional panda-style education, she would indeed find it unacceptable to change her surname. We don't have that custom.

It might be okay for the children; they can take either parent's surname, but the parents themselves are determined not to change their surname.

No... I don't think we can be so absolute.

After careful consideration, Akira Kuroba realized that he had now completely accepted the surname 'Kuroba'.

Moreover, he has gotten used to being called "Ming" instead of "Yu Ming".

It's probably only when the old woman calls him "Bai Zi" or Xiao Hong calls him "Senior Bai" that he remembers that his surname used to be "Bai".

Especially now that I know that I am the same person in both worlds, I feel that the difference in surnames is just a matter of different worlds, and there is nothing to insist on.

It's likely that Grandpa Lin wasn't surnamed Lin before he transmigrated; he was probably surnamed Lin, which is why he felt it didn't matter if his son married into the family.

It's just changing a surname, anyway, Xiaolin wasn't originally his surname... It's just that his son can't accept it and feels very humiliated.

Perhaps this is the difference between the first generation of time travelers and their descendants?

Although the father and son have severed ties, the grandfather and granddaughter still have a good relationship. The class monitor said that she often went to her grandparents' house to play when she was a child.

This is probably why Grandma Kobayashi was able to borrow the gym uniform that her granddaughter, the class monitor, had worn for Ziyin to wear.

In other words, the class monitor had Ziyin's current bust size back in junior high school... There is indeed a certain difference.

Previously, he could only look at them, but because of Ziyin and Class Monitor Leilei, he has already handled them, so he can make a comprehensive comparison.

Overall, the class monitor feels better to the touch, after all, it's bigger and easier to knead, but Kuroba Akira prefers the smaller Ziyin, which has a better shape and color, and is also easier to squeeze.

So, based on Kuroba Akira's personal experience, in terms of the overall score, the class president wins, but in terms of the points, Shion wins.

Anri Hitomi noticed Kuroba Akira's gaze, smiled, and loosened her knees, allowing Kuroba Akira to properly appreciate her full breast shape.