I really just want to grind for entries related to crossover anime/manga.

At that moment, a figure was reflected in the glass window. It was the figure of a girl, standing at the door, seemingly hesitating whether to knock.

Genkawa Yu squinted, trying to see who it was.

Then he recognized him.

It’s Higuchi EN香.

The girl wore a thin white sweatshirt, light blue jeans, and white canvas shoes.

She was holding a paper bag, but it was unclear what was inside.

Genkawa Yu was somewhat surprised.

He knew that Higuchi Enka had been attending rehearsals for Nokuchiru at her agency recently, since the album was about to start recording, and as a member of the group, she needed to practice dance and vocals with the others.

But he didn't expect her to show up at the recording studio door at this time.

It's already very late, and Asakura Toru has already left. Why did she suddenly come here?

Yuu Minakawa was about to get up to open the door when he saw a figure move at the door... Madoka Higuchi raised her hand and gently knocked three times on the soundproof door.

dong dong dong.

The sound was very soft, but it was exceptionally clear in the quiet recording studio.

Genkawa Yu walked over and opened the door.

The corridor lights were a cool white, illuminating Higuchi Enka's face and making her skin appear even whiter.

But Yuu noticed that there was a faint blush on her cheeks, not from the heat, but from nervousness.

"Higuchi, what are you doing here so late?"

"I...I was rehearsing upstairs just now, and I saw the lights were still on in the recording studio downstairs, so I thought I'd come and check..."

She didn't finish speaking, but Genkawa Yu already understood.

"Come in."

He said he stepped aside to clear the doorway.

Higuchi Madoka walked into the recording studio, her gaze sweeping around the control room.

The indicator lights on the mixing console were still flashing, and the screen displayed the audio waveform of "Recovering".

"Yuanchuan-kun, are you recording a song?"

"Yes, I want to finish recording all the audio for this album before the end of April. May is summer, and then we can hold a summer tour."

Genkawa Yu smiled slightly. Summer is a good time to hold concerts. Even if it rains, it won't be interrupted. You can make a lot of money.

Higuchi Enka sat down on the chair next to him and placed the paper bag on her lap.

"How's the album going?" Higuchi Madoka hesitated. She didn't really know how to start a conversation, because she was planning to do something very bold today.

"It's going well, things are progressing smoothly."

Yuan Chuan You thought for a moment and said carefully, "If all goes well, we should be able to finish recording all six songs by the end of next week."

“Genkawa-kun, I’ve already heard the song ‘Life Is So Beautiful’.” Higuchi Madoka lowered her head, looking at her hands resting on her knees.

"how do you feel?"

"It's a very nice song, a great song."

Her voice was soft but earnest. "The melody is beautiful and the lyrics are touching. When I listened to it, I was reminded of those days on the island."

"Really."

Genkawa Yu turned to look at her.

The studio lights switched to a warm tone, and the orange light fell on Higuchi Enka's face, giving her features a soft golden edge.

Her eyelashes were long, casting delicate shadows in the warm light.

Yuu Minakawa could tell she was very nervous.

It wasn't just ordinary tension, but a deep-seated, almost fearful tension.

Did she recall something unpleasant?

"Higuchi, are you recalling bad things from the earthquake? It's all in the past..." Yuu Genkawa tried to comfort her.

"No!"

Higuchi Enka's body suddenly trembled, as if she had mustered up her courage.

"Mr. Genkawa, what is the theme of the song 'Life is So Beautiful'?"

"Life is a once-in-a-lifetime experience, so cherish every person you meet."

"Ah."

Higuchi Madoka raised her head and looked into Genkawa Yu's eyes.

Those eyes of Yang were very calm and clear, like a deep pool without ripples.

"Genkawa-kun..." For some reason, Higuchi Enka felt a little short of breath.

"what happened?"

Yuya Minakawa also became more attentive, feeling that Madoka Higuchi had something very important to say.

"I......"

She took a deep breath and then exhaled, as if making some kind of final preparation.

There's something I've always wanted to tell you.

Yuan Chuanyu didn't speak; he just looked at her, waiting for her to continue.

Higuchi Enka lowered her head, then raised it again, and then lowered it again.

Her gaze wandered around the room, from the buttons on the mixing console and the waveforms on the screen, to the coffee cup on the windowsill and the sound-absorbing carpet on the floor.

The girl seemed to be looking for something to distract herself and make herself less nervous.

But she couldn't find it.

Because at this moment, all her attention was focused on the man in front of her.

“Genkawa-kun,” Higuchi Madoka asked again, “which song on this album do you think is the best?”

Genkawa Yu thought for a moment.

"If I had to choose, I would choose 'Under Recovery'."

"why?"

“Because this song is the most authentic,” Genkawa Yu smiled. “In one’s life, intense and passionate relationships are a rare occurrence, but separation and self-recovery are more common.”

"The theme of this song is about recovering on your own and becoming a better version of yourself after experiencing separation and accidents."

As Higuchi Enka listened to his words, her eyes gradually reddened.

"Genkawa-kun, can you play it for me now?"

"Uh, of course, no problem."

Genkawa Yu was a little confused, but he still turned around and started operating the buttons on the recording console. After a while, the audio source that had just been recorded began to play.

The next moment, Genkawa Yu suddenly felt a warm, soft body hug him from behind.

"?"

Higuchi Enka had already bypassed the chair he had just been sitting on and rushed directly behind him.

The woman's arms reached over his shoulders, crossed over his chest, and then tightened.

She pressed her body against his back, and Genkawa Yu could even feel her heartbeat.

It was fast and heavy, as if it were about to jump out of my chest.

Her face was buried in the back of his neck, her warm breath on his skin, tinged with a slight tremor.

Genkawa Yu's body stiffened for a moment.

But he quickly calmed down.

He didn't break free or turn around; he simply sat there, feeling the girl's body temperature and heartbeat behind him.

"What's wrong?" Genkawa Yu asked softly.

Higuchi Enka did not answer; she tightened her arms around him, as if afraid he would suddenly disappear.

The girl's body was trembling, not from the cold, but because the emotions that had been suppressed for so long finally found an outlet, surging out like a flood, making her unable to control them.

“Genkawa-kun…” Higuchi Enka’s voice came from the back of his neck, muffled and tinged with tears.

"I like you."

The recording studio was so quiet that only the hum of the air conditioner and the breathing of the two people were heard.

After Higuchi Madoka said those words, she felt as if all her energy had been drained away, and her entire weight pressed down on Genkawa Yu's back.

Her arms were still tightly wrapped around his chest, and her face was still buried in the back of his neck, but the trembling gradually subsided.

After saying it, Higuchi Madoka actually felt relieved.

The string that had been stretched for too long finally snapped.

She no longer needs to pretend she doesn't care, no longer needs to look away from him, no longer needs to toss and turn at night staring at the ceiling, repeatedly asking herself how to express her feelings.

Just like the theme of the song, life is a once-in-a-lifetime experience, and if it is not expressed, then this problem will never be resolved.

She wanted to be with Yuu Minakawa and experience the kind of happiness that Toru Asakura had.

After hearing the confession, Genkawa Yu did not answer immediately.

He reached out and grasped Higuchi Enka's hand, which was resting on his waist. The girl's hand was cold, and her fingertips were trembling slightly, but after he held it, the temperature seemed to rise a little.

"When did it start?" he asked softly.

"...It was a long time ago."

Higuchi Enka said, her voice still muffled, but now carrying a hint of a smile.

"It was after I first read Genkawa-kun's 'Love Letter' that we went to the performance classroom and ran into you."