I have bound two systems.

Suzumiya Chisato tried to cover it up with a lighthearted attitude.

Ichichi Xingge swallowed the drink that had already turned warm in his mouth and snorted with a smile.

"Yeah, since it's nothing important, please don't bring me along if you encounter this kind of situation again."

"Okay, manager, don't talk while eating."

"Hey, uh... don't put it in my mouth without permission. You know how hot this thing is. Are you asking for a beating?"

The staff on the side urged in a low voice at this moment.

After the band finished, everyone looked at each other, shrugged, and walked towards the dressing room.

In the end, they still had no way of finding out what Chisato Suzumiya and Seika Ijichi had been doing during the time they had just disappeared.

But they didn't care too much about it. After all, the most important thing now was the performance on stage later.

All the hard work they put in rehearsing, running-in, and optimizing the ensemble must be rewarded today!

“I say, do you really have confidence?”

After watching everyone walk away after finishing the band, Ijichi Hoshika, who had calmed down, looked at Suzumiya Chisato.

Suzumiya Chisato shook her head.

"Who knows? Let's just give it a try. Even if it fails, it doesn't matter. We can think of other ways later."

"You're such a reckless guy. But I don't hate you for that. Just don't drag me into this kind of thing next time."

This was the second reminder from Ichichi Xingge.

"Got it, Manager."

Suzumiya Chisato agreed helplessly.

Only then did Ichichi Xingge turn his gaze contentedly to the open-air stage that was being set up, and picked up the cold drink and took a sip.

However, now that she had calmed down, she belatedly realized something.

This bottle of drink...didn't Suzumiya open it and drink it before? ! !

Just, just to say...indirect kiss? ! ! !

"Store manager?"

Suzumiya Chisato looked at Ichichi Hoshika, who suddenly stopped moving but whose eyes and arms couldn't stop shaking, and was a little confused.

"Food poisoning?"

"...!"

Ijichi Xingge didn't dare to look at him at all. She put the drink and taiyaki in her hand on the table, then stood up and walked away quickly.

Suzumiya Chisato looked at her leaving back.

"What? I just have to pee urgently."

----

There were staff members walking around and noisy sounds coming from my ears. The closer it got to the start of the performance, the more nervous I felt about going on stage in front of the public. It felt like a physical weight pressing down on everyone's head.

It was already past six in the evening, and in a little while the open-air performance stage of this summer festival would officially begin.

But there is no need to worry too much, as the band's performance time is around seven o'clock in the evening when night officially falls. Suzumiya Chisato specifically asked Mr. Suzuki to arrange this time slot for them in advance, and naturally she had her own plans.

"...There's no need to be too nervous. Just treat it as a normal performance on stage at Fanxing."

Chisato Suzumiya spoke in a relaxed tone, relieving the pressure on everyone who was about to go on stage.

Kita Ikuyo's tightly clenched hands loosened slightly, and a smile appeared on her tense little face.

"I remember that Qianli-kun seemed to have said the same thing to comfort us at the previous music festival."

"Really? I don't quite remember, but as long as you practice at the same level you usually do, there won't be any problems. Please trust me on this."

"kindness!"

After comforting the main creator, Suzumiya Chisato turned to look at Yamada Ryo and told her some things to pay attention to when she goes on stage in the future.

Although this guy is usually a little unreliable in various aspects, but after she goes on stage, she is the most trustworthy person. She has superb bass skills and can guide others in her own way.

Looking at Chisato Suzumiya who was talking to Ryo Yamada, Ichiri Goto originally wanted to walk up to him, hold his hand as he did in the past, or grab the corner of his clothes to seek a sense of security among the crowd.

But when she was about to do as she always did, the words that Chisato Suzumiya had said to her in private before came to her mind.

"Yili, I just suddenly thought of this. Not only for this performance, but also in public, please don't have overly close contact with me unless it is necessary."

"why?"

"There will be many cameras broadcasting the festival stage. The band is in its early stages and it's best not to have any waves. Therefore, our relationship must be kept secret. This is also for the future development of everyone. Do you understand what I mean?"

"kindness."

"Thank you."

The memory ends.

Goto Ichiri understood that even though she usually didn't pay much attention to various things in the entertainment industry, she had learned a lot of similar things in today's era of information explosion. A certain actor, singer or idol who was developing well and was extremely popular had his private life and emotional affairs exposed. After fans knew that the person they promoted was not single, his acting career suffered a Waterloo and he disappeared from the public eye and was unable to make a comeback.

Things like this are not uncommon.

Of course, there are also many celebrities who choose to actively expose their love affairs, and there are also cases where their careers are further promoted as a result.

But in this situation, Goto Ichiri felt that it had nothing to do with him no matter what.

After all, her boyfriend, Suzumiya Chisato, is not a loyal person who can be accepted by the public in the traditional sense. If it is because of her that the fans focus on him, and then extend this to reveal that he lives with Kasumigaoka and Eriri...

That would be the worst possible scenario. Not only the people involved, but many people around them would also be hurt.

Goto Ichiri usually speaks little, but he has a very active mind and was able to think of this point easily.

She thought that at the music festival, Qianli's performance on stage to save the audience was so effective that her popularity reached its peak in a short period of time. However, she did not strike while the iron was hot and gain more profits for herself. This was probably because of her considerations in this regard.

She understood Chisato Suzumiya's concerns, and was willing to suppress her own behavior for him and her companions who had ended the band.

It doesn't matter anyway. If I can't be intimate with Qianli in public, then it should be completely fine in private.

Let’s do our best for today’s performance and try to get a good response. Then we can have a celebration party later…

Guhei...Guheihei...

"……Well!"

Just as Goto Ichiri was immersed in his own fantasy and grinning foolishly, he was knocked back to reality by a light knife strike from Ijichi Kouka.

"We'll be on stage soon, so don't let your guard down now, Pochi-chan."

"Don't worry, I'll do my best!"

"That's good."

Time passes slowly and night falls gradually.

The spotlights around the stage had all gone dim at some point.

Because there was an activity where merchandise coupons were randomly distributed, the open-air stage was surrounded by a crowd of people, and it was a huge sea as far as the eye could see.

This kind of scene is much bigger than the performance at the music festival.

"Ten minutes left. Ten minutes left. Everyone who has finished their band please be ready to go on stage."

The staff followed the instructions from the headset and notified Chisato Suzumiya and his group who were waiting backstage.

"understood."

Suzumiya Chisato turned around and looked at Goto Ichiri who kept writing the word "人" on his palm and swallowing it, and also looked at Ijichi Hoshika and Kita Ikuyo who kept rubbing their hands and pacing back and forth.

Only Yamada showed no signs of nervousness. He even had some time to spare while eating a chocolate banana that he got from somewhere.

When Chisato Suzumiya was about to say something, the cell phone in his pocket vibrated. He took it out to check it, then quickly put it back into his pocket.

"Everyone, come on stage and cheer, we'll see you later."

"Wait a minute! Where are you going, Qianli-kun? Aren't you going to stay with us until the last moment before we go on stage?"

"That's not necessary. I trust you all. I'm going to find a good seat in the audience and appreciate your performance from the audience's perspective. Do your best and enjoy the stage that belongs to you."

"Go ahead, and remember to take some nice photos. We will post them on our online account later."

Yamada Ryo waved at him indifferently.

Chisato Suzumiya made an "OK" gesture and disappeared into the background.

After he left, he did not walk towards the audience seats in front of the stage. Instead, he jogged, took out his cell phone to check it several times, and finally came to the street not far from the stage.

He saw the couple he had just met in the morning, walked over, bowed slightly, and politely greeted them.

------

【Two minutes left.】

[The actors are about to leave the stage. Count down 30 seconds. The host is ready. The next group of actors are ready.]

【There is no problem with the lighting.】

【PA is ready. 】

All departments are busy and stressful but orderly. Thanks to their efforts, the performance process on stage has been smooth so far.

After the band finished, everyone stood in front of the stage and put their palms together to cheer for the last time.

[End of countdown for the band to come on stage, ten, nine, eight...]

【three. 】

【two. 】

【…】

"Let's go!"

The lights on the deliberately dimmed stage suddenly burst into dazzling light as the closing band came on stage.

"Please give us your guidance, we are the closing band."

"Everyone, are you having fun at the festival?!"

After Kita Ikuyo came on stage, she used her unique and likable energy to try to enhance the atmosphere.

However, the reaction from the audience was not enthusiastic. But even so, there were still a small number of people who laughed and clapped in response.

Different from the music festival, there were many programs on the festival stage. In addition to stage shows by famous singers and crosstalk players, there were even traditional street dances and chorus performances by children from a nearby welfare home. So this time the band had only five to six minutes to go on stage.

The five or six minute stage appearance, apart from the super heated atmosphere of introducing oneself on stage, is only long enough for one song.

But that's enough.

"That's what you said, the path my daughter insisted on taking, I didn't see her how happy she was, I just saw her standing on the stage and feeling nervous about it."

"Mr. Kita, this is just a happy moment. Please be patient and watch until the end. I believe that your opinion will change and you will understand her determination."

On the side of the stage, in an area open only to relevant staff, two people were standing next to Chisato Suzumiya.

"Well, without further ado, I will dedicate a song to every audience member here. I hope you can have a happy and unforgettable memory of this summer."

"The song is called - Reverberation Song!"

Holding the earphone and listening to the timekeeping by Kita Ikuyo from the audience, after saying this, Ijichi Kouka struck the drum with a smile on her face.

The ear-catching prelude sounded instantly.

At the same time, a few kilometers behind the stage, fireworks shot out from the ground and exploded in the sky in response to the prelude sounding on the scene, blooming into a gorgeous rain of petals.

"Whose sleeves are blooming with illusory flowers——?"

"Love is only lost here——?"

"Like melting colors gorgeously—?"

Suzumiya Chisato tilted her head to look at the two people who were in a daze beside her, and the corners of her mouth curled up slightly.

At this moment, the magnificent movement officially begins.

…………

Chapter 5: Everyone is Happy (k)

The dense drum beats and dull bass spread all around, and the performance of the closing band on the stage continued.