Tokyo: The evil god doesn't want to be the top star

"Because, no matter how painful it was, you always smiled like that."

“It makes me feel like I can keep working hard no matter what setbacks I encounter.”

Watching Xia Fan playing the piano attentively, Hoshina Hanami's clear and pure voice, in addition to longing, expectation and blessing, also carries shyness and love, which adds a strange touch of pink to the song with sadness as the main theme.

"What a moving performance... such a soulful singing..."

"Ms. Hanami, I have been, and have been waiting for a 'reunion' like today..."

"Yes, on a day when cherry blossoms are flying, I can put aside my work and daily affairs and come here from thousands of miles away to wave to you and shout your name from the audience. It's really wonderful!"

The "Sakura Guards" who were cheering in the audience felt their tears burst out uncontrollably, and their cheering actions became more intense.

"So, the song 'Sakura' can be so touching when heard live?"

"It's so powerful... It's worthy of being the hottest new song this spring..."

“The support from these fans is really nice!”

Most of the audience had heard "Sakura" before, but listening to the live performance was a whole new experience.

"As expected of the original singer, the emotions are so full... But I won't admit defeat..."

Following the melody, "Kurokawa Tsubasa" standing on the other side of Xia Fan licked the corner of his mouth with his pink tongue, looked at Xia Fan affectionately with his eyes, and picked up the microphone:

"In the scenery illuminated by the sunset, I can almost hear the song from that day."

"Sakura, sakura, blooming. Right now, I understand my fleeting fate."

Compared with the clean and melodious voice of Hoshina Hanami, the voice of "Kurokawa Tsubasa" is more passionate, high-pitched and penetrating.

"Goodbye, my friend. At the moment of parting, I will leave you with my unchanging feelings. Now..."

"I don't know if I can say those unadorned words to you right now, the real words that pray for your bright future."

She used her hair-raising voice pressure, gorgeous transitions, and wide vocal range to inject a strong sense of reluctance and undisguised admiration into the lyrics...

Compared to the gentleness, playfulness and sweetness she displayed the last time she sang "Summer Meeting in Tokyo", she is like two completely different people.

"How can the song 'Sakura' be sung with such passion?"

"Wow, so amazing! It turns out that the lead singer of "Broken Wings" has such a diverse style?"

The audience in the audience was still savoring the youthful emotions in Hoshina Hanami's song just now, when they were suddenly bombarded with emotions as strong as a direct shot from Kurokawa Tsubasa.

Hoshina Hanami and Horie Tsubasa have very different singing styles and different emotions, both extroverted and restrained, which are like ice and fire confronting each other, or like streams interweaving and merging into the sea, refreshing the audience's experience over and over again.

"By the way, are they singing in duet or to the keyboard player?"

"In this intense atmosphere, it's a relief that the guy in the middle can still calm down and play the keyboard..."

Many viewers noticed that although the two girls seemed to be singing face to face, their affectionate and shy gazes were all focused on Xia Fan, who was in the C position.

The fierce gazes and soulful singing of the two girls on his left and right formed a kind of "ice and fire" aura, which made Xia Fan instinctively dare not look up and just concentrate on playing.

When the song reached its climax, his eyes flickered and he carefully leaned towards the microphone in front of him:

"The ever-changing streets seem to be urging us on."

"Cherry blossoms, cherry blossoms, just fall quietly. Believe that one day, the moment of reincarnation will come."

The voices of the three people blended together smoothly and sang the final chorus.

"Don't cry, my friend, at this time of parting. Come with our unconcealed smiles."

"Cherry blossoms, cherry blossoms, dance brilliantly. Bathe in the dazzling light, forever."

"Goodbye, my friend. Let's meet again there, on the path where the cherry blossoms are falling."

Many audience members in the audience also joined in the singing.

The chorus of three people gradually turned into a collective chorus that made the whole audience excited.

The simple and pure melody and catchy lyrics of "Sakura" are given a stronger and more shocking power in the voices of the crowd.

"Not bad, not bad, louder, we can get some nice pictures!"

"Thousands of people sang "Sakura" together. This is the first time in history!"

Yoshihide Higashino, who was standing in the outer stands and taking pictures, gestured "YEAH" to Ryoko Tachibana in the stadium from a distance.

"The unlucky guy who came on stage after us, was he singing 'Sakura'? It was so noisy..."

"Wait, Matsumoto-senpai, what's going on here?"

At the entrance of the stadium, Makoto Shibata, who had just walked out of the exit passage, looked at the "chorus of a thousand people" that was shaking the entire stadium with a puzzled look on his face.

"The group behind you, 'Broken Wings', has invited Hoshina Hanami to be their guest singer."

"There were probably more than a hundred Hoshina Hanami mad fans who sneaked into the audience like stalkers and started cheering crazily."

"In the end, it became like this..."

Matsumoto's face darkened and he spread his hands helplessly.

"Hoshina Hanami, the original singer of "Sakura"?! How could Xia Fan and the others possibly invite her?!"

Gazing from afar at the stage where Xia Fan was sandwiched between Hoshina Hanami and Horie Tsubasa and was being "madly tortured" with his singing and eyes, Shibata Makoto was so surprised that his jaw could not close.

"Manager Matsumoto, you didn't tell me that Hoshina Hanami would also come to this competition to promote her new song..."

"If they knew there would be a 'publicity conflict', I believe the company would have carefully considered whether to send me to such a small campus competition."

"I will report today's situation to the company truthfully when I return."

Wearing sunglasses and a mask, Terada Risa walked out of the exit passage, said this angrily, then turned and walked towards the school gate.

As for popular newcomers like Hoshina Hanami, mature (over) mature (hot) artists like them usually carefully consider appearing on the same stage together, so as not to become a stepping stone for others to climb up.

"Ms. Terada, please listen to my explanation. I have confirmed the guests with the organizing committee in advance. But Hoshina Hanami is a 'burning type' and it is impossible for her to inform us in advance..."

Matsumoto jogged after him and explained humbly.

"Hanami-san, she seems even more pure and lovely in person!"

"Hurry, there's still room over there, let's go in together!"

The other members of "Cheng Band" rushed into the gymnasium as if to watch the fun.

"No, how could this happen... Just two amateurs... No, forget it. No one can affect my gorgeous debut that I have been planning for two and a half years..."

Only Makoto Shibata was left abandoned there, staring blankly at the chorus in the gymnasium, his whole body trembling, his fists clenched, and his eyes becoming more and more resentful.

……

Chapter 122 First Class

2024-07-13

"Thank you very much, Ms. Hoshina Hanami, and the group "Broken Wings"! Even I couldn't help singing along to the song "Sakura"..."

"Unfortunately, the next part is not the 'encore' part, but the scoring part."

"Dear audience, please give the judges a little time..."

Amid thunderous applause and calls of "encore", the host walked onto the stage with a hoarse voice.

"H-How is it, Xia Jun... Did I... Did I sing better than before?"

On the stage, when the three of them bowed side by side, Hoshina Hanami, who had not yet recovered her breath, asked Xia Fan with a gasp.

"Of course, not only are the feelings purer than before, but the typhoon is also much brighter, like a rain of cherry blossoms beating on people's hearts..."

Xia Fan murmured his praise without reservation.

After more than a month of street singing, Hoshina Hanami's live performance of "Sakura" has been transformed. Today's stage performance has surpassed the "full score performance" on the day of the competition.

"What about him? How did he sing?"

"Kurokawa Tsubasa" on the other side pouted her red lips in a resentful manner and nudged Xia Fan with her elbow.

"Squad leader Horie sang in a different, more intense and passionate style, a version of 'Sakura' that I have never heard before, but which is equally beautiful."

Looking at her coquettish expression that said "Don't think about leaving the stage if you don't praise me", Xia Fan replied with a wry smile.

"The rating results are out..."

“The judges believed that, apart from Ms. Hoshina Hanami’s touching and perfect singing, the keyboardist of “Broken Wings” performed at an impeccable professional level, and the lead singer skillfully used his strong basic skills to perform “Sakura” in a more passionate style…”

"The final score of the second round of eliminations for "Broken Wings" is 9.8 points!"

A minute later, the host excitedly announced the scoring results, and the entire stadium once again burst into enthusiastic applause and cheers.

"Then, Xia Fan, I'll leave first..."

"Well, you've worked hard today. You've been a great help."

At the exit passage, Xing Ming Hana reluctantly said goodbye to Xia Fan.

The white "nanny car" had already been parked quietly outside the door.

"We didn't get to have dinner together last time. Let's get together someday when we are free..."

Hoshina Hanami's eyes were full of grievance, and it seemed that he wanted to say something...

"Oh no! Those guys from the 'Sakura Guard' are here!"

"Hurry up, Hanami! If you don't leave now, it will take at least three hours for us to take photos and sign autographs!"

After putting away their filming equipment, Yoshihide Higashino and Ryoko Tachibana opened the car door and shouted loudly towards the entrance.

"Go now, let's make an appointment for dinner later, I'll treat you!"

Xia Fan smiled helplessly and waved at the other party.

"Well, it's settled!"

Hoshina Hanami nodded vigorously and got into the car.

The car door slammed shut, and the white nanny car took off with wild momentum and disappeared in the direction of the school gate.

"Hanami...my Hanami!!!"

"Damn it, I was just a few seconds late. I missed it, wuwuwuwuwu!"

Only the belated "Sakura Guards" were left crying in the dust and exhaust gas.

"Advisor Xia Fan's performance has ended. All units, please report the situation."

In the green belt of the gymnasium, Inspector Higurashi, dressed as a cleaner and wearing a baseball cap, was silently watching the exit passage.

"Everything is normal with the rooftop team."

"Everything is normal in the background group."

"Everything is going fine with the outfield team."

"The mobile team is in place, ready to secretly escort Consultant Xia Fan away."

The agents' reports sounded in an orderly manner on the headset communication channel.

"Understood. We must not let our guard down until Takenaka Masahiro is caught."

Inspector Higurashi had a complicated expression and sighed.

After the auditions, the guard force of Section 9 seemed to be evacuated, but in fact they retained the most elite personnel and moved into the dark to prevent the escaped "Inagawa Group" leader Takenaka Masahiro from counterattacking.

For now, it would be good if the second round of competition went smoothly, but when he thought about the large amount of manhunt for Takenaka Masahiro in the future, he felt a little anxious.

……

Kanagawa Prefecture, Yokohama City, Yokohama Port.

A large motorboat with eight motors illegally installed at the stern of the ship was "flying" over the dark sea at a speed of more than 90 kilometers per hour.

The motorboat, known as "Da Fei" and often used to smuggle pig's trotters, was packed with five or six men, who were lying on the side of the boat and vomiting violently because of the excessive speed.

At the most bumpy stern, a burly man in a suit and tie sat alone, silently gazing at the brightly lit port at the rear.

If the detectives from Section 9 were here, they would definitely recognize that this man is the one they are looking for in the entire 11th District, the head of the Tokyo branch of the Inagawa Group, Akagami's "agent", Takenaka Masahiro.

The speed of the motorboat slowed down as the light of the harbor was completely swallowed up by the horizon.

"Stop vomiting, piggies. We're on the high seas."

The sailor who was steering the boat said this with disdain.