People are in animation, but they can connect to reality

Chapter 298 We Meet Again

"MMK is now a well-known band member. I'll trade him for MY ALL's three live performances. What do you think?"

The store manager's eyes immediately darted around. The live room's business usually relied on these bands to attract customers. However, most of the bands that came here were unknown underground bands or new bands.

As a result, the store was often empty and could hardly be filled. But MMK is no longer what it used to be. Its appeal is enough to fill the place and still have more. If MMK holds a live here, it will be a booming business.

"Well, 3 times, very attractive. But I want to ask, what do you want to do with the surveillance video?" The store manager was already tempted.

"Anyway, they won't do anything bad." Asagi leaned over and whispered, "Uncle, do you remember CRYCHIC? They're the band that performed live with MMK and the others last time. A friend in the band was maliciously attacked by someone, which caused him to feel very upset and depressed for many days."

"Hmm, so that's how it is." The store manager was quite moved when he heard Asagi's words, "This kind of thing is very common in bands."

He exhaled heavily and sat down calmly on the chair. Then, the store manager slowly took out a cigarette and lit it. Soon, the smoke began to dissipate. He took a puff and exhaled. Afterwards, the store manager held the cigarette in his hand and said in a heavy tone,

"MMK once encountered this kind of thing. During that period, MMK seemed to be in a very bad state. In fact, most musicians have encountered this kind of thing. Any musician will have some people who like him and some who don't. Then there will be people who will attack the musician intentionally or unintentionally and make some very harsh remarks. This kind of thing is really a big blow to the musicians. Some musicians can't let it go and quit the band."

As he spoke, the store manager glanced at the poster on the wall of the live room. His eyes were fixed on the poster, but his thoughts were elsewhere. After a moment, the store manager regained consciousness, his expression serious. He looked at Asagi, who immediately stood up straight.

The store manager nodded, quite satisfied.

"In that case, I've decided to help you. However, there are so many people watching the band live, and none of them have the words "I am a murderer" written on their heads. Even if I give it to you, you won't find anything valuable."

Asagi already knew this.

"You don't need to worry about this, uncle. Just give me the things and I will take care of the rest."

"That's it," said the uncle.

In the evening, CRYCHIC and Asagi agreed to hold a live event here. Furthermore, this event was announced on the CRYCHIC homepage early on.

Around 5 o'clock, Suyo and the others appeared at the entrance of the live studio. Asagi waved and greeted them.

"???"

"???"

Several people looked at Asagi curiously, because Asagi was standing at the front desk chatting with the store manager. Su Shi was the first to walk over, she stopped outside the front desk and looked at the counter.

"Welcome, Sushi." Asagi looked at Sushi with a grin. He was working for free, and after reaching an agreement with the store manager, in addition to three live shows, Asagi also gave him free work services.

"You can go in and rest first. You don't have to stand outside." Asagi pointed to the location inside the live room. "I've been here last time. You don't need me to lead the way, right?"

Su Shi nodded.

Around 6 o'clock, people started arriving with their live tickets, and Asagi sat next to the owner, working for free. He checked tickets and said, "Welcome," with a wide smile on his face. Asagi had worked at Yoshinoya as a waiter and also at the front desk, so this little task was a piece of cake.

The way to check the ticket was also simple. He had a small seal with the word "check" engraved on it next to him. He only needed to stamp it on the ticket. While he was busy checking the ticket, a pair of big eyes in front of him were staring at him curiously.

The person had black hair, a bow-like headband on her head, and was wearing a black high school girl uniform.

"Asaki is checking tickets here?" 486 stared at Asaki curiously. She leaned against the front desk, her chin resting on her hands, shaking her head. 486's eyes blinked, her expression smiling, but also a little mischievous.

"Let me help you."

Without waiting for Asagi's response, 486 walked in on her own. The store manager sat nearby and watched them. He knew 486, so he didn't say anything to stop them.

"Is 486 the only one coming?" Asagi asked curiously.

"Well, I came here alone and didn't tell Renai and the others."

"486 is in charge of this side." Asagi pointed to the empty seat next to him.

"it is good."

With the addition of 486, ticket checking was much faster. Asagi kept an eye on the customers while checking tickets. He would occasionally glance at the people coming in with the corner of his eye.

Until a golden-haired girl arrived. Standing before 486, Asagi recognized her with a single glance. Just like before, she made some simple concealment.

The black glasses, mask, and low-knit hat almost covered the girl's entire face. 486 and the store manager had no doubts about the girl's attire, as it was common for people to dress like that here.

In this place, strange audiences are normal.

"Welcome," Asagi called out deliberately. The girl was attracted by Asagi's voice and turned her head to look at him curiously. Asagi, on the other hand, grinned at the girl and stood there like a standard waiter.

When the girl saw Asagi's face, her body trembled slightly. She recognized Asagi. Although she didn't take Asagi to heart after the competition, she kept running into him in the past few times.

At that time, the girl's sixth sense told her that someone seemed to be staring at her.

"Customers who have checked their tickets, please move inside and make room for us."

The girl was momentarily stunned, while Asagi spoke a pleasant greeting. She quickly took her ticket back and walked inside without looking back. 486, standing nearby, stared at the girl's back. She didn't remember her either, as she had never seen her face.

However, 486 was very perceptive. She could immediately sense that Asagi was particularly concerned about the girl just now.

"Asaki, do you know that girl? It feels like you know her." 486 forced a smile and made a cute expression.

"Ah, I guess we know each other, but not really." Asagi answered casually, looking particularly calm.

"Another answer like that." 486 tilted his head in dissatisfaction, looking towards the place where the girl disappeared. "It feels so perfunctory."

Chapter 299 Unexpected Visitor

The girl entered the live room and quickly headed to the live venue. Standing there, her brows knitted together. The live room before her was vastly different from the "RiNG" LiveHouse, and also from her usual work environment.

This place was closer to an adult venue, and the air was filled with the pungent smell of alcohol. The girl covered her mouth and slowly found a corner to stand in.

Asagi continued checking tickets, quickly checking and stamping them. The live venue couldn't accommodate many people, and it wasn't like an amusement park with a hundred-meter-long queue at the entrance. This was just a small live room with a maximum capacity of about a hundred people.

Just like today, there were only about 80 customers. After checking tickets, Asagi leaned back in his seat to rest for a moment. His gaze calmly scanned the street before him, as if he were enjoying a long-awaited moment of leisure. Beside him, 486 lazily slumped on the front desk, looking bored.

"486 can go in, the live is about to start. Before the live starts, it's better to say hello to Su Shi. After all, you must have been invited by Su Shi." Asagi leaned sideways on the chair, making his body comfortable.

"Oh, so that's how it is. I almost forgot." 486 suddenly realized it, clenched her right hand into a small fist, and gently patted the palm of her left hand. She turned her head to look inside the live room, but she couldn't see inside from the front desk.

There is a wall blocking the view from outside and inside.

486 stood up and prepared to walk into the store. Before leaving, she turned her head and looked at Asagi, her eyes seemed to speak.

"I won't go in." Asagi waved his hand. He didn't buy a ticket.

However, 486 did not move. She looked hesitant, her eyes moving back and forth between Asagi and the store manager. The store manager had been observing for a long time. He took out a ticket from under the counter and handed it to Asagi, then patted Asagi's shoulder meaningfully.

"How can I refuse at this time? When a girl invites me, I should be brave enough to go over to her instead of standing there in a daze."

"Manager, did you misunderstand something?" Asagi was at a loss for words. Meanwhile, 486 made a "yeah" gesture to the manager. At that moment, the manager seemed possessed by Ultraman, becoming exceptionally brave and confident.

He pushed the admission ticket in front of Asagi, acting like an elder.

"Leave the rest to me." The store manager waved his hand, urging Asagi, "The customers have mostly arrived, and there are only a few left. We don't need your help here anymore, so hurry up and leave."

Asagi was surprised. He looked at the store manager, then back at his ticket. Hesitantly, his eyes flicked to the street in front of the store. Just then, another customer approached. The customer looked up and met Asagi's gaze. She froze in shock, forgetting to come over.

Asagi also tilted his head and stared at the customer.

The customer hesitated for a moment, her hands unconsciously clenching. After adjusting her composure, she lowered her eyes and awkwardly walked to the front desk. She pulled a ticket from her purse and handed it to Asagi without saying a word.

"Mu, why are you here?" Asagi was equally surprised. This place wasn't suitable for Wakaba Mu. In Asagi's impression, Wakaba Mu was a well-behaved child, like a canary kept in a gorgeous cage, perfectly nurtured according to the plans envisioned by the adults.

This place, while called a live house, has a bar-like atmosphere. It's fundamentally different from the live house "RiNG." The vast majority of customers here are adults, and alcohol is a staple drink.

"I'm here to see them," Wakaba Mutsu said softly. She glanced up at 486, who was standing next to Asagi. 486 was also sizing up Wakaba Mutsu, and the moment their eyes met, 486 gave Wakaba Mutsu a brilliant smile.

But Ruoye Mu was like a frightened deer. He quickly withdrew his gaze, lowered his head, and became uneasy.

"Well, then I'll go with you." Asagi stood up and stamped his ticket as well.

486 froze in place, staring blankly at Asagi. She was the one who invited them first, so why was it like this? The smile on An He Subaru's face froze for a moment. She looked at Asagi and Wakaba Mutsu in front of her and suddenly felt very sad.

No matter how many times she hinted, why didn't anyone notice? She was just an ordinary girl, with all the shyness and anxiety of a young girl, and many things she couldn't bring herself to say. They would make hints, hoping others would notice, pretending to say the wrong thing, hoping others would take it seriously.

I try to express my feelings little by little, but I can't speak out loudly because I am afraid of being rejected and hurt.

Just as 486 hung her head with a sad look on her face, Asagi extended her hand and invited her.

"486, come along too. Anyway, let me introduce you, this is Wakaba Mutsu, the guitarist for Ave Mujica. Oh, and this is still a secret, so I hope 486 can keep it a secret for Mutsu."

486 looked at Asagi's outstretched hand, but her heart was not as happy as she had imagined. It seemed that she had forgotten this feeling just now. 486 was a little dazed. She stared at Asagi's outstretched hand for a long time without responding.

"Huh? What's wrong with 486?" Asagi noticed something was wrong with 486, so he moved closer and bent down to look at 486's face.

Soon, Asagi saw that familiar smile on 486's face. 486 smiled brightly and came back to his senses.

"I'm An He Subaru, the drummer of MY ALL." She greeted Wakaba Mutsu.

Ruoye Mu lowered his head and nodded slightly.

"Can I call you Mu, or Xiao Mu?" 486 took the initiative to chat with Ruoye Mu under the live stage. However, Ruoye Mu secretly glanced at 486, then quickly lowered his head and stole a glance at Asagi, as if asking for help.

"Mu doesn't like to talk much, but she is a very nice person. She's just not familiar enough with 486." Asagi came to Mu's rescue.

"Is that so?" 486 said, a look of sudden enlightenment emerging. She gave up on actively communicating with Wakaba Mutsuki and quietly stood aside, observing Wakaba Mutsuki. The more she looked, the more familiar she seemed to 486. The Ave Mujica member who had been wearing a mask and chatting with Asagi during the auditions that day must be her. Their hair color seemed to be the same.

"Oh, I forgot the hair color of the masked girl." 486 sighed slightly.

Chapter 300 Aine's voice,

The live show went on as normal, with Asagi and the others standing behind the crowd.

During this time, Ruoye Mu remained silent, her eyes fixed on the stage, as if waiting for someone to appear. Beside Mu, 486 would glance over at her intentionally or unintentionally.

In the lounge of the live show, Chihaya Aine sat in a chair, excitedly waiting. She clutched her guitar tightly, looking incredibly excited. Takamatsu Touma sat next to Chihaya Aine, leaning against her, offering her support.

"It's okay, as long as you sing with your heart, everyone will understand." Takamatsu Deng sat gently next to Aine and encouraged Chihaya Aine.

"Hehe, I think so too." Chihaya Aine showed her teeth happily.

"Yeah," Takamatsu Deng nodded, further swelling Chihaya Aine's spirit.

Shiina Riki, who was standing aside with her arms crossed, glanced at Chihaya Aine, with a sternness in her eyes that was unique to her.

"You'd better not make any mistakes, otherwise, your debut will be ruined," Shiina Riki said with disdain. Nagasaki Motoyo sat quietly, holding her bass in her arms, carefully adjusting it, with no intention of intervening.

"Ah, you just don't trust me!" Chihaya Aine put on a disappointed face and sighed.

Tonight's live show wasn't just for CRYCHIC; like LiveHouse "RiNG," it featured a slew of bands taking turns. For this reason, among the 80-plus audience members, only a dozen or so were fans of LiveHouse "RiNG."

Including Asagi and the others, there would be no more than 20 people at most.

Wakaba Mutsu had been waiting until Suyo and the others came on stage. Only then did her eyes move. She raised her head, which had been lowered for a long time, and looked at CRYCHIC on the stage. Nagasaki Suyo, Takamatsu Deng and Shiina Riki, her former teammates.

Asagi saw Wakaba Mu's eyes flickering, but he couldn't tell whether it was because of Mu's excitement or because of the lights here. There were several neon lights here, which emitted colorful lights, shining in people's eyes, looking like flickering lights.

Ruoye Mu kept staring at Crychik on the stage. No one knew what this silent girl was thinking. All outsiders could see was a porcelain doll standing there, motionless, watching the band perform on the stage.

It seems that the doll is a die-hard fan of this band.

When CRYCHIC came on stage, there was not much applause from the audience, only a few scattered ones. Most people did not recognize this band because they looked a little small, young and immature.

Moreover, there's a generational gap between their music and style and this audience. It's hard to resonate with these office workers with the innermost thoughts of a high school girl, unless you can elicit a response from them, making them feel that the CRYCHIC on stage are their former selves.

Or, you could create a song that's universally relatable. Honestly, the online response to "Gurenge" wasn't as high as Asagi had hoped. Without the backing of "Demon Slayer," this kind of song would simply be a good song, unable to evoke emotion, leaving most people baffled.

Only students are willing to accept this new thing.

Therefore, Su Shi and the others' rendition of their own song failed to gain acclaim from the audience. Most people were silent, while a few cheered them on, waving their light sticks. CRYCHIC remained silent, staring down at the stage, where the crowd silently watched them.

At that moment, it felt like they were transported back to the band's early days, when they first took the stage at the "RiNG" livehouse. The audience, who had just been cheering and applauding the band, saw them, and their enthusiasm faded. Most of the crowd had left, and they took the opportunity to get some fresh air or sit with each other to discuss the band they had just met.

There were only a few scattered people in the venue, curious to see what kind of music this new band would perform.

Everyone was in a low mood. They had just signed a contract with the agency, but were their results so bad?

"The last song is left to you, Aine." Shiina Tatsuki woke up Chihaya Aine who was a little lost.

They still have one last song to sing, and this one belongs to Chihaya Aine, "The World is So Big, But I Still Met You." This song isn't rock, but rather quiet, perfect for a rainy day, when you can sit by the window with a guitar in your arms, watching the raindrops fall outside, playing the guitar and singing softly to yourself.

Aine was deeply touched by Shiina Ritsuki's trust. Ritsuki had never said anything nice to her, nor had he ever given her any encouragement. Instead, he'd often tell her that her skills weren't up to par and she needed to work on them. She'd also tell her to stop laughing and joke around when she had nothing else to do. She'd better spend her time practicing.

So, at this moment, Aine felt her heart was filled with courage. She looked at everyone and saw faith in their eyes.

Yao Le Nai gave up the wild, fast guitar style she had always liked and instead accompanied Ai Yin, playing a slow and light rhythm and melody. At this moment, the audience noticed something was wrong; this prelude was not a rock style.

Of course, the audience didn't necessarily want rock music, but the band simply didn't leave a particularly deep impression. Like so many bands that come and go, they debuted with confidence only to gain a handful of fans before quickly disappearing.

Chihaya Aine gripped the microphone and spoke softly. Her crimson lips, long pink hair, and beautiful face were no match for her voice. Chihaya Aine was a perfect fit for this piece. Although her voice was usually a little hoarse when she spoke, it was soft and lively.

Aiyin sang softly on the stage, like a girl deep in her memory, recalling the innocent memories of the past. The crowd below the stage suddenly fell silent, their heads tilted upwards as they stared at the stage in silence.