Heavy girl? I feel worse than Black Hole Trigger!

Gradually, she no longer asked about the meaning of the destination.

……

"Whoa, watch out to the left!"

"Got it. Uh. No, how did you die?"

"I forgot to do it. I'm so sorry..."

……

"Well, it's a little difficult."

"Full combo. You don't look like this is your first time playing Dance Dance Revolution."

"Know a few ballroom dance steps."

"What? A modern young lady is actually using street dancing to socialize?"

"That's not what I meant..."

……

As soon as you step out of the mall, the slightly dull warm wind outside hits you in the face.

The skin, which had been a little cold and numb due to the air conditioning in the room, regained consciousness as if it had been reborn.

A smile unconsciously appeared on the girl's face.

"I'm really, feeling refreshed."

"I haven't had this much fun in a long time."

A familiar voice came from beside me.

Toyokawa Shoko turned lightly to face the man, and then couldn't help but chuckle -

The women's shoulder bag she brought was only suitable for carrying small personal items such as wallet, keys and mobile phone. It was not realistic to want to accommodate a small doll. So on the way, she handed the pudding dog she caught with her own hands to Baodeng Zheli for safekeeping.

Xiangzi was a little worried about whether the backpack, which seemed to have little space, could fit a second doll. However, the other party demonstrated his amazing space management skills. With a few casual gropes, he made Kuromi and Pudding Dog snuggle together lovingly in the narrow backpack. Both little things showed half of their faces from the wide-open bag, quietly observing the outside world.

Sometimes Xiangzi couldn't help laughing when he saw this. A tall, strong man carrying a small backpack was funny enough, but with two cute dolls peeking out of the backpack, it was even funnier.

Zhe Li glanced at her lightly and snorted, "What are you laughing at?"

"Excuse me." The girl quickly restrained her smile and turned to look at the sky.

"...Oh? It's so late."

The edge of the sky was already tinged with dusk. Only then did Xiangzi realize how long he had been outside.

Just realizing that night was approaching, she even breathed softly and quietly raised her head to look at the man beside her.

Zhe Li also saw the dusk falling like her, he was neither surprised nor sighed, instead he smiled lightly as if he had expected it.

"Yeah, it's almost time. There's one last stop... one last 'interview'."

The man told her lies that could be easily exposed without batting an eyelid, then smiled a smile as bright as the sun.

"How about staying with me for a little while longer, Toyokawa-san?"

"Haha. We've made it to the final level. There's no reason to give up now."

So she continued with the excuse that had been going on all afternoon, smiling as if it was natural.

……

LIVE HOUSE "RiNG".

The girl looked up at the big sign with a wry smile on her face.

"Sure enough, the last stop is here."

Just by looking at the name "RiNG", she naturally recalled the numbers written on the "invitation letter".

【7月13日（六），18:00～18:30】

It’s today, it’s right now—there are less than 10 minutes left until the “CRYCHIC” performance begins.

"Already guessed it?" Zhe Li's footsteps slowly approached, along with his smiling voice.

The girl stared intently at the RiNG sign and whispered, "I guessed it when it said 'going out.' That's why I was so suspicious at first... I was thinking that if Mr. Zheli tried to dodge the question, or mentioned RiNG or CRYCHIC, I'd just be straightforward and refuse."

Even if the other party is Baodōzeri, Toyokawa Shoko will never compromise with any threats.

Because this is her "justice". ...But,

"It's okay if you really don't want to go in," said Zhe Li.

"————."

The girl suddenly turned around and looked at the man with wide eyes.

"'The final interview' is a lie. Whether you're willing to enter RiNG or not, you can report to Nascita starting tomorrow." He smiled lightly when he said this, and then slowly put away his smile; at sunset, his body was covered with a hint of flaming red, making the smile that should have been no different from usual seem to be melted by the twilight.

In the backlight, his face was shrouded in hazy shadows, only his eyes, as clear as the blue sky, were bright and shining clearly in the dusk.

"...But, just as a friend, as a member of the Hodo Orekiri family, I hope you can listen to their performance once."

Toyokawa Shoko was silent for a long moment. The man before her spoke with sincerity, his eyes equally serious. He certainly wasn't the type to simply offer empty words and attempt to manipulate others. For example, a certain young woman had witnessed his determination to keep his promise countless times.

"Why would you go to this extent for us?" the girl said with difficulty.

The man opened his eyes slightly and smiled.

"Because Su Shi and I have made an appointment to let you hear their songs."

"..."

It's her again, huh?

Xiangzi stared intently at the smile that was clearly shrouded in darkness but contained no trace of gloom.

"I--"

The girl clenched her fists.

The setting sun shone on her, casting a thick, flame-like shadow on the ground.

"I've lost the qualification to play for the lights."

"Her voice will surely continue to evolve. She will surely be able to deliver a heart-shaking cry this time as well. Unlike me, she, they, will surely continue to move forward."

"So I've decided never to have anything to do with them again. That will be best for both of us."

"I have hurt Deng, hurt everyone, and I no longer belong to that world—"

"……may be."

Baodeng Zheli crossed his arms and stared at the girl.

"The wounds will be remembered forever, and the mistakes can never be fully repaired."

"But," he said matter-of-factly, "that doesn't mean you should never get a chance."

In the sunset, the man stretched out his hand toward the shadow.

"How about staying with me for a little while longer?"

"..."

The girl drooped her shoulders in a daze.

Under the silent gaze, she finally reached out her hand slowly, timidly and gently, and held that hand.

There is a warm temperature coming clearly from the other person's palm.

“…Just for a moment.”

——The dim sparks flicker in the prelude to the long night.

she thought.

If that's your expectation.

Then I'll also... try a little harder...

Lost Star Chapter 125 Summer Record: Chapter : A Heartfelt Longing

The only sound in the quiet lounge was the faint tapping of fingernails on the phone screen.

"Okay." Nagasaki Suyo interrupted the silence with a gentle greeting.

She reached out and patted Ruoye Mu's shoulder, then smiled at Mu in the dressing mirror and said, "I've made little Mu look pretty."

Mu had been dazed, his eyes downcast. Hearing Su Shi's words, he glanced at her through the mirror's reflection. The girl, as delicate as a doll, didn't seem to have much of a change in expression, but Su Shi could vaguely detect something akin to speechlessness in her pale golden eyes.

So Su Shi pinched her face, and the speechless look in her eyes suddenly turned into a dead fish.

Then Mu got up from the dressing table, went back to the corner of the sofa, picked up his guitar and continued to familiarize himself with the music score.

Su Shi looked left and right, and made eye contact with Shiina Riki for a moment. The cold girl, who usually looked quite unhappy, immediately raised her eyebrows exaggeratedly, with an expression that said, "If you dare to talk to me, I will kill you." Su Shi had to stop talking regretfully and instead looked at the other corner of the sofa where the lead singer was reading with her notes.

"Xiao Deng, do you need my help with your appearance?"

Gao Songdeng quickly looked up, "Huh, me?"

"Come here~" Su Shi said while waving as if calling a puppy or kitten.

Deng hesitated for a moment, then stood up and walked over to Su Shi, taking the chair Mu had previously sat in. She looked up and saw herself in the dressing mirror, along with the smiling girl behind her head, which made her feel a little uneasy.

Su Shi used a comb to straighten Xiao Deng's hair, while holding the hair with her other hand and looking at it carefully.

Her technique was definitely not professional, but it was delicate enough; it was not clear whether she actually fixed her hair, but the subtle massage from her fingertips and the occasional light brushing of the comb across her scalp, coupled with the warmth from her palms, overcame the slight chill of the air conditioner, making her head feel as if it were numb, and her eyelids began to twitch uncontrollably.

"Xiao Deng, have you ever considered growing your hair long?" Su Shi suddenly asked.

When she heard Su Shi's question, she forced herself to open her eyes, but she didn't dare to move her head. She could only stare at her stiff expression in the dressing mirror, think for a moment, and said:

"I've had this hairstyle since I was a kid. I've never considered any other look..."

"Oh, I see." Su Shi nodded. She didn't seem surprised by the answer and quickly asked, "So, do you want to grow your hair out starting today? You can try different hairstyles. It would be fun."

"Hey. You just want to play with Deng's hair, right?" Li Xi finally couldn't help but speak.

“Sodayo (convenient

Su Shi paused what she was doing, looked back at Li Xi, chuckled a few times, and then turned back to continue combing Deng's hair leisurely. "Is it little Li Xi who wants to let me 'play' with Deng? Li Xi's hair is also very beautiful. Mine always gets tangled without my permission, which is very troublesome."

"Why does it have to be based on someone letting you play with them?"

"Woo woo, so fierce, so scary." Su Shi gently rubbed Deng's ears, "Xiao Deng, don't become that kind of person in the future."

The corners of Li Xi's eyes twitched unconsciously, "...Huh?"

Deng's eyes repeatedly moved between Li Xi and Su Shi in the mirror, but she didn't dare turn around and disturb Su Shi's movements. She could only stiffen her neck and hurriedly say, "Li Xi, Su Shi! Please, please don't quarrel."

"Haha, we didn't have a fight. We were just trying to liven things up and make some jokes."

Su Shi happened to reach out to Deng's forehead and brush her bangs, and Deng closed her eyes nervously. Seeing the other party's reaction so big, Su Shi felt a little funny, but she also softened her movements. She quickly fixed her bangs, put her hand away, looked at Deng, and couldn't help saying:

"Xiao Deng would be very cute with long hair."

Hearing Su Shi say this, Deng quietly opened his eyes and looked at himself in the mirror.

"Yes. Is it suitable for me...?"

Su Shi patted the little head of the lamp and said, "Even if it doesn't fit, we can just cut it off when the time comes."

A large exclamation mark seemed to appear above the gray-haired girl's head.

"indeed……!"

"But simply growing it long is boring. Try a bob first? Then grow it out a bit and cut it into a wolf tail? Then you can grow it into a ponytail or braid it!"

Su Shi smiled as she stroked Deng's hair, grabbing a small section of each hairstyle she mentioned and imitating it. Of course, due to the length, it didn't even look right. As Su Shi talked and played with her hair, Deng, looking in the mirror, naturally began to imagine it herself.

"It seems very interesting."

"Right?"

Su Shi smiled and finally decided to let the poor hair go. He picked up the comb and combed the messed part straight again.

"If we start now, Xiao Deng might even be able to make it to high school and have a 'high school debut'."

Deng blinked in confusion, "'High school debut'?"