Heavy girl? I feel worse than Black Hole Trigger!

The reason for bringing up the past again was to see Xiangzi's embarrassed look.

However, the blue-haired girl remained calm, her green fingers resting on her chin, her brows slightly furrowed as if in deep thought. After a moment's hesitation, she said, "Hmm. As for the melody, I can still reproduce a part of it..."

"It's clearly an improvisation?" Nagasaki Suyo was slightly surprised.

Xiaoxiang's talent is truly extraordinary. Even if his family's financial situation declines, if he continues on this path, he should be able to achieve something. Why did he break up with them so decisively in the first place?

Xiangzi nodded, "My fingertips can still remember the feel of the keyboard."

--fingertip.

Li Xi's fingertips moved subconsciously. She held the drumsticks tightly and said nothing.

"What do you think, Xiao Mu?" Su Shi turned to Ruoye Mu and asked.

If we had to choose the most valuable member of that impromptu performance, it would definitely be the lead guitar who was the first to set the basic melody: if we had to give the title of "composer" to that song, Ye Mu would undoubtedly be the one.

The girl, who always listened quietly, paused for a moment, her pale golden eyes casting a brief, inquiring glance at Su Shi. Then, she shook her head at Xiangzi, who was also looking at her, and said softly, "I have no objection."

After confirming the willingness to "compose", the next person is of course the lyricist.

"Xiao Deng." Su Shi turned to Gao Songdeng and smiled as softly as usual. "Xiao Deng, have you started writing the lyrics for the song we sang last time?"

Deng nodded. "Yeah. It was originally written...an article."

With memories and emotions for Toyokawa Shoko in her heart, she condensed the words onto the white paper—precisely because each word came from her heart, it was only when Shoko took the stage that it naturally became voice and was conveyed. Even Deng herself was surprised that they could complete such a miraculous ensemble under such circumstances.

It's as if they are all destined to be like this...!

"If Xiaoxiang has no problem with that, then let's go with this one!"

Finally, Nagasaki Suyo concluded the work with a smile.

And now-

"Please listen."

It’s like returning to “that moment”.

Gao Songdeng's dark gray bangs cover his eyes, but a strong "will" is transmitted through the gaps between his hair.

There was barely a shadow in the brightly lit studio. In front of me was the familiar dance mirror, where I could see myself, my shoulders constantly hunched, shrinking my already small frame even smaller.

Then there were the blinding lights, the chattering of the audience, a rain like icy spikes, and—

"You're the one who should practice more."

…I haven’t forgotten. I never have. I won’t forget.

The scars she had inflicted might heal, but they would never be erased. It was precisely because she remembered that pain that she could never forget the starlight that shone upon her on spring nights, and the warm sun that shone brightly after dawn.

Gao Songdeng will remember all these pains and overcome them.

"————<Blooming in the mud>."

……

"Things that exist before me"

"Its meaning is past or future"

"Without any one of them, nothing can be born."

"It's good for me, it's good for you, it's good for that person..."

The girl who had a soft voice and seemed a little clumsy at first glance but was very gentle to others just a moment ago.

The next second, she grasped the miraculous speaker device and stepped onto the stage—an overwhelming "something" emanated from her, almost suffocating Hiiragi China.

Even if this so-called stage was just a small cubicle that was not even as big as her boudoir.

From the moment the gray-haired girl stood in the center of the stage, Chinae couldn't stop her eyes from going to the girl.

Takamatsu Deng made no unnecessary movements, simply gripping the microphone tightly, his head bowed slightly as he sang. The sound Chinana heard wasn't even coming from her direction, but from the large black box beside her. She was simply sitting in a chair nearby, watching their performance from the back of the stage.

even so.

...so beautiful.

Every song, every cry, every silhouette, all seemed to be burned deeply into my eyes. I could clearly recall the extent to which the girl swayed to the rhythm of the music in the blink of an eye.

"Let's find the meaning of 'birth' here—"

Takamatsu Touma opened her palm towards the mirror, but Hiiragi Chinana seemed to see her reaching out to someone from the rain that covered the sky.

"In this cloudy day, mud is everywhere"

Then she clenched her hands into fists, and dawn appeared from the dark clouds onto the earth. The mud dried up under the warm sun, and even though she had been soaked by the cold rain, the fire in her eyes was never extinguished for a moment.

"The map woven with that thin thread"

"The flowers that bloom just to shine upon you..."

The sound of wind, rain and singing are all echoing.

Until the low bass ended the music, Takamatsu Deng also seemed to wake up from a dream and returned to his original overly ordinary appearance. When he looked at Hiiragi Chinana with a little worry while holding the microphone, Chinana reluctantly pulled herself away from that scene.

The girl opened her mouth and said, "Okay..."

"good?"

“——How impressive!”

Chinana jumped up from her chair and clapped excitedly.

"Is this, is this the 'inner cry'? I don't quite understand it yet, but it's truly amazing!"

Toyokawa Shoko snorted, her nose turned up high. "Right? Don't underestimate the lights."

"...Why are you so proud?" Shiina Riki rolled his eyes at her.

Chinana didn't have time to pay attention to the bickering between the two. With shining eyes, she approached the shy Takamatsu Deng and took her hand: "If Sister Deng sang a song like this at the Hanamizaka Festival, everyone would be scared!"

"F-Festival!?"

A scene of huge crowds of people suddenly appeared in Deng’s mind.

People were wearing light yukatas like Chinana was now, carrying handbags and marshmallows. The warm light of flames shone on everyone's happy smiles, and then she broke the whole happy atmosphere with her piercing singing voice.

"No, no!" I can't sing in front of so many people!

"Huh! Why?"

Qiannai tilted her head, and seeing Deng's embarrassed expression, she suddenly realized:

"Ah, are you worried about missing the festival? No problem! The fireworks that Sister Yomiuri was making were probably for the upcoming festival, so it's not too late to apply now."

Deng opened his mouth in confusion, "That's not the question..."

……

The two girls over there were talking at cross purposes and had nothing in common.

On this side, Xiangzi was staring at China's profile and raised his eyebrows slightly.

——Hanamizaka.

What is that place?

Chapter 28: Autumn frost and falling maples, snow and clearing: Chapter : Xiangzi's concern

Hiiragi Chinana left soon after, in order to comply with curfew.

Then everyone played two more songs together to end today's practice.

After packing up my equipment and exiting the studio, the sunlight was already slightly dimmed beyond the drawn curtains. If it weren't for the summer's longest days, I might have been able to see the traces of dusk falling on the floor.

"Then I'll take the lantern home." said Shiina Riki.

"Goodbye~" Nagasaki Suyo leaned against the counter as a matter of course, with no intention of moving. She smiled and waved her little hand at the two people at the door.

Li Xi had long been accustomed to Su Shi's attitude of treating him as the master, both openly and covertly. Now he was even unwilling to roll his eyes at her. He just glanced at her as if he was looking at a smelly rat in the dark on the side of the road. Without saying anything, he turned and walked out of the cafe.

Gao Songdeng nodded slightly to Su Shi and the others as a farewell before following them out.

During the previous practice, Shoko Toyokawa had always been wearing the "shop assistant uniform". Now that CRYCHIC had finished today's activities, she of course had to hurry back to her post.

"Xiao Mu, too. Be careful on your way back."

"Yeah." Mu, carrying a guitar case, nodded to Su Shi and Xiangzi, opened the door and left.

The café returned to its usual silence. The sizzling heat caused moisture to condense, and the rising mist filled the counter, appearing like a wisp of smoke. Baodeng Zheli waved his hand to disperse the mist, and then found Su Shi and Xiangzi in a delicate silence.

"...Oh? Did a guest just come?"

Zhe Li tilted his head and was about to ask something when he heard Su Shi say this.

Her gaze was fixed on a water-stained cup on the shelf: Zhe Li would indeed wipe the cups and plates to pretend to be busy when there were no customers, but he wouldn't be so idle as to wash unused dishes.

"Ah, it so happened that a visitor arrived not long after you entered the back room."

Even though Zheli himself occasionally joked about the lack of business, he had to emphasize again: Nascita still had customers on weekdays. Even if the customer flow was a disaster for a typical store, for Nascita... well, it was still a deficit.

But anyway, there is an unlimited supply as a backing, and Zheli will sell toys from time to time to replenish the stock, so it is not too serious.

"There's only one." Su Shi showed a troubled expression.

It's hard to understand. Nascita isn't a restaurant that's been plagued by bad reviews and lacks popularity, nor is it a place without publicity—Su Shi had actually recommended this cafe online from time to time as a "nearby student."

Of course, if Zhe Li didn't care about it, she wouldn't insist on anything.

But the more I think about it lately, the weirder it seems.

This shop, and even this alley itself, seemed to have been forgotten by the whole world. Not even a single person would pass by to take a look, or even just like a comment on her online.

"Haha. Yeah, just one." Zhe Li, the store manager, smiled cheerfully, spread his hands, and said with a feigned helplessness, "My luck wasn't very good today."

Su Shi also laughed helplessly, "It's not much different from usual."

After Toyokawa Shoko finished tidying up the guest seat that Chihaya Aine had previously used, she turned around and glanced at the two people who were talking.

The store clearly didn't need more staff, but the manager hired me anyway. Coupled with the CRYCHIC incident, the paths of all their lives changed because of their encounter with this person.

So, how can I always stay out of it...?

"Mr. Store Manager."

Xiangzi folded the rag and bowed slightly to his employer with the impeccable manners of a waiter.

Zhe Li looked at the newly arranged guest seats not far behind her and nodded with satisfaction: "Oh, you've worked hard. If you don't have other work for the time being, you can sit down and take a rest."

"I have a question for you."

Xiangzi opened the topic in a calm voice:

"Mr. Manager—and Mr. Suye, both of them seem to be quite familiar with Ms. China?"

“Familiar…?”

Zheli and Sushi looked at each other, both confused by Xiangzi's ambiguous attitude.

Zhe Li thought for a moment and explained to Xiangzi, "Actually, we just met yesterday, so we're far from familiar. I told her where my shop is, and then I came here today. What's wrong? Is there anything you're concerned about?"

"So, you two aren't familiar with that person either." Xiangzi's expression took on a new look of distress. She glanced back and forth between them with considerable concern, then said solemnly, "That Chinana-san doesn't look like an ordinary person... She bears a strong resemblance to the children of wealthy families I met in Toyokawa."

"But we have known you for a long time." Zhe Li didn't understand what she was thinking, so he said bluntly.

Of all the people Hotoge Zeri knew, no one fit the description better than Toyokawa Shoko, a young lady of high social status. Furthermore, Shoko was now close to running away from home. Speaking of danger, the pressure from the Toyokawa family was far greater than that from the Kanjo Bugyo, who stood just across the "door."

In ancient Japan, people could hide their identities and live in seclusion in a remote corner. However, in today's world with highly developed information and transportation, it is not easy to do the same thing.

"No." Xiangzi shook his head. "It's different from me."

Even the head of the Toyokawa family only wore kimonos on formal occasions. Furthermore, they often interacted with businesses and foreign celebrities in their fields. For example, she herself was more familiar with Western etiquette.

In the 21st century, families that still adhere to traditional Japanese etiquette...are more or less involved in the underground industry.

Even though we know that Baodeng Zheli is not an ordinary person, it is probably still a bit risky to confront the "local forces".

Xiangzi is not worried about Chinana herself, but the "trouble" behind her. No matter how domineering the Toyokawa family is, they still live within the "rules". That's why Xiangzi dared to run away with his father. But the underworld is another matter.

"If possible, it would be best to minimize contact with Miss China."

Even if Hiiragi Chinana herself harbored no ill intentions, children under the control of their families were inherently powerless: often, their "status" was more valuable than their lives. If sacrificing a minor member of the younger branch could yield greater benefits, a family like theirs would likely make decisions beyond the reach of ordinary people.

If Baodeng Zheli was just an ordinary coffee shop owner, not worthy of being fought over, Xiangzi might not care so much...