Heavy girl? I feel worse than Black Hole Trigger!

Although he himself visited Inazuma Castle with the intention of sightseeing, even everyone at CRYCHIC... no, to be more precise, Nagasaki Suyo, looked happy the whole time after changing into yukata, and was obviously enjoying the trip.

But they came here for the "rehearsal" after all. Seeing that the stage hasn't even been fully set up yet, it seems unlikely that they won't be busy until the evening.

"In the evening. Yeah, I get it." Qianzhi's expression didn't change at all. She just lowered her head and said to the kitten in her arms: "Qiliangliang, did you hear that?"

"Meow!"

The little cat demon jumped lightly from Qianzhi's arms to the ground, looked up and called out to the two of them a few times, then turned around and left on its two short legs.

He was probably busy delivering urgent items to other places.

Zhe Li looked at her retreating figure in confusion, "Hmm. Why did the little one run away?"

"Aren't all cats like this?" Chizhi said casually.

In the eyes of the store manager, Chiara seems to be just a clever little cat. He keeps saying that Chiara is a cat demon, but he always treats her like an ordinary pet, just now, for example, he directly asked Chiara if she was his "owner".

If I suddenly tell this person that Qi Liangliang actually works in the city and is a courier who is very familiar with the residents...

I feel like the subsequent explanations are going to be very troublesome. I'll just let Qiliangliang handle it himself.

Seeing that the kitten's situation seemed resolved, Kamisato Ayaka took the initiative to take over the conversation: "We are preparing for the festival rehearsal. Later, the band led by Ms. Toyokawa will perform on stage. Ms. Chiori, would you like to enjoy it?"

"Band?" Qianzhi was slightly stunned.

Everyone in Inazuma Castle knew Yeouimiya. When Chizhi first saw Yeouimiya and Ayaka standing together, she assumed Princess Shiraha was discussing arrangements for the fireworks display with Yeouimiya. She was just wondering who this store manager and the girl beside him were… but... an orchestra? Just playing music? Did the company magistrate need to personally contact them?

"Yes. Ms. Toyokawa's teammates just went to get their instruments... Oh, they just happened to be back."

Qianzhi followed Linghua's gaze and saw several girls approaching, each carrying a strange musical instrument.

The venue for the festival preparations was already bustling with people, and there were probably many men and women carrying things. However, Qianzhi immediately recognized who Linghua was referring to. It wasn't because of the novel props they were carrying, but because of their costumes -

Like the girl called "Toyokawa" by Linghua, except for the leader who had nothing and looked the youngest, the other four were wearing a set of clothes that looked ordinary but were very ingeniously designed. Even the patterns on the sleeves made Chizhi's eyes light up.

Of course, if it were just this level, Chizhi would just take a few more glances and use it as inspiration for a new design. Since she was aiming for "fashion" that transcended time, she couldn't be so captivated by such a common item.

What Chizhi really cares about is the "uniformity" of their clothes.

It's no surprise that the sophistication of clothing design surpasses that of modern Inazuma. Even within Inazuma itself, nobles often employed specialized designers. However, mass production of exceptional designs requires a critical mass of audience—in other words, elevating public taste!

And this is exactly the vision that Qianzhi pursues.

Hmm. It seems these guys aren't just ordinary people. Is this why Linghua is personally receiving them?

"...Yeah. Let me take a look too." Qianzhi said softly.

If we say that the sky above Inazuma is covered by the eternal and unchanging sky created by the Thunder God.

Perhaps the breeze that comes here from a foreign land is the prototype of the hurricane that will sweep across Inazuma in the future?

●

As the piano was delivered by the Kanjo Bugyo personnel, the stage took shape.

After all, it was a temporary stage for a summer festival, so it wasn't something too labor-intensive. Otherwise, they wouldn't have waited until rehearsal day to start construction. While the decorations hadn't been put up yet, the basic foundation was already in place, more than enough for sound testing.

Since Linghua had made arrangements in advance, the workers stepped aside to make room after completing part of the stage.

"I'm getting nervous." Hiiragi Chinana looked around the stage, which had become much quieter, and shrank back.

Even though it was a rehearsal, and even though the space nearby had been cleared, looking up, I could still see many people setting up their booths. As soon as the music started, everyone's attention would still be drawn to it, right?

"Relax, relax." Su Shi patted the little girl's shoulder and smiled at her: "Just treat everyone as Jingua and perform according to what we practiced."

"Jingua." China tried to imagine.

The burly man setting up a stall not far away was a giant violet melon, and the children circling around their parents to help were miniature violets. Then, consider the materials they were carrying violets as well. Since that was the case, why not make Miss Linghua and Miss Xiao Gong violets as well? The violets happily gathered in the audience, swaying their bodies to the music—

"Oh. I feel even more uncomfortable." China said dejectedly.

Su Shi kept smiling, "What on earth did you imagine?"

The two of them talked in low voices as they followed the others onto the stage.

Qianzhi looked at the scene and fell into deep thought.

"This kid... looks familiar."

Hearing Chiori's murmur, Linghua moved a little closer and said, "Ms. China is the second daughter of the current Kanjo Bugyo. Perhaps Miss Chiori has met her once on the outlying island?"

"Hmm. That makes sense." Chizhi nodded.

However, Qianzhi always felt that she had not seen Chinara in person, but had seen her appearance somewhere else.

……never mind.

Chiori was born in a merchant family and now learns tailoring, and tailoring is a profession in Inazuma that often involves dealing with the powerful.

In their circle, everyone wants to occupy a place in the outlying islands, the gateway to Inazuma, and the daughter of Kanjo Bugyo is the most suitable person for the wealthy Inazuma businessman to make friends with or curry favor with.

It's natural that Chihiro, who grew up in this environment, accidentally saw China's pictures and was impressed by them.

"By the way, does the Kanjo Bugyo also play in a band?" Chizhi couldn't help but ask.

Playing the piano just for show was understandable, but performing with like-minded partners would require a lot of time to practice. Based on her own understanding of Linghua, did the children of the Third Magistrate have so much free time...?

Linghua opened her folding fan to cover her mouth and chuckled, "I was also very surprised when I first heard about it."

"Then, how about Linghua also go up and dance?"

"Ms. Chizhi, please stop making fun of me..."

Chapter 65 of the Box: Autumn Frost and Falling Maple Leaves, Snow Clears and Meets the Plum Tree: Episode : Cat Cafe

“I am an ordinary human being now.”

"Today and tomorrow, and the days that follow..."

Since the stage had not been set up yet and the surroundings were very noisy, a group of people came to the front of the stage and watched the performance as close to the stage as possible.

Xiao Gong seemed to be completely fascinated by the band's performance, clenching his fists as if suppressing the urge to scream. Ling Hua was much calmer, but Chizhi, who knew her well, could also sense the excitement hidden beneath her smile.

As for Chiori herself——

"Judging from your expression, you don't seem very satisfied." A gentle voice suddenly came from beside me.

When the music reached its climax, Baodeng Zheli spoke to her in a low voice.

Qianzhi paused for a moment, her gaze gently lingering on the man's smiling profile.

From the few words she heard not long ago, she only knew that Zhe Li had a close relationship with the members of this orchestra, but she had no idea what specific role he played in the orchestra and what the meaning behind this question was.

"I don't think it's bad," Chihiro said softly. Her calm expression remained unwavering in the afternoon sun. "There's never been a performance of this caliber at any of the previous summer festivals."

Zhe Li laughed, "Maybe it's just that he took advantage of the times."

“…It’s hard to disagree.”

Undoubtedly, the ability to innovate is itself a sign of talent. In most fields, it's acceptable to over-emphasize novelty. However, when it comes to art and beauty, the ability to discard the filter through which we view novelty is crucial: whether it's an exaggerated reverence for novelty or an excessive rejection of it.

Fashion design is also an art form. Appreciating clothing and appreciating music both require a sense of beauty.

Chiori was confident in her own aesthetic. Only a discerning eye, standing at the pinnacle of her era, could claim to be the leader of its trends. Of course, she knew her skills weren't perfect, so she kept this confidence to herself—but even after trying to lower her standards, she still couldn't understand why the two were so devoted to such a performance.

The instrument itself looks quite novel, and the sound it produces is not the traditional timbre of Inazuma. Coupled with the singing of the gray-haired girl, it is indeed a song that is different from past impressions.

But the performance technique itself cannot be said to be perfect, and there are also unconcealable tension and subtle noises in the lead singer's singing.

If you happen to pass by, you might be willing to stop and listen to one or two songs, but it’s not enough to go to a banquet specifically for such a performance.

"Haha. Even though it's our first meeting, you're still being ruthless with your words."

Qianzhi raised an eyebrow, spread his hands and snorted, "This isn't something that requires mercy."

When a work is presented to the public, it is only natural that it will be judged. No matter how dissatisfied one is with the public's taste, or even if one calls it "vulgar" with great disdain, it cannot change the fact that "works are meant to be appreciated."

Being expelled from her prestigious tailoring teacher several times, she would be frustrated but would never complain.

Because evaluation is evaluation. No matter how much bias there is in that evaluation, what she can and should do is to put an end to all the noise with actual results.

So she would not hide her true feelings.

"That's right. I feel the same way." Zheli shook his head, looking at Toyokawa Shoko from afar, his eyes filled with helplessness. "That kid, he said he wanted to start a 'revolution' in Inazuma. At this level, he still has a long way to go."

"'Revolution'..." Chizhi murmured softly.

"It's like a child mumbling a fantasy. It's not right to discourage them, but it seems harmful to them to fully support their slim hopes." Zhe Li rambled on for a while, then suddenly laughed, rubbed the back of his head, and lowered his voice: "Sorry. Miss Shenli seems to like them very much. I really don't know anyone to talk to, so I can only trouble you to listen for a while."

Qianzhi paused, then glanced up at the man. He was smiling.

"I don't mind. But you don't seem to dislike them, do you?"

"Disdain? How could I possibly disdain?" Zhe Li's eyes widened as he tilted his head to glance at the girl. "Ms. Qianzhi doesn't seem like the type to laugh at someone pursuing their dreams."

……dream.

The girl blinked. She glanced diagonally forward at the backs of Linghua and Xiaogong, both absorbed in their performance, and then lowered her voice again, "I don't like beating around the bush. What do you want to say?"

This time, Zhe Li was stunned. "Hmm? No, I don't have anything in particular to say."

Isn't it a basic skill for RPG players to talk to every NPC they meet?

The bottle he had the best affinity with in the Build world was a full bottle of "Games." Now that he thought about it, perhaps being a gamer was his true calling, rather than being a Kamen Rider or a cafe owner!

"is it?"

Qianzhi could not find any doubt in those blue eyes that were so pure and even a little naive, so she could only put aside the confusion in her heart for the time being.

Chiori's impatient and self-willed personality makes her a rare freak in the country of Inazuma.

She is unwilling to compromise herself, but she has also realized that she cannot change the entire country by herself - so when she meets a "simple" child like Qiliangliang, or a girl like Linghua who has her own firm ideas, she will be more enthusiastic than ever before.

Maybe Inazuma is not such a boring person who blindly follows "eternity" and rules.

——Just this little bit of hope is enough for her to continue to be firm on her path.

"I think I understand why Qiliangliang likes you."

Delicious food? A quiet shop? It was all just a matter of preference. Kirara preferred bustling places and fish to potatoes; the cafe Chiori had never visited wasn't really a place Kirara would enjoy.

It was simply because there was someone there who impressed the kitten.

This man and this cat seem to be somewhat similar to some extent.

"Eh? Qiliangliang?" Zheli didn't quite understand why the girl suddenly mentioned the kitten. However, recalling Qiliangliang's behavior in front of him, he nodded in agreement: "I have always been popular with cats."

Kaname Rakuna was a cat in her previous life, and in this life, she's a cat demon named Kirara. Maybe we'll see more cats in the future.

If things continue like this, Nascita will eventually be transformed into a cat cafe.

"...Yeah." Qianzhi was speechless for a moment.

He looks like a serious person, but why does he seem so stupid when he speaks?

Is this one of the reasons why Qi Liangliang likes him?

Chapter 66 of the Box: Autumn frost and falling maple leaves, snow and clearing, meeting the cypress: Chapter I can hardly think of a title

As a result, the "melon noise" phenomenon imagined by China Hiiragi did not become a reality.

This is not the first time that Inazuma Castle, or Hanamizaka, has held a festival, and every year performers rehearse before the festival.

CRYCHIC's performance was novel, but it seemed that because it was in a different world and did not have the music buff that came with the Bang Dream world (?), the imagined scene of being shocked by the melody and secretly thinking that this kid must not be kept and would become a big problem in the future did not happen.

"Thank you for your hard work." Baodeng Zheli took out a handkerchief and handed it to Chinanai to wipe her sweat.

"Thank you, teacher..."

The midsummer afternoon sun was still shining. Even though Inazuma Castle is located by the sea and the sea breeze blew from time to time, she, a dancer and actress, was still sweating profusely from her vigorous exercise.

"China-chan is amazing! I couldn't take my eyes off that last dance!"

Xiao Gong smiled and came forward and said excitedly.

"Eh? Hey, hey...it's not that great." Chinae touched the back of her head, feeling a little uncomfortable.

Before she left the stage, she was secretly hating herself for making so many mistakes and was feeling depressed. Xiao Gong's fervent praise actually made her feel a little overwhelmed. But it was true that Xiao Gong had never seen them practice, so naturally, she didn't know how the performance was originally planned. The mistakes that Chinana had casually brushed aside were clearly not noticed by her.

"Don't be so modest, Ms. China." Kamisato Ayaka noticed beads of sweat on her forehead and opened a folding fan to fan her. "Ms. China's performance has taken a step forward compared to a few days ago. It's truly an eye-opener for me."

Chinana's eyes widened slightly, "Even Miss Linghua said so."

Could it be that he is really that awesome?