Heavy girl? I feel worse than Black Hole Trigger!

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Zhe Li's gaze didn't waver even for a moment, even though he clearly felt Su Shi's intense gaze.

"Hmm." Su Shi puffed out her cheeks at first, but quickly curled her lips when she realized that the other person wasn't looking at her.

I've said everything that needs to be said. It's really annoying if you're still making a fuss at this point.

Then she shifted her gaze to the side and happened to meet Wakaba Mu's eyes.

She suddenly smiled meaningfully.

"?"

Xiao Mu slowly raised his head, and a big question mark appeared on his head.

……

Ruoye Mu sat quietly in his seat, looking at the ceiling, recalling what happened before and after yesterday's group practice.

After knowing that Zheli was going to meet Xiangzi and had to send everyone away to leave space for a private conversation, Su Shiyu was particularly quiet during the practice that day.

Of course, there was nothing wrong with her bass playing, and everyone in the band was also improving at an astonishing speed: Takamatsu Touma's singing became more determined, Shiina Tatsuki was no longer affected by the main melody and the rhythm, and Mu himself felt that he had completely mastered the guitar score of "Haruhi Shadow" without the piano.

Nagasaki Suyo's words and actions had a real impact, allowing the band, which once felt it was about to completely fall apart, to regain the possibility of stepping onto the stage.

It is precisely because of this that Ruo Yemu cares more about Su Shi’s unusual silence.

Even though she didn't intend to step up and lead the entire band like Toyokawa Shoko, she still became the backbone of today's CRYCHIC. She knew that her silence might shake their determination and will that they had worked so hard to build up, but she still became like an ordinary bassist, inconspicuous.

Yes, without Toyokawa Shoko, CRYCHIC has almost no quarrels, or the only quarrels mostly come from Su Shi and Riki. Once Riki becomes more focused as the performance time approaches, and Su Shi does not deliberately tease her, it may be normal for Su Shi, who plays the role of glue and lubricant in the orchestra, to choose to play quietly.

However, before Takamatsu Deng and Shiina Riki arrived, the smile she showed to Mu made Mu think more.

She ended another day of group training with doubts in her mind.

Deng and Li Xi set off on their journey home first. The two Tsuki no Mori students who were about to catch the bus said goodbye to them and walked towards Mejiro Station in the opposite direction.

as predicted……

"Xiao Mu, I have something to ask of you."

On the way back, Nagasaki Suyo suddenly turned around and said to Wakaba Mutsu.

Mu, who had anticipated Su Shi's remarks, did not show any surprise - no, even if Su Shi's remarks were unexpected, she would probably remain expressionless: she also had a deep understanding of the other party's "unexpected" point.

Mu raised his eyes slightly to look at her and responded lightly to show that he was listening.

After spending several months together, Su Shi had long since grown accustomed to Mu's emotional expressions. Catching a hint of interest in those pale golden eyes, she continued:

"Could you please ask Xiaoxiang to come out and talk tomorrow?"

"..."

Make an appointment, Xiang come out?

Mu blinked and tilted his head towards Su Shi, as if asking: Why?

"Well, it must be hard for Xiao Mu to understand when you say that all of a sudden."

The girl stroked her chin, organized her words, and then took out a toy in a mysterious manner.

That looks like a cell phone charm.

She handed the "pendant" over, looked at Mu's expression, which could be described as bewilderment, and said with a smile, "This is a remote recorder."

"————."

Wakaba Mutsu, open your mouth.

"Eh?"

"One of Zheli's inventions. I don't know the principle behind it, but the connection is stable and there's almost no lag..."

A small prop that made one feel suspicious just by its description. Perhaps only Su Shi would accept it without a doubt. Su Shi even hung it on the door while showering. However, Zhe Li never brought it up during their conversations, so the man probably hadn't eavesdropped.

it's a pity.

As Su Shi was talking, she noticed that Mu's gaze was much colder than usual.

"...Although I can't tell what Xiao Mu is thinking, I think your guess is right."

The girl smiled widely.

Ruoye Mu finally understood: her previous silence was simply due to her deep thoughts. Furthermore, she had to focus her remaining energy on playing in order to keep up with the others' rapid progress, so naturally, she couldn't spare the energy to talk.

Meanwhile, Nagasaki Suyo, who had come to a conclusion after a long period of thinking, was smiling brightly.

In the setting sun, a hint of twilight added some frightening shadows to this smile that should have been as bright as the sun.

"I'm going to use this to eavesdrop on their conversation."

……

Use any reason to ask her out before Xiaoxiang meets Zheli.

——Then, find a way to stuff this "pendant" into her body.

This was the important responsibility she inherited from Su Shi.

It's so ridiculous.

But it's also pretty cool, very metallic.

So Ruo Yemu still took it.

Of course, Su Shi wasn't crazy. She knew the failure rate of this mission was high, so she had a backup plan. Or rather, this backup plan was the original plan, and asking Mu for help was simply because theoretically it would be easier for Mu to execute.

Just successfully asking Xiangzi out was half the battle; the rest was to find a way to get the pendant onto Xiangzi.

As it turned out, when they actually met, Xiangzi's attitude was even worse than Mu had anticipated, launching into a barrage of criticism. Apparently, Xiangzi had already prepared what he was going to say the moment he accepted the invitation. After all, once he had expressed his stance unilaterally, he could leave without hesitation, and naturally, it wouldn't affect his subsequent meeting with Zheli.

Mu, who was not good at speaking, was even unable to come up with a meaningful rebuttal in his haste...

The girl took another sip of mango juice through the straw.

Luckily, I threw the pendant into her bag while she was running to check out.

She took out her cell phone from her bag and tapped the screen lightly with the grace of a winner.

harmonious [smooth]

Su Shi【Surprisingly! 】

Mu【? 】

Sushi【Quick, come to Ikebukuro, let's listen together】

Su Shi sent the address.

"..."

Slurp, slurp. Rustle.

Well, the drinks are finished.

Let's go.

Lost Star Chapter 111 Summer Time Record: Chapter Afterimage

Shoko Toyokawa looked up at the "CLOSE" sign on the door.

Through the glass, I could vaguely see a man waiting in the cafe.

The last time I looked at this tag carefully seemed to be the day when I rushed to Nascita with Nagasaki Motoyo after school: she was sitting in the recording studio, sipping a cup of hot cappuccino, looking at Bao Deng Oiri's computer, discussing the details of the arrangement, while Nagasaki Motoyo was teasing Kaname Lenai, and from time to time, you could hear the sound of the silver-haired girl plucking the strings.

The milk brings out the aroma of the coffee beans, leaving that impression unforgettable with its lingering fragrance.

It seems like it was just yesterday.

"..."

She shook her head and reached out to push the door open.

"Welcome." Bao Deng Zheli heard the doorbell ring and smiled at the door with his usual smile: "Oh, what a rare guest. Fengchuan classmate is here early?"

Shoko Toyokawa paused at the door.

She glanced quickly around the store.

The Nascita Café was as deserted as before, but every seat had been carefully arranged, and each table was equipped with a kettle of ice water, paper towels, and glasses, which even reflected bright light from a distance.

This small shop is exactly the same as I remembered it. I can vaguely see the residual image of their laughter and joy at the table that later became exclusive to CRYCHIC.

While she was stunned, the store manager had already withdrawn his gaze from her and started working behind the counter with his head down.

"Please sit wherever you like. There are menus at every table."

The girl felt a bit caught in a dilemma for a moment.

Did I remember the time wrong?

Her expression, as if she were heading off to a distant battlefield, became even more dejected. She began to ponder how to get away with it—and then she immediately remembered that she had seen the word "CLOSE" on the door just a moment ago, symbolizing the closing time.

“——…….”

Baodeng Zheli didn't hear any movement at the door, so he looked up to confirm.

Toyokawa Shoko was looking at him with a cold face and lifeless eyes.

The store manager tilted his head in confusion. "What's wrong? Find a place to sit."

"...Nothing." Maybe I just misunderstood.

Shoko Toyokawa has now learned not to jump to conclusions about things immediately.

Because she thought a lot before finally making up her mind to "play" a certain role.

She took a deep breath, walked straight to the double table by the window, and said softly, "Excuse me." She pulled out a chair and sat down.

Zheli, wearing the familiar bartender uniform, took a pair of glasses, poured a glass of iced water for each of them, and sat across from the girl. Before Toyokawa Shoko was about to speak, he smiled an overly bright smile:

"Welcome back."

"..."

The words that Toyokawa Shoko had just organized suddenly shattered.

There was a gleam in those amber eyes.

After waiting for a few seconds, the girl opened her lips slightly, but no sound came out. The man's smile faltered, and after a pause, he said, "Hmm~," "Before, an elder who entrusted 'nascita' to me once said this—"

"'Saying 'Welcome back' to you after you return from battle is something I really enjoy doing.'"

He propped up his arms, supported his chin with his palms, and tilted his head to look out the window.

It was afternoon, and the sky was about to clear up with a gentle breeze; the cloudless sky could not block the scorching sun. The world outside the window should have been a deep and quiet alley, but at this moment, it was covered with a thin layer of pure white under the reflection of sunlight that just happened to bypass the tall buildings.

Bright and dazzling.

It was like trying to roughly peel off a scar that had not yet scabbed.

"I hope that one day this cafe can become someone's 'home,' or a place where they can feel safe just by staying here—" The man smiled brightly at the overly bright daylight, "That's what I think."

Toyokawa Shoko stared quietly at the face that was so white that it seemed to be glowing.

"So I'm glad you're willing to come back here."

He slowly turned to face the girl at the opposite table.

He still supported his chin lazily, grinning to reveal his white teeth.

"Even if it's just a little bit, I tried my best to restore the layout you're familiar with. How is it?"

“——————.”

Toyokawa Shoko closed her eyes.

"Thank you for your kindness. ...But I think you're worrying too much."

When he opened his eyes again, the brilliance in those amber eyes was gone, replaced by a coldness like burning fire.

"I came here today to say goodbye."

"...Is that so?" The man blinked.

"Yes. I asked Mu to tell Nagasaki-san earlier, so I'll tell you formally now."