Girls' Wishing Tree

Her words stopped abruptly here.

Because she saw a familiar figure.

Su Shi was walking alone on the street with her bass bag on her back, her long hair draped over her shoulders in a somewhat lonely manner, her hands hooked on the straps of her bass bag, looking like she had lost something important.

"Lixi, what's wrong?" Maki noticed Lixi's abnormality.

"...I'm just wondering whether I should continue to form a band with Sakura."

Maki imitated Riki's words and said, "From a musical point of view, I'm sure I can learn a lot from forming a band with Sakura—"

Riki interrupted Maki, "Sister! Stop it!"

Maki smiled, "Okay, I'll focus on driving."

At that moment, Suyo didn't notice the Shiina sisters in the car. To be more specific, she didn't pay any attention to the cars passing by on the street.

She was still thinking about Crychic.

Since that night, her life lost its color almost instantly.

Sakura and Shoko were the two people who added color to her life full of disguises. But in just one rainy night, they both faded out of her life.

Xiangzi disappeared from her life without leaving any reason. She also tried to look for Xiangzi in the Moon Forest, but none of her classmates, including Mu, could tell her where Xiangzi had gone.

In the Crychic group, only three out of five people have read the message. It is easy to guess that the one who has not read it is Xiangzi.

As for the private messages she sent to Xiangzi, they fell on deaf ears, as if they were all thrown into Tokyo Bay by Xiangzi.

Unlike Xiangzi, finding Ying wasn't difficult. After leaving Crychic, she quickly returned to her life as a shrine maiden. On PosTube, you could occasionally see her livestreaming with Miao Meng, and Ying even posted an interview with the drummer.

Because he had a big fight with Ying that night, Su Shi was embarrassed to contact Ying privately again, but since he had tried every possible means to contact Xiangzi but still couldn't, he found it acceptable even if he had to bow to Ying.

On the street in the evening, the setting sun cast its last rays of light on the sidewalk. Su Shi's footsteps were a little heavy. She did not notice that her eyes were empty and confused. She seemed to be immersed in some unspeakable emotions.

The shop signs along the street gradually lit up, casting mottled light and shadows that formed an interesting interplay with the stone slabs on the ground. Occasionally, pedestrians hurried past her, but Su Shi seemed oblivious to everything around her.

In her mind, the scene of Crychic's last rehearsal kept replaying - everyone's emotions became a little impatient while waiting, and Xiangzi, who was soaked all over, completely ignited the "powder keg".

"If only Xiangzi hadn't said he wanted to quit that day..." Su Shi muttered to herself, her voice almost blown away by the wind. Su Shi remembered clearly that Xiangzi, soaking wet, suddenly pushed open the door and said he wanted to quit Crychic without giving any reason.

But on that day, Xiangzi clearly said in the group that she would come to the rehearsal, and it didn't look like she was going to quit the band at all.

A gentle breeze ruffled her hair, and Sushi let it tickle her cheek. The shrine wasn't far away. She closed her eyes, trying to recall the pure joy she'd felt. Sakura always looked so focused on her violin, Shoko's keyboard was as clear as a spring, and Mu, Riki, and Deng filled the entire orchestra with joy.

But now, everything has vanished into thin air. It's as if the "home" I once knew was just a mirage.

Su Shi's heart was filled with complex emotions: resentment at the band's disbanding, uncertainty about the future, doubts about Xiangzi's withdrawal, and trepidation about facing Ying. She didn't understand why Xiangzi acted so coldly and even said such hurtful words during their last meeting.

Sakura's behavior also confused her. She was obviously a very gentle girl, but that night she was so rational that it was a little scary.

Her pace slowed down unconsciously, as if every step would lead her into memories. Su Shi reached out to brush away the hair that was blocking her view and tucked it behind her ears, but she couldn't shake off the lingering thoughts in her heart.

Crychic had given her more than just the experience of playing in a band; it had also given her a bond akin to family. Having lost Crychic, Su Shi didn't want to return to an empty, luxurious room. With this thought, she quickened her pace, gritted her teeth, and looked up at the steps of the shrine.

At the torii gate at the end of the stairs, the last rays of sunset cast a shimmering yellow on the vermilion wooden beams. Sushi stood at the foot of the stairs, took a deep breath, gripped the strap of her bass bag, tried to control her expression, and began to climb.

Night was about to fall, and the cherry trees in the shrine courtyard gradually appeared as Su Shi climbed. Although her steps were still a little heavy, they were firm.

Chapter 160 Harvest, Band and BangDream: 8. Let the past be the past

Sakura Shrine.

It's dark now, and generally no one comes to visit or tour the shrine at night.

So, now is the perfect time to ask someone to play a duet.

As Suyo entered the shrine, she heard bursts of music coming from the training room.

It was the guitar, mixed with the light drum beats and playful bass, forming a song she had never heard before.

The lights in the training room were on. Su Shi stood at the door, took a deep breath, and pushed the slightly old wooden door open a crack.

The light in the room was a little dim, and an old fluorescent tube cast light on the three girls. It was an old model that needed to be replaced with a Nixie tube when it broke.

The training room was spotless, its walls covered in band posters and handwritten schedules, and a corner was filled with professional equipment. A girl with short silver hair swayed her body as she strummed an old, chipped guitar. Beside her, Sakura played along on her bass, a smile she had never seen on her face since her Crychic days.

Next to the drum set in the training room, another shrine maiden was playing a simple rhythm. The coordination between the three of them wasn't perfect, but at least they created a very comfortable feeling.

Su Shi's eyes unconsciously fell on Ying. Her ponytail shone a light cherry blossom color under the light, and her focused expression made Su Shi imagine the bass in Ying's hand was a violin.

If Sakura was still at Crychic, would they have just finished a rehearsal like this?

But now, her bass was still on her back, but Ying was playing with the bass with a girl that Su Shi was not familiar with.

Su Shi suddenly felt that the bass on his back was weighing him down so much that he couldn't straighten his back.

Although Su Shi only opened the door a crack, Sakura already knew who it was - in the shrine, Sakura's perception ability was very strong.

But Sakura didn't stop playing until the song was over. Then she took the initiative to speak: "Come in, Nagasaki-san, don't stand at the door."

Su Shi frowned - Ying knew it was her, but didn't call her name, which made her feel a little uneasy.

But she still pushed open the door.

"I, I came to see Ying..." Su Shi's voice was a little hoarse, as if her throat was stuck. She tried to adjust her breathing and forced herself to look directly into Ying's eyes.

Like a gem that seals the spring, just one look at it and you can feel the beauty that is about to overflow.

"Shigasaki-san, I've already quit Crychic." Sakura smiled. "If you're just visiting the shrine, I'm always welcome to do so. But if it's about Crychic, don't ask."

Su Shi bit her lip, feeling her eyes warm. She took a deep breath and said in her calmest voice, "I want to apologize. That night... I was too willful and shouldn't have said those words... Xiaoxiang's business... is none of Xiaoying's business..."

"No need." Ying sighed softly: "Alas, the road ahead is still long, let the past be the past."

Su Shi was stunned for a moment. She didn't expect Ying to say that.

She opened her mouth to say something else, but Sakura looked away and lowered her head to pluck the strings again, as if to indicate that the conversation was over.

The music rang out again in the training room. This time, the music was no longer playful, but lyrical. Su Shi stood at the door, listening to the soothing melody flowing in the air, but she felt something rubbing her heart hard.

Losing Crychic wasn’t a momentary pain, but a continuous downpour.

"I...sigh..." Su Shi wanted to say something else, but in the end he just sighed and chose not to further intensify the conflict.

Turning around, Sushi saw that dusk had completely enveloped the street outside. The cherry blossoms at the shrine stood out against the night sky. Standing at the door to the training room, Sushi felt like something was wrong between her memory and reality.

Although she still felt unwilling and regretful, she understood that only one day in the future, when everything was settled, would she truly understand Sakura's choice at that time and why Sakura said that.

That time, at least not today.

As the night deepened, the cherry trees in the shrine courtyard swayed gently in the breeze, and Su Shi's figure gradually disappeared on the stone steps of the shrine.

After playing another song, Sayu took the initiative to ask, "Sakura...is that girl from before okay?"

"It won't be a problem." Sakura glanced at Sayu. "Everyone has some kind of filter when it comes to their first band. But if something needs to end, it should end. Otherwise, it will just create a Frankenstein and destroy the beautiful memories."

"Huh? Liu Lingwa (Three) Scar Four" Sayu was a little confused.

"It's like when you played a video game as a child and thought it had exquisite graphics, excellent production, and a thrilling plot, giving you a time-travel experience. But if you play it again now, you might find that the graphics are outdated, the system is crude, and the plot is outdated. If you unwillingly look for a sequel, you might end up with an even worse experience." Sakura spread her hands towards Sayu. "Nagasaki Suyo, it just takes some time to accept."

At the same time, the Shiina family.

Li Xi received a message from Su Shi.

I met Sakura. She didn't want to talk about Crychic. Even if I apologized, she didn't want to back down and go back to the way things were before.

Lying in bed, Li Xi thought for a moment before replying to Su Shi: [Today I recorded a program at Ying's shrine. Ying probably won't be returning to Crychic, so I suggest you stop bothering her.]

Su Shi replied almost instantly: [What do you mean by entanglement? Everyone is happy in Crychic, we are a "community of shared destiny"!]

Li Xi did not return to Su Shi, but sent a message to Hachiman Hai Ling: [Hailing, how many bands are you in now?]

Hailing replied almost instantly: [Twelve teams, 5 of them are active, what's wrong?]

[If I invite you to join a band again, would you be willing?] Although hesitant, Li Xi still sent this message to Hai Ling.

[Yes.] Hailing's answer was still quick.

This made Li Xi, who was about to write a long speech to persuade Hai Ling, feel like she had hit a cotton ball. She had no choice but to continue sending messages to Hai Ling: [Let's meet tomorrow. If I can find a lead singer, I will invite you to join a new band.]

[There's no lead singer? What kind of band is this?]

"We've already got a choice. As long as she agrees, we'll be all there." Li Xi counted on his fingers before sending a message to Hai Ling.

Ying found a guitarist, and she and Hailing formed the rhythm section. Ying adjusted the instrument according to the style of music, and as long as Deng nodded, her band could be reorganized.

Indeed, she missed Crychic, but if there was another band that could satisfy her wish to perform on stage with Deng, then Crychic would be... unnecessary.

PS：3月更新8万5千字。还是很忙。4月更新节奏和3月类似。

Chapter 161 Harvest, Band and Bang Noon (Part 7) Suspicion of Dream: 9, Failed Invitation

Hanegaoka Girls' Academy, junior high school.

In the afternoon of the 9th of the 9th month of the Chinese Ball Game, Li Xi gritted his teeth and found the lamp.

The lamp sat beneath a tree on campus, seemingly searching for a special stone among the rubble surrounding the trunk.

At this time of year, the leaves of the deciduous trees have grown out, forming a small umbrella in the sun, just enough to cover Deng's body squatting under the tree.

Li Xi approached carefully and wanted to talk about the band directly, but when the words came to his lips, he changed his mind to asking Deng to go home together.

"Deng, after school today, can we go home together?"

The squatting Deng raised his head and glanced at Li Xi without denying it.

Li Xi knew that for Deng, this was considered an agreement. She stood behind Deng, carefully enjoying the afternoon time with him.

The lamp suddenly spoke: "These stones have been broken into pieces."

The gravel laid under the trees is mined and broken into similar sizes using a crusher - this is common sense.

Li Xi didn't know how to respond for a moment, so he could only continue speaking in the direction of the light: "Yes, they are all broken stones."

Deng stood up and stopped searching: "Stone, it has no personality anymore."

What exactly is the stone's personality?

Li Xi didn't know either.

But the lamp is said to have personality, so it must be true.

"Um...are you still writing the new lyrics?" Li Xi tried to change the subject.

Deng turned her face to the side, grabbed her left elbow with her right hand, and gently rubbed the hem of her school uniform skirt with her left thumb and index finger. She spoke in a soft voice: "I'm sorry, it's my fault."

Although he didn't know what the problem was, Li Xi quickly denied her statement: "No, there is nothing wrong with the lamp!"

The two girls stood under the tree, neither speaking for a moment.

Lixi only knew that the disbandment of Crychic had caused hurt to Deng, but she didn't expect that when she talked to Deng again, she could no longer understand what Deng was saying.

It was Deng who spoke first: "Yes... I'm writing it. It's not really lyrics. Just some snippets."

"I'm learning to compose music." Li Xi didn't know how to say what he was doing: "Using synthesizers and computer software to compose and arrange music..."

As if afraid that Deng would misunderstand that he wanted to replace Xiangzi and be the composer of Crychic, Li Xi added: "Well... I don't want to compose for Crychic! I just think that drummers... should also learn a little more music theory... If I compose music for Deng, even a short piece is fine..."

As Li Xi spoke, he felt that what he said was very strange.

She could only shut up for the moment and look at the light awkwardly.

Deng then turned his gaze towards Li Xi: "I...can't sing well. If I could sing better...Crychic...wouldn't have disbanded..."

Li Xi immediately said, "No! It has nothing to do with the lights! The disbandment of Crychic was all due to Xiang Qi Ling's father Wu Si 6 Ba Qi Qi Zi suddenly quit——"

Deng shook his head and walked towards the classroom.

Li Xi looked at Deng's back and followed him for a few steps, but decided to wait until after school to talk to Deng.

The afternoon classes became a bit torturous.

Li Xi sat at his desk, but he was thinking about how to tell Deng about the new band on the way back.

Five minutes before the end of get out of class, Lixi had packed all her things into her schoolbag. As soon as the bell rang, she squeezed out of the classroom.

While the classmates were still preparing for club activities in groups of three or four, Li Xi was already waiting at the door of Deng's classroom.

Deng walked out of the classroom carrying his schoolbag, seeming a little surprised that Li Xi arrived at the door of his classroom so quickly, but the surprise was only fleeting.

She nodded to Li Xi and walked towards the school gate.

Li Xi followed Deng. They didn't speak to each other until they walked out of the school gate. Only after they turned a corner did Li Xi speak: "Deng, the disbandment of Crychic is not your fault."

"Crychic..." Deng lowered his head again, obviously not wanting to hear this word.

"If I could sing better..." Deng muttered softly.