Mygo, the band legend of Tokyo handsome guy

The cabin was cramped, with only adjacent seats. It was fairly spacious for two people to sit there, with enough room to stretch their legs and lay the guitar sideways, which was already the best news.

A guitar is a plucked string instrument; it produces sound because it has strings and a sound chamber. An electronic keyboard, on the other hand, truly produces no sound without electricity, while an electric guitar, even without power, will still produce the natural tone of its strings.

Ichika's hands were clean as she pressed the tuning pegs and plucked the strings. But after a few strokes, feeling her rusty fingering, she handed the guitar back to me.

Why did Xingge fall in love with music?

"There are no so many whys. If I had to find a reason, it would be that I came to know it."

Ijichi Hoshika was silent for a few seconds.

The reasons...maybe it's because family forbids it, maybe it's because seniors at school are in bands, or...it's also a bit of going against family wishes. The more it's forbidden, the more determined you are to fight back.

“At first, I guess I just followed the crowd,” she said. “During my rebellious phase, I learned a few skills and, relying on music to support myself, I became increasingly resistant to my family’s control. Eventually, I simply stopped going home… Have I mentioned Hongxia to you? She was only this age back then, always with a sullen face; I don’t know who she learned that from…”

Unable to find a suitable adjective, she simply picked up the guitar next to her again, gestured to indicate a height of waist, and then adjusted it uncertainly up or down.

"I understand you mean she was still young at the time... What was your relationship like with your sisters?"

It would be a story that Narusawa Kaede had already heard twice, but he wasn't in a hurry. The story told by Iji Tomoka would definitely differ in details and emphasis.

"I... I was deliberately ignoring her mother and Hongxia before. To be honest, I wasn't a good person back then, and I still am..."

Okay, okay, I know, you're not a good person.

You just want to be yourself. Ming Zefeng moved closer to her and pressed down on her hand, which was resting on his lap and fidgeting with her fingers.

"Just say what you want to say."

"I...I don't know where to begin, let's just start with...Starry. Back then, Hongxia fell in love with music, unlike before. I...I wanted to help her realize her musical dream, and I made up my mind that I would definitely support her..."

She spoke in a rambling manner, her words seemingly disjointed, just like the chaos in her mind.

Mingze Feng held her hand tightly, and wrapped his other arm around her shoulder.

"Mmm, you've worked hard, big sister~ Rest in your little brother's arms for a while, and I'll give you a massage to help you relax."

"...You're so cheeky. Let me lean against you in peace for a bit. It's so cold."

Mingze Feng's hand circled around her back and landed on her arm. After taking off his coat, the only thing left on her was a thin shirt. The soft touch of her arm traveled from her fingertips, and a divine message, like an electric current, pierced her spine, traveling down and up to her respective central nervous system.

For a moment, the surroundings became quiet, with only the hum of the air conditioner running.

The Ferris wheel moves very slowly, so slowly that a minute feels like it hasn't moved at all, and so slowly that it takes more than half an hour to complete one rotation.

They're still rising; they haven't even reached the very top yet.

Golden strands of hair lay across her chest, and without even looking down, her chin felt itchy from the friction and the transfer of heat. This unique sensation was amplified in the sweltering atmosphere.

Naruzawa Kaede shifted his hips back, carefully bending over. But this still affected Ichiji Hoshika. Of course, they were pressed tightly together.

He leaned back, and Ichiji Hoshika's little head followed.

It's really itchy, and besides that, it's really hot...

Men and women really do perceive temperature differently, and if it happens again, he definitely... well, he couldn't think of a good solution.

Ichi Seika swallowed hard.

The thumping of her heartbeat gave her a strange feeling, as if her own heartbeat was changing along with it, and gradually it seemed to catch up. It was very strange, really strange.

The feeling was like snuggling up in a warm blanket in the dead of winter, or lying in a rocking chair in the sunshine during spring or autumn. The air conditioner was running at a low volume, and this slight yet real white noise prevented the cabin from feeling empty due to silence, but instead added a touch of warmth.

The cabin was warm. The embrace was warm.

It's so warm, I feel like I'm about to fall asleep.

Ichi Seika felt like she could fall asleep here.

If only the hand on my shoulder wouldn't keep itching! No matter how lightly it's touching, it's impossible not to feel it... How am I supposed to bring this up?

[And moving back... Should I pretend I don't understand... But... Ugh, dating is so troublesome]

That's really troublesome...

"Star Song," Mingze Feng nudged her shoulder, "to watch the sunset..."

Ichiji Hoshika gazed into the distance.

Through the south-facing window, the last rays of the setting sun were swallowed by the edge of the city, and two streaks of light drew out a dark filter.

Those red eyes reflected the sloping horizon, its red and black lines clearly defined.

Ming Zefeng moved closer to her cheek, almost touching it. Her face itched; was it from her breath or her gaze? Her breathing became heavy, and her gaze became increasingly fixed.

Witnessed by the transition between dawn and dusk.

At the highest point of the Ferris wheel.

The soft touch made it impossible to stop breathing.

My terrible first kiss experience was brought up again this morning and I'm still being criticized.

My heart pounded faster, the only tactile sensation, a dense, tingling sensation from the tip of my tongue.

The flavor I made this time was the ice cream cone I ate before getting on the train.

One is a strawberry, and the other is also a strawberry.

In other words, it's a strawberry-flavored French kiss.

3

Chapter Twenty-Nine: A New Dangerous Mission

Wednesday, cloudy turning sunny. Practiced piano at home. In the afternoon, I met the owner at the Starry store... This is practically a no-brainer, but the owner looked very dejected, staring intently at the computer screen. Apparently, he was worried because his business was barely breaking even.

I took her for a walk, we went to the bustling Ring to do research, and we handed out flyers to pretty girls—to shine on the stage of Shimokitazawa.

Today's flavor is a lingering Welsh sweetness punctuated by the aroma of Coca-Cola.

Thursday, sunny. I practiced piano at home, and went to Starry in the afternoon to play. I encountered a band that needed a substitute bassist, so I joined in at the last minute and unexpectedly received 8000 yen.

In addition, we ate parfait and went to the planetarium.

Hmm, it's matcha flavored.

Friday, sunny.

I haven't seen Hiroi Kikuri for three or four days, I wonder what she's doing. Starry is closed today, and the manager said that Nijika seems to be in a bad mood lately, so she took Nijika and drove off somewhere.

So today's date is on hold.

As usual, Mingze Feng did not go to school. After helping to fill in for the bassist yesterday, he joined a group chat for band support. Hundreds of people were in the chat, posting and accepting band jobs that required temporary replacements.

Mingze Feng saw one that wasn't far away and picked it up.

The bassist request from the band that posted yesterday was also listed in the previous requests, and it was accepted. Judging from yesterday's situation, they were stood up.

Mingze Feng didn't have the habit of standing people up, so he packed his things, shouldered his bag, and prepared to head over.

Before having dinner, Mingze Feng went to a convenience store not far from his apartment. The cheap bento box wasn't exactly delicious, but it was a good choice to fill his stomach.

When he arrived, a student with blue pigtails was standing in front of the convenience store's refrigerated display case. She was staring intently at the points-based bento box in front of her, wondering how much money she had left.

Payday isn't until a few days later. Let's skip it today.

Naruzawa Kaede walked past her, picked up a 360 yen pork donburi bento... He thought for a moment, and called out to her as he brushed past Toyokawa Shoko.

“Hey classmate, do you remember me? Last time at the company gate, I gave you my employee ID and asked you for money for lunch. You gave me two thousand. I even said it was too much, but you just rushed upstairs.”

"I didn't expect to run into you here."

Meeting Naruzawa Kaede's smiling face, Toyokawa Shoko quickly found her memories from back then, and then her expression stiffened.

She continued to look into Mingze Feng's eyes.

"No, no need. Thank you so much for bringing that employee ID card; it really helped me a lot. Offering only three thousand yen to express my gratitude is impolite; I hope you won't mind..."

[Frustrated: Three thousand! That's enough for so many meals! Xiangzi, how can you be so stingy with money?]

Naruzawa Kaede felt a little uncomfortable hearing the common platitudes that are so prevalent in Japanese workplaces.

"You're still a student of Yuqiu, aren't you being a little too polite?"

“That’s my business, sir.”

Naruzawa Kaede introduced himself to her, but Toyokawa Shoko only nodded in response.

"Okay, sir... Is there anything else?"

"..."

It felt like a hedgehog had been brought along; Toyokawa Shoko's reputation for repelling people was well-deserved.

But when soldiers come, generals will block them; when water comes, earth will dam it. Mingze Feng refused to believe that there was a crack that couldn't be squeezed through.

"It's just a favor, and I'd feel guilty accepting only 3,000 yen. Please, on my behalf, pay for your lunch today."

“This…” Toyokawa Shoko lowered her eyes, “Let’s just forget about it.”

So, all that time you were standing there observing me was for this? To bring me a lunchbox?

Have it?

Naruzawa Kaede felt like she was standing right behind Toyokawa Shoko the whole time. Could it be that she had hindsight and could see things behind her?

Ah, in this way, Naruzawa Kaede seems more like a stalker.

"Returning the documents is just a small favor for me, but I don't feel right accepting it like this. At least let me use this money I got for nothing to treat you to dinner... Please don't refuse this time."

If you keep refusing, it will never end.

"..."

Toyokawa Shoko became even more certain of her earlier guess: the person in front of her had seen her struggling in front of the counter.

The other person had seen my employee ID and my school uniform before...

[After going through all that trouble, it was just to help me figure out what to eat for dinner tonight? What a weirdo...]

Shoko Toyokawa nervously touched the hem of her skirt, her voice softening considerably, "This... I'll take it."

She looked into Mingze Feng's eyes, casually pointed to a bento box, and said, "This will do."

She stood there, impeccably polite and refreshingly elegant.

The silent body language seemed to convey the distance between the two.

That's it for now.

...

This was just a minor incident. Following the map navigation, Mingze Feng found the store called Afterlife in a narrow gap in the next street.

The band he was helping arranged to meet here.

The shop was much quieter than expected, with no swirling smoke or loud shouts. There were only a few customers scattered across the tables. But everyone was simply sitting quietly, drinking their drinks.

The store was dimly lit and had a depressing atmosphere.

Several customers were engrossed in drinking, while the female bartender at the counter rested her head on her arm as if catching up on sleep.

If it weren't for a flashy young girl suddenly appearing in front of him, he would have thought he had stumbled into a gang's funeral.

But this flamboyant young woman seems a bit too enthusiastic...

"Hello, hello, my name is Imai Lisa... Kaede is even more handsome than Yako on the phone. Ah, since I'm a second-year high school student this year, can you call me Kaede? Just call me Lisa. By the way, the other companions have arrived, let's chat as we walk."

Lisa Imai waved familiarly from ahead and even helped him order.

"Sister Kaili, we have a guest! They're from Hall 3 and would like a fruit drink."

"Kid, this is a bar! You... never mind... I'll deliver it later."

Having settled things at the bar, Ms. Imai flashed a confident smile, as if she had known all along. She pressed her hand to her chest and said to Narusawa Kaede, "Don't worry, tonight's expenses will be lower for me, the big sister. Kaede-kun just needs to play bass."

"The keyboardist in the sister band is shy around strangers. She also wants to improve this personality trait, and I think since we're teammates, I should definitely help her."

"We'll find a reliable friend through an acquaintance to introduce Rinko-san to some strangers so she can experience playing together... That's our idea, what do you think?"

The door opened, and the sound of a bass guitar filled the room.