After being elected as the governor of Tokyo, he will debut as a band!

"Silly child, conditions are for negotiation. How can you agree to every condition the other party proposes without any objection?"

"Huh? But I'm worried that Xiao Xiang won't listen to my terms... As soon as I bring it up, she'll just leave."

After all, Xiangzi had such a criminal record, so Su Shi felt very insecure.

"...Su Shi, think about it. Since your friend was able to create a detailed rehearsal plan for you and set high standards for your skills, it means she wants to go to a higher stage with you..."

Nagasaki Saya uses her workplace skills to analyze people and situations to help her daughter.

"Yes, although she didn't say it explicitly, I could tell that she meant it."

"Then why would she choose to leave just because you offer some reasonable conditions? Finding four more female high school teammates who are both obedient to her and have the potential to reach higher stages will probably not be so easy."

Nagasaki Saya has extensive experience in "playing games" with others. Whether it's with opponents or teammates, she always finds a way to maximize the benefits for herself or her company within reasonable limits.

She only needed to impart a little of her experience to Su Shi, and Su Shi could elegantly and politely defuse the pressure that Feng Chuan Xiangzi imposed on her teammates. This was far superior to the game-playing skills that a certain country girl had taught herself in her online celebrity career.

Nagasaki Motoyo had long felt that the "new crychic" (at least that's how she named it) couldn't continue like this, but she was worried that expressing opinions that clashed with Shoko's would cause the four of them, who had finally come together, to fall apart again. So she kept quiet and just followed Shoko's arrangements to practice diligently.

But after listening to her mother's analysis, she suddenly realized that making demands wouldn't lead to the irreversible consequences she had imagined. So after careful consideration, she decided to explain things clearly to Xiangzi.

Xiaodeng and Lixi are already nearing their limits; don't put any more pressure on them! Xiangzi's goal is achievable through everyone's joint efforts, but if no one is happy along the way, then achieving the goal would be meaningless, wouldn't it?

Having figured things out, Nagasaki Motoyo felt much lighter. She looked at her mother, wanting to say something to thank her, but before she could speak, she heard a "cooing" sound.

Nagasaki Saya rubbed her stomach a little embarrassedly.

Today, in order to fill in the gaps in the documents that Governor Aoyama needed, she only ate a few biscuits at noon to stave off hunger. After returning home, she was so worried about Suze that she forgot about eating. Now she is really hungry.

"Mom, what would you like to eat?"

Su Shi asked with a smile.

"I'm craving a chicken dish that can boost my energy today."

Nagasaki Saya looked on with anticipation, like a child.

"There's chicken, coconut milk, and bell peppers in the fridge, so how about we have some Southeast Asian-style chicken curry?"

"Oh! As expected of Su Su Shi, so reliable!"

"Don't use that weird name, Mom."

"Huh? But that's what I want to call you."

As she spoke, Nagasaki Saya lay down on the sofa and continued to enjoy her daughter's lap pillow.

"Mom, get up quickly, I still need to cook."

"If you want me to get up, Su Shi has to give me some reward."

"Okay," Su Shi ruffled her mother's forehead a few times, "Is this alright now?"

……

That night, Nagasaki Motoyo lay in bed, unable to fall asleep for a long time.

The thought of talking everything out with Xiangzi tomorrow made her feel both nervous and excited.

If it's really as my mother says, that Xiangzi won't leave the team even if I make demands, then can I gradually make more and more further demands in the future?

Thinking of this, Su Shi even felt her body trembling.

She wanted to share her feelings, but she was worried that making a promise she couldn't keep would embarrass everyone. After tossing and turning for a while, she finally took out her phone and sent an email to Lixi: "I will explain to Xiaoxiang that this kind of training will wear everyone down. I will give it my all and make sure that the band activities are as happy as they were when we were in Crychic. Lixi, and Xiaodeng, you can rest assured that you can leave this to me."

Li Xi, who had been playing the drums for four hours, getting almost as much exercise as Xiangzi from Camel Village, was already fast asleep. He only saw the text message from Su Shi when he woke up the next morning. He didn't understand what Su Shi wanted to do for a moment, so he thought of sending a message to Deng to ask for her opinion.

But the light never responded.

When it was time for school, Chihaya Aine emailed her again, saying that Akari hadn't come to school today. She wondered if Akari had overtrained herself and her voice was inflamed, so she was resting at home.

When Lixi heard about this, she panicked and called Deng twice, but no one answered. In a fit of anger, she sent Xiangzi an email saying, "If anything happens to Deng, I will never let you off the hook," and then skipped school to go find Deng.

Isokachi Music Awards: 014 An unexpected encounter with Takamatsu Akari, despite all efforts, her identity remains undisguised.

Aoyama has a habit of jogging in the morning, but due to his busy work schedule, he doesn't have the opportunity to jog every day.

Moreover, due to his special status, he also enjoys the protection of special bodyguards from the Metropolitan Police Department's Security Division. His movements are restricted during working hours, so he rarely has the opportunity to run on the streets and can only run around in the courtyard of his villa most of the time.

However, after looking at the scenery of the manor for a long time, he inevitably got tired of it. So today he discussed it with the captain of the guard section and found two guards to accompany him to go for a run in the street.

The department responsible for protecting the Governor of Tokyo is the Fourth Division of the Security Police Department, which is also responsible for protecting the former Prime Minister... Considering that a former Prime Minister was assassinated while under their protection, Aoyama finds it hard to believe that they can really protect his safety. If he really encounters danger, he will have to rely on his own resourcefulness.

Because of this understanding, Qingshan Xiang didn't pay much attention to the two guards following behind him when he was jogging in the morning. However, the two guards were on high alert. Whenever a pedestrian entered within five meters of Qingshan Xiang, one of them would put his hand on the walkie-talkie, while the other would glare at the person with a 5-volt stun gun.

Ordinary citizens were fine; they just thought the two men were crazy. One of them was a gangster who had been drinking until dawn and was walking back to the office to rest when he saw two burly men with police stun guns walking menacingly toward him. He was so scared he almost wet himself.

Ordinary citizens might not recognize them, but a gangster like him could tell at a glance that the two were plainclothes police officers, and the kind who didn't hide their identities at all. Usually, the appearance of plainclothes officers means that a major operation is about to begin its final stages, and there's no need to be as cautious as before.

Is Tokyo about to launch another crackdown on organized crime? And I'll be the first one to get caught in the crossfire?

The man was just about to do a proper dogeza (a deep bow in apology) and willingly put his wrist into the police handcuffs when he realized the two men had only glanced at him a couple of times before walking past him and continuing on their way. He breathed a sigh of relief, muttered "I scared myself," and then darted into the nearby...

Xiao Lu has decided to keep a low profile for the next few days and try to stay away from crowded main roads.

Aoyama didn't notice this little incident. He just kept running along the riverbank, even gradually increasing his speed. After running for about twenty minutes, he left the two guards who were running alongside him far behind.

Aoyama Mukoto had studied at Inada University for a year and a half as a fellow student. At that time, he also participated in the Hakone Ekiden and achieved a good result of fifth place in the competition. Most of the runners ahead of him were professional/semi-professional runners from sports universities. In the past two years, he has also attended the opening ceremony of the Hakone Ekiden and participated in the pacing race as a well-known alumnus of Inada University. In terms of physical fitness, even the elite police officers of the Metropolitan Police Department could hardly match him.

A breeze was blowing along the riverbank, caressing Qingshan Xiang, who was engrossed in his 3-minute pace run. On the banks of the river, people could be seen strolling from time to time, while others leaned on the railings and peered into the water.

He even saw a short-haired girl pressing her entire weight against the riverbank railing while stretching her hand out towards the water, as if trying to grab something.

Oops.

Aoyama could tell at a glance that the girl's posture had caused her to completely lose her balance, and that she would probably fall into the river in a few seconds.

"Be careful."

Without much thought, Qingshan let out a soft cry and turned to rush towards the girl's location. Just as most of the girl's body had fallen outside the railing and her outstretched hand touched the water, he grabbed the hem of her shirt and pulled her up.

"What are you doing? Don't you know this is dangerous?"

Aoyama pulled her to a position about three meters away from the riverbank before asking her in a slightly stern tone.

"Fish in the water".

The girl's eyes were still somewhat bewildered, and then she uttered a word that left everyone scratching their heads.

"what?"

“Those fish are floating in the water, and they look...so relaxed. I wish I could float in the water like them.”

After the girl finished speaking, she seemed to come to her senses, raised her head and stared at Aoyama's face for two seconds, and said with some surprise.

"Mr. Hack, what are you doing here?"

Aoyama almost reached out to touch his own cheek—I wasn't wearing a mask, how did you recognize me?

"What, Mr. Hack... You've mistaken me for someone else, haven't you?"

"..."

The girl stopped talking.

Aoyama looked the girl over carefully a few more times and felt that she looked familiar. After thinking about it carefully, he remembered that this girl had come to see his live performance at Folt in Shinjuku with Toyokawa Shoko before.

"Where do you live? Two policemen will be following us in a bit. Shall I have them take you home?"

Aoyama didn't think much of it. He glanced at the time on his fitness tracker and realized it was almost time for high school students to start school.

"Mr. Hack, are you and Xiao Xiang very familiar with each other?"

The girl spoke again, clarifying his identity as a rock musician.

One instance might have been a slip of the tongue, but both times she referred to herself as "Mr. Hack" with certainty, indicating that she truly knew she and the rock musician on stage were the same person.

Where exactly did the flaw lie?

A sense of unease crept into Qingshan's mind.

"What's your name?"

Aoyama no longer saw the girl as an ordinary girl and felt that he could have a good talk with her.

On the one hand, he told her not to go around telling everyone about her underground rock music, and on the other hand, Aoyama wanted to figure out where he had slipped up and let this high school girl discover his true identity.

"Takamatsu Tou."

"Um, Miss Takamatsu, please don't call me Mr. Hack when other people come later."

"Then what should I call you?"

The lamp tilted its head, looking completely bewildered as to the point of her concealing her identity.

"Do not you know me?"

“Yes, I know you. You are… Mr. Hack.”

Was this girl originally the naturally naive type?

Aoyama complained to himself.

She probably didn't recognize me from my flaws or by deducing from subtle clues.

How did you recognize me?

Did Toyokawa Shoko let something slip, or was it simply based on so-called "inspiration"?

Like some sorceresses or witches who can see through a person's appearance and directly see their soul or magnetic field?

I don't understand.

"...You can call me Mr. Aoyama."

"Yes. Mr. Aoyama, may I talk to you about Xiao Xiang's matter?"

"Well... if you insist, I'll have someone inform your parents, and then they'll bring you to my residence tonight..."

It would be quite difficult for ordinary people to meet with Aoyama in private, but since Aoyama had given prior instructions, they would be treated as honored guests of the mansion.

"Tonight... or now, is that not possible?"

……

(This references something that's unclear whether it's official or fan-made: Takamatsu Akari can see/sense Chihaya Aine's Stand, and therefore can also perceive that Aoyama Kaname and Hack are the same person. Considering this story blends elements of Yakuza and Ace Attorney, it can be understood that Akari, like Ayari Mayoi, possesses the ability of clairvoyance.)

Gogomachi Music Awards: 015 You help Xiangzi, Xiangzi helps you

"Now……"

Aoyama turned his head to look in the direction he had run from, where two police officers were running breathlessly toward him.

“Ms. Takamatsu, I would love to talk to you about Ms. Toyokawa Shoko, but I am not familiar with her and my understanding of her is limited. Therefore, I can only answer one question about her. After that, we shall part ways, okay?”

"Good, good."

Takamatsu Akari's face showed a very serious expression.

If I could only ask one question, then I must carefully consider that question.

Aoyama could even see Takamatsu Akari's face turning red rapidly; it was clear that her brain was working at full speed to decide what question to ask.

Just as he was worried that Gao Songdeng might not be able to decide what questions to ask even after the two guards caught up, Gao Songdeng's eyes suddenly became firm.

"Xiao Xiang, is she joining our band this time to express what's in our hearts together with everyone?"

Aoyama was taken aback, wondering why Takamatsu Akari thought she could get the answer to this question from him. She shouldn't know about his contact with Toyokawa Shoko.

Why do you think I can answer that question?

Qingshan asked strangely.

Deng twisted her fingers a little shyly, her gaze shifting back and forth across the ground. "That day, Xiao Xiang brought Li Xi and me to see Mr. Hack and Sister Guang Jing's live performance. She also went on stage to perform during the second song. After the performance, Xiao Xiang said he would help Li Xi and me form a band, so I wonder if there is any connection between these two things."

“I see,” Aoyama nodded, thinking that the child was not as ignorant as she seemed. “Then I can tell you the answer to this question.”

Aside from Toyokawa Shoko herself, perhaps only Aoyama Muto could answer this question, since it's impossible for Shoko to build a force that "she herself could control."

"A band that covers the whole picture" was originally Aoyama's suggestion.

The answer is no.

"..."