Can Lixi look at me alone?

"So what's your opinion of Yuzuki? Does Yuzuki have two faces?"

It's hard to tell if this is a sarcastic reference to Hai-ling, who took a sip of milk after breaking down in her defenses following yesterday's performance.

"I think Yuzuki is very gentle, caring, and a great cook."

She looked at the girl in front of her and frowned as she retorted.

“She’s completely incapable of taking care of people; I’m the one who usually takes care of her.”

So that's how Shiina-san sees Yuzuki... She's been taking care of her all along...? Are you referring to things like wiping Yuzuki's sweat backstage yesterday...?

It feels like we're really just good friends.

"So, Shiina-kun, which do you find more attractive, the stone or the star?"

The drummer, who didn't understand what stones or stars meant, tilted his head at her.

Her delicate features carried a clear hint of doubt.

"ha…?"

What star? What stone? What is this guy talking about? Is he playing a riddle?

"The stars in the sky, or the pebbles by the roadside. Which do you prefer, Shiina?"

Hai Ling smiled and pressed her for an answer, but Li Xi didn't really want to, yet she couldn't be impolite and ignore Hai Ling...

Ultimately, he gave an answer he hadn't seriously considered.

"It's a stone, after all, stones are easier to encounter than stars."

Realizing that asking any further questions would likely lead to trouble, the girl said goodbye and left.

Back in the classroom, Hailing sat back in her seat, fiddling with the ballpoint pen in her hand.

Stones and stars... that was just her rough feeling about the moon and the lamp.

A lamp is an ordinary pebble that can become a shining star.

Yuzuki is a shining star who is willing to become an ordinary pebble for others.

This is something that Shiina and Yuzuki are dealing with themselves.

But it's a bit too...

Shiina is unaware of Yuzuki's feelings, and Yuzuki cannot understand Shiina's feelings for Akari.

If this continues, all three of them will get hurt.

However, their band

There are six people here. The other three should be able to help them manage their relationship, right?

Yes, they definitely will. Otherwise... a team like that simply couldn't create a song like Haruhi Kage.

Let's find an opportunity to talk to Yuzuki about this.

Hai Ling started her afternoon nap.

……

Yuzuki, who slept until noon, could barely muster some energy, but in such a state, she was no match for Akari in the competition for Ritsuki-chan's affections.

So she went into the bathroom.

After quickly rinsing myself with cold water, I forced myself to stay awake amidst the shivering.

I don't have time to cook. I heard there's a band performance tonight... maybe not.

Even if she did, she wouldn't want to cook dinner with everyone anymore.

If the lights weren't on, she could easily bring everyone here to eat.

After picking up my phone, I found Su Shi's unread messages.

"Yesterday was amazing!"

"Don't overwork yourself, little Jieyue..."

It's all the same—meaningless concern.

But she likes it.

"The same goes for Soyo; don't overwork yourself."

Ah... speaking of which, is Xiao Xiang going to temporarily withdraw from the entertainment industry?

So how is she going to explain this to everyone?

What a trouble...

After changing into her school uniform, Yuzuki opened her mouth and tried to speak after seeing that the swelling in her eyes had gone down.

"what."

Yes, it's still a little hoarse, but not noticeably.

That's enough.

Anyway... Lixi-chan can't tell.

Without a lunchbox, he left the shelter empty-handed. He took a taxi to school, ignoring the teacher on the podium and sitting directly back in his seat.

The teacher ignored her and continued lecturing, and the other students also... tried their best to ignore her.

Anyone could tell she was in a bad mood; she couldn't even be bothered to put on a fake smile.

Lixi slipped her a note.

"What's wrong? Why are you in a bad mood?"

Not knowing what to say, Yuzuki took a pen from Riki's pencil case and wrote a reply on a note.

"Don't worry, Li Xi-chan. I watched a touching movie before I came."

A touching movie...?

Believing that Yuzuki would also adjust her emotions quickly, Riki believed her.

Write it down on a piece of paper.

"Next time, tidy up after you finish watching it and come back."

Seeing the smile on Yuzuki's face, Riki smiled with relief as well.

It seems this guy is indeed fine.

Give me some votes! Give me some votes!

Volume 1 Crychic!!! Chapter 57 Mutsuki: I don't want... Yuzuki to be sad.

"Lixi-chan, is there a band activity today?"

Yuzuki, who had been slumped over her desk all afternoon, was woken up by Riki. The girl, who didn't really want to see the light, hoped to hear the answer that there was no light.

"Yes, but not tomorrow. What's wrong with Yuzuki?"

It's nothing, I just don't really want to see you and Deng hugging and kissing each other.

Yuzuki reached out and tugged at the hem of her clothes, smoothing out the wrinkles. She quickly followed Riki toward the practice room.

Never mind... Even if we wait a bit... Riki-chan might do something with Kodama, at least for now... Riki-chan belongs to her alone.

Lixi felt something soft and cool grasp her hand, and knowing what it was, the girl immediately gripped Jieyue's hand in return.

The pace of her steps slowed slightly as she tried to see the light as quickly as possible.

It was just a concern about whether Yuzuki's body could keep up, not a fear that Akari would find it troublesome to be too enthusiastic.

This made the already short journey seem a little longer in Yuzuki's eyes, and made her feel a little sweeter.

"Yatsuki..."

Hmm...? Riki-chan is calling me.

Coming to her senses, the girl felt the warmth in her hands and smiled as she looked up to respond to her lover.

"Yes, I'm here. What's wrong, Lixi-chan?"

She noticed the drummer looking away somewhat awkwardly.

"Does Yuzuki like lanterns?"

Should I like it?

Yuzuki had no idea what answer Riki wanted to hear.

Seeing the confusion on the pink-haired girl's face, Lixi belatedly realized how abstract her question was.

"What I mean is, is Yuzuki so nice to Tohru... because she likes her?"

I'm nice to her, isn't it all because of you? I'm nice to everyone, isn't it all so that you don't have to deal with band relationships when you're in the band?

Haven't I been doing all this for you?

Li Xi Jiang…

Are you pretending to be stupid, or are you doing something?

Am I good to the lamp?

The fact that Yuzuki no longer used the name "Little Lamp" made Riki feel a little uncomfortable, but that wasn't her focus.

Unconsciously, Riki used a little force with both hands, causing Yuzuki to let out a muffled groan of pain before realizing it. She quickly let go and apologized, observing Yuzuki's expression. Finding that Yuzuki seemed to be in a good mood, she continued speaking.

"It's already quite good, isn't it? Whether it's spending time making those candies for Akari or constantly comforting and taking care of her... all these things show that Yuzuki likes Akari, right?"

After all... Yuzuki has always doted on Touka. In the past, when she couldn't sing at all, it was Yuzuki and Suze who encouraged and took care of her.

So the fact that the light could sing that kind of voice must be closely related to Yuzuki.

Lixi patted Jieyue on the shoulder and finally saw her slowly nod.

"Oh, it's like this. I think... the lamp is cute. That's why I've been taking care of her. What do you think, Riki-chan?"

Lixi stuffed something into her pocket.

It is a small panda pendant.

"Thank you so much. Without Yuzuki's appreciation, I don't think Akari could have sung that kind of voice at all."

Yes, if it weren't for me/you... how could she have attracted you/me?

Yuzuki held the cute panda pendant in her hand and played with it.

If it were her, she would definitely make a gift herself.

But after all, it was a gift from Riki-chan, and... it was a gift to her as a way of thanking her on behalf of the lamp.

She didn't want to go into the practice room; she didn't want to encounter the lights.

She was afraid... of encountering a light.

Standing in the bathroom, Yuzuki looked at herself in the mirror. The thick soundproof walls of the practice room prevented her from hearing any sounds from inside, and vice versa.

Nobody can hear what she's doing here.

But what else can she do?

Here, she looked at the pale-faced pink-haired girl in the mirror.

"Why can't you sing like a lamp?"

She heard the moon reflected in the mirror answer.

"Because I am not a lamp, I cannot sing."

She saw Yuzuki crying and wanted to wipe away her tears. But only the cold mirror reminded her that she was wiping glass.

"Then why...don't you try to find a solution elsewhere? There must be something about a lamp that's not as good as you, right?"

The lamp has countless flaws, and she could easily find many to share with Yuzuki in the mirror.

But the other party's answer made her want to give up in an instant.