We agreed to be in a band for life, what the heck is Dragon Raja?

"eggplant!"

Happy graduation!

As Nagumo Ugetsu and Toyokawa Shoko walked along, many students from the University of Tokyo were taking photos nearby. Most of them were about to leave the campus and were using their last moments to commemorate this bygone time.

Several enthusiastic travel agency members were standing by the roadside, preparing to take advantage of the evening to promote more graduation trips at the school.

After all, most students at the University of Tokyo are not short of money, and many are happy to spend that amount of money to create a graduation memory with their friends.

Moreover... once I start working, I'm afraid I'll never have this kind of leisure again.

"How about sneaking in and checking out their graduation party?"

Nanon Ugetsu stopped and turned to look at Toyokawa Shoko.

Before leaving home today, he had mentioned this to Toyokawa Shoko, but his real intention was not to actually go to the graduation party, but to find an excuse to ease her mind.

He spent the morning and afternoon in the Moon Forest today, and after school he went to Wakaba Mutsuya's house to watch a movie with her. All in all, he didn't spend much time with Toyokawa Shoko today.

One must keep things balanced; a tilted scale is never stable. Nan Yun Yu Yue knew this well.

Upon hearing his words, Toyokawa Shoko also stopped in her tracks.

To Nan Yun Yuyue's surprise, she shook her head and refused.

"The University of Tokyo's graduation party... is about their memories."

"Let's go look around somewhere else."

Shoko Toyokawa turned her head and looked at the campus of the University of Tokyo not far away, and said in a low voice.

When she arrived this morning, Naotaro Moriyama's "Sakura" was playing on both sides of the street. Now the radio is playing a different song, SPEED's "My Graduation".

Time keeps moving forward.

"Never stopping"

What has changed are the people on the streets.

"There is still love and us."

……

Nanon Ugetsu was somewhat surprised.

Not long ago, he remembered this girl band that suddenly disbanded, just like ZONE, and unexpectedly, he happened to hear their song here tonight.

Released in the late 90s, this song was the best-selling graduation song in Japanese history at the time.

Although the band disbanded a long time ago, they still have many fans throughout Japan. At schools like the University of Tokyo, many middle-aged professors may have seen them perform when they were young.

Shoko Toyokawa also stopped to listen.

At that moment, two girls were walking along, discussing the recent trend of popular bands, occasionally commenting on a few promising girl bands.

But when compared to SPEED and ZONE, the two always sigh.

"I don't know how long it's been since we've had a band like them."

“Sumimi may have potential, but I always feel that something is missing. Maybe she needs to mature further.”

……

Toyokawa Shoko thought of Crychic.

Before that rainy night, it was the Moon Forest Music Festival that prompted her, who was already missing her mother, to form this band.

She met Nagasaki Motoyo, Takamatsu Akari, Shiina Tatsuki... and even composed music for Kasuga Kage herself.

The band's first performance was a great success, and if nothing unexpected happened, they could have continued... but then, this happened to them.

If even they give up on themselves, they'll definitely be very disappointed...

Toyokawa Shoko thought.

Just then, Nan Yun Yuyue's voice rang in her ear:

"Are you thinking about the band?"

He was standing next to Toyokawa Shoko, so he naturally heard the conversation between the two female college students who were passing by.

"Yes." Toyokawa Shoko nodded.

"Regarding Crychic... I'm still hesitant."

"Actually... there's no conflict at all."

Nan Yun Yuyue comforted her.

“I know you’ve been bothered by that rainy night and the issue of lineage… but life needs an anchor. If there’s nothing to make you feel the value of life, then everything will feel meaningless.”

"Crychic may be a band, and it might seem far removed from words like revenge right now... but it can help you rediscover the warmth of emotions,"

"It's like the anchor on a ferry; without it, the ship won't be stable when it encounters a storm."

"After all, people are not machines."

"Besides, everyone misses you."

Toyokawa Shoko was stunned.

A mix of emotions surged through her mind.

The grief over her mother's passing, her longing for her father, her incomprehension of her grandfather's many actions, her feelings for Nan Yun Yu Yue, and her many emotions towards her friends were all intertwined, leaving her unable to utter a single word for a long time.

"Thank you, Yuyue."

Toyokawa Shoko suddenly burst into tears, attracting the attention of many college students passing by.

See here,

Nan Yunyu immediately embraced her, gently patting her back with her right hand, comforting her softly while trying to soothe her emotions.

Shoko Toyokawa cried for a very long time while listening to the song "SPEED".

Chapter 147 Uesugi Kotsushi's Doubts, Inside the Church

It was unclear how much time had passed before Toyokawa Shoko finally looked up from Nagumo Ugetsu's embrace.

Her eyes were swollen at the corners, like cherries soaked in water, and her eyelashes were stuck together in clumps by tears. She was still twitching.

It took her a long time to calm down and regain her composure.

"Let's rest for a bit before we go."

Nanyun Yuyue said warmly.

"Ah."

"Toyokawa Shoko said softly."

The two walked to a bench near the street and sat down.

Toyokawa Shoko lowered her head again and began to think about Crychic.

Thanks to Nan Yun Yuyue's guidance, she no longer occasionally has the thought of leaving the team. Although she still feels a little sad, the past situation where she only wanted to escape is finally over.

"let's go."

About ten minutes later, Toyokawa Shoko composed herself and said to Nagumo Ugetsu.

The two continued walking along the street.

After going around a narrow alley from the intersection ahead, you will arrive at the back street of the University of Tokyo.

The scenery here is more retro than the road we came from, with the buildings exuding the charm of the last century.

Toyokawa Shoko suddenly remembered the community church she had visited that morning.

Although it's small inside, the scenery is surprisingly nice. In the backstreets, somewhat out of place with the bustling city of Tokyo, it still retains the solemnity of its original construction.

"It seems...there's going to be a service tonight?"

Shoko Toyokawa recalled.

This matter... it seems to have been mentioned by that elderly pastor this morning.

Because this is the graduation season at the University of Tokyo, a small number of Catholic students and professors at the university requested that a community church near the university hold an extra service tonight.

The date is tonight, which is also the day of the University of Tokyo's graduation party.

However, compared to graduation parties that most people would choose to attend, the number of participants in these farewell ceremonies is extremely small.

Perhaps this is precisely the intention of the person who proposed holding this farewell ceremony... Just as graduation ceremonies are always a superficial occasion, most people can hardly say that they have any special feelings for the school.

Toyokawa Shoko's thoughts surged like ocean waves within her heart.

When she came to her senses, she had already walked to the vicinity of the community church once again.

"This is the church I was talking about."

Toyokawa Shoko said.

Looking ahead, one sees clouds, rain, and moon.

Earlier that morning, he had seen the view outside the church in a photo sent to him by Toyokawa Shoko. Now, shrouded in night, the church appeared somewhat silent than it had been in the bright sunshine of the morning.

It was shrouded in shadow because the streetlights were old and dilapidated, and the light was not bright, due to the lack of generous donations from believers to the community church.

However, even standing at the outer entrance, one could hear laughter coming from inside from time to time.

The solemn and sacred formal worship service in the morning had ended. Although an additional worship service was added in the evening, it was not as serious as before. Instead, everyone chatted casually, and the atmosphere was much more peaceful than expected.

"Pastor Uesugi, I'm leaving for America next month, and I may not be able to come back here for a long time."

"That's a real shame, Fujino-kun. But... where in America are you going to study?"

"New York, I turned down the University of Chicago's offer."

"It's a wise choice. If it were me, I would also choose to stay away from Chicago."

……

Nanon Ugetsu and Toyokawa Shoko approached the church and looked inside.

Shoko Toyokawa then understood what the elderly pastor meant by "worship" that morning; in her understanding, this place was more like a buffet.

Nan Yun Yuyue, however, understood perfectly:

"As expected, Uesugi Koshi is here."

Tonight, Uesugi Echizen, unusually, did not set up his stall on time, but instead stayed at the community church.

Now he seems to have completely embraced the role of a pastor, just like he has been a ramen chef for so many years. He is now adept at being an excellent pastor.

"Professor Takahashi, it's actually a good thing that the students are going their separate ways. There's no need to be too sad about it."

"Ito-san, if someone doesn't have you in their heart, nothing you do can move them. Don't turn down that university's doctoral offer for her sake. There are beautiful girls abroad; perhaps you'll find true love there."

"Suzuki-san..."

……

Finally, Uesugi Kotsushi said:

"What an unforgettable day! Let's sing hymns."

The crowd's expressions turned serious. Those who were still holding plates gently put them down and straightened their posture.

Accompanied by the organ music, the church began to sing of the Lord's love:

"Hail Mary, you are full of grace, the Lord is with you."

“Blessed are you among women, and blessed is your Son Jesus.”

……

The faces of the crowd were beaming with smiles. Although most of them came from various faculties of the University of Tokyo, and were either students or professors, their faith was truly devout.

As the music neared its end, they held hands and swayed gently until the organ music stopped, then they sat down again.

"Next, we would like to invite... Yuto Yasukawa to speak on behalf of the group."

"Yuto Yasukawa graduated from the Department of Philosophy at the University of Tokyo. After graduation, he decided to devote himself to the Lord. He will soon become a trainee pastor and travel to other parts of Japan to spread the gospel of the Lord. Let us bless him."

Uesugi Koshi clapped.