The social phobia substitute will not dream of the band girl

Too many factors complicate the outcome, just like human society itself."

Ping Xin's words made them fall further to the lowest point in their emotions. Even Mizukuri, who had just mustered up the courage to rebel, lowered her head and said nothing.

She'd once wondered why Afterglow had qualified, and felt troubled by it, but her passion for music, her confidence in the five members' abilities, and... her trust in Hirayukoshi, had made her forget all that. But at this moment, his words didn't warm them like they always did; instead, they opened their hearts and exposed them to the world.

Let them remember that this world is not such a warm place but something more...more cruel.

Chapter 86: Under the Morning Stage

With just minutes until they go on stage, Hirayukoshi arrives backstage, promising to cheer the Afterglow girls up. However, his presence drains their energy, confidence, and courage. How will these five girls react? Or rather...how will Mizukari, Hirayukoshi's closest friend, react?

"Then tell me, what should we do?!"

"I don't know... The answer to this question can only be found by you."

"If that's the case, why did you help us in the first place?!"

"You're the ones who came to me and asked for my help... You asked me for possibilities, and I provided the stage, that's all."

"If that's the case...why...why are you being so nice to me?!"

"...Maybe it's because you're so cute. In my eyes, you're as adorable as babies. The current situation is beyond your capabilities. It could even be described as another dimension—"

The pressure has reached its limit. The pressure of the stage itself and the oppression deliberately imposed by Ping Xin have made Mizukuri's heart enter a situation it has never reached before, the bottom of darkness and despair.

Humanity is fragile yet tenacious. When we hit rock bottom, we either crash or bounce back. When we're at rock bottom, every step we take is upward. The madness of giving up, the tenacity of never giving up, the will to prove something to everyone—the rebellious spirit essential to adolescence.

All of this turned into a complex emotion. If I had to give it a name, perhaps it would be recklessness, or perhaps... courage—

"Then let me show you...my...our music!"

When Mizukami raised her head again, her eyes were filled with endless fighting spirit.

As Ping Xin had said before, society is always complicated, just like what he is doing now. It is not so easy to get people to muster up real courage, but he always finds a way that works, just like this moment.

At that moment, she looked up and, for the first time, saw the man she loved most, the man named Ping Xin, as an "enemy," or perhaps an "obstacle" in their path. But when she looked over, she didn't see the hostility, contempt, or dissatisfaction she had imagined. Instead, she saw only calm... and the same feeling she always had, a warm feeling from the bottom of her heart... a feeling of being able to rely on.

Having lost and found it again, Mei Zhulan now feels...very good——

Better than ever!

"It's lit up, Ran-chan~"

Aoba Moka gave a familiar smirk.

"I...I won't give in either!"

Uehara Himari wiped the tears from her face.

"Let's work together, we can do it!"

Tsugumi Hanazawa is still cheering everyone up, and also cheering herself up.

"That's it... Let's do it this way—"

“‘Just like usual’!!!!”

The spirits and minds of the five people were united again at this moment with the same words. Now they will never lose to any difficulties, never.

"...Don't forget how you feel right now. Now that you've made up your mind, do it to the end!"

"Is that even necessary?"

When Aoba Moka walked by, Ping Xin high-fived her. She had always been lazy, but today she became much more calm. Today's performance will definitely be an opportunity for her growth.

"I...I'll do my best!"

"Just do your best. You're also my excellent student, Tugumi."

Patting Tsugumi Hanazawa's shoulder, she said that those who work hard and keep their feet on the ground will also reap their rewards today.

"Ping...Ping Xin brother, I——"

"Feimary, you have always been a strong yet gentle child. I have always seen it."

He hugged Uehara Himari, who still had tears in her eyes. She was the most fragile crybaby of the five, but she'd always been encouraging everyone with her smile. She did a great job.

"Ping Xin... I'm going."

"Well, I'll be watching you from the audience...watching you all."

Udagawa Tomoe had always been this straightforward and forthright; there was no need for the old, tearful, sentimental drama between them. So Hirayuki bumped fists with her, and the fight was over.

"..."

"Keep going... You'll still have to lead them on the road ahead."

Pingxin smiled and touched Mizukuri's head. Although the latter was mumbling something and her face turned slightly red with anger, she did not resist further.

The five people walked past Ping Xin one by one. Now, it was time for Ping Xin to leave.

"...Ping Xin!"

Before going on stage, Mi Zhulan called him at the last moment.

"One day I'll make you admit I'm an 'adult'. Until then, just throw whatever you want at me!!!"

Mizukuri smiled at Pingxin, unrestrained, flamboyant, rebellious... full of personality.

Ping Xin said nothing, and didn't turn around. He simply raised his right hand, thumbs up, and raised it high. Perhaps... it would be okay for them to walk the path ahead on their own. It might be more winding, difficult, and longer than the path he had arranged, but if it were them, they would definitely be able to do it—

The five of them were together, just like usual.

......

...

..

Ping Xin had already arrived somewhere in the audience before the performance began. The festival was a free and uninhibited place, so naturally, no one would be confined to their chairs. Instead, they moved to the rhythm of the music, shouting and cheering, awakening the emotions hidden deep within.

But it is not only the audience in the audience who should wake up, but also the musicians on the stage.

After the song "That Is How I Roll!" ended, they had truly become the focus of the venue. People put down their mobile phones, hot dogs and popcorn, and all those indifferent actions, and watched them, listened to their songs, and remembered the band called Afterglow in their hearts.

He had expected the next song to be "True Color" or something familiar like "Sentry Class" or "Wail," but when the prelude started, Hirayuko knew he had once again underestimated the existence of the girls in the band. As they had said before, their purpose in playing was to accumulate memories with each other and—

“Show them their music…go ahead…go ahead!!!”

Ping Xin was in a corner on the edge, and his cries were drowned out by the endless waves of sound.

But they can feel it, they know that in this crowded venue there must be someone somewhere cheering for them, shouting for them, and feeling moved, proud and proud of them!

......

Hey, "YOLO!!!!!"

Hey, "You Only Live Once!!!!!"

The wall is high and the relationship between the wall and the wall is high

No matter how high the wall is

The most beautiful thing about this is

The most important thing is to be able to cross it

このplaceに5人でいること

What the five people experienced in this place

かけがえないことで

They are irreplaceable memories

Hey, "YOLO!!!!!"

Hey, "You Only Live Once!!!!!"

自分を通きらしく光れ!

Radiating light is like penetrating oneself

Hui きはHe よりも绮丽…

Clearer and brighter than anything else...

......

In the dim venue, only the center of the stage was illuminated. Today, the five people were not wearing "rock-style" clothes as usual. After abandoning the childish, immature, and superficial rebellion (rock), they changed into new performance costumes designed with purple and blue gradient colors as the main color.

Who says you can’t be rebellious if you dress cute?

Who says that being beautiful can’t be handsome?

Who says you can't rock like a princess?

After breaking these traditional, inherent, and bound impressions (shackles) that bound them, a brand new Afterglow appeared before the audience, before the whole world, and before him—

"This is what I want to see..."

You...are shining!

Maybe this is also a kind of rock~

Chapter 87 Evening Stage

The performances from 9:12 a.m. to 14:15 p.m. at the Tokyo Summer Music Festival are called the Morning Stage, the performances from 19:21 p.m. to : p.m. are called the Evening Stage, and the performances from : p.m. to : p.m. are called the Night Stage.

The "Evening Stage" from 14:15 PM to : PM might sound odd on its own, but when combined with the other two, it becomes a subtly fun, almost boring affair. I wonder what the organizers came up with, perhaps simply because the kanji for "afternoon stage" looked odd, so they changed it. Perhaps they have a bit of OCD, or perhaps they just wanted to remind the audience that it would be evening (darkness) by the time the show ended.

Like Afterglow, who had performed in the morning, Roselia didn't have the talent or status to perform on the Night stage. Compared to the main stage bands, they needed further development. Furthermore, it would have been a waste to have such a rare group of talented girl bands perform together, so they were naturally "randomly" assigned to the Evening stage in the afternoon.

Backstage, in the lounge——

"...Are you all ready?"

Ping Xin asked the five girls questions.

"certainly..."

"Yeah, me too."

"Ahahaha, I'll try my best not to be left behind~"

"Ya Zi, I will do my best!"

"I...I will try my best too!"

"Hmm...very good. Then sit here and rest for a while and have some snacks. Sugar intake helps people feel happy, which will help you relax better."

Heishin had somehow managed to produce a variety of snacks, including a pot of hot tea and a cup of hot milk. Judging from this alone, perhaps he had the potential to become a Kamen Rider. In stark contrast to his morning pressure, Heishin even lit incense and led them in a meditation session to relax. Could it be that he favored Roselia's five companions?

Of course, this is not the case, and this is certainly part of teaching students in accordance with their aptitude.

Initially, the five members of Afterglow only regarded the band as a bond and a means to connect with each other. Although they gradually developed a passion for it and achieved some success, it is undeniable that their idea of ​​"giving it their best" was more naive, immature and immature than Roselia's clear goal.

Therefore, Pingxin dares to challenge them before they go on stage (training), and then encourages them (rewarding) to foster their growth. A mistake on such a stage would be a lifelong stain and shadow, while a successful experience would be invaluable nourishment for their further growth. From now on, they will no longer secretly underestimate such a stage; while they may be nervous, they will never be afraid or frightened.

Unlike the five members of Afterglow, Roselia had a clear goal from the outset, heading straight for the brutal battlefield known as FWF. While the five members of Mitake and Ran, motivated by interest, needed only the necessary training and then allowed to grow and pursue their true desires, the same couldn't be said for the five members of Yuki and Hirayuma, who were pursuing extremely high goals.

The high standards and strict requirements they have always maintained have made them mature and strong-willed. Even the socially anxious Rinko Shirogane can display qualified strength on the big stage. But this is not enough. They have a reason to achieve "perfection" today, and this is why he came -

A few minutes ago, he secretly sent out a message using the official account that his collectible card IP "Duel King" will be animated, and the singer of the OP will appear at this music festival and leave a black silhouette that can be spotted by anyone who pays attention.

A few minutes was just enough time, not enough for people who only played cards and didn't understand music to come and disrupt the venue, enough to attract card enthusiasts who happened to be there for the music, and enough to create a topic online and focus the world's attention on them.

No matter who they are performing for, their performance cannot just be good, it must be the best!

The previous version of "Legendary" had been sent back for rework, and Hirayuko had declared he wouldn't listen to it a second time. While using this as an excuse to pressure them, Hirayuko was also stimulating their potential. While the song might have been acceptable as a commercial, it wasn't the music Yuki was after, nor was it what he wanted to hear.

If he said he wouldn't listen, then he really wouldn't listen. Ping Xin couldn't control the completion of the music, so he could only try his best to assist the musicians to perform to their best.

He'd already had people researching and tweaking Yuki's throat-soothing honey tea, now in its fourth iteration. Rinko's favorite hot milk was also effective in relaxing her, and his snacks were small, non-staining, and wouldn't affect her voice. He'd meticulously prepared everything, including the usual topics of conversation about clothes, makeup, gossip, instruments, and musical interpretations, interspersed with amusing yet naive vocabulary, and reassuring glances and subtle gestures.

He could have used the power of the ripple, but he didn't.

The five people in Afterglow are optimistic, lack awareness, and are worried, while the five people in Roselia take it too seriously, the atmosphere is serious, and the tension is excessive. However, he refuses to do these small things that can be solved with super powers. Why?

Because superpowers themselves are powers that transcend ordinary people and social rules. If they are abused, it will destroy social rules and go against his principles?

Yes, that's one of the reasons.