A guide to survival in a heavy girl's world

Nagasaki Suyo said:

"A beautiful girl who has been highly anticipated since her debut, a 'first-rate star' who has exploded into fame at an unprecedented speed, a popular idol who is predicted to be at the Budokan within a year..."

"Now it sounds even more unreal."

Shiina Riki couldn't help but shook her head at first, and then she immediately looked at Chihaya Aine again.

"Are you sure you're not mistaken? Could there be someone else with the same name?"

"I'm sure you're right. I confirmed this with my brother a long time ago."

Chihaya Aine said very seriously:

"The costume in the first music video for Summer Zodiac that garnered widespread attention online was designed by my brother for Hoshino Ai."

"...Chihaya-san is also a very remarkable person."

Shiina Riki raised his eyebrows again.

Before this, she had only thought that Chihaya Tetsuya was a very talented young designer, but she had never expected that he would have such an exaggerated "achievement"...

Then again, they're just asking such a talented designer to design their costumes without any burden or cost... is that really okay? Should they even consider paying Chihaya-san some sort of compensation after this?

Shiina Riki fell into very realistic thinking.

On the other side, after hearing all this, Nagasaki Suyo suddenly asked:

"So, what does this have to do with our Live?"

She crossed her arms and asked with a puzzled look:

"I understand that you don't want Chihaya Tetsuya's future to be taken away by Hoshino Ai... but what can we do with just our newly formed band?"

"This one……"

When asked by Nagasaki Motoyo, Chihaya Aine hesitated for a moment, but then she spoke calmly:

"I hope our band...can use this live as a starting point and begin activities with the goal of a 'mainstream debut'."

"Mainstream debut!?"

Upon hearing this word, Shiina Riki couldn't help but exclaimed:

"You should know what this means, right?"

Unlike bands that just hang out among students, bands that debuted in the mainstream needed to be strong enough to attract record companies and sign contracts with them to release commercial albums. Once they were discovered and recognized by a record company, they would no longer be amateurs but officially become professionals.

Not to mention that this band has only been formed for less than a month, even many bands that have been performing in various livehouses and bars for many years have never been able to reach this level.

"Let's not talk about the feasibility of this goal for now...what about after we debut in the mainstream?"

Nagasaki Suyo continued to ask:

"What do you hope to change by making a mainstream debut?"

"Just like what Hoshino Ai wants to do... I hope that through this method, we can increase our influence and protect our brother."

Chihaya Aine said:

"Even if we can't reach the level of Hoshino Ai, at least we can't let her do whatever she wants."

"..."

After hearing this, Nagasaki Suyo fell into deep thought.

On the other side, Shiina Riki said:

"That's impossible. From what you just said, it seems like Hoshino Ai is planning to come clean in May, right? That's a very tight deadline for a band. Less than a month is only enough for us to release a few singles. Without our own album, there's no way our band will ever gain the popularity and influence to rival those of popular idols."

Although he was refuting Chihaya Aine as usual, this time Shiina Riki was analyzing and explaining seriously and without any anger.

"And among the five of us, besides Lenai, the other four, including me, are simply not at the level to debut in the mainstream. Especially you. Although you have been practicing quite hard recently and your progress is obvious, you are still far from the level of a professional guitarist."

"Woo..."

After hearing this, Chihaya Aine immediately showed a rather unwilling expression.

At first, she wanted to form a band just to gain recognition and become a school celebrity. However, with the appearance of a girl named Toyokawa Shoko and the various entanglements between Chihaya Tetsuya and Hoshino Ai, she gradually realized that she could no longer live the leisurely life as in the past.

Of course, she understood Shiina Riki's objective analysis. In fact, she knew her own inadequacy better than anyone else.

However, if she really did nothing, she would probably just sit back and watch her brother being snatched away by someone else—

"...If I just work towards this goal, it wouldn't be a big deal, right?"

At this moment, Nagasaki Suyo suddenly spoke:

"For us, it's just a matter of increasing our training volume and participating in as many live events as possible to increase our visibility."

"Huh? Are you serious?"

Shiina Riki gave Nagasaki Suyo an incredible look.

"Given our current level, it's more than just 'a little'. And...if we truly plan on debuting as a mainstream artist, that would essentially mean our future path would also be determined, and that's not something that can be decided in a few words."

"I know, so we're going to discuss this together."

Nagasaki Suyo took out her cell phone calmly.

"I'll call Deng over. Once she's here, the five of us will make a decision together...Aine."

"kindness?"

"Regarding your brother... although this is just my personal opinion, I don't think he would really allow Hoshino Ai to wantonly deprive him of his career as a designer."

Nagasaki Suyo said:

"As long as we can communicate well, nothing is unsolvable. That's the lesson your brother taught me, and he must understand it himself. Given your brother's... eloquence, I don't think you need to worry that much... However, your desire to do something about it is not wrong. At least, I personally don't object to us aiming for a 'mainstream debut'."

"Su Shi..."

After hearing this, Chihaya Aine stared blankly at Nagasaki Suyo for a long time before she said:

"Even though you always say you dislike your brother, you really do agree with him in your heart, right?"

"...Hello? Deng? Could you please come to [RiNG] right away? We have something important to discuss with you."

"Ah, I'm being ignored..."

Even though she was being ruthlessly ignored, Chihaya Aine's expression was not at all depressed; instead, a hint of a smile appeared on her face.

Although both Li Xi and Su Shi had different opinions, neither of them opposed her motive of wanting to "protect her brother."

This band, which was gradually brought together under the impetus of Chihaya Tetsuya, is at least quite consistent in its opinions on the issue of Chihaya Tetsuya.

"This Live...must be a success."

Whether it is for the future of the band or to protect his brother!

"Speaking of which, how's Lixi's song coming along?"

"It's already written. But the time we have left that day can still add one more song, so it's not realistic to write a new song, so I'm also thinking about which one to cover first-"

"As for the song, don't you have another one?"

Chihaya Aine said:

"The song you [CRYCHIC] created—"Spring Shadow"."

Chapter 40: How to open the wax seal

"Haruhi Shadow..."

Toyokawa Shoko first repeated the song title with a complicated expression, and then she asked again:

"Have they... decided to play this piece?"

"Not really, that's why Shigaraki-san asked me to ask for your opinion."

Chihaya Tetsuya raised his head from his manuscript paper:

"So what's your answer?"

"I……"

Shoko Toyokawa couldn't help but lower her head slightly.

"This isn't a song that belongs to me alone. If they want to play it, there's no need to ask for my opinion—"

"Toyokawa, I don't like beating around the bush or lying."

Chihaya Tetsuya shook his head, interrupting Toyokawa Shoko's insincere answer.

"I'm asking for your opinion simply to understand your thoughts, so you just need to answer truthfully."

"…………"

After realizing that her hesitation had been seen through, Toyokawa Shoko took a deep breath and then said:

"Actually... I don't know what I'm thinking... I do want to cheer them on, but... Kasuga Shadow also has irreplaceable and important meaning to me. I'm... a little afraid that it will become something I don't recognize."

"That's it..."

Chihaya Tetsuya nodded in understanding.

"Then I'll tell Nagasaki-san this answer exactly as it is—"

"Wait a moment!"

Shoko Toyokawa quickly grabbed Chihaya Tetsuya's arm to stop him from taking out his cell phone.

"I haven't made a final decision yet, please give me a little more time!"

"..."

Chihaya Tetsuya, who was forcibly stopped, thought for a moment before speaking.

"Toyokawa, even though this band is also the band of my most important sister, I still want to say... you don't need to feel any psychological burden about this matter. After all, you are not the only one who is hesitant about this matter."

"Is it not just me?"

After hearing this, Toyokawa Shoko quickly realized who Chihaya Tetsuya was talking about.

"Ah, I see. So, since Sushiya couldn't make up his mind, that's why he asked you to seek my advice?"

"After all, she hasn't given up the idea of ​​reorganizing [CRYCHIC] until now."

"Let's just forget about that...that's just Su Shi trying to save face."

Shoko Toyokawa mercilessly exposed the truth behind this sentence.

"But...we both probably share the same concern about that memory no longer belonging to us."

"That's why I said you don't need to have any psychological burden. After all, no matter what decision you make, there will always be people who support your ideas."

Chihaya Tetsuya's tone was the same as always, always calm enough to put Toyokawa Shoko at ease:

"And since we already have an original song, it doesn't matter if the other one is a cover. According to Aine and the others, the quality of that original song is not inferior to your 'Haruhi Kage'. So, Toyokawa, you only need to think about your own mood, and don't worry about anything else."

"It won't lose to the song of Kasuga Shadow..."

Although the lyrics were still written by Deng, the composer changed from her to Li Xi.

Without the piano arrangement, her compositional style would not be there.

A song that does not belong to [CRYCHIC], but to this new band.

"What kind of song will it be?"

"I do not know."

Chihaya Tetsuya shook his head.

"So, I plan to go and confirm it myself that day. What about you, Toyokawa?"

He looked at Toyokawa Shoko.

"Will you go to the live show that day?"

"…………"

If they really did, as Chihaya Tetsuya said, create a song that they believed was not inferior to "Kasuga Shadow", then the stage on that day would become extremely meaningful to each of them.

She still remembers the first live performance of [CRYCHIC].

The memory of that day is like a piece of exquisite sealing wax, which completely seals the short-lived beauty of [CRYCHIC] into a short but complete whole.