A band simulator, but all girl-heavy!

This way, she could at least convince herself, right?

"I accidentally overheard your conversation just now... I'm so sorry! I didn't mean to eavesdrop, okay? I just noticed that you all looked troubled..."

Aoi had a faint smile on her face, but she didn't get any response, because the eyes cast at her were blank and dull, as if they were stimulated by a completely unexpected development and had not yet recovered from the downtime.

Come to think of it, anyone would find it strange if a stranger walked into someone's rest area and said something like that to them.

Several girls stared at her closely, their faces looking as if they had not yet recovered from the shock, and they did not react at all.

For them, everything before their eyes was real and abrupt, just like being hit hard by reality, but immediately receiving gentle comfort.

Even finding Xiao Kui in another band seemed so unreal, but now they saw Xiao Kui appear at the door of their rest area and smiled at them.

Is this an illusion, or is this what really happened?

".Xiao Kui?"

Aine was the first to break the silence, looking at Aoi standing at the door with a surprised expression, as if she was a little bit unbelievable.

"what?"

Hearing this name, Aoi raised her eyebrows in surprise. For a moment, she almost thought that she was not in reality, but had directly come into contact with a fully submerged simulator.

But if you think about it carefully, she had already called out her name to all the audience members during the performance just now, and many fans also called her Xiaokui directly, so calling out her name didn't seem to prove anything.

After all, she had never told anyone that she had a simulator.

"Ah, you remembered my name already? Thank you very much, I'm so happy."

Xiao Kui's smile remained unchanged as she bowed politely. "I didn't expect that going on stage would leave such a deep impression on the band I was with. I'm a little embarrassed."

These words made everyone's expressions fall instantly. Su Shi, who was originally planning to step forward, gave up the idea and just stared at Aoi with an almost collapsed expression, with the corners of his eyes trembling slightly.

There is only one message they can interpret from the current situation.

Aoi seemed to be pretending not to know them and had no intention of recognizing them.

Why? Why did this happen? Did that gentle and kind Aoi, who promised to be with them forever, abandon them?

If that's the case, why is it still appearing before my eyes...

Is this what Aoi was thinking, giving the song to another band and pretending to be a stranger here? Or is this the punishment Aoi gave them?

If that's the case, it would be better if I had never dreamed of all this in the first place.

If this is what Aoi wishes, then let it be as she wishes...

"Just now... I saw you on stage, performing brilliantly..."

The corners of Deng's eyes trembled slightly, his eyes were red, and he said in a tone of self-abandonment, "But why... did you come here?"

"As I said earlier, I accidentally overheard your conversation when I was passing by. Although it may be a bit nosy, I don't think you can give up like this."

Aoi nodded gently, the smile on her face becoming even gentler. "Although it may sound like a sermon, I think... you shouldn't question your own possibilities and your future right now."

It seems that everyone really only knew her name from the performance, just like Aoi's guess. After all, other people also knew the contents of the simulator. This kind of thing was too ridiculous. It was impossible to associate it with reality.

However, it seems that at this time, without their own comfort, Deng and Aine may not have been able to overcome the technical difficulties. It is normal for them to feel nervous and scared after seeing the band perform at such a high level.

Therefore, it is necessary to enlighten them as much as possible.

Aoi didn't want her presence to be a burden to other bands, nor did she want these girls who already had outstanding musical potential to retreat. She didn't know how the plot of the original world would develop, but she still insisted on that idea.

Once she saw it, she couldn't just sit back and watch.

76

Chapter 76 The Day Will Always Come, She Will Always Shine (Edited)

The development of things has exceeded everyone's imagination, as if all the frustrations and sufferings were squeezed into this street music festival, tearing everything they had imagined in the past into pieces, and then showing them the cruel reality in a bloody way.

The Aoi they were thinking about had already joined another band and was happily singing their own song "Light" in that other band.

This alone was enough to crush the psychological struggle and determination they had built up over a long period of time, and enough to crush the hope and motivation that had brought the entire band to where they are today.

Just let it be, let it all end, without considering the future, without considering the aftermath, like a soldier whose weapon has been broken, no longer having hope of standing up again. This was what they had originally thought, or rather, they had not considered anything, just letting themselves be swallowed by sadness.

However, Aoi appeared directly at the door of their rest area.

If Aoi was still the gentle, considerate and sunny Aoi, Su Shi and Deng would definitely rush over to hug her immediately to make sure that the Aoi in front of them was not an illusion.

But the Aoi standing at the door at this moment is the Aoi who has already been on the stage, played "If You Can Shine", and belonged to another band.

What should they do? What should they do?

Go and ask Aoi why she joined the End Band? Why did she play 'Light'?

Maybe all this was their fault? Just like Deng said, Aoi had tried to save Crychic so many times in her dreams, but nothing had come to her. She had already lost heart and didn't want to be with them anymore.

For this reason, Kui was even unwilling to admit that she had known them, and thought that it was all a dream. The gentle and warm smile on her face was only left with a forced expression of strangeness.

This feeling was even more hurtful than Xiangzi's words at the beginning. No matter how bad her attitude and accusations were, it at least showed that she still recognized everyone's past and the relationship they had. But was she so indifferent as to pretend not to know them?

This extreme coldness, almost at the freezing temperature, seemed to tear everything in their past to pieces, instantly creating an insurmountable gap between them and Aoi.

Aoi, we don't need them anymore...

"You shouldn't question your possibilities or your future right now."

At this moment, Aoi, who was standing here and saying these words, had a smile on her face that was extremely familiar to them. That was the smile that Aoi had used to save them, comfort them, and make them feel warm time and time again.

The sunlight shining on her cheeks made her skin even whiter, like a non-existent phantom, bathing in the spring day that only existed in her memories.

He pretended not to know each other and was so cold as to turn a blind eye to their past, yet at this moment he was still saying such warm words.

"Can we... still move forward? It's already like this."

Su Shi's eyes gradually became moist again, and she turned her head slightly, not wanting Aoi to see the tears in her eyes.

Wasn't this band formed because of Aoi? They were also reunited because of Aoi. Now that they have lost Aoi, what reason do they have to continue participating in this performance?

But precisely because of this reason, she couldn't say it out loud. She didn't even have the courage to shout out the sadness and collapse in her heart.

'It's because Aoi joined another band that we are like this. It's because Aoi formed this band that we are broken like this.'

But she couldn't say it...

"It's okay, it's okay... Nothing is impossible. Even if you get lost, you have to keep moving forward. If you don't try to start, there will be no possibility of success."

Aoi shook her head slightly. "Just think of me as preaching, but as long as the results come out, everything is still possible. No matter what happens, you shouldn't question your own possibilities..."

"Xiao, Xiao Kui is right. It would be terrible if we gave up before we even started!"

Aine tried hard to suppress the urge to cry, and gave Aoi a smile that was almost tearful. She said to her friends who were still hesitating, "Isn't this what everyone decided from the beginning? No matter what, we have to go on stage, sing the song, and express our feelings..."

"But what's the point of that now...!"

Su Shi shook his head vigorously and covered his head.

“…No one will expect us anymore.”

The lamp also lowered its head, and its voice was fragmented and suppressed, full of the rhythm of tears.

Li Xi stared at the lights silently, without choosing to speak. He just turned his head away, his eyes struggling.

This would probably make Aoi even more disappointed, but it didn't matter anymore. After all, Aoi had already joined someone else's band and didn't want to travel with them anymore.

Such feelings filled their minds, causing them to forget the doubts that had arisen at the beginning - since Aoi was already disheartened, why would she say these words to them?

"Then I'll do it—!"

Aoi's voice suddenly rose, startling them. They had never seen Aoi speak so loudly before. Her eyes were serious, her face devoid of smiles, and her usual gentle aura had vanished.

"If not, let me be the first one to look forward to you. I believe in your potential and I believe that you will never give up on the performance like this."

Aoi gently placed her hand on her chest, as if making a silent oath, "I believe in you, I look forward to you, so please go to the stage and play well, in exchange for a second, third, and more people looking forward to it! This is the true meaning of a band and a performance, isn't it?"

Her words, those words of absolute resolve, seemed to glow at this moment.

The crowd who were originally dejected finally remembered the most important question. If Aoi was really discouraged, then why was she standing here?

Even without communicating or hinting to each other, they came to the same answer almost instantly.

Because she is Saotome Aoi...

That girl who is like the sun, will smile at everyone, perceive the softest pain in everyone's heart, and is willing to heal that pain wholeheartedly.

The person who hopes to be with you for the rest of your life.

She might be disheartened by the irreversible breakups of her band, or she might be angry that her expectations weren't met.

But the only thing she would never do is be like Xiangzi, coldly and harshly cutting off all contact with everyone and abandoning all her smiles and tenderness.

Even if the sun goes out, even if the stars no longer shine, Aoi will still be that Aoi, gentle, kind, and friendly, like a golden sunflower shining in the sun.

".No matter what happens, no one can question your possibilities."

A smile bloomed on Aoi's face again, like the night sky being pierced by sunlight. "Because you are standing here at this moment, forming a band. And the meaning of a band's existence is to convey your music and your heart to the audience with the partners standing here at this moment, and to sing your songs to the people you want to reach."

After saying that, she bowed slightly, with the smile on her face unchanged, and slowly left the rest area.

"Well, that's all I have to say... I hope you can cheer up."

"Wait, wait a minute!"

Deng suddenly stood up from the ground, rushed to the door like an excited little beast, grabbed Aoi's wrist, and his expression was almost distorted due to the change of emotions.

"Will you...come to watch our live show?"

"Will do."

Aoi held Deng's hand in hers and pressed her warmth against her skin. The warmth flowed to every corner of Deng's body like an unstoppable torrent in an instant.

Together with her smile at this moment, the world of lights is illuminated again.

"I will support you in the most conspicuous place."

Aoi smiled gently.

It seems that even if people don't know her, her comfort is not ineffective.

I used to think that only people like Xiangzi had the ability to unite people and give them motivation and hope. Now it seems that I should have some similar qualities.

77

Chapter 77: Wanting to be her hero.

Why would I chase after him?

Why would I come up with such messed up excuses and prefer to wander around other bands' rest areas rather than have a good rest?

To find Aoi?

But why? Aoi just said she was going to the bathroom, so why would she want to join in the fun? Could it be that she suspected Aoi was sad about the past incident with the band, so she wanted to comfort her?

But what can she do? When she is with Xiaokui, she can't even speak fluently. Usually, she is just an unpopular and socially anxious person. She is lonely, stupid, dark and always has wild thoughts.

What can she do if she finds Aoi?

Her imaginative brain spared no effort to show her the future she might encounter if she did this, such as finding Xiao Kui but discovering that she really just went to the bathroom, or finding that Xiao Kui was crying because of something about her former band, but she stammered for a long time and finally said, "Potato chips are half price in the supermarket today."

What Xiao Kui needs is not someone like her, not someone as dark and socially anxious as her. Even if she goes, she can't do anything. What Xiao Kui needs is someone as gentle and cheerful as Hong Xia and Kita, or a mature and steady senior like Liang.

What Xiaokui needs is not her.

However, at the same time this thought came to mind, Pochi was still wandering around the rest area of ​​other bands, anxiously looking for Aoi.

Even though her head was screaming at her to stop, her body seemed to no longer belong to her. She was swept up by a strong emotion, just to find that familiar figure.

Aoi was not in the bathroom, and the girl with snow-white short hair who had followed her earlier was also missing. No one knew where she had gone. There was no clue or lead to find Aoi. She was almost like a headless fly, wandering aimlessly at the door of the rest area of ​​other bands.

Is there any point in doing this?

Kita and the others might still worry about me, so I better go back...

Pochi was thinking this and was about to turn around and go back when he caught an unusually familiar voice in his ears amidst a breeze.

The source of the sound was one of the band's lounge areas, and it drifted clearly towards Pochi's eardrums through the open door.

There was no doubt that it was Aoi's voice.

Aoi stood at the door of the lounge area of ​​this unfamiliar band. From Pochi's perspective, he could only see the familiar graceful back, and the confused and lost expressions of the girls behind her.

What happened? Are these girls from Aoi's former band? Why are they all so depressed?