A band simulator, but all girl-heavy!

Although changing the entire arrangement would make the performance better, she still felt bad about completely removing Aoi's part.

This song "Film" is a eulogy of a lifelong promise, a confession to the companions around them through singing and music, letting the notes and the audience witness their vows. At this moment, the people standing on the stage will walk hand in hand and keep going until the end of their lives.

However, the person who actually wrote the song was not among those who performed it, and the most important person was missing among those who agreed to be his lifelong companion.

She knew that this was meant to express everyone's feelings to Aoi, but what if Aoi misunderstood? What if she mistakenly thought that everyone was saying, "We can go on without you"?

Li Xi said that she was just too nervous and anxious and that was why she was having so many wild thoughts. She thought that was probably the case. Too many expectations and too many disappointments made her psychological defenses like a piece of white paper, so fragile.

Of course, the most crucial point is that... she hasn't seen Aoi for a long time.

Ever since that dream ended, she looked forward to entering a dream related to Aoi again every day, even if it was a dream full of sadness, regret, and tears, or even if she dreamed that Aoi hated her, it didn't matter, as long as she could see Aoi in that dream.

Before she could ask for Aoi's smile and warmth, she first needed to feel Aoi's presence. Precisely because they had almost no intersection in reality, she needed to use the illusory yet real memory in her dream as a medicine to relieve her anxiety, to get comfort from it, and to demand everything from Aoi from it.

She felt like a patient who had been exposed to an allergic element. After losing those addictive parts, she was anxious and tossing all day long, even craving it almost like crazy.

She missed Aoi very much...

Therefore, at the end of today's practice, she went out alone under the pretext of buying food at the supermarket, but she did not go to the shopping mall near her home. Instead, she went straight to the station and took the tram to Chiyoda District.

She had previously learned the news from Aine, who was surfing the Internet intensively. She knew that Aoi was no longer in Tokyo and had gone to an unknown place for training with the band.

The place that originally belonged to them now belongs to those girls, and the memories that originally belonged to them have also been taken away.

Although she was very sad, Su Shi still couldn't control her mood. Even though she knew that Aoi probably hadn't come back yet, she still wanted to try to see her. Even though she knew that Aoi might not be willing to recognize her, she still wanted to talk to her.

The void in her soul was originally filled by Crychic, and after losing Crychic, it was carefully filled by Aoi. Now, she can feel that Aoi has almost become an integral part of her soul.

She can no longer live without Aoi.

Therefore, even though she knew it might be a futile action, she still got off the tram in a hurry and walked along the street that she had an impression of, carefully comparing everything around her with what she remembered.

Finally she returned to the familiar neighborhood, and in her sight stood the large, exquisite and beautiful building.

In a trance, a breeze seemed to bring her back to a scene that had never appeared in reality. A girl with beige hair walked in front of her, gently combing her hair blown by the wind, and a gentle smile appeared on her cheeks when she looked back.

Su Shi couldn't help but clutch the fabric of his collar, walked towards the building with heavy steps, and stopped at the entrance of the courtyard.

The last name 'Saotome' was clearly written on the doorplate.

This is Aoi's home.

She took a deep breath, and her raised finger stopped a few centimeters away from the doorbell, but it was as if she touched a wall of air and never moved forward at all.

Can she see Aoi just by pressing the doorbell? The answer is of course no. After all, Aoi is currently living in an unknown place and is likely not back yet. Even if she presses the doorbell, she may only see Aoi's parents.

But what if Aoi was here? She could talk to Aoi and tell her that she missed her every day when she was away...

But is this okay? Even if Aoi is really at home, would she really dare to speak like this? What should she say to Aoi now? What should she do?

She really wanted to see Kui, but at the same time she was a little afraid to see Kui, fearing that she would only get the same indifference as Xiangzi did in the past.

Then why did she come here...

Su Shi's hands gradually dropped, and he felt tears welling up in his eyes. Aoi's smiling faces kept appearing in his mind, and his heart was broken and painful as if someone was peeling off the skin of his heart bit by bit.

Aoi, I miss you so much.

"Oh...it's a little guest."

A voice, marked by the passage of time but full of kindness and tenderness, came from beside him, bringing Su Shi back from the sorrow he was immersed in.

She turned around in surprise and found that an old woman wearing a sun hat and a simple dress was standing next to her, looking at her with a kind smile.

This is an old lady who gives people a very incredible feeling. As she grows older, she not only loses her youth, but also has an extraordinary temperament and charming charm that is unique to the elderly.

Time has left traces of wrinkles on her originally delicate and beautiful face, but it has never been able to take away the luster of her eyes, which are green, bright, and crystal clear, just like a piece of emerald green jade.

"Gui'an, little girl, you are here to look for Aoi, right?"

The old woman smiled gently at her, walked over to her side, and rang the doorbell for her. "I'm the child's grandmother, and I happened to be visiting. Since you're here, why don't you come in and sit down?"

137

Chapter 137: Xiaokui’s dream came true.

The Saotome residence was just as Suyo remembered, exquisite, spacious and comfortable. Unlike her own home, although it also had a large space, it did not have the cold and empty feeling that Suyo had at home.

Whether it is the exquisite and simple furniture in the spacious living room, or the chandelier emitting warm colors; whether it is the beautiful oil paintings depicting landscapes hanging on the wall, or the many family photos hanging on the wall of the entrance hall... they all exude a unique warmth, as if they are not just cold objects, but things that are given life and emotion by memories.

She could no longer clearly recall her feelings when she arrived at Aoi's house in her dream. She only vaguely remembered her gratitude and dependence on Aoi, as well as her uneasiness about Xiangzi's departure from the team. Entering her home again now, Sushi felt something completely different.

She never understood why Aoi had such a strong attraction to her, even surpassing her longing for Crychic and Xiangzi... Perhaps it was because of what Aoi had done for her, or perhaps it was the warmth and security she felt when she was with Aoi.

Now standing in Aoi's home, sitting on the sofa, stiffly maintaining the etiquette she had learned as a young lady, she gradually realized where her desire came from.

Whether it's Aoi's gentleness or her infectious smile, the source of all this strength comes from this warm home, from those photos of her joyful faces. The group photos in the entrance capture every moment of Aoi's growth from a tiny child to a graceful young woman. While the number of people in those photos may have changed, the one constant is that her parents are always smiling by her side.

Thinking of this, Su Shi couldn't help but feel a little sad. All she had longed for was the warmth of home. Her fragmented and incomplete childhood was always spent in loneliness and waiting. It was precisely because of this that Aoi attracted her so much...

It seems that as long as you get close to Aoi, you can get close to a world as warm as home.

"I'm so sorry. Aoi wasn't well-prepared and didn't even tell her friends that she went to the beach..."

His thoughts were gradually interrupted by the kind voice. Su Shi came back to his senses and looked at the old woman sitting on the sofa opposite, gazing at her wrinkled but extraordinarily elegant face.

She claimed to be Aoi's grandmother and hoped that Su Shi would just call her Granny Orihime. She originally wanted to visit her beloved granddaughter and give her a surprise, but she learned from Aoi's mother that Aoi had taken advantage of the Golden Week to go to the beach with her friends.

But even so, she still enthusiastically kept Su Shi and expressed her hope to entertain her friends in place of Aoi.

"But she'll probably be back tomorrow. Do you want me to tell her for you?"

As Aoi's mother spoke, she bent down and put down the tea and snacks in her hands. The tray made a crisp sound when it touched the table. Her beige hair and emerald green eyes were almost identical to Aoi's. At first glance, she looked like a more mature, more beautiful, but very cold Aoi.

It's like being surrounded by Aoi of different ages...

"Thank you, Auntie, thank you, Mother-in-law... No need, I just came to take a look."

Su Shi tried to maintain a calm and polite demeanor, gently picked up the teacup, and smiled calmly at the two of them, "Thank you for your care. When she comes back... I'll come to see her again."

To be honest, she wasn't sure if she would have the courage to come again next time. This time, she was able to open the door with the help of Grandma Hechuan, but that didn't mean she had figured it out.

The moment she stood in front of this door again, she still had to face the questions she kept asking herself, hesitated, and lost her courage.

Perhaps it was only after she sang that song that she could see the future path clearly. Whether she completely lost Xiaokui or finally won her back, it would put an end to her current uncertain state.

"Are you Aoi's classmate?"

Grandma Hechuan held a teacup in her hand, looked at Su Shi with a kind smile, and asked in a calm tone.

"Ah... yes."

Su Shi hesitated for a moment, then smiled and nodded.

"Then it seems we should thank you for taking care of Aoi at school. That child has been spoiled since she was little, and she must need help from others a lot."

Grandma Tsurukawa spoke as if to be polite.

"No, no...I'm the one who's always been taken care of by her."

Su Shi shook her head, a hint of loneliness in her eyes, "I should be the one to thank her properly..."

If only the relationship between them was that simple, and a simple thank you or sorry could solve the problem.

"You have a very good relationship."

Granny gazed at Su Shi's slightly dimmed expression, her smile growing even kinder. "I've always hoped that child would pursue a musical career like me... and good social relationships can also generate more positive emotional energy, which is one of the raw materials for music creation... I believe this relationship will give her more motivation and inspiration before she embarks on the path of becoming a professional singer."

"Eh?"

Su Shi widened his eyes slightly, still not fully recovered from the change in topic, and just looked at the old woman in front of him in confusion.

She only knew that Aoi came from a wealthy family and had a certain musical background, but this was the first time she heard about the "professional singer's path".

"Have you decided yet?"

Aoi's mother sat on a chair nearby, looking at Grandma Tsurukawa with a slightly puzzled look. It was obvious that she had just learned about this as well.

"That's about right. In Japan right now, fifteen or sixteen is the golden age for singers."

Grandma Tsurukawa smiled and said, "I wasn't planning on being so anxious, but I heard that she participated in music-related activities before and achieved good results, right? That proves that the child is indeed interested in music..."

As she spoke, she looked at Su Shi who was stunned beside her and asked calmly.

"What are you like getting along with Aoi? Do you ever share your thoughts? You must have a lot of interest in music, right?"

".She, she really likes music."

Su Shi was a little overwhelmed and said, "Um, please tell me, what does debuting as a singer mean...?"

"Well, it's just my personal little wish and my hope for the child's future."

Grandma Tsurukawa's smile was still so kind and gentle, yet for some reason, it held an inexplicable sense of majesty within its calmness. "With such great talent, coupled with the blessing of interest, that child's qualities shouldn't be buried. They should get into an agency as soon as possible and debut in the mainstream before graduation."

"This, this is it..."

Su Shi felt that her smile suddenly became forced, much more than the smile and gentle mask she usually put on when facing her classmates. But the only difference was that her smile at this moment was very fragile and could collapse at any moment.

She is not stupid, and she can probably understand from these words that once she moves towards the goal of becoming a professional singer, not to mention her band activities, even her social life will probably be affected.

In the desperately competitive Japanese music industry, the only way to gain a foothold is to give your all.

If that's the case, if Aoi really becomes a singer at the instigation of her family and stops forming a band, then what's the point of all their efforts?

No, that's not right...

If she could prove that a band career had a bright future, she wouldn't necessarily have to become a professional singer. This mother-in-law doesn't seem to be such a fool...

If he could win more favor from his mother-in-law towards himself and the band, could he push Aoi... back to them?

Su Shi couldn't help but clasp her hands together and stroke her tense slender fingers.

138

Chapter 138 The only thing that is hard on the body is the mouth.

"It's right here... Shimokitazawa, a livehouse called 'Starry'."

"Oh~ This is even more unique than other livehouses I've seen before. It actually leads underground. It feels like it's only for underground bands."

"I was also shocked when I saw it. Aoi actually likes this kind of style~ She's quite rebellious at heart, isn't she?"

On a quiet and peaceful evening, several young girls were crowded in the bustling streets of Shimokitazawa, looking curiously at a livehouse not far away with stairs extending downwards, as dark as a basement.

In Tokyo, where life is fast-paced and the social atmosphere is extremely high-pressure, more and more young people are falling in love with music, and rock music with a distinct rebellious spirit is particularly popular. In such an environment, Shimokitazawa bands have also stood out in the Japanese music scene.

After hearing that the band's home base is in Shimokitazawa, it is always easy to have the illusion of contrast. After all, although they are a Shimokita-style band, their style is not too rebellious, or even that rock-like. The impression they give is even more like an Ikebukuro girl band.

When we finally arrived in Shimokitazawa to observe, we found that the Livehouse where they performed was even less in line with their atmosphere. It was gloomy, dark, melancholic, and even a bit narrow. It looked like a place where only independent rock or emotional rock people would go.

"So...why do we all have to follow?"

Only Xiaozhi sighed helplessly and complained impatiently, "Since when has sneaking over to spy on others been considered a group activity?"

"Because this is something related to the band! Of course, everyone has to be together."

Nina said seriously.

"Then why didn't Momoka come over?"

Xiaozhi folded his arms and pointed out the most crucial point sharply.

After the previous argument, although Momoka relented and agreed for them to go to Starry to talk to Aoi, she did not agree with them going to confront Aoi face to face, and she was absolutely unwilling to go with them to see Aoi.

According to Taoxiang, she had no interest in what happened in her dream, and she didn't want to disturb a little girl who had nothing to do with her because of such a boring thing.

So, instead of calling Momoka, Nina took the rest of the band and ran to Shimokitazawa after practice.

As for what to do, she hasn't thought it through clearly yet, but she probably won't directly take out the Black Sheep song to confront Momoka as she worried. However, no matter what, she really wants to meet Aoi who wrote this song.

That dark, sad, and rebellious song contained frustration and discontent with injustice, a self-destructive spirit hidden within it, a refusal to give in, a refusal to succumb to injustice. The depressing melody and gloomy lyrics seemed completely unrelated to the sunny, lively, and cheerful Aoi, and it didn't seem like something she could write.

She was very curious about how Aoi wrote this song. If she really wrote "Black Sheep" just by listening to Nina and Momoka's experiences, then her empathy was too strong. Such a person would definitely be able to write more songs that others could empathize with.

"Don't hide here, we're not really here to spy."

Subaru glanced at Nina, who was still lost in thought, patted her head gently, and then took the lead and walked towards the stairs leading to the underground.

Seeing this, the others hurriedly followed. The afternoon sun was gradually blocked and swallowed up, and the shadows gently embraced them and took them in.

This is a livehouse with a gloomy style.

This thought lingered in their minds, and they even began to imagine the band ending and moving closer to those gloomy rock musicians. The image of Aoi with dyed hair and earrings appeared in their minds at the same time.