Girl Band, Gravity Capture

Page 113

The girl only cared about this one thing.

The rest of them thought and felt nostalgic—since they were the ones who abandoned Xu Dou first, they had no right to complain about it, and Nagasaki Motoyo didn't want to say anything good about them.

"..."

However, he did not make the resounding and firm choice he had made in the past.

Those eyes, as warm and smooth as black jade, were like the sky outside the window shrouded in dark clouds, filled with a rare, somber grayness called "confusion."

Just like when I first saw that old bass in the music store, I was bound by the myths of the past.

Nagasaki Motoyo, who was staring at him almost face to face, trembled slightly at the fingertips.

She immediately released her hands from around the boy's neck and quickly walked to the sofa.

Then, she hugged him tightly, face to face.

The smooth touch of her flaxen hair glided across her cheeks, and the delicate fragrance unique to young girls filled her breath.

Under the warm embrace of Nagasaki Motoyo, who was close to him in every way, Gen Xudou's body, which had been stiff and sluggish due to accumulated psychological pressure, gradually relaxed.

"...Su Shi, you are so kind."

“It’s nothing for Xu Doujun as long as it’s something he needs,” she said with a gentle smile. “After all, you often lend me your arms.”

“If you need an even more intense way to relieve stress…” Nagasaki Motoyo gently scratched the boy’s back, her warm breath carrying a meaningful glance, “I wouldn’t mind at all…”

"...That's good."

The girl sighed, feigning disappointment.

Yuan Xudou didn't delve deeper into the issue and quickly changed the subject, "Su Shi, what are your thoughts on those things?"

"I'd like to hear your opinion." His eyes were very serious.

He couldn't make a hasty choice amidst the entanglement of responsibility, emotions, and disappointment... Rather than letting himself remain hesitant and confused, he decided to let someone he trusted temporarily set a direction for him.

As for what fate will ultimately lead him to... he won't blame Nagasaki Motoyo for making the suggestion.

"My opinion?"

Nagasaki Motoyo's voice sounded somewhat surprised, as if she hadn't expected to be sought out for important advice by Genjiro.

But then, the joy of being trusted and relied upon by the person you like welled up from the bottom of your heart like flowing honey.

'Can I...influence Xu Doujun's decision?'

...Yes, why not?

Caring for each other and making concessions for each other—isn't that what a couple who want to spend their lives together should be like?

Nagasaki Motoyo suddenly realized that it wasn't until Genjiro gently placed the power to make decisions for him in her hands that she finally understood how pure she was now, the "trust" and "intimacy" she had longed for in the past.

Her supple back trembled, not from panic, but from an indescribable happiness and excitement.

Willfulness is fine, selfishness is fine... Xu Dou's eyes, shining with tolerance, show an unspoken acceptance of the real "Nagasaki Motoyo".

So... she could be even more unrestrained, even more "thinking only of herself and him".

"—Can we just end all of that?"

She nestled in Yuan Xudou's arms, whispering softly in the gentlest voice.

"As for me, Xu Doujun is enough."

Nagasaki Suyo made up her mind.

—If Xu Dou can't make his own choice, then he should end it all himself.

The entanglements and memories that troubled him... since they are now in the past, they should be put to rest.

'【CryCHIC】...I will end this.'

Chapter 43 Would you consider hiring me?

An imperfect past is always regrettable, isn't it?

Especially when you know that with your abilities, you actually have the opportunity to lead everything to a better outcome.

If I had noticed the abnormality of the Fengchuan Group earlier, if Xiangzi had placed more trust in me, if I had been more stubborn and determined back then... would things have been different?

It was a question that echoed in my heart, but would never be answered.

Like throwing a stone into a bottomless lake, all you get is unchanging loneliness.

Failure... Failure.

Although fate has never been kind to him, bestowing upon him dazzling talent and a character and resilience strong enough to establish himself anywhere, he has always been shrouded in an inescapable shadow. Yuan Xudou still believes he has the ability to bring happiness to others.

Even if there is nothing that can be done about the passing of one's parents.

Even if the departure of a companion is irreversible.

Even if the wish made never comes true.

...He must also have things he can do.

Even if it's just to make the people around you feel at ease.

Not to prove anything, but simply because—

"If it were Xu Dou, he would definitely do that."

It's really tough to have such heavy expectations placed on you.

Although it was a bond and trust that he personally established and strengthened, there was no reason to complain.

However, it's not unreasonable to occasionally have thoughts like, "I wish I could rest quietly by myself."

"..."

Yuan Xudou was alone today.

In the sparsely populated studio, he casually leaned against a chair that looked somewhat worn from being over-washed, with the back cushions seemingly revealing the inner filling. Half of his face was hidden in the not-so-deep shadows, and his palm supported his slightly tilted cheek.

Tokyo has many such unknown live houses, where underground idols, newly debuted small bands, and solo guitarists who want to become famous perform. The people who come here to perform are often people who would hardly be considered mainstream even in today's era of big girl bands.

Getting in is quite simple; you don't need to buy a ticket. It's similar to a regular bar: just order a drink and tick any band's name on the show list.

Anyway, let alone being packed... normally, it would be considered pretty good if the seats were half full.

They had no experience, no connections, no background, and not even the technology.

Take the band performing on stage right now, for example. Their drumbeats are barely in sync, their bass is just barely acceptable, and their guitar is almost drifting off-key into the audience. Even they themselves seem to realize their mistakes, looking dejected but having no choice but to continue playing.

Even the audience seemed indifferent, and their emotions were not stirred at all.

It was nothing like the two exhilarating, passionate, and near-perfect performances he remembered.

...But since it was the Live House he chose, out of respect, Won Heo-do didn't immediately look down and start scrolling through his phone like some of the people around him. Instead, he propped his face up and continued watching the show.

He came out to relax on a whim, not to enjoy a top-tier band's performance. With an entrance fee of just over a thousand yen, it would be too much to expect to see any high-end music.

He chose to perform at a live house simply because his past experiences made him more familiar with the environment.

The boy even deliberately chose a secluded corner to avoid being disturbed...

"—Huh? What are you doing here?"

A calm voice, seemingly familiar with him, came from beside him, but Yuan Xudou was certain that he did not know the owner of that voice before.

...Was that a flirting attempt?

He paused for a moment, frowned, and turned his head to look at the person who had already sat down in the adjacent chair with perfect ease.

Her short, glossy black hair shone brightly, her emerald-green eyes were clear and bright, and her beautiful face possessed a slightly aloof yet somewhat heroic air. Beneath her half-open, shiny leather jacket, a vibrant red lining stood out, paired with hot pants, creating a look that was both casual and stylish.

"what happened?"

Noticing the boy's gaze, the girl turned to look at him, somewhat confused.

...It seems that it's not like I have absolutely no recollection of them.

“…No, I’m just a little surprised.” After confirming that she was probably not a stranger who had deliberately tried to strike up a conversation, Yuan Xudou looked away.

"I think so."

She followed Yuan Xudou's gaze and turned to look at the stage, giving a simple nod in agreement before ending the conversation.

After a while, she suddenly turned her head back, her eyes shining brightly.

Are you scouting potential band members?

Why would you have this idea?

As if sensing the doubt hidden beneath his calm expression, the girl offered her explanation first.

“I’ve never seen you at any other live house before. Why would you suddenly come to such a remote place to watch a show like this? Based on my experience, I think you probably want to recruit some talented but overlooked teammates.”

So you weren't watching the performance, but trying to figure out what I was thinking?

Yuan Xudou was somewhat speechless.

“My name is Hachiman Kairin,” she suddenly introduced herself. “If you can’t find a suitable bassist, I hope you can hire me. I’m quite a well-known bass mercenary around here.”

When Hachiman Kairin said these words, her eyes did not reveal any fervent desire or longing to join the band; she seemed to be simply offering her suggestion in a very calm and rational manner.

"...I'm not looking for band members," Genji replied calmly. "Besides, why did Hachiman suddenly contact me?"

"...Is that so? That's a real shame."

Despite saying this, Hachiman Kairin's expression hardly changed.

She pulled a box of low-fat chocolate bars from her pocket.

“The reason is quite simple.” The girl pulled out a piece, lowered her head and bit into the part that wasn’t coated with dark chocolate. “In RiNG, I’ve heard your guitar solos several times.”

"You are the best guitarist I have ever met."

“When you’re hired to perform, you’d definitely want to work with someone who’s good at it.” She didn’t say anything fancy, her tone was very frank. “You don’t seem like a stingy person either. Working with you would probably be much more enjoyable than working with the bands I’m in now.”

"I don't have that need."

"What a pity. I was thinking of joining a new band so I could buy that bass I liked." Hearing this, Hachiman Kairin sighed.

She didn't argue further and gave up decisively, then pulled out a Pocky stick and handed it to the boy next to her.

"Have one?"

"……Thanks."

Chapter 44 Trust is the most fundamental condition

He's a strange person, but you can't sense any malice from him, and he doesn't seem to be spying on you.

Yuan Xudou didn't hesitate much. He had come out to clear his head, and his brain was in a semi-dormant standby state, so he wasn't thinking things through seriously. Let alone offering him a chocolate bar, he would probably accept a meal as long as his intuition told him there was no danger—of course, whether he would actually go afterward was another matter.

The boy, too lazy to think, took the chocolate bar, not in a hurry to finish it, but just biting half of it in his mouth, enjoying the taste of the chocolate syrup on the biscuit slowly melting in his mouth.

Compared to Genjiro, who at least properly held the chocolate bar in the center of his lips, Hachiman Kairin's way of eating it was much more peculiar. She only bit the end of the cookie without the dark chocolate coating, holding the Pocky stick diagonally in the corner of her mouth. Rather than eating a chocolate bar, her leisurely posture was more like chewing on an expensive pipe.

"The show here probably isn't very interesting for you." She crunched on her Pocky, seemingly uninterested in the performance despite being inside, but rather in the boy she had met beside her.

Her clear, turquoise eyes shimmered in the dim stage lights. Hachiman Kairin even turned her face completely around, raising her delicate eyebrows, making no attempt to hide her curiosity about the boy.

"Then, Hachiman-kun, what brings you here to watch the show?" Without thinking, Genji threw the question back at him.

“…Answer questions with questions.” Hachiman Kairin pressed her fingers to her chin, looking thoughtful, while the chocolate bar in her mouth was already empty. “It’s not impossible, but after I answer, can you answer me?”

"By the way, I've already told you my name, but you haven't introduced yourself yet." She stared intently at the boy, who seemed to be somewhat distracted.

“...My name is Yuan Xudou.”

He carelessly chewed and swallowed the Pocky in a couple of bites, and was just about to refuse the other person's "answer for answer" offer when Hachiman Kairin pulled out another chocolate bar and handed it to him.

...Does it come with refills?