Girl Band, Gravity Capture

Page 39

I want to reciprocate your trust, I want to gain your approval, I want to keep those stars by my side for a lifetime...

Staring intently into those starry eyes, the girl who had uttered that cry, after catching her breath, murmured again:

Listen to my song.

“《《だから布は音楽を词めた》(So I gave up music)”

Chapter Fifty-Three is both a song and a confession.

"Kaoえたってわからないし"

(No matter how you think about it, it's all meaningless)

"Under the blue sky, you are waiting for me"

(I can only wait for you under the blue sky)

"The wind is blowing at noon, the day is under the sun and the wind is blowing at noon, and the day is under the sun and I am imagining it."

(The midday breeze carried my thoughts into the afternoon.)

"ねぇ、これからどうなるんだろうね"

(So, what should I do from now on?)

"Jin Yifang teaches you how to teach"

(I haven't learned how to take a step forward.)

"Your Majesty's Eyes Are Seen, What's Your Words"

(Looking into your eyes, unable to say anything, I walked away.)

The moment after Gao Songdeng made his declaration, crisp and simple drumbeats broke the silence in the room, setting the rhythm of the music.

A gentle and passionate singing voice and a melodious and delicate piano sound rang out at the same time, scattering white light patterns under the dim light.

Her soft, amber eyes rippled as if melting, her petite, slender body swayed slightly with the rhythm of the music, only her fair hands gripped the microphone tightly, her cherry lips close to her lips as she breathed out ethereal melodies.

The melody, though light and airy, seemed to be swept away by a raging wind, losing its direction and filled with a trembling, bewildered whisper.

Ignoring everything around them, they seemed to want to confide in someone, desperately pouring all the emotions spreading from the depths of their hearts into their voices.

"Kaoえたってわからないし"

(No matter how you think about it, it's all meaningless)

"Youth なんてつまらないし"

(Youth is utterly boring)

"Ci めた筭のピアノ、机を弾く奇が抜けない"

(The piano should have been given up, but the habit of playing on the tabletop couldn't be broken.)

"ねぇ、What will happen in the future?"

(So, what can I do in the future?)

"音楽はしてないといいね"

(If only I didn't make music)

"Sleepy"

(Don't bother me)

My life up to this point has been meaningless.

Youth, companions, ideas... these are all things separated by thick barriers, things that cannot be touched.

No one could understand, no one could rely on this girl, like a drop of water that could not merge into the ocean, eternally lonely, waiting for her fate to dry up.

That loneliness and helplessness, the fear and confusion of being trapped in darkness, were all revealed without reservation in the song that swayed like falling petals.

I want to change myself but I can't seem to do it; I want to please others but I always fail… I want a place of my own, but I can't find it anywhere. I don't want to live like this anymore…!

Wandering alone among the crowd, incongruously silent amidst laughter, becoming an oddity in everyone's eyes...

...They were almost ready to give up...!

I had already given up hope!

...But because you are here, even when I am confused, I still want to keep moving forward.

Her vision was blurred by tears that flowed unnoticed, but the girl still gazed intently at the figure that had never lost its light in her eyes, and revealed a smile that she hoped he would see.

It was less like singing and more like making a confession to someone that couldn't be expressed in words.

Then, to the accompaniment's rapid tempo, he bent over and squeezed the air out of his lungs with all his might, pushing his singing to a climax.

"Jianwei ってるんだよ"

(There must be a mistake.)

"わかってないよ、"

(I don't understand)

"あんたら人间も"

(Even you humans)

"This is a world of love and a life of suffering"

(Whether it's the truth, love, the world, suffering, or life, it doesn't matter.)

"正しいかどうか知りたいのだって Defense instinctだ"

(Wanting to know if something is correct is just a defensive instinct.)

"Kaoえたんだ"

(After thinking)

"あんたのせいだ"

(It's all your fault—)

The almost screaming singing, with its infinitely soaring pitch, filled everyone's hearts with an intensity that seemed to lift the roof off.

Forget about vocal techniques and singing; the girl focused more intently than ever before on pouring her heart into her hoarse voice.

Then, penetrating all barriers, the clear and pure emotion naturally and naturally shocked everyone present.

Unwilling and bewildered, as if the last syllable of her voice was choked with sobs, she held her fragile and helpless heart in her hands, and it beat weakly, lamenting the pain of the past.

A profound sadness and tremor washed over everyone's mind, slowing their heartbeats as if they were being choked, and even their breathing became suffocated by it.

Like withered flowers blown away by the autumn wind, or decaying grass buried deep in the mud, they evoke pity and stir the heart.

As the song neared its end, the keyboard solo drowned out the hoarse vocals, quietly severing the emotional connection and allowing the heartstrings, on the verge of collapse, a chance to catch their breath.

The hands holding the microphone began to tremble and go limp, and the tearing screams gradually faded away.

I let go of one hand and wiped away the tears welling up in my eyes, just so that the light could be clearer in my eyes.

With a final burst of strength, the girl relaxed her weary legs and, in a trembling voice, brought the performance to a close.

"だからserver"

(So ​​what about me?)

"だからPUは音楽を词めた"

(Give up music/stop singing)

...I will never give up singing.

The singing faded into silence.

Even the strength to speak was taken away; in the entire venue, only the faint breathing of Takamatsu Todoroki, who was holding the microphone, could be heard.

Everyone remained cautiously silent, not daring to break the frozen stillness.

Until Yuan Xudou, who was sitting at the highest point, stood up, his tall figure standing tall, a loud round of applause broke the silence.

As if waking from a dream, thunderous applause and cheers immediately erupted from the audience.

The people on stage, who were also lost in thought, were suddenly awakened. Toyokawa Shoko quickly wiped away the tears that had inexplicably welled up in her eyes, stepped forward to pull the still dazed Takamatsu Akari back to the group.

Then, on behalf of the still unconscious girl, he bowed deeply to the audience.

"That concludes our performance by CryCHIC... We hope you enjoyed it."

Amidst even more enthusiastic applause, the curtain fell.

Chapter Fifty-Four: Conversations on the Return Journey

On the return bus, the glow of dusk drifted through the silent air, gently illuminating the scene inside the bus.

With her delicate palm supporting her cheek, Nagasaki Motoyo gazed unblinkingly out the car window with her bright, light blue eyes.

The swaying shadows of the trees, the bustling traffic... and in the reflection of the car window, Toyokawa Shoko, clinging to the back of the seat, peeking back.

"……Ugh."

She sighed almost imperceptibly.

Turning her gaze away, Nagasaki Motoyo turned to Toyokawa Shoko sitting beside her, her gentle voice lowered, carrying a hint of caution as if she did not want to disturb others.

"Xiangzi, stop looking."

While advising the other person, he couldn't help but glance in the direction that Toyokawa Shoko was looking.

There, the serene gray-haired girl leaned on Yuan Xudou's shoulder, like a puppy curled up in a soft and safe nest, quietly drifting off to sleep with a relaxed expression.

She shouted out all her emotions, and was so tired after stepping off the stage that she could barely walk. Everyone had to help her into the car. Once she relaxed, she looked extremely sleepy.

Because Takamatsu Akari's performance today was truly outstanding, Toyokawa Shoko reluctantly gave up her spot next to Genjiro, allowing her to sleep soundly next to the person she most wanted to be close to at this moment.

And then, it turned into this... When he first fell asleep, he was maintaining a safe distance. After a while, Takamatsu Akari's head tilted onto Gen Xudou's shoulder, and the boy relaxed his shoulders, letting the other lean on him.

...To be honest, I'm a little envious.

She and Yuan Xudou had been living together for a long time, and although they often squeezed together on the sofa, she had never slept on him like this before.

Moreover, Yuan Xudou would straighten Gao Songdeng's head when it was about to tilt, and his eyes would soften whenever this happened.

It was because she couldn't bear to watch anymore that Nagasaki Motoyo chose to look out the window to calm herself down a bit.

"...No matter how much you look at it, you can't change anything."

She gave a quiet reminder to Toyokawa Shoko, who was clearly biting her lower lip.

In theory, the two are rivals for Yuan Xudou's affections, but because everyone in the band tacitly avoids showing it, they have never had a direct conflict and their personal relationship is actually quite good.

They know perfectly well what the other is doing, but they tacitly refrain from exposing it, thus maintaining a superficial peace.

However, while they maintained politeness and gentleness towards each other and acted very magnanimously in front of Yuan Xudou, they weren't truly indifferent to each other at all.

If given the chance, they would definitely not hesitate to kick each other out of the relationship without harming the friendship between the band members.

"……I know."

Toyokawa Shoko understood what Nagasaki Motoyo was referring to.

As someone who stood on the stage and personally participated in Gao Songdeng's singing, she knew much more about it than the audience members below the stage.

Rather than a performance that poured out of her heart, it was more like a heart-wrenching confession to a young man through her singing—if the public found out about this, it would definitely turn into a controversy.

Fortunately, only the other four people on stage could perceive that reality. As for the audience, they would probably just think that she didn't move her eyes much because she was nervous and that she was singing too passionately.

Her usual gentle and bright smile vanished, and Toyokawa Shoko closed her eyes slightly, her voice tinged with helplessness.

"I never expected the lamp would do something like this..."

The seemingly timid and cowardly girl made a bold move at the crucial moment that she would never have dared to think of, and the final response was actually quite good. Even she was moved by Takamatsu Akari's rich and passionate emotions and acknowledged the girl's feelings.