Girl Band, Gravity Capture

Page 42

He abruptly changed the subject and placed the cup back on the table.

The liquid in the glass sloshed around, and the boy calmly spoke, uttering words that no one had expected.

"After this live performance, CryCHIC's activities will be suspended for a period of time."

"Huh? Why, why?"

Even Toyokawa Shoko didn't expect Genjiro to suddenly say such a thing.

She opened her bright golden eyes in shock, her pupils filled with confusion and doubt, which even spilled onto the girl's delicate, round face. Her voice was also filled with hesitation and bewilderment as she asked the question.

Shoko Toyokawa voiced the question that everyone else in the room had in mind.

"The situation is clearly very good now, we should keep up the momentum and increase the reputation of [CryCHIC], right?"

"Everyone is doing well, so there shouldn't be any reason to suspend the activities..."

"Really not?"

Slender, glossy fingers with distinct joints tapped lightly on the dining table, the crisp "thump-thump" sound echoing rhythmically, as if questioning the hearts of the young girls.

As they nervously swallowed, seemingly realizing something, Yuan Xudou calmly pronounced their death sentence.

It's mid-April now.

"It takes at least a few weeks to practice a piece from scratch to the point where you can perform it on stage at the same level as the first time."

"Once everything is finished, it should be around mid-May to June."

"Composing new music, preparing for rehearsals and practice, and planning the location and time of the next performance... even at the fastest, it will take at least until July to get everything done."

"Think about it carefully, what does this mean?"

Even without uttering those words aloud, an instinctive fear had already quietly seeped out from Gen Xudou's calm yet slightly pitying words, ruthlessly announcing its presence to the girls.

"Gurgle...!"

Ignoring the defeated groans that seemed to come from nowhere, the boy paused for only a few seconds, giving them a chance to understand, before coldly stating the cruel reality:

"By then, there will be less than two weeks until the final exams."

The academic prodigy who topped the list at Dongdu High School ruthlessly revealed the truth that everyone had vaguely sensed but was unwilling to accept.

"I don't really care, but being kept in for tutoring during the summer vacation is probably a bigger loss than missing one live performance."

"Yeah, that's right..."

Faced with such a straightforward and realistic reason, even Toyokawa Shoko's expression became somewhat stiff.

Thinking about it carefully, it seems to make sense. She's been too engrossed in the band's affairs lately, and has even started neglecting the etiquette lessons her family usually arranges. Although it's not to the point that it will affect her grades, the other members...

Expecting them to be able to maintain a high level of training intensity while keeping up with their studies is indeed a bit unrealistic.

After explaining his reasons, Yuan Xudou stopped tapping on the table and quietly looked at everyone.

Shiina Riki's gaze was somewhat evasive, Nagasaki Motoyo's face showed a troubled expression, Wakaba Mutsu lowered his eyes, and Takamatsu Akari looked dazed.

Clearly, his warning was quite useful.

Having achieved the desired effect, Yuan Xudou sighed and returned to a gentle tone of advice.

“I don’t want CryCHIC to have a situation where students don’t attend high school. Music and performances are important, that’s true, but we can’t let them neglect other parts of life.”

"Treat the next performance as if it were the last one for a while and prepare accordingly."

"After that, the activities will be on a slower pace. However, if you have any related learning difficulties, you can come to me, or we can even get together to study after school."

The somewhat somber atmosphere, created by practical issues, was lifted again by Yuan Xudou's comforting words and explanations.

Ultimately, it's not a very serious matter—it's just telling them to take some time to focus on their studies and not let CryCHIC become some kind of illiterate band.

Knowing that the boy wasn't dissatisfied with the band's current situation, nor did he suddenly have any reason to leave the band, he actively tried to ease the tense atmosphere.

Toyokawa Shoko breathed a sigh of relief, muttering with a hint of resentment.

"Seriously... Xu Dou, you suddenly said you wanted to suspend the band's activities in such a serious tone, it almost scared me..."

"It's supposed to be a victory celebration, but suddenly this kind of topic comes up. Although there's some truth to it..."

If they hadn't been reminded, they might have actually neglected the approaching final exams because they were so busy with music. From this perspective, there's nothing wrong with the boy's behavior.

"I'm just outlining the plans now so you won't forget about it when you make your decision."

"Don't be nervous, everyone. There's still plenty of time."

Now, this banquet celebrating the perfect conclusion of CryCHIC's debut performance is even more important.

To ease the tension, Yuan Xudou picked up his glass and faced the crowd.

His voice, now gentle and peaceful, swept away the slight solemnity he had brought earlier.

"cheers?"

Minors' attention is easily diverted; even if they were anxious about something one second, they can be genuinely happy about the present moment the next. Even worries that seem unbearable at the moment are unlikely to leave deep scars on their hearts.

Anyway, Yuan Xudou is right, they still have plenty of time.

So there's no need to rush, just enjoy this time.

Having been successfully comforted, the girls, whose expressions had softened, smiled and raised their cups full of drinks to clink with their companions.

"cheers!"

Chapter Fifty-Eight "...Cucumber?"

Originally, Shoko Toyokawa planned to hold a celebration banquet at Tokyo's most upscale members-only restaurant.

However, considering that among the six people present, Shiina Tatsuki and Takamatsu Akari's family backgrounds are not as wealthy as the other four, and their usual living conditions are relatively ordinary, dining in an overly high-end setting might make them realize the gap between them, thus creating unnecessary estrangement.

Normally, the majority of the expenses for renting practice venues are secretly covered by Toyokawa Shoko and Minamoto Kōdō, who manage the bills. However, the expenses for the celebration banquet, which are made public, cannot be concealed. It would be better to avoid having someone else pay for it, even though they don't particularly care about such things.

Fortunately, the performance fee, plus the revenue from the subsequent online video release, solved the problem. Using that money to hold a celebration banquet was undoubtedly a choice that satisfied everyone.

However, with their meager pay, they didn't even have the chance to step into what Xiangzi called "Tokyo's best no-menu restaurant."

So, in the end, we booked a less upscale but well-regarded casual restaurant.

At least in terms of taste, it lived up to the online reviews.

Although Yuan Xudou's words briefly interrupted everyone's happy mood while waiting for the food to be served, he quickly brought it back on track, and the meal ended in a pleasant atmosphere where everyone was satisfied.

Anyway, there's Yuan Xudou, who's supposedly already been selected by his school as a top student for the upcoming Tokyo University entrance exam. This super-achiever, who's been kept in school since junior high, is their backup plan. He even said he could tutor them in his spare time. At worst, they can temporarily turn [CryCHIC] from a band into an after-school study group. Failing grades is out of the question; they'll all be together during summer vacation anyway.

Before leaving the table after dinner, Yuan Xudou sent the electronic sheet music for Haruhi Kage to each of them, asking them to practice it a few times at home and come to the practice room to play it together when they were familiar with it.

It's like giving the girls a short break to relieve the tension they've been under while preparing for the performance.

During this time, he decided to learn some singing techniques that are good for the throat and then teach them to Gao Songdeng, urging her to take good care of her voice. There was no other way; he hadn't realized during rehearsals that she would sing so passionately that she disregarded her limits and even almost cracked her voice several times.

The boy, who shared the same flaw as her—disregarding technique and relying on emotion to win her over—began to reflect on whether he had influenced her negatively when trying to correct her. Therefore, he decided to start with himself and gradually correct Gao Songdeng's habits, at least ensuring she wouldn't run out of steam after finishing a song.

As the band grows and develops, they will inevitably encounter long performances with multiple songs playing consecutively. If their physical stamina can't keep up, they will have to find ways to conserve their energy. They can't just give up this performance format and only sing one song each time.

Although that could create a gimmick like "the lead singer only sings one song at a time," as expected, Genjiro Toru and Toyokawa Shoko both felt that running a band should be more serious and just let their skills speak for themselves.

This doesn't require much effort. Although things are getting busier every day, the band's account needs to be managed and operated, and the members always send him private messages to chat or ask for help, he can still manage to spare a few tens of minutes every day to practice vocalization.

Sigrún has taught at the Iceland University of the Arts as a part-time lecturer since and was Dean of the Department of Fine Art from -. In – she held a research position at Reykjavík Art Museum focusing on the role of women in Icelandic art. She studied fine art at the Icelandic College of Arts and Crafts and at Pratt Institute, New York, and holds BA and MA degrees in art history and philosophy from the University of Iceland. Sigrún lives and works in Iceland.

Sigrún has taught at the Iceland University of the Arts as a part-time lecturer since and was Dean of the Department of Fine Art from -. In – she held a research position at Reykjavík Art Museum focusing on the role of women in Icelandic art. She studied fine art at the Icelandic College of Arts and Crafts and at Pratt Institute, New York, and holds BA and MA degrees in art history and philosophy from the University of Iceland. Sigrún lives and works in Iceland.

"Su Shi, what do you want for lunch today?"

"Vegetable soup...how about it?"

"Okay, then I'll go buy groceries."

After casually confirming today's meals with Nagasaki Motoyo, who was tending to the plants she had brought on the balcony, Gen Xudou got up from the sofa, changed his shoes in the entryway, waved goodbye briefly, and then closed the door and left.

Then, watching his figure disappear completely from sight, the girl closed her azure eyes, lifted her long, brown hair, and sighed softly with a hint of melancholy.

...They've been getting along like an old married couple of ten years, yet they've never even kissed.

Nagasaki Motoyo, who has been struggling to find a good opportunity to suppress her inner criminal thoughts every day, feels that if this counts as an act of bravery, she could be awarded the title of "Good Citizen." She is currently very troubled about how to make the relationship between the two of them naturally take another step forward.

She was, after all, a young girl in the prime of her youth, and it wasn't strange that she harbored all sorts of fantasies about the person she liked. Logically speaking, a boy and a girl living under the same roof should have already sparked a passionate affair over some inconspicuous matter, and then things would have gotten out of control—that's exactly what she had read in comic books.

However, before the opportunity arrived, the desire in his heart grew stronger.

Especially with Yuan Xudou's increasingly indifferent behavior towards her, the girl almost thought he was deliberately seducing her several times, and nearly couldn't resist pouncing on him.

It's all Xiangzi's fault. He secretly sends messages to Xu Doujun every day, making her feel a little uneasy... However, it's still very pleasant to hear Xu Doujun practicing singing. From warming up her voice to practicing, everything sounds so good. It's simply a pleasure.

With this little bit of spiritual nourishment, she was able to barely keep going.

However, eating without drinking water and drinking water without eating are both deadly behaviors, it's just a matter of dying sooner or later, and what's more, you can only look but not eat... it's practically challenging the limits of human willpower.

Nagasaki Motoyo doesn't want to blame Minamoto Kōdō, who is serious about relationships and rather conservative. So she can only blame herself for being so obedient to him and willingly enduring this loneliness.

...When I finally get the chance, I'll definitely make up for all the patience I've had now.

The girl, who had just felt she was being too considerate, secretly resolved to be less considerate.

Now, she has to think of a solution—otherwise, before they even reach the honeymoon phase, they'll be heading into a period of burnout.

Nagasaki Motoyo herself doesn't have the problem of getting tired of things, but Genjiro Tou... although that probably doesn't exist either, if he gets used to this sense of distance, it will be too difficult to change it later.

With these thoughts in mind, the girl walked towards the living room.

Sigrún has taught at the Iceland University of the Arts as a part-time lecturer since and was Dean of the Department of Fine Art from -. In – she held a research position at Reykjavík Art Museum focusing on the role of women in Icelandic art. She studied fine art at the Icelandic College of Arts and Crafts and at Pratt Institute, New York, and holds BA and MA degrees in art history and philosophy from the University of Iceland. Sigrún lives and works in Iceland.

Sigrún has taught at the Iceland University of the Arts as a part-time lecturer since and was Dean of the Department of Fine Art from -. In – she held a research position at Reykjavík Art Museum focusing on the role of women in Icelandic art. She studied fine art at the Icelandic College of Arts and Crafts and at Pratt Institute, New York, and holds BA and MA degrees in art history and philosophy from the University of Iceland. Sigrún lives and works in Iceland.

"Mu?"

As he pulled his vibrating phone from his pocket and looked at the sender's name on the screen, Won Heo-doo, who was walking down the street, had an unexpected expression on his face.

Normally, Wakaba Mutsu was the least likely band member to contact him. The girl didn't need to specifically seek his guidance on playing instruments, nor did she simply want to chat like Toyokawa Shoko. So, the fact that she suddenly sent him a message on the weekend did surprise Genji Koto.

Is there something you want to talk to him about?

With that in mind, the boy opened Line.

A moment later, he tilted his head slightly, a hint of confusion appearing in his dark pupils as he stared at the picture sent by the other party on the message screen.

"……cucumber?"

Chapter Fifty-Nine: "I Want to See You"

Wakaba Mutsu.

She is the daughter of famous comedian Takafumi Wakaba and well-known actress Minami Mori, a true second-generation star. Due to her privileged background and naturally beautiful appearance, she entered the entertainment industry at a young age and even became a popular child star. However, like most child stars, her popularity only lasted for a year or two before fading away naturally. She then disappeared from the screen and did not continue her acting career.

This is the most basic information, readily available online. Even those who don't follow the entertainment industry should have seen her around that time and have some recollection of her.

However, back then, Wakaba Mutsumi seemed to be quite cheerful, which was completely different from her current expressionless and indifferent appearance. In addition, with the changes brought about by puberty, if you ignore the similar but rare light green hair, it is difficult to connect Wakaba Mutsumi from these two periods at once.

Yuan Xudou wasn't the type to gossip about other people's past, nor had he ever delved into the entertainment industry. His impression of Ruoye Mutsu was limited to a small portion from online sources and the little information they received during introductions; the vast majority of it came from their daily interactions.

He is sparing with words, has a calm expression, and behaves quietly. He doesn't seem to have much passion for music, and only joined the band at the invitation of his friend, Toyokawa Shoko—these traits are very similar to him.

However, compared to his poor communication skills, which were at least several hundred times worse than Gao Songdeng's, this effectively eliminated the common ground between the two and prevented them from having overlapping roles.

In terms of communication difficulty alone, she is even a level above Takamatsu Akari, whose thinking is unconventional. Akari can at least speak a long sentence in a complete manner and express her meaning normally, while the main difficulty in communicating with her lies in matching the girl's mindset.

Ruo Yemu is a typical example of someone who speaks in riddles, leaving things unsaid and making even ordinary words ambiguous. Yet, in certain situations, she can precisely grasp the crux of the matter and express it in the simplest, most straightforward, and unadorned tone, completely disregarding the opinions of others.

Able to see through others' thoughts, yet choosing silence without reading between the lines; harboring many thoughts in one's heart, yet always displaying an indifferent expression of disinterest. Intelligent yet slow-witted, sensitive yet reserved, pure yet contradictory, like a puppet on a string, oblivious to human nature.

She's easy to manage, but also easy to overlook. You only need to summon her when necessary, and she'll obediently do what she's supposed to do. After that, you can leave her aside without any complaints. She's a useful child.

This mindset is actually very dangerous, but it has achieved a delicate yet solid balance in the young girl.

As a closer friend, Toyokawa Shoko didn't object to Wakaba Mutsumi's current state. Her daily behavior hadn't yet reached the point where it was affecting her life and needed correction. Therefore, even though he noticed that Wakaba Mutsumi's mental state was somewhat different from that of a normal person, Minamoto Koto didn't intend to actively disrupt that balance.

Anyway, the abnormal humans in [CryCHIC] don't need one more. If everyone lives together and tolerates each other, then it's fine.

At most, he would show concern occasionally, letting the girl know that there were still people who understood her, so that no one would notice if she really stopped talking one day.