Regarding Ruo Ye Mu’s invitation, Duanmu Huai did not refuse, or rather, going to the LIVEHOUSE after school is one of his entertainments now.

The reason is simple, because there are all-girl bands there, and many pretty girls!

How they sing is another matter, at least watching so many pretty girls is quite pleasing to the eye, right?

Originally, Duanmu Huai thought bands were all about noisy rock music, but after listening, he realized there were actually many positive and not-so-noisy songs, so now he goes to listen when he has nothing to do.

Duanmu Huai also invited Banai and Chitanda at the Classical Studies Club, and unexpectedly...

"Takamatsu Akari invited you too?"

"Mm."

Banai nodded her head.

"She found me earlier, hoping we’d go to her new band’s first LIVE, so I agreed."

"I heard this new band was formed by an invitation from someone named Chihaya Aion? What kind of person is that?"

Duanmu Huai asked curiously, as Banai and Chitanda would certainly know more about things in the general department than he would.

However, facing Duanmu Huai’s inquiry, Banai’s voice turned heavy.

"......Sneaky cat."

"Hmm?"

Duanmu Huai looked at Banai, seeing her eyes vacant, seemingly having lost all awareness. He then had to turn to Chitanda, who reluctantly explained.

"That kid......she’s a very cheerful girl, she came back from England......"

"Mm."

"With long pink hair, a great figure......"

"Okay, no need to continue, I understand now."

Duanmu Huai realized where Banai’s psychological trauma came from.

Hmm?

Thinking about it, he remembered that at an earlier party, there was a fierce-looking girl who seemed to get along well with Takamatsu Akari. But Takamatsu Akari unexpectedly accepted an invitation to form a band from a newly transferred pink-haired girl......

Though he couldn’t quite recall, wasn’t that girl’s hair also blue?

Would it someday develop into a scene where at a café, she and Takamatsu Akari argue, saying ’that person is going to England, aren’t you going after her,’ and then Takamatsu Akari runs off to chase Chihaya Aion, things like that.

If Banai were to witness such a scene, she might feel dead inside.

Though Duanmu Huai actually really wanted to witness that scene.

So on a rest day, everyone gathered at a LIVEHOUSE called RING, and there Duanmu Huai saw the pair of Fukawa Shoko and Ruo Ye Mu.

"Yo, you guys came."

"Ah, hello."

Duanmu Huai waved at the two, and Fukawa Shoko and Ruo Ye Mu nodded politely and introduced themselves to Banai and the others.

Just like that, Duanmu Huai, Banai, Chitanda, Fukawa Shoko, and Ruo Ye Mu gathered together...

"I suddenly feel like we could form a band too."

After watching several performances, Banai inevitably had a new idea.

"Us?"

"Yes, there are exactly five of us now, why not form a band."

"Are you serious?"

"I’m just saying, after all, most girl bands are groups of five, I think we could do it too."

At this point, Banai seemed to get excited too.

"I remember Miss Fukawa used to be a keyboardist?"

"Ah, yes......"

"Miss Ruo Ye is on guitar?"

"Mm."

"Then I want to be the lead guitar and singer!"

Sure enough, Banai’s passion for yang jiao was unmistakable.

"Isn’t it cool to play guitar and sing at the same time?"

"You can only play ’Twinkle Twinkle Little Star,’ right?"

Duanmu Huai murmured a retort, but Banai didn’t mind and instead looked at Chitanda.

"Ai Liu, what instrument do you want to play?"

"Me? Hmm... I think drums are quite interesting."

Chitanda gestured with her hands as she spoke.

"Playing drums seems like it’d be fun."

"Is... is that so? What about you, Xiao Ai?"

"I’ll choose bass then, since it doesn’t matter whether I’m there or not."

The best option for loafing around, no doubt about it.

Of course, everyone was just talking casually; Banai and Chitanda couldn’t possibly abandon the Classical Studies Club for music, and both of them were entirely beginners, just like Duanmu Huai. So they were just chatting casually during breaks between performances. Just then, the band re-entered the stage, and they heard the busy and sharp sound of tuning, seeming quite nervous.

"Speaking of which, although it’s not particularly important..."

Duanmu Huai looked at the busy band members on stage and casually asked.

"What’s the name of their new band? Is it still CRYCHIC?"

Upon hearing the name, Fukawa Shoko trembled slightly, while Ruoya Mu shook her head gently.

"It seems they don’t have a name yet."

"They can still perform like that?"

Banai was somewhat surprised.

"I thought a band would first come up with a name."

"It shows they must have gone through a lot of things."

Chitanda also nodded in agreement, just like Banai said, the first thing a band should do is come up with a name, right? Just like any club, no matter what kind of club it is, you need a name to carry out activities. But this band actually went on stage without having a name... they have too many issues.

At that moment, the lights came on, and they saw Takamatsu Akari leading a group of five standing on stage.

Moreover, Takamatsu Akari stood in the center, holding a microphone. According to Fukawa Shoko, she used to be the lead singer.

To think that little creature looks like an introvert, yet she is the lead singer?

Behind her not far away, the drummer was the sharp-eyed girl who seemed to have a good relationship with Takamatsu Akari, and the bassist on the other side should be the girl who looked like an abandoned grievance after arguing with Shoko that day. Now, she just stood there dazedly, with her head down, looking as if possessed by an Evil Spirit.

These three were all members of Shoko’s original band, which meant the other two were newcomers.

One is a petite, heterochromatic-eyed girl. Hmm... her eyes remind Duanmu Huai of Mary, which feels somewhat endearing.

The other one, well... she stood there, her whole body tense and pale, looking rather nervous.

That’s understandable, considering this is their first performance on stage.

But her appearance, hmm... an archenemy of Banai.

Next, the performance began.

Hmm... how should I put it, even though Duanmu Huai is an outsider, he can only evaluate it as a total mess.

They restarted the intro three times, mainly because the guitar was out of sync. After some effort, they finally began performing. Takamatsu Akari, who was the lead singer, couldn’t even make a sound initially. But eventually, she started to find her voice, and despite the rough start, they managed to finish the song.

"Hoo..."

With the performance over, almost everyone breathed a sigh of relief. Although they weren’t very familiar with Takamatsu Akari, they knew her. Watching someone they know embarrass themselves on stage isn’t good for one’s mental health. Many audience members had already left when they started performing, but with the performance over, cheers and applause erupted in the venue.

Duanmu Huai and the others raised their hands and applauded—not because the song was particularly great, but because of the spirit they showed in sticking it out despite the cringe-worthy setting.

At that moment, Takamatsu Akari picked up the microphone and stared in the direction of Fukawa Shoko.

"I’m glad you could come..."

"........."

"Back then, when everyone fell apart, it was so painful for me... I never want to go through that again... I even thought I’d never want to be in a band again in the future..."

The venue gradually quieted down, with only Takamatsu Akari’s voice echoing within.

"But... although this band doesn’t have a name yet, even lost, I want to keep moving forward. I’ve been scared all day... but I can feel you cheering for me..."

At this point, Takamatsu Akari paused for a moment and then raised her head, shouting loudly.

"All I can do is sing my heart out! Because my songs are my heartfelt cries...!"

"—————!"

Upon hearing this, Fukawa Shoko’s body suddenly tensed, and Duanmu Huai glanced at her. Meanwhile, the sound of the guitar began again.

"... full of fatigue inside, eyes trembling incessantly, I’m all alone in this world..."

Compared to the first song, Akari’s second song was evidently sung much better and more proficiently, and the audience’s interest grew higher. Only Duanmu Huai noticed that after Shoko heard this song, she became flustered, staring blankly at the stage. Duanmu Huai was familiar with that expression... oh right!

Duanmu Huai suddenly remembered.

Isn’t Fukawa Shoko also a blue hair!?

Banai had chosen to let go for Sakura back then and now could only look on in sorrow and grievance as he was intimate with his girlfriend.

Fukawa Shoko chose to quit the band for everyone’s sake, and now she could only watch them stride further on a new journey...

Is it that in this world, blue hair is destined to be a loser?

Duanmu Huai looked at Banai again, who was also staring at the stage, tears in her eyes.

Oh, right! There is also a pink hair on stage who looks very much like Banai’s archenemy!

In stark contrast to the prevailing sadness, the performance above continued unabated.

"...I beg you, never let go again..."

"—————Ooh!"

Hearing this, Fukawa Shoko seemed unable to bear it any longer, turning to leave. Just then, however, Banai hugged her.

"I understand you, I understand you waaaaah!"

"Eh? Eh? Eh!?"

Looking at the weeping Banai who held her tightly, even Fukawa Shoko was thrown into confusion.

And beside them, Duanmu Huai silently shook his head.

A song breaks the defense of two people, quite impressive.

Let me ask what this song is called later.