Oh no! They all seem a bit off!

Chapter 144 Lead Singer Trainee

Tuesday afternoon after school, Light Music Club.

Following Ji Yexue's instructions, Akizuki Makoto brought Shiina Maki to the interview.

Ji Yexue did not directly reject Shiina Maki, but said she would give her a chance to prove herself.

If we can satisfy her and meet her recruitment requirements, then it wouldn't be a bad idea to let Shiina Maki join.

When Makoto Akizuki brought Maki Shiina to the Light Music Club, Yuki Hime was already sitting inside waiting.

Compared to yesterday, K-On! has changed a lot today.

First, the somewhat simple activity room now has a variety of musical instruments, and all the tables and chairs have been replaced and are arranged in an orderly manner.

Clearly, this was all Ji Yexue's doing. She ordered the Light Music Club to be rearranged and even provided musical instruments free of charge.

When Akizuki Makoto entered the activity room, he was stunned for a moment. If he hadn't seen Ji Yexue, he would have doubted that he had come to the wrong club.

"come over."

Ji Yexue sat at the birchwood table in the center of the room, her fair and delicate chin raised, her legs, clad in black sheer stockings, crossed over, like a queen on high.

Akizuki looked at Himeyasu, then at Shiina Maki beside him, whose shoulders were trembling slightly. For a moment, he couldn't figure out whether Himeyasu wanted him to go over or whether Shiina Maki should go over.

"Cheng, I want you to come here."

Seemingly noticing Akizuki Makoto's confusion, Ji Yexue spoke again, this time pointing directly at Akizuki Makoto.

"Oh……"

Qiu Yuecheng nodded, walked to Ji Yexue's side, and then, at her signal, pulled out a chair and sat down.

"Alright, let's begin the interview."

After Akizuki Makoto sat down, Himeyasuki finally turned her gaze to Shiina Maki with satisfaction.

This was the first time she had looked Shiina Maki seriously since she entered the classroom.

"I won't ask why you want to join the Light Music Club, I already know that. I also don't care whether you're a member of another club now or not. As long as you can satisfy me, I'll let you in."

Back during lunch break, Akizuki Makoto had already discussed Shiina Maki's situation with Hime Yuki, and had subtly hinted that she could directly reject Shiina Maki.

Perfectly, the reasons for refusing are also quite valid; she could say that she is still participating in other clubs, or that she has no band experience, etc.

But Ji Yexue did not agree because she knew that Shiina Maki was the same kind of person as her. Shiina Maki had also come for Akizuki Makoto, and she could not be persuaded to leave for such a reason.

"My first question is, which position do you want to hold when you join the Light Music Club?"

"I...I want to be the lead singer."

As expected, just as Makoto Akizuki had guessed, Maki Shiina wanted to be the lead vocalist.

But this position is too important. Someone as introverted and shy as her would most likely be unable to perform well if she saw a large audience.

If the lead singer can't perform, then the band is finished, since the lead singer is definitely the center of attention.

"You? Lead singer?"

Ji Yexue crossed her arms, a slight smile playing on her lips.

"I-I can do it!"

Shiina Maki mustered her courage, looked up to meet Himeyasu's disdainful gaze, and shouted, "I will definitely do it, don't underestimate me!"

"Hehe, whether you can do it or not isn't something you can just talk about. You come and prove it to me."

Ji Yexue pointed to the microphone placed on one side of the room and gave the instruction: "Now, sing a song a cappella and let me see if you can do it."

"it is good!"

Maki Shiina nodded vigorously, took a deep breath, and walked to the microphone.

Ji Yexue did not restrict what songs she could sing, allowing her to express herself freely. Therefore, her choice of song was the one she had sung for Qiuyue Cheng in the karaoke room before.

Although there was no accompaniment, she knew the song by heart and accurately grasped every beat and pitch.

The melodious and clear a cappella singing echoed in the activity room.

Ji Yexue rested her chin on her hand, looking thoughtful, somewhat surprised that Shiina Maki could sing so well.

After finishing the song, Shiina Maki looked at Himeyasuki nervously and stammered, "W-How is it? Can I join?"

"Don't rush, this is just one part of the interview process."

Ji Yexue's expression returned to its usual coldness, and she said indifferently, "Your voice is not bad, and you have a talent for singing. You're barely qualified to be the lead singer."

"what?"

Akizuki Makoto suddenly turned his head and stared in astonishment at Hime Yuki's profile, not expecting that she would actually agree with Shiina Maki.

Moreover, judging from this situation, it seems she really might get Shiina Maki to join the Light Music Club.

"But one by one"

Before Qiu Yuecheng could react, Ji Yexue paused and continued, "Your personality is not good; you are too timid and risk stage fright. Therefore, after considering everything, I will not approve your application."

"I won't get stage fright!"

Upon hearing that her application was rejected, Shiina Maki immediately became anxious and shouted in rebuttal to Himeyasuki.

Her voice, transmitted through the microphone, filled the entire activity room, even reaching the corridor beyond the thick layer of soundproofing.

"hiss……"

Makoto Akizuki covered his ears, feeling as if Shiina Maki's shout was about to rupture his eardrums.

"Oh, I'm so sorry, I got too excited and couldn't control myself."

Shiina Maki hurriedly apologized, her face filled with fear and trepidation.

Whether you get stage fright or not is not up to you to decide, but based on what Cheng and I know about you, we both think you will.

Ji Yexue turned to look at Qiuyue Cheng and said with a smile, "Right, Cheng?"

Now, the blame was directed at Akizuki Makoto, making him feel extremely uneasy.

He looked into Shiina Maki's hopeful yet uneasy eyes and didn't know how to answer.

"I... I feel that personality can be changed, right?"

In the end, he could only give this vague answer.

High emotional intelligence: Personality can be changed.

Low emotional intelligence: I think so too.

Although he thought so, he simply couldn't bring himself to deny Shiina Maki's pitiful expression, like a puppy soaked in the rain.

"Really……"

Ji Yexue nodded, not surprised that Akizuki Makoto didn't deny Shiina Maki, after all, that guy was just that kind of gentle person and never said anything definitive.

But it was precisely this gentleness that drew Akizuki Makoto into a vortex of love triangles. If he weren't gentle, but rather a wicked person, he wouldn't have stirred their hearts and made them fall hopelessly in love with him.

"Since Cheng believes you can change, then I won't deny you."

"That……"

Shiina Maki immediately showed great joy, but before she could be happy for long, she saw Himeyasu reach out her hand and stop her.

"Wait, I haven't finished speaking yet, don't get too excited."

Ji Yexue smiled and continued, "I'm a pragmatist, and I don't doubt that others are lying. Since you say you won't get stage fright, then I'll believe you and let you pass, but—"

"but?"

Shiina Maki tensed up, unaware that she was falling step by step into Himeyasu's trap.

"If you lie to me, you'll be in big trouble. No one has ever dared to lie to me before."

Ji Yexue revealed a devilish smile. Although her tone was calm, it was full of killing intent and threat.

"It's easy to prove whether you're lying or not. Once we've recruited all the other members, we'll immediately go on a street performance."

"...?!"

Upon hearing this, both Akizuki Makoto and Shiina Maki widened their eyes simultaneously.

"Street performances? Isn't that a bit too fast? At least wait until the band is formed and has some time to gel?"

Akizuki Makoto raised objections. Even an outgoing and cheerful person like him couldn't help but feel hesitant at the thought of performing on the street.

Ji Yexue's move was too ruthless. If Shiina Maki dared to back down, she would definitely have no face to insist on joining the Light Music Club.

If Ji Yexue had refused without saying a word, Shiina Maki would probably have clung to her like a leech until she agreed.

"I am the president, I have the final say in everything, just listen to my arrangements."

Ji Yexue, like a proud swan, raised her chin and said in a cold tone, like a domineering queen: "Only practice can make people grow quickly and recognize themselves. Everyone is afraid of losing face, so they will all go all out and try their best not to embarrass themselves."

At this point, Akizuki Cheng reluctantly shut his mouth. Even if he had any objections, Ji Yexue probably wouldn't listen to him now.

And this is good too, it will make Shiina Maki back down.

"Alright, that's settled then. You can go back now and wait for further instructions."

Ji Yexue didn't care what opinions Shiina Maki might have, or what she wanted to say, and directly ordered her to leave.

Next, she had a few more people to interview. While she was interviewing Shiina Maki, other interviewees arrived.

Surprisingly, Rie Niijima was among these people.

After seeing Shiina Maki off, Himeyasu called in the people who wanted to join the Light Music Club.

Aside from Rie Niijima, the original member, there are three members in total: two women and one man.

Ji Yexue inquired about the positions they wanted to play. The two girls wanted to be lead singers, while the boy wanted to be a guitarist, as he had two years of guitar experience.

"Guitar……"

Ji Yexue glanced at Qiuyue Cheng and then said, "We don't need any more guitarists. The vice president will take on that position."

Although she said yesterday that there was no rush to decide on the seats, she was definitely going to favor Akizuki Makoto and let him choose his preferred seat first.

"Hey, is the vice president a guitarist? That's awesome!"

"Lord Akizuki can also play the guitar? You are so talented! I really want Lord Akizuki to play a guitar solo for me."

The two girls who came to apply for the lead vocalist position both lit up when they heard that Akizuki Makoto would be the guitarist.

They are also very cute in appearance and dressed in a flamboyant way, but their style is very similar to the fearsome landmine girls.

Pale skin, blood-red lips, wearing dark red contact lenses, and exaggeratedly drawn eye bags.

Clearly, they all came for Akizuki Makoto and wanted to take this opportunity to improve their relationship with him.

Ultimately, those who still come for interviews at this point all have some ulterior motive.

...Even the person who proposed forming the band had ulterior motives and impure thoughts, not to mention the members themselves.

“Since you’ve all applied to be the lead singer, then show us what you’ve got. The microphone is right there.”

Ji Yexue calmly asked them to sing a song, but as someone who knew Ji Yexue fairly well, Qiuyue Cheng could tell that she would definitely not let the two of them pass.

These two women look like the kind of troublesome, serious types. If we were to get them on board, that would be terrible.
Fortunately, neither of them is a very good singer; they don't even sing as well as Maki Shiina.

"Not approved."

Ji Yexue rejected them ruthlessly, her cold expression leaving no room for doubt.

The two girls with ulterior motives could only leave resentfully.

Before leaving, they asked Akizuki Makoto for an autograph and a photo.

Although they couldn't join the Light Music Club, they were still satisfied with getting Makoto Akizuki's autograph and a photo with him.

Ji Yexue watched them leave and chuckled, "Hehe, you're really popular with the opposite sex. All the people applying for the lead singer position are here for you."

"...Just a coincidence."

Akizuki Makoto awkwardly touched his nose. He didn't know why, even though he was already deeply embroiled in a love triangle and everyone in the school should have heard about his rumored relationship with Ji Yexue, there were still people coveting him.

In fact, Ji Yexue is quite popular, but unfortunately, her image is too unapproachable, so no one dares to pursue her openly; they all secretly admire her.

"Alright, it's your turn next, Niijima."

Ji Yexue looked at Niijima Rie, who was sitting in a chair waiting, and continued, "The fact that you came here means that you already know everything and still want to reform the band, right?"

"Yes, yes, Matsumoto-senpai has already told me everything."

Rie Niijima nodded nervously, took a deep breath, and tried to suppress her nervousness before saying, "But I believe that the two presidents are not the kind of people who would disband the band because of emotional disputes. The two seniors must be very responsible people, which is why they serve as presidents of the student council."

Upon hearing this, Ji Yexue and Qiu Yuecheng exchanged a glance, surprised that anyone would still view them this way.

But as Rie Niijima said, they wouldn't let their hard-won band be destroyed because of their own reasons; that would be too irresponsible.

"Hmm, not a bad idea."

Ji Yexue nodded in satisfaction and smiled slightly: "You've passed. Welcome to the reorganized Light Music Club."

"Please, please take care of me!"

Rie Niijima quickly bowed and paid her respects, secretly looking forward to the future of the band they had formed.

After that, Himeyasuki and Niijima Rie exchanged LINE accounts and then created a LINE group specifically for the K-On! club, bringing in Akizuki Makoto and Niijima Rie.

Then, she had Makoto Akizuki bring in Maki Shiina as well, so that she could also be considered a lead singer in preparation.

After that, she interviewed several more people, both men and women, in different positions, but none of them satisfied Ji Yexue.

According to her, she could tell a person's personality and inner self at first glance. These people were all no good, had no personality, and were just joining the Light Music Club with some other purpose.

(End of this chapter)