Oh no! They all seem a bit off!

Chapter 148 Ji Yexue develops suspicions about Shiraishi Rin

After that, the five rehearsed several more times before leaving the recording studio and taking a car to Shinjuku Station.

This event has already been registered by Ji Yexue, and they have also applied for a venue for the performance.

When they arrived, there were still fifteen minutes before the official performance, and the staff were setting up the instruments and testing the equipment.

"Ahhh, it's Lord Akizuki!"

"Lord Akizuki, please sign my autograph!"

"Lord Akizuki really came to perform! It's a real person!"

When Makoto Akizuki got out of the car, the fans who had been waiting there immediately erupted in cheers.

They shouted wildly and shoved as they surrounded him, their frenzied behavior making one wonder if they were going to devour Qiu Yuecheng in front of everyone.

Fortunately, Ji Yexue had anticipated this situation and arranged for many staff members to maintain order on site.

The moment the fanatical fans rushed forward, they formed a circle around each other, protecting the six people led by Akizuki Makoto within the circle and blocking the fanatical fans.

Looking at the enthusiastic fans who kept shouting Makoto Akizuki's name, Rie Niijima couldn't help but sigh, "Aki... Akizuki-senpai is really popular."

Ji Yexue said with displeasure, "This guy is just that kind of womanizer. If you're not careful, he'll be flirting with all sorts of women and getting entangled with who-knows-where philanderers."

Akizuki Makoto couldn't help but retort, "You make me sound like some kind of succubus."

"Senior Qiuyue is no different from a succubus. All the fans who have surrounded her are women."

"I second that. Akizuki-kun is truly a sinful man."

"Aki, Akizuki-kun is so popular... I'm a little sad."

During the conversation, the staff escorted them to the performance venue, allowing them to enter and begin the sound check.

Akizuki Makoto took off his bag, plugged in the guitar and amplifier, and prepared to play.

At the bustling Shinjuku Station, the gathering of many enthusiastic fans led to an ever-growing crowd of onlookers, forming several concentric rings around the station, with an estimated number of several hundred people.

Fortunately, Ji Yexue had considered this situation beforehand and chose a relatively open space for the performance, which would not affect normal traffic order or cause trouble for unrelated passersby.

Once everyone had tuned their instruments and was ready, there was one minute left before the 3 o'clock performance officially began.

Maki Shiina stood in the center of the venue, facing the crowd from all directions, her hand holding the microphone trembling slightly.

When those gazes, filled with envy, jealousy, curiosity, and other complex emotions, focused on her, she immediately felt a sense of unease, as if she were being pricked by needles.

At this moment, she felt an unprecedented tension. Her stomach was aching, and her throat felt like it was being choked by an invisible hand. Her mind went blank.

"It's okay, just bring the same mindset you had in rehearsals."

Makoto Akizuki noticed Shiina Maki's unusual expression, so he smiled and comforted her, "Didn't President Himeya also acknowledge your performance during rehearsals? Don't let momentary nervousness ruin everything."

No matter what, rehearsal is rehearsal, and improvisation is improvisation.

No matter how well the rehearsals go, if the performance on stage is poor, Ji Yexue will not hesitate to replace Shiina Maki.

Right now, it's just a street performance, and the audience is in the hundreds. But when they actually compete, the audience will be in the thousands.

She absolutely could not allow the hard work she had put in for months to be wasted because of the lead singer's sudden stage fright.

As the leader of the team, she has an obligation to eliminate any risks or hidden dangers, and is also responsible for everyone.

Standing next to Shiina Maki, Niijima Rie also spoke up to encourage her, "Yes, Shiina-senpai, your singing is really great. Have more confidence in yourself!"

"Thank you! I will!"

Shiina Maki gripped the microphone tightly, closed her eyes, and took deep breaths to ease her tension.

When she opened her eyes again, those eyes, which had contained timidity and unease, were now filled with an unwavering determination to win.

Just as Akizuki Makoto had thought, she was determined to pass Himeyasuki's final test.

If she loses this opportunity, she and Akizuki Makoto will only drift further apart.

"Alright, let's get started."

As Shiina Maki prepared herself mentally, Ji Yexue, as the conductor, gave the instruction to begin the performance.

Then, she struck a drumbeat, and Akizuki Makoto followed with a strum of his guitar strings, the electronic reverberation filling the space.

The moment the music started, the shouts that had been rising and falling all stopped at once, and everyone quieted down and took out their phones to take pictures.

Ji Yexue did not prohibit filming; on the contrary, she welcomed them to take videos and photos and post them online to increase the band's fame.

To be honest, their group hasn't been named yet. After all, Shiina Maki is a vocalist in training, and they'll have to wait until she passes the test and it's confirmed that they are the most correct and suitable five-member band before they start deciding on a name.

As the electric guitar intro faded and the drumbeat intensified, Maki Shiina's clear and melodious voice resonated throughout the venue via microphone.

Although there was a slight tremor, it was insignificant and did not affect the overall performance.

Even when facing crowds from all directions and standing in the center of the stage under the spotlight, Maki Shiina still managed to showcase her singing voice beautifully.

As Akizuki Makoto played his guitar, he would occasionally glance at Shiina Maki beside him. Once he realized that she was completely absorbed in the performance, he felt relieved and smiled with satisfaction.

Isn't this also a transformation for Shiina Maki?

Being able to sing freely in front of so many people was something they wouldn't have dared to imagine when they first met.

Looking back on the past month or so since he met Maki Shiina, Makoto Akizuki clearly felt her growth in personality.

From being gloomy, introverted, and withdrawn, she has transformed into someone who can now stand tall and fearlessly showcase her charm.

Before they knew it, the performance was coming to an end, and Akizuki Makoto focused his attention and finished with a solo guitar solo.

Currently, his playing level is probably the strongest in this band.

Naturally, Ji Yexue appointed him as the second center, and his guitar solo segments would be added to future performances.

"Lord Qiuyue is so handsome!"

"Look over here, Lady Akizuki!"

During Akizuki Makoto's half-minute solo performance, the enthusiastic fans erupted in cheers, filling the entire street with their deafening shouts.

The other four members stopped playing and listened to Makoto Akizuki's guitar solo, each with their own thoughts.

"What a dreamlike day..."

Shiraishi Rin, positioned at the rear, gazed at Akizuki Makoto's retreating figure, thinking to herself.

Although she had experienced such happy and joyful times, which made her more fearful of death and more eager for life, she could say that she had no regrets about dying. She didn't want to cause trouble for Akizuki Makoto, so she wouldn't go to great lengths to get close to and please Akizuki Makoto, as the original body had instructed, in order to have him save her and the original body.

……

After the performance, the five people, escorted by security personnel, got into a van and left the venue.

Their next destination was a high-end café in Ginza.

Ji Yexue has also booked the entire cafe today; they're here to discuss their future plans.

First, we definitely need to decide on the band's name, and second, we need to decide on the original songs we will perform in the competition.

Regarding original compositions, Ji Yexue stated that she would be responsible for them, but of course, if others have good lyrics and melodies, they can also use them.

"I think the band name can be in English."

After we sat down at the coffee shop, Rie Niijima excitedly offered suggestions for band names, all of which sounded like really cringey English words.

Words like "rebirth," "new life," and "resurrection" seem to emphasize that they have transformed from a band on the verge of disbanding into a new one.

The band name was chosen through a voting process. Shiina Maki, being an indecisive fence-sitter and not wanting to offend anyone, chose to agree during the voting stage.

Makoto Akizuki was actually a fence-sitter and wasn't interested in naming the band, so he raised his hand in agreement.

Now they have three votes, which should theoretically be enough to pass.

However, Ji Yexue and Baishi Lin did not agree, which was equivalent to being vetoed by a single vote.

Ji Yexue disagreed for a simple reason: it was too juvenile and outdated, and she didn't like it.

Rin Shiraishi didn't state her reasons for disagreeing, only saying that she didn't feel comfortable with it, so she chose to reject it.

Actually, the real reason is that she doesn't like the words "new life" or "rebirth." If it were something else, she would have agreed.

The words "new life" and "rebirth" were too hellish for her.

“I have no problem with using English for the band name, but I don’t really like names like ‘new’. Our band belongs to us, so it should be named after our own elements.”

Ji Yexue gave her suggestion, and Niijima Rie was not discouraged after it was rejected. She excitedly came up with a bunch of team names that she thought were good.

She has a rather outgoing and cheerful personality, and she's the one who livens up the atmosphere in the band. She's gotten along well with Shiina Maki and Shiraishi Rin, and they've become good friends.

Finally, they decided on the name "Praise recipient".

Translated, it means "the one who receives praise," implying standing on a stage and receiving the world's acclaim.

Although it's a bit arrogant and a bit childish, Ji Yexue agreed to use it as the team name, so it was approved unanimously.

After deciding on their team name, they enjoyed afternoon tea while discussing future plans and reviewing the shortcomings of today's performance.

They still have many shortcomings. Apart from Makoto Akizuki, who is the guitarist, all four of them have many areas where they haven't done well.

This is understandable, given that they haven't had enough time to gel as a team, and Shiraishi Rin and Himeya Yuki are still newcomers to the band.

Shiraishi Rin can play the piano, but that doesn't mean she can become a qualified keyboardist; she still has a lot to learn.

And so it wasn't until late afternoon, close to 7 p.m., that they reluctantly announced their disbandment and went home.

"I had a very happy and wonderful day today, and I will never forget this day."

Before leaving, Shiraishi Rin solemnly expressed her gratitude to everyone, and couldn't help but cry, tears streaming down her face.

"I will never forget this day!"

Rie Niijima immediately hugged Rin Shiraishi, and seeing Rin Shiraishi cry, she also felt like crying.

Shiina Maki wasn't good with words, but she went up and hugged Shiraishi Rin, assuring her that she was also very happy and wouldn't forget today either.

Now, she no longer harbors any prejudice against Shiraishi Rin and genuinely considers him a friend.

"It sounds like a final farewell. We'll be performing together many more times in the future..."

At this point, Akizuki Makoto paused, then continued with a hint of joking, "If you're going to cry, wait until the day we win the championship and disband. It's too early to cry now."

"Senior Qiuyue is such a blockhead! She doesn't understand girls' hearts!"

"Yeah, that's right! Akizuki-kun is really mean-spirited. We should form a band for life!"

Shiina Maki and Niijima Rie both condemned Akizuki Makoto, saying that they were about to hug each other and cry, but Akizuki Makoto still made such a joke.

"Uh...sorry."

Akizuki Makoto scratched his head, realizing that this wasn't the time for jokes. He had originally intended to ease the atmosphere, which had inexplicably become sentimental.

"come here."

At this moment, Ji Yexue pulled on his sleeve and, while the three of them were hugging and comforting each other, took Qiuyue Cheng aside.

"what happened?"

Akizuki asked with some confusion, wondering why Ji Yexue had called him aside to whisper something, and why she looked so serious.

"Didn't you mention to me before that Shiraishi's personality suddenly changed drastically?"

"That's true. I guess her heartache got better once her leg healed."

"That's what I want to say."

At this point, Ji Yexue paused, turned to look at the three people, led by Bai Shilin, who were hugging each other and crying loudly. After confirming that they were not paying attention to them, she continued, "In the past few days, I have investigated and found that Bai Shilin has no record of going abroad, nor has he registered for surgery at any hospital in the country."

"what?"

Akizuki Makoto's eyes widened in shock, his heart pounding.

Ji Yexue's words were like a bombshell, leaving him utterly shocked.

If what Ji Yexue said is true, and Shiraishi Rin did not go abroad for surgery, nor did she have it done in a domestic hospital, then how did her leg heal?

You can't just say that one day you wake up and find yourself completely cured, that's too far-fetched.

"Could it be that you overlooked something?"

Akizuki Makoto raised a question.

Although the possibility of omission is less than 0.01%.

The Ji Ye family wields immense power in the island nation, with most members of the parliament on good terms with them. Investigating their exit records and hospital visit records would be an easy task for them.

(End of this chapter)