I became the emperor in the comic book series.

"The guitar has failed."

"what?"

Do you have one?

Akira Higashino, who is not good at playing musical instruments and was hearing the song for the first time, did not notice any problems.

However, even if there were some minor problems, it didn't matter. After all, it was just a school stage, and there was no need to be too demanding. He reached out and gently patted the cat's head, refusing her request to leave early together.

As the song ended on stage, Kita smiled broadly and said, "Thank you everyone, the first song, 'Never Forget,' is now finished."

"Before the next song performance, let's have the leader and drummer of the 'End Band,' Ichiji, say a few words..."

Akira Higashino noticed that Bochi-chan's expression on the stage was indeed a little off, and he was secretly adjusting his guitar.

Hiroi Kikuri, who was standing to the side, also looked at her with a worried expression.

Hongxia's brief speech ended quickly.

"So, the second song is 'If I Could Become a Constellation'."

Not long after the performance began, suddenly, with a snap, one of the strings on the guitar in Goto Ichiri's hand, who had been silent for a long time, broke. She squatted on the stage, abruptly stopped performing, and was somewhat at a loss, panicked because she had messed up the performance.

Akira looked down at the cat beside him and their eyes met.

Something really happened?

I could tell there was a problem from this distance. Speaking of which, this kid has been carrying a guitar and audio equipment with him since we met. Could he be a very professional guitarist?

After thinking for a moment, he asked, "Could I borrow your guitar?"

Without hesitation, the cat answered, "Matcha Parfait!"

Higashino Akira nodded upon hearing this, "Okay."

"Three parfaits."

What a greedy little kitten that takes advantage of the chaos!

He reached out and pinched her cheek in an annoyed tone, then chuckled at his exasperation. Despite his annoyance, Higashino Akira still agreed, "Deal!"

Seeing that the kitten was about to speak, Higashino Akira stopped her abruptly, "Three portions at most!"

It's not that I'm stingy or can't afford to treat guests, but the main problem is that this stuff is ice-cold, and eating too much at once might upset the cat's stomach. It's not convenient to let the little cat eat too much all at once.

Seeing this, the kitten blinked and didn't push its luck any further. It turned around and connected the guitar cable to the audio equipment.

Akira Higashino called out towards the stage, "Hey, Ichiri!"

On stage, Boqi's eyes began to sting, his nose felt stuffy, and the world beneath his bangs gradually blurred.

Hearing the call, she looked up and instinctively looked at the person, wanting to escape to his side, yet afraid that he would dislike her for messing everything up.

then--

Suddenly, a burst of exciting guitar music rang out.

Not from the stage, but from below the stage.

The tone is clean, the rhythm is precise, and the melody... although it's not the key in their sheet music, it subtly matches Kita's rhythmic guitar melody.

She even used only the notes from her guitar being out of tune and from the broken string.

She turned her head sharply and saw that the girl who had come with her boyfriend was playing the piano impromptu to the melody of their song, her gaze fixed on her.

Provocation?

I've always been curious whether the other person is one of Higashino's other girlfriends. Although I don't really have the right to be angry, if even my only advantage, the guitar, is taken away...

That look in his eyes seemed to be questioning whether he could do it!

Akira Higashino looked at the cat-like girl beside him in surprise. When he said he wanted to borrow the guitar, he meant that Bochi-chan should jump down and borrow the girl's guitar, not that he wanted to borrow her as a guitarist to help with the performance!

Why did it suddenly start playing?!

Is it really true that kittens don't understand each other's language? Is the radio wave that bad?

Goto Ichiri gritted her teeth. Before her brain could even process what she was doing, her hands were already moving. She grabbed the empty wine bottle that Kiku-ri had left on the edge of the stage and, to everyone's astonishment, performed a textbook-level bottle neck guitar slide.

Fingers moved swiftly across the strings, each note as precise as if measured with a ruler, emotions pouring out from between the fingers, as if to smash all the grievances, fears, and resentments from just now into the strings.

I don't want to admit defeat!

I don't want it to end like this!

I don't want my only advantage, my identity, and the little happiness I've finally managed to have to be taken away by someone else!

In the audience, Kaoru's eyes lit up instantly, and she gradually increased the frequency of her playing, no longer holding back any of her skills and abilities.

The two were separated by the stage and the audience. Goto Ichiri used his remaining strings to fight against the girl's deliberately provocative melody, which was played only with his off-key and broken strings. It was like two knives colliding in the air, sparks flying everywhere.

The audience below the stage were not in a hurry to react to what was happening; their ears had already been grabbed by this sudden showdown.

On the stage, Hongxia's eyes widened.

I was stunned by the incredible skill of the two amazing guitarists who played with such incredible power, completely disregarding the lives of others.

She saw Pochi stand up again and heard her playing smoothly despite the broken and out-of-tune strings.

No, the rhythm of Boqi is accelerating! Not just a little, but a lot! Moreover, it's no longer limited to the melody in the score; it's also starting to improvise around the main melody rhythm!

That's fucking amazing! That's fucking amazing guitarist!

The muscle lines and contours on Hongxia's slender arms became visible as she clenched her teeth and forced herself to keep up as the drumsticks fell.

We absolutely cannot let the performance die because of our own actions!

Yamada Ryo smiled.

It was that rare kind of heartfelt laugh—a mischievous laugh, a comfortable laugh, a joyful laugh!

She took it equally seriously, performing exceptionally well. Her fingers danced on the bass, intertwining with Boqi's guitar sounds, becoming increasingly intertwined, the melody merging into one, subtly supporting her in her battle against that wild guitarist.

Finally, the pressure fell on Kita.

Kita's heart skipped a beat.

Seriously? Have these scumbags forgotten they even have a lead singer?

She took a deep breath and had to abandon the rhythm guitar. In order not to be drowned out by the other instruments that were getting more energetic, she forcefully raised her voice to a higher pitch at the beginning of the next lyric, and her emotions followed suit. There was no technique in her singing, only emotion.

Surprisingly, it stabilized again, and the sound was not drowned out by the instrumental music.

Surprisingly, it actually sounds quite nice.

There's a kind of beauty in giving it your all, without caring about the lives of your teammates.

The whispers of the audience below the stage turned into nodding in rhythm, some started clapping, some whistled, and finally they all stood on tiptoe and jumped up together every now and then to cheer rhythmically. The atmosphere in the entire auditorium was inexplicably ignited, as if we were at a big star's concert.

In the corner, Pochi's parents exchanged a glance, and a relieved smile appeared on their faces.

The daughter, who had no friends since childhood, always alone, hiding in the closet playing guitar, has finally stepped into the spotlight.

I'm so happy with Rakuna's bouncy movements.

Her lips curled up wide, her fingers danced across the strings, and she swayed gently to the rhythm, like a cat that had finally caught a toy.

It's starting to get cooler and harder.

She had a hard time keeping up with the energy of Pochi and that white-haired girl!

But they're still gritting their teeth and holding on.

Hongxia's arms were already sore, and the drumbeats started to become unsteady.

Kita's voice was hoarse, but she dared not stop, because if she stopped, she would fall behind her amazing teammates and amateur guitarists who had suddenly gone completely mad, and the whole stage would collapse.

They persisted until the bass and drums stopped, and the lead singer stopped singing and gasped for breath.

Finally, the last note fell from the two guitars that had been firing off at breakneck speed.

The entire room fell silent for a second.

Then, thunderous applause erupted.

On stage, the four members of the band stood panting. Nijika was covered in sweat, Ryo was holding onto the bass and catching his breath, and Kita was holding onto the microphone stand and his legs were shaking.

Pochi stood at the front, staring blankly at the dense applause from below the stage, his mind completely blank.

Is it over?

Has she finished playing?

Didn't mess it up?

Didn't you lose to that girl?

Is this... rock and roll?

"Well, to be honest, although we really wanted to finish performing the last song."

"However, there's something I really want to say!"

Thank you so much everyone today!!!

The band's lead singer, Ms. Gui Qu Lai Xi, couldn't take it anymore and surrendered first. Her originally cute and lively voice became a little hoarse. She thanked them while panting heavily, determined not to play another round with them. If it happened again, it would really be the death of her!

After thanking the audience, Tan Fanhuiqian trembled slightly, then turned around and added with a hint of resentment, "Ah, of course, besides the suddenly passionate Senior Hongxia, there's also Senior Liang!"

Boqi Jiang stood up in surprise. She could understand it. After all, a wild guitarist had already come close to her and provoked her. She couldn't let herself be humiliated by someone else on her home turf.

But why are you two going so crazy and working so hard?!

Being called out by her own lead singer, Ichiji Nijika scratched her head a little embarrassedly and apologized to Kita, "Gonna-sei, Kita-chan..."

Yamada Ryo covered her mouth with her hand, chuckling to herself with a sly expression.

Kita got angry, puffing out her cheeks as she complained, "You're still laughing! Ryou-senpai, you're so mean!"

"Thank you for the compliment."

After all, he was a scoundrel, and Yamada Ryo didn't care at all; on the contrary, he was proud of it.

"I wasn't praising my seniors!"

Goto Ichiri listened to his three teammates joking and teasing each other, his eyes glancing at the audience below who were clapping incessantly, panting.

Over there, Kita had finished his speech and, amidst laughter and banter, decided to leave early. He explained why he had to give up the next performance due to an unexpected incident, and after everyone had spoken, he finally handed the microphone to Pochi-chan, who had remained silent the whole time, so that she could be the last to speak and give a speech.

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P.S.: 4,000 words, two chapters combined, plus one more chapter, still 43 chapters owed.

Chapter 164 The cat only recognizes Parfait, not people!

'I have social anxiety, so I have to write a prepared speech before I dare to speak!'

'What if someone suddenly calls me out…'

Looking at the microphone that Kita had smilingly brought to him, Goto Ichiri's pupils dilated violently, and his lips trembled uncontrollably. He was caught in a mental storm over his rock career and the praise he had just received for his good performance.

"Let's do something interesting... let's do something interesting..."

"How about something... interesting...?"

Then, as my gaze swept across the edge of the stage, Kiku-nee brought over the remaining empty wine bottles, and I suddenly paused.

Regarding the veterans of the rock and roll world, at least I was able to overcome my social anxiety and face the audience. The image of the veteran and the performance art of the veteran made me think of the veterans.

Looking at the silent Pochi, Kita tilted his head in confusion, "Goto-kun?"

Suddenly, the pink-haired girl made up her mind, mustered her courage, and started running forward, leaping towards the audience below the stage.

Rock and roll master, guitar hero, here I come!

Kita: "Huh?"

Below the stage, fans who were about to be attacked by the pink-haired guitarist retreated in fear, while the friends and family who came to support the band and the other band members who had finished their performance stood there with wide eyes.

In mid-air, watching the crowds that had just been thronging suddenly clear out a large empty space, the rock music expert Goto Ichiri, who had finally mustered the courage to do something brave, had his mind completely blank.

Eh?

Is this correct?

Shouldn't he have jumped down and been caught by enthusiastic fans, who would then toss him up again and again?