After dropping out of school, I chose to join a girls' band.

This was something that Lixi and Yue had agreed upon. If Lixi had suggested going directly to the KTV, it would have been too obvious and would have easily attracted Su Shi's attention.

If Yue Lai brings it up, Su Shi is unlikely to consider it from that perspective.

"KTV? I'm really looking forward to Aine-chan's performance~"

Su Shi's reply followed quickly, but the expression on her face was different from the optimism revealed in the message.

Upon seeing the words "KTV," Su Shi recalled the time she went to KTV with Xiangzi before. Now, however, she was going to KTV for a team-building activity with a new band. Su Shi felt like she had betrayed Crychic.

It's like a wife who, after a divorce, longs to remarry her ex-husband but is forced to go to a karaoke bar with her ex-husband's friend in order to do so.

"It's not that I'm going with Crychic... these are all just necessary means to bring Xiangzi back..." Su Shi comforted herself.

"I will try my best to sing..." Deng sent a message at the end, and the nameless band's first team building activity was passed unanimously.

--------

The next day after school, Yue, Aine, and Akari walked out of Haneoka together, heading to the karaoke bar they had arranged to meet.

The three of them walked to the door and saw Sue standing at the entrance of Haneoka Girls' Academy, wearing the Tsukimori school uniform.

Su Shi also saw the three people walking over together. Her gaze swept over them and around the school, but she didn't find the figure she was looking for. A hint of disappointment flashed across her face, but she quickly regained her normal smile.

Ai-yin didn't seem to notice the fleeting disappointment on Su-shi's face just now; she happily waved to Su-shi.

"Su Shisang! Did you come all the way to the school gate to wait for us?"

"Well, I happen to be taking care of some things nearby." Su Shi casually made up an excuse to get away with it.

Yue had no way of knowing whether Su Shi's words were true or false, so she couldn't tell whether Su Shi was waiting for her or some blue-haired girl at the school gate.

As for Xiaodeng, she was quite happy that Su Shi was coming to walk with her after school to play, and the corners of her mouth turned up at a much higher angle than usual. —by Xiaodeng's expression research expert, Hinasaki.

"Speaking of which, Su Shi studies at Tsuki no Mori. I heard that students at Tsuki no Mori greet each other with words like 'Gui An,' which sounds like something a young lady would say. Is that true?"

On the way, Ai-yin took the initiative to strike up a conversation with Su-shi and asked her a question.

Su Shi replied to Ai Yin with a smile: "People do greet each other like that, but it's only within the school. When greeting friends outside the school, they still say 'hello'."

Wow, they really know how to greet each other with "Gui An".

Susomi Aine continued, "When I first heard everyone greet each other like that in the Moon Forest, I was also startled. Later, I followed everyone's example and started greeting each other like that."

As Yue listened to Su Shi talk about the Moon Forest, she recalled that when she went to Siegfried before, the young ladies and students at that school did not greet her with words like "Greetings."

"Is it true that students of Tsuki no Mori are always picked up and dropped off by car?" Ai-ne seemed to want to take this opportunity to verify all the urban legends about Tsuki no Mori in one go.

"Well, some students are like that, but not all of them. For example, I don't need to be driven to pick me up."

"Well, I heard that cell phones are completely prohibited during school hours in Moon Forest. Does that mean we can only see the messages we send to Suze after class?" Aine finally asked a question that piqued Moon's interest.

She had heard about the new principal's ambitious reforms of Tsukinomori, so she deliberately avoided Tsukinomori when she transferred schools.

Yue is also very curious about what the new principal did.

Su Shi said, "Well, it's true that after the new chairman took office, he strictly enforced the school rules again, requiring us not to use cell phones during school hours. However, everyone basically finds a way to circumvent the rules and is using them secretly."

Ai Yin found Su Shi's words quite novel: "So even young ladies break school rules?"

After hearing Aine's words, Yue explained, "Aine, from a dramatic point of view, it is quite normal for a young lady to be full of rebellious spirit. Many films and dramas start because of the young lady's rebellious spirit."

"Ah, I know, I know, that's what the Titanic movie I watched before was like." Aine boasted about the movie she had seen.

"Actually, most students are quite law-abiding and don't use their phones much unless absolutely necessary." Seeing that everyone's impression of Tsukimori seemed to be developing in a strange direction, Su Shi tried to help the school salvage some of its image.

However, even Aine noticed the contradictions in Su Shi's words.

"Huh? But didn't you just say, Su Shi-chan, that everyone's been using it secretly?"

Su Shi quickly came up with a response, "Well... sometimes replying to friends' messages is necessary to maintain relationships, right? Everyone only uses it secretly after class, and no one uses it during class."

"Hey, isn't this just like all of us? I feel so much closer to Miss Tsukimori right now~" Aine said with a smile, showing her small canine teeth.

--------

The group chatted and laughed all the way, and after stopping at a convenience store to buy some things, they finally arrived at the KTV they had agreed to meet the day before, three minutes late. Li hope was already standing at the entrance of the KTV with her arms crossed.

Her face showed impatience, her brows were slightly furrowed, and her eyes revealed a hint of impatience.

"It's so slow! We've already exceeded the agreed time. Can you please be more mindful of time?"

After hearing Li hope's words, Xiao Deng looked apologetic. "I'm sorry, I just went to the convenience store and bought the latest marine life bandages, so I'm a little late."

Lixi hadn't expected the problem to be with the lamp, and quickly reassured the other person, "It's okay, the lamp isn't that late."

Seeing Li hope's blatant double standards, Yue couldn't help but chuckle.

After seeing Riki's discriminatory treatment, Aine pretended to complain, "Riki, this is clearly discriminatory treatment!"

Su Shi also seized the opportunity to add fuel to the fire, smiling at Li hope and saying, "Li hope, double standards are not acceptable."

Li hope's face immediately flushed red. "Stop nagging... Hurry up and go in."

"Riki, are you shy?" Aine teased, looking at Riki's blushing face.

Hearing Aine's words, Lixi's blush deepened even more. She tried to hide her feelings with a strong tone, but actually gave off a haughty vibe. "What are you saying? Hurry up and go in!"

It was rare for Yue to see Riki so shy, and a teasing urge rose within her. "Riki-chan, you're so cute~"

After receiving Yue's affirmation, Aine's voice grew louder and louder, "Right? Riki is super cute right now!"

Even the lamp was praising Lixi at this moment, "Lixi, so cute!"

Overwhelmed by the praise, Li hope finally couldn't take it anymore and stormed into the KTV behind her.

After seeing Li hope run away in a huff, Yue said, "Alright, alright, although Li Xi is very cute, everyone should still be careful not to scare her away."

After everyone calmed down, they went into the KTV together and saw Lixi, who had also recovered.

But Yue took a closer look at Lixi. Her hands were gently rubbing together, and her cheeks were slightly flushed. She didn't seem as calm as she appeared.

Ai Yin, the band's socialite, volunteered to go to the front desk and talk to the waiter, "There are five of us. By the way, can we use a coupon?"

After receiving an affirmative answer from the shop assistant, Aine took out a coupon for the store from her wallet. Yue was just a little curious as to why Aine had a coupon when she had only decided to come here yesterday.

"Could this be a famous chain karaoke bar?"

Yue, who wasn't particularly familiar with KTVs, could only offer this explanation. She turned to look at the other three and found that Lixi was still in a daze in the waiting area, while Xiaodeng and Sushi were looking at the beverage machines in the beverage area.

"A beverage machine? Xiaodeng, would Su Shi like a drink?"

As a non-Crychic person, Yue had no way of knowing why Deng and Su Shi were looking at the vending machine. She could only guess that the two of them wanted to drink something based on the most basic function of the vending machine.

"It's nothing..." Su Shi turned her head away, temporarily letting down her guard.

Yue cast a pleading look at Lixi, only to find that Lixi was still lost in thought and hadn't noticed what was happening.

At this moment, she deeply regretted why she had taken the opportunity to tease Lixi earlier, which had led to her now facing two people who were clearly lost in their memories.

Ultimately, Yue couldn't understand why an ordinary vending machine could make Deng and Su Shi fall into deep thought. It couldn't be because someone was playing with the vending machine here, could it?

Fortunately, Miss Aine seemed to have heard Tsukishin's cry for help and quickly checked into a room and came over. "Everyone, you can go to your room now."

"Aine-chan, lo1 2-neighbor mixed with cold fins ve!"

Yue cast a grateful glance at Aine, finally free from the terrifying atmosphere.

"What just happened?"

Aine received a gaze from Yue, then looked at the somewhat somber Deng and Su Shi behind her, and was momentarily confused.

--------

Ai-yin was browsing through the music selection tablet when she saw a song featuring Sumi and exclaimed in surprise.

"Hey, there's a Sumi song here! Tsuki-chan, can you sing it?"

Although Yue had never practiced singing Sumi's songs, they were playing everywhere lately, so even though she had never listened to them seriously, she was familiar with the lyrics and melody. With her professional singing skills, she could easily sing them in karaoke.

"Probably a little."

"Then I'll sing Hatsuka's part, and Tsuki-chan, you sing Mana's part," Aine said, thinking about selecting a song.

Li Xi quickly snatched the song selection tablet from Ai Yin's hands and said, "Ai Yin, have you forgotten what we talked about in the group yesterday? We're here today to choose the lead singer."

"Ugh... Riki's such a killjoy." Aine sighed and sat back down in her seat.

"If Aine wants, she can be the lead singer." Xiaodeng approached Aine and gently tugged at her sleeve. Aine turned her head, and her gray eyes met Xiaodeng's amber eyes.

The lamp's eyes were full of sincerity and genuineness as she gazed into Aine's eyes, without a trace of affectation, revealing the honesty in her heart.

Looking at Xiaodeng's earnest eyes, Ai Yin smiled happily and thanked her, "Thank you, Xiaodeng, but let's prove ourselves as the lead singers through our abilities. So, Riki, how should we choose?"

A hint of embarrassment appeared on Lixi's face. Her brows furrowed slightly, and her eyes darted around, as if she felt somewhat uncomfortable with what she had said.

"...I haven't thought about it yet." When asked by Aine, Lixi realized that although she said she wanted to choose a lead singer, she hadn't thought about how to have a fair election. After all, she only thought about Tsubasa becoming the lead singer.

“rikki…” Ai-yin’s tone rose slightly, her voice carrying a hint of displeasure.

"How about we each sing a song we're best at, and then vote on who sang the best?" Yue spoke up in time to help Li hope out of the predicament, proposing a less-than-perfect solution.

After all, if they really wanted to choose a lead singer for the band, they should have to have a unified song. But since they are just a girls' high school band and their goal is not to debut in the mainstream, their professionalism is not that strong. The songs can actually be adapted based on the chosen lead singer, so it doesn't matter if they are not rigorous.

"I agree." "I have no objection." "I think it's fine too." "Okay."

The four people present unanimously approved Yue's proposal.

And so, the competition to select the lead singer of this unknown band began rather hastily in this karaoke room.

When the Stage Opens: Chapter Fifteen - Aine's Song

After looking around at everyone, Yue asked, "So, does anyone want to volunteer to be the first one up?"

Chihaya Aine, representing the positive side, volunteered to be the first to go on stage, shouting, "Me! Me! Me! I'll go first!"

Seeing that no one else raised any objections, Yue handed the iPad for requesting songs and another microphone to Ai Yin.

Yue looked at Ai Yin, who was selecting songs, and then at the rather quiet private room. Su Shi and Deng had been sitting there without saying a word ever since they saw the beverage machine, and Li hope, sitting next to Deng, had also not said a word.

"When Ai Yin is requesting songs, we need to find a way to liven up the atmosphere. If everyone's relationship gets worse, then this team-building activity will be pointless."

Looking at the other microphone she was holding, an idea suddenly popped into her head.

She seamlessly switched to her host's voice and said, "At the vocalist audition, our first contestant is choosing a song. So, what song will Chihaya Aine bring to us?"

Chihaya Aine, who was figuring out how to select a song, suddenly heard Tsuki's voice and burst out laughing, slapping the table.