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

While alone on the rooftop, Yue and Su Shi were completely unaware that everyone in the Astronomy Club was already speculating that they had been captured by ghosts.

Just as Su Shi was thinking of going downstairs with everyone, Yue sent her a message saying that she wanted to stay on the rooftop to talk alone.

So she and Yue deliberately walked at the very back, successfully avoiding everyone's gaze and remaining on the rooftop.

"So... what does Xiaoyue want to tell me?"

Su Shi leaned against the wall, looking at the moon. Her face once again wore its usual fake smile, her lips slightly pursed, her expression a half-smile.

Yue looked at Nagasaki Motoyo's expression with a complicated expression. It wasn't the first time she had seen that smile on the other person's face.

But this time, well... if Su Shi's previous smiles were the signature smiles of a young lady, now her smile gives Yue the feeling of a yandere, landmine-type girl's smile.

"I always feel like if I say something like trying to persuade the other person to give up on Crychic, Su Shi will pull out her scissors and cut her at any moment."

Yue could only try to persuade him indirectly: "Um... Suze-chan, are you nervous about tomorrow's performance?"

"If I had to say I was nervous, I would say I was a little nervous... After all, it's been a long time since I've performed on stage, and I haven't had any rehearsals before, so I don't know if I can play as well as I have before."

Although Su Shi said she was very nervous, her expression remained a nonchalant smile, making it impossible for anyone to sense any tension.

Yue realized that both of them were essentially skilled performers, and that she wouldn't get the answer she wanted by continuing to probe. So she tentatively asked the next question: "So... what happens after the performance? What exactly do you want to do, Su Shi?"

When Nagasaki Motoyo heard what Tsukishiro said, her expression froze for a moment, but she quickly recovered and asked, "Which aspect are you referring to, Tsukishiro?"

"There has been some progress after all..."

Seeing that her question had opened up a new avenue, Yue pressed her advantage, saying, "Of course, it's about the band's future direction and... the audition."

Nagasaki Motoyo's smile finally crumbled, her gentle expression turning icy, and her tone gradually sharpening.

"I thought you'd be a bit more polite, Yue, but I didn't expect you to get straight to the point so quickly."

Su Shi sighed and said in a calm tone, "I will probably leave the band after the performance. My promise to Xiao Deng was that it would only last until the end of the first live performance. I think I have done right by you guys."

Although her words were plain, this very plainness only served to highlight her inner resolve.

Listening to Su Shi's words, Yue thought to herself, "How come I remember Su Shi saying that you would stay with the Little Light Group in the band for life? How come you've changed your mind now..."

Seeing that Su Shi was determined to retreat, Yue turned her attention to Su Shi from another direction and launched an attack: "Then... what about the audition? Su Shi, do you really know the truth behind this audition?"

"..."

Su Shi's eyes darted around, clearly indicating that she didn't know the truth about the so-called audition either. All Tao Zi had told her was that it was an election where the soul (Shining) was at stake, and the winner would have everything, while the loser would lose their soul.

“I don’t care… as long as she can actually fulfill my wish to go back in time and save Crychic.”

Su Shi's voice revealed a hint of hesitation and helplessness, and her eyes were no longer as firm as before, but filled with deep worry.

In yesterday's revue, she couldn't even beat Shiina Tatsuki, let alone Tsuki and Momoko, who were clearly much stronger than her. She wasn't very confident about winning the audition.

Yue continued, "If you went back in time, would you be able to save Crychic?"

"..."

Su Shi fell silent once again. She didn't know if going back in time could save Crychic. She hadn't even been able to find out the reasons why Crychic disbanded and Xiangzi left the team.

To be more precise, since Crychic disbanded, he has no idea whether the person who looked so much like Xiangzi that he saw in the Moon Forest was Xiangzi or where she was.

If Wakaba Mutsu hadn't told her that Shoko was still in Japan, she would have wondered if Shoko had left Crychic because she went abroad.

However, Su Shi was not stupid and quickly figured out a solution.

"If only... if only I could go back to the past like the performance... then I could investigate the reasons for Crychic's disbandment and prevent it from happening again."

"I feel like I'm outlining the way to save Crychic step by step for you..."

As Yue watched Nagasaki Motoyo's thoughts gradually become clearer, she felt as if she hadn't come to persuade her to give up, but rather to help her.

Seeing that Yue wanted to say something more, Su Shi decisively interrupted her and spoke first:

"Thank you so much for Xiaoyue's help tonight. But if everyone notices that we haven't gone down for so long, they'll probably be worried about us. Let's go down first tonight, since the performance is tomorrow. It wouldn't be good if we stayed up too late."

Upon hearing Su Shi's words, Yue's face showed an expression of wanting to cry but having no tears.

"I really wasn't... trying to help you..."

As the performance begins: Chapter Seventy-Nine: My Spring Shadow Played with a Human (or Ghost).

"In the end, we still didn't accomplish anything..."

Yue followed Su Shi downstairs.

Thinking of Su Shi's resolute expression just now, she didn't know what else to say to her and had to give up for the time being.

"So, do we have to defeat Suze at the audition to completely stop her? But if we do that, it seems the band can't come back..."

Although Yue really wanted to resolve this issue today, no matter how hard she tried, it would be futile if the other party didn't want to communicate...

"Well... should we invite Hachiman over? If Ritsuki is her classmate, maybe we can get a discount..."

Although the band hasn't ended yet, Yue has already started thinking about what to do after the band ends.

"Speaking of which, is this staircase really that high? We haven't even gone down yet?"

Yue finally snapped out of her thoughts and looked at the staircase sign in front of her. It was indeed the 4th floor, but... the top floor was only about the 5th floor, which meant they hadn't gone down a floor in several minutes.

"what happened?"

Su Shi was puzzled when she saw Yue suddenly stop.

"Su Shi...were we just going downstairs?"

Yue asked Su Shi with some uncertainty.

"Yes, it rained for half a day... didn't it?"

Su Shi then realized something was wrong. They should have been on the first floor by now, so why were they still in the stairwell?

"Anyway... shall we continue and take a look?"

Yue felt that they hadn't noticed the change in floor level, and now they needed to confirm whether it was a case of being trapped in a maze.

"Hmm... Shall we go down and take a look first?"

Su Shi's voice trembled slightly as she replied to Yue.

The two carefully made their way down the stairs, each step taken with extreme caution, as if afraid of seeing something ominous next. In the quiet campus at night, their heartbeats could even be heard echoing in the stairwell.

When they saw the floor number change from 4 to 3, the two exchanged a glance and then continued talking.

"Shall we...go down to the next floor and take a look?"

"Let's take a look."

The two carefully went down one floor again, and then found that the floor sign had changed to the 2nd floor.

Did we really go downstairs just now?

At this point, Yue began to suspect that they had simply stayed in the same spot, otherwise why would they have broken through the "ghost wall" so easily when they hadn't done anything?

"We should be going downstairs..."

At this moment, Su Shi also began to doubt her own memory.

"Anyway, it's good that everything is alright... Let's hurry back to find everyone..."

Yue felt that they shouldn't dwell on this issue any longer, and should return to the Astronomy Department as soon as possible to feel safer with everyone.

--------

"Ding ding ding ding~ ding ding ding~ ding~~ ding ding ding~"

However, as the saying goes, good fortune never comes in pairs, and misfortunes never come singly. When they passed by the music classroom, Su Shi vaguely heard the sound of a piano being played, and the rhythm sounded somewhat familiar to her.

"This is... Kasuga Kage?"

When Yue heard the piano music, she felt something was wrong. One of the Seven Wonders of Haneoka was the sound of a piano in a classroom at night. After she realized that the music was "Spring Shadow", she felt even more uneasy.

Because... she glanced at Su Shi beside her, and Su Shi happened to look at her as well; their eyes met in the darkness.

Yue asked somewhat uncertainly, "Su Shi...you wouldn't...want to go and take a look, would you?"

Seeing Su Shi's resolute gaze, Yue's tone softened slightly: "It shouldn't be... right?"

Su Shi looked at Yue's somewhat frightened expression and said, "If Yue doesn't want to go, I can go alone."

Su Shi was actually a little scared, but she actually heard someone playing "Spring Shadow" in Yuqiu, and it was even a piano version. This made her give up on the idea of ​​Xiao Xiang in Yuqiu.

But now it seems that no matter who is playing the piano upstairs, whether it's a person or a ghost, it must have some connection with Xiao Xiang.

Seeing Su Shi's resolute tone, Yue knew that it was probably impossible to persuade her to come back, so she said in despair, "Okay... I understand, I'll go with you."

The two then returned to the stairwell and peered out towards the direction of the music classroom.

Once upstairs, the sound of Kasuga Kage playing the piano became even clearer, but it also made Tsuki feel even more terrified.

"Why... why did something like this have to happen tonight?!"

Although she had heard that almost none of the Seven Mysteries of Yugaoka caused any harm to people, only giving them a fright, just thinking about someone playing the piano at school late at night was still terrifying.

While Yue was lost in thought, the two of them had already walked outside the music classroom. Through the glass in the door, they couldn't see anyone inside, but the sound of the piano was still playing.

"Su Shi...do we really want to go in and see?"

Yue was somewhat uncertain whether it was a good idea for them to take the initiative to seek out the other party, since there had been no previous reports of what would happen to anyone who actively sought out the legendary entity.

Su Shi answered with her actions. She reached out and placed her hand on the doorknob, turned it hard, and then found that... the door was locked.

However, after Su Shi tried to open the door, the voice of Haruhi Kage in their ears stopped.

"call……"

Yue breathed a sigh of relief. She was now gradually believing that the Seven Mysteries were just a prank by some senior.

"The door is locked... and the noise has stopped. Can we go back now?"

"Hmm... let's go back..."

Even now, Su Shi still feels a bit scared when she thinks back on it. Her voice trembles slightly, revealing her unease and panic.

Fortunately, nothing strange happened on their way back, and the two returned safely to the Astronomy Department.

"Yue! Su Shi! Where did you go just now?"

When Ai saw the two people who came in, she excitedly came forward, hugged them, and asked them questions.