Aspiring to be a girl in a band

……

By learning from others, I made friends.

[Even though he was mixed in with the crowd, he seemed to be all alone.]

……

That's all I can tell myself.

This is not where I belong.

……

I want a place to belong, so I've been searching.

Because I've been searching, that's why I've been keeping my head down.

……

I want to fight against this shaky world with my faltering steps.

……

I want to live like everyone else.

……

I want to...become human.

……

"I see."

After spending some time looking through the lamp's notebook, Arakawa Kirika closed it with satisfaction.

"..."

Lamp gripped her skirt tightly; she was extremely nervous. She didn't know what Arakawa Kirika would think of her after reading her notebook.

"Very powerful words."

Arakawa Kirika smiled at Takamatsu.

"Unlike its clumsy appearance, the lamp's inner workings are surprisingly delicate...and powerful."

As Arakawa Kirika spoke, she reached out and touched Akari's chest.

"Now I understand why the lamp's singing was so desperate."

Arakawa Kirika continued speaking.

"Because for you, the act of singing is about shouting out what's in your heart, right?"

……

The lamp looked at Arakawa Kirika in disbelief.

She hadn't expected that just by listening to her clumsy explanation and glancing at her notes, she would be the one to hear it.

Arakawa Kirika was able to clearly understand her own reality.

Ah... but demons should have the power to see into people's hearts, shouldn't they...?

Does this also mean that we are very compatible...?

But Arakawa Kirika's next sentence caused the lighthouse to plummet from the heights of happiness to the depths of despair.

"But I can assert one thing."

Arakawa Kirika spoke to Akari with a playful tone.

"Lamp, you can never become human."

……

My greatest wish was dismissed so casually in an instant.

This left the lamp frozen in place.

Although she really wanted to ask, "Why do you say that?"

But she no longer had the courage to even ask questions.

Arakawa Kirika was very satisfied with Akari's reaction, and she happily enjoyed Akari's disappointment and bewilderment.

The despair in her eyes, as if her worldview had collapsed, was the perfect seasoning, giving her ultimate pleasure.

She couldn't help but put her hands behind her back again.

Oh no... my hand is starting to itch again.

Arakawa Kirika repeatedly told herself to stay calm, and then continued speaking.

“I can see, Light, you are afraid of failure.”

Arakawa Kirika knew the real reason for Crychic's disbandment better than anyone else, but she was deliberately stirring up Akari's emotions.

"And this fear of failure has gradually consumed you, causing you to lose your pursuit of success."

The lantern blinked blankly, unsure of what Arakawa Kirika was trying to say, so she could only continue listening.

"Because the greatest failures in life also stem from the greatest pursuits."

"Those who want to raise their voices and become heroes will always fail."

"Those who want to amass enormous wealth are also prone to failure."

"Those who harbor ideals and want to reform society are often destined to fail."

"Deng, do you understand now? Anyone who challenges their own limits will naturally be close to failure."

"But becoming a 'victorious general' is obviously much easier."

"Just like you, always hide behind your stone friends, never challenge your limits, and always be content with the status quo."

"If you abandon all pursuits, you will never fail, right?"

"You don't actually care about Crychic at all... right?"

Arakawa Kirika gave Takamatsu Akari a teasing smile.

"No...that's not how it is."

Deng's body trembled. She instinctively wanted to refute, but couldn't come up with an effective rebuttal.

But crychic is... her most beautiful memory, how could she not care?

Arakawa Kirika covered the lamp's lips with a finger, signaling her to shut up.

When Crychic disbanded, did you really make any effort?

"Did he completely lose his courage after Xiangzi said something to him in anger?"

"Just now too. Xiangzi was right in front of you, and you clearly wanted to make up with her, but you couldn't even muster the courage to look her in the eye."

"What are you waiting for, lamp?"

"Are you waiting for an angel to descend to your side, to bear all your pressure, to accept all your weaknesses, and then to make a vow of 'never leaving you'?"

As Arakawa Kirika said, Akari knew she hadn't done enough to stop Crychic from disbanding; all her distress was just self-pity and had no real value.

She simply assumed it was all her fault and then chose to run away.

"But this isn't so bad, is it? As long as I hide myself and stay under the rocks forever, I won't get hurt. What other people do doesn't matter at all."

"Deng must have thought about this too. Rather than ending up in such a mess, it would have been better if you had never met Xiangzi in the first place. If you and Xiangzi had never met, you wouldn't be so heartbroken."

Arakawa Kirika gently touched the head of the lamp, her tone very tender.

If you hadn't heard her aggressive and inflammatory speech just now, you might have really thought she was comforting the injured lamp.

"That's not it! That's not it! Please stop talking..."

The sound of the light suddenly became very urgent.

This is the only thing that Deng absolutely does not want to admit.

"I... have never regretted meeting Xiangzi. He is my most precious treasure... Even though I was hurt, even though the ending was miserable, I have never... never regretted it!"

The lamp shouted loudly.

Ok……

Have you played with them enough?

Arakawa Kirika yawned boredly.

Yes, this scumbag was consciously guiding and deliberately provoking the light, intentionally trying to make it cry.

After achieving psychological satisfaction...

Arakawa Kirika ignored the tearful, pear-like figure of the lantern and stood up.

"You should save that '2-year-old b)a dirty; lingsan IX skirt chat' line for whoever you want to say it to."

Eh?

The light stopped wiping away her tears and began to ponder the meaning of Arakawa Kirika's words.

Before Akari could react, Arakawa Kirika pushed open the door, and before leaving, she turned back with a mocking smile and said one last thing to Akari.

"Although I still believe that you, Lamp, cannot become human, if you cannot accept this..."

"Take the first step and let me see."

Volume One: Chapter Thirty-Six: Strong Winds Blowing

Inside the classroom of Class A, Grade 1.

Arakawa Kirika stared intently at the book in front of her.

Her back was very straight, her legs were naturally together, and her expression was very focused.

She resembles a literary young woman.

She was reading a very boring detective novel, which she had borrowed randomly from the school library.

After all, Yuqiu provides ample break time between classes.