Gravity Girl Shining

Uehara Hibiki naturally declined this disrespectfully.

Regardless, at least the first deal was done. Rehearsals were 8-10 hours per week, with daily pay and an additional 15% share of ticket sales after the weekend live performances. It was a pretty reasonable price in the industry.

Uehara Hibiki, on the other hand, asked the former keyboardist why he'd left, and the answer shocked him. The rhythm guitarist and keyboardist were secretly in love, then got pregnant, dropped out of school, and returned to their hometown—all in one go, perfectly fitting his stereotype of the band.

Although it is a bit out of tune with the era of beautiful big girl bands, it is really rock and roll.

When I got home and just put down the weight in my hands, I heard a knock on the door.

Strange, someone is actually looking for me, but the rent, water, electricity, gas and other bills are not in arrears?

When I opened the door, an unexpected visitor came. Toyokawa Shoko was standing at the door with dignity. Although her face had a cold expression, she was holding a small box in her hand.

"Oh, come here, bring something. You're welcome. Come in quickly..."

Uehara Hibiki happily took the gift box and invited Toyokawa Shoko into the house. The girl naturally and gracefully declined. Since she accepted the gift, then...

"Don't go. I have something to talk to you about. It's about Takamatsu Deng."

But we cannot forget people.

Toyokawa Shoko paused and looked at Uehara Hibiki with an even colder look.

"Don't worry, I have nothing to do with her. It's just... Although the soundproofing of the house is not very good, it's better to enter the house through the corridor."

"Sorry."

The girl finally stepped into the unfamiliar room. As the old door creaked shut, the moonlight was isolated from outside the room. The girl was trapped in an abyss from which there was no escape. Her fate was no longer known to anyone.

"No one knows a damn thing!"

In a world where time stands still, facing the sudden appearance of a giraffe, Uehara Hibiki's rant was as quick as a bullet. "Don't treat me like a criminal. I'm not in the otherworld."

I understand.

"You know a hammer!"

Uehara Hibiki looked at the giraffe's bright, wide eyes and felt a wave of dizziness. "What the hell are you doing? You suddenly showed up. What the hell are you talking about? System spirit? Can you give me a system?"

I rejoice only because the stage changes. I exist only because the stage shines. The Shining System, born from the shining, powers the shining. I hope you can use it wisely.

The Riddler, get out of Gotham City!

Uehara Hibiki sighed helplessly and gave up asking further questions. "Okay, go ahead. I need to talk to Xiangzi."

Yes, I just realized that this is a world where time has stopped, and there is a defenseless beautiful girl next to me.

Uehara Hibiki suddenly turned around and saw the girl bending down to take off her shoes, revealing half of her feet wrapped in white socks. Her slender legs were half suspended in the air, revealing charming lines, and there was a secret area under her skirt!

Giraffe, I was wrong, don’t go!

As long as I can get close to there!

But time began to flow.

Uehara Hibiki let go of Erkang's hand and smiled gentlemanly again.

"Sorry, Toyokawa-san, we don't have guest slippers at home. After all, we didn't expect any guests to come, so please come in."

Toyokawa Shoko walked into the main hall and looked at the brand new piano case on the small table. Her icy expression finally softened. "So you can play the piano..."

"Yeah, it's new. It cost me most of my scholarship. Since I have the skills, I'm going to find a way to monetize them. I plan to work as a keyboard mercenary running orders. I can earn more than working in a supermarket. My skills are not bad. I'll make my professional debut once I find the right teammates."

So similar.

And more and more like.

Toyokawa Shoko clenched her fists. That morning, she'd felt unnecessarily vulnerable because of their similarities. Renting, working, getting scholarships, even music now...

Anger burned within Toyokawa Shoko, a fire that burned against her. She was confident she could surpass Uehara Hibiki in everything from music to part-time jobs, but she couldn't do anything like him.

She had been secretly keeping an eye on Uehara Hibiki all day today, intending to prevent him from causing trouble, but she also used this opportunity to see a different side of Uehara Hibiki.

When Toyokawa Shoko tried to hide her family background, he was upright and had no scruples.

When Toyokawa Shoko was isolated from the outside world and alone, he mingled with his classmates and casually rushed into the senior class to chase his idol.

When Shoko Toyokawa put down the piano and abandoned the band, he took up the keyboard and prepared to form a band and strive for commercialization.

I am obviously better than him, but I am not as good as him.

I had originally entered the house thinking only of the lights, but Toyokawa Shoko asked the first question. "The road to becoming a professional band member is not easy. Are you ready?"

"You can't tell, but I'm a professional keyboard player." Uehara Hibiki shamelessly boasted in front of the skill's original owner. "I've been catching up on composition lately. I'll play it for you once my original song is out."

"Need not."

Keyboard + Composition, Toyokawa Shoko increasingly feels like she is looking in the mirror.

, now the person who accompanies the lamp, is also him...

"Let's get back to the point. What does Uehara-san know about the lights? Why are you asking me again?"

Uehara Hibiki handed Toyokawa Shoko a bottle of mineral water. "The water's not boiling yet, so get some. Don't worry. I don't know much about your relationship with Takamatsu-san. I only have a few clues from her notebook. You and her were in a band in junior high, right?"

"Ah."

"That's easy." Uehara Hibiki paused, his face serious. "I've noticed Takamatsu-san's mood has been a bit unstable lately. She seems to be feeling... deeply sorry and wants to apologize to someone. It seems to be related to the band. Do you know who it is?"

Who is this person?

Of course Toyokawa Shoko knew.

Then her.

Gritting her teeth, even as tears streamed down her face, Toyokawa Shoko maintained a stern expression. "Do you think I'd know?"

"I guess Toyokawa-san looked concerned when I raised the pine lantern."

"I do not have."

"Yes, I saw it all."

Uehara Hibiki desperately lied, there is no other way, I can't say I have a system, I can see your wish, I know you have been silently caring about Deng. But this lie inadvertently made Toyokawa Shoko fall into self-doubt.

I clearly decided to stay away from them, but now, I can't control my expression?

Mingming, you can't be so weak.

A series of unexpected events pierced through her psychological defenses layer by layer. That weak part seemed to be about to come back to life!

Unscrew the bottle cap, let the cool water slide down your throat, and clear your hot mind again.

When Shoko Toyokawa looked at the person in front of her, that wish came to her mind.

She hopes that Gao Songdeng can be happy, even if the person who can make her happy is not.

Uehara Hibiki, since you are so similar to me yet different, please do what I can't do. Please stay with Deng and give her happiness.

"Uehara-san, there's no way to undo what happened. Just apologizing won't end well." Toyokawa Shoko stood up, a determined look on her face. "If you want to relieve her stress, ask her to join your band. She's an excellent lead singer and a talented lyricist."

?

"The lights sang, her heart cried out. If she could only sing, everything would be alright."

Toyokawa Shoko left, leaving only Mizukamihara Hibiki confused.

No, sister, are you also a riddle man?

What's going on with your band?

Chapter 9: The Eve of the War

Although it was Toyokawa Shoko, it was impossible for Uehara Hibiki to directly invite Takamatsu Touma to join the band when he knew that her inner condition was worrying.

He'd never even heard Takamatsu Touma sing, but if he was going to form a professional team to make money, he couldn't just throw in someone with unknown skills. Putting aside Toyokawa Shoko's recommendation as a superstar, Uehara Hibiki had certain expectations.

So for several days, Gao Songdeng's mental condition did not improve much.

Every day she played with rocks and band-aids in the classroom, and buried herself in her notebook in the astronomy club's activity room. The astronomy club had no club activities, only Uehara Hibiki's music and Takamatsu's notes... It felt like they could be renamed the light music club or the literature club.

Then, that evening, Gao Songdeng finally stopped writing, closed the notebook, held it tightly in his arms, and then...

Takamatsu Deng started running and left the activity room, leaving behind a confused Uehara Hibiki.

?

Again, without any warning.

Takamatsu Deng, are you a running girl from Haneda?

But luckily, there was a time when Hibiki Uehara caught Takamatsu without much effort. At the corner of the stairs in the club building, without paying attention to the students who might be passing by, Hibiki Uehara pressed the little animal against the wall in a wall-dong position.

"Takamatsu-san, please don't run away without permission. If you have anything to say, please come out properly."

"Must... convey... must, convey... an apology..."

The girl's face flushed red, her hands clutching the notebook tightly to her chest, but she couldn't utter a single word due to the combination of excitement and exhaustion. Honestly, it didn't feel like a wall-dong; it felt more like bullying.

Uehara Hibiki glanced guiltily up and down the stairs, then shifted his attention to the girl again.

Then, Uehara Hibiki lowered his voice and tried to comfort the girl in the gentlest tone possible.

"Takamatsu-san, do you want to apologize to someone? Don't be anxious, and don't run away. I'll go with you."

"Ah."

…………

Back in the activity room, they packed up their things and locked the door. Uehara Hibiki accompanied Takamatsu Deng to meet the person they were going to apologize to.

Honestly, Uehara Hibiki had a feeling that an apology might be a dead end. After all, how big of a conflict could a girl band have? It wouldn't lead to such a scene. Based on Takamatsu's personality, it was probably just a misunderstanding, and they could resolve it once they met.

But if there is no misunderstanding, if someone is unreasonable and deliberately bullies Deng-chan, then don't blame Uehara Hibiki for letting her see this for herself so that she can truly convince others with (physics).

The plan went perfectly, but Takamatsu's path didn't lead off campus; instead, it turned directly into the teaching building. Also, was the person she was apologizing to also a student from Hanaoka?

Uehara Hibiki immediately thought of Toyokawa Shoko. They were once members of the same band, so it was entirely possible that something happened...

But it shouldn't be. The system stamped and certified Toyokawa Shoko's wish, hoping that Takamatsu Deng would be happy. From the conversation a few days ago, although she was puzzled, she did not blame Deng at all. On the contrary, she hoped that she could get better.

Is there any hidden secret in between?

Uehara Hibiki felt a little regretful. He always felt that if he accompanied Deng to block the door before finding out the truth, there might not be any good results.

The two of them quickly came to the door of Class B of Grade 1. After all, there was a while after school and the classroom was empty, which made Uehara Hibiki breathe a sigh of relief.

Pulling Takamatsu Deng back to Class A next door, in the equally empty classroom, Uehara Hibiki sat solemnly in front of the girl. He didn't touch the notebook, only staring into Takamatsu Deng's eyes.

"Takamatsu-san, don't be discouraged. If I can't find anyone today, I'll come with you tomorrow. No, Takamatsu-san is willing to come with me. Do you want to apologize to anyone?"

"Shoko. Class B Toyokawa Shoko."

"Why do you want to apologize?"

"We formed a band before, but it failed. It was all my fault. So I have to apologize."

Unfortunately, the premonition came true, and it was indeed Toyokawa Shoko. So when they talked before, Toyokawa Shoko was also deliberately telling people riddles to avoid the question.

Uehara Hibiki decided to take a risk, gently holding the girl's hand and probing her little by little. "Does Takamatsu-san feel wrong?"

It was a dangerous question. As expected, the girl's hands tensed up, and she was once again plunged into that sad memory, tormented by pain. Uehara Hibiki simply held that hand tightly, using his warm palm to suppress the girl's trembling.

Sorry, Deng-chan, I hurt you again.

But there was no way. Shoko Toyokawa and Tomo Takamatsu, one was a riddle teller and the other was a meditator. Hibiki Uehara was not a master of psychology. After several days of communication, there was limited progress.

If the other members of the band to whom the apology was addressed also did so, then Toyokawa Shoko's side was clearly laying out a minefield. If Takamatsu Deng ran directly into them, both sides would likely explode. If they didn't get the information back, it would be too late.

"Because I didn't sing well, Xiangzi got angry and quit the band."

Sure, there is definitely a problem in the middle.

Toyokawa Shoko had previously recommended Takamatsu's singing voice to Hibiki Uehara, and she didn't think Takamatsu's singing was bad. However, she must have done something to cause Takamatsu to misunderstand her.

Hibiki Uehara couldn't press the issue, as Takamatsu was clearly overwhelmed by self-blame. Asking her for specific details, regardless of the truth, would only result in a completely erroneous conclusion through a filter. Now that the key issue was known, Hibiki Uehara needed other perspectives to complete the information in order to truly understand the situation.

"Okay, I know. Takamatsu-san, don't dwell on it anymore. Tomorrow, I'll accompany you to apologize to Toyokawa Shoko. As long as you can honestly express your inner thoughts, you will be forgiven. I promise."

"Well, I believe you."

Gao Songdeng nodded slightly, and the hand that was being held completely relaxed.

…………

Perhaps because she was feeling so down, Takamatsu Deng was unusually silent today. From the school train to the tram overpass, the girl remained silent, while Uehara Hibiki remained by her side. But before parting, Uehara Hibiki finally played a card he had been planning for a long time.