I, who advocate giving up, feel like a disqualified person

"..."

"I don't feel tired at all! In your eyes, I'm just the guy who keeps fooling around with you, right? The guy who has no interest in music at all? But have you ever asked me?! I love it so much!"

Ignoring the expression on her face, I continued yelling at her... I don't know why, but I felt very angry seeing her like this. This is not the way I imagined her at all.

"It's precisely because I love it that I stayed up late to memorize those fingerings, that I pressed the strings until my fingers were calloused, and that I happily cooperated with you. I know that just the two of us can't make the performance feel like a formal one... but we've already tried our best according to our original plan, so I don't want to hear you say anything discouraging now."

So, let's restore the original state...

"..."

"....Aaah, this is so annoying!" She suddenly slapped her hands on her cheeks, making a crisp sound.

"Uh...?" For a moment I couldn't tell whether this was an expression of sadness or excitement.

"I told you I shouldn't have answered their calls! They had such a huge impact on my mood." Her tone lightened up as she complained, "You can say something nice every now and then, Mo Xiaozhi."

“…”

Looking at that familiar smile, I can finally feel relieved.

"Since I've been so stubborn for so many months, why do I have to obey them today?"

“…That’s not what I meant…”

"Okay, I feel better now." She breathed a sigh of relief. "I'm really lucky to have met you. I can't thank you enough. Anyway, please help me today as always."

"...Of course."

If you think I'm qualified.

I will do my best.

..............

"nervous?"

Now she and I have changed into our costumes and are standing behind the scenes, observing the situation on the stage through the gap in the curtain. Our previous group's performance is almost over, and it will be our turn soon.

"...Of course I'm nervous." I felt my hands trembling from the beginning, "but most of all, I'm excited."

"Me too. My body is shaking all the time."

"..."

"Ah, it's over. It's our turn to go on stage." As soon as she finished speaking, the host's voice announcing the show came.

“…Come on.”

She held out her clenched hand to me, and I did the same, touching hands.

"Don't be nervous."

"You are."

They smiled at each other, and the tension seemed to disappear.

..................

Spotlights, applause, stage.

I thought that something would never happen to me in my life, but I am actually experiencing it.

It's all because of her...If it weren't for her, I might just be one of the many spectators in the audience.

I didn't look for my parents watching me from the audience, nor did I get so nervous that my mind went blank. All I could see was her back.

She just waited quietly for the applause from the audience to die down.

Just when the venue fell silent.

"Hiss..." A slight inhalation sound came through the microphone and reached my ears...and the ears of everyone present.

"Easily predict the end"

The sound of an explosion and the guitar accompaniment sounded at the same time, and even I, who had rehearsed it several times, couldn't help but be shocked.

“I have never paid attention to the metamorphosis of the butterfly body.

Can you look forward to before flapping your wings?

"I noticed your gaze"

I am responsible for the accompaniment of this sentence.

No feelings, no complaints

Bit by bit, I wear away all the obstacles

This obsession has never changed.”

Before the sound fades away, a transitional solo immediately follows, and the whole song has just begun.

"Looking up

Creatures in the sky

Looking down at the ground, I can't help but think

When exactly

Able to produce stubborn wings

Reversing everything is doomed to be irreversible

I want to win and pray for luck to be with me

Does it depend on the environment?

Yet a green lotus still emerges from the mud."

The same melody as at the beginning exploded again, at a higher pitch than at the beginning.

"I have never forgotten the promise

Flying ambitions are in my heart

The body is in excruciating pain

"Close your eyes slightly and wait for a breakthrough"

The invisible string that binds me

A wisp of thought

Lingering around the pupa

Suppressing the existence of wings and butterflies in the world

According to the meaning of the lyrics, the melody here is relatively soft, but you can hear a glimmer of hope from it.

"If you can

Get a little comfort

How happy it is to be treated with tenderness

That point of consciousness

The ideal desires of ants gathered in groups on the ground

Already extinguished

Sleep peacefully under the leaves

But how can we meet

A sunny day washed by heavy rain

The climax-like music sounded again, and her singing became more and more devoted, completely surpassing the level during rehearsal... Perhaps it was because the content of the lyrics reminded her of her own experience.

"I wish to be a butterfly flying against the wind

Ending at the sun

Is there a limit to life?

"The gaze in the crowd"

Is it mercy or farewell

No worries, no words

This journey is all for the obsession of life

Endure everything until you become a butterfly

Next, it was her solo, and I just needed to be there as a foil... That was the original plan. At this moment, she quickly turned around and waved at me.

"..." I seemed to understand what she meant.

This is... an ensemble, right? We didn't try it out during rehearsal, but it seems like she was just too excited and made this decision on a whim... Really, she's just messing around.

But I don't hate it.

I was originally standing behind her, but I couldn't help but take a few steps forward and stand with her.

Calm down...remember what she taught me...and then...play along with her!

The sudden ensemble instantly excited the audience, and the applause was unprecedentedly warm.

"I really can't stand it..."

Looking at her figure standing side by side with me, I couldn't help but complain softly.

"Well, thank you."

She quickly leaned over to me and said something, then quickly left.

It seems that she didn't hear what I just said.

On the other hand, the melody being played at this time is about to enter the final part.

"Hiss..." There was that slight inhalation sound again. The appearance of this sound meant that she was going to get serious.

"With thoughts of unknown origin

Leap into the miracle

Although everything in the world is different

"Beliefs based on thoughts"

With the perseverance to move forward, all distances can be changed

There is a passionate foundation

Can go further

"Take steady steps forward"

You might be right.

What we say and think is different in life

My beliefs will not change

The finite will never be able to judge the end of right and wrong

"I will fulfill my vow for my entire life"

........

As the ending music gradually faded away, warm applause rang out from the audience again.

"...successful."

I looked at her and said.

"Yes, it was successful..." She responded to me with a smile, then turned to the audience and bowed deeply.

And I followed her example.

Be noticed, sweat, and show yourself.

...This feeling...is pretty good.