People are in animation, but they can connect to reality

Chapter 9 The Disappearance of MMK

Through the window, Asagi saw some students passing by with backpacks on their backs. Staring at the backpacks, Asagi recalled that he seemed to have put the song into the backpack.

The schoolbag was lying on the seat of the tram at that time. He remembered it, but why was it not in his bag?

But it doesn’t seem to be in my schoolbag. Could it be in someone else’s schoolbag?

A moment later, Lupa brought a bowl of steaming noodles. Asagi's stomach growled with hunger, and she stared at the noodles with a green gleam in her eyes. However, because Lupa was holding the noodles at about the same level as her chest, this might not seem like a big deal to Lupa, but to Ebizuka Satoshi, it was a huge offense.

Sure enough, yesterday's scene was repeated. Ebzuka Tomo poked his head out from the kitchen and saw Asagi's greedy, drooling eyes. Then, looking in the direction Asagi's eyes were directed, Ebzuka Tomo opened his [bloody mouth] again, waving his [claws], and was about to pounce.

Facing Ebizuka Satoshi's violent state, Lupa naturally put down his food and said to Asagi, "Please enjoy it slowly."

She stood there, holding the tray, a warm smile on her face. Then, Lupa gave a slight polite nod and dragged Ebizka Satoshi, who hadn't yet attacked, back to the kitchen. Asagi was left with Ebizka Satoshi's dissatisfied, resentful look.

Asagi felt very strange when he saw Ebzuka Satoshi's condition.

Asagi savored the noodles that Rupa brought him. He thought of MMK. It seemed that these girls were constantly working part-time jobs.

This is true for Rupa, MMK, and Ebizuka Satoshi. Are dreams really that obsessive? They're something people are willing to sacrifice their most precious years for.

Even though it was a thin single-plank bridge that looked like it was about to break, there was bottomless darkness under the feet.

When checking out, Rupa respectfully handed Asagi a business card, which introduced the online accounts of Rupa and Ebizuka Satoshi.

“This is our account. If you like it, you can follow it.”

This is sort of an answer to Asagi's question just now: "Are you guys in a band?"

Under such a gentle offensive, no one would refuse.

Asagi accepted the business card from Rupa and nodded. Rupa and Asagi were still unfamiliar with each other and didn't have the time to chat with Asagi, so contacting Asagi online was acceptable.

After saying goodbye to Rupa, Asagi went to the place where MMK was performing and waited. He had a song for MMK hidden in his bag, and he wondered if MMK would be happy, shocked, or even cry with excitement after seeing the song.

Crying with joy? Would MMK show such an expression? Hardly. Because MMK is an adult, having been adrift on her own for so long, she's long since accustomed to adult life and wouldn't easily cry over something like this.

The things that can make MMK cry are deeper, softer, and can touch the depths of MMK's heart.

There were fewer people walking around tonight than last night, and time was ticking by, surpassing the time MMK had appeared last night. Perhaps MMK had been delayed by something, Asagi consoled himself by looking at the empty space before him.

It was much later, even later than when MMK had left the previous night, and the number of people walking around had thinned to the point where they could be counted, but MMK still hadn't appeared. Realizing that MMK wasn't coming, Asagi felt sad. The song he'd prepared for MMK was still in his hands, and his anticipation had grown infinitely lower.

Asagi, head bowed in disappointment, rushed to the last bus. On the way, when passing by the place where Rupa worked, Asagi looked up. The door of the restaurant was tightly closed, and Rupa and the others had also finished get off work.

Back home, Asagi lay on the bed, looking up at the ceiling. The lights in the room were not on. In the darkness, Asagi unconsciously hugged the quilt tightly, recalling the events of the day in his mind.

MMK didn't come because he encountered something unexpected. Asagi thought so and told himself. However, after tonight, Asagi didn't see MMK for a long time.

At that place, MMK disappeared.

In the following time, Asagi went to school as usual, and after school he would go to the place where MMK was performing to take a look. The place was soon occupied by other singers, and he began the same dream journey as MMK.

Did MMK give up on returning home? Sometimes, Asagi would think so. He knew about the butterfly effect. Because of his appearance, he would not be surprised by anything that happened in the world.

"Asaki, what are you daydreaming about?"

During the break, Kotobuki Nana came over and talked to Asagi with a caring tone.

Kotobuki Nana is very popular in the class, but due to her family background, few boys would actively approach her. So, when Kotobuki Nana approached Asagi, an invisible aura suddenly appeared around her. This aura, born from the resentment in the gazes of the boys nearby, was called a "barrier."

"Ah, Kotobuki-san."

Asagi was startled. He was so absorbed in thinking about something that he hadn't noticed Kotobuki Nana approaching. This sudden conversation caught him off guard.

"Are you forming a band?"

Asagi recalled what Kotobuki Nana had said a few days ago: she seemed to want to form a band. It was natural for a young lady like Kotobuki, from a well-off family, to want to form a band for fun in a world with such a strong musical atmosphere.

After all, the life of a young lady is very boring, and not everyone likes to live quietly.

"Are you interested in joining?"

Hearing Asagi's question, Kotobuki Nana seemed to be interested. She moved a little closer, and the distance was enough to squeeze Asagi's living space.

For the sake of future class life, Asagi had to step back a little and keep a safe distance from Kotobuki Nana.

"Have all the personnel gathered?"

"Not yet. Do you want to come with Asagi-san?"

"Why did you invite me?"

"Create a happy high school life. Asagi-san doesn't have anything to do, right? You don't seem to be joining any clubs or the student council. If that happens, high school life will become super boring."

"Sorry, I'll think about it."

Asagi did not respond directly to Kotobuki Nana.

Kotobuki Nana was right. High school here is the most exciting period of one's life. However, Asagi wasn't gifted. He also had his own things to do, like earning money.

That's right, he should make money. Although Kotobuki Nana's suggestion was good and her invitation was sincere, Asagi needed a band led by himself to make money. Or, he needed to control the band from behind.

After figuring it out, Asagi decided to contact Rupa. These working people, desperately working for their dreams, needed money, so their goals overlapped greatly with Asagi's.

Chapter 10 How to Say No

After school, Asagi did not leave the school immediately. He took advantage of the time when his classmates had left and there was no one in the class, opened his mobile phone, and wrote down "The Name of Life", the theme song of Spirited Away, on the musical notation notebook.

He likes this song very much, and he also likes the lyrics. The mixed joys and sorrows of life, the love and hate of human nature, the cruelty of reality and the pursuit of ideals, etc., show the essence of life.

After copying, Asagi sighed at the unfamiliar notes. As a plagiarist, unfamiliar with musical rhythms would sooner or later land him in big trouble. A writer who constantly produced masterpieces and famous songs, yet Asagi didn't even understand the most basic musical concepts, could come up with this kind of rhythm.

However, this kind of thing cannot be learned overnight. Asagi decided to focus on the present. He looked at the song as a gift for meeting Rupa, and only hoped that Rupa and Ebizuka Satoshi would like it.

Rupa and Ebizuka Satoshi work part-time jobs from the afternoon to the evening. At this time, the restaurant is very crowded and Rupa can't leave. Asagi came to the restaurant and found a seat. Rupa saw Asagi and waved to him from a distance.

"Want something to eat, or is it the same as before?"

Rupa took a small notebook and walked up to Asagi to ask. Asagi looked up at Rupa and this time he found that the smile on Rupa's face seemed to have some emotion than before.

"Um,"

Asagi nodded.

"You should change your food occasionally. If you always eat the same thing, you'll get tired of it sooner or later."

I hadn't expected Rupa to offer a suggestion. Normally, a waiter wouldn't refuse a customer's order for that reason. That wasn't what a waiter should say. Only a friend could offer a suggestion, speaking from a friend's perspective.

"Any recommendations, Lupa?"

Asagi called out Rupa's name directly, which made Rupa startled. Before Rupa could react, Asagi put on a bright smile.

Rupa quickly adjusted his facial expression and said,

"This one is a new flavor in the store, and the price is right." Rupa pointed to a new flavor on the menu.

"Is it delicious? Are you using me as a guinea pig?" Asagi said half-jokingly.

"If it doesn't taste good, consider it my treat."

Since Rupa recommended it so enthusiastically, Asagi didn't refuse. He also wanted to try a different flavor. Asagi watched Rupa walk into the kitchen, he held his chin and looked at the restaurant boredly.

The restaurant is not big, but there are only Rupa and Ebizuka Satoshi busy in the store, which means that they have worked here for a long time and the boss trusts them.

Moreover, Rupa gives people a very close feeling, which will not make people feel repulsive but relaxed.

"By the way, Lupa, I follow your account." Asagi said to Lupa with a smile when Lupa came up with the new products, "I see a lot of fans under your account. You are quite famous, right?"

"That's the result of Xiaozhi's hard work. It's very cute, Xiaozhi."

Instead of feeling proud, Rupa gave the credit to the girl who was always angry at Asagi.

"What time do you get off work?" Asagi slurped his noodles and asked before Rupa left.

This time, Rupa showed the same reaction as before. She was stunned and obviously did not expect Asagi to ask her this.

"About 10 o'clock."

Roopa tilted his head, thought for a moment, and replied.

It’s already 10 o’clock and 22 o’clock, which is already late at night.

"10 o'clock, it's so late."

Asagi paused, a look of hesitation on his face, for he was almost on the verge of catching the last bus. He hesitated, wondering whether to wait for Rupa to get off work and discuss it with her in person, or to get her contact information and talk to her over the phone.

At this time, the restaurant was constantly crowded with customers, and Rupa couldn't spend too much time with Asagi. She walked over to the new customers and handed them menus.

When Rupa returned to the kitchen, he found that Ebizuka Satoshi had been waiting for a long time.

"That kid is unreliable." She stared at Rupa and said this very seriously.

Lupa tilted his head, was stunned for a moment, then smiled and said,

"I think you might have misunderstood, Chi-chan. Maybe he just simply likes our songs and is a fan."

"That look, that disgusting look, I know it all at once." Ebizuka Chilu glared at him with disgust, "Humph, where did you come from, little brat? You don't even realize how old you are, yet you're thinking of taking advantage of Lupa."

Seeing Satoshi Ebizuka's angry look, Rupa thought that Satoshi Ebizuka was very cute. Maybe she liked to see Satoshi Ebizuka show such an expression.

"Okay, I'll make it clear to him. Don't worry. I won't abandon you."

Rupa touched Ebizuka's head and comforted him softly. Ebizuka tried to move away, but Rupa grabbed him very accurately. Rupa's hand kept moving on Ebizuka's hair. Ebizuka pouted and turned his face away.

After Asagi finished his noodles, he looked around the restaurant and found that there were still many empty seats. So it should be no problem for him to reserve a seat here. Rupa wouldn't chase him away, right?

"Do you have something to say?"

While Asagi was still pondering, Lupa came over unnoticed and spoke first. As Ebizuka Satoshi said, he was still a child, so he could be called a child in front of him.

Although he didn't know why Ebizuka Satoshi said that, Rupa still chose to trust Ebizuka Satoshi's judgment. Moreover, Rupa also had his own considerations.

"You're still a student, right?"

Rupa could basically judge Asagi's age from his appearance. Although Rupa maintained a relaxed attitude, not to make the boy in front of her feel nervous, if possible, she would choose a tactful way to reject him.

"Oh, yes, I just entered the first year of high school this year." Asaki nodded woodenly. Asaki was a little uncomfortable with Rupa's sudden conversation.

"Ah, there is something I want to tell you. Please take a look at this."

Asagi handed the music sheet to Lupa. He noticed a small head poking out from the kitchen, peering at him. The owner of that head was Satoshi Ebizuka.

It was strange, why did she look so anxious, Asagi didn't understand.

Rupa frowned. This was the first time Asagi had seen Rupa with such an expression. Asagi felt a little proud of seeing Rupa with such an expression, a different Rupa from usual.

At this moment, Asagi was full of anticipation, he hoped to cooperate with Rupa. Rupa was the most suitable person he could find at the moment, considering his social circle.

Rupa frowned and carefully unfolded the paper, praying that this wasn't a love letter or something, and that Ebizuka Satoshi's suspicions were wrong. Otherwise, she'd have to deal with this mess. She felt like rejecting the child would hurt him. What tone and wording would be best?

Rupa is troubled.

Chapter 11 Not a love letter?

As Rupa watched the music, the troubled expression on her face disappeared, replaced by confusion.

Rupa blinked and read the song from beginning to end.

"This is sheet music, right? Why are you giving it to me?"

She was very confused, and suddenly Rupa seemed to have thought of something. She slapped her forehead and said in surprise,

"It's not you who composed this song."

This kind of thing was beyond Rupa's expectation and made her very confused.

Asagi nodded, but he felt his cheeks getting slightly hot. He felt a little guilty about directly plagiarizing other people's work.

But if he denies it, then who composed this piece of music? It can't be that a non-existent person composed this piece of music.

"Okay," Lupa accepted everything easily. She just didn't expect the direction of the situation to develop. When everything was clear, the direction of the incident became clear. Lupa was not without experience in this kind of thing.

"Do you want me to take a look at it for you? Give you an evaluation of this piece of music?"

Asagi nodded eagerly. He needed Rupa's affirmation because it was the basis and capital for cooperation.

"However, if you want to give a review, I have more professional people here."

Rupa winked playfully and asked,