Their restricted abilities are refreshed every week.

Unlike her indifferent and cold expression, if Hachiman Kailing's expression is the frozen and silent earth, then her heart is as warm as the spring flowers blooming facing the sea, hot and beautiful.

Shirakawa Haru's innocent eyes reminded Hachiman Kailing that the boy in front of her came to learn xi bass because of her. He might not be the super fan that Manager Matsuo said he was, but she could see the pure affection he had for her.

He's the kind of fan who would sit in his basement for hours just to watch his own performance!

She thought that even her best friend Shiina Riki wouldn't be like Shirakawa Haru, who would chase her to watch more than ten live performances just because she liked her performance?

Hachiman Kailing didn't know how much knowledge Shirakawa Haru had learned about the bass instrument in the past few days, but his current knowledge reserve was definitely far beyond that of a beginner.

This showed that everything she had just taught was unnecessary for him.

He must have known that what she taught was outdated to him, but he still wrote down all her insights as carefully as a middle school student.

Hachiman Kailing thought, doesn't Shirakawa Haru know that she is just a musician under 18 years old, and it is her first time as a teacher, so she might be teaching him incorrectly?

Her insights are not those "truths" that have been tested by history and major music schools. Just now, when she was teaching Shirakawa Haru, she often reminded him not to trust her advice too much, as it may not apply to you and may even have an adverse effect on you.

She thought Shirakawa Haru certainly knew it, but he was her fan and liked her performance, so he liked everything about her, including teaching, which was no longer applicable to him.

Hachiman Kailing thought that her thoughts might be a little narcissistic, but this was the emotion she saw in Shirakawa Haru's eyes.

"Yeah." Baichuan Qing responded.

In the next half hour, Hachiman Kailing proved with her ability that even an electric bass can play soothing songs. Among the several songs she played, her favorite was "Parler Tout Bass".

The overall style of this song is soothing, and the bass plays a good supporting and promoting role in it.

Its root note is solid and stable, and the bass is pushed forward just right at each transition, creating a tranquil atmosphere.

"I will adjust the teaching according to your current level." Hachiman Kailing moved the stool to sit in front of the table and waved to Shirakawa Haru, "Shirakawa-kun, come sit next to me."

Then, Hachiman Kailing quickly flipped through the textbook and asked Shirakawa Haru to check if there was anything she didn't understand in the content she had read.

With her help, Shirakawa Haru absorbed knowledge quickly like a sponge. By the end of the class, the two of them had already read most of the textbook.

Hachiman Kailing was tidying up the clutter on the table. These were the bass accessories she had taken out of her bass bag earlier, including silk cloth, strings and picks.

During this process, her eyes suddenly met Shirakawa Haru's profile. The distance between the two was so close that she had an illusion that they seemed to be sitting face to face.

But of course she knew that this was impossible. It was just a misjudgment made by the human brain under certain circumstances.

The scent of sandalwood became more and more fragrant.

There was a knock on the door.

Hachiman Kailing opened the door a crack and saw Manager Matsuo standing outside with two bottles of soda.

She opened the door, let Manager Matsuo in, and then sat back in her original seat.

The manager handed drinks to Shirakawa Haru and Yawata Kairin. Three people were crammed onto the small table.

Shirakawa Haru was looking at his notes, and from time to time he picked up the bass and played some passionate music.

Hachiman Kailing collected the notes that Shirakawa Haru had read and folded them up one by one. She would sometimes correct Shirakawa Haru's mistakes when playing the bass, such as when to move her arms and when to move her wrists.

Manager Matsuo looked at the two people getting close and pointed out, "You two are sitting a little too close."

Chapter 112: Will Bess Mercenaries Cry Too?

Hachiman Kailing sat by the window, holding a pencil in her hand.

She rested her arms on the table, her nostrils filled with the elegant scent of sandalwood. She immediately looked at Manager Matsuo, whose expression of winking and making faces seemed to be asking for a beating.

She pulled her bench a little closer to Shirakawa Haru.

"Sorry, Hailing, just think of it as something I said wrong just now." The muscles on Manager Matsuo's face relaxed, and the teasing expression disappeared. He was just joking before, but now looking at Hachiman Hailing's expression, it seemed that her relationship with Shirakawa Haru seemed to have warmed up a lot in just a short while. After all, he had never seen Hachiman Hailing sitting so close to anyone else. "I just wanted to see how you teach Shirakawa-kun."

Manager Matsuo thought that if he continued, Hachiman Kailing might really get angry.

"How talented is Shirakawa-kun at playing the bass?" Manager Matsuo glanced at the notes in Shirakawa Haru's hand and noticed that Shirakawa Haru's questions were the kind of questions that only near-professional musicians would discuss. "He must have great talent."

It's not just a good talent, it's a genius, and he is willing to work hard and study seriously.

For a moment, Hachiman Kailing's attention was focused on Shirakawa Haru.

She remembered that she was reading the notes written by Shirakawa Haru just now. There were a few sentences written on it that she even forgot whether she had said them or not.

Hachiman Kailing thought these were probably insignificant suggestions or boring conversations, but Shirakawa Haru recorded them all.

She read through her notes like she was reading a diary, which was both awkward and heartwarming.

"He is a genius." Hachiman Kailing carefully considered the adjective, and only when she blurted it out did she realize that there was no need to consider how to describe Shirakawa Haru's talent, just state the objective facts.

"Yes." Manager Matsuo stood up from his chair, opened the window of the recording studio and looked out.

The last time he went to Hinomori Academy, he more or less investigated Shirakawa Haru's reputation among students and teachers there. Without exception, they all regarded Shirakawa Haru as a genius.

Some even think he is a "jack of all trades"!

"I'm not a genius, I just can concentrate better than others." Baichuan Qing said this very modestly. He didn't know what others thought, but he did think so.

"Modest." Manager Matsuo leaned on the window and looked at the office building next to him. On the sunny morning, he could occasionally hear the chirping of a few summer cicadas, and pedestrians were coming and going under the building.

He closed the window and said, "Xiao Hailing, didn't you make an appointment with those bands to rehearse? Now it's time."

Lowering her eyes, Hachiman Kailing checked her cell phone. It was less than five minutes before the time she had agreed to meet with the band.

She apologized to Shirakawa Haru and left the recording studio carrying her bass bag.

Before leaving, she left the room card on the table, meaning that Shirakawa Haru could continue to stay here and play the bass.

Manager Matsuo stayed in the recording studio for a while, and he was able to answer Shirakawa Haru's questions.

Manager Matsuo took Shirakawa Haru's bass, then took out a music sheet from somewhere and started playing the bass.

He thought to himself that he was a serious "academic" musician.

Although he has less time to play musical instruments after entering society, his solid musical foundation makes him more than capable of teaching Shirakawa Haru.

"How many bands will Ms. Hachiman support today?" Shirakawa Haru put down his pen and paper and rubbed his eyes. Just now, when he was leaning over the table, the porcelain artwork on the corner of the table suddenly caught his eye. In addition, his concentration was too great, which also caused some fatigue to his eyes. "It seems like it will be very tiring."

"It hasn't been long since Hailing left, and you're already missing her?" As soon as Hachiman Hailing left, Manager Matsuo put on his annoying expression again. He was afraid of Hachiman Hailing, but he could tease Shirakawa Haru at will. "Is there really something going on between you two?"

"I'm just wondering when I can see her perform at her best." Shirakawa Haru frowned and folded up the notes on the desk. No one had tidied up his notes after Hachiman Kailing left. He had originally finished tidying up his notes, but Manager Matsuo messed them up as if he was casually flicking ash while smoking. "I don't care what you say, but you have to consider the girl's feelings."

"Yes, yes..." Manager Matsuo took out a cigarette from his pocket and wanted to smoke. Shirakawa Haru pointed to the sign on the door of the recording studio to remind him where this place was. He was stunned and subconsciously pushed the cigarette back into the cigarette box. Then he laughed, "You can't smoke here."

"Hmm... why are you looking at me like that? Shirakawa, if you have any requests, just tell me directly." Manager Matsuo pulled the miniature plant landscape on the table to his chest, his tone nonchalant.

"I'd like you to buy me some tickets for the live shows," Shirakawa Haru added. "I want to know which of the instruments you display in the exhibition area are free for customers to use, and which ones require payment? How is the rental fee calculated?"

"Why do we need tickets?" Manager Matsuo glanced at Shirakawa Haru in confusion. "If you want to see the live performance, you can just go in. I wouldn't ask you to pay even this little money. As for those instruments, you can use them if you want, just don't break them. I believe you, Shirakawa, wouldn't try to use those super expensive instruments... Actually, it doesn't matter if you break them, you can afford it anyway."

Manager Matsuo looked like a gangster who had participated in and won a fight. He looked at the enemy lying on the ground with malicious eyes.

"I want to create a certain feeling." Shirakawa Haru thought for a moment, "I don't want to watch her performance as her friend or student. I'm just a simple admirer."

"Oh, I see. You're being pretentious!" Manager Matsuo patted Shirakawa Haru's shoulder. "But girls nowadays just fall for your style, especially those who are into art!"

Shirakawa Haru chose to give up communicating with Manager Matsuo.

"Forget it, I'm not kidding you anymore." Manager Matsuo said he was going outside to smoke. "A recording studio isn't a place for fooling around, especially with two men in there. One of us is playful and the other is a bit human. It's really hard to be alone with each other. Let's go. Remember to insert the room card in the door when you check out."

Shirakawa Haru went to the musical instrument exhibition hall of the piano store, rented a guitar, brought it to the recording studio, and practiced alone in the studio.

The metronome was ticking mechanically, the pointer in the middle of the indicator was swaying left and right, mist was rising from the glass cover of the plant landscaping on the recording studio table, and tiny dust particles were vibrated by the sound and floated in the air, forming flickering points of light.

He packed up his instruments and belongings, took the room card and walked out of the recording studio.

It was already afternoon, and as soon as he walked into the lobby of the piano store, he saw Manager Matsuo squatting on the steps at the door eating a box lunch.

Passersby outside the piano store would occasionally glance at him with disdain, but Manager Matsuo didn't care at all.

"Would you like some?" Manager Matsuo said, wolfing down his food. "I bought a few extra portions. One of our employees went out to eat today, so no one's eating their portion. If you want some, take it."

"I'll pay." Shirakawa Haru took the lunch box and squatted on the steps at the door with Manager Matsuo. Not to mention the quality of the lunch box was quite good, with both meat and vegetables, and it was delicious.

As the sky gradually darkened, Shirakawa Haru stared at the bustling street scene outside the window. In the afternoon, he returned to the recording studio and practiced bass for a long time. When he walked out of the room again, night had fallen.

He thought that today's training would end here.

It just so happened that the store manager Matsuo asked him to go to the convenience store across the street to buy some drinks. After he came back, he sat on a chair in the lobby of the piano store, staring blankly at the street flashing neon lights.

In fact, he was not simply looking at the street scene. Occasionally, a joyful and familiar bass sound would come from the rehearsal room deep in the piano store. At this time, his spirits would be lifted and his eyes would become much more lively. When the bass sound died down, he would become dull again.

He likes this state very much.

"Hey, Shirakawa!" Manager Matsuo walked over to Shirakawa Haru. "The live performance has already started, and it will be Hailing's turn soon." When mentioning Hachiman Hailing, Manager Matsuo's expression darkened. "Get ready, something bad might happen to Hailing today."

"What do you mean?" Shirakawa Haru opened his eyes wide and turned to look at the bitter-looking Manager Matsuo. "Why do you say that?"

"Why else?" Manager Matsuo walked out of the music store, and Shirakawa Haru followed him. He lit a cigarette and said, "Just think of it as supporting the musicians. Actually, she should have vaguely noticed it... right?"

"There's a conflict in the band." Shirakawa Haru sighed.

This is the inevitable contradiction that Yawata Kailing must face. The seeds of conflict were actually planted from the very beginning. As a support musician for multiple bands, she was dubbed the "Bass Mercenary." Although her job seemed glamorous, it was not.

No band would consider Hachiman Kailing as their own. Perhaps some people would want to win her over subjectively, but objectively speaking, she is a character who can be summoned and dismissed at will.

The last time Shirakawa Haru overheard the conversation between Hachiman Kailing and the band members backstage, this point was proven. It's just that some people speak tactfully and some speak directly.

This is already a big problem, but it is not the biggest problem.

In Shirakawa Haru's expectation, if there was a conflict between Hachiman Kailing and the band she supported, it must be because something went wrong during the performance - Hachiman Kailing would constantly adjust her performance level according to the strength of each band.

Anyone who has even a little bit of passion for music and is even slightly serious about playing in a band would find it hard to accept Hachiman Kairin's behavior. Perhaps her intentions were good, but it was deeply insulting to the bands she was helping.

You know, even the official members of the band may have conflicts because of this kind of behavior, not to mention Hachiman Kailing who is not an official member.

"Let's go, Manager Matsuo." Shirakawa Haru closed his eyes. In the silence, he seemed to hear the wailing music of Hachiman Kairin.

He took out two bottles of drinks from the drinks cabinet and followed Manager Matsuo to the live performance space in the office building.

"I hope Xiao Hailing won't be too sad." Manager Matsuo clasped his hands together, opened one eye and secretly looked at Shirakawa Haru beside him.

He is the owner of a music store and deals with bands every day. He can clearly see the changes in Yawata Kailing's reputation in various bands.

Since last week, her reputation among various bands has deteriorated rapidly. I don't know which band started it, but the dissatisfaction with her has spread from one band to another like a chain reaction. Perhaps after today, there will be no place for her in the bands here.

The office building's performance space is truly enormous. It boasts a wide array of equipment that wouldn't fit in the ECHO Light Aircraft basement: backlighting, front lighting, side lighting, and top lighting are all available. Not only is the stage twice the size of the one in the piano store's basement, but the seats are also packed like a honeycomb. A massive screen hangs behind the stage, flanked by smaller screens.

Shirakawa Haru admired the design of the exhibition space from the bottom of his heart.

As if he could hear what Shirakawa Haru was thinking, Manager Matsuo explained, "This was designed by a classmate of mine from high school. We used to play in a band together, but unfortunately she gave up music and our band didn't make it to the end."

"That's quite a pity." Shirakawa Haru lowered his eyes and said softly, "Not all bands can make it to the end."

"Yeah, not all bands," said the store manager Matsuo. "Back then, we were young and frivolous, so we could easily make a lifelong commitment. But in reality, our commitments were torn up in less than ten years."

Shirakawa Haru remained silent, thinking about the two bands he had joined.

In the dim exhibition space, Shirakawa Haru sat in the center of the first row, which was the best seat here, and Manager Matsuo sat next to him.

They are so close to the live stage that they can even touch the stage with just their hands.

The lights on the stage were flashing. Hachiman Kailin, dressed in a flamboyant and handsome manner, stood in the center of the stage, enjoying the all-round favor of the lights. Her fair face was dotted with a faint pink under the lights. The atmosphere on the stage was being pushed to its peak, and the temperature in the room was also rising. She was breathing heavily, her chest heaving, and her green pupils trembled violently like a snake's tail, and took on irregular shapes as if she had been electrocuted. This was a manifestation of extreme excitement.

Hachiman Kairin reminded Shirakawa Haru of a fleeting shooting star seen in the night sky. As the band members on stage began to dance according to their pre-choreographed movements, Shirakawa Haru saw a slender, graceful, and stunningly beautiful girl approaching him.

His eyes followed the steps of Hachiman Kailing. In the end, all the musicians on the stage stood at the edge of the stage. They raised their heads and faces, looking confidently and calmly at the audience below the stage.

Shirakawa Haru was sure that Hachiman Kailing saw him. He was right under Hachiman Kailing's feet. When his eyes met hers, her pupils trembled suddenly.

The distance between the stage and the audience is not so far that it seems so close.

However, it was not until now that Shirakawa Haru discovered that the corners of Hachiman Kailing's eyes were too red and her face was very pale.

Yes, thought Shirakawa Haru, the bass in her hand weeping and playing a sorrowful sound.

Chapter 4.8: Friendship Price (k)

The lights on the Live stage gradually dimmed, and the audience below the stage left one by one.

Shirakawa Haru and store manager Matsuo, still sitting in the audience, stood out like constellations in the summer night sky.

"Shirakawa, what do you think of Hailing's performance on stage today?" Manager Matsuo crossed his legs, shaking restlessly. He glanced at Shirakawa Haru beside him and couldn't help but sigh, "She must be very sad."

"It's unavoidable. She's a musician, and the band is her home, but she hasn't truly joined any family." Shirakawa Haru's face was immersed in the darkness of the performance space, and her expression couldn't be seen clearly. "She should have considered this issue a long time ago."

"Well...that's true," said Manager Matsuo.

Shirakawa Haru stood up from the audience and walked towards the backstage of the performance space with Manager Matsuo.

The way that store manager Matsuo collects venue rental is different from that of ordinary LiveHouses. ECHO Music Store charges a fixed and very small rental for the underground Live stage, while the performance venue in the office building is paid for by taking a portion of the ticket revenue from the office building performance venue based on how many tickets each band sells.