Girls' Wishing Tree

Ying gave her an affirmative look: "Deng, you performed well. Now we should go to the next stop - please make way for the audience! We are testing the float! We need to move to another place now!"

The float started slowly. Deng held the railing with both hands and said to Ying, "Was my performance okay just now?"

"That's great! Someone just put money in the mini prize box! After we're done, we'll open the prize box and go have a meal." Sakura casually replied to the lantern, not mentioning Xiangzi. The tree demon had a good eye, and Sakura was very sure that the girl holding the bag at the street corner, carefully looking at the float, was Xiangzi Toyokawa.

It was indeed Su Shi who quarreled with himself in Crychic, but if Xiangzi had not left the band "abruptly", the band would not have disbanded in such an ugly way.

Some band members part ways amicably, some break off ties, and some just forget each other, but to cause a band's collapse to the point where almost everyone is hurt, and it's not just a one-time emotional fluctuation, but the impact lasts for a long time, is also a skill.

The float was moving slowly along the side of the road, and Deng was leaning against the railing, flipping through the music score. After singing "Spring Shadow", the remaining songs were all written by Momoka or Sakura. Deng was not sure if he could sing them all.

When Sakura asked me to participate in the float test, I wanted to refuse at first, but when I thought about the good compatibility between the shrine and myself, I agreed to Sakura's request.

A hand grabbed Deng's wrist. Deng looked up and found it was Taoxiang.

"It's okay, don't be nervous. It's just a few songs. It doesn't matter if you don't sing well. I wrote this song, and I allow you to sing it badly." Taoxiang smiled at the lamp.

Deng glanced at the microphone on the stand and said, "Thank you..."

Soon, the indicator light on the float came on, and Ying immediately pulled the float over and announced twice through the loudspeaker that she was going to have a street concert.

Only a few people gathered. Deng picked up the microphone and spoke out the words he had prepared earlier: "Hello everyone, we are the shrine maidens of Sakura Shrine. We are currently testing the floats for the festival. I would like to sing a song for you..."

This time, Deng performed even better than when he sang "Spring Shadow".

When the song ended, the applause from passers-by made the lights' eyes light up.

"Big sister, this is for you!" A child handed the balloon to Xiang Deng: "Your song is so beautiful!"

"Ah, no thanks!" Deng quickly waved his hand: "Keep it for fun, kid! We're just testing the equipment!"

The child's mother dropped a coin into the coin box on the float and said, "Little witch, it's rare that my child likes you. Take the balloon. It's a token of my child's love."

"Thank you...thank you!" Deng quickly bowed to the mother and daughter, took the balloon and tied it to the railing of the float.

"Sing a nursery rhyme for the child." Ying leaned over.

The child stretches out his hair》Ling (VII) Jiuwubafq grabbed Ying's braid and said, "Sister, your hair looks good!"

"Haha..." Sakura laughed. "We are the shrine maidens of Sakura Shrine. If you want to see it, you can go to Sakura Shrine and see it anytime."

Deng nudged Ying with his elbow: "Um... I can't sing nursery rhymes..."

"Let me sing. Taoxiang, help me play the accompaniment, I will sing a song "Red Dragonfly"."

Sakura's singing voice begins, and Deng finally has time to observe the audience.

Since it was a street performance without prior notice, there were not many audiences, only a dozen or so people.

But because of this, it is also easier to observe the status of each audience member.

Deng saw that some elderly people put their shopping bags on the ground, squinted their eyes and swayed to the rhythm; some office workers who were taking a break clapped along with the singing and nodded from time to time, and some even made waving gestures without glow sticks in their hands.

It turns out that performing is such a simple and yet beautiful thing.

A certain persistence in Deng's heart began to loosen - she suddenly thought of Lixi who invited her to join the new band.

Chapter 167 Harvest, Band and BangD Spirit! Dream$First%^Ream:15, Tears and Black Tea

Nagasaki Suyo is a relatively homebody, but sometimes she has to go out for a walk.

Today she was going to a familiar cafe, but she saw several familiar figures.

Takagi Sakura, Takamatsu Light and Kawara Momo.

The three of them sat around a table, enjoying snacks from the cafe and chatting.

Su Shi found a seat behind a pillar, lowered his voice, ordered a cup of coffee, and concentrated on eavesdropping on the conversation between the three people.

“… Deng sang really well today. Everyone likes Deng’s singing. It’s such a pure voice with sincere emotions… Ying, sometimes I really envy you for being able to gather so many people with unique singing styles around you.” This is Taoxiang’s voice.

The lights are singing?

When l/-i*/-n~g/梦/-首/*Fa Su Shi heard these words, his eyes widened considerably and he almost put his ears against the pillar.

If the lights sang... then Crychic...

"It's not that exaggerated. Some people are very talented, but not very good at expressing themselves in front of a crowd. I just found them." Ying said to Momoka, "It's the same with you. You saw it today, didn't you? Everyone likes the song you wrote."

"When I was at DiamondDust, the song I wrote, 'Empty Box', received very good reviews and was even recommended by mainstream music media. But recognition doesn't mean buy-in, and thinking it's good and being willing to pay for it are not the same thing."

"DiamondDust's original agency was too impatient. If they're desperate to cash in, there are only two ways. The first is to ride on the popularity of the group or use already famous people to form a band. The second is to make a popular or idol-like transformation. You can look at RAS. They are actually very strong, but there still needs to be a process for the audience to recognize them. The current BangDream competition is being beaten by Roselia." After Ying finished speaking, the sound of a drink being sipped from a straw could be heard.

Su Shi was listening anxiously behind the pillar - she didn't want to hear about Taoxiang's affairs, but wanted to know more about Deng and Crychic.

"Speaking of the BangDream competition, our third game is ready, and Nina has adjusted her condition. Do you think we can arrange a live performance?" Momoka asked.

"Momoka, your band is currently signed with the shrine's agency. While it's called the shrine's agency, it's actually me who makes the decisions. In my mind, a girl band shouldn't be a rushed, distorted product, but rather one that slowly builds its brand and unique characteristics." Sakura paused before continuing, "As I've said before, the band doesn't have any revenue pressure. Just make the music you want to make. If there's any financial loss, I'll cover it."

"No problem, I'll adjust. With you here, we can be more confident in being a professional band. But..." Taoxiang paused and asked casually, "By the way, will Deng's new band participate in the BangDream competition?"

When Sushi heard this, she felt a sharp pain in her chest. Her fingers gripped the pillar plaque tightly, as if she wanted to crush it. Memories flooded back like a tide—the rainy night when Crychic fell apart. The rain had taken away her favorite band and diluted her friendship with Sakura. Now, it seemed that Deng and Sakura were forming a new band, and she could only hide in the shadows and secretly follow their news.

Like a rat in a sewer.

"It hasn't been decided yet. Riki hasn't given me a specific answer yet." Ying replied, "But as long as Deng is willing, it shouldn't be a problem to form a band. As for scheduling for the BangDream competition, it might not be that fast. Momoka, our band can't become professional. At most, we can only do some commercial performances. We're all students, and I have things to do at the shrine."

Sakura's choice was also related to her identity as a dryad. If she couldn't become a senior dryad, she wouldn't be able to leave Tokyo—and as a professional band, at least within Japan, she would definitely have to take on some performances outside of Tokyo.

"Well, I'll talk to Riki about joining Sakura's new band." Deng's voice came from behind the pillar.

Su Shi couldn't bear it anymore.

Tears blurred her vision and she huddled in her seat, holding her forehead with her fingers crossed, letting the tears and memories intertwine.

The scenes of performing with the members of Crychic and performing with Sakura at the Sakura Festival were entangled and overlapped in her mind.

Xiangzi hasn't shown up yet, Mu can't say more than a few words every time, Deng and Lixi are going to the new band that Ying has formed...

What about yourself?

Still immersed in memories, holding on to past happiness and refusing to let go.

"Miss, your black tea is ready... Do you need any help?" The waiter walked to Su Shi with the black tea and noticed something unusual from her shrugging shoulders.

"It's okay, I'm fine, thank you for your concern." Su Shi tried her best to suppress her tears.

Sakura, Deng, and Momoka also noticed someone crying behind the pillar, but they never imagined that this person was Suyo.

"I've already found a guitarist here, and his guitar skills must be excellent—"

Momoka interrupted Sakura, "Is it Goto Ichiri?"

"No, Yili and I are more of a temporary and online collaboration. There's also a guitarist who's been telling me he wants to form a band with me. You've met him, the skinny little guy with the old guitar, Kaname Lenai."

"Oh, she is indeed very good at playing the guitar."

"Well, she's a grade below Deng, a 8th grader at Hanasakigawa. Then the bassist, Riki, said she was looking for her, so they should have made some progress. The band wanted me to play violin, as Xiangzi wanted to imitate Morfonica. I'll be composing music for the new band, so my instrumentation won't be limited to violin. Depending on the needs, I might play two guitars, pipa, violin, or something else."

"Only Ying has this ability. She can play so many instruments." Taoxiang clapped her hands. "I'm really looking forward to what kind of songs Ying's band can write. If it's suitable, our band can pick a few songs to cover..."

Su Shi, who was behind the pillar, couldn't bear to listen any longer.

It was Li Xi who contacted the bassist of the new band, but the person Li Xi contacted was obviously not her.

At least, neither in Crychic's group nor in her private chat with Lixi, she had seen any information inviting her to be the bassist of a new band.

If she hadn't quarreled with Ying that day, would the band still have a bassist position for her?

I wanted to hold Xiaoxiang, but I even lost Xiaoying.

Is this God's punishment for greed? He simply wanted a place as warm as home, but after a brief moment of possession, it was shattered to pieces.

Su Shi took a big sip of black tea in an unladylike manner, but it tasted even more bitter than American coffee.

Chapter 168 Harvest, Band and BangDream: 16. Su Shi, when did you come?

Sakura returned to the shrine and saw off Deng and Momoka. She saw Lena dragging her guitar and effects pedals, and walking into the shrine from the path that had been repaired during this period. The path did not require climbing stairs, but only a slope around the shrine, which was also an accessible passage.

In the past, Miyazono Kaoru's wheelchair had to be pushed up the steep slope beside the stairs. In the future, if there are similar situations, there will be no need to perform such dangerous actions.

Today, Lenai didn't just wander over on her own, but Ying sent a message to her. As soon as Ying saw Lenai, she immediately waved to her, "Lena! I've got all the band members! We can have a live performance after we practice twice!"

Lenai raised a hand: "Yeah! Live!"

"Aren't you going to ask who I recruited as my teammate?" Sakura walked up to Lenai with some curiosity.

"As long as it's Sakura who brings them here, there's definitely no problem." Lenai didn't seem to care about her teammates at all: "Sakura is interesting, so the friends Sakura brings here will also be interesting."

"You were the one who nominated the lead singer, Crychic's Teru Takamatsu. You said she was interesting. The drummer is also from Crychic, Tatsuki Shiina. The bassist... I'll keep it a secret for now."

Sakura actually guessed that the bassist was Hachiman Kairei, but since there was nothing certain, she didn't want to say too much. Otherwise, it would be a bit embarrassing if the bassist she found was not the right one.

"Well, I like everything that Sakura finds." Lenai threw herself into Sakura's arms and rubbed her face against her shoulders.

Lena is relatively short. Even though Sakura is only 155cm tall, Lena is still much shorter than her.

Sakura suspected it was because Lenai hadn't developed yet, but judging by her figure, it wasn't like Lenai hadn't completely skipped puberty. She patted Lenai's back gently a few times and said, "Okay, once the band is set up, we'll have a live show together."

"Tonight, we're going to sleep at the shrine." Lenai still refused to let go of Sakura: "Sleeping next to Sakura makes me feel safe."

"Okay." Lena sleeping at the shrine wasn't anything special. Sakura readily agreed and helped Lena drag the cart of guitars and pedals to the practice room. "Tonight we can try out my new song. You can see what you think. It's mainly about what instruments would be suitable for this track."

Lenai held onto Sakura's skirt and walked behind her: "Well, playing musical instruments with Sakura is very comfortable and relaxing."

She is not a person who likes to express herself or is good at expressing herself, but in front of Sakura, she always expresses herself positively. If the term "cat demon" is correct, then Lena is a cat that is difficult to connect with, but once she recognizes someone, she will be very clingy.

The two walked into the shrine's courtyard and happened to run into Sayu.

Sayu waved her hand and said, "Runa, are you coming to the shrine again today?"

"Well, I'm going to sleep here tonight. Can Sayu go to the training room to rest?" Lenai took the initiative to ask Sayu to rest with Sakura.

If it was the Sayu from before, she might not have argued with Lenae and would have taken the initiative to give up her position, but the Sayu now has decided to make some changes. Ever since she decided to follow in Sakura's footsteps, she has wanted to be braver.

"How about the three of us take a rest together?" Sayu said to Lenna courageously.

Ying was a little hesitant - the space in the bedroom was limited, and it was really difficult for three people to squeeze together.

Lenai seemed to notice Sakura's concerns and offered, "How about we draw a joker card to decide who gets to sleep in the training room?

Ying thought of the last time she drew the joker card, and the corners of her mouth twitched - the last time she drew the joker card, it turned into a display of superpowers, and it ended in a bit unpleasant. She definitely didn't want to do it again.

"How about... we go to the training room and have a pillow fight?" Sakura suggested.

Sayu's eyes lit up: "Great! Pillow fights are the best!

Lenai didn't insist any further, "Okay, then Sakura has to pick out some soft pillows for me."

The problem was finally solved temporarily, but Sakura didn't feel much relieved - she actually had some strange feelings between Lenna and Sayu, as if she was the one being fought over in a triangle relationship.

But if I think about it carefully, Lenna and Sayu don't have that kind of relationship with me.

Lenai, who has some relationship with the cat demon, should have some kind of intimacy with him, while Sayu's feelings towards him should be more of admiration and following.

Once the renovation of the small building is completed, there will be no problem with sleeping. Lenai and Sayu will have their own rooms, and she will also have a more "safe" place for her consciousness to return to the cherry blossom tree.

"Sayu, take a look at this music score and help me and Lenai play it later." Sakura turned on the computer and showed Sayu a piece of music score.

"Lemon?" Sayu glanced at the title of the song.

"Well, it's a song that's sad yet hopeful. This song is the first one I wrote for my new band. The singing style is more about emotion than technique. Deng should be good at this kind of song."

An hour later.

Nagasaki Motoyo, who still didn't receive a reply from Sakura, came to the shrine alone.

Other girls might have curfews, but for Su Shi, it didn’t matter when she returned home—she was just an “empty shell” anyway.

Her mother wanted to give her a good living environment, so she rented a large flat; her mother wanted to respond to the company's work at any time, so she rented a small room next to the company's headquarters.

The family time belonging to the Nagasaki family mother and daughter is actually very limited, otherwise Su Shi would not be so obsessed with Crychic, a band that can bring family warmth.

Su Shi quietly moved to the lighted training room in the shrine, while Sakura was practicing singing with Lenna and Sayu with her bass, without expanding her perception to the entire shrine.

Su Shi, who was curled up in the corner, heard Ying's singing.

"Dream, not dream, retrieve forgotten things, wipe away the dust of old memories (If this is a dream, how wonderful it would be, I still dream of you now, just like retrieving forgotten things, wiping away the dust of old memories)..."

Is this singing... Crychic?

Once this thought came to Su Shi's mind, he could no longer suppress it.

"Days of sorrow, day of suffering, love... My heart is broken, bitter, the rain stops and I return, now the light (regardless of the sadness of that day or the pain of that day, I can deeply love everything about you, including you. The bitter smell of lemon remains in my heart and is hard to dissipate. If the rain stops, I can't return. Now you are still my light)..."

After hearing this, Su Shi was finally certain.

Sakura is singing Crychic.