After Xiangzi died, I inherited her harem.

Xiao Mu, calm down! That's not how you play the guitar...

Hatsune's smile was starting to become forced. She sang and played the piano at the same time, sometimes playing two notes at once, and she had to pay close attention to the changes in Xiangzi's keyboard sounds so that she could keep up with the rhythm of "Wakaba Mutsu" under her guidance.

She swears that she has never played such a tiring piece since her debut.

She, who had always performed masked with an indifferent attitude, was grateful for the first time that she had a mask on her face, which could cover up her ugly expression.

After this performance, I will definitely suggest to Mr. Youyu that we regulate the team members' behavior on stage.

Hachiman Kairin strummed her bass guitar. In her opinion, the now capricious Wakaba Mutsumi was simply a model of not following the rules and not being managed.

She truly didn't expect that the previously quiet and reserved guitarist would pull such a stunt on such an important occasion, and even kidnap the entire band to join her in the chaos.

It would be best to have an explanation after this...

Moreover, she also had doubts in her heart: why did Wakaba Mutsu, who had always been quiet and gentle, suddenly become like this?

Suppressing her confusion, Hachiman Kairin tried her best to control the scattered notes, fulfilling her duty as a bassist.

But if we're talking about a terrible mood, no one in this situation could be more complicated than Toyokawa Shoko.

Mu, what are you doing? You were perfectly fine before you went on stage...

As for Yutenji Wakana... she's practically working herself to death in her position.

Ave Mujica's music style already has dense drumbeats, and now with "Wakaba Mutsu's" chaotic changes, the variations are even more frequent, which is simply impossible for a human to do.

She even began to suspect that Toyokawa Yuu's confident assurance that Ave Mujica would be her long-term meal ticket was actually because she herself didn't live long and would eventually be exhausted to death on the drum set.

But just when everyone on stage was on the verge of exploding, someone backstage kept adding fuel to the fire.

Yes, that's right. The audience didn't see it as a performance mishap; on the contrary, they saw it as a clever and original way to create a entertaining effect.

Yuu Toyokawa's voice kept coming through the earphones, but at least what she was saying was good news.

However, to the people on stage who were already busy to the point of collapse, Toyokawa Yuu's good news sounded like someone who was talking without understanding the situation.

While the Ave Mujica members on stage were so tormented that they had to use masks to cover their facial expressions, there was another group of people who were not as enthusiastic as the rest of the audience.

"What is this all about? Pouring cement into coffee and then forcing it down someone's throat?"

Shiina Tatsuki frowned as she listened to the music that was hard to describe as either incongruous or unique, and she even had an urge to run out of the performance hall.

With Hai Ling's skills, how could she possibly work in a band like this?

No, rather, if this band continues to play in this style, then probably only someone like Hai Ling could stand it.

I'm starting to doubt again whether coming to this band's concert was the right choice. I wonder if this incongruous style will lead her band members astray.

Looking around, Shiina Tatsuki realized that things weren't so simple.

Her teammates were not attracted to this style of music at all; on the contrary, their faces showed obvious seriousness.

"There must be something wrong with this performance."

Chihaya Aine looked at Wakaba Mutsu on the stage, a hint of worry in her eyes.

Although she hasn't been learning guitar for very long and may not yet understand the various playing styles, she knows a little about the people playing on stage.

"Xiao Mu...does she really know how to play like that?"

Even though they didn't meet often, Wakaba Mutsu's quiet and reserved demeanor left a deep impression on Chihaya Aine.

At least, she could never imagine that Ruoye Mu would play in such a way that could be described as a left-right brain synergy.

"Xiao Mu... looks like she's in a lot of pain..."

Gao Song closed his eyes, trying to immerse himself in the music, but soon his face showed worry.

She firmly believes that playing music is the cry of the soul, and that making music is letting the instrument speak.

However, she could not feel any joy from the music of "Wakaba Mutsumi".

"She looks like she's about to cry."

"Xiaoxiang..."

Unlike his companions who were always paying attention to "Wakaba Mutsumi", Nagasaki Sase's gaze was more focused on the blue-haired keyboardist.

She's now 100% certain of the other person's identity, but... why...?

Why is Xiao Mu, who was so quiet before, playing like this now?

Why would Xiaoxiang allow this behavior, this obviously problematic situation, and not stop it?

"What exactly...did you do to Xiao Mu?"

With his eyes slightly closed, Nagasaki Sase made a decision after a moment and gripped his phone tightly.

"After the concert, I'm going to find Xiao Xiang and ask him something."

"I should also ask Mr. Youyu properly..."

Looking at the performance on stage, Chihaya Aine couldn't hide her worry.

"There must be a reason for playing it this way."

Amidst the tense and worried crowd of MyGO!!!!!, only the white-haired Persian cat girl stared intently at "Wakaba Mutsumi" on the stage, her heterochromatic eyes unblinking.

After staring at her for a long time, Le Nai finally managed to squeeze out a single sentence.

"Fun girls..."

Chapter 61 Intra-team Melee (1 words)

The last note drifted off the dazzling stage and finally dissipated in the brilliant lights.

The lights gradually dimmed, and the curtain slowly fell.

On stage, apart from Mortis, the four puppets gracefully bowed to the guests, their figures concealed by the dark red curtain.

The flamboyant performance combined with elegant etiquette earned a tidal wave of cheers, and Mortis's lifelike acting truly made it rock and roll.

In the eyes of the guests, this concert was more of an audacious attempt than a bold one for Ave Mujica.

Previously, during the premiere, a short skit was inserted before the music, but this time Mortis performed from beginning to end.

Judging solely from the musicality, it's hard to say how good this concert was.

The frequently changing rhythms and Mortis's style, which was sometimes clumsy and sometimes perfect, are undoubtedly flaws if judged solely from the perspective of appreciating music.

But concerts are not, in the end, art appreciation; they're all about the atmosphere.

Not all the guests who came to watch the concert were serious music connoisseurs.

While the quality of the performance is certainly an important factor, the most important criterion for judging the success of a concert is whether the guests like it.

Judging from the cheers of the guests, the response was actually quite good.

After all, Ave Mujica's song style is known for its wildness, coupled with their slightly chuunibyou-esque worldview mini-theaters and unconventional masked performance style, which has long imprinted the "alternative" label in the minds of the guests.

With this preconceived notion... and the efforts of the shills planted by Yuu Toyokawa, everyone regarded Mortis's behavior as a performance art piece and a show that was carried out from beginning to end.

After all, if this were truly a performance mishap, what band would sit idly by and let a performance mishap continue from the beginning to the end?

"Ave Mujica's performance is truly unique..."

"After all, they're a dark rock band, so being unconventional is to be expected..."

"But is Mortis really okay? He was shaking his head so energetically; I was really startled at first..."

"Since the organizers haven't canceled it, there must be no problem. If it were an accident, they would have stopped the concert long ago..."

"I like this style, the free-spirited and rebellious Lord Mortis and the cold-faced tyrant-like Lord Oblivionis..."

The audience chatter and the flattery of the promoters mingled with enthusiastic applause, and almost all the guests praised the thrilling concert, which felt like dancing on a tightrope.

Almost no one knew that the people on the field knew what "Wakaba Mutsumi" was going to do less than a second earlier than the audience below the stage.

Only a few people remained in their seats with serious expressions, their faces showing no trace of fervor or smiles.

"Xiao Mu... just grabbed her guitar and ran away."

Nagasaki Sase's azure eyes were fixed on the gradually falling curtain. There were only four puppets bowing on the stage. Mortis, who contributed almost all the entertainment value, had already run off the stage with his guitar just before the music stopped.

No, rather, it should be said that the music only stopped as desired after Mortis ran away with his guitar.

None of us are professional connoisseurs, so we can't tell whether this was a performance mishap or intentional, but at this moment, it doesn't matter which one it is.

After all, one thing was certain: the Wakaba Mutsu they knew, that quiet and reserved girl, would never do such a thing happily.

Even the most perceptive of them all, Takamatsu Akari, sensed that something was wrong with Wakaba Mutsu.

Whether it was an accident caused by excessive pressure or being forced to perform something they didn't like, it was beyond what their friends could simply ignore.

The few people who once belonged to CRYCHIC secretly decided that they must find a way to get to the bottom of this.

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

The applause rose in waves, and the puppets maintained their proper etiquette until the dark red curtain completely blocked the guests' view. Only then did Ave Mujica, who had long been on the verge of losing his temper, begin to really explode.

Yuu Toyokawa, who had been waiting backstage, kicked the speaker plug out, completely shutting out all sound behind the curtain.

"Mu, what are you thinking?!"

After the curtain fell completely, Toyokawa Shoko didn't even bother to tidy up the keyboard on the stage. She rushed backstage and found "Wakaba Mutsumi" wandering aimlessly with a guitar in her arms.

Suppressing her anger at having her entire performance disrupted, she grabbed "Wakaba Mutsumi's" wrist and forcefully pulled her back to the dressing room, under the somewhat fearful gazes of the other staff members.

Looking at the half-body in front of her, who was hugging a guitar with an innocent expression and even curiously looking around, Toyokawa Shoko finally couldn't suppress her emotions.

The noise was so loud that it startled Ave Mujica, who had already gathered in the lounge.

"Not only did the performance completely deviate from the script, but the random playing also made a mess of the show, and in the end, they even ran away early?"

The harsh questioning echoed in the lounge. Toyokawa Shoko gripped her left arm tightly with her right hand to barely keep her emotions from completely spiraling out of control.

Recalling the performance that was a disaster from a purely musical point of view, and the stage play that was completely ruined, Toyokawa Shoko's breathing became heavier, and her shoulders rose and fell slightly as she spoke.

If it weren't for the other team members' exceptional abilities, who managed to keep up with Mortis's chaotic pace and smooth things over, she couldn't even imagine what would have happened.

A band that just became an instant hit at their debut show has encountered such a major mishap on their second performance. What kind of future awaits Ave Mujica?

Looking at Toyokawa Shoko, who was raging at him, "Wakaba Mutsu" tilted his head in confusion, as if it took him a while to realize that the person in front of him was angry at him.

"...I did nothing wrong."

Holding the guitar tighter in her hands, as if it were some precious lifeline, "Wakaba Mutsumi" didn't argue with Toyokawa Shoko, but just silently uttered a sentence.

There was no apology, nor any intention to argue; it sounded like he was merely stating a fact, his tone flat and devoid of emotion.

Hearing this statement, which seemed to show no remorse for what he had done, Toyokawa Shoko's emotions were completely ignited.

“But this is completely different from what we agreed on before. What you did tonight is already destroying Ave Mujica’s worldview... Mu, I have absolutely no idea what you’re thinking.”

Bathed in the unfamiliar gaze of "Wakaba Mutsu", Toyokawa Shoko truly couldn't understand.

If the pressure is really too much, why not just talk to yourself about it earlier? Why do you have to vent your dissatisfaction in this way?

Yes, venting.

In Toyokawa Shoko's eyes, "Wakaba Mutsumi's" behavior just now could only be explained as a deliberate venting of emotions.

He seemed out of control on stage, but returned to calm backstage.

At first, Toyokawa Shoko was worried that she might have suddenly developed some serious illness, but when she saw "Wakaba Mutsumi" leisurely strolling backstage with her guitar, she realized that her worries were unnecessary.

"Xiangzi, calm down. Shouting at Mortis won't do any good."

Yuu Toyokawa's voice forcefully interrupted Shoko Toyokawa's reprimand, shifting her gaze from her phone screen to "Mutsumi Wakaba," who was subtly surrounded by others and standing in the very center of the lounge.

That look was definitely not something Ruoye Mu would have; her quiet and reserved personality wouldn't allow her to act on her own initiative for so-called benefits.

However, this "Wakaba Mutsu" is definitely not Metis.

The Metis that she met ten years later was more emotional and had a more lively voice.

At least, Metis wouldn't show such an innocent and emotionless look in this situation.

There's no need for that. If it really is Metis, playing the victim or fighting back would be better options now.

So, who is the person currently piloting the [Wakaba Mutsumi] mecha?

But no matter what, saving him is the priority; it's an opportunity to snatch "Wakaba Mutsumi" from Toyokawa Shoko.

Pointing her phone at Toyokawa Shoko, Toyokawa Yuu slipped between them, subtly covering "Wakaba Mutsumi" with half of her body.

"Judging from the online discussions, the performance was actually quite successful. Both the previous power outage and the strange things on stage were considered to be pre-designed segments."