Mygo, you guys seem to be getting a bit heavy-hearted.

Upon hearing the name of the lamp, Yanming nodded and waved his hand, saying, "Go ahead, I'll wash the dishes."

Xiangzi dashed back to his room in a flash.

Yanming began tidying up his desk, reflecting on what had happened recently.

For two months, Xiao Xiang worked as a telephone customer service representative, and he really didn't need his help; he managed to keep going all by himself...

This resilience far surpasses that of her peers.

Le Nai's cultural tutoring ended a while ago. After finding out his home address, I would often go there to drag him to Ring to play guitar and eat matcha.

Of course, Yanming doesn't play the instrument; he's only responsible for paying for Bafi's wasted money.

I haven't seen the others for a while, and I wonder how they've been doing lately.

"Yanming!"

The sound came from the room, interrupting Yanming's thoughts.

He shouted, "What is it now!"

"We're planning to go out and have some fun, do you want to come with us?"

"Either is fine! If it's too much trouble, then forget it!"

After Yanming finished speaking, there was no further sound from Xiangzi's side, and it was unclear whether he had heard the second half of his sentence.

But after he finished speaking, Yanming belatedly realized that something was wrong.

"No, what's the point of you Crychic members bringing an outsider like me along for your team building activities?"

Yanming remained bewildered, even stopping the tidying up of the table he was doing.

He is thinking.

Finally, the conclusion was reached.

"I don't want to think about it anymore, whatever."

Open.

……

[Xiangzi: Everyone, I'm back!]

[Xiangzi: How did the discussion go?]

[Xiangzi: Everyone, please hold on a second, let me go through the chat history.]

A few minutes later, Xiangzi posted the completed form in the group chat.

[Xiangzi: There are currently three proposed feasible solutions. I personally think the zoo that Xiaodeng mentioned is quite good.]

[Xiangzi: As for Erlixi... this season and weather are indeed perfect for going to the beach, but if we go from Tokyo to the beach, even if we get up very early to go, it's hard for everyone to have a good time if we have to rush back in the afternoon, right?]

[Li Xi: Cut.]

[Lixi: But you have a point.]

Seeing that her suggestion was the first to be rejected, the black-haired girl sitting at the desk was dissatisfied, but she did not offer any rebuttal.

Back when I was still at Crychic, Toyokawa Shoko was just like this... Whether it was her execution or planning ability, she was far superior to me, and before I even had a chance to feel resentful, she crushed me so badly that I couldn't even lift my head.

Even now...

Lixi's gaze shifted to the trash can filled with crumpled draft papers: "Sigh..."

No matter how hard she tries, someone like her can never catch up with Xiangzi's shadow.

Even if she had a lifetime, she still couldn't write a song like "Spring Shadow"...

"Toyokawa Shoko...Sister Maki..."

Another discarded draft was thrown into the trash can, bounced twice in the overflowing pile of crumpled paper, and fell heavily to the ground.

"How can I keep up with you all...?"

Shiina Tatsuki never dared to dream of facing them head-on under the halo of genius. All she did was try to buy herself a little breathing room and survive as long as possible... until one day her dim self could be discovered and recognized by someone.

"Bang bang bang."

Just then, there was a knock on Lixi's door.

"Xiao Lixi, your parents told you that you're not going to continue high school at Yuqiu. Did something happen? Can you talk to me about it?"

"No need, Maki-nee, I'm fine..."

The reason she didn't go to Haneoka was to avoid her family member who was also studying at Haneoka... How could Shiina Tatsuki say such a despicable reason so openly?

Maki is always so outstanding... Compared to her, Shiina Tatsuki is like a lame ugly duckling, unable to do anything but endlessly feel ashamed of herself.

"Hmm... If you want to talk about it, your older sister is waiting for you in the room. No matter what the reason is, I will support Xiaolixi's decision."

"...Thank you, Maki-nee."

Only after there was no further movement outside the door did the sound of a pen scratching on paper begin again.

"Sasasa—"

However, it was even more chaotic and disorganized.

[Xiangzi: Let's think about going to the beach next time when we have more time. There will always be an opportunity. I really want to go with everyone.]

[Lixi: Don't worry about my feelings, just keep talking.]

[Xiangzi: ...Okay.]

[Xiangzi: And then there's Su Shi, your proposal, in my opinion...]

The discussion continues.

But Shiina Tatsuki didn't pay attention to the rest of the chat.

People like her only need to follow the crowd when it comes to the final vote, and that "crowd" will most likely be Xiaodeng.

Since the final decision will be made by the lamp, then she has no problem.

Lixi lay on the table, switched her phone to the built-in video player, and tapped the cover image again.

【Crychic: 春日影】

[Total views: 964+1]

"悴んだ心ふるえる眼 differs.

My heart is filled with weariness, my eyes are constantly wandering…

The song of the lamp... no matter how many times I listen to it, my heart will beat faster and faster.

Those shouts, tinged with a hint of frustration and a touch of melancholy, yet relentlessly echoed like ocean waves, engulfing my body and soul.

The lights are different.

She was different from everyone else.

Shiina Riki looked at the lamp's shadow, her eyes reflecting her ideal self.

At first glance, the lyrics written by the girl in the lamp did not move her at all, but when the short-haired girl shouted out the lyrics in that contradictory voice that was both soft and strong, Shiina Tatsuki understood—it was singing about herself.

It's not an illusion, nor is it an overemphasis on self-awareness.

Takamatsu Akari is like another Shiina Tatsuki living in the world.

More dazzling, more confused... but always able to step up at crucial moments.

"Tsk, when Xiangzi composed music for the lamp, I never felt it was this complicated... So annoying!"

In a band, songwriting and arrangement are like two halves of the same body; their relationship is incredibly close.

Take Xiangzi and Deng, for example; their cooperation was so seamless.

"What I wrote... is completely unworthy of Deng's lyrics!"

Long strands of black hair, pulled apart with great force, were wrapped around her fingertips. Some of the hair roots that had not yet completely fallen out were frantically tearing at her scalp, but Shiina Riki seemed oblivious to the pain, letting herself be enveloped in a cocoon-like sense of inferiority, powerless to break free.

Chapter Ninety-Nine: Infiltrating the C Group.

After a while, Lixi's phone, which was on the table, vibrated. She picked it up and glanced at it, and the content was as expected.

[Xiangzi: @LixiLixi, you're the only one left.]

[Lixi: I choose the lamp.]

[Xiangzi: Well, that means the lantern has four votes now. It seems the lantern is the popular choice this time. We'll have to save the beach and mountain climbing for next time.]

[Xiangzi: Does anyone have any other opinions?]

[Xiangzi: If not, then the six of us will meet at the zoo entrance at 10:00 AM tomorrow. Remember not to be late!]

【Lixi:1】

After the message was sent out, Li Xi realized something was wrong.

[Li Xi: Wait a minute, where did these six come from? Isn't there only five people in this group?]

[Light: Lixi, um... Mr. Yanming is coming with us too.]

[Lixi: Huh? He's an outsider, isn't he?]

[Su Shi: It's rare that we're on the same page; that's exactly what I just said.]

Lixi swiped her finger upwards through the chat history.

"Is it really true?!"

[Historical Information:]

[Xiangzi: Yanming is coming with us too.]

[Light: Huh? Mr. Yanming is going too? Welcome!]

[Mu: I have no objection.]

[Su Shi: I have a problem with this!]

[Su Shi: Why does that bassist have to go? That would make the team have two bassists! Besides, he's not even from Crychic!]

[Xiangzi: The point doesn't seem to be here. We're not going to do any band activities... Also, Yanming is actually a guitarist.]

[Mu: ? Xiang doesn't need me anymore?]

Xiangzi: ...

[Xiangzi: No, I don't need any of you! I need every single one of you, so if we're going out to play, let's all go together!]

[Ding-dong, you have a new message.]

[Latest News:]

[Xiangzi: Alright, alright, Su Shi, don't fuss over such a small thing. It'll be more lively with one more person.]

[Xiangzi: Well then, that's settled. Meeting adjourned!]

Xiangzi's attitude seemed very firm, and even her companions' objections did not shake her resolve.

However, in reality, only Nagasaki Motoyo was against it; Shiina Tatsuki... she didn't really care at all.

All she needs is a light.

Only when she was in the light of the lamp could her inescapable sense of inferiority be temporarily stopped, allowing Riki to seize the opportunity to peek out from the depths of the abyss for some fresh air.

"It's been almost two months... I can finally see Deng again..."

If this morbid parasitic relationship is allowed to continue, one day, Shiina Tatsuki will completely lose her soul and become an empty shell that can only play drums.

...But even so, it doesn't matter.

Anyway, she only felt like a unique and special individual when she was drumming while looking at the back of the lamp, instead of being "that mediocre sister of Shiina Maki".

……

"It's a date! We're going to the zoo together tomorrow morning at 10 o'clock!"

Yanming raised his hand and rubbed her excited little head: "That's great, remember to have fun."