Green plums cannot become lovers.

However, none of them opened the door, clearly waiting for their captain.

After reading the introductions to the three events, Momoka Kawara remained silent for a while before speaking again.

"I think the third one is better."

Her voice wasn't loud, but her tone was steady.

"Chiba's situation is too unfair. He took the competition seriously but the result was not satisfactory, which could easily affect his performance."

Kyoto is too far, the travel time and energy would be too much, and the chaotic environment isn't friendly to newcomers. While the competition in Tokyo is fierce, it's precisely because of this fierce competition that we'll make a lasting impression. Besides—if we can't even participate in events in Tokyo, then we can forget about ever reaching bigger stages in the future.”

After listening, Jing Qinren nodded vigorously: "I agree with Taoxiang."

“I also think Tokyo is a good choice.” An and Subaru thought for a moment and nodded. “It’s close, convenient, and has high visibility. It’s the most cost-effective option for us.”

Ebizuka Tomo and Rupa exchanged a glance, then nodded to each other.

"Then it's settled." An and Asuka put their phones away. "I'll register you."

He stood up and glanced at the clock on the wall.

"There's still a week left. Let's get practicing."

Volume 1: Chapter 298 Activities

This past week, the five members of the band, both thorny and thornless, have put in their best effort, determined to win first place at the music event in Tokyo.

In the past, they wouldn't have dared to think like this. Back then, they were just an unknown band struggling to survive in underground livehouses, and it was a miracle if they could fill half the audience seats. The idea of ​​winning first place was something they never even dreamed of.

But after this period of time under the boy's guidance, they all felt that they had made a lot of progress. This was not psychological, but real progress that they could feel with their own hands.

Jingqin Rencai's high notes are much more stable than a week ago, and Anhe Subaru's rhythmic stability has also improved noticeably.

Momoka Kawahara is also improving, although she's reluctant to admit it. Her guitar skills were already quite advanced; after all, she was a professional player with solid fundamentals and a wealth of experience.

But An and Asuka gave her a suggestion she had never thought of before. After trying it with a skeptical attitude, she was surprised to find that it produced a different effect, and she had to admire the boy's ability.

She's a professional athlete who has faced thousands of eyes on a real stage, and has gone through tours, recordings, and media interviews. She's seen it all.

But in many ways, she falls short of her opponent. Her understanding of music is more technical and experiential; she knows how to play a song well, how to engage the audience on stage, and how to handle unexpected incidents during a performance.

But the boy's understanding was at the structural and creative level.

He's the kind of person who can build a song from scratch. He can tell why a melody is good just by hearing it, and why it's moving just by reading a few lyrics. He's not just playing music; he's creating music.

Sometimes after practice, Momoka Kawahara would sit in a corner, watching An and Asuka explain their arrangement ideas to others, and this thought would pop into her mind... She was a professional player, while that boy was creating a profession.

The gap between these two cannot be bridged by practice and time alone.

"Alright, everyone, take a rest."

An and the sound of birds interrupted her thoughts.

She looked up and saw the boy standing next to the mixing console. He looked down and pressed the pause button on his phone, stopping the recording playback in the practice room.

As soon as the words were spoken, the girls, as if they had heard the school bell ring, put down their instruments and rushed towards the rest area.

Today is Saturday, and An and Asuka didn't go to school. Most of the girls also don't go to school, so they've been practicing since eight in the morning, for a full three hours without taking a break.

"worn out--"

Jing Qinren collapsed into the sofa, burying her face in the cushions, letting out a muffled wail. She had sung for three whole hours today, with almost no long breaks in between. During the last few full rehearsals, she had sung with all her might, and now her throat felt dry and hoarse, as if it had been sanded with sandpaper.

She finally understood why Momoka Kawahara always looked exhausted when talking about her career path. That exhaustion wasn't physical fatigue, but the empty feeling left after burning herself out.

So this is how tiring it is.

"I'm the one who's really tired, okay?"

An and Subaru walked to another sofa and slammed into the cushion like a bag of cement. She shook her right arm, then her left, and then let both arms hang down outside the sofa armrests like two dried seaweeds.

Playing drums for three hours straight can really kill you; her wrists, forearms, shoulders, and back were all sore. Especially during the practice of that new song's main part, there was a continuous high-intensity roll, and after she finished, she felt like her right hand didn't belong to her anymore.

"You two shouldn't each occupy such a big sofa. Can you give the people next to you some space?"

Ebizuka Tomo stood beside the sofa, looking down at the two girls lying like corpses, his tone tinged with helplessness.

"Let them rest."

An and Asuka spoke at the opportune moment, their voices not loud, but loud enough for everyone to hear. He glanced at Ebisuka Satoshi, "Satoshi, you guys should take a break too, there's practice this afternoon."

"Never mind, Rupa and I aren't tired."

Ebizuka Satoshi uttered those words almost reflexively, and then subconsciously straightened his back, trying to make himself look more convincing.

Then RUPA slowly walked up behind her, holding a teacup, with a smile on his face, and said in a light tone:

"Ugh, I'm tired."

After saying that, she walked around Ebizuka Satoshi and sat down very naturally in another empty spot on the sofa, crossed her legs, took a sip of tea, and looked as relaxed as if she were watching TV in her own living room.

Ebizuka Tomo stood there, her mouth slightly open, as if she wanted to say something but it got stuck in her throat. She looked back at Rupa's back, then at An and Asuka, and finally gave up her stubbornness, silently walking to the edge of another sofa and sitting down.

Although she remained upright, she couldn't help but let out a soft sigh of relief as she leaned back against the chair.

Seeing this, An and Asuka smiled slightly and said nothing more.

About forty minutes later, An and Asuka glanced at the wall clock; the hour hand was almost pointing to twelve.

He put down his phone, clapped his hands, and woke the several girls who were about to fall asleep back to reality.

"Have you had lunch yet? Are you going out to eat or ordering takeout?"

"Eat out."

The answer was almost unanimous. After being cooped up in the practice room all morning, everyone wanted to get some fresh air.

"Alright, let's go."

An and Asuka picked up their coats and led the five people out of the company gate.

The six of them walked along the street for a while, then turned into a quiet alley and finally stopped in front of a small set meal shop. The shop was small, and the noren (traditional Japanese curtain) at the entrance had faded a bit from the wind, but the aroma of miso soup wafting from inside was very appetizing.

They chose a long table against the wall and sat down. An and Asuka sat on the side closest to the aisle, while the five of them squeezed across from each other and on either side, passing the menu around in their hands before each ordering their desired set meal.

While waiting for their food, the group chatted idly. The conversation gradually drifted from the details of the arrangement of the song they were going to practice that afternoon to other topics.

The dishes were served one after another, and everyone chatted casually while eating.

Just then, two girls who also looked like high school students sat down at the next table. They opened the menu but didn't order immediately. Instead, they huddled together and started chatting.

The sound wasn't loud, but because of the close proximity, An and Asuka still managed to hear bits and pieces of what was being said.

"Have you heard? This year's idol selection is about to begin."

"Yeah, I saw it online yesterday. I'm really looking forward to it. I wonder what kind of people will participate this time."

"Why don't you sign up and give it a try?"

"Me? Don't be ridiculous, I can't do it. I can't sing or dance, it would be a waste of my registration fee."

"But you're good-looking. Just standing there would get people to vote for you."

"Don't make fun of me..."

An and Asuka picked up a piece of chicken and put it in their mouths, chewing slowly. Their gazes unconsciously drifted to the two girls at the next table. They looked to be high school students, their school uniform jackets draped over the backs of their chairs, excitedly discussing idol auditions while scrolling through their phones.

Speaking of which, rouge en rouge's idol department is indeed recruiting.

However, it had nothing to do with him, so he withdrew his gaze and focused on the five people in front of him.

Jing Qinrencai was eating fried chicken with gusto, her cheeks puffed out like a hamster.

Anhe Subaru picked up a slice of ginger-braised pork with his chopsticks, blew on it carefully before putting it in his mouth. Kawara Momoka quietly ate her mackerel, her expression focused as if she were savoring some fine cuisine.

Tomonori Ebizuka quietly ate his breakfast.

These five girls, if they weren't in a band, might actually be perfect as idols. That thought suddenly popped into his head.

A band plus three members supporting two others—the visual effects are not lacking, and the singing ability is also there. Although the style may be different from traditional idols, the current idol market is developing in a diversified way, and it may be able to find a different path.

As he pondered these thoughts, his gaze lingered on them for a little longer without him noticing.

The first to notice this gaze was Jingqinrencai.

She was still chewing on a piece of fried chicken, her cheeks puffed out as she turned her head, her eyes meeting those of An and Asuka.

"Um... what's wrong?" she asked indistinctly, swallowing hard the food in her mouth. "Why are you staring at us?"

Her reminder prompted the others to look up as well.

"Asuka, you've been spacing out since earlier." Anwa Subaru put down his chopsticks, tilted his head, and looked at him. "What are you thinking about?"

"It's nothing." An and Asuka shook their heads, looked away, picked up their barley tea, took a sip, put down the cup, and added with a smile, "I was just thinking about what to do when you guys become famous."

"What else can we do? We must make a name for ourselves."

Ishigami Rina accepted the statement almost without hesitation. She slammed her chopsticks on the table, puffed out her chest, and uttered this bold statement with a tone as certain as if she were already standing on the stage of the Tokyo Dome.

"I want to hold a concert in the biggest venue so that everyone can hear our songs."

"You should finish the fried chicken in your bowl before you talk such big words," Anhe Subaru retorted mercilessly.

"Is there a conflict between eating fried chicken and holding a concert? You need to be full to have the energy to sing!"

"Weren't you singing the whole time? How do you still have the energy to eat so much?"

"Is it wrong for me to expend so much energy?"

The two of them started bickering like elementary school students.

Momoka Kawaharaki didn't join in their bickering; she just smiled and continued to quietly eat the mackerel in front of her.

Ebizuka Tomo put the mixed curry rice into his mouth, chewed it, and said lightly, "When that day comes, I hope we can still maintain this standard of food."

"Don't worry, once it becomes popular, we can at least give you guys some fried shrimp," An and Asuka added.

“Then it’s settled.” RUPA said with a smile, taking a sip of soup from his bowl of udon noodles.

The group of people sat in a corner of the restaurant, eating cheap set meals and chatting endlessly about their distant and wonderful fantasies about the future.

No one thought these dreams were too extravagant, nor did anyone think these words were too naive. On this winter afternoon, in this unassuming little shop, they truly believed they could reach that point.

After finishing their meal, the group didn't go back immediately. They bought drinks at a nearby convenience store and then sat on a bench downstairs at the company to digest for a while. Once the food in their stomachs had partially digested, they leisurely strolled back to the practice room.

The afternoon practice started at 1:30.

The morning session focused on rehearsing and practicing together, while the afternoon shifted to refining the details. An and Asuka had them break the song down into several sections and work through them one by one. The emotional tone of the first verse should be toned down; it shouldn't be too intense from the start.

The transition section before the second chorus needs more breathing space, giving the audience room for their emotions to settle down; for the final part, he had Igarashi Renna try two different approaches: one was to sing it gently and end it gradually; the other was to sing it freely and end it directly on the high notes.

The five people each expressed their opinions, and ultimately voted to adopt the first approach. An and Asuka did not interfere with their decision, simply saying, "Then let's go in this direction," and continued to guide them through refining the process section by section.

Around 3:30, there was a gentle knock on the door of the practice room.

An and Asuka went to open the door and found Matsue Sakura standing outside, holding a folder in her hand.

"Feiniao, excuse me." She gave a slight bow. "Miss Zhuyin said she'd like you to come to her office if it's convenient for you."

"Now?"

"Well, she said it's not urgent, but it would be better if you went over there."

An and Asuka glanced back at the five people in the practice room. They were practicing on their own during this break. Izare Nina was repeatedly pronouncing a certain verse from the lyrics book, An and Subaru were gently tapping the rhythm on the practice mat with drumsticks, and the others were practicing their own parts.

"Okay, I'll go over there for a bit. You guys practice on your own for now."

He gave the group some instructions, then followed Matsue Sakura out of the practice room.

Akane Akasaka's office was on the fifth floor. As An and Asuka took the elevator up, they roughly guessed what she was going to say—probably about next week's music event, or some arrangements for the band's future.

When he pushed open the office door, Akane Akasaka was sitting behind her desk, a pile of documents spread out in front of her, a pen in her hand, as if she were looking at some report. Hearing the door open, she looked up, saw it was An and Asuka, and immediately flashed a bright smile.

"Oh, a big star has arrived! Please have a seat."

An and Feiniao sat down on the sofa and asked directly, "Sister Zhu Yin, what's up?"

"Yes, there's something I'd like to discuss with you." Akane Kousaka put down her pen and placed her hands on the table, folded over each other. "You should know that the idol department at rouge en rouge is starting to recruit new members next week."

An and Asuka nodded: "I heard about it. I overheard people talking about it when I was eating out at noon."

“That’s perfect, saves me the trouble of explaining the background.” Akane Kousaka leaned back in her chair. “For this recruitment, I plan to have you be the interviewer.”

"......What?"

An and Asuka thought they had misheard.