People in Mygo are emotional firefighters.

"Yes, I'll be back soon." Zhenyu nodded.

Then, he turned to look at Nagasaki Motoyo, who had been standing quietly to the side with a polite smile on her face, and said in a natural and polite tone: "Motoyo, Aine will have to trouble you for the time being."

Nagasaki Motoyo met his gaze, the curve of her lips deepening slightly. She nodded gently, her voice soft and melodious: "Go without worry, Masahiro-kun. I will take good care of Aine."

Chapter 263 Exposing His True Colors

Relieved to receive a positive response, Ishikawa Mayu didn't linger any longer. After nodding to the two Afterglow seniors again, she turned and walked quickly toward the entrance to the venue.

Uehara Hisamari watched Ishikawa Mayu's hurried departure, blinked, then turned back to Aine and Souse, a bright smile spreading across her face:

"Your violinist... is quite gentle. Even though he seemed a little embarrassed himself, he still made sure to take care of you first."

"Hmm..." Aoba Mocha nodded slowly, her body going limp as she resumed her lazy posture, leaning half her weight against Uehara Hisamiri beside her, her chin resting lazily on her shoulder. "Himariri is right..."

She dragged out her words, her eyes half-closed, as if she were about to fall asleep again.

When Chihaya Aine heard Hime and Mocha's evaluation of Mayu, her smile grew even brighter, and the light in her eyes shone without reservation. She nodded vigorously, her voice full of pride and honor.

"That's how Mayu is! Although she sometimes seems aloof or hates trouble, she's incredibly thoughtful and reliable!"

Nagasaki Motoyo remained silent with a gentle smile, but her slight nod and the soft light in her eyes clearly indicated her agreement.

"Alright, alright, I know you have a great teammate." Uehara Hisamari smiled and winked, putting her arm around Mocha who was leaning closer, and waved energetically to Aine and Suze. "Then we'll head backstage to prepare. You two get ready too! Good luck! I'm looking forward to your official performance later!"

Aoba Mocha lifted her chin slightly from Himari's shoulder, half-closed her eyes, and waved to the two of them, her voice tinged with languidness: "Good luck... I'm looking forward to your... 'first time'..."

"Thank you, senior! We'll do our best!" Chihaya Aine replied with great enthusiasm. Although her face was still a little pale, her fighting spirit seemed to have been completely ignited.

"Thank you so much for your encouragement and the snacks, seniors." Nagasaki Motoyo bowed slightly with impeccable manners.

After watching the two Afterglow seniors disappear into the other end of the corridor, chatting and laughing, only Aine and Sose remained in the corridor for the time being.

Chihaya Aine immediately let out a long breath, most of the liveliness she had been forcing herself to maintain dissipated, and her body involuntarily hunched slightly, one hand gently pressing her lower abdomen.

"Are you alright, Aine?" Nagasaki Motoyo immediately turned to the side with concern, reaching out to gently support Aine's arm, her tone gentle. "Let me help you back to the lounge. Shin-kun is right, you need to sit down and rest."

"Hmm..." Chihaya Aine responded weakly, letting Suze support her. With her other hand, she held the plate of snacks she had chosen and followed Suze back step by step, her body weight unconsciously leaning towards Suze.

After taking only a few steps, Ai Yin's beautiful pinkish-purple eyes darted around mischievously. Although her lower abdomen was still aching slightly, her spirits had recovered somewhat, and that restless energy quietly resurfaced.

She deliberately snuggled closer to Su Shi, her arms brushing against his, making Su Shi's support awkward as he walked, and causing him to stumble slightly.

“Aine…” Nagasaki Motoyo was jolted by her, quickly regained her balance, and turned her head helplessly to look at the girl who was almost hanging on her. She gently patted her unruly arm and said, “Stop fooling around and walk properly.”

“Soyorin—” Chihaya Aine deliberately dragged out her words, lowering her voice and making a teasing sound, “I heard clearly what Mocha-senpai said just now.”

"Hmm?" Nagasaki Motoyo stared straight ahead, her expression flawless, as if she hadn't understood. "Mocha-senpai said a lot. Which sentence was Aine referring to?"

“That’s the line!” Ai Yin leaned even closer, her warm breath almost brushing against Su Shi’s ear, her voice full of laughter that said, “I’ve seen through you.” “‘Little Su Shi stands next to you, playing the violin and bass, looking very elegant and eye-catching’!”

She mimicked Mocha's languid tone perfectly.

A slight blush rose on Nagasaki Motoyo's face, but she remained silent.

“I remember it very clearly,” Aine blinked and continued, “When we were deciding on the positions, it was you, Soyorin, who suggested that Mayu stand next to you with such a ‘professional’ and ‘reasonable’ reason as ‘vocal timbre matching’?”

She deliberately emphasized the words "professional" and "makes sense".

"So, from so early on, Soyorin, you were already planning to 'stand side by side' with Mayu-kun and stand out 'spotly'? You were laughing happily when Mocha-senpai said that just now," Aine teased without any attempt to hide her sarcasm. "Wow—you're so—scheming!"

Nagasaki Motoyo took a deep breath, trying to calm the heat on her face, and forced herself to speak in as calm and matter-of-fact tone as possible: "Aine, really... When I made that suggestion, it was really for the sake of the band's overall tonal balance and stage visual effects. You're just overthinking it."

As she spoke, she still dared not meet Ai-yin's cunning eyes, stubbornly gazing ahead.

"Hmm—?" Chihaya Aine deliberately dragged out the nasal sound, her delicate nose wrinkling slightly. Then she affectionately bumped into Sose with her shoulder, giving him an adorable "I don't believe you" look. "Oh—? Is that so? And you just said 'back then'—"

She keenly grasped the subtle nuances in Su Shi's words, and her smile deepened, like a kitten that had discovered a secret passage.

"And now? Soyorin~?" Aine deliberately called the nickname in a soft, sweet voice, with a rising tone at the end, "Did you accidentally... slip up?"

"I...!" Nagasaki Motoyo was speechless for a moment, embarrassed but also showing a rare hint of exasperation. "I still support you being the lead singer! And... and! Don't call me that name anymore!"

"Hehe." Seeing Su Shi's embarrassed expression, Chihaya Aine laughed contentedly, as if even the slight pain in her lower abdomen had lessened considerably. She stopped "pursuing" him and instead leaned more comfortably against Su Shi's support, her tone returning to its usual lightheartedness, "Alright, alright, enough joking. Let's go back quickly, or Riki and Akari will be waiting impatiently."

Nagasaki Motoyo took a deep breath to calm her racing heart and flushed face, though the blush on her ears wouldn't go away anytime soon.

"Okay, let's go," she said softly, supporting Ai Yin.

Chapter 264 Hachiman Kairezu

The lighting outside RiNG was much brighter than inside, the afternoon sun casting a warm glow on the arriving audience. Ishikawa Mayu stood in a quiet corner by the door, head down, her fingers swiping across her phone screen, checking messages on LINE.

Just now, I caught Yoro Nai, who had suddenly appeared out of nowhere and was trying to steal the snacks that the staff had placed on the trolley outside the door. After giving her a brief lecture and promising to provide her with a matcha parfait after the performance, Yoro Nai wandered off somewhere again.

He rubbed his temples and sent a brief message to Shiina Tatsuki. Tatsuki replied quickly, her tone as impatient as ever, tinged with a sense of entitlement: "[Okay. The person I invited will be here soon. I've asked her to come see you. Please greet her when she arrives. I'm a little busy here.]"

Besides Riki's reply, the screen also displayed messages from Junda Mana and Serizawa Mio: "On our way~" and "Senpai! We're about to set off!" respectively.

He wondered to himself whether Maki would arrive first, or whether Shoko and the others would get there first...

Just then, a figure stopped in front of him, blocking some of the sunlight.

Ishikawa Mayu subconsciously raised her head.

A figure stopped in front of him, blocking some of the sunlight.

"Are you Ishikawa?"

He was greeted by a girl with a rather cool appearance. She had medium-length black hair with bangs that swept across her forehead, and a pair of green eyes that looked at him calmly. Her expression was unremarkable, yet she exuded a composed and calm aura. She was dressed casually, her posture relaxed, but she stood ramrod straight, with a rather professional-looking bass bag slung over her shoulder.

Yawata Kairin.

Ishikawa Mayu recognized her almost immediately.

It wasn't because I had specifically researched it, but in the RiNG scene, this bassist, who is top-notch in technique, supports many bands, and has such an outstanding presence, is really hard not to leave an impression.

He had actually seen her a few times when he came here before. Although they had never spoken, he still remembered her face and her unique aura.

So she immediately put on a polite smile and greeted him, "Ah, hello. I'm Ishikawa Mayu."

But a question crossed my mind: How did she know me and even call me by name?

Could it be that... Xiangzi had spoken to her beforehand and discussed forming a band?

But he quickly dismissed the idea.

Based on his understanding of Xiangzi's cautious yet stubborn personality, if she really decided to bring Hachiman Kairin into the business, she would most likely bring him, her "partner," along for a formal discussion, rather than giving him prior notice and having him come directly to her.

In the few seconds that his thoughts were racing, Hachiman Kairin had already looked him up and down.

Her gaze was calm, carrying the scrutinizing quality of a professional musician observing a fellow musician or, more accurately, an observation of an "object," but it wasn't offensive. Then, the corners of her mouth curled up almost imperceptibly.

"Hmm...it doesn't seem as 'terrible' as Lixi made it out to be."

"...Who?" Ishikawa Mayu didn't quite catch up with her train of thought, and the smile on her face froze.

Hai Ling tilted her head slightly, a knowing glint in her green eyes: "Li Xi. She often mentions you to me at school."

His tone was somewhat flat, but he deliberately paused slightly on the word "often," as if to emphasize something, "saying you're 'terribly troublesome,' 'always causing trouble,' and 'annoying guy.'"

After hearing this, Ishikawa Mayu couldn't help but cough, a helpless yet amused expression on her face. She muttered under her breath, "That guy, Riki..."

Do they always talk about him like this behind his back? Although even to his face, Li hope probably wouldn't hold back such harsh words.

and many more……

Only then did he belatedly realize what was wrong. His expression shifted from helplessness to a hint of astonishment. He looked up at Hachiman Kairin and asked hesitantly:

"Eh? Hachiman-kun...you were...invited by Ritsuki?"

He always thought that the family ticket that Lixi gave out would be given to her older sister, Shiina Maki.

After all, Li hope didn't say much when he handed over the ballot.

Upon hearing this, Hachiman Kairin raised an eyebrow slightly, and the faint smile at the corner of her mouth seemed to become more pronounced for a moment. She nodded, her movement crisp and decisive, her calm green eyes looking at him as she stated in a straightforward tone:

"Yes. Riki gave me the ticket." She tilted her head slightly, a knowing glint in her eyes, followed by a faint, teasing smile. "Could it be... Ishikawa-kun, you... thought Riki didn't have any other friends at school?"

When asked this question, Ishikawa Mayu's face showed a clear hint of embarrassment. She subconsciously raised her hand to touch the back of her neck, somewhat speechless: "Well..."

He truly believed that.

In his memory, Li hope always seemed to be a loner. Apart from focusing almost all her attention on Gao Songdeng, she might also have to include herself, who was forcibly "squeezed" into the picture by him... She was almost indifferent to other people and he had never heard her mention any close friends.

Hachiman Kairin took in his reaction, her smile deepening as if she found the scene rather amusing. However, she didn't press the issue further and embarrass him, instead continuing naturally with her calm, declarative tone:

"Actually, it's not really a mistake."

She adjusted the strap of her bass bag slightly, her gaze sweeping over the stream of people entering RiNG, as if reminiscing.

"From what I've observed, Li hope doesn't really talk to others much at school, and sometimes he even skips class. This has been especially noticeable lately, as he's putting almost all his energy into the band. Practicing, arranging, and..."

Her gaze returned to Ishikawa Mayu's face, pausing meaningfully before continuing, "...She said she was dealing with certain 'troublesome guys.' That's probably why she didn't have much time or inclination for ordinary campus socializing."

Ishikawa Mayu coughed almost immediately, as if choking, wisely deciding not to delve into who the "troublesome fellow" was referring to. He quickly composed himself and steered the conversation back on track:

"So, Hachiman-kun, shall I take you in now? Your seat..."

Upon hearing this, Hai Ling's green eyes flashed with a thoughtful expression. She glanced at the familiar entrance of RiNG, then at the polite and attentive Ishikawa Mayu before her, shook her head, and said calmly:

“Actually, there’s no need for that. Here,” she pointed to RiNG’s storefront, “I could walk in with my eyes closed. I’ve always worked as a support musician before, and although this is my first time as an audience member, I still won’t get lost.”

Chapter 265 Don't Listen to Her Nonsense

Hearing her say that, Ishikawa Mayu nodded and didn't insist. "Alright then." He took out his phone and quickly sent a message to Shiina Tatsuki while saying, "Then I'll tell Tatsuki that you've arrived and tell her not to worry."

A fingertip taps on the screen: [Hachiman-kun arrived, I bumped into her at the entrance. She said she could go in by herself.]

After sending the message, Ishikawa Mayu put away his phone and looked back at Hachiman Kairin with a polite, social smile. He didn't immediately ask to exchange contact information.

After all, Hachiman Kairin was a friend invited by Riki, and as Riki's teammate, it was his duty to receive her and guide her into the venue. However, if he bypassed Riki and directly exchanged contact information with her friend, it could trigger unnecessary and subtle reactions in various ways.

If Li hope finds out, he'll probably get angry again, thinking that Li Xi has "ulterior motives" or something, and it will probably take a lot of effort to appease him.

I'd better just let Lixi push it onto me later.

Given Li hope's personality, he would probably complain impatiently, "Can't you guys add me yourselves?", while still handing over his contact information.

“Well then, Hachiman, please make yourself at home. There should be signs inside the venue; your seat number is on your ticket. If you can't find it, you can always ask the staff.” He said considerately, “I have to wait here for other friends, so I won't go in with you yet. Enjoy the performance…”

Hachiman Kairin nodded slightly in response.

Without saying anything more, she turned and merged into the flow of people entering the venue. Her medium-length black hair swayed gently with her steps, and the bass bag on her back stood out professionally and conspicuously in the crowd, but she herself quickly blended into the background, just as she usually did as a support musician moving between various bands, quietly and efficiently.

As Ishikawa Mayu watched her retreating figure, a sense of melancholy washed over him: How come it seems like everyone is somehow connected to him, or to his friends? Is this complex network of relationships really the kind of intricate social structure one would expect from a "shady corner"?

Just then, his phone vibrated in his pocket. He took it out and saw it was a LINE message from Shiina Tatsuki.

[Shiina Tatsuki: She's here? Did she say anything strange?]

Ishikawa Mayu looked at the message, suppressed a laugh, and typed a reply on the screen.

[Ishikawa Mayu: Yeah, we've arrived, we've run into each other. She said she can go in by herself.]

He paused for a moment, then added another sentence.

[Ishikawa Mayu: That's strange... Hachiman-san told me that you seemed to mention me to her quite often at school?]

The moment the message was successfully sent, almost the next second, my phone started vibrating violently. It wasn't a message; instead, the incoming call screen popped up, displaying the name "Shiina Tatsuki" on the screen.

Ishikawa Mayu raised an eyebrow, somewhat surprised by her intense reaction—she actually called him directly. He suppressed a laugh and pressed the answer button. Before he could even put the phone to his ear, he heard Lixi's voice, noticeably louder and filled with shame, anger, and panic, coming through the receiver. In the background, there seemed to be other girls asking questions.

"She...she really said that?! That guy...!" Li Xi's voice was filled with exasperation as she spoke rapidly, "What nonsense did she tell you! Don't listen to her lies! I...I didn't say anything!"

Ishikawa Mayu held the phone a little further away from her ear, and only after her initial shock subsided did she slowly speak, her voice clearly tinged with amusement: "Teacher Lixi, calm down. Your agitation makes you seem rather suspicious."

"Who's suspicious! Stop talking nonsense!" Li hope's voice became more urgent, but her momentum clearly weakened, revealing her guilt. "What else did she... what else did she say?"

“Well…” Ishikawa Mayu deliberately dragged out her words, enjoying the brief silence on the other end of the phone as Tatsuki held her breath and waited, before slowly saying, “I think it might be more appropriate for you to ask Hachiman-kun about some things yourself? After all, it’s your private conversation.”

"Ishikawa Mayu! You—!" Riki was completely exasperated by his nonchalant yet deliberately cryptic attitude, but after stammering for a while without getting anything out of him, she could only growl in exasperation, "So annoying! I'll settle the score with you later!"

Immediately afterwards, she heard a busy tone from the receiver. She hung up the phone immediately.

Looking at her phone, now back to its lock screen, Ishikawa Mayu finally couldn't help but chuckle softly. That guy, Riki, always reacts so directly and adorably; it just makes you want to tease him a little more.