People in Mygo are emotional firefighters.

As the last note faded into the lingering resonance of the violin and the deft tap of the drumsticks, a brief silence followed, and then applause erupted from the audience.

It wasn't thunderous or intense, but it was sincere and clear. This was an acknowledgment of a performance that had recovered from chaos and ultimately been presented in its entirety.

"Phew..." Chihaya Aine almost immediately let out a long, relieved breath, her tense shoulders completely collapsing, but a bright smile that mixed with a great sense of accomplishment and lingering shyness immediately bloomed on her face.

Holding her guitar, she almost instinctively turned to the audience and waved confidently in the direction of the applause. Her voice, still slightly breathless from the performance, came through the microphone, yet it was incredibly bright:

Thank you everyone!

Her gaze swept quickly over the dancers and others cheering her on in the audience, and she returned an even brighter smile. Then, as if she had completed some important milestone, her attention almost immediately shifted from the stage to those around her.

More accurately, the moment I switched back from performance mode, that focus that had always existed in my subconscious surfaced clearly.

She was constantly concerned about Su Shi's condition.

She noticed everything, from Su Shi interrupting her and Zhen Yu to Su Shi's overly perfect yet subtly tense profile during her performance. However, she had been completely absorbed in the performance and overcoming her nervousness, leaving no time for distraction.

At this moment, the performance was temporarily successful, and the tension eased slightly. Aine looked at Nagasaki Motoyo diagonally behind her almost immediately.

Su Shizheng slowly put down his bass, his face still bearing that gentle, impeccable smile, and bowed slightly to the audience.

But Aine still keenly caught the fleeting emptiness in her eyes as she lowered them, and the barely perceptible stiffness in her straight back.

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Chapter 277 (Two-in-One) This is my choice

Aine's smile faded slightly, and a clear hint of worry flashed in her gray eyes.

Without much hesitation, she immediately turned her gaze to Ishikawa Mayu, who was standing on her other side.

Seeing the concern in Aine's eyes, Ishikawa Mayu nodded gently.

Of course he understands.

He noticed Su Shi's unusual behavior earlier than Aine did.

From the blank look in her eyes after she met Xiangzi's gaze, to the forced composure she put on while hosting the show, to the excessive force with which she played the instrument, as if she were about to snap the strings, he saw all the subtle cracks beneath her forced calm.

Now, we need to follow the plan and guide the rhythm of the stage and everyone's emotions to the next stage.

His gaze calmly shifted to Takamatsu Akira, who stood in the center of the stage holding the microphone, waiting for her moment.

The lamp was slightly lowered, her bangs obscuring her eyes, only her slender, white fingers tightly gripping the microphone betraying the turmoil in her heart.

She remained silent for a few seconds, gathering enough courage. Finally, she raised her face and looked at the dimly lit area below the stage.

The voice came through the speakers, carrying her unique, intermittent yet exceptionally clear quality, like talking to herself, or perhaps confiding in a specific person:

"...I'm so happy that you're willing to come..."

In the audience, Toyokawa Shoko's back straightened almost imperceptibly.

"...Back then...I didn't sing well, which caused the band to fall apart...I felt so bad..."

The light dimmed, sinking into the mire of memories, but soon she forcefully raised her head again, her eyes brimming with tears, yet also burning with a certain determination, "I don't want to go through this again... and I also feel that I never want to form a band again..."

The knuckles of her fingers holding the microphone turned slightly white, and her clear eyes stared unblinkingly in the direction of Xiangzi below the stage, as if she wanted to convey all her confusion, pain, struggle, and the answers she had finally found through her gaze.

"This band... doesn't have a name yet."

"But even if I lose my way... I still want to keep moving forward."

Tears rolled down her cheeks, but instead of wiping them away immediately, she tilted her head back slightly, letting the light illuminate the wet marks.

At this moment, their gaze also shifted away from Xiangzi's direction.

Fragments of memory fluttered under the bright white stage lights.

She remembered the dimly lit karaoke room, the swirling colorful lights, and the pink-haired girl's exceptionally bright eyes under the starry sky lights.

"...As long as we work hard and avoid repeating the same mistakes, wouldn't that be enough?"

Even if you fail once, you must believe that you can start over.

His gaze gently fell on Chihaya Aine beside him.

Ai Yin seemed surprised that the lamp would look at her first. Her gray eyes widened slightly, and then they curved into beautiful crescents, filled with unreserved encouragement and the warmth of "Go for it!" She nodded vigorously at the lamp.

This warm confirmation dispelled the last trace of doubt in the lamp's heart.

His gaze continued to move, sweeping over Lixi, Lena, and Sushi.

Finally, my gaze lingered on that tall, slender figure who had been standing quietly all along.

Ishikawa Mayu met her gaze, and at that moment her figure was clearly reflected.

He didn't speak, but simply nodded slightly but with unusual certainty, silently catching all the unspoken words and scalding tears.

The lamp took a deep breath, inhaling all the warmth into its lungs.

She gripped the microphone tightly again, her voice no longer trembling, but carrying a cleansed clarity and firmness as she clearly declared:

"Because—I have understood why I sing."

The moment the words fell, Ishikawa Mayu's right hand naturally and firmly grasped Nagasaki Motoyo's slightly cool left hand beside her.

Su Shi's body stiffened abruptly, almost instinctively pulling back, but was firmly held by that undeniable warm force.

Almost simultaneously, at the edge of the stage, Yao Lena's fingertips began to gently pluck the strings, and a few clear notes with a faint narrative quality slid out, gently laying the groundwork and quietly waiting.

Chihaya Aine turned around and happened to see Mayu holding Suze's hand. She blinked, her face showing no displeasure or surprise. Instead, she immediately gave Suze a bright and encouraging smile, mouthing silently, "It's okay!"

Shinba turned to his microphone, his voice coming through the speakers, steady and clear, instantly drawing everyone's attention back to him.

"Then, please allow us to begin the next melody—"

He solemnly thanked each of his teammates and concluded by saying:

"...The next piece of music comes from a past that is irreplaceable for some of the members. It carries the talent and sentiments of a certain 'friend'."

"Tonight, we want to dedicate this rewoven melody to her. At the same time, we want to say goodbye to the 'past' that gave many of us a beginning but also left us with regrets."

In the audience, Toyokawa Shoko's straight back suddenly trembled, and a sour, hot feeling instantly welled up in his eyes.

She suddenly lowered her head, biting her lower lip tightly, her thick eyelashes trembling violently.

Beside her, Ruoye Mu quietly watched Xiangzi's profile tense up instantly and his shoulders tremble slightly. A clear look of worry flashed across her eyes, and her lips moved slightly, but she ultimately did not make a sound.

In another part of the audience, Hachiman Kairin tilted her head slightly, her gaze lingering for a moment on Ishikawa Mayu and Nagasaki Motoyo, who were holding hands tightly on stage, before looking at Shiina Tatsuki behind the drum group, a hint of inquiry flashing in her green eyes.

This person... seems to be more than just a "troublesome" figure to Lixi.

On the other side, Aine's classmates, including Mai, Kana, and Eri, wore expressions that were a mixture of surprise and confusion.

They exchanged glances, seemingly asking silently, "Huh? What's going on? Isn't that Aine?" "Why is Mayu holding that bassist's hand?" "Aine seems to be smiling?" They were staunch "Aine supporters."

Junda Mana subconsciously gripped the light stick in her hand. Even through her mask, you could see her lips tighten and her eyes narrow slightly. Her gaze was fixed on the clasped hands of Mayu and Suze, and a subtle displeasure of having her own child "snatched away" was clearly visible.

Meanwhile, Mio Serizawa, standing beside her, was experiencing a mix of unexpected discovery and subtle bitterness.

She came to the event with the intention of bringing this brief collaboration to a warm end and putting an end to her budding feelings for him.

However, during the first song, "Walking with the Blue Sky," her attention was almost entirely drawn to the lead singer in the center of the stage—Gao Songdeng.

The fragile yet resilient quality conveyed through the singing and the eyes, the feeling of carrying the weight of the whole world alone while desperately seeking connection... stirred up long-forgotten memories.

In the park's sandpit, there was that shy girl who always quietly picked up pretty stones, spoke haltingly but would reveal a pure smile to the starry sky...

This unexpected discovery thrilled her, and she temporarily put aside all other thoughts to wholeheartedly cheer for the girl on stage who might be a childhood acquaintance.

However, when "Walking with the Blue Sky" ended, seeing Makoto so naturally and firmly holding the bassist's hand, a dull, aching stinging sensation belatedly gripped her heart.

She knew she had no right to say anything, but seeing her senior and another girl so intimately on stage...

The part of me that felt like a young girl still felt a clear sense of loss.

Her gaze shifted between the clasped hands of Mayu and Suze, the seemingly indifferent profile of Aine-senpai, and the lead singer on stage who was making her uneasy. Her feelings were complicated and hard to describe.

Zhenyu on the stage did not look down at the audience. After he finished speaking, he immediately turned his head and looked at Su Shi beside him.

He looked at the lingering shock and confusion in Su Shi's eyes, grasped her hand, tightened his grip slightly, leaned forward a little, and spoke in a low voice, only the two of them could hear: "...I'm sorry."

Su Shi suddenly looked up at him, her eyes glistening with tears.

"I said goodbye for you..." Zhenyu's voice was even lower, her pace slightly faster, filled with unmistakable tenderness, "Because I didn't want..."

Su Shi's pupils dilated slightly as she looked at Zhen Yu, who was so close to her, at the undisguised concern in his eyes, and at the gentle yet firm determination with which he made the difficult decision for her.

The icy coldness that had been lingering in his heart ever since Xiangzi appeared seemed to be struck by the sudden warmth of those words, instantly cracking and then rapidly melting away.

Yes... Xiangzi has made her choice. With a rendition of "The Little Prince," with her calm and scrutinizing gaze tonight, and with her undisguised attention to Zhenyu, she has clearly stated her position: she is moving forward, embarking on a new path with Zhenyu's involvement.

And what about yourself?

Are you still clinging to that shattered illusion, trembling in the cold past?

No.

Su Shi's gaze swept over Xiangzi, who was bowing her head and trying to hold back her tears, and then quickly swept over the group of people around her—Aine, who had just mouthed "It's okay" to herself; Lixi, who was focused on the rhythm; Lena, who was immersed in her own world and strumming the strings; and Deng, whose tear stains were still wet on the stage but whose eyes were firm...

And, at this moment, Maho is holding his own hand tightly.

The warmth that Zhenyu provided was the main reason that melted the ice.

But the support from this hastily assembled, yet surprisingly reliable team was also very important.

Aine noticed her unusual behavior and gestured to Mayu... She wasn't oblivious to this subtle concern.

Since Xiangzi is letting go of Crychic... since Zhenyu has said goodbye for him...

Therefore, I should also respond.

Use your own way.

We must make Xiangzi, no, we must make everyone understand—

Who was the person who gave her warmth and supported her in saying goodbye to the past?

Where does he belong?

Most of them wanted to keep Shin'yu by their side.

Half of it is that "Mayu must stay in this band that has him and these noisy guys."

The confusion and shock in Su Shi's eyes receded like the tide, replaced by an unprecedented clarity with a resolute light.

So……

Su Shi took a light breath and took a very light half-step forward, closing the distance between the two.

Under Mayu's slightly surprised gaze as she suddenly approached, she raised her right hand, which was not being held, and gently brushed her fingertips through his slightly disheveled hair from playing music, carefully tucking it behind his ear.

The movements were natural and intimate, as if they had done it a thousand times.

Her lips almost touched his earlobe, and with a breathy voice, equally soft yet with a hint of gentle strength, she interrupted his unfinished apology:

"...In that case..."

A warm breath brushed past my ear, bringing a slight tickle.

"Then you must... forgive my little bit of willfulness."

The moment the words left his lips, before Zhenyu could fully comprehend their meaning, Su Shi tilted her head slightly and gently pressed her cheek against his shoulder.

It was just a fleeting moment.

Like a bird skimming across the water, so light it's almost unreal.

But under the bright white stage lights, and under the gaze of countless eyes below the stage, the intimacy and dependence carried by this action were crystal clear.

"!"

Chihaya Aine, who was closest to the drummer, widened her eyes in astonishment. Shiina Tatsuki's fingers tightened around the drumsticks, and her brows furrowed deeply. Takamatsu Akari also blinked blankly.

Almost at the same moment that Sue leaned on Mayu's shoulder, Toyokawa Shoko, sitting in the audience, straightened her back into a stiff line. Her lowered eyelashes suddenly lifted, and her gaze, like frozen icicles, pierced straight at the two figures on the stage who were almost touching.

Ishikawa Mayu froze completely. The brief, soft touch on his shoulder, mixed with the faint fragrance of Su Shi's hair, and the gentle "coercion" in her words, left his mind blank, and he even forgot how to react.

however--

"Zheng—"

A clear, full electric guitar intro, imbued with a strong narrative, abruptly shattered the brief silence and awkwardness!

Yoroi seemed completely oblivious to the subtle scene that had just unfolded, or perhaps she simply didn't care.