People in Mygo are emotional firefighters.

Kana quickly picked up the bass, and Mio sat down at the keyboard, her face filled with eager excitement.

Ishikawa Mayu took a deep breath, reached the performance area, placed the bow on the strings, and closed her eyes slightly. As her fingertips touched the strings and her chin gently rested on the bridge, the faint sense of unease she felt vanished instantly, like a thin mist blown away by the wind.

The notes flowed from his fingertips, no longer simple scale exercises, but melodies brimming with emotion and skill. The violin's sound was clear and melodious, sometimes plaintive, sometimes passionate and surging, precisely controlling the breath and pulse of the music.

Chanel couldn't help but glance at the figure immersed in the performance out of the corner of her eye, her heart filled with turmoil.

Is this... is this really our classmate Ishikawa?

No wonder... no wonder Ai Yin was so insistent back then, even turning down invitations from other bands, and insisted on forming a band with him...

This little girl is hiding such a treasure and keeping it all to herself! That's so unfair!

Sitting behind the keyboard, Mio Serizawa felt it more directly and intensely. She tried her best to follow the rhythm led by Mayu Ishikawa, her fingertips dancing across the keys, and the impact on her heart was even greater than that on Kana.

Good...that's awesome!

The person below who was embarrassed when Mana-senpai teased her and whose eyes darted around when I looked at her was a completely different person!

This contrast is...it's amazing!

She's so nervous and even a little clumsy and adorable when facing strangers offstage, but the moment she picks up the violin, she's a completely different person, radiant and dazzling...

This stark contrast ignited Mio's curiosity—a desire to get closer and understand—like a campfire doused with oil, instantly burning even brighter.

…………

As the music ended, the lingering resonance of the last note slowly dissipated in the air.

Triangle Chu Hua put down her guitar, a satisfied look on her face. She clapped her hands lightly: "Very good. It's rare to have such chemistry on the first rehearsal. Everyone, take a ten-minute break, have some water, and we'll refine a few transitions later."

Kana finally snapped out of her shock and couldn't resist sneaking to the bathroom, pulling out her phone, and quickly tapping open her LINE chat window with Chihaya Aine.

[Kana: Aine Aine! Guess who I ran into at the agency today?! (≧?≦)]

[Aiyin: Who is it? What's making you so excited? Could it be some super handsome model?]

[Kana: Even more exciting than that! It's Ishikawa-kun!!!]

[Aine: ...Huh?]

Aine on the other end of the screen was clearly stunned, but she quickly realized that the work arrangement Mayu mentioned yesterday was to collaborate on a song at the agency? Thinking about it that way, it was indeed a serious matter.

[Kana: He's the special guest violinist invited by producer Matsushima, 'Maha_official' himself! My goodness, Aine, did you know he was a super popular content creator with millions of followers on Donghuang? When he played just now, his skill level... was absolutely amazing! Mio and I were almost stunned!]

Chihaya Aine looked at Kana's excited words on the screen, and couldn't help but smile, forming a sweet and slightly smug curve.

Of course she knew. She had even glimpsed the world that belonged to "Teacher Maha" before Chanel did. But at this moment, listening to her best friend describe how amazing the person she admired was in such an astonished tone, a sense of pride and satisfaction instantly filled her heart.

She suppressed the urge to join in the praise and tried to make her reply seem indifferent, even casual, as if to say, "It's no big deal."

[Aine: Oh, that. Yeah, I know he's kind of famous over there. His violin... well, it's alright. (￣▽￣*)ゞ]

Kana rolled her eyes at Aine's feignedly calm reply. She knew her friend too well; the tone, the wording—it was clear she was secretly overjoyed but was trying to appear composed in front of her! This girl, her vanity was certainly satisfied!

[Chanel: Tsk, you're just pretending! I know you too well. You're probably secretly thrilled!]

Ai Yin's smile widened, and she didn't refute it.

[Kana: I wonder who was it that kept talking about 'Mayu-san this' and 'Mayu-san that' all the time before~]

[Aine: Hey! (｀へ'*)]

Joking aside, Ai-yin quickly remembered her serious business.

[Aine: Oh right, Kana! When you get back to school, don't mention to anyone that Mayu is a content creator! Especially don't let him know that I already knew! If Mayu asks you, just tell him that he didn't tell me (????)]

[Kanna: Huh? Why?]

[Aine: I want to pretend I don't know anything about this, and then tease him later! Just imagine the expression he might make, it'll be so funny! So you have to keep it a secret for me! (?o?o)??]

Chanel immediately understood her best friend's little joke and readily agreed.

Chihaya Aine thought for a moment, then added.

Also, could you please keep an eye on him in the rehearsal room? He's not very good at handling unfamiliar environments and people.

Upon seeing this, Chanel almost...

She shouted it out while staring at the phone screen. She poked the screen hard with her finger, as if poking Ai Yin's smug and "girlfriend-neglecting" face.

[Kana: Hey hey hey! Aine, you ungrateful bastard! (｀へ'*)ノ]

[Kana: Look at the situation! Here, Ishikawa is 'Teacher Ishikawa,' invited by Producer Matsushima, he's 'maha_official'! I'm the trembling newbie Kana! If anyone should be taking care of someone, it should be him taking care of me!]

[Xiangnai: It would be more practical for you to ask him to put in a good word for me with the producer, so the company would relax their control over my figure a little, than for me to 'take care' of him! Please wake up!]

As soon as the message was sent, Kana seemed to hear Aine chuckling on the other end of the phone.

[Aine: Ahaha, sorry, sorry~ It was an accident... (。﹏。*)]

[Aine: But you see, no matter how much of a 'teacher' he is, he's still essentially that slightly socially awkward Ishikawa Mayu. Kana-sama~ Just keep an eye on him for me, okay? Please, please! (。?ω?。)ノ?]

Seeing the cutesy emoji Aine sent, Kana sighed helplessly, but couldn't help but smile slightly. There was just no way to deal with this girl.

[Kanna: Okay, okay! I'll keep an eye on him for you, alright?]

【Aine: I love you (づ￣3￣)づ╭】

Chapter 131 Senior Zhenyu~

In the rehearsal room, Kana disappeared around the corner leading to the restroom, and Ishikawa Mayu focused her attention on the sheet music in her hands.

He habitually sought a quiet corner, his fingers unconsciously tracing the edge of the page, his brow slightly furrowed, lost in thought about a particular chord progression.

Just then, a vibrant figure, as nimble as a deer, darted in front of him in a few steps, carrying a faint, sweet fruity fragrance.

"Ishikawa-senpai!"

With her hands behind her back and her body slightly leaning forward, Mio Serizawa's long brown hair swayed as she looked at him with a bright yet slightly mischievous smile. Her bright eyes stared directly at him without any hesitation, sparkling with curiosity and eagerness.

"I think the interlude just now, the interplay between the violin and keyboard, could have been even tighter! What do you think, senior?"

As she spoke, she handed him her sheet music, which was covered in markings, and pointed to a melody she had drawn with a highlighter. "If I didn't use this arpeggio here, but instead used a more lively staccato, would it better support your main melody and make the layers more distinct?"

Although Ishikawa Mayu is very socially awkward and not good at dealing with Mio's enthusiasm, she never refuses to ask others for advice.

He took the sheet music, his gaze falling on the passage Mio pointed out. He looked at it carefully for a few seconds and nodded subconsciously.

"Hmm, not a bad idea." His voice was more composed than when he spoke to her, with a hint of thoughtfulness. "Staccato can indeed increase the sense of rhythm, but you have to be careful with the intensity, otherwise it might steal the show."

He extended his slender fingers, lightly touched the score, and began to briefly analyze the subtle differences in emotion and rhythm between the two approaches.

“Like this.” Ishikawa Mayu raised her eyes to look at Mio, trying to explain her thoughts in the simplest language, but unexpectedly bumped into Mio’s eyes, which were so close to hers, filled with amazement and inquiry. She had moved even closer at some point, and she could almost see Mio’s long eyelashes.

"I see! I understand now!" Mio nodded vigorously, a look of sudden realization on her face. She then immediately leaned closer, her smile becoming somewhat playful, and the tone of her voice naturally shifted, "But you're really amazing, senpai! You look about the same age as us, yet you know so much! It was the same during the duet just now; the moment you picked up the instrument, your whole demeanor changed, you were so incredibly cool!"

She didn't hold back in showering him with direct praise, her eyes fixed on him, trying to catch any subtle change in his expression.

Sure enough, Ishikawa Mayu's expression, which had just relaxed from focusing on the professional discussion, tensed up again instantly. His ears involuntarily burned slightly, and he awkwardly looked away, handing the sheet music back to her, his tone once again tinged with embarrassment and stiffness: "...It's just a matter of experience. With more practice, you'll be the same in the future."

"Eh—just experience?" Mio deliberately dragged out the last syllable, tilting her head and smiling like a sly little fox. "I feel like you're glowing when you're in the music, senpai! It's completely different from how you were cowering just now!"

Masahiro felt even more embarrassed by her straightforward and enthusiastic comment. She subconsciously tried to take a half step back to create some distance, but her heel hit the music stand behind her, making a slight sound.

Seeing his helpless and embarrassed state, Mio Serizawa's smile deepened.

Just as Ishikawa Mayu was struggling to cope with Mio's passionate advances, a gentle voice came from the side, rescuing him at the right time.

"Mio, don't put too much pressure on Ishikawa-kun."

The two looked in the direction of the sound and saw that Mitsuba Hatsuka had walked over at some point, with her usual serene smile on her face. She seemed to have been carefully checking the parameters of the effects pedals at a slightly distant equipment station, and was now slowly approaching.

She looked at Mio, her tone carrying the gentle reminder of a senior, yet without sounding harsh: "Ishikawa-kun is here to help us complete our work, not to be your private tutor."

Her gaze then turned to Ishikawa Mayu, and she nodded slightly, with apology and gratitude: "Ishikawa-kun, thank you for your hard work. Mio is quite straightforward, so please forgive her if she has offended you in any way."

"Hatsuka-senpai!" Mio immediately protested, pouting, "I didn't offend you at all! I was earnestly asking you a question!"

Seeing Mio's eagerness to explain, Ishikawa Mayu shook her head slightly, her voice calmer than before, even though the heat in her ears hadn't completely subsided: "No, there's nothing offensive about it."

He paused, his gaze falling on the densely written sheet music in Mio's hand, his tone revealing approval: "Serizawa-kun... is very studious, and your ideas are very constructive. It's exactly what I hope for that the piece can be presented in a more perfect way."

Putting aside Mio's excessive enthusiasm, her keenness and seriousness in music certainly impressed me.

“If you have any further ideas about the arrangement or coordination,” Ishikawa Mayu continued, her gaze unconsciously shifting slightly away, her voice lowering a little, “...you can ask me anytime.”

As soon as he finished speaking, he seemed to realize that he had spoken too confidently and might invite more "enthusiastic" inquiries, so he quickly added, "Of course... if Miss Chuhua has time, it might be more efficient to consult her first..."

Misaka Chuka saw this scene and a knowing smile appeared on her lips.

She naturally sensed the subtle struggle in Mayu's words—admiring the junior's talent while instinctively wanting to avoid overly intense social interactions. She smiled gently.

"Ishikawa-kun, you're too kind. It's wonderful that we can communicate so frankly and learn from each other while working together."

"That's right!" Mio immediately seized the opportunity, her face breaking into a bright smile again. Her eyes sparkled as she looked at Mayu. "Thank you, senpai! Ishikawa-senpai is such a kind person! Not only is his technique amazing, but he's also so gentle and willing to mentor a newbie like me!"

"However, as you can see, Senior Chu Hua is usually so busy managing Sumimi's affairs and guiding us two newcomers... So, I would like to trouble you more often with any questions I may have in the future, is that alright?"

As she spoke, she tilted her head playfully, her brown hair swaying, and a smile that mixed ingratiatingness and slyness graced her face. Seizing the opportunity, she pressed her advantage and made a further request:

"Also... um... can I call you 'senpai Mayu' from now on? It feels so formal to keep calling you 'senpai Ishikawa'."

She blinked, her gaze fixed intently on Ishikawa Mayu, as if awaiting an important request.

Looking into her expectant and undisguised eyes, Ishikawa Mayu hesitated for a moment before swallowing back the words of refusal that were on the tip of his tongue.

He glanced to the side and gave a very soft "hmm," which was considered tacit approval.

It's just a name... it should be... nothing, right?

He thought to himself with some uncertainty.

Chapter 132 (Two Chapters Combined) Mio: Actually, I'm a CP fan

After Shinba nodded almost imperceptibly, tacitly agreeing to be addressed as "Shinba-senpai," Serizawa Mio's face instantly blossomed into an extremely bright and satisfied smile, like a kitten that had just successfully stolen a bite of cream, its eyes squinting happily.

"Great! Thank you, Shinba-senpai!" she replied cheerfully, her voice filled with excitement. But she didn't push her luck by continuing to pester Shinba with questions; instead, she knew when to stop. She waved energetically to Shinba and Hatsuka, "Then I'll go back and prepare for the next part!"

After saying that, she skipped back to her keyboard with light, deer-like steps. Once seated, she couldn't help but secretly clench her fist, a sweet, undisguised smile on her face, clearly still basking in the joy of having "received special permission."

Chuka, who had been quietly observing the two, took in Mio's undisguised joy and couldn't help but smile.

She turned her head slightly, and speaking softly to Ishikawa Mayu beside her, who seemed to have breathed a sigh of relief, with a hint of teasing:

"Isn't she adorable? Doesn't Mio have the potential to be an idol? That natural energy and infectious charm."

Upon hearing this, Ishikawa Mayu subconsciously looked up at the cheerful brown-haired girl in front of the keyboard. Her mind flashed back to her incredibly bright eyes and radiant smile. She had to admit that Hatsuka was right.

“…Hmm.” He responded softly, acknowledging the assessment.

Just then, the door to the rehearsal room was gently pushed open, and Kana returned from the restroom. She immediately spotted Mio humming a song in her seat, practically bubbling with joy, and Hatsuka-senpai and Ishikawa Mayu not far away, who seemed to have just finished a brief exchange.

Mio immediately spotted Kana, and her eyes, which had just calmed down, lit up again as if she had seen a savior. She waved to her eagerly.

"What's wrong? Did something good happen?" Kana sat down next to Mio and asked softly. She had only been gone for a short while, but why did the atmosphere seem to have changed subtly?

Mio immediately rushed over, grabbed Kana's arm, her eyes shining brightly, and whispered excitedly in her ear, "Kana, Kana! I'm telling you! Shinba-senpai—he agreed to let me call him 'Shinba-senpai' directly!"

"Huh? Really?" Kana was also a little surprised. She knew Ishikawa Mayu had that unapproachable aura in class; while not exactly fierce, it wasn't easy to become familiar with him. Was Mio's approach... a little too effective?

"Of course it's true!" Mio nodded vigorously, then her face showed an expression that was a mixture of curiosity and longing. "Kana, tell me more, what kind of person is Mayu-senpai at school? I'm so curious!"

She clasped her hands together in a pleading gesture: "Look, we're teammates now. The more we learn about our seniors, the better we can work together, right?"

Faced with Mio's reasonable request and her innocent enthusiasm, Kana, who was already quite guarded, was now even more eager to share.

She thought for a moment and then said, "Ishikawa-kun... well, you've always been the quiet type in class. You're what people often call the 'introvert', right? You spend most of your time in your seat and don't really talk to anyone."

Mio listened attentively, her mind automatically comparing "quiet" and "shady corner" with the "senpai Mayu" who had just shone brightly in the music, speaking concisely yet incisively. The contrast made her find it even more interesting.

“However,” Xiang Nai changed the subject, her tone filled with obvious admiration, “he’s a well-known ‘all-around academic genius’ in our grade! His science and math are naturally top-notch, but his best subject is Chinese!”

"Chinese literature?" Mio blinked, this was somewhat unexpected.

“Yes!” Xiang Nai nodded vigorously, as if she were talking about some amazing secret. “Especially when it comes to the part about classical Chinese and Chinese literacy, the teachers often praise him for his unique insights and profound knowledge.”

"Moreover, although he doesn't talk much, he is actually very gentle. If anyone in the class has a problem they can't solve, whether it's math or classical Chinese, they can go and ask him. Although he won't say too many polite words, he will always patiently explain the key points in the simplest and most understandable way until you fully understand."

Kana recalled that she had also asked him questions and nodded affirmatively, "So although everyone thinks he is a bit unapproachable, they all agree that he is a very capable and gentle person in private."