Girl Band, Gravity Capture

Page 121

"Did you get out of school so early today?"

He wasn't surprised that Nagasaki Motoyo could find him, because he had never hidden his itinerary from her.

He would explain in advance which day he might come home late and which places he would be going. If you asked him for more details, he would also tell you who he was going to see and what he was going to do. He was never guilty.

He knew very well that although Nagasaki Motoyo had gradually found the missing sense of security in him and could treat life with a more tolerant and genuine attitude, that sense of security was also like crystal glass, hard yet fragile, and needed to be carefully maintained.

External difficulties and setbacks cannot defeat the stubborn Nagasaki Motoyo, but his slightest neglect and concealment could plunge her into an abyss of painful internal strife in an instant.

Building absolute trust is a long and arduous process, while destroying it only requires a few insignificant little things... Fortunately, both Gen Xudou and Nagasaki Motoyo are willing to put in the effort to maintain this purity.

Therefore, their whereabouts have always been transparent to each other, with no deliberate deception, and this remains true at this moment.

"Today, the brass band finished their practice and left early..." The girl gently twirled a strand of hair on her cheek, her gaze fixed on Gen Xudou's azure eyes filled with tenderness, and at the same time, she naturally took his arm. "I wanted to come and see you."

"Besides, Xu Doujun waited for me like this at the entrance of the Moon Forest before, right? Actually, I've wanted to try it out for a long time..."

He paused for a moment, then smiled brightly and took the girl's slender fingers in his hand.

"how do you feel?"

Nagasaki Motoyo traced his palm with her fingertips, her face slightly flushed, "...I want to try again next time."

The waiting process can be agonizing, but waiting for someone you like can bring a sweet, sticky happiness.

Standing at the corner, imagine his surprise when he sees you; look expectantly at the crowd, sketching that unforgettable face in your mind; and the joy that wells up from your heart when you finally meet.

Waiting... doesn't necessarily have to be a hard thing.

The longer it takes, the more difficult the process, but when you finally achieve the result you hoped for, the sense of satisfaction in your heart will be even stronger and more fragrant.

—Just like waiting for the day when he slowly opens his heart to me, so that we can completely accept each other and be honest with each other.

Given the current situation... that day isn't too far off.

Genjiro's call pulled Nagasaki Motoyo back to reality.

"Su Shi, what do you want to eat tonight?" He rested his chin on his left hand and began to think about dinner. "It'll be the weekend in a couple of days, so let's buy the groceries on the way."

"Hmm... let me think about it..."

Following his example, the girl also pressed her lower lip.

"Sushi?"

"Then let's have sukiyaki this weekend," he decided. "Is Auntie free these days?"

“Mom is still as busy as ever…” When this topic came up, Nagasaki Motoyo, whose heart was filled with joy, no longer felt the loneliness and desolation of the past. She explained to him in a very ordinary way, “But she said she wants to eat red bean rice recently.”

"There will be a day when we get to eat it."

"Ah."

The girl hugged his arm tightly.

They both showed their most genuine and relaxed smiles in front of each other, like an old married couple who still have a deep affection for each other after many years of marriage, discussing and laughing in a lively atmosphere.

Fingertips to fingertips, strands of hair to strands, tightly side by side, intertwined, with hope in their hearts, taking steps together toward a future where they exist together.

only……

Seemingly unintentionally, Nagasaki Motoyo turned her head and looked in the direction from which Genjiro had come.

The smile vanished from her lake-blue eyes at that moment, leaving only a calm and undisturbed gaze, like a boundless, deep lake.

...A bright future has no need for the remnants of the past or for overconfident individuals.

Chapter Fifty-Six: Golden Week? (Two Chapters Combined)

"Yuan, please stay for a moment."

As the unchanging day at Dongdu Middle School drew to a close, Yuan Xudou, adhering to the rules of the Homecoming Club, packed his schoolbag and was about to leave the classroom when a classmate called out to him.

He looked up at the girl in front of him, who was wearing thick black-rimmed glasses and seemed a little tense. He paused what he was doing and nodded to her expressionlessly.

"Class President Komi, is there something you need?"

They were clearly the same age, and she only gave a simple reply. But perhaps it was the boy's expressionless demeanor, his dark and deep eyes staring straight at her, that created an inexplicable sense of pressure. Even though he was the class monitor, she still felt the pressure and swallowed hard, forcing herself to give a somewhat stiff reply.

"Your advisor wants you to go to her office."

The inquisitive gaze shifted away from her, and the boy in front of her frowned slightly. He turned to look in the direction of the teachers' office, then nodded to her, indicating that he knew.

The class monitor breathed a sigh of relief upon receiving a response, nodded gratefully, and quickly returned to his seat.

As for why she behaved this way... it's because, as the class representative, she's good at reading the room, but she can't adapt to the "atmosphere" around Yuan Xudou.

People who readily express their joy and anger and whose emotions are not very stable are actually easy to understand and deal with. On the other hand, those who cannot see through your thoughts and expressions and are always calm are the most difficult to deal with for class leaders who need to manage and get along with their classmates.

The air around him was so intense that it could disregard the atmosphere created by the class as a whole, forming a small, quiet zone that belonged only to him—of course, this was also related to the fact that he was so outstanding that his unreasonable grades overwhelmed everyone else.

No matter how much a social culture emphasizes "conformity" and "adaptation," it cannot defy the most basic underlying logic of "survival of the fittest." Even if one day, someone suddenly loses their mind and can't stand Yuan Xudou's excellence and ordinariness, and insists on rallying equally delusional accomplices to attack him, he will never be the one who suffers.

The common trope of ostracizing those who don't fit in is probably, no, definitely not applicable to him.

Fortunately, Yuan isn't the type of person who always goes against the group. There's no problem communicating with him normally. In fact, he's a very clear-headed and intelligent person... well, as long as you don't try to strike up a conversation with him.

If you're mistaken for a frivolous guy trying to pick someone up, you'll be stared at with emotionless dark eyes and rejected with flat, emotionless words. He clearly has the perfect setup to bring home a new girlfriend every week and party every night—presumably many open-minded girls would willingly accept him—yet he also possesses an almost obsessive level of self-discipline… Although there are some unfounded rumors, topics about him are generally difficult to verify and are mostly false.

Aside from that, he's quite easy to get along with, and he always agrees to help when asked. He's a very good person.

Perhaps he wasn't born to be dominated, but rather the other way around; he just hasn't realized it yet. He might be well-suited to be a manager, but it's hard to imagine him as a politician, spouting nonsense... Maybe an arrogant artist would be a better fit?

It's simply about not being swayed by everyone else's decisions... Honestly, if given a choice, who would want to go with the flow?

The only difference is that he had a choice because of his strength, while others had no choice and even gradually degenerated in order to protect their own interests, eventually willingly throwing themselves into this situation.

If it could blend into Yuan's "air," it would become a transparent wall that completely isolates the inner and outer worlds, solid yet reassuring.

As far as she knew, there were quite a few people who envied him in private. In this class, where the boy was most deeply affected, a group had gradually formed, and even a tendency had emerged.

...It has a terrifyingly irrational charm.

He sat down and sighed. Then he put on a smile and greeted the friends who gathered around him.

He always manages to evoke the most pressing emotions that resonate with people in the moment, regardless of praise or criticism.

Sigrún has taught at the Iceland University of the Arts as a part-time lecturer since and was Dean of the Department of Fine Art from -. In – she held a research position at Reykjavík Art Museum focusing on the role of women in Icelandic art. She studied fine art at the Icelandic College of Arts and Crafts and at Pratt Institute, New York, and holds BA and MA degrees in art history and philosophy from the University of Iceland. Sigrún lives and works in Iceland.

Sigrún has taught at the Iceland University of the Arts as a part-time lecturer since and was Dean of the Department of Fine Art from -. In – she held a research position at Reykjavík Art Museum focusing on the role of women in Icelandic art. She studied fine art at the Icelandic College of Arts and Crafts and at Pratt Institute, New York, and holds BA and MA degrees in art history and philosophy from the University of Iceland. Sigrún lives and works in Iceland.

Shifting the perspective back, Yuan Xudou, who was being envied, was now having a bit of a headache.

"'Golden Week Campus Festival'?..."

He repeated what his instructor had just told him, word by word, then unusually raised his eyebrows, revealing a troubled expression.

The supervising teacher pushed the lesson plan in front of her aside, leaned back, and, as if she were not treating a student under her jurisdiction, repeated it in an equal and smiling tone.

"Yes, the Golden Week campus festival."

"Xu Dou, I have to remind you—according to school regulations, each club must submit a report on its activities on that day—although the teacher has already mentioned this in class, you may not have taken it to heart, so I'm reminding you again today."

"Originally, according to the school's regulations, there is no such club as the 'Homecoming Club.' In order to cultivate students' abilities and foster a friendly campus atmosphere, except for students with special circumstances, every student must join at least one large club recognized by the school—after all, special selection is also an important part of the school's college entrance rate, don't you think?"

"It's obvious that you haven't submitted any materials sufficient to qualify as a 'special case,' but considering your personal wishes, the school has made an exception and set up an 'Off-Campus Affairs Observation Department' for you. As long as you provide activity certificates regularly, you can freely enter and exit the campus during club activities..."

"Golden Week is less than two weeks away," the instructor, who seemed a bit unserious as a teacher, said, trying to suppress a laugh but unable to quite manage it. "We've received most of the clubs' initial plans by now...you understand?"

Normally, this mentor is known for her humor and approachability, which makes her well-liked. But at this moment, she revealed another side of herself – she was happy to see her student, who had always been very easygoing, looking helpless.

"Of course, we understand your difficulties. After all, the 'Off-Campus Affairs Observation Department' only has one person, from the head to the members. It might be a bit overwhelming to organize any decent activities... The school allows you to find helpers from within or outside the school and has postponed the deadline for submitting the proposal."

"...Can I not participate?"

As she wished, the boy showed a helpless expression.

Yuan Xudou wanted to refuse outright, but this mentor usually took good care of him and was always understanding of his unsociable behavior, which even influenced the other students' opinions of him to some extent... Although he didn't need that help, it wouldn't be good to embarrass the other person in person.

“In principle… no.” The supervising teacher shrugged, indicating that he was just a small teacher, and pointed out a way out for him, “Of course, Xu Dou, you can go to the school board and ask them to make an exception for you, like the ‘External Affairs Observation Department’. However, this time the reason may not be so easy to find, and I do not have the authority to make such a decision.”

Towards the end, she became a little more serious, her words carrying more concern, and she sincerely shared her thoughts with him.

“Xu Dou, you must know about the school environment in Japan... There are so many of these ‘unfair’ situations that it’s easy for some people to dislike you, especially some senior teachers and certain students.”

“You are a good kid, with your own opinions, so good that you can be unconventional and others are willing to give you the green light, like me and the school board, but not everyone.”

"This is also an opportunity." The instructor handed him a blank sample proposal, which the boy silently took. "Let more people know how good you are, and make some friends at the same time."

"Anyway... it's ultimately your decision. You have that right, so why don't you think it over carefully?"

"Give me your answer as soon as you've thought it through... or you can give it to the board of directors."

After finishing his series of remarks, the Waseda University graduate then uttered a classical Chinese phrase in a formal and scholarly manner.

“‘Once we begin to try to define something—success or failure, right or wrong, whether it's worthwhile... we lose the right to talk about it’—a famous quote by Osamu Dazai.” She nodded with satisfaction at her overflowing inspiration.

Yuan Xudou, who had been standing still for a moment, spoke softly.

"It's Jun'ichirō Tanizaki's 'Shunkinshō' by Mr. Murashima."

"...Xu Dou, has anyone ever told you that you sometimes take things too seriously?"

Masami Murashima waved him away, somewhat annoyed, saying, "Go away, go away. Any girl who dates you will find it exhausting."

The truth is quite the opposite—the girl next to him was much more serious and awkward than he was.

Moreover, the boy has a romantic streak, appreciates music and art, and his sabotage of her was purely because he was in a bad mood.

Having received this unexpected assignment, Won Heo-doo, who was asked to leave the office, leaned against the corridor wall, looked out the window at the bustling campus, and sighed helplessly.

...It's not like I don't have friends.

He doesn't care at all about being disliked by others, and he never tries to please strangers. Yuan Xudou has always been indifferent to other people's opinions of him.

As his mentor, Masami Murashima puts on an act of worrying that his students lack sufficient friendships and that their school life is dull and boring... but his life outside of school is actually quite colorful.

He goes to coffee shops, attends concerts, and frequents live music venues. He probably has far more close friends of the opposite sex than most of his peers, and has even experienced summer camps and beach vacations... Instead of worrying about him, you should worry about other people.

...Was I too cold and unapproachable at school?

It's good that the teacher is responsible, but it's not good for teenagers.

Sigrún has taught at the Iceland University of the Arts as a part-time lecturer since and was Dean of the Department of Fine Art from -. In – she held a research position at Reykjavík Art Museum focusing on the role of women in Icelandic art. She studied fine art at the Icelandic College of Arts and Crafts and at Pratt Institute, New York, and holds BA and MA degrees in art history and philosophy from the University of Iceland. Sigrún lives and works in Iceland.

Sigrún has taught at the Iceland University of the Arts as a part-time lecturer since and was Dean of the Department of Fine Art from -. In – she held a research position at Reykjavík Art Museum focusing on the role of women in Icelandic art. She studied fine art at the Icelandic College of Arts and Crafts and at Pratt Institute, New York, and holds BA and MA degrees in art history and philosophy from the University of Iceland. Sigrún lives and works in Iceland.

Today, he is not the only one to receive such devastating news.

"...'Welcoming guests during the Golden Week'?!"

"Yeah, Riki-chan... I just got the news too." Shinji Rinko wore a "regretful" expression, clenching her hands tightly in front of her chest as if feigning sadness. "You know, most of our 'RiNG' customers are students, and Golden Week is the busiest time of year for students. As a new store, RiNG's foundation is weak, so the boss has decided that, in order to attract customers and increase revenue, we'll open up the area around RiNG and have the staff perform..."

"No, I had absolutely no idea about this!?" Shiina Tatsuki couldn't help but complain.

Pretending not to hear, Rinko Maji wiped away non-existent tears from the corners of her eyes. "In fact, the reason why bosses require employees to have musical skills is because of this... This is the dark world where adults prioritize profit."

“This is also part of the performance evaluation. On the bright side, we can even find outside help,” Maji Rinko comforted, a qualified working woman who was good at thinking from multiple perspectives.

Shiina Tatsuki remained silent for a moment, then refused without giving him any face.

"...No, I'm not going."

She wanted to go out shopping during the Golden Week holiday, and even subtly invited a certain boy to go out and play. How could she possibly waste her time on something like this?

No, absolutely not! She'll have to take a few days off!

Rinko Maji, who had anticipated her reaction, was not surprised at all. Looking at her resistance, she spoke in a low voice.

"Employees who perform well will receive a bonus."

“Lots, lots of bonuses,” she gestured, emphasizing it.

"Lixi-chan, didn't you want to buy a new drum set recently? If you can get first place, you can not only get a complete new set, but you might even have some left over at the employee price." Rinko Shinji waved her hand and said meaningfully, "A person's time on stage won't be too long, and there will definitely be plenty of time during Golden Week. The money saved... will be more than enough to buy some small gifts."

Upon hearing this, Shiina Tatsuki's purple pupils flickered, and she hesitated.

Indeed, if I wanted to save money to buy a new drum set, I would have to be frugal and wouldn't be able to do much during the Golden Week holiday, let alone go out with Xu Dou... But if I could win the prize money, the money problem would be solved.

She was somewhat tempted, and her voice of refusal became less firm.

However, Shiina Tatsuki finally let out a low hum, "Easy for you to say... First place isn't something you can just take off like that."