"Wow, there are only three hours left until the Live starts. Are you nervous?"
In the Live house practice room, Anon stood with a guitar hanging around her neck. She rubbed her hands together and stomped her feet back and forth, looking nervously at the others.
Soyo glanced at her and gave a fake smile. "This isn't our first Live. What's there to be nervous about? Only a newcomer like you would be nervous."
Anon glared at her.
Oh, so you're not pretending anymore?
Ever since I saw your true colors, you've stopped pretending and started throwing sarcasm around, haven't you?
"Hmph. I performed on stage in front of the entire school back in junior high. There were several hundred people there. What's so scary about a mere Live?"
Anon lifted her chin, refusing to lose to Soyo.
"School performances are just child's play. There's no technical skill involved. From your previous playing level, I can tell that what you called a performance was just entertainment."
"But a real Live is different. It requires professionalism and skill. Only then can you earn support. If you're nervous, just say it. We won't laugh at you."
Soyo looked at her provocatively, smiling.
After this Live is over, I can just kick you out.
I'm not asking for much this time. Just do your job properly.
"Anyway, you're just the bassist. It doesn't really matter whether you're in the band or not."
"What? Are you looking down on the bass?"
Anon and Soyo continued arguing.
Raana looked from left to right. With her skill level, a mere Live was nothing to be nervous about. Even if something went wrong, she had more than enough ability to save it.
Although these members were not the strongest musicians she had met, Raana found them the most interesting.
She liked performing with interesting women.
"Takamatsu, what's wrong? Are you nervous?"
Shiina looked at Tomori standing in the corner. She was trembling, clutching a sheet of paper in her hand, her eyes drifting aimlessly.
"Shiina… I heard Sakiko is coming."
Thinking of her former white moonlight, Tomori unconsciously tightened her grip on the lyric sheet.
"It doesn't matter whether she comes or not. The current band has nothing to do with her."
For the other former members, Sakiko might have been the unreachable white moonlight.
But in Shiina's eyes, she was the culprit, the sinner who caused the entire band to disband for no reason.
So the moment she heard Sakiko's name, she got angry.
Shiina's harsh words only made Tomori more nervous.
She quickly tried to comfort her. "Takamatsu, it's okay. We've done Live performances before, and you did well last time. This time is the same. There's no difference."
"But… but they said I tried too hard."
Tomori shrank her neck, her voice trembling as if about to cry.
"Don't pay attention to what people say online. Just be yourself."
"But… maybe I really do have a problem?"
"No, no, Tomori. You don't have a problem. Believe in yourself. You're fine."
Shiina felt a headache coming on. Being surrounded by this group of pressure monsters every day, she was also close to breaking down.
Please, stop pressuring me.
"Will Fujiwara-kun also come to see our Live?"
Anon suddenly asked.
Shiina frowned. "When there were Live performances at the store before, if Boss was around, he would watch. After all, it's the most popular girl band right now."
"So Fujiwara-kun might come to see my Live?"
Anon's eyes lit up.
"Are you nervous?"
"How could I be nervous? I'm just excited."
Even so, her hands were trembling.
"You just want to show off in front of Fujiwara-kun. Don't make a fool of yourself on stage because you're too excited."
Soyo continued taking shots at her.
"Tch. Clearly Soyo-se is the one who wants to show off."
Anon pouted.
But she quickly changed the topic. "Rikki, being a drummer really lacks presence. I thought of a great way to give you some."
"I saw a video on YouTube the other day. During a band performance, the drummer was suspended in the air and played like that. You'd definitely become the center of attention."
Veins bulged on Shiina's forehead. "What nonsense are you spouting now? Suspend me? I'm not like you. I'm not interested in showing off."
"Really?"
Anon crossed her arms, eyes half-lidded with a teasing smile.
Shiina felt like her thoughts had been exposed. She quickly turned away and shouted, "There are still a few hours before the Live. Let's rehearse a few more times."
"No way. The Live is about to start. Shouldn't we be resting and saving energy now?"
"Why do you think we need practice? Isn't it because you keep making mistakes? Stop talking nonsense and get over here."
"Rikki-chan, you're too strict. This is giving me pressure."
Aside from that cheerful cat, everyone else was under a lot of stress.
...
"Sorry to keep you waiting, Mutsumi."
At a roadside drink shop, Sakiko walked in wearing her slightly faded, ladylike long dress.
After scanning the room, she spotted Mutsumi sitting in a corner.
Mutsumi sat like a delicate doll, a glass of mango juice placed in front of her.
"I just arrived too. I didn't wait long."
Mutsumi gently shook her head.
Sakiko's slender brows lifted slightly.
She had only been polite. She hadn't actually expected Mutsumi to respond like that.
But she was used to Mutsumi's personality after so many years. Her ability to read the atmosphere was extremely poor. She always said the right thing at the wrong time.
Mutsumi stared at Sakiko for a few seconds. "Sakiko has gotten better recently."
"I've gotten better? Was I not good before?"
"Yes. The previous Sakiko was about to break down."
Mutsumi nodded seriously.
Sakiko tightened her grip on the coffee the waiter had just brought.
If you can't speak properly, then don't.
"The financial pressure has eased recently, so I feel more relaxed."
"Is it because of Fujiwara-kun?"
Sakiko did not deny it. "Boss… Fujiwara-kun saved your life before. I thanked him on your behalf."
"But you should thank him yourself."
Mutsumi nodded slightly. "I will. What kind of person is Fujiwara-kun?"
Sakiko thought for a moment. "I don't know him that well, but he's very gentle. A good person."
She knew very clearly that Toru asking her to work at his house was actually a form of help.
It was just that his way of helping did not make her uncomfortable, nor did it feel like pity. It did not crush her last bit of self-respect.
"Very capable."
"Hm?"
"Fujiwara-kun is very capable. Being around him gives a strong sense of security," Mutsumi said softly.
Sakiko looked at her in surprise, not expecting her to express her feelings so directly.
In some ways, she envied and admired Mutsumi.
She herself could not say certain things so frankly.
If she could say everything directly, maybe there would not have been so many problems.
"There are two hours left until Soyo and the others perform."
Mutsumi spoke quietly.
"Mm. It's time for me to say goodbye to the past as well. Nagasaki… never mind. This is partly my fault too. I'll go watch their performance, find a chance to explain everything clearly, and bring this to a complete end."
Sakiko elegantly took a sip of coffee. "The past is the past. Living in it only makes you suffer."
Mutsumi looked at her in surprise. "Sakiko, you've changed a lot. You're not as awkward as before."
Sakiko did not want to respond.
You just want to say I had problems before, right?
Speaking of awkwardness, isn't your personality the most awkward?
"Let's go, Mutsumi."
"It's still early."
"Come with me to Shibuya first. I want to buy something."
As a girl, a normal girl, Sakiko also liked shopping and buying small things.
But over the past year, she had been strapped for cash. Her pockets were emptier than her face. She did not dare buy anything.
Now that the financial pressure was much lighter, she wanted to treat herself better.
Sakiko felt that her wonderful life was about to begin.
The idea of forming a professional band that Toru had mentioned moved her, but she was still somewhat resistant.
Music was her last safe harbor. Turning her sacred hobby into a way to earn money was still a hurdle she could not overcome.
After generously paying for both of them, the two girls headed toward Shibuya Street not far away.
...
"I really have no money. Not a single yen."
Togawa Kiyotsugu knelt on the ground, desperately begging.
In front of him stood several gang members in black jackets. They were burly and covered in tattoos.
"You have no money, and you still dared to borrow from us to gamble?"
"Well… you were the ones who lent it to me."
He muttered softly.
"Damn it. Are you blaming us now?"
One of them slapped him hard, making him see stars.
"I went to his house. He really has nothing. That broken place is rented."
"Damn. What bad luck. Take him to the hospital for a physical exam. Check his condition. Boss just made contact with America. They need live organs."
The moment Toyokawa Shunichi heard "live organs," he went limp with fear, urine soaking his pants.
"Please. I'll do anything. Please don't take my organs."
"We don't want you to do anything, and we don't necessarily want your organs. As long as you pay back the money, everything is fine. If you don't pay, where do we put the Matsuba Society's face?"
"But… but I have no money."
One of the gang members spoke up. "Boss, he has a daughter. She's pretty good-looking."
"Hey, why didn't you say so earlier? If he has a beautiful daughter, she can work in a sex establishment. I have connections at Tora no Ana. We can get a good price."
"Sakiko… Sakiko is still underage."
"It's fine. We'll make her a fake identity. Since she's underage, she can fetch an even better price, right?"
Togawa Kiyotsugu was completely in despair, muttering, "I'm sorry, Sakiko. Daddy is sorry."
(To be continued.)