Girl Band, Gravity Capture

Page 107

...He is capable of doing this, and has had countless opportunities to do so.

Xiangzi is clever, but not as clever as him. Besides, she has a timid side, so guiding her won't be too difficult.

Using a conciliatory approach, Gen Xudou could also persuade Toyokawa Shoko to stay, even making her willingly and voluntarily make this decision without any resistance.

Because her inner vulnerabilities had been laid bare to him without reservation during every encounter and exchange of understanding between them, and he had come to know them. Once you understand someone's weaknesses, controlling or changing them becomes incredibly easy.

Not just Xiangzi, but also Su Shi, who yearns for security and a sense of belonging, Mu, who is confused about her own existence and blindly relies on him, Li Xi, who is trapped in a sense of inferiority, and Deng, who cannot find recognition... Based on the trust they have now, it wouldn't be too difficult to make them become the people they want them to be.

Of course, conversely, the girls also understood him to almost the same degree, knew how to get along with him, and shared their thoughts and aspirations. Genjiro Tou was no exception, possessing his own weaknesses as well.

Love is a double-edged sword. Those who can wield it skillfully, making it impossible for them to be harmed, are generally called Casanovas in a social sense, or, to use a more derogatory term, scumbags.

Yuan Xudou had repeatedly measured himself against the standards of a normal person, and he believed that although he couldn't be called devoted, he was at least far from being a scumbag. In every relationship he had with Yueyi, he treated their feelings seriously, rather than making decisions with a frivolous and irresponsible attitude.

Therefore, he could not possibly manipulate Xiangzi's life in a manipulative way.

To satisfy his dark desire for control, he wantonly manipulates and fabricates other people's personalities, and uses other people's feelings for him as a tool to be used... Yuan Xudou is slightly deviant in some aspects, but overall he still has a relatively high moral standard, which is quite unacceptable.

Then again, if he had such a preference, he should have made his move on Su Shi long ago. She's devoted, gentle, obedient, and especially willing to cooperate with him; as a woman, she's even more well-endowed... At the very least, Mu is much easier to handle than Xiangzi.

If Yuan Xudou were someone who only cared about his own pleasure and had strong desires—he should have easily found a girlfriend and taken the steps toward adulthood with one of the girls months ago.

Whether you praise him for being serious about relationships or criticize him for being harsh on them, the boy is a perfectionist in this matter.

And there is another important, even the most crucial, reason.

That is……

　If I did *that* with one of them first, it would be hard to explain to the other girls.

You could even put the other three aside for now, focusing mainly on Xiangzi and Su Shi... Choosing either one would drastically change his relationship with the other person.

In theory, Su Shi would be accommodating and tolerant of his decisions because of her affection, and Xiangzi, out of guilt and attachment, would be unlikely to blame him... But that was just theory; he didn't want to touch even the slightest possibility of creating a rift in their relationship.

To grant one person's wish is to inevitably disappoint another... For Yuan Xu Dou Yi Lin, who has always adhered to the idea of ​​"not letting go of either side," this choice is far from what she wanted.

Yuan Xudou couldn't make up his mind for the time being. Perhaps given some time, he might come to a decision, but at least not now.

...Moreover, when the boy was about to part ways with Toyokawa Shoko after dropping her off at her new rented apartment, he made a promise to her.

"Xu Dou...you must wait for me."

In the dim light streaming through the apartment corridor, Toyokawa Shoko tilted her head and gently untied one side of her ponytail.

A yellow and black ribbon was pulled out from her sky-blue hair, illuminating the girl's face in the dim light, her trembling eyelids revealing endless longing.

The sound was subtle, incredibly soft, like a heart melted by anticipation and beauty.

She carefully took Yuan Xudou's left wrist and tied a knot with a ribbon at the ring finger. The other end of the ribbon was attached to the same spot on the girl's wrist.

Then, their fingertips touched. The gentle warmth traveled from their skin to their nerves, like the most sincere confession.

After gazing longingly at their intertwined hands for a long time, Toyokawa Shoko untied her headband and then tied it tightly around Genjiro Tou's wrist.

"This is all I have... I can give it to you."

She tiptoed, wrapped her arms tightly around his neck, and gently lowered her pink lips.

"You must wait for me..."

Her breathing was erratic, and she spoke in a confused, almost pleading tone.

"……Um."

For Yuan Xudou, that was the most thorough and reliable constraint.

...Therefore, they understand him just as he understands them. Love is such a complex and ever-changing thing; no one caught in it can escape.

He mocks his well-known weakness, yet he cannot cure it.

So... since you wish, let's continue this entanglement, Xiangzi.

Chapter Thirty-Four: The Last Man's Farewell

Shibuya, roughly the entrance to a karaoke bar.

The neon lights, combined with the warm glow of the setting sun, have already opened their arms, shimmering with ambiguous light, to welcome anyone seeking pleasure, even before the darkness has completely fallen.

The streets were bustling with traffic, and the people walking along the sidewalks were a diverse mix. Successful people in suits were not uncommon, but there were clearly more noisy young men and women—after all, if the sole purpose was to seek pleasure, the Kabukicho district, with its vibrant nightlife, was obviously more suitable for adults.

From the slightly crowded scene, the most eye-catching street view is undoubtedly the handsome young man standing by the wall, looking down at his phone as if chatting with someone, his expressionless face exuding a melancholy and aloof air.

Even if he can't make a living online through extraordinary abilities, with his naturally good looks and keen insight into people's hearts, he could easily earn hundreds of millions of yen a year as the top host at a famous host club in the neighboring Shinjuku district.

But then again, if he wanted to make money this way, he should have gone after some young and naive ladies, married into their families and inherited their fortunes, which would have meant hundreds of billions or even trillions of dollars. That would have been much faster than trying to please all sorts of customers and earning just a few commissions on drinks.

Yuan Xudou had seriously analyzed various ways to make money that seemed reasonable to him. He had worked odd jobs, lived in a simple rented apartment, and struggled to make ends meet, experiencing the feeling of surviving alone in this seemingly prosperous and beautiful but indifferent city.

His first computer was bought with money he saved up after eating only the school's free lunches for six months. The bland miso soup with rice, along with overly salted fish and dried vegetables, is a food his body still instinctively resists—it replenishes his daily energy, but it's truly torture for his taste buds.

Therefore, the first thing I did after I had a little money was to improve my diet and make sure I got all the necessary nutrition during my growth period.

Back then, troubles came one after another. No matter how extraordinary someone was, without the tools and capital to utilize, the only way to make quick money was through unorthodox methods. Most of these were in the black market, and a small portion were merely shady dealings.

Yuan Xudou didn't want to be a gigolo, nor did he want to be a live-in son-in-law.

In some ways, he was even more arrogant than Toyokawa Shoko, and more "incomprehensible" in the eyes of others. The owner of the Tsuzuki Shisen must have had many complaints about him, after all, his easy rejection of a simple request for him to perform on stage, his dismissal of the opportunity for fame that countless people coveted, was no less than Shoko's act of abandoning her privileged life as a young lady.

Ultimately, their personalities are both self-centered. It's just that Genjiro's refusal is gentle yet firm, taking into account the other person's feelings, making it a more acceptable polite refusal. On the other hand, Toyokawa Shoko, lacking experience in handling interpersonal relationships, easily loses control of her emotions when in trouble, trying to protect herself with a barbed tone, only to hurt others in the end.

To be driven solely by one's own heart... isn't that selfish?

It's just that what they did was romanticized as selflessness and gentleness in the eyes of those close to them. A star trailing a fiery tail may leave a bright and beautiful trail, but it will eventually run out of energy and turn into dim ashes.

...The real reason he didn't go to see Takamatsu Akari, Shiina Tatsuki, or Wakaba Mutsu was probably guilt.

He felt no guilt towards Toyokawa Shoko, because she was both the one who first brought the band together and the culprit who caused it to disintegrate and vanish like a withered branch, disappearing as if it were the last desperate cry. Therefore, there was no burden in his heart when he went to see her, questioned her, or even confronted and blamed her.

But the others... they are innocent.

Using Xiangzi's vision of making the band a family as an analogy—Yuan Xudou, as the pillar, ultimately failed to keep everything going, and although the fault did not lie with him, the sense of powerlessness and loss still remained.

Especially... the lights.

When you meet her, give her the attention and understanding she needs most.

They encouraged her to join the band and use her singing to express her inner feelings;

They recognized her innocent yet unique inner world and became an extremely important source of comfort for her.

Bringing hope and light to that fragile, timid, gloomy, and closed-off heart, yet failing to make it last... What was the point except to make her suffer for having once had happiness?

Yuan Xudou could never forget Shiina Riki's rebuke, even though it was just something she said in anger.

The person you trust wholeheartedly may fail to keep their promises.

He chose to blame himself for breaking his promise rather than blaming others for placing too many expectations on him.

Therefore, there is suffering.

That's why I'm sad.

Therefore, one might want to escape.

But no matter how much I try to look away and use various excuses to postpone seeing her again, that time will eventually come.

Yuan Xudou cannot and does not want to forget the past, to pretend that none of it happened, and to shirk his responsibilities.

Therefore, the moment Chihaya Aine revealed that she was Takamatsu Akari's classmate, he understood that it was time to reunite and take on everything he had promised but failed to accomplish.

...That's how it should be.

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.

"Kyorarin~ Over here, over here—"

She spotted the person she was looking for right away in front of the KTV, and Chihaya Aine, her gray eyes lighting up, immediately waved to him impatiently.

At the same time, Yuan Xudou, who had also noticed the other party, put away his phone and walked towards the pink-haired girl, expressing his confusion about her address.

"'Kyorarin'?"

"Because 'Xu Dou' and 'Kyoto' are quite similar, aren't they—"

Chihaya Aine relayed her thoughts to the boy verbatim, which drew a rather speechless look from him.

　Seeing that he clearly didn't have a positive view of her interest in naming, Chihaya Aine immediately used the girl with her head down behind her as a shield.

"Besides, Tomori can also be called Tomorin, I think that's cute!"

As Chihaya Aine took a slight step, Takamatsu Akari, who had been following behind her with her head down and not looking at him, was exposed to Genji Koto's line of sight.

The girl with short gray hair didn't look up; her familiar amber eyes were deeply hidden in the shadows.

"...It's up to you."

With a somewhat complicated expression, Yuan Xudou ended the topic in a nonchalant tone and turned to walk into the KTV.

'As expected, she's just not in the mood.'

Before he turned around, Chihaya Aine had noticed the expression on his face and was quietly pondering what was going on in her mind.

'She seems much more melancholic than she was in RiNG, and it's like she's suddenly become so mature...'

Yuan Xudou, who doesn't put on a gentle demeanor, exudes a silent and lingering sense of indifference.

His aura doesn't even resemble that of a high school student her age. Instead, he exudes the air of a high-quality boyfriend who is in the prime of his life but has experienced a failed marriage or lost his wife at a young age, and is therefore disheartened... This is just an analogy.

Mature, melancholic, and empty inside, so it's easy for them to take advantage of their vulnerability... cough, they're easily attracted to beautiful things.

It might be a little cold, but she's probably actually very gentle...

Her cheerful smile is very attractive.

Even with a melancholy expression, she still looks good.

She wasn't exactly pretending before, but she tried to appear relaxed as long as the past wasn't being touched upon. Even when she was feeling down, she wouldn't take it out on anyone.

Xu Douqin... isn't he a little too perfect?

Chihaya Aine felt that the softest spot in her heart had been touched ever since she met him, and she became more and more determined to get her hands on Genjiro... no, to become Genjiro's companion.

Chapter Thirty-Five: Once Again, It Starts at the KTV

KTV.

Singing and melodies, noise and confusion.

It's not surprising that Chihaya Aine, who exudes a strong sense of being a social butterfly, would choose this kind of place as the venue for a gathering—she must have been used to being the center of attention at school, which is why she developed such a lively and friendly personality that doesn't seem too outgoing or uncomfortable.

It's only a ten-minute walk from here to RiNG. Compared to the noisy KTV where it's easy to get closer to someone, he prefers a quieter and more peaceful environment for conversation.

In contrast, Chihaya Aine, who was clearly very comfortable in this atmosphere, had already taken her seat in the middle of the sofa in the private room and was not shy at all as she looked through the list of songs to request.

"As expected, you have to sing and chat at the same time in a karaoke bar."

"Let me see... Sumimi's 'Here the World'... Ah, and also songs by Roselia and Afterglow, which one should I choose..."

While muttering softly in a voice that others could hear, she glanced at the two people's reactions out of the corner of her eye as she looked past the song selection screen.

The clueless Takamatsu Akari didn't understand her intentions at all, but Gen Xudou had already seen through her rather obvious attempt to pique their interest.

"Speaking of which, I think I've heard that song before... it's called 'Spring Shadow', right?" Chihaya Aine started searching on the song selection screen.

"Hey, can't find it...?"

I卄I淋陾弍衣衫溜、爸鸸玥—H—?衣That's only natural.

After all, "Spring Shadow" is CryCHIC's first and only original song, and it has never been released as an album. At most, the leaked videos are edited live videos, so it's not surprising that it wasn't included in the album.

But does Chihaya Aine know about "Kasuga Kage"?

...Never mind, it doesn't matter. He didn't want to delve into this matter, whether Chihaya Aine heard it from Takamatsu Akari or looked it up online herself—things that are over should be buried without being brought up again.

Yuan Xudou decided not to dwell on the topic and continued from where she left off.