Girl Band, Gravity Capture

Page 27

Yuan Xudou had no intention of dwelling on this topic. He nodded calmly and changed the subject.

"So, what did you want from me just now?"

"Ah... I almost forgot."

After being reminded by the boy, Toyokawa Shoko finally remembered her original purpose.

I took a few deep breaths to calm my racing heart and felt the heat slowly dissipate from my cheek and ears.

After finally calming down, she looked at Yuan Xudou, her pale golden pupils, which had been free of her earlier panic and shyness, refocused and gazed at him intently.

"That's right. 6 One together doubts two fathers four feed eight."

"It's time to start writing lyrics and composing music."

"I hope you and Deng can spare some time to prepare with me."

She brushed back a stray strand of hair from her forehead, and her beautiful, bright eyes now appeared serious and focused.

“Especially you, Xu Dou, could you set aside some time for yourself after each day’s rehearsal?”

"And our usual free time might also need to be taken up..."

"This is the first song of 【CryCHIC】... I hope you can give it your all with me."

Chapter Thirty-Two: Because of you and me, we are soulmates.

What kind of person was Genjiro Toyoko?

Even the girl herself might find it difficult to give a precise answer to this question.

Initially, judging solely from their first meeting on the overpass, she felt that although the boy was as handsome as a top model, he was cold-faced, taciturn, and acted quite arrogantly, ignoring her wishes and forcibly taking her to Gao Songdeng's house.

Even now, it seems like a chance encounter she'd be grateful for for the rest of her life—but at the time, Toyokawa Shoko's pride made her somewhat resistant to Minamoto Koto.

Compared to the boy who showed no emotional fluctuations from beginning to end, she had a better impression of Takamatsu Akari, who was not good at communicating but was innocent and harmless.

At Takamatsu's house, after actually communicating with Genjiro, Toyokawa Shoko felt that he was not as indifferent as he appeared.

Whether it was directly pointing out that she should approach the girl herself after learning that she wanted to get to know Takamatsu Akari, or turning away while she was applying medicine, or simply stopping her after she did something excessive...

As the image pieced together from these events gradually came together, her evaluation of Yuan Xudou changed to: Although he spoke calmly and had a cold expression, he was actually very delicate and gentle inside, a person full of contrasts, but who would never be disliked.

In addition, he was able to understand Takamatsu Akari's thoughts, had stable emotions, and strong communication skills, among other advantages, which led Toyokawa Shoko to invite him to join the band.

Thinking back on it carefully, it seems that I didn't even ask Won Heo-do if he could handle the band matters she proposed.

Toyokawa Shoko was simply assuming that the young man was capable of doing it and was willing to do so, and with the capriciousness of a young lady, she extended an invitation to him.

Then, I was rejected.

Even the reasons given were perfunctory... Only someone who unconditionally trusts him and has a simple mind would believe something like "not wanting to perform on stage"...

Even though it was her first time meeting Yuan Xudou, she could tell that he wasn't the kind of person who would care about such things.

In the end, it took the two of them persistent pleading and cajoling to finally get him into the band.

Worried about the real reason for his refusal, and taking advantage of the opportunity when the boy took her home, she pressed him for answers, and thus, Toyokawa Shoko's perception of Genji changed once again.

She has unresolved family issues, a calm and gentle personality, and a subtle yet unwavering confidence and determination—this was enough to pique her curiosity and make her feel a sense of goodwill towards her.

Later, through their actual time together in the band, Toyokawa Shoko's understanding of Genjiro Tomoko gradually became more complete and, in a way, more perfect.

—He handled all band affairs, except music, perfectly and efficiently, which made her completely accustomed to and dependent on the help and advice she received from the boy.

—She can play guitar, piano, bass, drums with ease, her skills are in no way inferior to those of professional band members, and she can patiently point out and correct their mistakes.

—He cares about his teammates' mental state. When he was present, there was never a real argument in the band that caused either side to get angry, and no one would be depressed or lose confidence because they didn't keep up with the practice progress for a while.

He's good at music, photography, management, and all sorts of other random things. I have no idea why a junior high school student would get involved in these things. It seems like there's nothing that would make him say from the bottom of his heart, "I can't do it."

She was so omnipotent that it was incomprehensible to others. Even with her limited perspective, she briefly doubted at one point whether Yuan Xudou was truly without flaws, a perfect person inside and out, and an invincible greatness in both appearance and spirit.

Like a flawless marble sculpture, full, strong, and towering, yet it is also untouchable and difficult to change.

But in the end, the girl was delighted to discover his "flaw".

The shouts of "I want to become human" on the overpass gave her a glimpse of the frankness and gentleness that Yuan Xudou had previously buried deep within; the unexpected performance in the KTV room made her understand the carefree spirit and passion that he had always suppressed.

Most importantly, Shoko Toyokawa felt a soul resonance with Genjiro that she had never experienced before in her life.

No matter what they talked about, he could immediately understand the girl's thoughts, follow her train of thought, and discuss things with her. No matter what they were about to do, even without telling anyone beforehand, he knew how to cooperate and what the final effect should be.

Just like before, Toyokawa Shoko did not ask Genjiro to go with her to comfort Takamatsu Akari, but the boy who should have left long ago miraculously appeared in front of her at the most opportune moment, without knowing which way they would go.

This unspoken, ineffable understanding, where one can comprehend another's feelings simply through eye contact, transcending time and space, and binding their hearts together like "fate," is precisely what young girls cherish most.

Even Wakaba Mutsu, who had been with her since childhood and whom she regarded as her "other half"... could not understand each other's thoughts as clearly and thoroughly as the two of them, who had only spent a few weeks together.

In addition to their equally outstanding musical talent, their equally passionate and dedicated attitude towards the band, and their equally genuine belief in their own strength, they also possess an unyielding arrogance and pride that never flaunt themselves...

Not only do they have so many things in common, but they can even complement each other's shortcomings.

Without a doubt, she and Xu Dou were natural soulmates... no, describing them as "soulmates" might not be an exaggeration.

Once you meet and start communicating, you'll inevitably be attracted to each other, eventually becoming what you are now—supporting each other, working together towards a common goal, and in the process, feeling an increasing resonance with one another.

Shoko Toyokawa admitted that she was attracted to Koto Minamoto.

She also believed that the boy shared the same feelings as her.

There's no need to shy away from it, nor should we deny it—facing one's feelings honestly is a necessary lesson she learned as a heiress.

Of course, this doesn't mean that Toyokawa Shoko would run up to Minamoto Kōtō and tell the boy directly that she has feelings for him... The girl's sense of shame wouldn't allow her to do that.

She would only hint at it subtly, trying to make him understand.

Moreover, she felt that summing up their relationship simply as liking or having a good impression of each other was a bit monotonous.

Shoko Toyokawa believes that if her relationship with Koto Minamoto continues to develop, their eventual connection should be deeper, more entangled, and more inseparable than the ordinary and superficial social relationship of husband and wife or lovers.

So... under the guise of composing music, I got a chance to spend a long time alone with Gen Xudou.

Of course, she really puts all her effort into composing. Given their skill levels, they should be able to finish it in about two days, and the rest of the time will be entirely hers.

She wanted to get to know him better slowly, little by little, through getting to know each other, to find more common ground, and to make their souls more compatible.

Finally, clarify what kind of emotions and relationships you truly want.

'However, what if Xu Dou confessed to me beforehand…'

'That seems like a good idea too.'

Chapter Thirty-Three: Everyone likes it, isn't that good?

"Gui An, Xu Dou."

"Yes. Good afternoon, Xiangzi."

It was a weekend, around two or three in the afternoon.

Shoko Toyokawa, who had arranged to meet with Genjiro today to discuss composition ideas, greeted the boy who was walking towards her with elegance. She looked him up and down with a careful and serious gaze, but without being impolite, and then her eyes lit up.

Unlike the usual school uniform with a suit-style design, Won Heo-doo wore a loose white T-shirt on his upper body and breathable black trousers on his lower body today. Paired with his already versatile and tall figure, he perfectly fits the public's definition of a clean, refreshing, handsome, and decent person. It's clear that he carefully selected his outfit for today's appointment.

"Xu Dou looks even better than usual in casual clothes, he's very handsome."

Thank you. You look beautiful today too.

This is not a polite compliment.

Yuan Xudou could tell that the girl had made ample preparations for today's meeting.

The simple white shirt looked elegant on her, and the gold and black satin ribbon tied at the collar was loosely and playfully tied into a bow. It was paired with the delicate pleats on both sides of the collar and hung down naturally, supported by her chest, which was not full but had a good shape.

Further down, a light gray plaid skirt cinched the girl's slender, supple waist, barely concealing the upper half of her fair and delicate thighs. Her shapely, smooth calves, like solidified cream, began at the ankles, covered by delicate white lace stockings, and finally disappeared into shiny black round-toed women's leather shoes.

Her long, smooth, sky-blue hair, tied with a matching ribbon at the neckline, had clearly been carefully styled before she arrived. Each strand shimmered with a crystalline and beautiful luster under the sunlight, cascading over the girl's shoulders.

Her noble, golden eyes held a subtle and restrained smile, and her round, beautiful cheeks were adorned with a faint blush, whether from the slightly scorching afternoon sun or from the girl's naturally radiant and lovely face.

After exchanging sincere compliments on each other's outfits, Toyokawa Shoko took out her phone and checked the time.

"Xu Dou, you're twenty minutes early."

Her tone carried a hint of teasing.

"If that's the case, Xiangzi, didn't you arrive early too?"

Unaffected by the inexplicable meaning in the girl's words, Gen Xudou responded naturally.

"Besides, I thought if it were you, Xiangzi, you should have arrived around this time, so I came."

"Hmm—it seems we think the same way."

If someone else had said this, Toyokawa Shoko would probably have thought they were just being stubborn and refusing to admit that they were really looking forward to the appointment, which was why they were making this excuse.

However, she completely believed what Yuan Xudou said.

Because she had arrived less than a minute earlier than the boy, almost as soon as she stopped in front of the store, she saw Yuan Xudou walking slowly towards her from the other side of the street.

The reason why Toyokawa Shoko chose to go out at this time was entirely based on a whim and intuition—and the final result did not disappoint her. As expected, Gen Koto, who understood her, appeared at just the right moment.

Overjoyed by this wonderful connection, the girl smiled brightly, her already clear voice becoming even gentler.

"I've already reserved seats, Xu Dou. Have you prepared the lyrics for 'The Lamp' as well?"

"Yes, I helped her tidy it up once, and it's basically finished now."

Yuan Xudou took out a notebook he carried with him, in which he copied down the lyrics of the song "-|月* 漪/ 六#翼漆依栮覇逝⒋吧>" and handed it to her.

Most of Gao Songdeng's lyrics are taken from her own diary entries, which she wrote to record her thoughts. Because there are ready-made templates, she only needs to make slight modifications and integrations to make the sentences suitable for the rhythm and format of the music, which is much more convenient than writing lyrics from scratch.

He and Gao Songdeng finished organizing the lyrics in just one or two afternoons.

Toyokawa Shoko took the notebook, glanced at it briefly, and then carefully put it away.

"Then let's get started quickly?"

"【CryCHIC】, our first original song..."

She murmured expectantly, pulling Yuan Xudou along as they entered the coffee shop.

At the end of the street not far away, two small heads peeked out from around the corner. The two people who had been secretly watching them hesitated for a moment when they saw this scene, and a few minutes later, they also sneaked into the coffee shop together.

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.

Hanezawa Cafe.

Out of a little selfishness, in order to avoid the two of them being disturbed by other band members while composing, she specially chose another coffee shop besides RiNG as the meeting place, and only told Genji Hiroto via private message.

However, as Murphy's Law, which is both hateful and often true, states—the more you worry about something, the more likely it is to happen.

Toyokawa Shoko's excessive caution in keeping the secret aroused Nagasaki Motoyo's suspicion.

Nagasaki Motoyo never expected that Toyokawa Shoko, who had never had any close contact with Minamoto no Koto and whom she considered to be no threat, would suddenly use music as an excuse to take up a large part of the free time that should have belonged to her as a boy.

For the sake of the band's development, Nagasaki Motoyo couldn't openly object to something that had been discussed long ago, nor could she directly follow Genjiro Tokito—after all, Toyokawa Shoko had specifically asked him to stay behind alone, and the girl who knew nothing about composition had no reason to get involved.

Asking Yuan Xudou directly what they had done seemed like a good idea, but she didn't want to show too much possessiveness in front of him, or be seen as a heavy woman who needed to know everything and didn't trust him at all...

So, Nagasaki Motoyo called on Wakaba Mutsu, a friend of Toyokawa Shoko, to secretly follow the two and see for herself how they interacted, so that she could put her mind at ease.

At first, Ruoye Mu disagreed with doing this with her, feeling that it was something only a perverted stalker would do.

However, when Nagasaki Motoyo sent her text messages like, "Don't you want to see how Xu Dou-kun and Xiangzi-chan get along in private?" and "This is also for the sake of the band's relationship," Wakaba Mutsu finally followed her heart and agreed.

Toyokawa Shoko is important to her, and so is Genji Koto. What will happen between these two important people... that is indeed something she cares about.

Thus, the two reached an agreement.

Nagasaki Motoyo, who lived upstairs from Genjiro and had free access to his home, noticed the boy leaving and contacted Wakaba Mutsumi, who was waiting nearby, via Line. After disguising themselves, they quietly followed him from behind.

During this time, he was almost discovered by Yuan Xudou several times.