Girl Band, Gravity Capture

Page 116

Wearing this kind of clothing in pursuit of style and image can be quite a challenge for young women who are already trying to maintain their figure and are not very resistant to the cold.

'...I ate a whole bag—no, half a bag—of Pocky today...the sugar intake shouldn't be too high.'

Moreover, sitting in a chair for a long time might also be bad for your leg shape.

Amidst the bewildered glances from those around her, Hachiman Kairin let out a heavy sigh of distress.

...As a result, there was absolutely no progress in achieving what was hoped for.

She had never met a peer like Yuan Xudou who was so... indescribable.

It's both good and bad; when it's good, she can't take her eyes off it, and when it's bad, she hates it to the core.

After giving her a long and detailed compliment, he immediately and without hesitation turned her away—as if he had completely anticipated her thought process and then cut it off first.

Yawata Kairin even had the illusion that he had seen through all her thoughts and experiences in just a few hours.

And in the end, the expression on his face was almost like he was showing off his companions…

The girl, who was walking towards her residence, suddenly turned around, braced her left hand against the wall beside her, and moved her right hand up to tightly grasp—the clothes at her chest.

She lowered her head, her back trembling slightly, her face hidden in shadow, making it impossible to discern her expression.

After maintaining this position for a few seconds, Hachiman Kairin closed her eyes.

"……call."

She exhaled softly, a breath that carried a strange sense of satisfaction.

'Do we already have the "most trustworthy" bassist...?'

In an instant, her gentle, warm eyes appeared, and the corners of her mouth naturally curved upwards, a faint smile that wasn't overly enthusiastic, radiating an irresistible and captivating charm, an absolute trust that inspired envy...

Just imagining and recalling that scene, the atmosphere that was too attractive to her silently emerged, enveloping Hachiman Kairin's mind and body.

Even if it belongs to someone else, it doesn't stop her from temporarily borrowing it to satisfy the emptiness in her heart.

Just as Genjiro's intuition told him, Hachiman Kairin was not angry at his words. Although she was somewhat disappointed, she felt more happy than anything else.

As for why she stopped communicating with him after that scene—it was because she silently processed the ripples caused by the boy in her heart and tried her best to suppress them from showing outwardly.

Disappointed? Dejected? Taking out her anger on others just because she didn't achieve her goal? She's not that petty.

Such a gentle and tactful refusal, even considering one's own feelings, how could it possibly hurt anyone? It's too subtle; I can't understand it at all.

A moment later, Hachiman Kairin composed herself, as if her flushed face and light panting were merely an illusion, and straightened up with an incredibly natural and calm expression.

Okay, next time I'll go harass RiNG... no, I'll "bump into" Yuan.

Chapter Forty-Eight: The Promised Meeting

"Xu, Xu Douqin—can we really go over there later and ask for autographs?"

"Waaah... Will we get stopped by security or something? Or will we be pushed outside because there are too many fans? I... maybe we should try not to be too conspicuous..."

"...Don't worry, I've already contacted Hatsuka and Mana."

Chihaya Aine, contrary to her usual self, tried her best to hide herself in Genji's shadow, completely unlike her usual generous, cheerful, and sunny demeanor who liked to stand in the spotlight.

She nervously reached over the boy's shoulder, her hesitant gaze sweeping over the dense crowd of fans walking around her. Then, when someone's gaze inadvertently drifted over her, she immediately shrank back as if startled, and whispered something to Yuan Xudou in his ear.

...He seemed happy and enthusiastic when he met RiNG, but when they got to the concert venue, he started to back out.

In response, Gen Xudou, who was about to get his friend's vote, could only sigh and then began to comfort Chihaya Aine, who had suddenly become stage-frightened for some reason.

"No need to rush, just use the special exit to find them when you leave."

"So...it won't be very noticeable?"

"If you'd like, you can try out what it's like to snatch an autograph yourself."

　"No, no! This is fine!"

Chihaya Aine patted her calm chest and let out a long sigh of relief.

Like the light morning mist, the timidity in her clear yet slightly hazy gray eyes quickly dissipated, just as the mist was cleared by sunlight. She blinked, her expression becoming much more at ease, and she no longer cowered behind the boy.

"I thought it would be one of those situations where you have to show your face in front of other people to get an autograph..."

Realizing that things weren't as they seemed in online videos, the girl felt relieved.

Actually, if it were just about getting a personal autograph by blending into the crowd, she wouldn't be so resistant. What truly made Chihaya Aine resolutely back down was something else entirely.

'...Why did this concert have to be held here of all...?'

She glanced discreetly at the group of high school girls who seemed to be around the same age as the two of them, who were walking past her chatting and laughing. She shrank back, clutching her head in her hands, silently groaning in her mind.

'Why is it the high school I was supposed to go to?! !!!'

Indeed, the concert was being held near the high school section of the middle school Chihaya Aine attended before going abroad to study. Many of the students coming and going were wearing the school uniform that she was so familiar with, yet which she least wanted to see at this moment.

However, since she was already there, even though her heart sank as she walked around and the surrounding scenery became more and more familiar, and her heart sank completely when she saw that sailor uniform with her own eyes, and she was terrified of being recognized by her former classmates who might be nearby, the girl could no longer say things like "maybe we should just skip today" - Kyorarin had even prepared the tickets!

Besides, she couldn't explain why she was so excited and urging the other person to hurry up when they set off, but immediately became dejected and wanted to leave as soon as they arrived at their destination... The failure of studying abroad was a secret she wanted to keep to herself and not easily reveal to anyone.

After all, if they knew the whole story, they would all feel contempt for themselves for making such arrogant promises, only to fail to last even a month and slink back home in disgrace.

The seemingly glamorous and optimistic Chihaya Aine is actually just a weak deserter who doesn't recognize her own abilities... I really don't want to leave him with that impression.

If I could get in faster, the chances of being discovered would be much lower.

At this moment, she could only hide behind Yuan Xudou, pretending to be uncomfortable because she was not used to the dense and noisy crowd, while praying that the ticket check would be completed soon.

Fortunately, perhaps her sincere rambling had an effect, or perhaps the fans waiting for the concert to start were all focused on the performance and no one paid much attention to the fans around them. Until the crowd finally began to surge toward the ticket gate, none of the scenarios she had worried about occurred.

"Aiyin, let's go." Yuan Xudou looked down at his phone, put it away, and calmly called out before stepping into the crowd.

"Wait a minute, Kyorarin—"

Chihaya Aine instinctively reached out her hand.

The fear of being discovered by former friends vanished at this moment, replaced by a memory from not long ago.

"...asking me how to get closer to Xu Dou..."

Shiina Riki, who was wiping the cup with a towel, paused, her pure purple eyes, which shone with a cool and stern light, turned her gaze to the side, and her voice was somewhat impatient.

"Are you serious?"

"You've known Xu Douqin for much longer than I have, so you must know him very well, right?" The pink-haired girl asked the question with an air of self-righteousness. "If we go to the concert together in a few days and we don't know anything about his habits, wouldn't that be a waste of the opportunity?"

Shiina Riki gritted his teeth, making a grinding sound.

She really wanted to throw this guy, who always brought up the most awkward things, out of the room. Understand Xu Dou? If I understood him that well, what would I need you for?

Furthermore, she came to me asking how to get closer to Xu Dou, and even deliberately showed off her upcoming "date"... How is this any different from poaching someone from someone else's back?

...But she couldn't do that. After all, the two of them were now barely allies, and they still needed to provide basic, superficial help and exchange information.

"...How far do you want to go?" she swallowed her anger and asked coldly.

"Let me think... at least..."

Ultimately, she was just an innocent girl with no experience in dating. After thinking hard for a long time, Chihaya Aine finally managed to squeeze out a single word from her blushing lips.

"Shall we hold hands?"

"Ah."

"Hey! That sneer is too much!"

Shiina Ritsuki ignored the enraged girl, regained his composure, and resumed wiping the cups, his expression subtly conveying a sense of "That's all?"

“If you think the time is right, just take his hand. Xu Dou won’t refuse.” Her tone was that of a seasoned veteran looking down on a clueless newcomer. “As long as he has even a little bit of affection for you, he’ll just agree.”

"What if... what if I get rejected?" Chihaya Aine asked hesitantly.

Shiina Ritsuki looked at her speechlessly.

"I don't know, I've never been rejected," she answered readily.

"If you're so insecure, then just grab my wrist or my collar. It's no wonder you can't hold hands."

That was habitual mockery, or you could say it was the truth.

Although annoyed, the girl acknowledged her point. If one has to hesitate even about something like this, and lacks courage... then what makes them think they can change Gen Xudou's mind?

Chihaya Aine quickly recalled this brief but profound experience and took a deep breath to prepare herself mentally.

Okay, I'm going now!

Just aim at Heo Doo-chin's palm, reach out and shake his hand—that should do it!

Her heart pounded fiercely as she looked up at that slender, well-proportioned right hand, at the delicate, smooth, and fair fingertips that belonged only to a young girl.

Okay, it will be here soon.

"—Aine?"

Not receiving a response from the girl, Yuan Xudou turned around in confusion when he realized she wasn't following.

The gaze emanating from his dark pupils almost immediately noticed the girl's left hand, which was stiffly suspended in mid-air.

'...Ah.' Chihaya Aine's expression also froze.

Oh no, I failed to sneakily hold Xu Douqin's hand when he wasn't looking—

Lixi only said that if she held hands, she wouldn't be rejected, but she didn't say what would happen if they saw each other without holding hands—

"I...I...Xu Douqin, it's not..."

His usually quick-witted tongue seemed to have lost control, and he could only stammer out a few dry words.

Her expression instantly turned to one of utter frustration and shame. Her lips moved, but she didn't know how to defend herself in this situation where she had been caught red-handed by the account. In the end, she could only silently lower her head and use her cherry-pink hair to cover her gloomy face.

'...Iling, the master of the 8th grade, is not worthy of mentioning...'

Chihaya Aine didn't know what to say; all she could think of was to apologize.

Seeing the girl's unprecedentedly disappointed expression and her hand about to retract, Yuan Xudou hesitated for a moment.

Then, the boy took a half step back and, in place of Chihaya Aine, did what she wanted to do but dared not do.

Without any of the expected disdain or aloofness, he simply reached out and gently grasped the girl's soft palm.

"There are a lot of people, don't get lost."

Whether it was my imagination or not, Yuan Xudou's voice seemed gentler, like a light breeze in April.

"Let's go in together." A gentle, accepting look appeared on his face.

Chihaya Aine stared at him blankly, instinctively tightening her grip on his palm, feeling an overwhelming and captivating warmth that she had never experienced before.

Eh...?

...It's just holding hands, why am I so happy?

I've held hands with friends before, and there shouldn't have been anything particularly different... Is it just because different people are holding my hands that the feeling is so different?

This is really... so unfair...

That's so unfair... He's way too good at dealing with girls... Who could stand that...?

Besides, it should have been Xu Douqin falling for me... but now it's almost the other way around...

Despite thinking this, Chihaya Aine felt no resentment at all. She looked up with a dazed expression, a beautiful blush spreading from her pink cheeks to her earlobes. Her heart was beating faster than before, thumping in her ears. The girl breathed heavily and gripped his hand tightly.

Then, he nodded vigorously.

"Ok!"

Chapter 49 The Moment Before the Opening

As they passed through the ticket gate, Chihaya Aine reluctantly released her tightly clasped hands. Then, after passing the station, she immediately rushed through the crowded people like a girlfriend clinging to her lover, and came to Minamoto no Koto's side, grabbing his hand again.

This time, under the boy's gaze, she did not show any timidity and took the initiative to hold both of their hands.