Girl Band, Gravity Capture

Page 11

“…Xu Dou, classmate.”

Toyokawa Shoko originally intended to stay quietly by his side and go home.

However, the feeling of having my hand grasped was impossible to shake off; in fact, it became clearer and more pronounced with the passage of time.

The girl repeatedly told herself that it was just a polite contact, a symbol of friendship between band members. The other person had not only acted like a gentleman, but also didn't seem to care about it at all afterward, so she should do the same.

But it was no use. She had already unconsciously glanced at the boy's long, delicate hands, which were as flawless as a solemn marble sculpture, several times on the way. And that wasn't the most important thing.

Most importantly—Yuan Xudou, who, like her, is extremely perceptive, must have noticed that she was looking at his hands, but he didn't say a word or even turn his head.

I feel like if this continues, I'll be misunderstood as a strange woman.

Shoko Toyokawa had no choice but to suppress the faint, strange feeling in her heart and take the initiative to talk to him, trying to stop herself from paying attention to this matter and also to divert Genji's attention.

Moreover, she did have things she wanted to ask him.

Why are you so resistant to joining a band?

Toyokawa Shoko stopped and stood by the roadside, letting the cool evening breeze ruffle her long, flowing hair.

She looked intently at Yuan Xudou and asked the question that had been troubling her but which she couldn't bring up in front of Gao Songdeng.

"It's probably not like what you said, she just doesn't want to perform on stage, right?"

Deng was already satisfied as long as Xu Dou was willing to join the band, but as the initiator of the band, she wanted the band to last and couldn't allow such problems to exist.

Moreover, the boy's expression when the topic was brought up also caught her attention.

"Toyokawa..."

"Just call me Xiangzi."

Yuan Xudou stopped on the road and turned around.

"...Xiangzi, I've decided to join this band."

The boy's features appeared somewhat dark under the light. The slightly gloomy lighting did not detract from the softness and handsomeness of his face; instead, it revealed a unique and striking beauty.

His avoidance of the topic also indirectly confirmed the unease in Toyokawa Shoko's heart.

"It's not enough to just do that."

Toyokawa Shoko stepped forward, staring intently at Minamoto no Koto's face, trying to glean the truth he was unwilling to reveal.

She shed the restraint she felt at Gao Songdeng's house and gradually calmed down from the excitement of successfully creating the band. Facing Yuan Xudou, who could communicate and understand her with normal logic, her rationality as a young lady regained the upper hand.

The girl's tone was earnest and sincere, genuinely wanting to understand Yuan Xudou's difficulties.

“Xu Dou, now we are a band.”

"I met you and Deng on the bridge, got hurt because of a misunderstanding, was taken to Deng's house to get medicine, then saw those words, and then made a promise with you to form a band... I believe from the bottom of my heart that all of this was arranged by fate, that fate allowed us to meet and become such an important relationship."

"I don't want this miracle of fate to be easily ruined because of my momentary negligence and failure to properly understand the feelings of my teammates."

"...You saw it at Deng's house just now."

Toyokawa Shoko openly discussed the mistake she had just made and explained it to Genji Koto.

"When I get excited, I tend to be less considerate of other people's feelings and do what I want to do... Although I know this is a flaw of mine, it's not easy to correct in a short time."

Honestly acknowledging her shortcomings without making inappropriate defenses of herself—that is precisely what makes her proud as Toyokawa Shoko.

The girl's golden eyes shone with a noble and dazzling light as she looked expectantly at Yuan Xudou.

“But, Xu Dou, you are different.”

"You have excellent observation skills and remain calm at all times. You can even understand Deng's thoughts—I don't mean to say anything bad about Deng—although you're a bit quiet, your communication skills are not weak. Your gentle attitude towards Deng proves that you're not as cold as you appear..."

"...There's no need to say such things so much."

Yuan Xudou turned his head slightly, and the shadow cast by the sunlight on his face instantly disappeared, revealing his soft features.

Toyokawa Shoko chuckled softly, becoming increasingly certain of her own feelings.

Feeling that she could understand the boy's thoughts to some extent, she revealed a slightly smug expression, leaned forward slightly, and a faint smile bloomed on her delicate and round face.

"Just now at Deng's house, the 'behind-the-scenes' work I mentioned—it wasn't all just nonsense to try and keep you here. Writing songs with Deng and me, and coordinating relationships between team members, those are things that really need to be done by you, because I think you can do them better than me."

She was clearly talking about Yuan Xudou's strengths, but she seemed quite proud.

For Shoko Toyokawa, acknowledging the excellence of others is not difficult, and when the other person is a member of her band, the girl is actually very happy because of that excellence.

"Xu Dou, classmate."

Toyokawa Shoko walked step by step to him, standing a fist's distance away, tilting her head slightly, and revealing her perfect and reserved smile to Genji Koto without reservation.

Proud but not complacent, polite but not aloof.

Since we've made up our minds to become partners, we have to take it 120% seriously.

"You're an important part of this band. But you have reasons for not wanting to join... What a mess."

"It is necessary to eliminate this hidden danger before it causes a major disaster."

"I guarantee this in the name of the heir to the prestigious Toyokawa family—whatever your concerns may be, I will definitely not tell anyone else without my permission."

"So there's nothing to worry about now, right?"

Looking at Toyokawa Shoko, who was giving him a long speech trying to persuade him, and even bringing up her family as a guarantor, just to find out why she didn't want to join the band before, Genjuto had a headache.

"...I promise I won't let that reason affect the band, okay?"

"No! I'm really going to get angry."

Even as she said this, she merely raised her eyebrows, pretending to be angry.

But if you keep refusing, she won't give up easily...

Yuan Xudou sighed.

Seeing this, Toyokawa Shoko's eyes lit up—she already knew that this was a sign that the boy was about to compromise.

So, what exactly is the reason?

"It's due to some family reasons."

He answered simply, but didn't want to elaborate.

"Xiangzi, I know your worries. It's not because of any obsession or psychological trauma related to the band, so don't worry about me getting hurt or affected by anything."

Yuan Xudou thought for a moment about how to express his own meaning more precisely.

"It's like when your family keeps saying a certain profession is bad, so you don't want to choose it... It only has an impact at the moment of making the choice. Once I've made the decision, I won't regret it."

"So, that's the reason?"

This time, she could tell that Yuan Xudou was indeed telling the truth.

But how should I put it... it's not quite the same as the reasons she guessed.

Toyokawa Shoko had expected a more poignant, chaotic, and dramatic story, one that would even make Genjiro Todo look somewhat downcast...

However, family is indeed the thing that has the greatest influence on a person's emotions and judgment.

Thinking back to what happened to me recently.

The girl felt that she and Yuan Xudou had developed a stronger sense of resonance.

"That's all."

Yuan Xudou turned around and continued walking.

Toyokawa Shoko hurriedly chased after him.

"Wait a minute, I'd like to talk to you about Deng's matter, Xu Dou!"

"Talking as we walk."

If we delay any longer, we won't be able to pick up Su Shi on time.

She sent me so many messages at noon, and seemed quite emotionally unstable. If I just leave it alone, who knows what might happen.

Genjiro turned his head to look at Toyokawa Shoko, who was walking beside him and seemed quite pleased that he had answered her concerns.

So she turned her head and returned a bright smile.

"Xu Dou, how did you and Deng meet?"

Chapter Eleven: Showing You Everything About Me

The setting sun of spring cast long shadows over the luxurious and solemn Western-style mansion.

Goodbye then—

Shoko Toyokawa stood in front of the gradually closing iron gate and waved goodbye to Genjiro.

The boy responded with a quiet remark.

"...Your house is really big."

"Hmm? Would Xu Dou like to go inside and have a look around?"

"No, I have something to do tonight."

If someone else said that, it could be taken as a polite remark. But when Toyokawa Shoko said it, the girl genuinely meant that the butler would open the door and invite him in as a guest.

After spending this short period of time together, not only was Toyokawa Shoko getting to know him, but he was also quietly getting to know Toyokawa Shoko as well.

As befits her status as a young lady, the girl possesses considerable manners and self-respect, and is not lacking in common sense. Having undergone systematic music training, she can play various types of instruments, with the piano being her forte. She also has knowledge of music arrangement, which is why she is confident in composing songs for Gao Songdeng.

His family is a truly prestigious and influential clan, a conglomerate that can be described as a giant conglomerate. Their lifestyle is worlds apart from the "life of an ordinary rich person" that Gen Xudou is currently experiencing. The level of luxury is unimaginable. The value of this mansion alone, which seems to stretch as far as the eye can see, is at least several billion yen.

In terms of personality, "sunny and enthusiastic" and "dignified and elegant" are fitting descriptions for her. She is also a stunningly beautiful young woman with a pair of bright golden eyes that exude nobility and long, beautiful, and smooth sky-blue hair.

Her skin is delicate and naturally radiant; even without makeup, her natural beauty is captivating. Especially her elegant demeanor, which draws attention wherever she goes.

...From now on, we'll form a band together.

Events always unfold so quickly and unpredictably; the person you met in the afternoon becomes "an important part of the band" in her words when you part ways in the evening... Perhaps what Toyokawa Shoko meant by "fate's arrangement" is not entirely unfounded.

But regardless, Yuan Xudou really should leave now. The Toyokawa family mansion is located in a slightly remote area, and he'll have to take a detour to get a ride, so he needs to hurry.

After waving goodbye to Toyokawa Shoko once more, the young man strode away with his long legs.

Watching the other person's slightly hurried back, Toyokawa Shoko put away her waving hand, turned around with a happy smile, and walked towards the mansion.

'What an amazing person.'

'Unexpectedly, his first meeting with Deng was such a beautiful scene.'

Meeting these two people must have been a sign of fate.

Passing through the spacious courtyard, she entered her own mansion. Toyokawa Shoko suddenly saw a girl with light green long hair and a doll-like face sitting quietly at the table in the hall, seemingly waiting for her.

Upon seeing this, Toyokawa Shoko's eyes lit up, and she excitedly stepped forward.

"Mu! Listen to me, I met two very interesting people today..."

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.

At seven o'clock in the evening, the sun had completely sunk below the horizon.

A bright, full moon rises, casting a silvery glow upon the earth that has lost its light.

The streetlights along the street gradually lit up with a dim glow, casting indistinct shadows on the dark road.

Within the Moon Forest campus, the few classrooms that were still lit gradually turned off their lights. Boundless shadows descended from above, casting a pure black curtain. The tranquil silence isolated the daytime hustle and bustle, giving the once familiar campus scenery a hazy, unfamiliar gray-white hue.

Nagasaki Motoyo, swept along by her fellow members of the brass band and slowly making her way out of the school gates, was feeling extremely down.

The date that the girl had planned, the date she had envisioned, was ruined by the unexpected extra practice sessions. She, who had always played the role of a gentle and sensible good student in front of others, was unable to resist the club's demands, and couldn't even utter a single complaint to anyone else.

Will Xu Doujun... think I'm a woman who doesn't keep her promises...?

Although she knew in her heart that the boy wouldn't blame her for breaking their promise for a valid reason, and that he had even sent her words of understanding and comfort, she still couldn't shake off the worry and unease.

Beneath the seemingly easygoing exterior of the girl named "Nagasaki Motoyo" lies a gloomy, heavy, overly sensitive, and delicate heart, making her incredibly troublesome.

They care about what others think of them, and even if they make a small mistake, they will secretly regret it at night.