Chapter 157: Cute Girl (Part 2)
...
Ohtsuki Yoyoko walked into the hall.
The venue felt very different to her today.
After all, everyone here today was a musician, and they all looked eager and ready to go on stage.
But Ohtsuki Yoyoko didn't pay them much mind.
Basically, all the bands considered to have potential had already been called to prepare for rehearsal.
Of course, she was an exception.
After all, as a "local," she still had a bit of an advantage here.
Moreover, she almost didn't need to participate in this event.
Her skill level and popularity could no longer be considered a new band.
She only reluctantly participated because the manager and Hiroi Kikuri asked her to help boost the popularity of this venue.
When she came out of the waiting room, it was already the end of the second band's rehearsal.
Because she hadn't heard the main part of the song, she didn't comment on it, only making an initial judgment of the performance of the few people.
She could only say that they played with great momentum.
But it probably still didn't meet the standard for the forefront of the participating bands this time.
Were they just off their game, or did something happen?
And looking at the venue, the first band's skill level also seemed average.
After all, most people still had eager expressions.
Soon, it was Kessoku Band's turn to rehearse.
Ohtsuki Yoyoko perked up slightly and looked at the stage.
The five of them scurried, pattering, from the preparation room onto the stage in a panic.
The pink-haired guitarist almost tripped over flat ground, but the man protected her, preventing her from falling to the ground.
They immediately took their positions and began tuning their instruments.
Ohtsuki Yoyoko sighed, looking at their nervous expressions; she paid special attention to Ishikawa Hayato and Gotoh Hitori, whom Hiroi Kikuri had mentioned.
After getting on stage, Gotoh Hitori quickly looked up at the venue like lightning, then lowered her head forcefully, and began to tremble in place.
"Is that girl okay to perform on stage?"
Ohtsuki Yoyoko heard the same thought she had from the person in front of her.
She only trembled twice, perhaps feeling that this wouldn't do, and in Ohtsuki's dumbfounded expression, Gotoh Hitori quickly turned around, facing away from the venue.
She even saw Ishikawa Hayato, who was behind her, give Gotoh Hitori a thumbs-up, and Gotoh Hitori reached up and touched the back of her head; although she couldn't see Gotoh Hitori's expression, she could tell from the flowers blooming from Gotoh Hitori's back that Gotoh Hitori was quite happy.
"This band is very interesting."
At this moment, the person next to her said something completely opposite to her thoughts.
How is that interesting at all!
This little interlude seemed to relax the originally somewhat nervous vocalist and the drummer behind her.
Tthe drummer said something, but Ishikawa Hayato smiled and waved his hand to stop her.
Soon, after the few of them confirmed their status with each other, the vocalist spoke.
"We are Kessoku Band, so please listen to 'Guitar, Loneliness, and Blue Planet.'"
On the other side of the venue, Hiroi Kikuri let out a confused cry.
"Huh?"
But her voice did not affect the start of the song.
The fast and steady intro immediately made people feel the beauty of the instruments blending together, and quickly introduced the vocals.
Kita leaned into the microphone and began to sing very steadily.
“The sudden downpour made me really regret not bringing an umbrella.”
In the venue, the musicians who were originally trying to understand their opponents' skill levels and looking forward to their own performances, within these mere ten-odd seconds, clearly felt the gap, and understood what it meant to be an officially favored seed contestant.
Under this music, the atmosphere in the venue changed from initial surprise, to sighs and enjoyment of the music, and finally to engagement and following along.
But Ohtsuki Yoyoko, while listening to this beautiful music, was frowning; they were only at a level that could get them into the front ranks in previous years, not as good as Hiroi-nee said.
On the other side, the more Hiroi Kikuri listened, the more question marks appeared above her head.
Why did the playing of these few people feel so lacking in passion? Although they played very seriously, it was only to the extent of not deliberately holding back.
And why was the song choice so casual? Didn't they all have better songs?
But as she listened, feeling the emotions in the song and from the people on stage, she suddenly smiled.
"Happiness and friendship first, huh? Looks like it's Otouto-kun's idea again."
The duration of a song is not long.
Their performance had not yet reached the point where every second of the music felt incredibly long, and yet, after it ended, it felt excessively short.
It just ended very ordinarily.
Amidst the applause, Ishikawa Hayato looked at the situation with the staff and the manager.
They were writing something on paper with pens, and the recording equipment was running.
He estimated that their evaluation should only be "very good," after all, the momentum wasn't strong enough, and Hitori was so scared she didn't dare face the audience, but there was nothing that could be done about that.
Rather than desperately competing and striving for victory, what he wanted to see more was their happy faces.
At this moment, he could feel, without even looking, the relaxed and happy expressions of the girls beside him, due to the applause and their smooth, stable performance.
Hitori even peeked happily at the audience.
Ishikawa Hayato was very satisfied, but he also had ambitions; if they could play stably even in a venue full of competitors like this, then the performance in a few days... would be something to see.
Ishikawa Hayato never lied.
"I want to win first place." That sentence wasn't just to comfort them.
With such a good opportunity, of course, they had to try to rise from an unknown band into a super popular band of their generation in one fell swoop.
...
After rehearsing, the five of them came down from the stage with relaxed expressions and rejoined the crowd.
This familiar song and this level of performance didn't take much effort from them at all.
And as soon as they returned to the crowd, many musicians came over to greet them.
Their powerful yet unaggressive performance garnered them a lot of goodwill.
At this time, it was natural for Kita and Nijika, the two lovely and shining diplomats, to step forward and interact with them, and soon, amidst Hitori's terrified trembling, they were chatting happily.
Ishikawa Hayato, meanwhile, protected Hitori, who looked like she'd seen a horde of zombies, and Ryo, who was leaning against him, as they hid in a corner.
But he also kept an eye on the two of them, to prevent any pests from approaching.
He was serious about preventing his future girlfriends from encountering danger.
Because the next band was still tuning their instruments, Ryo didn't pay attention to the stage but leaned against the wall, distractedly looking at her phone.
It was only after the performance ended that she gradually understood the situation.
She glanced at the stage and, seeing the nervous and heavy expressions of the few people on it, she withdrew her gaze.
She knew how reliable her boyfriend was, but this was the first time she truly felt his thoughtfulness.
She now understood that at this audition, which was called a rehearsal but was actually for allocating performance slots, what was important was not how brilliant the performance was.
Rather, it was a stable and flawless performance.
They were facing staff members, not an audience.
From his motivational speech before going on stage, to his choosing their most familiar song, this performance could be said to be destined for success.
However...
Ryo glanced at Ishikawa Hayato's current appearance, who was staring intently at Nijika and Kita in the crowd.
That possessiveness was truly something else...
But thinking that this meticulous person also had such a foolish side, she found it unexpectedly cute.
"Otouto-kun, Hitori-chan, you performed very well."
At this moment, Kessoku Band's stalker arrived again.
That characteristic slurred voice, as soon as she spoke, they knew who it was.
They hadn’t been hiding in this corner for long when Hiroi Kikuri came running after them.
She was holding an already-opened bottle of Demon Killer Sake, her face flushed—it looked like she’d had quite a bit to drink.
Ishikawa Hayato sighed, looking at this person who always caused them trouble, walked forward, and in her confused expression, waved his hand in front of her eyes.
"What song did we just sing?"
"Ah."
Hiroi Kikuri showed a doomed, unlucky smile, and she guessed cautiously.
"Guitar and the World?"
Ishikawa Hayato let out a long sigh, like a doctor facing an incurable patient, patting Hiroi Kikuri's shoulder and shaking his head.
He walked back.
"Otouto-kun, what kind of expression is that! I'm still alive!"
Hiroi Kikuri tried hard to express that her life was very healthy.
Ishikawa Hayato stopped at this moment, turned his head, and with an expression that said, "You finally realized," he said.
"Actually, you've already died from drinking too much, and I am the God of Death."
"Eh!?" Hiroi Kikuri was stunned.
Ryo suddenly felt amused, put down her phone, and watched the drama of Ishikawa Hayato teasing the drunkard.
Ishikawa Hayato kept a straight face, subtly with a deep and guilty expression, and slowly said.
"Yes, you are dead. Because you were quite kind, I am now opening the gate to heaven for you, but nothing from the mortal world can be taken to heaven. Please give me everything in your pockets."
"How can this be..." Hiroi Kikuri was on the verge of tears.
"Hurry up, there's still time to see your friends' reactions in heaven."
Hiroi Kikuri, hearing this, anxiously and hurriedly began to rummage through her pockets; Ishikawa Hayato saw her pull out several bottles of alcohol, but she still seemed reluctant to give them up, and he let out another long sigh.
He didn't take what Hiroi Kikuri offered, and came back to Ryo, shaking his head and saying.
"I could trick a thousand people like this in a day."
Ryo smiled.
After a while, Hiroi Kikuri, seeing that he didn't take them, scratched her head in confusion and wandered around, and after confirming that she was still alive, she came back.
She said mournfully, "Otouto-kun, that's not right."
Ishikawa Hayato, seeing her return, knew he couldn't avoid her and told her directly.
"I feel like being next to you will make me unpopular by association."
"How mean."
Hiroi Kikuri wiped away a tear, took another sip of alcohol, and, protected by the alcohol, she smiled again.
She knew that if she chatted casually in front of Ishikawa Hayato, the topic would veer off into the stratosphere, so she got straight to the point.
"I say, Otouto-kun, could you please take care of my junior?"
"Junior? Which one?" Ishikawa Hayato asked nonchalantly.
"Oh, come on, it's Ohtsuki-chan." Hiroi Kikuri waved her hand.
At that moment.
"Hm?!"
Hitori looked up at Ishikawa Hayato.
Ryo's face darkened.
Even Nijika and Kita, who were chatting ahead, immediately turned their heads back.
At this time, the band on stage finally finished tuning their instruments.
They said, "We are the Cute Girls Band, please enjoy Please enjoy ‘Playboy, I'll Never Forgive You.’”
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