Girl Band, Gravity Capture

Page 20

She reached out and removed the flower petals that had somehow gotten stuck to the other person's collar.

"Xu Doujun, are you worried about the lamp?"

The girl's gentle and quiet voice rang out, filled with undisguised concern.

From the moment he stepped out the door, Gen Xudou was slightly distracted. Nagasaki Motoyo, whose attention was focused on him, naturally couldn't have missed it.

"……Um."

Yuan Xudou nodded, his deep, dark pupils slowly regaining focus.

"It's just that Xiangzi finds it hard to express what's on his mind."

Shoko Toyokawa and Akari Takamatsu still had relatively little contact. Perhaps they should be given more time, until the songs for [CryCHIC] are written through the efforts of the three of them. Then Shoko Toyokawa will be able to glimpse Akari Takamatsu's unique inner world.

But their relationship hasn't reached that point yet.

Relying solely on Xiangzi won't truly bring out the pent-up emotions within the lamp... Even with boundless enthusiasm and determination, it's all in vain if the wrong direction is chosen.

Therefore, Gen Xudou, who was thinking about Takamatsu's situation, was somewhat lost in thought.

"...So, is Xu Doujun going to find Deng and the others?"

This time, Yuan Xudou shook his head directly without pausing.

Even though he was worried about Takamatsu Akari's situation, he did not intend to let Nagasaki Motoyo, who was waiting for him, go home alone early, just like Toyokawa Shoko did when she let Wakaba Mutsu go back by herself.

Seeing his actions, Nagasaki Motoyo's gaze towards the boy's profile softened even more.

The mere fact that Yuan Xudou prioritized their promise to go home together filled the girl with an indescribable sense of satisfaction.

So... Nagasaki Motoyo didn't want to see Genjiro, who was so considerate of her, caught in a dilemma.

“Xu Doujun, there is actually a way to have the best of both worlds.”

The girl smiled and took his arm, which was hanging down.

"Let's go find Deng and Xiangzi together."

“Once we get there, I’ll wait for Xu Doujun to finish saying what he wants to say to Deng, and then we’ll go back together.”

This was the best way she could come up with that would allow Yuan Xudou to take care of Gao Songdeng while also fulfilling her promise to return home with the girl.

The only downside... is that it requires taking a longer route.

"...Won't that be troublesome?"

"of course not!"

The warm, golden sunlight shone down, illuminating the delicate curve of the girl's face.

She tiptoed and leaned close to the boy's ear.

"...As long as I'm with you, it's not a problem to go anywhere."

They whispered in a voice that only the two of them could hear.

Also, the company's four-way negotiation and the four-way digging o————

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.

So the two set off, heading in the direction of Takamatsu Akari's house.

Before they could catch up with Takamatsu Akari and Toyokawa Shoko, they encountered an unexpected obstacle on the road.

Wearing the same Tsukimori school uniform as Nagasaki Motoyo and Toyokawa Shoko, with a delicate and indifferent face and an inorganic, doll-like aura, Wakaba Mutsu stood in front of the two, silently watching them.

"...Mu-san?"

Upon seeing the person's appearance clearly, Yuan Xudou was somewhat puzzled.

He remembered the direction Ruoye Mu had gone; no matter which way he went, he shouldn't have ended up in front of them.

Therefore, there is only one reason why the other party appears in front of you.

—She came specifically to find the two of them.

"Is there a problem?"

Regardless of the circumstances, they were bandmates, so since Wakaba Mutsu appeared in front of him, he naturally had to greet him.

Therefore, Yuan Xudou nodded to the girl and asked her purpose.

Before answering the boy, Wakaba Mutsu first looked at the two of them with their arms linked together.

"...You guys have a really good relationship."

Hearing her soft, seemingly meaningful words, Nagasaki Motoyo blushed, but still held tightly to Minamoto no Koto's arm, showing no intention of letting go.

In contrast, Yuan Xudou was much calmer and more composed.

"Mu-kun, did you come here to observe my relationship with Su-shi?"

Ruoye Mu looked away and silently shook her head.

Then, she tilted her head back, her pale golden eyes casting a cool gaze upon the boy's face.

“I’ve come to find you, Xu Dou.”

"Xiangzi, I really want you to be with her."

"Wait--!"

Nagasaki Motoyo, who had just been too shy to look directly at Wakaba Mutsu, suddenly became excited. She released Minamoto Koto's arm from her embrace, took a few steps forward, and stared intently at his calm, expressionless face.

"What do you mean Xiangzi really wants Xu Doujun to be with her? Mu, this isn't something you can just say offhand!"

Is this reasonable?

She had never seen Toyokawa Shoko and Minamoto Koto get very close, so why did she suddenly want to be with them?

Is it possible...

The girl suddenly recalled that before everyone entered the practice room, Toyokawa Shoko had left Genji Koto behind alone.

Was it around that time? But Xu Doujun shouldn't...

So Xiangzi has fallen for Xu Doujun? While it's not entirely unexpected, this is still...

Just as Nagasaki Motoyo was lost in thought because of Wakaba Mutsu's words, and even couldn't help but reach out and grab the other's shoulder to ask for clarification, Minamoto Koto also walked over from behind.

"You mean Xiangzi wanted me to go with her to comfort Deng, right?"

"Mu, the way you speak is easy to cause misunderstandings."

Hearing Gen Xudou's words, Nagasaki Motoyo gradually calmed down.

Perhaps her words were a bit too agitated, which startled Wakaba Mutsu. The girl's pupils narrowed slightly, and she lifted her small foot, clad in leather shoes, as if she were about to retreat and distance herself should Nagasaki Motoyo actually do something rash.

"I'm so sorry, Mu, I scared you..."

Realizing that her attitude had gotten a bit out of control, Nagasaki Motoyo apologized to Wakaba Mutsumi, trying to make amends for her earlier behavior by using a more intimate form of address.

Then, she smiled gently again and patiently guided the girl.

"However, Xu Doujun is right. It's also because you, Mu, speak in a way that makes it easy for people to misunderstand you."

Ruo Ye Mu didn't speak, but pursed her lips and looked at Yuan Xu Dou.

Compared to the gentle-looking Nagasaki Motoyo, the seemingly cold and silent Minamoto Kōdō is actually easier to talk to and more understanding of his meaning.

Ruoye Mu silently made this judgment in her heart.

"So, you came to me wanting me to catch up with Xiangzi?"

"……Um."

She nodded slightly.

Just like a real doll, from the moment she appeared until now, the girl's movements have been extremely subtle, and her expression has remained largely unchanged.

In addition, she possessed a face that was far more exquisite and beautiful than most people's...

Looking at the two people facing each other, Nagasaki Motoyo suddenly had the same feeling as Toyokawa Shoko when she first met Minamoto no Kōtō: she thought the two people were very similar.

However, this resemblance is only in appearance.

Ruo Yemu's expressionless face seemed more like a habit formed over a long period of restraint and confinement, to the point that even when frightened, his expression did not change much.

Yuan Xudou... simply because his emotions are always very calm, and when he needs to express his inner feelings through his face, he can also show very vivid expressions.

Similarly, Yuan Xudou is also very concise with words, and he can always express his thoughts quite accurately, while Ruo Yemu is the complete opposite.

Hmm... it seems that Xu Doujun and He Mu aren't that similar after all.

Relieved, Nagasaki Motoyo walked over to the boy and smiled at Wakaba Mutsu.

"Mu, you think the same way we do. We're going to the lamp too."

Upon hearing this, Ruo Yemu was somewhat surprised and tilted her head.

"……Yeah."

"Ah."

Yuan Xudou nodded in agreement.

Even knowing that his goal had been achieved before he even took action, Ruoye Mu showed no joy. After nodding again, he prepared to turn and leave.

"Mr. Mu."

Yuan Xudou called out to her.

The girl turned around in confusion.

"what?"

She didn't think there was anything else the two needed to discuss.

“It’s good that you care about the band members.”

Yuan Xudou really didn't have anything important to say.

He simply reached out his hand calmly and waved goodbye to her.

"Be careful on the road."

"……Um."

It was just a very ordinary farewell.

However, that's not the point.

As Ruoye Mutsu turned to leave again, she lowered her head, her pale golden eyes flickering, slowly repeating Gen Xudou's words in her mind.

'I care a lot about the band members...'

Has he accepted me?

Mingming was only there to tell Xiangzi his true thoughts.

And... why was it discovered?

Even Xiangzi... couldn't do that, that's for sure.

Chapter Twenty-Three: How can one become human?

After saying goodbye to Wakaba Mutsumi, whose figure seemed somewhat ethereal from behind, the two continued towards Takamatsu Akari's house.

Considering that they had been delayed on the road, and that walking there might make them even later, Yuan Xudou immediately hailed a taxi on the road and decided to take a detour to get ahead of them and then intercept them on the way.

On the bus, Yuan Xudou silently gazed out the window.

Meanwhile, Nagasaki Motoyo silently gazed at his profile.

...It seems that the matter of the lamp is more important to Xu Doujun than she thinks.

When Won Heo-doo confided in her about his father, his aversion to the band was genuine.

But now, whether it's making up with Li Xi after their confrontation, taking the initiative to greet Mu He, or chasing after Deng and Xiangzi like this... it's clear that he seriously wants to run the band well and has put his heart and soul into it.

Then... I should support him too.