Girl Band, Gravity Capture

Page 21

She helps Yuan Xudou, maintains harmonious relationships among the band members, and avoids doing anything to make things difficult for him... Just like now, when she goes to find the lamp with the boy, she is willing to make some concessions for the person she likes.

"...Stop the car here."

Yuan Xudou, who was gazing at the scenery outside the car window, suddenly spoke up and asked to stop here.

The two opened the door and got out of the car.

Then, Gen Xudou led Nagasaki Motoyo to the bottom of the stairs of a skybridge.

"Xu Doujun, shall we wait here?"

The girl looked around.

It was dusk, almost the end of the rush hour, and the crowds on the street were thinning out, but it was still difficult to pinpoint two people in the crowd.

"No need to wait, they're up there."

Gen Xudou understands Toyokawa Shoko.

Given her girlish personality and her status as a young lady from a wealthy family, she values ​​things like 'ritual' quite a bit.

If she wanted to say something to the lamp, she would bring it here as quickly as possible—to the overpass where the three of them first met.

So, the moment he saw the bridge from the car, Genjiro's intuition told him that Toyokawa Shoko and Takamatsu Akari were on it.

The boy stepped onto the stairs and took a few steps forward, only to find that Nagasaki Motoyo had not followed.

He turned around and looked at the girl who was standing there.

"Then I'll wait for you here."

Nagasaki Motoyo smiled, showing no intention of going up with him.

She didn't understand Toyokawa Shoko, nor could she comprehend Takamatsu Akari. Her greatest contribution in this matter was to let Genjiro Tomoyuki do as he pleased, rather than getting involved and messing things up.

"...Okay, I'll be back soon."

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.

What exactly constitutes being considered a normal human being?

Does being able to communicate with others make someone human? Does performing the same behaviors as humans make someone human? Does being able to integrate into a group make someone human?

To be considered human by others... does that make you human?

Takamatsu Teng has never understood it.

Why is it that when we speak the same language, others always seem not to understand us? Why is it that when we give gifts like everyone else, we receive not gratitude, but confusion and rejection?

Why... even though I joined the band and wanted to make a change, I still failed...?

How can we achieve mutual understanding with others?

How can I escape the endless, persistent loneliness that hangs over my heart like a dark cloud, a loneliness that has persisted since I discovered my own isolation...

"...How can one become human..."

Her soft, delicate hands gripped the bridge railing tightly, their original color turning pale.

Staring blankly at the empty sky in the distance, where nothing exists, Takamatsu Akari seemed to be speaking to Toyokawa Shoko beside her, or perhaps to someone who did not exist, and uttered a faint, dreamlike breath.

"lamp……"

With a complicated expression, Toyokawa Shoko bit her lower lip, abandoning even her usual honorific suffix. Equally bewildered, she didn't know how to answer the girl's question.

She genuinely intended to have a good talk with Takamatsu Akari, who was clearly not in a good state when she left, in this memorable place, to alleviate the girl's disappointment and self-doubt that might have arisen from her failed performance in front of her companions.

As she had hoped, the first half of the story unfolded as she stepped onto the overpass again. Takamatsu, who had been keeping her head down and appearing withdrawn and refusing to communicate with others, finally showed some reaction when she returned to the overpass.

Although she only walked to the edge of the overpass on her own initiative, grabbed the railing and looked out... the fact that she could do these things on her own initiative proves that she was still paying attention to the outside world, rather than being completely immersed in her own inner world.

However, just as Toyokawa Shoko was excited about this and planned to strike while the iron was hot, she extended an invitation to have a heart-to-heart talk to Takamatsu Akari, who was beginning to change...

Takamatsu suddenly said something that left her speechless.

How can one become human?

Shoko Toyokawa, who had not yet glimpsed the inner world of Akari Takamatsu, had no idea what caused that heavy, lonely, extremely negative, and extremely sorrowful emotion. Therefore, she had no idea how to soothe it.

Deeply immersed in this sense of powerlessness, Toyokawa Shoko's eyes dimmed.

'If Xu Dou were here...'

She couldn't help but have this thought.

Yuan Xudou, who could understand the lamp and himself, should have been the best person to comfort the girl.

With his expertise in handling interpersonal relationships, he will surely be able to perfectly understand Gao Songdeng's current unease and calm her down step by step.

I had already entrusted all of this to him... but at this crucial moment, he's nowhere to be found.

Toyokawa Shoko felt a little resentful, but she quickly realized that her thoughts were like being unreasonable and whining, so she quickly dispelled them from her mind.

She sighed softly to herself.

'I never imagined I'd become so weak, wanting to rely on others...'

'We can't let this get us down. Even if we can't answer the lamp's question, we should at least let her know that no one means any harm to her because of this.'

With this in mind, Toyokawa Shoko sorted out her thoughts and decided to temporarily set aside this issue.

She raised her head again and looked at Takamatsu.

"Light, actually everyone... what are you looking at?"

At some point, the blankness in the girl's eyes was replaced by a bright spot, like an amber-colored pearl reflecting a reassuring glow under the setting sun.

Takamatsu turned her head and looked intently behind her.

Just by looking into her eyes, Toyokawa Shoko understood who was standing behind her.

"To become human?"

Slowly walking from one end of the overpass, Gen Xudou stopped in front of Takamatsu Akari and Toyokawa Shoko, meeting their surprised gazes.

It was still that calm voice with an undercurrent of gentleness, but to their ears at that moment, it was no different from the most tender celestial music.

"Xu Dou!"

The person she had just been thinking about appeared before her like a miracle. Toyokawa Shoko's bright golden eyes widened, and she cried out in joy.

Gao Songdeng was even more direct. He immediately released his hands from the railing, jogged over to the boy, reached out, and grabbed the hem of his clothes forcefully.

"...Xu Dou, what should we do?"

She looked up with a wistful, admiring, and pleading expression, revealing her slender, pale, and thin neck, openly displaying her vulnerability and confusion to the person before her.

Like fledglings branded with their own markings, or young animals chasing after their companions... they believe that the other can answer all their doubts and trust any answer the other gives.

That's why... he so desperately wanted to hear from him the true nature of the human being named "Takamatsu Akari," whom he couldn't understand.

"How exactly... can one become..."

Chapter Twenty-Four: A Cry from the Heart

"...How can I become human?"

Gao Songdeng's confused and weak words echoed quietly on the overpass where only three people were standing.

So what does it actually mean?

Shoko Toyokawa recalled seeing the words "want to become human" in her notebook.

Is it a desire to fit in? Is it a desire for recognition from others? Is it something you want to gain?

It was precisely because she couldn't understand the true emotions contained in those words that she was unable to respond to Gao Songdeng's question.

So... what kind of answer would you give if you could fully understand the heart of the lamp?

It's both curiosity and anticipation.

Bright and noble pure gold eyes met dark eyes as warm and gentle as jade.

'Xu Dou...you are the most trustworthy person I've ever met.'

'Therefore, you must make the light understand.'

'Understand how important her talent is to our band and how much we value her.'

As their eyes met, Toyokawa Shoko entrusted all her expectations to the boy.

Then, she stepped back and handed over all contact with Takamatsu to Gen Xudou.

"...How do I become human?"

Sensing the intense and sincere trust between the two, despite their different directions, Yuan Xudou bent down slightly and looked directly into the girl's moist and uneasy eyes.

He didn't answer the question directly, but instead posed another question first.

Why must we be human?

Seemingly surprised by his question, Takamatsu Akari's pupils dilated slightly before she hesitated before answering.

"Because...we're all human beings."

"Ah."

Yuan Xudou nodded, accepting the answer.

"Then it's really strange that you're asking me how to become human."

“You’re already doing that.”

"He agreed to form a band with Xiangzi, practiced at home to showcase his singing in front of the band members, and felt sad because he couldn't meet my expectations..."

Yuan Xudou calmly listed the girl's efforts in his eyes.

"These are all changes you are making."

"...Is that enough?"

Gao Songdeng looked somewhat bewildered.

She never imagined that these were just things she did naturally to express her inner feelings, which would become proof in the eyes of the boy that she was "becoming human".

"But even after doing all that, I still didn't..."

"Because we haven't done enough."

Yuan Xudou pointed out the key point directly, his voice becoming slightly serious.

"Feeling frustrated at the slightest setback, feeling unable to meet others' expectations and thus afraid to do anything... Lamp, do you really think that's enough?"

Unexpectedly, the boy's words suddenly became somewhat sharp. Takamatsu blinked in alarm and shook his head vigorously.

"No, no...!"

"Yes, I know you didn't mean (the meaning of '思林柒倭兒肆捌xsi')."

He offered a gentle reassurance, preventing the girl from actually shedding tears.

"I'm just telling you that expressing yourself isn't something that can be done overnight."

"lamp,"

Yuan Xudou grasped the wrist of the hand that Gao Songdeng was using to hold his clothes, and gently pulled the fingers away from his hand, which had lost their original strength.

Then, he supported that soft, weak arm, which was slightly stiff from being at a loss, and placed her hand on the girl's still somewhat thin chest.

He pressed down on the back of her hand, slowly applying pressure until the girl's hand was pressed against his chest, allowing her to feel her own heartbeat.

"You didn't disappoint me in the practice room today."

"Because I told you to 'just do your best,' even though you lacked confidence, you still took the microphone, stood in front of everyone, and tried to make your voice heard."

"You believe in me, so I believe in you too."

"That's why I assure everyone that you will produce the most suitable vocals for our band, CryCHIC."

He carefully and earnestly expressed his expectations for the girl, word by word.