dmims Page 164
Page 164
"Hmm..." Xiangzi covered his mouth and chuckled, "Was my behavior really that obvious?"
A few drops of cold sweat dripped from Lixi's forehead, and he looked somewhat speechless. So you have no self-awareness after all.
"Hmm...! You don't need to feel it much... to sense Xiaoxiang's happiness." Gao Songdeng held his hands and said with a happy smile, "I feel that I am a little happy too."
“This…” Li Xi was even more at a loss as to what to do.
"Hehe... If it makes Akari happy, I think it's very meaningful, hmph~ hmph~" Toyokawa Shoko happily responded to Takamatsu Akari's words, and then unconsciously hummed a melody and started pressing keys on the keyboard.
Well, it's a pity that I played "Golden Prince", which can't be used on the new song.
Because Xiangzi was too oblivious to his own happiness, the atmosphere during practice became stiff once again.
Nagasaki Motoyo chuckled and smoothed things over: "Sho, did something good happen?"
Lixi turned her head away, pretending to be nonchalant, and twisted open the barley tea with two fingers before taking a sip. Actually, she was all ears, eager to hear some gossip.
“Yesterday…” It was Mutsuka Wakaba who spoke up. She calmly recounted, “Shoko suddenly told me that my brother had agreed. Just this once, he’s willing to be a support drummer for Avemujica’s live performance.”
"Pfft—" Upon hearing this, Li Xi instinctively turned around and spat out all the barley tea in her mouth, spilling it onto the open ground next to her.
She hurriedly stood up, took out a rag, and started wiping the floor while looking at Xiangzi and Ruoye Mutsu.
"Lixi, that's a bit of an exaggeration," Xiangzi said with a gentle smile, but his smile couldn't hide his smugness.
"Master Taro's drum...! I want to see it!" Takamatsu Akari was also a little excited.
"Is this true, Xiao Xiang?" Su Shi asked, trying her best to remain calm.
"Yes, of course it's true." Xiangzi smiled sincerely.
"Wouldn't that be too much trouble for Mr. Momoi..." Suze chuckled dryly and touched her face.
"My heart and my actions are as clear as a mirror! Everything I do is for the band!" Xiangzi said righteously, then closed his eyes and took a deep breath.
Then she opened her eyes again and said seriously, "But my happiness is definitely not just because Taro-senpai is willing to be Avemujica's support drummer."
She paused slightly, then looked at everyone around her and said with an even more genuine smile, "It's because tomorrow is Mygo's first live performance, desuwa."
"Hmph...that's only natural." Lixi stood up and returned the same serious tone: "Our Mygo live performance must be even better than the one by the Dragon Flame Group and Crychic."
"Only in this way can we truly say we've overcome it. Everyone! Keep practicing!"
Li Xi's words were met with a positive response, and under Li Xi's direction, the practice of the new piece began once again.
[A powerful, energetic piece of music begins]
"Deng! You sang really well!" Xiangzi didn't hold back his praise: "You've really improved!"
"Thank you..." Takamatsu Akari's face flushed slightly as she whispered, "It's all thanks to Aine..."
She recalled Aine's help the night before, and then went home, locked herself in her room, buried her head in the blanket, and practiced for a long time.
She is very happy to have achieved such results today.
……
On the other hand, Hailin, having finished her work and changed her clothes, walked towards Momoi Taro, who was waiting for her.
"Taro, is today the last time?" Hailin asked Taro uncertainly, seeking an answer.
"Yes, it's the end. How do you feel now?" Taro calmly looked at the other person's expression, and from the subtle feelings conveyed by the other person, it seemed that the other person had already understood.
"There's one last thing I want to confirm with you," Hailing said expressionlessly.
Taro looked at Hailin, somewhat puzzled, and asked, "What is it?"
"So... I'm planning to show my true self in the band from now on, is that okay?"
Hailin's question made Taro smile, and he nodded in confirmation, "Yes! Of course! In fact, it's even better this way."
"Then I won't stand on ceremony." Hailing calmly walked out of the express delivery transfer station, then turned back to Taro and said, "Then, please wait here for me for a moment."
Taro nodded calmly and stood there waiting for Hailin to return. The process didn't take long, and she returned with several bags in her hands.
"What's this?" Taro was still a little curious. Hailin put down her bag and said, "This is a gift for the other members of the band."
"I see." Taro nodded, no longer asking questions, and walked with Hailin into RiNG, returning to the practice room of the Dong Brothers.
"Welcome back," Aine said with a smile, waving to Taro and Hailin as they entered the practice room. "Speaking of which, this is Hailin and Taro's last day together, right? How was it?"
"Ah, it's so-so." Hailing answered Aine's question casually, then took out a small bag from her bag and handed it to Aine.
"This is a gift."
"Thank you, but why are you giving me this...?" Ai-yin took the bag from Hai-ling's hand, looking at her with some hesitation.
“We’re bandmates, so it’s only natural that we’d receive a gift,” Hailing said without batting an eye, showing no sign of the breakdown she had felt yesterday because Aine hadn’t believed her.
"Mmm, thank you. May I open it and take a look?" Aine's smile widened. Although she didn't know what had happened, she was certain of one thing: Hailing had undergone some kind of change—a good change.
"A return gift... I'll prepare one carefully."
"No, it's nothing special. Please feel free to open it, but we can skip the return gift."
Ai Yin opened the package, inside were guitar effects pedals. Ai Yin's eyes widened slightly as she looked at Hai Ling.
"In my personal opinion, this effect pedal would be better for the new song," Hailing said seriously.
"Thank you..." Aine picked up the effects pedal and said with a smile, "Then I will accept it with gratitude, but... choosing effects pedals is really difficult. Taro always helped me choose them before."
"Sorry!" The door slammed open, and Ruomai came running in, panting. "Am I late?"
"You're already late, Yutenji-kun." Hailing calmly checked her phone and said, "But you're only a minute late, so it's alright."
"Phew... I'm glad I wasn't too late." Yutenji Wakami breathed a sigh of relief and explained, "The photographer for the endorsement suddenly changed the script, so I was a little late."
"Ruomai, you've been very busy lately," Aiyin said with a smile, explaining for her. Ruomai followed up, saying:
"Yeah... The popularity of the Live People band has increased a lot recently. I feel like I'll be even busier after the next live performance."
"The next live performance? When?" Lena's heterochromatic eyes shone with a strange light, appearing slightly excited.
"We'll be there soon," Taro said calmly, then scolded Ruomai, "Don't let your work interfere with the band's practice!"
"I know, I know~" Ruomai said with a grin, trying to get away with it: "I liked it yesterday, but I'll get tired of it today... But, in the Dong Brothers group, no matter which way you go, you'll always move upwards, I have that feeling."
"Yes~!" Aine raised her hand: "I've always liked Nyanmu-chan!"
"Don't say such stupid things!" Taro's eyes swept over everyone, and his aura changed: "Alright! Practice begins!"
[A powerful, energetic piece of music begins]
When the song ended, everyone except Hailin and Momoi Taro looked at Hailin with a bit of a strange expression.
"What's wrong? Why are you looking at me like that?" She tilted her head slightly, a little puzzled, and yawned.
“No, I just feel that Hailin’s bass is particularly different today.” Aine said with a bit of shock, then gave a relaxed smile: “But, I feel... a sense of belonging.”
“Yes, an uninteresting woman has become interesting.” Lena nodded affirmatively.
"..." Hailing paused for a moment, then calmly said, "Chihaya-kun and Kaname-kun are still so perceptive."
Ruomai looked at Taro and Hailin suspiciously, then lowered her head and began to think about something.
"What are you mumbling about! Hurry up and keep practicing." Taro shoved the microphone into Aine's hand: "It's your turn now. How's your practice going these past few days?"
"It'll be fine... probably...!" Aine took a step forward, a little uncertain, and walked to the vicinity of the microphone.
"Hmm...?" Aine walked up, but found that Taro did not move aside. She couldn't help but squeeze to the side, but Taro did not move.
"Taro, how am I supposed to sing with you standing here!" Aine complained. Taro raised his head and said, "That's your problem. I'm not giving up my position as master."
"Mo—" Ai Yin said in a drawn-out, coquettish tone. Her face slightly flushed, she placed the microphone on the stand and secretly glanced at the other person, who seemed completely unmoved.
"Ahem... This wasn't my request, so I won't stand on ceremony."
She brazenly stood not far in front of Taro, their distance was so close that even the slightest movement of her body would result in physical contact.
It's nice to be close to someone you like like this... but what about during a formal performance? You can't just stick together like this all the time.
Aine glanced at Taro again, and Taro glanced at her back, turned slightly to the side, and then stood back to back with Aine, loudly announcing, "Alright! Practice continues!"
[Powerful music begins]
"...Aine!" Taro's voice was very loud as he scolded, "Your breathing is too unstable! And you're rushing the beat, what kind of behavior is that!"
"Sorry! I was a little too nervous. Can we do it again?" Aine chuckled dryly, clasped her hands together, and winked in pleading.
Actually, it was because I could feel the heat from Momoi Taro that I felt a little nervous; after all, this was a bit too intimate.
"I think it's because Aine was influenced by you, General." Ruomai smiled and said in a serious tone, "Why don't you try leaving a little bit, General? I think she can definitely perform well."
"Is that so?" Taro looked down at Aine, who quickly shook her head and said, "No, no, it's just that I was too nervous the first time."
After calming herself down a bit, Ai Yin said seriously, "Besides, I just thought about it, the stage effects will definitely be great!"
She stretched out her hand, gesturing as she imagined: "For example, after we finish singing a song... like after 'Clier-Mind,' when we sing the song I just sang, we just need to turn around slightly, and we've completed the position change, which also fits the mood of the song, right?"
“That… is true.” Taro lowered his head and pondered for a moment, then raised his head and said, “However, it would be a loss to cause a mishap in the performance because of this!”
"Don't give up so easily!" Aine then complained, clasping her hands together and pleading, "Hey! Taro, give me another chance, please!"
"...I know! If we fail this time, let's try standing separately!" Taro declared passionately, "Let's try again! Attendants! Practice! Practice!"
At Taro's command, everyone resumed their practice.
A powerful, energetic piece of music begins.
The moment the performance ended, Aine breathed a sigh of relief; thankfully, there had been no mistakes this time.
Not only were there no mistakes, but the emotions in her singing were even more outstanding, and even Momoi Taro praised her for it.
Just as she was about to bask in her triumph, Taro's blow arrived as expected:
"But! Your basic attack is far from perfect! Now you need to practice properly!"
"Yes~" Ai-yin didn't take it seriously and casually agreed, then prepared for the next practice session.
As expected... Momoi Taro is someone who can always give me strength...
Dong, Episode 58, The Upcoming Live Performance
The practice went very smoothly, and Aine sang at the level she had been practicing before. Although Taro didn't say anything, he seemed quite satisfied.