Momoi Taro wants to form a "don" brother duo, but it's a music anime.

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The others chimed in perfectly in unison: "I want to keep observing that blurry, transparent color." *3

"Even a second faster than drifting cloud shadows," she gazed affectionately at the audience, but this time, her gaze was no longer fixed on any particular person; it encompassed everything: "I guess I'll just keep moving forward like this, in my daze."

"With unease lingering, tomorrow will be just as bleak and uncertain—"

She sang this line firmly, then softly sang in a reminiscent tone:

"Even after this heavy rain stops, I don't want to forget it; I want to record everything that just happened."

Yes, I will never forget the hardships I endured, but... I will never stop. I will absolutely, absolutely move forward with everyone.

"Ordinary occasions"

Little lamp... I feel the same way. The bitterness of life is something I can never forget.

Even now, I miss it terribly... and I feel lost. I've done so many wrong things, things I should never have done.

But... even so, I want to move forward, and I absolutely cannot let Taro-san down...

Takamatsu Akari silently prayed in her heart: "Master Taro... lend me your power."

Whether it was my imagination or not, the energy in her voice seemed to have reached a new level, becoming even more powerful: "Even if these hands cannot reach it, I will use the thread connecting me to that sky to touch that raindrop!"

As Motoko Wakaba played the guitar, she looked down at Shoko Toyokawa in the audience and saw that Shoko's face was becoming increasingly gloomy.

When Toyokawa Shoko heard the melody of this song, it was as if Takamatsu Akira was declaring to her that she no longer needed to suffer... Although it was the right thing to do, it made her so sad.

The dense drumbeats fell like a torrential downpour. Takamatsu took a deep breath and unleashed all the power he had accumulated in one go:

"Now the heavy rain is gradually stopping, and the last raindrop is shining faintly, reflecting on me!"

"The road is still copied, but take a breath of fresh sea breeze."

"I will take that raindrop with me on my journey." Gao Songdeng uttered his last words, and the rest of the band began to hum softly, "La la la..." With Gao Songdeng's final strum, the entire piece came to a complete end.

The entire venue fell silent for a moment, then thunderous applause erupted.

"Wow, amazing..." Ai-yin's eyes widened slightly as she stood to the side of the stage, clapping enthusiastically for everyone who had performed the giant dragon's fiery dance. She excitedly asked Taro beside her, "Did you see that, Taro? Tou-tou's singing was so powerful!"

"Yes, I heard that." Taro raised his head slightly, a satisfied smile appearing on his lips, and said softly, "Not bad stage, as for the points..."

"Stop, stop, stop! I don't want to hear this!" Aine quickly covered her ears. Taro looked at Aine with some confusion, but still stopped scoring.

“Lixi’s drumming was also very good,” Hailing said, arms crossed, her tone carrying a hint of barely perceptible praise…and pride? She calmly commented, “He seems to be better than before. Although there were a few minor mistakes, well…that interlude was really powerful.”

Having just finished a piece, Takamatsu Akari's chest heaved violently, and he breathed heavily, as if he had burned out completely...

After calming down a bit, Gao Songdeng held the microphone stand and said softly, "We are... Dong Julong Flame Group (tentative title)."

Hearing Gao Songdeng introduce his band like that, good-natured laughter rippled through the audience. But Xiangzi couldn't laugh; she looked at Gao Songdeng with a hint of jealousy… Damn it, she was the one who arrived first, why did it turn out like this?

Takamatsu looked at everyone who had suddenly started laughing with a strange expression, feeling quite puzzled... Why was everyone laughing? Had she said something strange...? Her face flushed slightly, and she looked around at both sides, somewhat at a loss.

Ruo Yemu looked down at Xiangzi, whose face was even darker, and had a vague sense of foreboding. Her eyes trembled slightly.

Su Shi naturally saw Xiangzi in the audience. After all, Xiangzi was someone she had been thinking about for so long, and her face looked terrible. Although Su Shi was a little worried, for her right now, the live performance by the Dong Julong Flame Group, and everyone else involved, were more important... She could only look at Xiangzi with worried eyes.

"Teng, let's introduce the members first." Li Xi tried to smooth things over. Her voice woke up the bewildered Gao Songdeng. She perked up a little and nodded softly, "Um... but before we begin, I... would like to explain the origin of our band's name."

"The origin of our band's name is... ah..." Gao Songdeng paused, looked to his left and right, hesitated slightly, and then said, "It was inspired by the name of a band we greatly admire..."

The three of them couldn't help but chuckle knowingly. Even Xiao Mu and Su Shi, who were worried about Xiangzi, couldn't help but turn their heads to look at the stage. From the side of the stage, they saw Taro's conspicuous red performance costume. For some reason, both of them felt a little relieved.

Perhaps it's because Momoi Taro is the kind of person who makes people feel safe.

At first, Riki's attention was entirely focused on Takamatsu Akari, but when she saw the two people in front of her turn their heads, she also turned her gaze in that direction and saw Momoi Taro's figure. She clicked her tongue slightly.

"I believe... as you all probably already know... this band is the Dong Brothers, who performed before us." Takamatsu Akari's timid voice rang out in the not-so-small stage venue, and she said with an extremely serious expression, "Their leader, Mr. Momoi Taro... is someone we greatly admire."

Li Xi didn't refute this statement, but looked at Gao Songdeng with concern. Gao Songdeng seemed oblivious and continued, "Before I met him, I never knew how to move forward, but he taught me what to do... I'm very... grateful to him."

“But…弍灵er児壹叁=*〇（八】）侕-月椅…Today, there is another person who is very important to us who has also come to the scene—” Takamatsu Akira changed the subject, staring straight at Toyokawa Shoko below the stage.

Xiangzi's heart skipped a beat; he had a vague sense of foreboding...

Episode 32 of "Dong": Why is the performance of "Spring Day Shadow" (Part 1)?

Aine nudged Taro next to her with her elbow and teased him with a silly grin, "Taro, did you hear that? Everyone in the Dragon Flame Group admires you and stuff."

"Ah, I heard it." Taro said frankly without any shyness that he had heard it, his eyes fixed on that direction, a smile playing on his lips.

"Hey~ really, I thought I'd see a more interesting reaction from you." Aine puffed out her cheeks slightly, a hint of resentment in her voice, and leaned closer, trying to catch a glimpse of anything unusual on Taro's usually calm face. However, all she saw was his usual composure. She could only sigh in resignation, gently rub her forehead, and refocus her attention on the stage lights.

“But… there is another very important person to us who has also come to the scene today—” Takamatsu Akari’s tone changed abruptly, her eyes fixed on Toyokawa Shoko below the stage.

Xiangzi's heart skipped a beat; he had a vague sense of foreboding...

"You might not know this," Gao Songdeng's voice was soft, but thanks to the microphone, it still resonated throughout the stage as she revealed her past wounds: "We used to have a band... called 'Bitter Comes Bitter'..."

On stage, the other members of the Dongjulong Flame Group all showed varying degrees of surprise, clearly not expecting that Akari would bring up that past in such a setting. Nagasaki Motoyo and Shiina Tatsuki looked at Akari with gentle encouragement in their eyes, while Wakaba Mutsu looked at Shoko with worry—the latter's face was rapidly losing color, revealing an undisguised panic.

The lamp didn't notice their expressions, seemingly immersed in its own world, completely unaware of everything around it. She narrated softly, "That band... disbanded for some reason."

Xiangzi's body swayed almost imperceptibly. Instinctively, she gripped her left arm tightly with her right hand, her knuckles turning white from the force. She looked up at the figure on stage recounting shared painful memories, her teeth clenched, striving to maintain her composure. Gao Songdeng's voice, though weak, carried a strange firmness: "Because of this…everyone…is deeply, deeply hurt…"

"This band...it wasn't easy to form..." Gao Songdeng's eyes were full of memories: "I thought...we'd never have a chance to be together! But...!" Her voice became excited: "It really is..."

Su Shi also noticed Xiangzi's somewhat unpleasant expression in the audience. She tried to calm the excited Gao Songdeng with her familiar gentle voice. Speaking into the microphone, she pretended to be part of the MC and cleverly interrupted Gao Songdeng's continued speech: "Xiaodeng, shouldn't we now formally introduce our band members and the song we just played to the audience?"

"Ah... I'm sorry..." Takamatsu Akari apologized softly, as if waking from a dream. Unexpectedly, the audience not only showed no displeasure but also responded with even warmer and more inclusive applause. This warm current of kindness effectively dispelled her nervousness. She took a deep breath; this gentle support from strangers made her feel at ease, so she tried to calm herself and began introducing the members:

"I... lead vocalist and guitarist... Takasune Akira, I'm still not very mature... please guide me... ouch!"

As soon as she finished speaking, she instinctively reached for a bow, forgetting the standing microphone in front of her. In that instant, her forehead slammed hard against the cold metal microphone stand. A muffled thud, accompanied by a piercing screeching sound, echoed throughout the venue through the speakers. She cried out in pain and instinctively covered her reddened forehead with her hand.

"Tengteng!?" Ai Yin exclaimed almost reflexively, her body about to rush forward without regard for anything else.

Just then, an arm swiftly and powerfully wrapped around her waist and pulled her backward abruptly. The immense force caught Aine off guard, causing her to lose her balance instantly. Her back slammed solidly into a broad and sturdy chest. She whirled around, her nose almost brushing against Taro's chin, meeting his deep, almost intimate eyes. Her gaze urgently asked: Why won't you let me pass?

"She's fine, just a slight bruise." Taro's voice remained calm and confident. He held Aine's wrist with one hand and placed the other on her shoulder to prevent her from interrupting the MC that belonged exclusively to the Toon Dragon Flame Group.

"Is...is that so?" Ai Yin's cheeks instantly flushed a hot blush, and she stammered. The warmth of his chest pressed against her back, the unique scent of peach blossoms lingering around her nose, and the sudden closeness after confirming that the lamp was alright left her mind blank. Her heart pounded in her chest like a drum, almost drowning out the sounds on the stage.

[Too...too close!]

Aine felt a silent lament in her heart, as if all the blood in her body had rushed to her cheeks, leaving her stiff and unable to move. She could clearly feel the strength of his arm and the steady rise and fall of his chest; this excessive intimacy filled her with both panic and a strange, indescribable flutter. But then, Momoi Taro's hand quickly released its grip. Aine glanced at Taro; his face remained calm and expressionless. This left her feeling a pang of disappointment.

Hai Ling silently shifted her gaze to the two people, glanced at them, and then indifferently returned her attention to the stage.

At the same time, another burst of good-natured laughter rang out below. This relaxed atmosphere eased Xiangzi's tense and unpleasant expression slightly, and his eyes revealed concern for Gao Songdeng's health. Lixi jumped up abruptly and asked, "Deng! Are you alright?"

"Um...no, it's nothing..." Deng covered her forehead and shook her head vigorously, as if trying to shake off the sudden pain and embarrassment. She took a deep breath, suppressing the burning pain, and composed herself before continuing her MC in a soft but steady voice: "I...only recently started learning the guitar...so...I'm still very unfamiliar with it..."

"The piece you just heard was... Ichishizuku Sora. It was composed by the drummer who just stood up, Ritsuki." Takamatsu Akari picked up the microphone, turned around, looked at Ritsuki, and said in a soft but sincere voice, "She... has always been supporting me from behind... no matter what, she has always firmly supported me... all along, I am very, very grateful."

Lixi's face flushed bright red instantly, the heat spreading to the tips of her ears. She almost frantically sat back down on her drum stool and, speaking urgently into the microphone to Gao Songdeng, said, "Deng! My situation is fine, don't worry about me. Introduce the other people."

“Hmm…” Takamatsu nodded slightly, turning his gaze to Su Shi, his eyes filled with trust: “Bass, Su Shi… has always been very gentle, she is the strength of everyone in the band…”

"Oh dear, Xiaodeng, that's too much. I'm not that good~" Su Shi immediately narrowed her eyes, a perfect, gentle, and appropriate smile blooming on her face. Her voice became even sweeter and softer as she skillfully donned her social mask, trying to shift the focus of the conversation away from herself: "I just did what I was supposed to do, nothing special."

Takamatsu Akari nodded slightly and looked at Wakaba Mutsu, whose face was as delicate as a doll. Beneath her calm expression lay a deep worry, but no outsider could perceive it. Takamatsu Akari naturally did not notice her abnormality either. She introduced Wakaba Mutsu to her, saying, "Mutsu... is our band's guitarist... no one in the band can compare to her guitar skills... unlike me, she plays exceptionally well."

Hearing Takamatsu's introduction, Wakaba Mutsu nodded slightly, then demonstrated an impromptu piece on her guitar... Previously, she couldn't improvise on the guitar, but now, although only a little, it was still enough to express her feelings. That barely perceptible melancholy was released through this short impromptu piece.

The audience applauded her performance, while Aine, backstage, looked at Wakaba Mutsu with some concern and whispered, "Mutsu's guitar sounded very melancholy just now. What happened?"

“I don’t know!” Taro looked at the stage, gazing at Wakaba Mutsumi, who had regained her upright posture. “But now it’s their band’s time, and all we have to do is watch them.”

After introducing Wakaba Mutsumi, Takamatsu looked back at the stage and addressed the audience, saying, "As I just said... our band consists of members from a previous band... I'm truly happy that we're together again..."

“Our band… since its inception… has truly been through a lot…” Gao Songdeng lowered his head, his voice trembling with a barely perceptible sob: “There are people who are stuck in the past, unable to move on…”

"There are people who have hurt others..." Su Shi's smile remained unchanged, she simply nodded slightly, accepting this statement deep in her heart. To this day, it was still the thing she regretted the most. However, no matter what, she would not pretend that nothing had happened, nor would she resist others bringing it up. This was her sin... something that should not be forgotten.

So, one day during practice, she mentioned it to everyone. She hadn't expected Koyuki to bring it up, and although she hadn't named anyone, she wouldn't blame Koyuki; in fact, it wasn't a bad thing. After all, Momoi Taro was watching the live performance too…

“There are people who force themselves and refuse to relax…” Gao Songdeng continued, and upon hearing this, Li Xi’s face flushed uncontrollably once again, and she shifted uncomfortably on the drum stool—didn’t we say not to talk about her?!

“And there are those who are afraid of the past…” Wakaba Mutsu’s eyelids drooped, and she did not show any expression. However, her eyes were fixed on Toyokawa Shoko. Seeing the unease and fear on her face, she felt the same way.

“We are all lost people… Even now, we have no idea how to go forward…” Gao Songdeng paused here, lost in thought, but she continued, “But… even so, we must keep going… even if we are lost, we want to keep going!”

Gao Songdeng looked firmly ahead: "Our song... is a cry from the heart! I'm so happy you could come...! So! Please listen—to our inner cry! Please listen—'Spring Shadow'!!"

As Takamatsu Akari's MC ended, the sound of an electric guitar rang out at the opportune moment. Wakaba Mutsu lowered her head and focused all her attention on her character, so that she could stop thinking about things outside... although this was just her way of escaping.

However… Ruoye Mutsu couldn’t quite imagine what Xiangzi’s reaction would be upon hearing this song, “Spring Shadow”… But, as the successor to the Dong Brothers… no, as the successor to Momoi Taro, he couldn’t abandon his responsibility to the band.

So all she could do was play her best!

Su Shi shares the same sentiment: while the past is worth remembering, the future is even more important! Let's use this piece of music to bid farewell to our past hardships.

After Wakaba Mutsumi's guitar intro ended, the sounds of other instruments followed. Takamatsu Akari's gaze no longer lingered on any one point, but instead looked up at the ceiling, and sang in a resolute voice: "My heart is full of weariness, my eyes wander aimlessly..."

To be honest, the arrangement of "Kasuga Kage" was excellent... but it wasn't the arrangement Toyokawa Shoko wanted to see. Her left hand still gripped her right, a gesture she made whenever she was gripped by fear and anxiety, seeking a semblance of reassurance. Her eyes trembled; she wanted to scream, to shout: "Why play 'Kasuga Kage'?!"

Spring Shadow is their band's most important song.

The original Haruhi Kage was a piece entirely based on keyboards, with other instruments merely serving to enhance the keyboard sounds and vocals.

Now, Haruhi Kage... has lost the sound of the keyboard. The sounds of the two guitars, bass, and drums are intertwined, sounding unusually harmonious. If any one of them were missing, it would sound very awkward.

Toyokawa Shoko closed her eyes, pretending to appreciate the music, but in reality, she tried to hold back her tears with her eyes. However, when emotions run deep, tears just keep flowing... Tears slid down her cheeks one by one.

It hurts so much… but I can’t run away. If I run away now, Akari and the others will definitely be heartbroken. So, I can’t run. But, hearing Akari’s inner voice, she felt even more pain.

But... no matter how painful it was, she had to endure it, because this was what she owed Gao Songdeng, what she owed the Dong Julong Flame Group. She had to accept the Dong Julong Flame Group's "revenge"...

This was Toyokawa Shoko's resolve—

Episode 32 of "Dong": Why is the performance of "Spring Shadow" (Part 2)?

The current Kasuga Kage of the Dragon Flame Group... is a completely different style from when I was there.

As I just mentioned... the original Haruhi Kage was a piece entirely based on keyboards, with other instruments merely serving to enhance the keyboard sounds and vocals.

In other words... on Gao Songdeng's current stage, in that new world that belongs to them... their once exclusive place has completely disappeared... as if it had been wiped away without leaving a trace.

"I am all alone in this world, in the ever-fading spring... every year I only feel loneliness,"