Band members, girls with fermented bean curd, step forward!

Page 18

The lights seemed to have been switched on, and the author began enthusiastically introducing the other penguins collected in the small metal boxes.

Aine and Chen kept looking at the strange furnishings inside the Astronomy Department.

From Akari's description, Aine learned that Akari currently only has one member in the astronomy club.

An astronomy club with only one person is too lonely.

Deng extended an invitation to Ai Yin and Chen, looking at them with eager anticipation.

"Um, can I think about it?"

Aine's reply at this time

"I do have time this afternoon, but the astronomy club usually does stargazing in the evening, and I have to work in the evening, so I'm sorry, Takamatsu-kun."

This is Chen's answer.

The light was sharp; she knew that it was probably impossible to bring the lonely astronomy club back to life.

Her eyes dimmed

"Takamatsu, you used to be in a band, right? I found your information online. Your previous band was called...Crychic, wasn't it?"

Chen Xiangdeng showed him the official Crychic account in his hand, and Deng's image was visible in it.

We still need to rely on the information gap to catch her off guard; otherwise, we really won't find a way to invite her.

"Hey, it's true! Takamatsu-kun used to be in a band!"

Ai Yin leaned closer to Chen's phone and found the image of a lamp in the account's photos.

"Ah, yes... but I'm not playing it anymore."

The light was looking out the window.

"Because if I were to play in a band, I'd inevitably fail in the end."

A deep sorrow lingered in her eyes.

The day Xiangzi left seems like it was just yesterday.

"Hey, Little Lantern, let's go play together~"

Aine extended an invitation to the somber lamp.

She didn't know what happened to the band Crychic.

However, the lamp can't stay dim like this forever.

Even if we can't get the lamp to join, it's still good to have another friend if we can help it.

So, Miss Aine had an idea.

Let's go sing karaoke together, the three of us!

"I have no money, Aine! If I go, I won't be able to afford food!"

With a not-so-bulky wallet, Chen wanted to avoid all extra expenses.

"Oh, stop being so fussy, Chenchen! It's my treat! Let's go, Xiaodeng!"

With that, she grabbed the lamp's hand and ran out of the school.

"Chenchen, hurry up and keep up!"

Modification complete

Chapter 14: Operation against the Lights Successful, Rupa's Determination

Miss Aiyin generously offered to treat everyone, but when they arrived at the restaurant, they still had to ask the staff if they could use a coupon.

Seeing Chen's somewhat strange gaze, she blushed slightly.

"Seriously! I'm not the kind of girl who's extravagant, okay? This is called being thrifty and managing the household well!"

Deng felt a pang of envy watching the two interacting at the checkout counter.

Chen and Aiyin have a really good relationship.

But after Crychic disbanded, no one contacted her anymore.

We were such good friends before.

But why has there been no contact since then?

The lamp doesn't understand

Once inside the private room, Chen and Ai Yin sat together, while Deng sat alone to the side.

"Will they sing Sumimi's songs at the lantern festival? They're really popular lately."

The lamp doesn't seem to be in a good mood.

She lowered her head and rested her hands on her knees.

"Who is Sumi?"

It seems Deng doesn't really enjoy surfing the internet...

Miss Aine silently began to construct the image of the lamp in her mind.

"It's a really popular group lately, the members are Hatsuka and Mana..."

To keep the atmosphere from becoming awkward, Miss Aine continued the conversation.

But since this is karaoke, we have to sing something.

Without knowing any of the light's preferences, Ms. Aine had no idea what song to request.

Ideally, it should be a song that everyone knows and can sing along to.

This way, we can quickly close the distance.

"Takamatsu, you were the lead singer of Crychic before, how about you sing one of your band's old songs? 'Haruhi Kage' (Spring Shadow)."

"Hey, I can't find this song."

Aine swiped across the tablet in front of her, trying to search for the song titled "Haruhi Kage".

"This is an original song by Gao Song's band; you definitely won't find it on Ai Yin."

The lamp, which had been silent all along, finally responded to their words.

But his tone clearly revealed a deep sense of dejection.

"I don't sing, I'm not good at singing..."

"Because of my singing, because I didn't sing well enough, that's why the band broke up..."

Xiangzi's saying, "The lamp is the one who needs the most practice!"

Let the lamp shield her from all doubt and all responsibility.

It must be because she didn't sing well that Xiangzi left the band.

So, she no longer wanted to sing.

"Why does the lamp think that way? Is there a reason?"

Aine thought it was excessive for Akari to take all the responsibility on herself; after all, a girl with Akari's personality would never allow the band to face the crisis of disbanding.

"Takamatsu-kun, we're still just high school students. We haven't even lived a quarter of our lives yet. Even if we experience setbacks, there's always a chance to start over."

Forming a band with us is secondary; the important thing is to maintain hope for the future. Time is still on our side, isn't it?

"Yes, yes~"

Ai Yin echoed Chen's words of comfort.

"Life is long, and if I keep putting so much pressure on myself, I won't be able to keep going~ But I still really want to form a band with Gao Song~"

"Then, can you guys be in a band with me for the rest of your lives?"

The lamp raised its head and looked at Ai Yin and Chen beside it.

Contrary to her slightly flushed cheeks and expectant expression, the words she uttered were like a black hole.

The small private room seemed to have lost all its air, instantly falling silent.

Miss Aine's mood froze instantly at the words of the lamp.

Isn't the lamp a bit too heavy? Did she choose the wrong person to invite?

"No problem, Takamatsu-kun, we can be friends for life."

The pace inexplicably quickened; Miss Aine wondered why Chen had so easily agreed to Deng's heavy words.

The lamp looked pleased; her orange pupils turned her expectant gaze to Miss Aine.

Under pressure from the atmosphere, Miss Aine had no choice but to reluctantly agree.

"Me too, I'm fine too~"

As the most normal person in the Go group, Aine had never seen such a scene before.

However, Chen's quick agreement threw her into disarray.

For Chen, agreeing to the lamp's request was the most efficient choice.

To avoid the light running away and having to drag out thousands of words of plot.

"Then, then! Missing a day, an hour, or a minute doesn't count as a lifetime!"

The gravity emanating from the lamp's words was increasingly suffocating Miss Aine.

"Yeah, just like Gao Song said, missing even a minute doesn't make it a lifetime."

She had lost the ability to respond; all that lingered in her mind was Chen's unwavering answer.

"Then, it's agreed!"

The lamp that walked up to the two of them grabbed Chen and Ai's hands.

"We're determined to be a band for life!"

What the lamp didn't notice was the puzzled look that Aine cast at Chen.

After the two added each other as friends on social media, today's operation was a complete success.

But Aine's many questions remained unanswered.

So, after saying goodbye to the lamp, Miss Aine walked around to stand in front of Chen, her gray eyes fixed on him, trying to ascertain his true thoughts.

"Gao Song's condition seems really bad. Why did Chen Chen agree to her request so quickly? A lifetime is such a heavy burden!"

"Aine, you should be able to tell that Takamatsu was emotionally hurt in his previous band, right?"

The lamp's self-pitying answer made it clear to everyone that something was wrong, including Aine's.

"If we hadn't gone along with what she said, we might have lost the chance to invite her."

Chen was prepared for Miss Aine's doubts.

However, Miss Aine didn't seem very satisfied with this answer.

"But this still seems strange!"

She looked at Chen with a slightly sullen expression.

Chen should have been hers, so why did she make a lifelong promise with Deng instead?

This is such a heavy promise; even if I were to agree to it, shouldn't it be the first promise I make to her?

"We were just classmates with Gao Song in high school. Since we agreed, we only have these three years to spend with her."

"After graduation, everyone will go their separate ways. Aine is overthinking it. Besides, isn't it nice to be friends with Takamatsu?"

Yes, it's only three years. After high school, most classmates will either start working or go to university, and they'll likely never see each other again.

This is a completely unavoidable factor, and Chen's promise regarding the lamp remains a genuine proposition, at least for the next three years.

Three years.

Miss Aine fell silent briefly upon hearing this time.

It may seem like a long time, but in reality, it passes by in a flash.

She needed to hurry; confirming her relationship with Chen had to be put on the agenda.