Girl Band, Gravity Capture

Page 97

"Ah."

The boy, still deep in thought, took off his indoor shoes and put them aside, then shifted his position and lay back on the sofa.

Nagasaki Motoyo tidied up the surroundings, her azure eyes filled with a soft light as she looked at Genjiro, telling him that it was ready. So he put his shoes back on, and his feet touched the ground again.

"foot."

As Nagasaki Motoyo walked up to Toyokawa Shoko, she spoke coldly.

There's an inexplicable sense of superiority, as if she's the mistress of the house...

Somewhat annoyed, Toyokawa Shoko was still worried about Genjiro Tou's mindset and had no mood to argue with her. She glanced at him, then pulled her bare feet out of her shoes and sat cross-legged on the chair.

Nagasaki Motoyo, showing no intention of further interaction, continued to bury herself in her work as soon as she saw her step aside.

They have such blatant double standards when it comes to treating people...

Su Shi didn't seem afraid at all that her actions would damage her image in Xu Dou's eyes... Perhaps she felt the same way before, but at least she would put on an act on the surface. Now she was completely unrestrained.

...Has their relationship deteriorated to this point?

Just as Toyokawa Shoko was displeased but didn't want to talk to the other person, so she was looking at her phone, Nagasaki Motoyo suddenly spoke up.

She kept the volume at a level that was audible but wouldn't reach Yuan Xudou.

“I’ve seen Xu Dou like that a few times before, when he wanted to find you.”

As if talking to herself, Nagasaki Motoyo, with a calm expression, didn't look at her and continued speaking to herself.

“I hate anything that would upset Heo Doo. I will do anything he wants.”

Upon hearing this, Toyokawa Shoko's pupils dilated for a moment, then she let out a low, cold snort.

"You're just a student, what gives you the right to say such things?"

Even Xu Dou wouldn't make a promise like "I can do anything"... because that's simply impossible to actually accomplish.

"...That's why I hate you, Xiangzi."

Faced with such sarcastic remarks, Nagasaki Motoyo was not angry, but her tone became even colder.

"You wouldn't even entrust your own life to someone else, and you hurt Xu Dou without my consent... what right do you have to compare your love for him with mine?"

Hit where it hurts, Toyokawa Shoko pursed her lips and immediately retaliated:

Don't judge me by my past actions...!

"Furthermore, love isn't just about superficial one-sided giving; Xu Dou's feelings are equally important—"

“I don’t want to argue with you.” Nagasaki Motoyo, completely unmoved, casually cut off the topic. “I’ve already said that I hate things that make Xu Dou sad, including arguing with you.”

Toyokawa Shoko once again came to a profound realization about the heavy emotions hidden in the gentle eyes of the chestnut-haired girl before her—emotions that were clearly beyond what was considered normal. When this topic came up, her tolerance and steadfastness were frighteningly pronounced.

Knowing that she couldn't defeat her in this aspect, Toyokawa Shoko calmed down.

"At least on this point, we have a consensus."

“I don’t want to waste time with pleasantries, so let’s get straight to the point.” Nagasaki Motoyo still had her head down. “Now that you’ve seen it with your own eyes, can you finally understand just how despicable the things you did back then really were?”

Fate, fate... something that can be discarded at will, the so-called community of shared destiny.

As a result, those who contributed the most suffered the greatest blows, and the very core that connects everyone was torn apart.

"...I've always known about that kind of thing."

“If you’re trying to use this to interrogate me, don’t waste your time.” Toyokawa Shoko looked away. “Apologies and corrections are things that Xu Dou and I need to resolve.”

Despite this situation, he remained arrogant and even self-righteous... Xiangzi, you bastard.

—How come I never noticed before that you were such a wicked person?

At this moment, the two shared a surprisingly similar view of each other—though it didn't seem to be in a positive direction.

Nagasaki Motoyo curled the corners of her lips, but there was no genuine smile on her face.

“You know it yourself.”

"Also, shouldn't you find a place to live on your own? Is the eldest daughter of the Toyokawa family going to keep living in the house of a boy you 'haven't even dated' yet?"

Shoko Toyokawa's face turned slightly unpleasant as she clenched her teeth.

"...No need for you to worry."

"Don't really treat this place like your own home, Su Shi. Speaking of which, you're no different; you have your own home every day but never go back."

Sooner or later I'll move out and then steal Xu Dou away... Su Shi, you just wait.

Chapter Seventeen: The First Encounter with a Pink-Haired Girl on the Tram

Yuan Xudou went directly from the junior high school section of Dongdu Middle School to the senior high school section.

Because at the very beginning of his third year of junior high school, when he was doing career planning—which is basically researching the high schools you want to attend in the future, including the career you hope to pursue, whether you want to study abroad or become a gifted student, which is a special strategy of some top high schools—he filled out an application expressing his intention to study abroad in places like the UK or Switzerland. However, at the end of the semester, when his grades and qualifications had fully met the requirements, he gave up this goal and continued to study in his home country. As a result, he was questioned by the school many times.

It's hard to say whether the board of directors wanted him to study abroad or stay in Tokyo—the latter was probably more likely. After all, at that time, Genjiro Tou's first-place score of 87 in the last large-scale test jointly held by multiple middle schools, despite having abandoned his band affairs, was too dazzling. All schools would cherish a student like him and hold him firmly in their hands if he could easily get into the University of Tokyo if he maintained his current level.

Whether to study abroad or not, and what the future development will be, is the choice of the young people themselves. However, the resume and reputation brought by producing students who are admitted to the University of Tokyo are real benefits that they can obtain.

After several years of hard work, we finally discovered a top talent with the potential to rank among the top 50 in the country, so of course we can't let him go. We'll offer him all the benefits we can, like salary, scholarships, and letters of recommendation, to protect the honor that our school can easily obtain in a few years.

Naturally, several other high schools also extended offers to him, trying to poach him. At this level, it's no longer the schools choosing him, but him choosing the schools.

Even if it were a few girls' schools... Gen Xudou might be able to get in through a special admissions program. Although he didn't have the kind of dream that Japanese high school students often have, as a boy attending a girls' school, he felt that he was already surrounded by enough girls.

However... if I hadn't met them, I might have considered using this method to get to know and understand the lives of female high school students. As for whether I would actually do it, that's another story.

Everything else is negotiable, but now that Su Shi and Xiang Zi at home know, they will definitely be jealous and object.

There's nothing wrong with Dongdu. It's one of the better private schools in terms of benefits. Most of his former classmates will be promoted directly, saving him the trouble of getting to know each other again and being constantly approached by classmates because of his looks. In short, it's very convenient in comparison, so Yuan Xudou doesn't plan to transfer schools.

Thanks to this, Yuan Xudou, who went on to high school, had even more freedom than he did in junior high.

He was so free that he could get a week's leave approved instantly without any reason, which was much more valuable to him than scholarships or similar things.

This also includes now, not participating in club activities that are theoretically required, exercising the non-existent privilege of the "Homecoming Club," and leaving school early.

Amidst the rumbling of the tram, Yuan Xudou gently propped his cheek on one side, leaning against the edge of the metal benches on either side of the carriage. The light streaming in from the window cast varying degrees of shadows and light on his handsome face.

With slightly furrowed brows, melancholy eyes, and handsome features, he appeared to other passengers, especially women of marriageable age, as a melancholic and beautiful young man trapped in inner turmoil, exuding an aura that was both repulsive and attractive.

Several female passengers in their early twenties, whose youthful reserve and modesty had almost completely vanished, were already eager to take out their phones, ready to strike up a conversation and add each other on Line, attempting to unknowingly challenge the laws protecting minors.

Although he would definitely be rejected by Yuan Xudou without even considering it in less than a second, he was quite skilled at dealing with flirting in public.

It's just not my type.

However, the women who were still unaware of what they were about to face were full of ambition and had their eyes fixed on an empty seat that happened to be next to the boy.

As long as you sit there and casually find a topic to talk about, showcasing your feminine charm, it's easy to win over a boy who seems simple-minded, depressed, and in dire need of comfort.

Just then, the swaying of the tram gradually subsided, and the announcement that it was about to enter the station sounded.

As the tram came to a complete stop on the platform with a screech of brakes, and the doors swung open, the female passengers simultaneously rose and casually began to walk towards the empty seat.

A girl with bright pink hair suddenly ran in through the car door that opened beside Yuan Xudou. She looked around and her eyes fell on the seat next to the boy.

"There's a seat available! Luck!"

She sat down without hesitation, her soft cheers sounding very lively.

Yuan Xudou, whose gaze seemed unfocused but was actually wary of the female passengers approaching, lowered his arm, glanced at her sideways, and silently moved to the edge to give her some space before continuing his thoughts.

After taking his seat, he didn't bother Yuan Xudou or pay any attention to the woman next to him. Instead, he looked up, took out a pair of thick, square black-rimmed glasses from his handbag, put them on, and carefully looked at the schedule with his eyes, which revealed gray pupils.

“I haven’t ridden this line much before, let me see… Harajuku Station, Yoyogi Station, Shinjuku Station… Ikebukuro Station, Ikebukuro Station… Ah, Ikebukuro Station is here.”

"It looks like it's still a long way off... Let's do something else first."

She seems to be the type who talks to herself quietly when no one is paying attention.

Unfortunately, this wasn't a time when no one was paying attention—regardless of anything else, the women who felt their seats had been suddenly taken from them were still glaring at her through gritted teeth, and they were the ones who were truly ignored.

Sitting right next to him, Yuan Xudou, with his keen hearing, naturally heard those words as well.

Ikebukuro Station... is just one station behind Mejiro Station, which he was going to.

Such a thought flashed through my mind, without causing a ripple on the surface of my thoughts.

The pink-haired girl next to me pulled out another booklet from her handbag and buried herself in it, reading it intently. I could vaguely hear her reciting some short sentences in a halting manner... Such a heavy Japanese-accented English.

With such broken and strangely accented English lingering around him, even with his mind preoccupied with other things, Yuan Xudou couldn't help but sigh inwardly.

...It's better than being hit on by random women. He comforted himself with that thought.

However, after a while, the sound of reciting words began to weaken, becoming intermittent, until it disappeared completely.

Instead, faint breathing sounds followed.

Having finally gotten used to the sound, Yuan Xudou glanced over and found that the girl was already supporting herself on her knees, her head bowed. Strands of her cherry-pink hair slid down from her shoulders, obscuring her beautiful, sunny face, which was mostly hidden by her square-framed glasses.

Whether it was from overwork, mental exhaustion, or simply from falling asleep while reading words, she simply sat on the bench with her head down and fell asleep.

...He didn't even close the booklet on his lap. He could even glimpse the neat, square English handwriting on it—clearly the handwriting of a good student—by tilting his head slightly. It was so distinctive that it didn't match the halting, stuttering voice she was speaking.

After being described as a "magical girl," Gen Xudou turned his head back, reverting to his "melancholy" appearance as others perceived him.

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.

"Next stop, Mejiro—"

After several rounds of the tram braking, Yuan Xudou finally arrived at his destination.

He gathered his things, stood up, and glanced casually at the sleeping girl beside him.

There was absolutely no sign that he was about to wake up.

A thoughtful look flashed across his calm face. After a brief hesitation, he didn't reach out. Instead, he stood slightly in front of her and spoke in a clear, gentle voice:

We're almost at Ikebukuro Station.

“…Oh…Hmm?” The girl, who was not sleeping soundly, was suddenly awakened by the words next to her and looked up, uttering a groggy question.

—They seem quite wary; maybe I'm just meddling.

"Huh? Were you just reminding me that we've arrived at the station...?"

It took the girl a few seconds to come to her senses. She took off her glasses, rubbed her eyes, and asked hesitantly.

Seeing that she was awake, Yuan Xudou didn't intend to say anything more, nodded and turned to leave.

"Wait, wait, I want to thank you—"

Chihaya Aine only had time to catch a glimpse of his profile before she could even try to stop him or express her gratitude. She watched helplessly as he strode out of the car, his well-proportioned figure gradually disappearing from sight.

"Hey—you're walking so fast..."

Unable to keep the other person, she let out a long, regretful sound.

Then, Chihaya Aine suddenly rested her chin on her hand, adopting a detective-like contemplative posture, and murmured to herself.

"...Even though it's just a side profile, that boy is really handsome."

"However, I always feel like his appearance... has a certain familiarity... 迩（一〦）3焐》々?七韭溜散II"

"Have I seen you somewhere before...?"

Chapter Eighteen: Dreams, Blank Space, and Lingering Longing for You

People always say that dreams and reality are opposites.

Actually, that's not the case.

However, if you experience a dream that is too beautiful and blissful to wake up from, but when you open your eyes you are met with a dull, monotonous reality that only makes you feel tired and numb; or if you have a terrible nightmare that makes you break out in a cold sweat and feel desperate just thinking about it, but when you wake up you find that none of it really happened and your life is still peaceful.

That kind of feeling, so deeply imprinted in one's mind, is probably why people feel that dreams and reality are always opposites.

Therefore... only when you are empty-handed will you never have any dreams worth remembering.