Substitute Toyokawa Shoko, you can become stronger by breathing

He looked out the window, his eyes gradually turning cold.

In fact, he could have refused this request. After all, there was no contractual constraint, and even if he didn't go to rehearsals at all, the band couldn't do anything to him.

But what is the cost of doing so?

The decline in fit is one thing, but more importantly, he will lose a key source of intelligence and social network.

Ave mujica is not just a band, but also a link between Toyokawa Shoko's past and present, and an excellent way to understand her and control her.

The most important thing is that a controlled puppet must always give her the illusion of being in control.

He picked up the phone, swiped his fingertips across the screen, and replied:

"Notification received. Time will be confirmed later."

After thinking for a moment, Kujo Renji opened the Ave Mujica member group chat again. He noticed that there had been no new messages in the group for several days. Since the unpleasant scene in the last rehearsal, the atmosphere seemed to have become a little subtle.

He quickly edited a message: "Everyone, Winwing just contacted me about arranging a three-city tour (Yokohama, Tokyo, and Osaka) next month. Nakamura said they'll discuss the details next Monday. What are your thoughts?"

After sending the message, he casually placed his phone on the table, but his eyes never left the screen. Every member's reaction was worth noting, especially after the last conflict.

As expected, the first person to reply was Sanjiao Chuhua: "Really?! This is awesome! We're finally going on tour! (≧▽≦)"

The message was followed by a string of excited emojis, so vibrant they seemed to jump out of the screen.

A few seconds later, Hachiman Kairei's reply appeared: "The schedule can be adjusted. Do you need to intensify the rehearsal?"

Simple, practical, and direct - completely in line with her usual style.

Kujo Renji nodded slightly; the reactions of these two people were within his expectations. Sankaku Hatsuka was always the optimistic and cheerful peacemaker, while Yawata Kairei was the most rational and professional person on the team.

However, there were no new messages in the group chat for the next few minutes.

Yutenji Wakamugi and Wakaba Mutsu—the two people who deserve the most attention—remained silent.

"What are they hesitating about?" Toyokawa Shoko asked in the consciousness space, with a hint of anxiety in her voice.

The corner of Jiujo Renji's mouth curled up into a cold smile: "I'm just weighing the pros and cons."

Nearly ten minutes later, a message from Yutenji Wakamaki finally appeared:

"A tour? Great! I'm always available. But... do we need to discuss the details beforehand?"

The message was carefully worded, clearly testing the waters. After the conflict at the last rehearsal, she seemed to have learned to tone down her edge in front of Kujo Renji.

Jiujo Renji immediately replied:

"Of course, if there are any issues, we can discuss them in person next Monday. I'm sure we can find a solution that's good for everyone."

On the surface, he was peaceful and friendly, but underneath, he was threatening. He believed that Yutenji Wakami could understand this meaning.

"Mu hasn't replied yet..." Toyokawa Shoko's voice was a little uneasy.

Kujo Renji also noticed this. As the guitarist, Wakaba Mutsu, her participation is crucial to the band's performance.

More importantly, the seemingly gentle girl seemed to be the only one who noticed his "abnormal identity".

Just as he was considering whether to contact Ruoye Mu individually, her reply finally appeared in the group chat: "I will participate."

Just four words, no extra expressions, not even ending punctuation.

Kujo Renji stared at the message thoughtfully. Wakaba Mu's reaction was indeed interesting—he neither refused nor showed enthusiasm, as if he was simply fulfilling some kind of obligation.

It always feels a little strange, like someone is deliberately covering up something.

Just like the last time he left Ave Mujica, it was a subtle transformation that he himself couldn't explain.

——Like...I am playing myself?

Jiujo Liansi shook his head and stopped thinking about it.

Was Ye Mu's change of attitude a coincidence, or had she already confirmed the abnormality of "Toyokawa Shoko's" identity? If the latter, what would she do?

Regardless, the tour was already a done deal. All he needed to do was get a handle on every key figure before the show to ensure nothing unexpected happened.

Sanjiao Chuhua sent another message: "When do we start rehearsals? I'm so excited! ?(^?^*)"

Kujo Renji thought for a moment and replied, "We'll make arrangements next Monday after confirming the details with the company. This performance is very important, and we need to be fully prepared."

His fingers tapped lightly on the screen as he thought about his next steps.

The balance within the band needs to be re-established and everyone needs to be put in their proper place.

Yutenji Wakami needs further "education" to ensure that she will not have any more unfaithful thoughts.

Hachiman Hailing is worth winning over. Her rationality and professionalism can help stabilize the morale of the troops at critical moments.

Triangle Chuhua is naturally a useful buffer that can ease the atmosphere in tense moments.

As for Wakaba Mutsu...

Kujo Renji's eyes became deep.

She may be the biggest variable and needs to be treated with more caution.

.......

In the slightly empty room with minimalist white walls, apart from the necessary bed and wardrobe, the most eye-catching thing is the live broadcast equipment placed by the window - a mid-range computer, a ring fill light, a high-definition camera and several radio equipment.

Yutenji Wakamu took off her pink wig and breathed a sigh of relief, as if she had taken off a heavy mask.

The clock on the wall pointed to seven o'clock in the evening. She had been working for four hours straight, from shooting to editing, all in one go.

“Finally done…”

She rubbed her aching shoulders and looked at the video that had just been rendered on the screen. The title had already been chosen:

"Cat Girl Makeup | Super cute makeup that even beginners can pull off."

"Meow Dream" on the screen has a bright smile on her face, and her pink twin ponytails and exaggerated expression perfectly interpret the image of the so-called "two-dimensional beautiful girl".

"Good morning, meow, meow~ Today, meowmeng is going to challenge you to imitate super cute cat makeup, meow!"

In the playback, she showed the eyeshadow palette in her hand to the camera, and her voice was so sweet that honey could drip out.

"First, use a matte milk tea color as a base, and apply concealer as quickly as you would a text message from your ex! Then, use dark brown to create a cat-shaped eyeliner, and remember to make sure the ends of your eyes are curled enough to catch the stars."

Yutenji Wakamugi calmly surveyed herself in the video, completely devoid of the sweet, "Meow Dream" expression. She paused the video from time to time, adjusted the color saturation, or fine-tuned the audio, ensuring every detail was perfect.

At the end of the video, the "Meow Dream" on the screen pouted its lips at the camera:

"Hey~ Do you look like someone who just traveled from the anime world? Haven't learned it yet? Hurry up and say 'Please teach me personally, Meow Meng!' If you get over 100,000 likes, I'll give you a babysitter-level tutorial, meow! Just kidding, I'll give you a tutorial if you get over 500 likes."

Yutenji Wakamu pressed the pause button and stared at the screen expressionlessly, as if he was looking at a stranger.

After finishing the editing, she switched to the data panel, and a series of downward curves stung her eyes.

Her playback volume has continued to decline over the past two months.

The previous video only received 1.7 views, which is less than one-tenth of her total number of fans.

The number of likes is even more appalling, less than 500, so low that it can almost be ignored.

"That's it again..."

She sighed and ran her fingertips over the historical data chart.

In the same period last year, any of her videos could easily exceed 200,000 views, and it was common for her to receive over 10,000 likes.

Although the number of fans is still in the hundreds of thousands, the interaction rate has become pitifully low.

Those fans who once rushed to post "Meow Dream Love" in the comment section are now nowhere to be found.

Yutenji Wakamu buried her head in her hands. To maintain her vibrant image as "Meow Dream," she had been working through the night for three consecutive days, rushing to create content. However, the response she received was dwindling.

What did she do wrong...?

Yutiansi Ruomai clicked on the pages of other beauty bloggers from the same period. Those newcomers, who had just debuted, were racking up millions of views and buzzing with comments. But she, a veteran, was left out in the cold.

Is it a change in algorithms? Outdated content formats? Or is it simply because audience preferences are changing?

She has tried various methods - updating equipment, following fashion trends, and even spending money to buy various expensive cosmetics to make unboxing videos.

But no matter how hard she tried, the numbers continued to decline cruelly, as if mocking her futility.

“People’s likes are like the tide…”

Yutenji Wakamu muttered to herself, her fingers unconsciously fiddling with the pink wig on the table:

"Quickly come, quicker go."

“They’re always chasing the next new thing…”

The phone suddenly vibrated and the screen lit up.

It was a message from the Ave mujica group chat, and Shoko Toyokawa sent a notice about the tour.

Yutenji Wakamu stared at the message sent by Toyokawa Shoko on the mobile phone screen, and a complicated light flashed in his eyes.

"Tour..."

She whispered the words, her fingertips unconsciously tapping the edge of the screen.

Touring means bigger stages, bigger audiences, and...more exposure opportunities.

Yutenji Wakamu's gaze unconsciously drifted to the bleak data curve on the computer screen.

She still remembers the excitement and anticipation she felt when she first joined Ave Mujica. At that time, she truly believed the band could bring her endless possibilities. The concept of performing in a mask was full of mystery, and the unique stage performance style fascinated her.

Recalling those passionate early days.

As time went by, she gradually realized the reality - this band would not go far under the leadership of Toyokawa Shoko.

Those carefully choreographed drama elements and profound metaphors may win the applause of a niche group, but they cannot bring about a real traffic explosion.

In this era where people make a living by traffic, Ave Mujica's model seems naive and unrealistic.

"You don't understand, Toyokawa Shoko, you don't understand how this world works at all."

Yutenji Wakamu muttered to himself, recalling the conflict during the last rehearsal.

She thought her proposal - taking off the mask and accepting the endorsement - would be discussed rationally, but she didn't expect Shoko Toyokawa to react so strongly.

The words "This band doesn't need a second voice" still echoed in her ears, carrying a kind of pressure she had never felt from Xiangzi before. Those amber eyes flashed with a cold light, as if in an instant, the person standing in front of her had become another person.

Yutenji Wakamu couldn't help but shudder.

She frowned, feeling a little humiliated.

"It's just a bluff."

She took a deep breath and looked at the tour news again.

Three cities, three shows, means three opportunities. If I can make something of one of them...

Her eyes fell on the bleak data curve again.

Those declining numbers were like an invisible knife, cutting into her self-esteem bit by bit.

She put in so much effort and stayed up all night just to maintain the popularity of "Meow Dream", but she still couldn't resist the ruthless changes in the platform's algorithm.

And Ave mujica, the band she once regarded as a side job, may now become her chance to turn things around.

“Traffic is king.”

Yutenji Wakamu clenched his fists, and the scales in his heart tilted to one side.

The so-called artistic purity and the so-called band concept are not worth mentioning in the face of survival.

She needs to seize every opportunity to enhance her own value, no matter how.

Thinking of this, her eyes became firm.

Toyokawa Shoko's last warning did make her retreat for a while, but after calming down, she realized that she actually had nothing to lose.

——After all...she didn't sign any contract.

Yes, when the band was first formed, Shoko Toyokawa didn't even have them sign any agreement.

And this also means...if things really fall out, her losses won't be too great to bear.

There are no legal constraints that prevent her from doing what she wants.

The worst-case scenario is being kicked out of the band, but before that, she can use the tour to her advantage.

A hint of determination flashed in Yutenji Wakamai's eyes.

She will bring up the topic of unveiling again at the meeting next Monday.