Mygo, the band legend of Tokyo handsome guy

Playing the wrong note is a very basic mistake.

The performance suddenly stopped, causing Mingze Feng to shrink his neck, thinking to himself, "It's just a wrong note, is it really that serious?"

Hiroi Kikuri didn't look at him, but instead turned sideways to look at Iwashita Shima behind the drum set.

Oh, maybe the mistake of the bass drum earlier masked the guitar's error.

Hiroi Kikuri asked, "What's wrong? Shima, you seem out of sorts today."

“I…” Iwashita Shima glanced at the drumsticks in her hand, took a deep breath, and continued, “Sorry, I was distracted just now… Let’s do it again.”

The other three looked at Iwashita Shima with concern, but Hiroi Kikuri started the tune first, and the four of them resumed their practice on horseback, their movements a clattering and clanging sound.

After Hiroi Kikuri called everyone to finish practice, the group left Flot. Usually, if there was a performance, they would all go together after practice. There wasn't one today, so everyone went home separately.

"Want to go grab a bite to eat together?"

"Yes, yes, of course I'll go." Eliza Shimizu, whose expected living expenses had plummeted due to excessive spending on in-game purchases this month, nodded hurriedly.

Mingze Feng naturally agreed and joined in the planning to find a suitable store.

Seeing that Iwashita Shima remained silent, only staring at the ground and following behind the group, Hiroi Kikuri approached her and waved.

Kikuri: "Shima, what's wrong with you today?"

Eliza: "Yeah, yeah, caught a cold? It's common during seasonal changes."

Mingze Feng glanced over here. He had encountered too many troublesome girls recently, and he subconsciously felt that this matter was not simple.

Naruzawa Kaede said, "Shima, don't be so nervous. Just act like you normally."

"I...no, that's not how it is..."

Iwashita Shima looked hesitant to speak until the group arrived at the shop and sat down inside, at which point she revealed her situation.

Recently, my wrists have been shaking involuntarily while playing.

I put too much psychological pressure on myself.

Almost everyone present felt the same way.

The hospital examination revealed a physiological condition called 'Yip syndrome', rather than typical workplace anxiety.

"I always feel like... I lose my strength once I start, and I get inexplicably nervous when playing rhythm..."

Hiroi Kikuri pondered seriously, "This has never happened before...and no one I know has encountered this before..."

"I... Before this, I was having a lot of fun playing, but lately my body has been stiff when I play the drums... I'm sorry... I'm suddenly saying something so heavy, and I'm sure it's upsetting to hear this."

"How could that be!" Hiroi Kikuri waved her hands.

Eliza Shimizu looked up and smiled, "Not at all, I'm glad you can talk to us."

Mingze Feng suggested, "How about we try a street performance... I'll take care of the drum problem."

Shima Iwashita said with a wry look in her eyes, "And what about public order? Drumming in the streets..."

"We'll have Hiroi run separately from us; she's slow," Naruzawa Kaede said confidently, patting his chest. "We'll be fine."

Kikuri Hiroi gritted her teeth and said, "Hey! I'm still here! Stop thinking about usurping the throne!"

"Stop arguing! You'll kill someone if you keep arguing like this..."

Eliza Shimizu also joined the fray.

Seeing the harmonious scene of the band, Iwashita Shima couldn't help but smile.

"...sorry!"

Iwashita Shima slammed his fist on the table and stood up, looking over in surprise at Hiroi Kikuri, who had just run into Narusawa Kaede's arms.

Is this still the mature and composed Iwashita Shima?

"In short, give me some time. Let me see what I can do."

This is indeed still the same earnest and responsible Iwashita Shima.

Iwashita Shima's departing figure as she left practice was exceptionally resolute.

Eliza Shimizu silently gave a thumbs up.

While showing off her food, Hiroi Kikuri was quite certain: someone as serious as Iwashita Shima would definitely be fine.

Hiroi Kikuri said to Narusawa Kaede and Shimizu Eliza, "Just watch, Shima will be fine."

Perhaps, this isn't even a problem.

Then... Hiroi Kikuri hesitated, glancing at Narusawa Kaede, and shifted her body slightly in his direction...

Feeling incredibly sneaky, she secretly tugged at Mingze Feng's clothes with her hand hidden under the table.

"Aren't you staying home tonight... I'll come over," Hiroi Kikuri asked in a low voice.

Judging from her demeanor, she seems to want to act discreetly.

As Naruzawa Kaede watched, Shimizu Eliza, who was sitting opposite him, slowed down her eating, and her ears perked up like a rabbit's.

This is like hiding a ball of yarn.

Naruzawa Kaede thought that Yamada Ryo had slept during the day, so she figured she must have gone to bed late, maybe even until the early hours of the next day. So she made plans with Hiroi Kikuri for tonight.

We did it from one end of the bed to the other.

Then... a few days later, at a rehearsal.

The drumbeats echoed in the air, powerful and resonant, yet lacking a certain tension. Iwashita Shima's tense shoulders offered no relief from her fatigue; instead, they made each strike less precise. Her eyes never left the drum, but her vision gradually blurred.

The practice session came to an abrupt end once again.

Before Hiroi-sensei could even speak, Iwashita Shima sighed.

Shima Iwashita: "This is a big problem..."

Kikuri Hiroi said, "Relax, you don't have to be so perfect... Even if there's a slight miss, I'll cover it up for you."

How about improvising a bass piece?

Narusawa Kaede glanced again at the spot where Iwashita Shima had changed position. Iwashita Shima's current state... well...

Actually... it's pretty good, no intervention or treatment is needed at all.

After all, she's a working professional who's been in the workforce for several years; her mental fortitude is nowhere near that of a sixteen-year-old high school girl struggling with stress...

"Miss, how could you! Absolutely not!" Iwashita Shima shouted with a gloomy face.

Ming Zefeng's expression froze.

"If it's not all perfect, then it's meaningless! What I'm aiming for is AP!"

Eliza Shimizu blinked. AP doesn't mean...

Shima Iwashita waved his drumsticks haphazardly, saying resentfully, "I feel like a complete novice right now!"

"No matter what, it can't be that serious..."

Hiroi Kikuri waved her hand helplessly.

Shima Iwashita realized she had lost her temper and took a deep breath.

"Sorry, I need to go outside and calm down..."

"Shima..." Hiroi Kikuri stretched out her hand, and before her eyes, Iwashita Shima walked straight out of the house.

"I'll go and have a look."

As soon as Naruzawa Kaede told Hiroi Kikuri what he was about to say, he was about to follow her out when Hiroi Kikuri grabbed his arm.

Turning around, Kikuri Hiroi and Eliza Shimizu exchanged glances, then looked over with serious expressions.

Kikuri Hiroi + Serious?

"We have something to discuss with you."

"it is good."

If it weren't for the narration describing them thinking about Iwashita Shima, Narusawa Kaede would have thought that Hiroi Kikuri was about to repeat that night's declaration of a threesome.

Actually...

Kikuri Hiroi asked if it was possible to temporarily reduce or stop the activities.

"After all... if the four of us are to keep going like this, we'll need to take breaks."

Hiroi Kikuri spoke softly, her deep tone reminding Narusawa Kaede of the comfort he received after a long night of hard work; just hearing it made his back go weak.

But... it's break time...

Should a team that's on the rise take a break...?

Tsk, otherwise it wouldn't amount to anything. Such womanly compassion.

However... the feeling of never giving up and never abandoning is actually quite good.

I need to think carefully about how to explain this to Boss Tsuzuki...

Narusawa Kaede asked Hiroi Kikuri, "Who should go and talk to Shima?"

"I knew Maple-chan would agree. Come to my house later!" Shimizu Eliza smiled and winked at Naruzawa Kaede.

Hiroi Kikuri didn't feel that anything was wrong.

In response to Narusawa Kaede's question, Hiroi Kikuri chuckled, took a step forward without hesitation, and raised her head.

"Of course I'll do it. After all..."

"I'm the captain, you know."

"Feng, I'll leave the communication with that senior to you. Eliza, be prepared to provide support."

"Leave Shima to me, watch me handle it!"

Kikuri Hiroi clenched her fist with four fingers, her thumb pointing to her cheek, and grinned as she said in a low voice:

"Speak your mind, dare to say what you mean and dare to do what you say—that's my way of the ninja!"

Naruzawa Kaede and Shimizu Eliza exchanged a glance.

These are all references from the Heisei era.

This time, the subtle exchange of glances between the two completely shattered Kikuto Hiroi's smugness.

Despite trying to remain calm, Kikumi Hiroi couldn't avoid the sudden embarrassment that washed over her. Her smile turned pale and stiff, and a faint blush appeared on her face.

"Um... give us some feedback, you two?"

"Oh my god... Kiku-senpai is so cool!" Shimizu Eliza cheered enthusiastically.

“Uh…yes, yes, yes.” Mingze Feng nodded.

She looked down and straightened her cuffs. "Keep it low-key, keep it low-key..."

Naruzawa Kaede and Shimizu Eliza exchanged a glance, and a few seconds later, they both couldn't help but laugh.

A truly joyful sound came from inside the room.

Chapter Twenty-Six: Taking Eliza to Find Coolness

Band leader Kikuri Hiroi steps toward Shima Iwashita, her firm steps a testament to her sense of responsibility as the band leader, calling her forward.

Chosen children, keep going!

...Speaking of which, this statement does reveal my age a bit.

As for Tsuzuki Shisen, negotiations with Narusawa Kaede weren't difficult. The other party seemed quite used to such things happening to the band, simply telling them to handle it themselves.

Besides that, a sponsor wanted to talk to him in the afternoon, but lunch was the priority now.

After finishing his conversation with the boss, Mingze Feng took Shimizu Eliza to a restaurant.

If they don't eat out, Shimizu Eliza will pretend to be pitiful and have no food, and then invite Naruzawa to come and cook for her.

This is exactly what Eliza Shimizu just did.

After randomly choosing a shop, Mingze Feng could only hide his embarrassment by drinking water.

With Hiroi Kikuri not present, the atmosphere suddenly became empty. Only Narusawa Kaede and the blonde girl remained, sitting silently facing each other.