Mygo, the band legend of Tokyo handsome guy

Naturally, this became the last show. The guests were still reluctant to leave, so Ijichi Hoshika closed the shop, and then the two of them together threw the drunken Hiroi Kikuri into the backstage area.

If Starry had an official Twitter account, we might see news like "Superb bassist vandalizes venue" tomorrow.

Backstage.

Hiroi Kikuri was transported back to the little nest that had been prepared for her.

Naruzawa Kaede put the guitar and bass away. As he walked into the room, Ijichi Seika came out.

She closed the door and saw Mingze Feng, then said, "She's already asleep... How did Flot let her stay there?"

"Perhaps it's because her performance... is too captivating." Naruzawa Kaede stroked the wooden door. On the other side of the door, Hiroi Kikuri should be fast asleep. Is she dreaming? If so, will she be surrounded by bottles of alcohol in her dreams, or will she hear the music of her dreams?

"On the road to pursuing dreams, how many people choose to give up, and how many people are immersed in the ordinary world, but she seems to have gotten out of bed with the brakes off, and rushed all the way to the music she dreamed of making."

"Although she can't even make a living off her dreams, her life seems to be nourished by them. If we don't let her make music, she'll probably drown in this world."

Ichiko crossed her arms, intending to say something, but she pursed her lips and ultimately just hummed softly.

"It's good to have dreams, but just don't become an alcoholic," she said to Mingze Feng.

[A sentimental young musician? Stop being so artsy... But dreams... No matter what, Hongxia absolutely cannot become like this, we must keep those two apart.]

Ijichi Seika's narration never strayed from her sister.

Mingze Feng also leaned against the wall and met her gaze.

Ijichi Hoshika pulled a pack of cigarettes from her pocket, took a cigarette and lit it in one smooth motion. She held the cigarette pack up to Naruzawa Kaede, but after Naruzawa Kaede waved his hand in refusal, she didn't take out a lighter to light the cigarette.

"Speaking of which, what about the shop owner? She used to play in a band, right? Kiku was crying and making a scene back then, and she was talking nonsense. Actually, she had just joined the light music club, but her senior left."

"...I don't want to talk about it." [Sadness: I don't want to mention it]

“Then let’s talk about my story.” Naruzawa Kaede recounted how he met Hiroi Kikuri when he was feeling lost, and how he was drawn to her.

Now it seems the reason has been found. Although she's an alcoholic and has a bad temper, she's a person of unwavering resolve.

[What a cliché shoujo manga... no, this formula is like a beautiful poem... damn, why am I even listening to this kind of story?]

Ichika glanced to the side. "She can't even manage her own life... She's twenty-four or twenty-five, yet she acts like a child, borrowing money and not paying it back, freeloading, and her pockets are empty before the end of the month. She's probably still in debt, and she drinks heavily every day... She drowns her sorrows in alcohol when she's troubled, constantly escaping reality..."

She kept quiet with a sullen face, as if recalling the past.

If it weren't for Nijika... I'd probably be like this now.

Mingze Feng watched the flowing gilded characters silently, the two of them exchanging a word.

Silence seemed to be the star of the night, building a bridge of cranes between the two. Even Ichiji Hoshika was affected by this silence. She touched her pocket but couldn't find a lighter.

"Damn, which guy stole my lighter?" He didn't even find it. "Before, I was no different from this guy... no, that's too kind of me."

Ichi Hoshika stomped the entire cigarette on the ground, as if the cigarette were herself, and rubbed her sneakers.

"Hiroi is a genius in this industry, far more brilliant than me."

Chapter Twenty-One: Some stories only begin in Chapter Twenty-One.

They started chatting like that.

When Ijichi Hoshika couldn't find a lighter anywhere, she went inside and took two boxes of Oni King Beer from Hiroi Kikuri's person.

They randomly picked a table in the shop and started drinking and chatting.

This was the first time Mingze Feng had ever drunk alcohol in a cardboard box, but he didn't feel anything special about it.

After taking their first bite, Naruzawa Kaede and she both let out a "ha" in unison. The two then chatted about the snacks they had prepared, complaining about Hiroi Kikuri's immature lifestyle.

But was she really talking about Kikuri Hiroi?

Mingze Feng felt that this was not entirely true.

The singer, Ichiji, danced with such abandon, as if she had truly returned to the past.

She said she once asked a female classmate she knew well, "Lend me some money to buy a pack of cigarettes." Because she lent money to so many people, she forgot who it was, so she still hasn't paid it back.

He told a female student who bought a new guitar, "Hey! Your guitar is nice, let me borrow it for a bit." But he accidentally broke it, losing all the performance fees he had saved up over the past few months. He had no choice but to save money and mooch off his bandmates for food and drinks.

My reaction to failing grades from university: "Tch, another year of delayed graduation."

"Actually... you borrowed money from me to buy cigarettes before."

Naruzawa Kaede said it in a serious tone, which earned him an eye roll from Ijichi Hoshika.

"Come on," Ichiji Hoshika took another sip. "Someone like you, I wouldn't even give you a second glance back then. I advise you, don't expect to win over someone like that with the attitude you use to pursue women. You won't succeed."

Although I promised to say some nice things... but, little brother Feng, you have to understand, this kind of person is the hardest to win over.

Mingze Feng seemed to see changing words in the light.

Whether pursuing a man or a woman, there's always a way to win when competing with others. But an ideal is different; it's the pursuit itself. Once that pursuit dominates one's life, pulling it back out is no longer something that simple love can do.

Only poets and sages would believe that diligent watering on asphalt roads can cultivate the flower of love.

"You mean I should find a woman who lives an honest life?"

Ijichi Hoshika nodded, then suddenly noticed that Narusawa Kaede had quieted down.

She wondered if she had been too blunt, and just as she was about to speak, she met Ming Zefeng's gaze.

Mingze Feng [stares—]

[Damn it, don't look at me like that!]

Ichi Hoshika thought about what the two of them had just been talking about, and then she thought about how she was being pursued by a man... She couldn't believe it at all, and she got goosebumps all over her body.

I said, "No, don't look at me like that."

She took a sip to hide her embarrassment, but the discomfort of the silence still lingered.

Ijichi Hoshika was never one to hold back. She slammed her hand on the table, pointed at Narusawa Kaede, and loudly mocked him:

"What? You're totally into delinquents! Your tastes are so weird, can't you have better judgment? Can't you think long-term?"

Mingze Feng admitted, "I have to admit, I do like strange people a bit more. But Xingge, you're clearly not that bad yet."

"Hey, you're not my type. Besides, weren't you chasing after Ju Li before?!"

[Upon closer inspection, she's actually quite good-looking, so why does she fall in love with every single one of them?]

"Isn't it because Sister Xingge gave me a chance to go back to a good life? I'm looking forward to both."

[Hahaha... Seriously, I never thought that I'd have a suitor like Hikaru from Seikiri... Tch, what a lame joke.]

"Greedy." Ichiji Hoshika pouted, raised her arm, and shook the wine box in her hand. "Are you going to drink or not?"

Mingze Feng touched the paper cups together above the table. There was no metallic clanging sound, but the action seemed to have occurred spontaneously at a certain point in their conversation.

"Kikuri graduated a few months ago, right? By the way, did she fail any courses?"

"I'm the only one who failed. I really don't know how she graduated. It's like even an idiot could graduate..."

"I don't think she can explain it herself, but what you're saying includes yourself, you idiot shopkeeper?"

"Get out of my way... So what? I'm just an idiot..." Ijichi Hoshika propped her head up, her face flushed, looking like she was in a frenzy.

“I always thought there was nothing wrong with me being like this… until my mother passed away and I was all alone in Hongxia…” She shook her head and waved her hand, “Let’s not talk about this anymore. We’ve finished our drinks anyway, let’s call it a day.”

For some reason, the two bottles of cheap alcohol I got from Kikuto Hiroi were particularly intoxicating.

Perhaps it's just as the rumors say. Sometimes, what makes drinking intoxicating isn't the alcohol itself, but the memories and thoughts of the past.

Ijichi Hoshika covered her head, resting while resolving that she wouldn't drink like that again next time.

Mingze Feng had roughly read those stories; they were about a delinquent who was in a band, and after his mother died in a car accident, he remembered his sister and then changed his mind and started a life together with her.

It was really tough. She went back to university, studied hard, and completed her credits. After graduation, she worked part-time to support her sisters. Now, she has started this shop almost from scratch.

Another big reason for opening a live music venue is that my sister became obsessed with bands, and I wanted to give her a place to realize her dream.

Has your dream become helping Hongxia realize her dream, or do you hope that your own dream can be realized through Hongxia?

He was laughing and saying so much just now, but he didn't seem like he had let go at all.

Mingze Feng took out a few more cans of beer that he had just tidied up backstage and waved, saying, "Hoshika-san, stay a little longer, I don't have anywhere else to go."

"No way, if I don't know where to go, I'll just go home. I should go back and cook for Hongxia too."

No, I want to snuggle into Hongxia's arms and drink the thick soup she made.

Ichi Hoshika took out her phone while humming softly.

There are many unread messages on the lock screen, with Hongxia's message at the very top.

Mingze Feng propped his cheek up with his hand and tapped his fingers on the table.

The words beside Ichiji Hoshika were still moving downwards, and she seemed to be silently reciting something.

【Sis~ I'm staying at a friend's house tonight, don't worry about me! Make sure your clothes are all put away properly when you get back, and leave the dishes there so I can wash them tomorrow. Also... that's about it, right? Oh, sis, I washed your little bear pillow this morning, it should be dry by now. Can you take it down yourself? —From Hongxia】

【image】

It seems that my younger sister has a lot on her mind.

Mingze Feng couldn't help but take a few more glances. This was what you call a real information decryption. They even mentioned that he needed to hug a teddy bear to sleep at night.

Naruzawa Kaede opened two cans, placing one in front of Ijichi Hoshika, who had sat down again, and carrying the other himself.

“Speaking of which…” Mingze Feng recalled, “I told Xingge about working as a construction worker when I was 17. Actually, I was 14 at the time, and I lied about my age. My dad ran away, and I was left alone in the old house, struggling to even afford food and electricity.”

Ichika Hoshika, resting her head on her arm, said slowly, "Based on what you're saying, I'm 80% sure it's your boss taking your cut, it has little to do with the customers. Don't make a fuss, those unscrupulous bosses love good kids like you who don't know the law and aren't afraid to cause trouble~"

"Sigh, so that's how it is?" Mingze Feng frowned as he recalled, and it seemed that perhaps... that was indeed the case.

"I know it all too well! After leaving the band, I didn't know what to do. I've done all sorts of jobs, from mechanical repair to furniture assembly. In short, all the bosses were bastards! They were all obsessed with money."

“Yes, the bosses are all bastards.” Mingze Feng nodded and said to Yiji Zhixingge, “Respect to these bastards.”

"Ha, so this round is about to begin?"

The two clinked glasses in remembrance of the bastards they had encountered in the past.

"By the way, boss, do you still have any alcohol left?"

"Huh?... Oops, wait a minute, you tricked me!"

Ichika Hoshika raised her fist. "I think you just want some snacks to go with your drinks."

Even so, she strolled to the storage room and returned carrying two cans in each hand.

In that short moment, she seemed to find a sense of the past.

Um... to use a better word, let's say that rock and roll feeling is back.

"Let me think about this... Speaking of fourteen, you really are resilient, a legendary longevity king? Let's just say this damn world doesn't need so many people, why send so many people here!"

Ichi Seika raised the sake jar.

"A damn world?"

Mingze Feng nodded, bumping into her cup. This world is truly a mess.

Ichi Hoshika's head was throbbing, making her dizzy. But there was also a sense of clarity, like a third-person perspective watching herself.

This time, she took the initiative to ask, "And then what? Still, a toast to the bastard?"

"This time I'm here... to pay tribute to our lost youth, for our story has only just begun."

"Haha, it's only just begun? That's great."

"Tch... You haven't given up yet. Fine, come on, come on, try it on me if you dare."

Naruzawa Kaede knew that this seemed to be a line from a script.

But looking into Xingge's eyes, Mingze Feng told himself that he would try his best.

"A toast to our dead youth!"

Since I haven't fainted yet, I can still play the instruments and strike the blows as needed!

Clang clang bang bang bang clang clang

The stage lights flashed again, and on the drum set that had been set up, Ijichi Seika had forgotten when she last played the drums.

The last time I touched the drums was when I was instructing Nijika. It had been a long time since I had felt this way of waving my hands, but at this moment, it was as if the god of music had descended, and Starry's stage was bathed in the golden light of the Vienna theater.

The drums are cheering, the guitar is playing its final song.