How can my simulation be a real love?

"Ah...that's right. I was afraid I'd make mistakes because of nervousness on stage, so I thought I'd practice the chords I needed to play at home until they became second nature to me. That way, even if I got too nervous and my brain turned into coffee pudding, I'd probably still be able to play the whole thing smoothly..."

Why coffee pudding?

Kazami Mei's lips twitched slightly.

However, he had a rough idea of ​​what Boqi was thinking. It was certainly a good thing that she valued the fireworks festival live performance, but if she overemphasized it and overtrained, leading to over-fatigue, then it would be putting the cart before the horse.

After all, in Kazami's opinion, Rōchi, who has solid strength, doesn't need much training at all.

"Actually, you just need to maintain your normal live performance mindset. Boqi, you've already done several performances, haven't you?"

"Ah, um..."

Goto Ichiri lowered his head slightly, and the ahoge (cowlick) tied with the yellow and blue square hair tie seemed to droop gently as well.

This fireworks festival is an opportunity that Kazami Mei painstakingly secured for everyone. If the band performs well in the live performance, it may mean their 'debut'. It is also an important step for Ijichi Nijika to realize her dream!

If you fail to perform well due to nervousness and end up failing at the last hurdle—

Just thinking about this made Pochi's eyes light up with panic, and his fingers, gripping the hem of his clothes, began to tremble slightly.

Kazami Mei narrowed her eyes slightly, slowly leaned closer, and extended her hand.

Hellish Burial Hand Chop!

"pain--"

Pochi immediately covered his head with tears welling up in his eyes, looking as weak as a sheep being bullied by a hungry wolf.

"Don't underestimate everyone's fragility. Both Hongxia and Liang were mentally prepared before deciding to go on stage. Even if our performance isn't perfect, as long as we learn from our mistakes and try harder next time, it'll be fine."

"No matter what the outcome of this live performance is, it will not be the end of the band's journey."

Goto Ichiri, who was still covering his forehead with both hands, slowly raised his little head.

Her clear blue eyes, mostly hidden by her bangs, stared at the black-haired boy in front of her, looking somewhat bewildered. The anxiety and unease she had felt seemed to gradually fade away at this moment, but she opened her mouth, unsure of what to say.

"—Besides, don't we still have you, our 'guitar hero'?"

Kazami Mei's words, tinged with a smile, softened Pochi's heart, and his eyes couldn't help but sparkle with emotion.

Normally, she might have been overjoyed to hear such praise, but Goto Ichiri didn't feel that way at the moment. She just felt her heart pounding, and her beautiful, sky-blue eyes sparkled.

No matter the situation, Kazami Mei would always stand behind her.

He was her first friend, and the one who held the most special place in Goto Ichiri's heart.

When I was hesitating, it was he who gave me a push.

Without Kazami Mei's help, she might never have been able to join the band she admired, meet Kita Ikuyo, or become the shining guitarist on stage.

If Goto Ichiri hadn't met Kazami Mei at that narrow corner of the stairwell, perhaps her life would have continued like the previous sixteen years, where she would never dare to take the first step when faced with any opportunity, and would have ended up working a mediocre job after graduating from high school.

Compared to myself.

"Only those who speak out are heroes."

"...?"

This time, the sound was not as faint as a mosquito's foot as before.

Finally, Goto Ichiri, who had stopped looking down, raised his head, revealing his pure white skin like fresh snow and his exquisitely delicate features. His eyes, as if imbued with a determined light, gazed ahead.

This was also the first time that Kazami Mei had observed Pochi from such a close distance.

She usually wears baggy and outdated sportswear, with long bangs and a timid, rabbit-like head down. Whenever you talk to her, she stammers and rambles. She also doesn't like to express her opinions on band discussions.

But now, Pochi seems to be shining brightly on the stage—

"what--"

Only then did Pochi realize what she had said, and her delicate face instantly flushed a brilliant cherry red.

"No...that! I didn't...I didn't mean anything else! I mean, this is actually...not what I meant! I didn't have any other thoughts, what I meant was Ming-sang's meaning...actually, what I meant was..."

Panicked, Goto Ichiri began to gesticulate wildly, muttering strange, incomprehensible words.

But she found that the more she tried to explain, the less she could make it clear. In this state, her mind went completely blank, and in the end, she could only let the air in the closet fall into an eerie silence.

Ruined.

By suddenly saying something so misleading to Mingsang, has her life come to an end?

Now that things have come to this, we have no choice but to resort to our final measures...

"hiss--"

The girl took a deep breath.

Boom!

"I'll do anything, please forgive me!"

The dull thud of his forehead hitting the wooden cabinet was deafening. Goto Ichiri's perfect dogeza (a deep, obeisance gesture) made Kazami Naru raise an eyebrow and a slight smile. Before he could even think about it, the appropriate line had already slipped out of his mouth unconsciously—

"An apology should involve showing off your chest..."

"Hi!"

Goto Ichiri suddenly looked up and reached out to grab the chain on his tracksuit.

Since Kazami Naruto had already seen her naked before, it didn't seem to matter anymore! As long as she listened to Kazami Naruto and went all out, things would definitely get better!

"Wait, I was just saying it offhand!"

Realizing what was happening, Kazami Naru quickly reached out to grab Goto Ichiri's small hand. Who knew that the usually gloomy and timid Pochi would act so decisively at this moment? By the time he grabbed her, Pochi's zipper was already almost halfway open.

At the same time, their postures changed in this confined space.

Her long, soft, cherry-colored hair gently draped over her shoulders, her skin was as delicate and smooth as snow, and the unique fragrance of a young girl lingered around her. Her exquisite features, as if sculpted by a celestial being, were as beautiful as a poem or painting.

The girl's reddened ear tips made Kazami Mei freeze in place.

"what……"

Boqi's long eyelashes trembled slightly, though he usually kept his eyes closed. But today, he unconsciously opened his blue eyes, which were slightly misty.

The black-haired boy who had been sitting inside the closet was now right in front of her, only a fist's distance between them, and Kazami Naruto's fair and slender hand was tightly holding hers.

The scorching heat emanating from her palms seemed to penetrate her skin and reach her internal organs.

Oh no, my head is starting to spin.

It has to be said that staring at Ming Sang's face at such close range is a real treat!

Even just looking into his eyes made her feel like she was on fire. If her hand hadn't been held by him, Goto Ichiri would have definitely clasped her hands together and thanked the gods in the sky.

She could write 30,000 words of "romantic romance" on Twitter just from this scene. Even if she were to die in his warm arms now, it would be worth it, right?

Unlike Goto Ichiri, whose inner monologue was overflowing, Kazami Naru took quite a while to finally come to her senses.

"...Pochi, you really are an idiot, aren't you?"

With a hint of meaningful sarcasm emanating from his mouth, Kazami Naru, forcibly maintaining his composure, nonchalantly released Goto Ichiri's small hand. He paused slightly, looking at the blushing, somewhat bewildered Pochi, before speaking again—

"In short, all we need to do is give it our all."

"No matter what the outcome, I won't regret making the decision."

No regrets.

The girl's azure eyes shimmered with a subtle, rippling light, and she unconsciously clenched her fists. Her face, usually filled with fragility and timidity, now reflected a determination and seriousness like melted ice.

"Ok!"

The concise and straightforward words are filled with unwavering conviction, just like steel forged through countless hammer blows.

She no longer needs to think about the outcome of the performance; she just needs to give it her all.

Even if things don't turn out as expected in the end, she has already stood on the stage she longed for!

"I can't hear you, it's too quiet."

"Um!!!"

"Okay, very spirited!"

Seeing Goto Ichiri's completely different expression from before, Kazami Mei realized that she had really changed a lot.

Compared to when she was too afraid to even breathe when facing strangers, she now dares to face 'failure' and stands on the stage that belongs to her without hesitation.

As a 'guitar hero', Ichiri Goto was originally a rough gem, and only with careful polishing could he become a masterpiece.

Hesitation and timidity only became shackles that bound her actions, but they could not ultimately limit her continuous growth. One day, she will shine with a light that is more than her own.

"It's about time we left the closet. To be honest, I'm starting to feel oxygen-deprived after being in an enclosed space for so long."

Actually, spending so much time with a beautiful girl like Boqi was getting to him.

"Eh?"

Goto Ichiri stared blankly as the closet door was opened.

Watching Kazami Naru disappear into the distance, it felt as if another important thing had been taken away from her heart. A faint sense of loss and sadness made her furrow her brows uncontrollably. In the blink of an eye, these surging complex emotions within her transformed into her motivation.

We must change; we cannot remain stagnant.

"Ming-sang, I want to play the guitar."

"No way, did all that talk I just gave just now go to waste?!"

……

The preparation room for the idol group [Sumimi]

Wearing a black-and-white gradient performance dress, Mitsumara Hatsuka is leaning wearily against the sofa.

Her bright and smooth golden shoulder-length hair gently cascaded over the fair-skinned girl's shoulders. Her beautiful violet eyes, which always carried a smile and a dashing charm on stage, now appeared tired and somewhat dim.

"Chuhua~ just tell me!"

"Are you secretly dating someone? Who is he? Do you have a picture? Is he older or younger than you? Actually, I think someone like Chu Hua might like younger men. Don't worry, I definitely won't tell my manager!"

The brown-haired girl beside her was wearing the same color outfit as Mitsuka, but unlike Mitsuka's long dress and off-shoulder style, the brown-haired girl was wearing a small tie, as if she was full of energy and liveliness.

The constant questioning gave Chu Hua a headache.

"Mana, I've said it so many times... I'm really not in a relationship."

"Haha~ I don't believe it."

Junta Mana waved her hand dismissively, her energetic and cute face bearing a slightly smug smile.

In her opinion, how could Miss Chuhua, who has such a mature and reliable personality, suddenly ask 'that kind of question' for no reason?

This is clearly a case of someone getting to know a boy and accidentally falling for him, but not knowing whether it's a romantic relationship or not, which is why she came to ask me under the guise of being a 'friend'.

The clever Mana-san has seen through it all!

Somewhat unable to resist her, Misaka Hatsuka slowly sat up and said with a hint of helplessness, "We still have to shoot a music video later, right? Mana, are you all ready?"

"Oh no! I forgot about the donuts... We won't have time to eat when we're working later, so we both need to eat more to maintain our energy!"

When Junda Mana realized what was happening, her face turned pale with fright, and without saying a word, she turned and walked towards the door.

Finally having some free time, Miss Chuhua sighed softly, looking slightly tired. As she picked up her phone and looked at the screen, a beautiful smile gradually appeared on her lips, and her slightly dim eyes softened at that moment.

"I really want to eat braised pork..."

I just don't know when I'll be able to eat there again.

As Misaka Hatsuka gradually recalled the content of their chat that night, the smile on her face became clearer. Unconsciously, she had already found someone's Line account, and her finger subconsciously wanted to click into the chat box.

hum-

The phone suddenly started vibrating, accompanied by the caller ID.

The words 'Xiao Xiang' were clearly displayed on the glass screen. Upon realizing what was happening, Sanjiao Chuhua's pupils contracted slightly. She quickly sat up, carefully dialed the number, and then gently put it to her ear.

"Hello, is this Xiao Xiang?"

[Sorry, Chuhua... You're probably still working right now, right? Is it a bit of a bother to call you at this hour?]

"I was on break time, so it's fine."

Sanko Chuka answered softly, but at the same time, she had a few more doubts in her mind.

[Oh, I see... Actually, I don't have anything important to say. I just wanted to say hello and also ask about the progress of Mujica's debut performance of their new song. Hatsuka, you've probably been in contact with Naruto recently, right? I was thinking that you might have already started writing lyrics and composing music.]