How can my simulation be a real love?

At this moment, even Ms. Toyokawa's fingers were trembling. She really didn't expect that Yutenji Wakana would still dare to do this despite the confidentiality agreement. But now that she was forced into this situation, she began to consider the consequences of this matter.

However, she remained remarkably calm.

It was just a little unexpected situation on stage, which was nothing for Toyokawa Shoko, who had experienced so much, to lose her temper.

But what to do?

"Oblivionis, didn't you want the audience to see the most perfect smile?"

Yutenji Wakame wore a smug, mischievous smile. She was completely oblivious to Toyokawa Shoko's expression at that moment. The astonished gazes of all the audience members made her feel extremely pleased, but it made Toyokawa Shoko furrow her brows deeply, and a strange glint flashed in her eyes.

"A perfect smile?"

The sudden call interrupted Yutenji Wakana's lines. The moment the incredibly familiar voice entered their ears, the girls on the stage were simultaneously jolted awake and involuntarily looked toward the source of the voice.

Standing there was a black-haired boy, also wearing a mask.

"What does a genuine smile really mean? The rose we call a rose, no matter what other name it has, still retains its rich fragrance."

"Overthinking deprives people of the joy of life. All we, as 'dolls,' need is to present an unparalleled masquerade ball to the guests present."

Chapter 134 The Masquerade Ball [5k]

Meow?!

Miao Mengqin, who had been standing on the stage with a smug smile, trembled. She looked at the figure not far away in disbelief. A black-haired boy in a gothic suit stood not far away, gently pressing down the black patterned mask on his face.

The collar and cuffs were embroidered with thorn patterns in dark silver thread, as if the night flowing on the stage curtain was draped over her body. This completely different image caused the audience to gasp in surprise, and even the girls on stage stared wide-eyed.

why?

The costumes and Ave Mujica's mask—aren't these all custom-made?

Yutenji Wakana froze on the spot. Kazami Mei, who was behind the scenes, suddenly appeared on the stage, instantly turning all her thoughts into a mess. Even her stunned movements were taken by the audience as part of her acting.

Standing in the center, Toyokawa Shoko immediately reacted. She had been somewhat flustered by Yutenji Wakanagi's sudden actions, but she quickly calmed down after Kazami Mei arrived on the stage.

She adjusted her mask, opened her right arm, and shouted with great force—

"Is it you? The doll that has been sleeping all this time... Lucis (Light)!"

"Is it because of the magnificent moonlight that you have awakened? I never imagined... that we would have the chance to meet again on this unpredictable stage of fate!"

Okay, that's so cringeworthy.

Kazami Naruto's eyes trembled slightly as he pressed his hand against his mask. He had just been thinking about what opera lines to use to get by, but he hadn't expected his girlfriend to act so quickly.

All the lines she uttered were improvised; these ridiculously cheesy words were as natural as breathing for this Miss Toyokawa.

"Mortis and Timoris, stand up."

“You are not a puppet who can change masks at any time. You have a ‘living’ soul. You don’t need to think too much… Just play to your heart’s content. Follow your heart.”

Kazami Mei continued reciting her lines following Toyokawa Shoko's words. Wakaba Mutsu, whose mask had been removed, quickly calmed down. Her gentle golden eyes gazed into the distance, meeting his gaze in the air.

In an instant, she understood what the other person was thinking.

If Ye Mu wouldn't have cared about her mask being removed, it was just that the sudden situation left her somewhat at a loss. She knew that Feng Jianming was still watching her back, so even though she was flustered, she quickly calmed down.

Unexpectedly, he actually went on stage.

The moment the black-haired boy put on the 'Lucis' mask and stepped onto the stage, she no longer had any worries or panic; all her negative emotions dissipated into the air, and her gaze was fixed solely on the gentle-eyed boy.

She had nothing to be afraid of.

"Now, please enjoy Ave Mujica's 'real' performance!"

As the central figure, Toyokawa Shoko gently raised her right hand, and the curtain of the entire stage play immediately fell. The dim lighting was accompanied by the audience's excited shouts and anticipation.

Yutenji Wakana was still in a daze. When the blood-red curtain of the stage was pulled down, she raised her surprised eyes to look at Kazami Mei over there, opened her mouth as if to say something but then stopped.

However, there was no time.

As the curtain was drawn back, everyone had to quickly return to their places next to their instruments. However, a new spot appeared next to Toyokawa Shoko, where a puppet named Lucis picked up a guitar.

Isn't he the 'keyboard warrior'?

Yutenji Wakame, holding drumsticks, watched Kazami Mei's retreating figure. According to her investigation, he had performed as a keyboardist for two bands, and also worked as a composer and logistics manager for Mujica.

But now he's actually on stage with a guitar. Just how much else does he know?

hum! !

Kazami Mei's opening guitar riff pierced the amplifier and shook the air, giving Yutenji Wakanagi no time to think. He was rapidly strumming the strings, playing a solo guitar opening that stunned the entire audience with his superb skills.

This is the true power that the legendary 'Guitar Hero' can display.

His superb skills, far surpassing those of professional musicians, and his more composed and perfect rhythmic control than professional musicians, stimulated Yutenji Wakanagi's heart with every strum of the strings, and a strong sense of frustration surged into his mind like a tide.

why?

Yutenji Wakana, at a young age, left her hometown alone and went from Kumamoto to the distant metropolis of Tokyo to make a living. She worked harder than anyone else and longed to make a name for herself more than anyone else!

But clearly, in her eyes, Kazami Mei is just a clueless brat!

Why is there such a big gap between them and themselves?

The roar of his guitar sent shivers down the spines of the entire venue. The shrill electronic music was buzzing, and the perfect harmony between Hachiman Kairin and his bass gradually built the foundation of the music. The guitar accompaniment played by Wakaba Mutsumi blended perfectly with it.

The pure auditory feast had a powerful impact. Without exception, all the audience members were staring intently at the black-haired boy on the stage, as the melodious tune connected the notes.

Yutenji Wakami never imagined that Kazami Mei's guitar skills were at this level.

She had never witnessed such praise for guitar skills. Even professional guitarists like Mutsumi Wakaba and Hatsuka Mitsumi subconsciously gave up their lead positions, allowing Mei Kazami to lead the entire band's melody.

"The weightless Nana is like the Nana!"

The brief, soothing interlude allowed Kazami Mei to slow down his high-frequency strumming on the guitar. He slowly raised his head and looked towards the audience, where almost all the spectators had excited smiles on their faces.

Wearing a black patterned mask, Kazami Mei slowly closed her eyes, lightly plucking the strings of her zither. Then she looked at the petite doll girl with long hair reaching her waist not far away, and slowly walked to her side.

"Well?"

Wakaba Mutsu, who was plucking the strings to play, was clearly surprised. She subconsciously looked up and met the gaze of the doll 'Lucis' in front of her. Feeling the smile under the other's mask, her petite body swayed slightly.

Both of them were playing instruments, yet they were also looking at each other.

All eyes were on 'Lucis', and naturally, they also noticed his little interaction with 'Mortis'. In an instant, the audience's eyes were filled with joy, and cheers erupted from the audience.

Noticing this, Toyokawa Shoko couldn't help but raise the corners of her mouth. She subconsciously looked at Mika Sanka beside her and found that the idol was also secretly watching over there. A faint smile appeared on her face.

Hachiman Kairin had even less to worry about. She turned around without hesitation to face Kazami Naru, a stage interaction that was completely different from before, which delighted the audience.

Yutenji Wakame, standing at the very back, took in all these scenes.

"..."

All she could hear was the muffled thud of the drum set being struck by the drumsticks. The rhythm of the normal performance was being led by Kazami Mei, leaving Yutenji Wakana unable to spare any energy. She could only focus on playing the drums, but the more she played, the more she felt something strange in her heart.

Even though the performance was flawless, she felt unable to fully immerse herself in it.

……

The two-hour performance gradually came to an end. The high quality of Ave Mujica's "Masquerade" was evident to all. Before the curtain fell, all the audience members applauded enthusiastically, and the thunderous cheers lasted for a long time.

As Yutenji Wakanagi stood on the stage bowing, he could hear the various shouts from the audience below.

But the most common comments were things like, "Xiao Mu is so cute!", "Lucis is so handsome, it was definitely the right decision to come this time!", and "Their interaction is so sweet, do they keep in touch in private?"

The audience's enthusiastic discussion made Ruoye Mu feel flattered. She bowed to the audience and then stepped off the stage, but a hint of tenderness appeared on her usually calm face.

"Everyone is calling Xiao Mu's name, it's amazing...!"

"After all, Mu is very cute, so it's only natural that she attracts all the attention."

Misaki's praise made Wakaba Mutsu lower her head shyly. From childhood to adulthood, the words she heard most often were "Wakaba's daughter" and "inheriting the excellence of Mori Minami," but no one had ever truly seen her in person.

At first, only Kazami Mei was watching her from beginning to end, but now the audience has also begun to take her presence seriously.

The masquerade ball was a great success, but that didn't mean Toyokawa Shoko could just laugh it off and move on. She had only just returned to the backstage preparation room when she frowned and looked at the gloomy-faced Meowmu.

From the end of the performance until she left the stage, she never heard anyone paying attention to her. The entire venue was focused on Wakaba Mutsu, making Yutenji Wakame, who had also taken off her mask, seem out of place.

"Yutenji Wakanagi, do you understand what you're doing?"

Unauthorized removal of the mask and revelation of one's true face is a rather serious performance mishap for Ave Mujica, whose selling point is masks!

Not to mention that Kazami Mei had everyone sign a confidentiality agreement beforehand, so Yutenji Wakana's situation is entirely punishable, and if it leads to serious consequences, she could be held accountable for the damages.

Faced with the questioning, Yutenji Wakana's expression stiffened slightly; she seemed still somewhat shaken from the setback on stage. However, she quickly regained her smile and spoke calmly—

"But wasn't the performance a great success? The internet is flooded with news about Ave Mujica, and we're even in the top three of the online discussion charts!"

Do you think this is your achievement?

Even though her personality softened and became gentler after falling in love, in front of others, this Miss Toyokawa was still the same 'tyrant'-like, aloof and cold Oblivionis.

"I'm doing this for Ave Mujica's own good!"

"But I really didn't expect that Naruko was hiding the code name Lucis (Light). You could cause a huge uproar as soon as you stepped on stage, so why... didn't you take the stage as Lucis before?"

Yutenji Wakame's tone had lost its usual teasing quality, but her question made Toyokawa Shoko's face stiffen.

Her question also reminded Toyokawa Shoko of when Mujica was first formed, when she invited Kazami Naruto to join the band and regarded him as an indispensable member, so she naturally prepared corresponding code names and masks for the members.

At that time, she even gave him the most suitable code name, Lucis (light), and even his performance costume was the same type with the opposite color and similar style as her own performance costume. Toyokawa Shoko thought all of these were necessary.

but--

Kazami Mei, who joined Mujica, said that he did not intend to go on stage, but only to support everyone behind the scenes as an 'operator'. So the code name prepared for him was abandoned. However, Toyokawa Shoko still did not throw away the mask and costume.

She never expected Lucis to appear in this way.

With a thousand thoughts swirling in her mind, Toyokawa Shoko gently shook her head. Removing her mask, she furrowed her brows and stared intently ahead. Clenching her fist, she spoke in a chilling, indifferent tone—

"You're doing this for Ave Mujica? I think you're only thinking about yourself!"

"What did I do wrong?!"

Yutenji Wakana, whose thoughts were already in disarray, showed a hint of irritation in her eyes. She reached out and gripped the mask that represented Amoris tightly, her diamond-like pink eyes fixed on the front.

“I was just doing what Xiangzi told me at the beginning. She told me that as long as I joined Ave Mujica… I could get what I wanted, and that’s why I came!”

"But how long has Mujica been in the industry now? Haven't I gotten what I wanted in the first place?"

Yutenji Wakana's dissatisfied response made Toyokawa Shoko turn pale with fright. She pursed her lips, took a small step back, and grabbed her right arm with her left hand as if she was about to say something, but she didn't know how to start.

Kazami Mei slowly closed her eyes, then stood in front of Toyokawa Shoko.

"Mujica is not some child's play band; we can't let you do whatever you want with them."

“Yutenji, no matter what, you acted recklessly and arbitrarily this time... This is not allowed in Mujica, and according to the confidentiality agreement, I can punish you.”

Upon hearing these words, Yutenji Wakame's face turned pale, but she still took a deep breath and put on her usual smile, though she couldn't hide the trembling in her voice: "I have always done as Xiangzi said, but she has not kept her promise to this day."

"Your band activities are temporarily suspended."

Even after removing his mask, Kazami Mei was still wearing that dark red performance outfit, but his face lacked the familiar teasing and deadpan expression of Yutenji Wakami. He simply stared at them without any emotion.

"……you!"

She stared wide-eyed, a hint of bewilderment flashing in her eyes.

After a long silence, she clenched her fist, her eyes dim, and replied in a low voice, "Then let's do it your way."

After saying that, she turned and left as if fleeing, as if everyone around her was looking at her with malice. Only Kazami Naruto, who was standing there, let out a long sigh and slowly placed the mask in his hand on the table.

I can't believe it, I never imagined she would have such audacity.

After calming down, Kazami Mei turned to look at Toyokawa Shoko, then said with a hint of apology in her eyes, "I'm so sorry, Shoko, I made the decision without your consent."

"That's not true! Ming's decision is my decision."

"Whatever Ming decides to do, I will not hesitate!"

Ms. Daisho, who was gently touching her chest, had a hint of panic in her eyes. As if to prove herself, she took two steps forward and stared intently at Kazami Mei's face with a serious and resolute expression.

He certainly looks quite determined, but it's also a little funny.

It feels like Emperor Xiang is being sidelined by Prime Minister Ming, who keeps delegating power to him every round.

“This time it’s Xiao Mu and Hai Ling. You two also showed your faces with Miao Meng. But overall, the problem isn’t too big. Mujica’s resources are now much stronger than we imagined.”

"Actually, Xiangzi and I had discussed privately whether we should start showing up one by one after a while, but we didn't expect that guy to be so impatient, even if it meant being punished, to change the direction of the band."

A faint, strange light flashed in Kazami Mei's dark eyes. He had considered the reason why Yutenji Wakana was in such a hurry, but he couldn't get any information out of her. It seemed that Nyanmu didn't trust other people.