The social phobia substitute will not dream of the band girl

"Hmm? It's really lively today—"

The doorbell rang again. After confirming that it was not a prank, Ping Xin went to open the door. However, he still didn't expect who was behind the door.

*Anyway, it’s not Meow (

"Good afternoon, Ping Xin."

"Surprise? It's little Mocha~yo~"

"Hey, long time no see."

"Good afternoon, Ping Xin brother, come along too!"

Tsugumi Hanazawa, Moka Aoba, Tomoe Udagawa, and Himari Uehara are all old acquaintances. Add in Mitakeran, who occasionally stays here for a few days, and the five of them make up Afterglow. The key words are "band girl" and "luggage." So that's it... I know this question!

*I've seen this sister before

"Let me guess...you guys are going to training camp too?"

"That's amazing! Can you read minds?"

"It's also possible that she's been secretly watching us... After all, Mocha is a beautiful girl~"

"...No way, and would anyone normally call themselves a beautiful girl?"

Seeing the distressed look on the man in front of her, Aoba Moka grinned. In her opinion, Ping Xin was one of the top three people who was fun to tease.

"Anyway, you guys should come in first. Mizukuri is still unloading the luggage."

"Then we won't bother you."

"Excuse me~Ah, it's bread!"

Since we were all old acquaintances, there was no need to be shy and polite; just go with the flow. Ping Xin had expressed this idea many times before. After all, in his opinion, trying to figure out other people's thoughts was one of the few things that was very laborious and thankless.

After all, although he understands human nature, he doesn't understand human hearts very well.

"What? You're already here... Let's go then... Ping Xin, where are you?"

"Me? Of course I have to participate in the training camp too."

Although participating in training on both sides at the same time may require a lot of effort, it is summer vacation now and I am relatively free. As for the book... I'd better find time to work hard on it, otherwise I'm afraid I will still be writing it next year.

"Then it's decided. Everyone will participate in the seaside training. I've asked the shadow ladies to prepare the beach. Let's go now—"

Wait, a beachside camp? A beach? Where's Shadow? Come on, why did they arrange all the resources and plans without me even knowing?! ...What? I said, "Give them privileges, so they don't have to ask me about everything"?

Ah...that's okay!

But now I'm stuck. I just agreed, assuming it was just a home training camp. Now that I think about it, the five members of Afterglow all live nearby and don't need to bring any luggage... If Roselia agreed first, then it would be better to clarify now—

"...Wait, Hirashin-kun has already agreed to attend our intensive training. If you're just planning on having fun, there's no need to ask him to come along, right?"

"I agree with Sayo. We're serious about making music here, so if you want to have fun, why don't you just go by yourselves?"

Ah... this is troublesome. Since they are the two most stubborn and serious people, it is hard not to -

"Huh? He just agreed to it himself. And we're not just going there for fun, we also have to prepare music for the summer music festival!"

While Tomoe Udagawa is a cheerful and straightforward "handsome guy" most of the time, he's also the one most likely to get angry when things get tough. Hirayuko, who once got scolded by her, feels things are starting to get complicated. While being fought over by a beautiful girl feels good, the reasons and reasons for the fight are rather subtle, like a fight over a legendary item dropped in a raid.

"Alright, alright, calm down anyway—"

"Yeah, since we can't argue about it, let's let the parties involved decide. Isn't that right, Pingxin?"

Aoba Mocha!!!

Don't add fuel to the fire at a time like this!!!

"Ah...Ahaha——" Ping Xin laughed awkwardly.

"Ping Xin, are you willing to sacrifice everything for Roselia?"

"Ping Xin, make your choice, just like usual."

Facing the death stares from the two lead singers and the band members arriving one after another, Ping Xin's choice is -

"......Feel sorry!"

Here...I can only apologize!

Sorry, I'll do anything!!!

"This is all my fault, so you guys stop arguing... okay?"

For Ping Xin's sake, the two teams temporarily stopped fighting.

"And it doesn't matter, I can coach both teams the same way!"

"...So how do you get between here and the beach?"

"Ah..I'll just have to rely on my perseverance here!...Plane or something?"

Seeing Ping Xin's bullied look, Mi Zhulan was both angry and amused. "...Ha—you're obviously afraid of heights, and you're talking about airplanes? Can you at least pay attention to yourself?"

With years of companionship, Mizukari's team took the lead, but Yuki's team refused to give up.

"...You go ahead, Pingxin. Summer vacation is the time to go out and have fun. If you want to blame someone, blame me for not discussing this with you in advance. I'll let you go this time... I'll figure out the practice myself."

Minato Yukina compromised...but your tone makes me feel like something's going to happen?!

"What? It's like we're forcing him... We can just let him move freely! Ping Xin, it's okay if you don't come with us!"

So should I go or not? If I go?

"In that case, Hirashin-kun should really stay with us. You don't need him anyway, right?"

Hikawa Sayo, stop for a minute! Are you one of those people who gets easily carried away?! And the original competition for Hirayobu suddenly turned into a pushover. I can't figure out what you're fighting over anymore...

"Ping Xin, what do you think?!"

"Ping Xin?!"

"Ah... ahahaha... how about - you two have a fight?" Ping Xin asked tentatively.

"Wait, wait, don't take this seriously! I'm just kidding, bro~...Since you're girls in a band, how about we compare them based on music?"

In the end, Pingxin chose this method.

After all, although this little episode was not part of his plan, letting them collide and compete with each other was one of the events that Ping Xin needed.

"...I have no objection. It's a good opportunity for you to see the results of our recent efforts—"

"...Me too, everyone just needs to behave as usual—"

Mizukura and Yukina stared at each other from a distance, their eyes colliding fiercely and even producing sparks...

Wait, this sounds like a kid eating popcorn. Make one for me too!

Chapter 65: Collision of Beliefs and Goals

"Huh—so, what's your choice?"

"..."

Just now, at Heishin's house, the hot girl bands Roselia and Afterglow had a "showdown" with only one audience member. And now they were all waiting, 10 girls waiting for his choice.

"First, Roselia—you all displayed incredibly skillful technique in the performance just now. Both the instrumentalists and Yukina, who was in charge of the vocals, gave it their all. It was undoubtedly a perfect, wonderful performance."

"Hmph... Of course."

"Well, it's the result of our efforts."

It would be better if you two could just give me some ordinary happiness! Ping Xin dared to think but not to speak.

"As for Afterglow... 'As usual', I can only say this -

If Roselia is about hitting every note at the perfect moment, then Afterglow is about being more spontaneous and free to follow its own rhythm. There's no superiority or inferiority between the two, just differences in style. Like the songs themselves, I can't give them a verdict other than "this is great."

Just like Roselia highlights each member’s style and Afterglow combines the five members’ music together, the two have different styles but the performance effect is equally outstanding.”

"So... who are you going to choose?"

"Well--"

As expected of Mizukari, this is a classic intense segment. It's been so long... Ping Xin, who had hoped to use these sweet words to drag things out, realized his mistake. Who said that you can win over girls with just compliments? Who is it?!

"Ahem... Anyway, the coordination among the five members of Roselia and their performances on stage have undoubtedly improved. It seems you've learned a lot from these recent live performances. And Afterglow has further strengthened their style, moving us just like before.

As a Sensi (teacher), I am very pleased to see your progress——"

"So...what's the result?"

Minato Yukina, why are you here too?!

"Well... I have two favorite bands, and both of them are sincere!... Promise me, don't hit me in the face, okay?"

"Pfft-"

Someone's laughter attracted everyone's attention.

"Ah, sorry, it's just that Hirashin-san is a very interesting person. He's quite handsome when he's serious, but his normal self is even more interesting~"

...Hmm? Could it be that at this pace, everyone will be able to have fun together and forget about the previous unpleasantness?

Nice girl~!

"...You said before that if you do something wrong, you must accept the punishment, right?"

"Come to think of it... He often tells me this, right?"

The two vocalists reached a consensus at this moment and looked at Ping Xin together. The person involved thought about it for a moment and came up with a countermeasure.

"Well... come on, don't pity me just because I'm a delicate flower!"

"Ugh, kimo (disgusting)..."

"Sometimes I wish you could be more normal, Hirashin-san."

I lost something, but at least it's over... It's finally over, right?! As the saying goes, there's a fine line between playing a clown and being a real clown, and it's clear that Hirayuma is one of them.

"Ahem... Why did you all suddenly think of intensive training? You haven't been this easily impatient in the past, could it be..."

"...Summer Festival is the path to FWF (Future World Festival), so we must use reliable means to secure it."

I see... It's fear, uneasiness, and worry that lead to the pursuit of strength in pursuit of a sense of security, just like the reasons why people pursue strength, wealth, status, and power. However, saying it here would be too inappropriate for the situation, so I'll rely on my rhetoric here—

"I see... Tokyo Summer Music Festival and Future World Fes. are both world-class venues, making them perfect for rehearsals before the official performance. So, just like Saya said, 'Practice like you would for the official performance, and perform like you would for the official performance. (練習は本番のように、本番は練習のように。)' Right?"

"...If that's the case, I might as well lend you a regular letter."

Mizukari had also heard of the Future World Fes. Perhaps Roselia, who was in a band just for fun, needed a qualified mentor more than them.

"Hey, hey, I'm not a thing... No, I'm a thing... Never mind, just pretend I didn't say anything. But you guys are going to the festival too, Mizukuri, right? You guys definitely plan on not just having fun at this beachside camp, but also training as well. Otherwise, you wouldn't have to come looking for me or the Shadows. Wouldn't it be easy to find somewhere to play around Tokyo?"

"I......"

Mizukari hesitated. Just like Hiraishin said, they did intend to train hard. After all, they were about to step onto a world-class stage, so naturally, they'd be nervous, right?

"Roselia's goal is to perform on the world-class stage of Future World Fes. This is undoubtedly impressive and important, but it doesn't mean that Afterglow's goals should be inferior to theirs. Being able to develop the music of the five of you for years, decades, and even a lifetime is a truly remarkable thing, at least in my opinion. In a sense, your goals are even more difficult and more self-willed."

"But......"

"Roselia is working hard for her goals, and that's certainly something everyone should respect. But when you're performing in the band, are you just going through the motions, perfunctorily satisfying the audience, and perfunctorily satisfying yourselves?"

"Of course not... Otherwise, I wouldn't even be able to pass the interview with that 'owner' (Japanese: オーナー), let alone the activities afterwards—"

Afterglow is a band founded by Mizukuri and her four childhood friends. It is full of their memories and even ordinary people cannot slander or tarnish it.

"That's all right, isn't it? Just like the boss said, 'Are you all giving it your all?' Obviously, without my special training, you can't really be said to be giving it your all, your heart and soul. So I have to help, I absolutely have to help!"

"After all this talk, Pingxin, which side are you from~"

As Aoba Moka spoke, the ten band members present, along with Xiaoshi and the shadow maids who were secretly sharing Coke and popcorn, all turned their attention to him. It must be said that for those with keener senses and more sensitive minds, the gazes of others are more difficult to resist...

"...I'm yours, everyone's partner. This was decided from the beginning, wasn't it? Hehehe - it doesn't matter. I'll teach both teams equally!"

"No!" x2

Hey, why?

After all this preparation, is it really too early for him to understand a woman's heart?!