A band simulator, but all girl-heavy!

"That's fine. If Xiaokui doesn't want to answer, I won't ask any more questions."

There was no light in the room, only the lights from other rooms and the street lights outside the window reflected through the door, but Kita's beautiful eyes were dotted with crystal clear luster, "I'm just a little envious..."

"envious?"

Aoi asked cautiously, "You envy me...?"

"I envy Aoi's friends, who can create music with Aoi..."

"You can too."

"I don't know how to do that at all."

Xiduo smiled self-deprecatingly: "So I've always been thinking... it would be great if one day, Xiaokui and I could write a song together that belongs only to us."

Aoi really wanted to retort that the songs she had come up with so far all belonged to the band that had ended, but for some reason, she couldn't bring herself to say it.

In fact, she knew very well that those songs belonged to other bands in the simulator. Even though she still believed that the simulator was just a game, these songs always had their owners and were not something that Aoi created sincerely.

“…I will definitely do that.”

So, Aoi just tried hard to force a smile, facing Kita, and made a promise that she didn't even know whether she could fulfill.

"Well, it will definitely happen."

Kita's smile suddenly brightened, like the sun breaking through the clouds and lighting up the world. Then, she slowly stood up, looking down at Aoi from above in the dim room, and added softly, "And... if Aoi wants, you can call me 'Yudai'. If it's you, I wouldn't think it's so tacky..."

Aoi wanted to open her mouth to reply, but before that, Kita stood up, his tone returning to his usual lively and cheerful style, and he said with a smile, "I'm going to find Senior Liang!" and left the room.

The dim and silent room turned into a narrow little world again, where one could hear the sounds of the outside world through the walls and windows. One could hear the sound of the shower in the bathroom, the vague laughter of friends through the walls, the faint murmurs of drunk passers-by outside the window, and the passing of vehicles in the distance.

But there were only sounds around, and the only one who truly existed in this small world was Aoi.

Am I really worthy of everyone who ended the band...

This was the first time this thought popped up in Aoi's mind. It seemed that ever since she joined the band, she was the one driving everyone forward. Whether it was a music festival, an independent live, or a martial arts hall, they were all her personal goals. Everyone supported her wholeheartedly, but what had she given to everyone?

Thinking of this, Aoi realized one thing - that is, at least she must not let everyone down, and her next independent live must not fail.

To achieve this goal, there are many things she can do, including strengthening training, trying to write new songs in real life, etc. But among them, the fastest and most direct way to increase her chances is still that one thing.

emulator.

To be honest, after what happened today, she was a little hesitant and subconsciously became a little wary of the simulator, but after all, nothing happened. Giving up the simulator in this situation can only be said to be too pessimistic and too sensitive.

It was all just her overthinking, wasn't it?

Of course, we still have to continue with the simulator... and we have to produce results as soon as possible before the independent Live.

202

Chapter 202 The truth about the down-and-out young lady.

This simulation is another attempt by Aoi to make up for Crychic's regret, and it is also her only way to find out the truth about Xiangzi's withdrawal from the team.

If possible, she hopes to find the real Xiangzi through this method and provide the help she can to make Xiangzi as happy as possible - Xiangzi in the simulator is obviously depressed, and it is impossible that she really wants to quit the band suddenly due to a simple illness, but Aoi just hasn't found the reason.

This is Aoi's way of making up to the friends she met in the simulator.

Of course, this simulation is also the most stable option to get better chips in the independent live. As long as she completes the simulation again, the rewards she gains will probably be enough for her and the ending band to move forward for a long time.

So this time, Crychic's simulation must succeed...

[At your suggestion, Toyokawa Shoko told you her plan to form a band - specifically a band like Morfonica formed by Tsukinomori's predecessors, and you happen to be an excellent violinist.

You fully supported her plan, and the two of you decided to form a band together and named it 'Cyrchic'.

Together, you two first found Shoko's other childhood sweetheart, Wakaba Mutsu, and asked her to be the lead guitarist of the band. Shoko then contacted Shiina Ritsuki, the sister of the former head of the wind band at Haneda Academy, to be the drummer. After you entered Tsuki no Mori, you joined the wind band and invited Nagasaki Motoyo, who was also in the bass string section of the wind band, to be the bassist.

Originally, you were the most likely person to be the lead singer of the band, but since it is not realistic for a violinist to be the lead singer, you have to look for someone else. Fortunately, Toyokawa Shoko's excellent initiative and personal charm enabled her to quickly find an excellent lead singer and lyricist, Takamatsu Tomo.

And so, on a sunny day in the spring of that year, at the Yuze Cafe, the Crychic band was officially formed.

It feels like nothing has changed...

And I don’t know if it’s an illusion, but after choosing the relationship line with Xiangzi, it seems that the speed of forming a band has become faster.

This is not a good thing for the Crychic simulation. After so many repeated attempts by the C band, Aoi knows that the closer this band gets to the Live, the closer it is to disbanding. If it continues at this pace, I'm afraid the simulation will be over soon.

That shouldn't be the case, right? Xiangzi and I were childhood friends...it shouldn't be the same as the other routes.

[With your joint efforts, you overcame many problems caused by your initial acquaintance, and the band gradually got on the right track. In order to follow in the footsteps of Morfonica, you and Xiangzi unanimously decided to create music belonging to Crychic and use this song as the starting point of the band's career.

And so, "Spring Shadow," with lyrics by Takamatsu Tomo, music by Toyokawa Shoko, and arrangement by you, was born. It's a song uniquely Crychic, uniquely yours, and it received rave reviews at a live performance shortly afterward. Although it was your first performance, it left a lasting impression on many in the audience.

After the performance, you hugged each other and cried excitedly. Xiangzi held your hand tightly and kept repeating: "Next time, you must hold such a wonderful live..."

coming soon.

Every time I reach this critical point, it's like a fixed bug in the game. I desperately search the Internet for help and finally find a solution after a lot of effort, but I'm still not sure if it will work.

If this still doesn't work, she might really lose confidence in the C-Team simulation...

Aoi frowned and brewed his emotions for a while before deciding to continue the simulation.

Everything in Crychic was as beautiful and warm as a spring day, and the stories that happened were all beautiful and heartwarming. However, fate always seemed to like turning to darkness at the brightest moment. After the party on the second day, Xiangzi seemed to have suddenly encountered something bad. The atmosphere was quite depressing. He did not participate in the training, but left the practice room claiming that he had something urgent to do.

Since Xiangzi was not there, the practice could not proceed, and you finally had to go home with Mu. You asked Mu if she knew anything, but she just shook her head to indicate that she knew nothing.

Dark clouds began to gather over Crychic.

Since that day, Xiangzi has not come to the band practice for several days, and has not even gone to school. He cannot be reached on the phone. Because you are very worried about Xiangzi's safety, you decide to do something immediately - that is to visit Toyokawa's house.

Since you grew up together, it's only natural that you've been to the Toyokawa household before, and most of the servants and family members know you. However, they're clearly a bit surprised by your arrival. When you stand at the door, ring the doorbell, and ask if Shoko is home, they tell you that Shoko isn't.

No matter what questions you asked afterwards, they didn't give you an answer. You could only think over and over again about the meaning of "not at home" as you returned to your home. Because you were really confused, you asked your father about Xiangzi.

Your father and Xiangzi's father are old acquaintances. Your first encounter with Xiangzi in your childhood was when your father took you to visit Xiangzi's father. If it was him, he might know some inside information.

As you expected, your father knew what happened to the Toyokawa family and Shoko, and asked you with a puzzled look on his face.

"Didn't Xiangzi tell you?"

He explains to you that when Xiangzi's father was managing the Toyokawa family's business, some major accidents caused the family to suffer heavy losses. Since Xiangzi's mother had passed away in recent years, the head of the Toyokawa family decided to cut off relations with Xiangzi's father. Xiangzi refused to follow his grandfather, and instead followed his father and left the Toyokawa family.

In other words, at this time, Xiangzi is no longer the daughter of the Toyokawa family, but a helpless girl who has lost her mother, her home, and may even be burdened with huge debts.

But you know nothing about all this, not even a single word, not a single piece of information. As Xiangzi's childhood friend, one of his best friends since childhood, she knows nothing about the events that would affect Xiangzi's life.

You felt sad and angry, but it was no use wondering why Xiangzi had kept it a secret from you. Knowing the truth, you immediately asked your father about Xiangzi's current address and decided to find him immediately and do what you could:

①. Unconditionally provide Xiangzi with one million yen.

②. Invite Xiangzi to your home to work as a personal maid and offer her a high salary.

③. Suggest that she change Crychic’s goal to a professional one, and lend her money at zero interest, to be repaid when the band becomes famous.

④. Not telling her friends a word when something big happened is a sign of distrust. Give her a slap in the face!

203

Chapter 203 This kind of thing is not necessary.

Loss is probably one of the cruelest things in this world.

I can only watch helplessly as everything I have shatters and dissipates like bubbles. When I come to my senses, those things that I used to take for granted seem like a dream that is hard to come by, and have turned into a bubble of the past.

The death of her mother was a huge blow to Toyokawa Shoko. She had thought that it was the most depressing darkness in the world, and she had thought that she was gradually emerging from the haze of sadness, and everything was gradually leaning towards a bright future...

The return of childhood sweetheart Saotome Aoi and the establishment of Crychic, all of this is as beautiful as this spring, warm as standing in a field of spring flowers, feeling the butterflies fluttering by, and the breeze soaked in the fragrance of flowers brushing against your cheeks and passing through every strand of hair.

However, now, all of this disappeared as she and her father left the Toyokawa family... She couldn't bear to live alone without her father, but the burden of life was obviously not something she, a third-year junior high school student, could carry. The weight was too heavy, heavy enough to twist her small shoulders.

After moving out of the Toyokawa family, she looked for various part-time jobs in order to take care of her father and support her family, but many stores were unwilling to recruit junior high school students as clerks. The pressure of life had filled her soul completely, and squeezed out the beautiful things she had originally been passionate about bit by bit.

She didn't plan to give up the band, nor did she plan to tell her friends what had happened. Maybe she just wasn't ready, but Crychic was her last comfort... She couldn't lose Crychic again.

——That’s what Shoko Toyokawa originally thought, but one afternoon, she met the person she least wanted to see in front of her door.

Saotome Aoi was standing in front of her dilapidated rental house. The girl, who was of the same noble birth as herself and as beautiful as a princess, was standing in this street that seemed out of place. The expression on her face no longer had the usual light smile, but was replaced by worry, bitterness, sadness, and confusion.

Shoko Toyokawa didn't want to see Aoi here. If possible, she didn't want to see Aoi in this dilapidated house for the rest of her life. Obviously, none of this was her fault, but an inexplicable panic and shame still came over her, making her even want to close the door immediately and keep Aoi out.

But she didn't do it. She just stayed there, her mind blank and she didn't know what to say. She let Aoi grab her hands, and her concern was almost surging.

Aoi said nothing, but hugged Xiangzi tightly, wrapping him tightly in her soft and warm embrace, and a reassuring weight gradually pressed on her shoulders.

The same nostalgic embrace as always...

However, this is unbearable for Xiangzi at this moment. When a person is constantly enduring and suppressing his emotions, even a word of concern may break down his defenses, not to mention a hug.

So, before she felt her emotions and tears welling up, Xiangzi gently pushed Aoi away, grabbed Aoi's wrist, and asked in a cold tone:

"Aoi...why are you here?"

"Yes... Dad told me. Xiangzi...! I... I really didn't expect that such a thing would happen. How have you been recently? Have you eaten well? Are you hungry? How can you live peacefully in a house like this..."

Aoi's hands were filled with warmth, but that usually comforting warmth now made Xiangzi feel scalding hot, making her scarred soul almost unbearable. However, Aoi didn't seem to notice her abnormality, and continued to ask anxiously: "Why didn't you reply to my message? Why didn't you come to us... No! At least you could tell me... This kind of thing happened, but I didn't know anything. If Xiangzi had told me——"

"What's the point of saying it... Even if Aoi knew, it wouldn't change anything, right?"

Xiangzi lowered his head slightly, his long eyelashes like bird wings covering his golden eyes. Like a puppet with its strings cut, he let Aoi hold his hands, unwilling to meet Aoi's gaze. He simply replied numbly, "It has already happened. It is not something you and I can control, Aoi."

"What are you talking about... Xiangzi, something like this happened to my good friend, and I knew nothing about it. I'm still living my life with a clear conscience... Do you think I can feel at ease?"

Aoi's expression was a little sad, her emerald green eyes trembled slightly, and her eye sockets were slightly red, as if she had cried before coming here.

"That's why... I don't want you to know. I don't know who told you, but... Aoi, I hope you don't tell anyone else about this."

Xiangzi tried hard to suppress his trembling voice and forced himself to remain calm: "Besides, I'm fine. I just left the Toyokawa family. I'm doing very well, no different from before. I have other things to do now. Can you please go back first? If we want to chat first, we can go to Yuze Cafe tomorrow..."

"Xiangzi..."

"Well, hello."

"Please wait!"

Aoi's hands suddenly gained some strength, and she leaned slightly, finally meeting Xiangzi's gloomy eyes. She shouted anxiously, "Don't be like this... Xiangzi, are you in a bad mood? I understand... How can you be in a good mood after something like this happened? But we are good friends. We can rely on each other and help each other. I want to do something for you..."

"I don't need you to do anything for me, Aoi."

"Of course I need it! How could I not need it... Please, Xiangzi, as long as it's something I can do, I'm willing to do anything!"

Aoi's words were sincere. If it were her, she would certainly say such words for her friends. Xiangzi has always understood Aoi very well.

This young lady is someone who will give everything for her friends. She wants everyone around her to be happy, even if it puts her in an embarrassing situation.

But it just so happens that Xiangzi is not someone who likes to accept unconditional help. Even in this situation, she does not think of herself as someone who needs help. She has her own self-esteem. It is better to say that this is all she has left.

"...Aoi, you still like to say such irresponsible things."

Xiangzi's eyes gradually became sharper: "Then please tell me, what exactly do you mean by 'willing to do anything'?"

"...I, I've thought about it."

Aoi seemed to have anticipated Xiangzi's reaction. After taking a deep breath to calm herself, she gently let go of Xiangzi's hand, took out a bank card from her bag, then held Xiangzi's wrist again and placed it in his palm: "Please accept this."

"Are you serious?"

Xiangzi opened his eyes slightly, and for a moment he felt that a string in his head was gradually breaking.

"...If you don't ask Xiangzi to accept it for nothing, you won't accept it, right?"

Aoi shook her head slightly, a very forced, yet still warm and lovely smile on her face: "I've thought about it. The most likely thing we can do now is to use Crychic... to change all this."

"Crychic?"

"Well... I've looked up a lot of information. If we speed up and become a professional band, we can quickly generate a lot of profits in the current environment... As long as Xiangzi tells everyone, we can work together to become professional. This will definitely help Xiangzi overcome the difficulties."

It was indeed a very realistic and most likely option. Hearing Aoi's words and looking at the smile on her face, Xiangzi just took a deep breath and said nothing.

And Aoi just held Xiangzi's hand, with a comforting expression on her face, and continued to murmur softly:

"Please accept this money... Xiangzi, just treat it as a mortgage between us. When the band makes money, Xiangzi can return it to me."

"I do not need."

The card, which was no longer cold but gradually became stained with the warmth of the palm, was stuffed back into Aoi's hand. Before she could react, she felt Xiangzi silently withdraw his hands, and the warmth of the palm instantly escaped from her fingertips, like water seeping through her fingers.

Aoi's emerald green eyes looked a little bewildered, but what she met was Xiangzi's suppressed and distorted gaze.

"I don't need this kind of thing."