Chapter 699: Don't give up on your dreams!

As evening approached, the rain that had been building up for several days was finally about to fall.

A cool evening breeze began to blow from who knows where, growing stronger with no sign of stopping. Dull thunder rumbled within the thick, dark clouds, and every so often, a bright flash of lightning would erupt, followed seconds later by a booming roll of thunder.

With the fall of the first raindrop, translucent lines of water descended from the sky to the city, like strings stretched between the heavens and the earth, emitting a *whoosh* and *swish* sound as they were plucked by the gale.

Dense raindrops pelted the roof and windows of the Mountain Cherry Garden, the bamboo leaves beside the courtyard wall, and the fine sand of the dry landscape garden, pattering incessantly before turning into a *clattering* symphony under a sudden gust of wind.

Eitaro and Miaotaro both sat upright on the veranda, watching the heavy rain outside. They were inexplicably quiet, their eyes filled with such philosophical depth that it seemed as if a soul full of life experience resided within their tiny heads.

In the second-floor study, Naoki Nagayama glanced at the water patterns constantly streaming down the window. He had returned from the studio early today, just in time to avoid the impending downpour.

After watching the rainy scene for a while, Naoki Nagayama lowered his head once more, searching through the small safe containing his musical scores.

"Which song should I give to Yukiko Okada... 'Sudden Love' and 'Happy Ending' are reserved for two television dramas, so I definitely can't give those... 'Stay With Me'... I'm a bit reluctant to give that one away, and if I did, people would surely think I was confessing something..."

Naoki Nagayama was well aware of his reputation in the media.

His relationship with Akina Mori was an open secret in the entertainment industry. If he were to give a song like "Stay With Me" to some up-and-coming female idol at a time like this, then...

The entertainment industry would be in for another headline frenzy...

"But the other songs aren't suitable either... 'Riding the Love Wind' and 'Rain' are both sung by male voices, and 'The Love I Found' doesn't even have a Japanese version..."

For the first time, Naoki Nagayama felt that his backup song library was somewhat insufficient.

He then remembered that the song he was going to give Yukiko Okada was meant to encourage her not to commit suicide by jumping from a building.

"If it's about persuading someone to keep going... then..."

He suddenly recalled a song that became very famous in later generations, Mika Nakashima's "I've Thought About Ending It All." It was said that this song had actually lowered the suicide rate in Japan.

Naoki Nagayama had certainly heard this song, and it was a very long one, but he didn't know Japanese at the time and hadn't memorized the lyrics...

"Anyway, let's see if I can remember it~"

Because he only had a vague impression, Naoki Nagayama pressed his temples, recalling the lyrics he faintly remembered, hoping to bring them back~

Having utilized the memories in his subconscious so many times, Naoki Nagayama had gained some control over his ability. However, that was only to keep his thoughts and ideas from being overwhelmed when a massive amount of memory surged forth. This was the first time he had actively explored the sea of his subconscious memories...

"I've thought about ending it all"

"Because my heart had become empty"

"Because a person like you exists"

Stanzas of lyrics he faintly recalled, under Naoki Nagayama's constant recollection, truly triggered a reaction in his mind. The melody of striving to live despite the urge to die, and the emotions of warmth and sunshine, seemed to be constantly accumulating and surging in his chest, waiting for a chance to burst forth...

Feeling that it was working, Naoki Nagayama "recalled" with even greater intensity. Unknowingly, he began to hold his breath, searching for that spark of inspiration in his mind, his face even turning red from the lack of oxygen...

But just like an angler in a tug-of-war with a giant creature in the water, he felt as if an invisible barrier was blocking his mind from the cluster of subconscious memories. He was pulling with only a thin thread of a clue, and the thing in the water could unhook at any moment...

"Huff, huff~~"

Naoki Nagayama couldn't hold it anymore and began to breathe heavily.

That song still hadn't been recalled. Although his heart was full of sunshine and warm feelings, the surging emotions seemed to be slowly calming down...

"Looks like I can't remember it after all~" Naoki Nagayama sighed~

Just at that moment, a flash of white light appeared before his eyes, making the dim study as bright as day!

"What..."

Naoki Nagayama was startled and was about to stand up to check when, in the next instant, a *crack! * of thunder seemed to explode right by his ear, leaving his mind blank for a moment...

Coming to his senses, the *rumbling* thunder was still echoing in the sky above...

A bolt of thunder had just struck not far from the Mountain Cherry Garden!

But as Naoki Nagayama regained his composure, those warm, sunny, and hopeful emotions surged into his heart once more, as if his Ren and Du meridians had been cleared by the thunder. A moving, optimistic melody suddenly began to emerge in his mind...

But it wasn't Mika Nakashima's song...

"

Someday, we will all set off

Walking down our separate paths

Even when we stumble upon hardships

I believe we will surely overcome them with strength

Don't give up on your dreams

I believe in you from afar

"

As the musical melody gradually faded, a feeling full of hope continued to flow slowly through his chest. Naoki Nagayama understood now: to evoke memories from his mind, what was truly important was emotion; that was what was more enduring.

Just like a "white moonlight" from over a decade ago—the memories of being together might be forgotten, but that emotion, the longing and impulsiveness of youth, remained so vivid...

"'Don't Give Up on Your Dreams'?"

Pondering the memories emerging in his mind, Naoki Nagayama was curious:

"When did I hear this song? Giving this song to Yukiko Okada seems pretty good too; it's very positive...

The original singer is Takako Okamura? There isn't much memory of her in later generations, but she seems to be someone from a campus group... She seemed to have a brief flash in the entertainment industry the year before last and even appeared on the Red and White Song Assembly... But she seems to have faded away now."

That's how the entertainment industry is; generations of newcomers keep emerging, and apart from the few at the very top, the seniors are all washed up on the beach...

"Looks like I can pay attention to her in the future."

Naoki Nagayama knew that if a debut song was good and there was a well-known song later on, this singer definitely had potential.

Just as he was preparing to write the music, the sound of *pitter-patter* footsteps came from outside the study, then the door was pushed open, and a white dog dashed in, immediately pouncing onto Naoki Nagayama's knees, shivering.

"Eitaro?" Naoki Nagayama stroked the dog, feeling its body still trembling.

"Scared by the thunder just now?"

The thunder just now had been too close; the dog had probably never experienced it before. Naoki Nagayama could only continue to pat the dog to soothe it.

"Hahaha, what a cowardly dog~ It was just a bolt of thunder~" ===== CHAPTER 700 =====