Chapter 133: One Day, a Person Must Face Themselves; For Qingshan Li, That Day Is Today

Monday's third period Physical Education class was still preparation for the long-distance running competition.

Qingshan Li ran, and it was obviously much easier than before.

The progress could be felt.

It won't be long before the evaluation for 【Speed】 should be able to upgrade, right? After all, the current evaluation is 'D', and to put it in those words: there's huge room for improvement.

Before the fourth period Biology class started, Qingshan Li said to Kobayashi Shiki and Aizawa Jun: "After eating lunch later, accompany me to go check the rankings."

Both of them nodded.

Every time exam results come out, the list of the top fifty names gets posted during lunch break.

The school has many notice boards; as long as it's not one exclusively for first-years or third-years, any of the others can show the second-year rankings.

After eating lunch, the three of them came to the notice board nearest the cafeteria; over ten people had gathered here.

Qingshan Li spotted these people from far away.

The Aoshan Ono Family had finally reached the starting line, and when interacting with the students around him, the psychological burden was much smaller.

No need to worry about things other than studying.

On this basis, if there are any other troubles, they can all be classified as beautiful memories of youth.

Qingshan Li felt a strength surge up inside his body; making his family happy was the source of that strength.

The three walked over, and the people in front subconsciously made way a bit.

"No no." Kobayashi Shiki laughed, looking slightly proud.

The three of them stood at the very back; no need to squeeze inside, they could still see very clearly.

The midterm exam personal rankings are directly written on the report card, so this time Qingshan Li didn't have to start looking for himself from the last-place-first position.

He directly looked at first place.

Rank: 1

Class: Class 2-2

Name: Mikami Ai

National Language: 100

Math: 98

Science: 99

Social Studies: 100

English: 100

Total: 497

Qingshan Li is 459.

The gap between the two can be described as 'worlds apart'.

During school, I also never saw her study that seriously; she never missed club activities.

Even if she works hard at home, time is limited after all.

Moreover, looking at her skin like snow, the whites of her eyes slightly tinged with blue, she obviously gets sufficient sleep and never stays up late.

Qingshan Li, on the other hand, sleeps at 2 AM every night, used to wake at 4 AM, and only recently changed to 5 AM!

"Mikami Classmate could enter the top ten nationwide too, right?" Aizawa Jun exclaimed in admiration.

"Let me relive once, no, two times, and I still couldn't get this score; I'd have to re-randomize Intelligence for it to be possible." Kobayashi Shiki said.

Qingshan Li looked at him once.

"I'm serious." Kobayashi Shiki wasn't joking, "But Qingshan, if you relive once, you definitely can surpass her!"

This is already his second time.

Qingshan Li felt his own incompetence.

From today on, he must get serious, pick up the identity of 'System Holder', and demand of himself in all aspects.

"Once you reach that level, rankings already have no meaning; mainly it's comparing with yourself, and seeing who can persist longer — I heard the cram school teacher say this." Aizawa Jun said.

The reason rankings have no meaning is because humans have limits.

And Qingshan Li, who considers himself a System Holder, is not human; he can't be nationwide first every time, and will definitely be laughed at by people.

Getting second place is equivalent to being in university and still wetting the bed.

Another strength surged up in Qingshan Li's heart; this was the strength of shame.

He continued looking down.

Rank: 2

Class: Class 2-1

Name: Miyase Yaeko

National Language: 96

Math: 100

Science

Wait.

Math? 100? Surpassed him and Mikami Ai?

He isn't even first place in Math?

Qingshan Li's mood at this moment was as if he really had wet the bed last night; from now on, he had one more absolutely unspeakable matter.

Science: 100

Social Studies: 100

English: 100

Total 496

"Four subjects full marks, I think the Student Council President is stronger!" Kobayashi Shiki said, looking up.

"No need to get full marks in every subject; whoever gets the total score wins the world." After speaking, Aizawa Jun added, "That's what the cram school teacher said."

Qingshan Li also searched for the Ono Sisters' rankings on the other two lists.

Ono Mizuki was 43 last time, 41 this time.

Ono Mika was 21 last time, 22 this time.

The fluctuations are all within the normal range.

Although within the normal range, before the next exam, Ono Mika probably won't be able to relax her mood.

However, worrying about studies is itself enjoying youth.

During the remaining lunch break, Qingshan Li went nowhere, studying seriously in the classroom.

Ono Mika has already worked very hard, but while others work just as hard and also attend cram school, he himself cannot slack off.

After school, Qingshan Li came to the Sunny Band Club.

The five gathered again, playing to their heart's content; the drop in ranking seemed not to affect Ono Mika.

《The distant planet floating in the Milky Way》

《Thoughts in heart, gradually entering the dream》

《The future you chose, and the path ahead you expected》

《No matter where you arrive》

《I will also coexist with you》

Qingshan Li took out his mobile phone to record.

During the break, he asked: "Has the song been decided?"

"All popular songs, and the type students like," Agatsuma Haruka said.

"Not a single original song?" Qingshan Li smiled.

"Now is not the time to discuss dreams; anyway, survive first," Bass Sakurako said, rubbing her fingers.

"Up to you all," Qingshan Li said, "but, Ono Mihana, you can relax a bit more."

"Relax a bit more?" Ono Mika took a small sip of water, moistening her throat.

"You sing well; believe in yourself, so be more confident, more casual; occasionally twist your waist, and when you don't need to sing, shaking your head and swaying your brain to the rhythm like an audience is fine too."

"But I follow Sakai Izumi's style," Ono Mika said.

No wonder she's often heard humming Sakai Izumi's songs lately.

"Even Sakai Izumi would move to the rhythm, right?" F·Rino said.

"Who is Sakai Izumi?" Bass Sakurako asked.

"."

"You idiot?" Agatsuma Haruka said helplessly.

"Me? An idiot? I'm third in the whole grade, thirty nationwide, oh, little Mingxiang."

Is there grade harassment if there's authority harassment?

"Dong dong~"

Someone knocked on the door.

Drummer Gu Mumi and F·Rino were about to stand up, but Qingshan Li raised his hand and made a downward pressing motion: "You rest, I'll go."

Opening the door, outside was Ai Miue.

"Congratulations, you got first place again," Qingshan Li said.

Ai Miue looked at his expression, as if what Qingshan Li just said was "You're done with class?"

Both strange and nonsense.

She bypassed Qingshan Li and walked straight into the Sunny Band Club.

What's there to be proud of; it's just one point higher, and she doesn't have as many full-mark subjects as Miyase Yaeko!

After greeting them, Ai Miue said to everyone: "I watched your performance videos; I think you can add some performance quality."

"Performance quality?" they repeated.

"Simply put, you don't need too much improvisation; treat this as a stage play adaptation, even perform the passion."

Everyone said nothing, looking at each other.

"Think it's fake? Think it's tiring?" Ai Miue retorted, "But that's the stage; what time to chat about what topic is all decided in advance; even talk shows that seem improvised have scripts."

If Ono Mika and Agatsuma Haruka were to speak, it would inevitably cause conflict.

So Qingshan Li said: "High school club activities, is it necessary to be like this?"

"Isn't the goal Budokan?" Ai Miue looked at the blackboard, "In front of tens of thousands of audience members, would you leave the stage entirely to improvisation?"

She looked at everyone:

"You might think professional bands are naturally different, and you're just high school club activities, but your level is only that of high school club activities; you must give your all to attract fifty audience members and accomplish the impossible."

"Do it!" Bass Sakurako suddenly said.

Everyone looked at Bass Sakurako.

"I've had a belief since I was little," she said, "Anyway, going to university, go to my ideal best—since we're doing a band, naturally we must give our all."

"I don't have any belief," Drummer Gu Mumi said, "but I don't want it to end; I want to keep playing music, chatting, and holding study sessions with everyone."

"Then, what exactly should we do?" Ono Mika asked somewhat confusedly.

Ai Miue took out her mobile phone: "I had someone collect many performance videos of idol groups and bands; every position has them; you watch and learn yourselves."

"Mainly find the feeling; if you can't find the feeling, then you can only rely on acting. At the appropriate time, make the appropriate movement, like red light stop, green light go."

"Mika Senior, as the lead singer, you are the one who mainly interacts with the audience; you must relax more."

"Exactly the same, hehe~" F·Rino laughed disgustingly.

Mikami Ai looked at her doubtfully, like a lively little tigress sizing up a vulture that had set its sights on her.

(Chapter End)