Chapter 82

After Qingshan Li carried the drum set downstairs, the Sunny Band Club room.

"Don't you think Junior Brother is more excited than usual today?" Agatsuma Haruka guessed excitedly.

"Maybe because tomorrow is a holiday?" Ono Mika guessed.

"No, no." Bass Sakurako shook her head. "Mika, you don't understand. When a man suddenly gets this excited, it must be because he's built up stamina."

"Built up stamina?" Ono Mika was even more confused.

"I think it's because Mikami Classmate is here today!" F·Rino's voice was soft, but her tone was firm.

Mikami Ai glanced at her.

She knew very well that everything Qingshan Li did was for Ono Mika's sake, and that he was so proactive today for the same reason.

Qingshan Li cared deeply about his family.

He cared so much that he gave up money—the huge manuscript fee from "Detective A" four months later—and gave up reputation—being misunderstood by her.

When she first founded the Athens Philosophy Research Club, it was to invite trouble for herself; now that trouble had truly appeared, there was not a single factor that could keep her heart from remaining calm.

When they went downstairs, Ono Mika spoke to her.

"Mikami Classmate, are property tax and maintenance fees really that expensive?"

"Mm." Mikami Ai didn't know the specifics, but she could probably guess.

Ono Mika nodded, then nervously confirmed: "There's one more thing I want to know. Mikami Classmate, was the transaction between you and Li that you helped him?"

Given the quality of "Detective A," even at a 10% royalty rate, Mikami Ai estimated Qingshan Li could receive several billion in royalties.

What's more, they split it fifty-fifty, far exceeding 10%.

This was only royalties, not including income from movie adaptations, anime, manga, merchandise, and so on.

Qingshan Li receiving 700 million yen was a complete sell-out at a low price.

"I didn't help him," Mikami Ai answered. "As long as the quality of the sequel to 'Detective A' doesn't drop significantly, this is a fair transaction."

That was what she thought—

For Qingshan Li, the most important thing was letting Ono Mika rest easy and get this money; it couldn't be her helping him, nor could it be Qingshan Li suffering a loss and selling cheap.

As she thought, Ono Mika breathed a sigh of relief.

"Actually," Mikami Ai continued, "if the quality of the sequel to 'Detective A' doesn't decline, I'm actually the one who profits. That's also why I agreed to Qingshan Classmate's conditions."

"That's good." Ono Mika smiled. "Even without getting the full manuscript and without the book being published, she was willing to trade with Li. It's only right that Mikami Classmate makes money."

"I trust my own judgment."

"I also think 'Detective A' is written quite well."

So well that even though the book wasn't finished or published, Qingshan Li got back 700 million yen, and Ono Mika wasn't too worried or doubtful.

The two of them came downstairs.

The performance venue Qingshan Li chose was in front of the traffic island at the school gate, a place all teachers and students must pass through.

"Perform here?" Ono Mika became shy.

"Good idea." Mikami Ai nodded. "After school, if just ten or so people stop to listen to Senior's performance, more people will stop out of curiosity. The chance of exceeding fifty is very high."

But.

Not only Ono Mika, but the other four members of the Seiten Band also felt embarrassed.

Performing at the school gate was almost difficulty level A for them, a group with no friends.

"I can't do it."

"Absolutely can't do it."

"The only way I can perform here is if I'm turned into a mummy."

"Can we start from the sixth floor of the club building first?"

Qingshan Li ignored them and took out his mobile phone to press buttons.

"Junior Brother, what are you doing?" Agatsuma Haruka looked over curiously.

Then she pointed at the phone and reported to the other three with a terrified expression: "He's searching how to make a mummy!"

Drummer Gu Meng Shi snatched Qingshan Li's mobile phone and shoved it at Ono Mika.

"The mobile phone should be given to Mikami Classmate!" F·Rino whispered, unable to watch anymore.

"This is my determination," Qingshan Li announced. "Give up. The performance venue is only here."

In the process of being tormented by the system, no, guided, Qingshan Li realized a truth—

Humans have no limits.

For example, losing weight, practicing calligraphy for two hours every day, learning a foreign language—most people can't do it, but is it truly impossible?

"Junior Student, it really won't do. It's too hard on us," Bass Sakurako said.

"Really won't do?" Qingshan Li asked them.

They didn't speak.

"ABCDE, it's okay if Mikami Ai thinks you're E?" Qingshan Li asked again.

They glanced at their surroundings and lowered their heads.

Like a group of children without self-control, even if the teacher spoke to them earnestly, they still couldn't restrain themselves or make themselves study seriously.

They knew this wasn't acceptable, but in action they simply couldn't do it.

The girls looked worriedly at the expressionless Qingshan Li, their hearts full of guilt, but they just couldn't say it out loud—agreeing to let him perform here.

Qingshan Li took a deep breath.

The girls' heartbeats accelerated, and Ono Mika wanted to speak but stopped.

"I'm excited," Qingshan Li said.

"Ah?" The girls' surprise.

"Remember today! When you stand on the Budokan stage and face fourteen thousand spectators, remember today, remember me—the one who pushed this group of socially anxious people onto the Budokan stage!"

"."

"Alright, move the props, we're going to the overpass corridor on the sixth floor."

"Wait wait wait, Junior Student, what was that just now?" Agatsuma Haruka hurriedly called out to stop him.

"If we don't leave now, a lot of people will pass by." Qingshan Li reminded them.

They immediately withdrew, as if being chased by urban management officers.

"Wasn't it said the performance venue could only be at the school gate?" Agatsuma Haruka asked.

"We'll go eventually, when it's time for a decisive battle."

"Does it not matter anymore that Mikami Ai has classified us as an E-grade club?" Drummer Mumi asked.

"As long as there are fifty spectators, whether her evaluation is A or E, it doesn't matter."

"Qing Shan Jun, stop intentionally saying the opposite, please say your true feelings and properly express your love for Mikami Classmate!" F·Rino scolded.

Qingshan Li drew his paper sword.

"It hurts~" F·Rino covered her head.

"Junior Student Jun, considering I sent you benefits last night... it hurts~"

Qingshan Li held the paper sword and looked at Ono Mika; Ono Mika turned her face away, with an expression as if the two of them didn't know each other.

Qingshan Li sheathed his sword with slight regret.

On the sixth-floor overpass corridor, under the clear sky, the girls performed for the entire academy.

Seeing them get into the state, Qingshan Li quietly left; he was preparing to go to the Kendo Club and the Baseball Club.

Not to look at the female manager and the blonde Sword Princess, but to collect material.

Mikami Ai turned and followed them.

Drummer Mumi glanced at the two figures' backs and continued playing the drums.

"Classmate Aoyama."

Qingshan Li looked back; the girl stood high on the stairs, her snow-white legs slender, her skirt swaying gently in the breeze.

"Hmm?"

"Just now your sister asked me about property tax matters." Mikami Ai said.

"What did you say?"

"Don't worry."

Qingshan Li understood: "Thank you."

"By the way." He remembered something, "The ten thousand yen I owe you, can I pay you back one thousand yen a month?"

Mikami Ai smiled: "Because of property tax, has your pocket money decreased?"

Qingshan Li felt a bit embarrassed.

"Where are you going?" she asked.

"Baseball Club, and I also plan to go to the Kendo Club later."

"The Baseball Club has a training match today, and I was just about to go too." Mikami Ai walked down.

The two walked downstairs, and Qingshan Li no longer lagged behind.

At this time, the students had either already gone home or were all staying in their clubs; the corridor had only the two of them.

"Classmate Aoyama, what do you think of Rino's lyrics?"

"C." One second later, Qingshan Li looked at her, "You won't think I like you again, will you?"

"I originally planned to talk about something else, but since you brought this up, we can talk about this topic first." Mikami Ai's tone was calm, very composed.

"I ask, you answer." She said, "Don't you like me at all?"

Qingshan Li subconsciously wanted to say 'yes'.

But at this moment, Mikami Ai's gaze as she looked at him was like a color blindness test, trying to figure out what number it was.

"I like all beautiful girls—my liking for you is limited to this degree." He answered.

Mikami Ai sighed, as if bored by Qingshan Li's stubborn resistance.

"Do you like me? Like or dislike, choose one." She asked again.

Interesting.

"Then do you like me? Like or dislike, choose one." Qingshan Li retorted.

"Dislike. How about you?"

Damn it!

"Like." What else could Qingshan Li say?

Mikami Ai, Mikami Ai.

Mikami Ai is a beautiful girl that one falls in love with upon seeing; as a boy who is normal both physically and psychologically, he naturally cannot escape this fate.

Mikami Ai happily smiled: "Ask again."

"What?"

"The question just now."

"'Do you like me'?" Qingshan Li was not asking, but confirming whether it was that question.

"There's a little bit now."

【Romance Daily Life-Mikami Ai, Miyase Yaeko: 86%】

(Chapter End)