Chapter 99

At four-thirty, everyone changed into their idol outfits and prepared to set off.

It was still Mikami Ai's Mercedes-Benz MPV.

"No seat for me again?" Qingshan Li looked at the cabin packed full to bursting.

"I don't have one either." Ono Mizuki stood together with him.

"Then I don't mind."

"Mizuki, you come with me." Mikami Ai said.

"Thanks, Senior Mikami~"

Qingshan Li looked at Mikami Ai, his expression like a stray dog hoping to also get a spoonful of dog food.

"No." Mikami Ai refused mercilessly.

Pausing for a second, she explained: "My car, men stop here, my dad is no exception, unless you have a stroke or a sudden heart attack right now."

Looks like Qingshan Li will get Mikami Dad's treatment for his whole life.

After the Mercedes-Benz MPV left, a 62S glided over silently.

Mikami Ai walked straight up; Ono Mizuki, who didn't dare step forward, looked at Qingshan Li.

"What car is this?!" she asked in a low voice, amazed.

"Do you think I know cars?" Qingshan Li answered.

"Mizuki." Mikami Ai didn't get in, waiting at the car door.

"Coming!" Ono Mizuki trotted over, a bit worried about dirtying the car as she sat in.

After Mikami Ai also got in, the lively Aoshan Ono Family was left with only Qingshan Li alone.

Then, a Mercedes-Benz MPV identical to the previous one except for the license plate drove past his eyes, following the 62S.

Does Mikami Ai not know this car exists, or did she forget?

Qingshan Li went by train alone.

After he refused the fourth wave of women inviting him to go to Shinjuku to watch a movie, he arrived at JR Shinjuku Station.

Worthy of a Guinness World Record certified station, Qingshan Li almost got lost.

The reason I say 'almost' is not because he realized it at the end, but because when he was about to make a 'where am I' expression, the beautiful older sisters around him would extend a helping hand.

Writing a novel about 'getting lost in Tokyo, finally assisted by various older sisters' seems like it would be quite interesting too.

These older sisters more or less all have their own stories.

Or perhaps, these older sisters all have peculiarities they themselves don't know about — for example, being extremely good at riding motorcycles, helping the protagonist complete missions.

If adapted into a TV drama in the future, when the protagonist gets lost, they could learn from 'Kodoku no Gourmet', dong~, dong!, dong!!

Then the older sisters appear.

Qingshan Li headed toward the destination shopping mall while letting his thoughts run wild.

In the mall's courtyard, there was a stage, and two people were performing on it, one playing an electronic keyboard, one playing guitar and singing.

The mall just opened, plus it's Golden Week, the crowd was woven thick.

There were quite a few people in the courtyard too, but one could clearly distinguish 'which people are resting' from 'which people are listening to the music'.

【Sunny Girls Club】

【Qingshan Li: Where are you guys?】

【Agatsuma Haruka: Backstage, do you need me to come get you?】

【Qingshan Li: No need, I'll stay outside, if there's no audience, at least there's still me】

【Drummer Mumi: That's too pitiful, I'd rather there be none.】

【Qingshan Li: So just perform for me alone, don't expect audience numbers, don't care about audience reaction, just look at me alone】

【Mikami Ai: Your way of expressing concern is truly twisted】

【Ono Mizuki: My brother often beats me, says it's love】

【Bass Sakurako: Mizuki, absolutely do not believe your brother, next time he hits you, no, as long as he touches you, call the police!】

【Qingshan Li: Mizuki, where are you guys? Also backstage?】

Bass Sakurako's words absolutely cannot be acknowledged.

【Ono Mizuki: Seems like there's a traffic jam】

【Qingshan Li: Want me to come pick you up?】

【Qingshan Li: My mood is very good right now】

【Qingshan Li: (Expression: Laugh)】

【F·Rino: Mikami Classmate is right, this person is really twisted】

【Qingshan Li: I'm livening up the atmosphere, easing your tension, and, certain people's anxiety from the traffic jam!】

【Qingshan Li: (Expression: ROFL)】

Qingshan Li also DM'd Ono Mika privately; in Mikami Ai's words, this is something only done when the relationship is good.

【Qingshan Li: I'll be your fan forever】

【Ono Mika: So nervous, heart pounding】

【Ono Mika: (Expression: Heart Revival)】

Qingshan Li laughed.

Before the Sunny Band appeared, Mikami Ai and Ono Mizuki finally arrived.

"Regret not taking the train with me?" Qingshan Li teased.

"Ten times." Mikami Ai sighed, "Take the train once, average hit on ten times."

Damn, six more times than him!

"I get hit on when I go home alone, but not when I'm with my brother," Ono Mizuki said.

Mikami Ai sized up Qingshan Li, falling into silent contemplation.

Ono Mizuki wore an expression that said she'd misspoken.

"It's starting," Qingshan Li looked toward the stage.

The Seiten Band appeared, all five visibly nervous.

"So cute," someone nearby said.

"Who's the vocalist? Feels like a professional idol."

"Any handshake events? Want to buy tickets."

Ono Mika in her idol outfit was incredibly cute; her exposed arms and long legs were slender, her skin snow-white.

Good opening, surpassing all previous bands.

But a band can't rely on looks alone.

Drummer Mumi struck her drumsticks, and the music suddenly rang out.

【When I practiced guitar today, my fingers bled again】

【Looking at the blood on my fingertips, I remembered myself from ten years ago】

Ono Mika's emotion-filled singing voice.

Once the performance began, the Seiten Band seemed like completely different people, radiating a dazzling brilliance.

People resting in the courtyard slowly turned into "resting while appreciating the performance";

Customers passing through the courtyard, slightly fatigued, happened to sit down and rest because of the singing;

There were also a few who stayed solely for the singing.

"Big sister is amazing!" Ono Mizuki gazed at Ono Mika singing on stage.

"Not bad," Qingshan Li nodded.

"Recruiting fifty people at school will still take effort," Mikami Ai said, "I know Miyase Yaeko; we'd best rely entirely on ability, otherwise, even if we revive the club, she'll just impose other conditions."

Just like something Miyase Yaeko would do.

"Not bad!"

A noisy, grating sound rang out.

The three of Qingshan Li looked over — a bunch of teenagers who looked anything but decent had gathered in front of the stage.

"Wow, those legs are really nice." A direct and vulgar evaluation.

"Damn, she's actually wearing safety shorts under her skirt, does she not want to get famous?"

"Drinks after the set?"

"Then a one-night stand?"

"Hahahaha!"

Utterly uninhibited.

Parents with children got up and left the courtyard; even the crowd that had stayed for the stage slowly dispersed.

"These people are so annoying!" Ono Mizuki fumed.

A red-haired man whistled at F·Rino: "Hey look, that guitarist, huge!"

"Super huge tits!"

"She probably rests her tits on the table during breaks normally!"

The rhythm fell apart.

Ono Mika, standing at the very front, couldn't help but retreat a step, her singing losing its emotion.

Qingshan Li stepped forward.

Mikami Ai grabbed him.

"Their target isn't Senior Mika and the others," her refined face held a serious expression, "They're targeting the mall."

"The mall?" Qingshan Li looked at her.

"Would you go to a mall where thugs hang out often?"

A truly plain and simple business war, unrelated to Qingshan Li, but harassing Ono Mika and the others was unacceptable.

He kept walking forward.

"If you go up and beat them now, you're just playing into their hands," Mikami Ai said, "And it won't help Senior Mika and the others either."

"Then what do we do?" Ono Mizuki asked anxiously.

Mikami Ai watched the stage: "These people won't make a move directly; if Senior Mika and the others can muster the courage, they can rely on their singing to make the audience unafraid of these people too."

For example, someone causing trouble at a concert.

The audience would certainly be scared, but if the person on stage steps up and rebukes them, the audience will subconsciously follow suit, and the troublemakers' arrogance will definitely be suppressed.

Qingshan Li looked at the stage; Ono Mika, who was singing, also looked at him in a fluster.

Qingshan Li raised his arm, clenched his fist in encouragement.

"Just treat it as performing for me alone."

"Don't expect audience numbers, don't care about audience reaction, just look at me alone."

【When will I be able to express love with all my might】

Ono Mika stepped forward.

【Right now】

"The mall doesn't care?" Ono Mizuki pressed.

"What have they done?" Mikami Ai countered, "They're customers too."

"I can sing this song too!" the man with the earring said.

"Then you go up there together!" the man in the flower shirt laughed loudly.

The earring man placed his hand on the stage.

"Ah!" Ono Mika retreated in fright.

Simultaneously, the red-haired man grabbed the earring man's shoulder, smiling as he dissuaded him: "Hey, hey, hey."

Just the right degree of commotion, not too big, not too small.

Even if the police came, it would only be to the degree of an apology.

(Chapter End)