Band members, girls with fermented bean curd, step forward!

Page 6

Momoka temporarily put aside her interest; she planned to do a thorough search on the internet later.

After giving everyone a cup of coffee, Taoxiang sat down.

"Does Momoka-nee still have the original sheet music for 'The Empty Box'? And I also want that CD you gave to Nina."

Chen made this request to Momoka; these two items could be considered sacred relics, right? The original CD and the purest sheet music—countless netizens in the original world would want them.

She took a CD out of her guitar case and handed it to Chen, who looked very excited, then sent him the digital sheet music.

"How about another autograph?"

These words reached her ears, and Nina, who was standing next to her, excitedly took out her own CD upon hearing the suggestion, looking longingly at Momoka.

"What greedy little devils!"

Tao Xiang chuckled and scolded the two ungrateful brats, then signed their CDs. She signed very carefully, stroke by stroke.

"Do you think I should ask you for money for this sheet music?"

She mischievously resembled Chen Wendao, who treasured this score.

"How about I treat Sister Taoxiang to dinner later?"

Satisfied with the answer, Momoka stopped her teasing and did not accept the invitation.

Because she no longer has much time left to spend with Chen and Rencai.

It's best not to make promises you can't keep.

She watched as Chen handed the guitar to Rencai, who excitedly touched it, put on the strap, and struck a pose.

These two of her little fans had both come to Kawasaki alone. If they could become friends and look after each other, she would feel more at ease.

"Nina is still in high school, right?" she brought up the topic.

"Yeah, 17. If I went to school, I'd be a senior in high school now." Nina became a little downcast when the topic of school came up.

"Hey, isn't he a year older than this kid? Chen is only a high school freshman, 16 years old."

Seeing that Nina's voice was somewhat subdued, Momoka changed the subject.

"Huh? Chen, you're actually a year younger than me?"

She hadn't expected that Chen, who seemed much more composed than her, was actually younger than her; her tone was tinged with surprise.

"That's how it is for now," Chen replied helplessly. His physical age had suddenly regressed by six years, making him older than the oldest, Rupa.

Now she's actually been reduced to the point where having a child means she's considered her older sister?!

"Me too, I dropped out of school at 17 and came here, it's been three years already~" Taoxiang sighed.

"So, Momoka-nee is only 20 years old?" Nina asked, somewhat surprised.

"I feel like I've been hurt a little," Momoka said with a helpless expression.

"So, Nina can be Chen's older sister then~" Momoka brought up this topic she had prepared for.

Chen, who was drinking coffee, choked a little. "Sister Taoxiang, what kind of random topic are you picking...? At least find a better way to change the subject!"

The vegetable on one side also reacted strongly.

"Peach, peach scent! I haven't even known Chen for a day yet!"

She stared at the adult who had offered such an unreliable opinion, looking somewhat angry.

After all that buildup, have we still brought the topic here?

Tao Xiang was filled with regret; she was also reluctant to part with the two of them, but she had already made her decision and there was no way to change it.

After some hesitation, Momoka brought up the topic.

Tomorrow, I'll be leaving Kawasaki and returning to my hometown, Asahikawa.

The sudden words froze Nina in place, staring in disbelief at her idol.

"So, I'm unable to do what I said before about taking care of you, especially Chen."

Her gaze shifted to Chen, who was standing to the side, and she smiled with a hint of helplessness.

Why do you look so unsurprised?

She posed her question to Chen, who remained calm to the side.

"I noticed those subtle clues that Sister Taoxiang was leaving a long time ago, so I'm not surprised at all."

After all, he couldn't say that he had read the script and knew she was leaving tomorrow.

"I see, your observation skills are really impressive... I feel a little more at ease now."

She let out a long sigh of relief and continued...

“Chen, Rencai, you two know each other because of me, you are about the same age, and you are both alone in Kawasaki.”

"I'm still a little worried about you guys, so I was thinking you could become friends and look out for each other in Kawasaki."

She shared her thoughts on these two younger colleagues, having experienced the struggles of working alone herself, she knew how unbearable loneliness could be.

If possible, she also wanted to stay in Kawasaki with Chen and Rencai. Although they had only spent less than one night together, she felt very at ease and content.

Nina, who was completely bewildered, finally came to her senses and excitedly stood up.

"Huh?! Is Miss Momoka going back to her hometown? Why? She has such a great song to sing!..."

"Thank you for the compliment," Momoka interrupted Rina.

"There's no other way. I can't become popular, so I can't support myself with music. I have to travel around to different places to work every day to raise money to play music. It must be tiring."

Her words silenced Renna's further questions.

Despite being her idol, Momoka gave her the courage to escape from Kumamoto and come here, Momoka is going back to her hometown for such a practical reason...

Nina couldn't accept it; she was filled with anger at this messed-up world.

"But you're clearly capable of creating such great music, it gets so many plays, and so many people like it... why...?"

Her tone was laced with suppressed anger, whether directed at herself or at Momoka who had made the decision, it was unclear.

A silence fell until Momoka broke it.

"I've handed the piece over to my former teammates," she said with a sense of relief.

"I no longer have the copyright to that song."

Because the agency's career development plan didn't align with her ideal musical aspirations, she hastily withdrew from the band.

Despite being of school age, the members of Diamond Dust followed her to this unfamiliar city without hesitation, striving for their so-called musical dreams.

But in the end, it was he who dragged them down who was the first to desert.

I don't have the face to see them anymore, do I?

Momoka was so certain of this idea that she had no way to make it up to her friends.

This was the only way I could alleviate my guilt, albeit somewhat.

Her friends tried to dissuade her many times after she expressed her intention to quit.

But ultimately, they couldn't break her stubborn mind.

They could rightfully and righteously denounce themselves as "deserters"!

But in the end, they blessed themselves, without a trace of resentment.

How can she possibly meet with them like this...?

Tao Xiang regrets her past. If she had made a different choice, would the ending have been different?

She didn't know, and now, she has no chance to know.

Nina moved her stool and sat down opposite Momoka, her clenched fists betraying her inner turmoil.

She absolutely could not accept that the song she valued most was not in the hands of the idol she admired most!

"Please tell me in detail what happened!" Staring into Momoka's eyes, her tone was more serious than ever before.

Momoka turned her head away, indicating that she didn't really want to bring up the topic.

"It's better not to talk about this kind of thing."

"I want to hear it! This is clearly a piece composed by Momoka, and you can't give a piece of music to anyone else!"

"I can do it!" Momoka, somewhat annoyed and embarrassed by Nina's persistent questioning, responded impatiently to her inquiry.

"I can't do it!" Renna exclaimed even more excitedly.

Picking up the kitten that had been woken up, Chen placed it on his lap, quietly sipping his coffee and watching the two people, one big and one small, argue.

"You're so stubborn, just like a bear."

The region is so dark, it's so unacceptable!

Tao Xiang reluctantly ended her year of retaking the exam. Unable to hide her frustration, she picked up her guitar and slung it over her shoulder.

"Honestly, how come I never realized you were such a stubborn person? Can't you be like Chen and not keep asking questions about everything?"

She strummed the strings, expressing the emotions in her heart.

"I'm not, that's why I'm asking!"

Driven by a fierce fighting spirit, Nina was determined to press the matter further.

After all, if even your idol is running away, what reason do you have left to convince yourself?

Nina was terrified. She didn't want the point of her escape to be completely negated. She stared desperately at Momoka, trying to grasp at that last straw.

Momoka did not respond to her expectations.

"Where did your timid and submissive demeanor go? You strange fellow."

She said helplessly, abruptly shifting the topic to Nina.

"Never mind, by the way, how's the apartment Nina rented in Kawasaki?"

"It's alright, it's a one-bedroom apartment."

"What about the rent?"

"50,000 yen"

"Have you considered getting a part-time job?"

"Yes, we need it, but we haven't found it yet."

"Is this your first time making a living by working? Are you okay? You need to look after Chen Duo."

"Well, my family gave me some money when I came, and I also have some savings. As for Chen, we'll talk about him properly later."

Receiving no response, Nina spoke in a low voice, giving Momoka a perfunctory reply to her concern.

"Hmm, that's pretty easy~ I had my family sponsoring me when I came, so I can do whatever I want. As long as I have enough money, I can live however I want..."

Oh no, I've stepped on a landmine!

Seeing that Renna's face was growing increasingly gloomy, Chen quickly put down his coffee, went to Momoka's side, and tugged at her clothes.

"With all that, what do you know about me?" Suddenly, Nina's icy words pierced their ears.

Startled by the sudden explosion of Nina, Momoka looked questioningly at Chen, who had come to warn her.

Before Momoka could figure things out, Nina's anger flared up.

"Please don't assume I have an easy life!" Rencai shouted.

"Thank you for the coffee, sorry to bother you." With a bow, Nina ran out.

"When you were talking to Nina over there, didn't you notice that Nina became very downcast when she talked about family?"

Isn't this golden retriever supposed to have high emotional intelligence? How come it messed up at a time like this?

“Rina’s expression changed when she heard you talking about family support, and it was too late to remind you.”

Chen Xiangtao explained, "She seemed rather down when she talked about school earlier."

"Oh, really, her aggressive demeanor made me forget all about it."

She patted her head; she really couldn't do anything about this little girl.

"She didn't take her phone."