Girl Band, Gravity Capture

Page 37

"I won't comfort anyone with lies. If you don't do well, I'll tell you and ask you to practice more."

"Lixi."

Yuan Xudou reached out, his long, slender, and well-proportioned fingers striking the drumhead, producing a dull thud.

Shiina Riki instinctively straightened her body, almost standing up from her chair—the voice she had just heard was a signal the boy used to remind her to concentrate before he personally guided her.

"Since you trust my abilities, you should also trust my judgment."

"Don't think about who you are behind or where you haven't done your best."

“There’s nothing about you that’s inferior to others. As long as you don’t make mistakes, keeping up with the rhythm shouldn’t be difficult for you—that’s my assessment.”

"..."

Yuan Xudou's powerful and resounding words were uttered and etched into her mind without any regard for reason.

Just like when he defended Takamatsu Akari in front of Shiina Tatsuki... Only when speaking up for others does the boy's voice carry such unwavering confidence.

The difference is that now he is defending Shiina Tatsuki, addressing her own wavering and retreating heart.

"Lixi, you consider this band very important, don't you?"

"If you make a mistake because of nervousness on your first performance, making everything imperfect... can you accept such a consequence?"

"How can it be……!"

Just imagining that scene through his description made Shiina Tatsuki clench his drumsticks, grit his teeth, and squeeze out words filled with resentment from deep in his throat.

"But even if you say that, I still can't control myself on stage...!"

"You still don't understand."

Seeing her increasingly anxious and on the verge of exploding, Yuan Xudou sighed helplessly.

Direct encouragement still couldn't completely dispel the unease in her heart... Even with such firm acceptance, the sense of inferiority nailed to her chest by time still prevented Shiina Tatsuki from regaining confidence in herself.

"Then let's put it another way."

He simply grabbed the girl's shoulder.

If decompression doesn't work... then try increasing the pressure.

If you can't control stress, then let stress control you.

"Lixi."

Yuan Xudou's tone became more serious, and his dark eyes undisguisedly placed their expectations on the girl.

"If you want to prove yourself to others... then start with me."

“I think you can take on the role of drummer in the band, prove me right—”

"...Wait, wait a minute!"

A warm and powerful sensation flowed continuously into Shiina Tatsuki's body from the junction of his palm and shoulder.

The boy, with his head slightly lowered, had even the slightest trembling of his eyelashes clearly visible in her eyes.

She had never been touched by a man her age before. Even though it was just a non-sensitive area like her shoulder, and there was a layer of fabric between them, the inexplicable feeling still made the girl feel a strange tremor in her heart.

If it were someone else, Shiina Tatsuki might not have reacted so strongly. But the one holding her shoulder was Minamoto Koto, whom she recognized and trusted... even admired to some extent.

Pressure, fear, panic... all such emotions were instantly squeezed out without a trace.

Shiina Riki's fair cheeks flushed bright red instantly. She tried to get up in a panic, but her weak legs wouldn't obey her commands.

"...Calm down."

Although I expected her to be a little scared, I didn't expect her to react so strongly... Is this how you should behave when you're nervous?

Feeling that things were deviating from his expectations, Yuan Xudou thought for a moment, but still didn't let go, deciding to at least finish what he was saying.

He lowered his voice.

"—To prove to me that my abilities and efforts have played a role, okay?"

Under Gen Xudou's attentive gaze, Shiina Ritsuki, who had just lowered her head and let her long, black hair fall down, obscuring her face and making it impossible to see her expression, remained silent for a long time.

Then, the faint sound of heavy, disordered breathing could be heard.

The cold, suppressed emotion in his voice was as if he were still gritting his teeth, uttering each word slowly and deliberately.

"...To prove it to you, right?"

Chapter Fifty: Guidance, Trust, and Starlight

"Xu Dou, has Li Xi's matter been resolved?"

"...It should be considered that."

When Genjiro walked up to Toyokawa Shoko, he turned his head slightly in response to her concerned question.

Out of the corner of his eye, Shiina Ritsuki's beautiful deep purple pupils reflected the stage lights, casting a dark gaze that seemed to want to devour him whole, staring intently in his direction.

He turned his head and answered calmly and without any emotion.

"Anyway, the performance will definitely be fine."

At least, the pressure has indeed decreased.

Like a tennis ball that bounces back from rock bottom, after being crushed, it is now in high spirits and full of energy, not at all nervous about the upcoming performance.

...Although it's unclear whether what was crushed was pressure or something else entirely.

In short, the goal of enabling her to approach the performance with a normal mindset has been achieved. As for facing her resentful gaze... it doesn't feel as dangerous as the way Su Shi secretly looks at him from behind when she's at home.

It should be fine in a few days. Even if he's annoyed by the pressure he's putting on him, he's unlikely to do anything drastic. He already experienced being glared at like that when he first met Shiina Tatsuki.

"Then I'll go check on the situation with the lights."

Gen Xudou and Toyokawa Shoko waved goodbye and prepared to check on everyone's condition one by one.

Even bathed in such undisguised, menacing gazes that would be like thorns in the back for a normal person, the boy remained calm and composed, continuing to do as he pleased.

...Even her mental resilience is stronger than hers.

Sadly, Shiina Ritsuki realized that if things continued this way, he wouldn't feel the same unease he had just experienced. Instead, his unusual behavior only drew more attention to him. Shiina Ritsuki could only grit his teeth in frustration and look away.

'Trust, huh? Prove it, huh... Then I'll show you...'

Transferring all his resentment to the drum kit, Shiina Riki raised the drumsticks expressionlessly, his cold purple eyes staring fiercely at the drumhead in front of him.

...To be honest, she didn't know where the irritability she was feeling came from, or why she suddenly felt resentment towards Yuan Xudou, who had come to comfort and encourage her.

Shiina Tatsuki doesn't consider herself an unreasonable person.

Yuan Xudou did indeed ease her anxiety. Her hands, which had been shaking so badly that she couldn't even hold the drumsticks, were now holding them quite steadily. She felt even more motivated than during any previous practice session, as if she could rush up and engage in a passionate hand-to-hand combat with someone at any moment—although the other person certainly wouldn't accept, and she certainly wouldn't actually do it.

She knew she should thank the boy for comforting her, frankly accept his trust, turn pressure into motivation, and ultimately, as everyone expected, fulfill her duties as a drummer normally or even exceptionally well—this is what "Shiina Tatsuki" would normally do.

...But she was just so upset, so incredibly upset. Her heart was pounding so hard it felt like it was going to burst out of her chest, sending waves of irritable and agitated emotions through her veins and into every part of her body—this kind of chaos she had never experienced before could only be described as being upset.

They were talking so nicely at the beginning, why did they just start doing it... without even giving me a chance to prepare myself mentally?

She wasn't like Deng or Xiangzi, the former could be patted on the head like a little animal, and the latter could openly hold Yuan Xudou's hand in public, but she went limp all over just because of a comforting pat on the shoulder... How embarrassing.

What's most infuriating is that after doing such a thing, the other person acted as if they didn't care at all—doesn't that make me, who cared so much, look like an idiot?!

Does having more talent, a calmer personality, or better looks mean you can do whatever you want?

She'll teach him a lesson sooner or later... One day, she'll make Yuan Xudou feel the same shame she felt back then, and the embarrassment that comes with the shattering of that shame.

The blush on her ears had not faded, but Shiina Riki, whose long hair was pulled back, silently grumbled to herself, hiding such grand ambitions deep in her heart.

After venting her emotions for a while, the girl's expression returned to its usual seriousness.

Now, she will use drumbeats to respond to that sincere and genuine expectation.

Even without personal feelings involved, Yuan Xudou's words truly touched her.

'There's nothing about you that's inferior to others,' 'It's not difficult for you to be like everyone else'... This is the first time someone has said such things to Shiina Ritsuki, who is overshadowed by her older sister.

If anyone else had said such things, the girl would have scoffed, thinking that the other person either hadn't witnessed her sister's abilities or was saying something against their conscience. However, since Yuan Xudou said it, she had no room to argue.

Because compared to the light of stars, fireflies and flames are insignificant and faint, and there is no need to distinguish between them.

And those starlights were willing to generously bestow their brightness upon her.

...Therefore, guided by that light, Shiina Tatsuki felt that she might actually be able to do it.

Since he can't shake off his sense of inferiority and can't handle the pressure of messing things up, let him decide.

Anyway—that's what he said himself, that she was capable of doing it.

Even if he really messes things up... he'll protect himself just like he protected the lamp back then, right? Knowing that someone will share the pressure with him, yet still hesitating and not daring to do it, Shiina Ritsuki doesn't think he's such a cowardly person.

So all you need to do is believe and have hope.

Sigrún has taught at the Iceland University of the Arts as a part-time lecturer since and was Dean of the Department of Fine Art from -. In – she held a research position at Reykjavík Art Museum focusing on the role of women in Icelandic art. She studied fine art at the Icelandic College of Arts and Crafts and at Pratt Institute, New York, and holds BA and MA degrees in art history and philosophy from the University of Iceland. Sigrún lives and works in Iceland.

Sigrún has taught at the Iceland University of the Arts as a part-time lecturer since and was Dean of the Department of Fine Art from -. In – she held a research position at Reykjavík Art Museum focusing on the role of women in Icelandic art. She studied fine art at the Icelandic College of Arts and Crafts and at Pratt Institute, New York, and holds BA and MA degrees in art history and philosophy from the University of Iceland. Sigrún lives and works in Iceland.

"Is the lamp in decent condition?"

"Phew... I feel less nervous standing here."

"That's good, but what if there are more people later?"

Gao Songdeng swallowed hard, and her originally calm face began to tense up and stiffen.

"Don't be afraid, just ignore those things."

Yuan Xudou stroked her light gray short hair and offered her encouragement in a gentle tone.

"Ignore everyone else and focus on your own inner voice. I've taught you this many times, haven't you forgotten?"

"Ah."

She nodded softly.

During the previous practice period, he devoted most of his energy to helping Gao Songdeng overcome her fear of singing in front of an audience. Now that his efforts have paid off, Deng's mindset is relatively stable and doesn't require much adjustment.

Gen Xudou walked towards Nagasaki Motoyo.

“Su Shi, you… never mind, your condition is the least of our concerns.”

"Play well."

Not to mention that the bassist's presence in the band is relatively low, and because of this, there have been a lot of jokes about bassists, so the pressure from the audience is the least.

Mototo Minamoto, who spends every day with Nagasaki Motoyo, understands her mindset all too well. She has no desire to be in the public eye and simply enjoys the band atmosphere. As long as she doesn't intentionally hold the band back, she is quite indifferent to the performance.

"Oh my, you trust me that much?"

There was indeed not a trace of fear in the girl's gentle, light blue eyes.

Instead, she even had the leisure to whisper jokes with the boy.

"If I perform well, will Xu Doujun reward me when I go back to Qimeng?"

"What would amaze me?"

"Hmm~ That's a bit too difficult, but I'll try my best."

Finally, there's Wakaba Mutsumi.

Like a doll, the girl's emotions were indifferent, so she didn't need his help to adjust her state. The two chatted briefly, ending with Wakaba Mutsumi smiling faintly and exchanging glances with him.

Having confirmed that all five were in good condition, Yuan Xudou stepped off the stage, clapped his hands, and his calm and clear voice echoed in the center of the venue.

"Everyone, let's get ready to begin the first rehearsal."

Chapter 51 Searching for Each Other's Eyes

The warm sun, nearing the end of spring, slowly pulled at the drifting, fluffy clouds, filling the center of the sky.

The bright sunlight turned from gentle to somewhat harsh and scorching, and the scattered halos of light danced, creating a shimmering ripple on the asphalt road.

In another month or two, the summer sun will soon show its severity, and on this day when the weather is just right, that heat has already quietly emerged, giving people a taste of its fiery passion ahead of time.