Chapter 363
"It's too late to turn back."
Time looks at me with a lazy gaze.
The soft, melodious sounds of guitar and synthesizers, like the gentle babbling of a spring under the early morning sun, accompanied by Ikuyo's narrating vocals, instantly calmed the restlessness in the audience.
The next moment, drums and bass joined in, and Ikuyo's vocals gained emphasis, her narrative style gradually intensifying and guiding the emotions.
"I know that if things continue like this, we will never be able to move forward."
"That's not enough, let's do something more exciting."
"I hate being called an outcast because of my color; I have my own unique qualities."
Let go of the thought of giving up.
"Crying bitterly, eyes red and swollen, heart parched."
"Today, we will also bravely explore tomorrow!"
The song starts with a calm mood, then moves to a low point, and then suddenly explodes after a turning point.
It instantly evoked immense emotion and completely captivated the audience.
Many music fans who were hearing the Kessoku Band's performance for the first time even wondered if it was still part of the festival's opening act by a super popular band.
Below the stage, the support signs from Snow Cat Love and the banners brought by Hitori's family paused briefly before beginning to sway gently to the rhythm.
The Oyama Nekoneko excitedly said to the Hinata Etsuko, "Senpai's new song is amazing!"
Hinata Etsuko's eyes were filled with hearts as she excitedly said:
"Wow! So cool! I want to buy all the merchandise from these artists right now, and sleep surrounded by their merchandise tonight!"
The two singers' voices caused the music fans around them, who were engrossed in the song, to frown.
The music playing on stage was so beautiful that one couldn't bear to be disturbed by any noise.
Fortunately, their conversation ended soon afterward, and those around them were once again drawn into the deep sea of music.
This song, which is beautiful to most people, evokes different feelings in some.
It's like recording one's own growth experience and, with the help of a master composer, transforming it into a beautiful musical piece that encourages others.
Otsuki Yuyuko, observing the enemy situation in the aisle; Hiroi Kikuri, who returned after leaving; and the fans in the Kessoku Band, watching the band perform on stage with calm and fascination.
Listening to this beautiful story, as resilient as a blade of grass in the wind.
"I always find myself in a quiet corner, daydreaming about vast horizons."
"I understand that I cannot be the perfect protagonist."
"Realizing that he is just a villager A who can't do anything."
So at least let me swim freely in the ocean of my heart.
Ishikawa Hayato knew that this song, though seemingly dark, was written by Hitori after he had completely moved on from the past and was looking back on it.
He was to the side and slightly behind Hitori, playing his own music while watching Hitori's focused and earnest performance.
When she plays, her soft, pitiful eyes always hold a resolute look, and beautiful music flows from her hands.
Even if you get soaked in the rain, you can still face it with a smile.
"I admire you for who you are."
"Without realizing it, I've become just as strong as you."
When Ikuyo sang this part, Hitori glanced back as if sensing something, saw Ishikawa Hayato looking at her, and smiled.
It was a small, slightly restrained smile, yet overflowing with happiness.
And coincidentally, the next line after Ikuyo is...
"Becoming more open about smiling than before."
If we meet again someday, please look back at our clasped hands.
The song gradually came to an end with music that still carried a sense of forward momentum.
Jiang Chengyangren watched the performance from the side of the stage, in a spot specifically reserved for his manager. He didn't have a deep connection to the song, but that didn't stop him from appreciating its quality and the performance.
He had some doubts when he first saw the music video, not quite understanding the rapid improvement in the Kessoku Band's playing skills and abilities over the past year, and worried that they might have mastered all the recording studio techniques.
But now all those worries have vanished after this piece ended.
They certainly have the capability, and...
Not far from him, a music fan said in surprise to his companion:
"Is this band even better than the That Band that opened the show?"
When a player's skill level reaches a certain point, unless there's a significant difference in skill level within the same genre, it's indeed difficult to determine who is better or worse.
But for professionals like Jiang Chengyangren...
He can tell the difference.
Undoubtedly, Kessoku Band has surpassed SICK HACK.
This young, powerful band, which is expected to create countless waves, is definitely a band with a bright future.
Jiang Chengyangren seemed to already see these five people on stage, after a year of accumulation, taking this year's music festival as a starting point, relying on any record company as a support, quickly climbing the path of music, sweeping through various large music festivals, holding their own concerts, reaching the top of the Japanese music scene, and even going higher.
Jiang Chengyangren shook his head and smiled.
"I shouldn't have listened to that boy. Listening to them sing a song has cost me so much more. It's such an expensive performance."
On stage, during Ikuyo's self-introduction after the performance, the group exchanged glances and smiled slightly.
Their smiles all conveyed the confidence that victory was already in their grasp.
Thank you so much for your support!
Nijika's excited voice was transmitted through the microphone to the loudspeaker, and her loud and energetic voice spread throughout the open-air venue.
In the sky, clumps of cirrus clouds drifted quietly like a listener, and against this unexpected "music fan's" backdrop, the sky seemed incredibly vast.
But the place beneath this sky is different; on a stage higher than Shinjuku Folt, Nijika looks down.
In the open-air area, the number of people was beyond her estimation—was it several thousand, or tens of thousands?
The grass was packed with a sea of heads, just like a large music festival, and even in the distance you could see a few fans who just wanted to enjoy the music and didn't want to be disturbed by others.
She looked away and glanced around.
Even after playing several pieces, Ikuyo, Ryo, Hitori, and Ishikawa Hayato showed no signs of fatigue.
This is also their first time on a stage of this scale.
It was more formal than the school festival, and bigger than any performance venue.
The fact that we were able to get here also proves one thing.
They won the previous round of performance review.
Moreover, they won first place with an overwhelming number of votes.
Firstly, thanks to the organizer's promotion and the popularity of their previous music videos, countless music fans were drawn to watch the final stage performance.
And it is about to come to a successful close.
"I've climbed another step," Nijika thought to herself.
At that moment, she had a strong feeling that they could perform on any stage.
Ishikawa Hayato agreed with this, but he was thinking about something else.
On the high platform, a distant wind blew, ruffling Ikuyo's sideburns, and her sweat-dampened sideburns swayed gently.
Behind her, Ishikawa Hayato watched as her sweat-soaked band T-shirt fluttered in the wind.
Further to the right, Ryo stood relaxed yet upright, and Ishikawa Hayato caught a glimpse of the corners of her mouth slightly upturned.
Directly in front of him, Hitori kept his head down, occasionally glancing up at the audience below, his whole body trembling as if he were either happy, scared, or excited.
After Nijika finished speaking, she handed the conversation over to Ikuyo, who was also observing them.
When Ishikawa Hayato looked at her, she also looked at Ishikawa Hayato. After a slight pause, she smiled and gave a thumbs-up with the hand holding the drumstick.
Everything is going so smoothly.
Although he was confident he could handle whatever happened, it was wonderful that things went so smoothly.
We followed his instructions step by step and finally returned to that place.
"This is the last song!"
Ikuyo's band T-shirt was partially stuck to her body with sweat, but she still raised her hand energetically and jumped a little.
Does anyone know our band's music video from two months ago?!
Amidst the chaotic responses from the audience, she smiled and replied:
"That's right, that's the last song, 'Lonely Tokyo'!"
After she finished speaking, she looked back at the group. Although she didn't need to signal them to keep up, she still liked to look at her teammates before performing, both to share the stage and to gain a sense of security from them.
Looking back, the song began along with the music.
"A person wandering in Tokyo."
"Arriving in a town that is not so gentle."
"Squeezing through the bustling crowds at the station's turnstiles."
The music festival came to a successful close, and with its conclusion, they received a formal contract offer.
After a brief conversation, Ishikawa Hayato and Jiang Chengyangren decided to formally discuss the signing of the contract the next day.
This also means that they will embark on a more professional path, but this is not Ishikawa Hayato's most pressing matter.
With everything ready, it's time to get things more formal for the five of them.
When he got home and took a shower, Ishikawa Hayato, amidst the four people's surprised expressions, took his clothes and walked towards the small bathroom in their room.
"Hayato-kun?" Ikuyo looked at him in surprise.
Although she was indeed very excited and a little tired and didn't want to do those things, Ishikawa Hayato's honesty was a huge surprise to her.
At times like these, even if Ishikawa Hayato doesn't exactly drag them into a wild and wild session, he'll at least take a romantic bath with them.
Ryo stopped and turned to look at Ishikawa Hayato.
But Ishikawa Hayato waved his hand, looking much more serious than usual:
"There's something I need to tell you after I'm done showering."
Realizing it was something important, they suppressed their excitement and quickened their showers, but when they came out, Ishikawa Hayato was already leaning against the wall waiting.
He was wearing a light blue short-sleeved shirt and light-colored casual pants, looking both relaxed and slightly formal.
Seeing them come out of the bathroom, he braced himself against the wall, straightened up, and said:
"Let's go somewhere else together, everyone."
"Hmm?" Nijika made a nasal sound of surprise, but after blinking, she didn't object and instead asked:
Where are we going?
"Come with me." Ishikawa Hayato didn't explain further, but turned around and beckoned.
The five people, who had just returned home, left again after taking a shower.
Ishikawa Hayato walked along a path that had become very familiar to him, reflecting inwardly.
He has been living in Shimokitazawa for 10 months, and the five of them have been living together for more than half a year.
We already know each other's lifestyles very well.
But after all this time, he still hasn't given them any direction for the future.
Ultimately, he was still afraid.
The more you care, the less likely you are to act easily.