Light and the Moth, He Is a Beam of Light

After school.

Keyaki Mall, karaoke.

Prince Ganlongdao and his group arrived at the private room reserved by Shiho Manabe and her friends.

Inside the room.

Prince Ganlongdao sat in the center of the sofa.

To his right was his underling Ishizaki, and to his left were the quartet of Shiho Manabe, Nanami Yabu, Saki Yamashita, and Rika Morofuji, while Albert was pouring drinks for them.

At this moment.

Ishizaki was gesturing wildly, showing off their recent experience.

"You guys have no idea, Prince Ganlongdao was so badass just now. There were at least dozens of people standing opposite us, and that student council president, with that sour look on his face, it was terrifying."

"Yet, they couldn't do a single thing to Prince Ganlongdao!"

"Eh?" Nanami Yabu looked worried. "If you guys do that, won't that student council president hold a grudge?"

"With Prince Ganlongdao here, what's there to be afraid of?"

Shiho Manabe looked completely dismissive, her eyes filled with stars as she gazed at Prince Ganlongdao.

"What a pity, if I had known, I would have gone to the club orientation with you guys first. I really wanted to see the expressions on those guys' faces."

No need to guess.

The way Prince Ganlongdao stood against the crowd just now must have been very cool.

It had to be said.

Both Ishizaki and Shiho Manabe were the type who were quite shallow.

As long as someone dared to fight, was reckless enough, and could make others angry but unable to speak, that was cool!

As for the consequences.

They were currently not within the scope of Shiho Manabe's considerations, and the same went for Saki Yamashita.

Nanami Yabu and Rika Morofuji, however, felt it wasn't quite right.

But.

The reason the two of them felt it wasn't right was still because they thought it was too dangerous.

They didn't feel that causing trouble for others was an issue.

Even if their personalities had strengths and weaknesses.

But being able to hang out with Shiho Manabe, they all had one thing in common, which was a very low sense of morality, putting their own perspective first in everything.

This was also what Prince Ganlongdao appreciated.

Prioritizing oneself.

Doesn't mean there is any problem with that.

The "self" in the eyes of Shiho Manabe and the others was not just her alone, but everyone recognized as being in the same circle.

There was only one way they distinguished people.

Only "our people" and "outsiders"; appearance, morality, and character were not within their scope of consideration.

"Alright, alright, the matter is already in the past."

Prince Ganlongdao waved his hand casually. "I didn't come to karaoke to listen to you talk about this."

"That's true, what does Prince Ganlongdao want to sing?"

"Love So Sweet, I guess."

Prince Ganlongdao looked at Shiho Manabe in front of the song selection console and smiled. "How about doing it with me?"

"Eh?"

Shiho Manabe felt a surge of joy inside, but then she hesitated.

"I don't think I've heard this song before; maybe I need to familiarize myself with it for a while."

"It's fine, then let them sing first!"

Saki Yamashita and the others scrambled to grab the microphones, while Shiho Manabe picked up her phone to familiarize herself with the song Prince Ganlongdao mentioned.

Only Rika Morofuji sat on the sofa feeling embarrassed, looking at the two people singing with a hint of envy.

By the time it was Ishizaki's turn to pick up the microphone, Shiho Manabe had finally familiarized herself with the song.

"Ishizaki, it sounds terrible, stop singing."

"Uh..."

Ishizaki put down the microphone with a helpless expression.

Damn it.

That's just too much.

Is it a crime not to be handsome?

His singing certainly wasn't great, but it wasn't exactly terrible either; at most, it was just average.

This Shiho Manabe was clearly practicing double standards.

It wasn't as if there weren't women in the class prettier than Shiho Manabe.

Not to mention the others, even just looking at facial features, Ibuki Mio was a cut above Shiho Manabe.

It was truly impossible to understand.

How could Prince Ganlongdao be so tolerant of a woman like that?

"Prince, I'm ready."

Shiho Manabe picked up two microphones and handed one to Prince Ganlongdao.

The two of them walked onto the stage together.

As the music began to play, Prince Ganlongdao swayed gently to the rhythm and started to sing softly.

In an instant.

A deep, magnetic voice echoed throughout the private room.

Like a whisper in the dead of night, it easily pierced through the heart and reached the depths of the soul.

Suddenly.

Saki Yamashita, Nanami Yabu, Rika Morofuji, and the others froze in place.

It felt as if they had been dragged from a karaoke room to a celebrity concert in an instant; come to think of it, with Prince Ganlongdao's looks and voice, he could totally be a star.

Ishizaki, standing to the side, felt a bit depressed.

Fine, if he was being compared to the Prince, his own singing was indeed terrible.

It wasn't until someone nudged her arm that Shiho Manabe snapped out of it, realizing it was her turn.

She picked up the microphone.

Shiho Manabe didn't get stage fright because of Prince Ganlongdao.

It was clear that Shiho Manabe was the type who frequented karaoke and loved the mic; as long as she didn't get stage fright, it was impossible for her to sound bad.

However.

Shiho Manabe's attention remained entirely on Prince Ganlongdao beside her.

The two took turns.

Prince Ganlongdao's singing.

At times, it was like surging waves guiding her heartbeat, and at others, like a trickling stream soothing her soul.

Her entire heart beat in sync with Prince Ganlongdao.

Just then.

Prince Ganlongdao naturally draped his arm around her shoulder, pulling Shiho Manabe into his embrace, and brought the microphone to her lips.

"The sound of the heart, like the rhythm of a drum."

"Even the noise comes through like a soft whisper."

Shiho Manabe's pretty face flushed crimson like the evening glow.

The small hand holding the microphone instinctively followed Prince Ganlongdao's lead, moving the mic toward her, while her gaze uncontrollably lingered on the side of Prince Ganlongdao's face.

"Stirring me, making my heart flutter uncontrollably."

Feeling the scent and body heat radiating from Prince Ganlongdao, Shiho Manabe felt her heart racing so fast that she had no idea what she was singing anymore.

However.

To the ears of Saki Yamashita and the others.

It sounded as if Shiho Manabe had truly poured her emotions into the song, and her vocal performance had suddenly been elevated to a new level.

As the song ended.

The two returned to the sofa and sat down.

"That was amazing~"

"Prince, have you practiced before? You sang so well."

"Yeah, I feel like you could be a star in the future, Prince. You'd definitely be very popular."

Saki Yamashita and Nanami Yabu were filled with admiration.

It wasn't flattery at all, but the truth.

However.

Shiho Manabe sat on the sofa, appearing to lose her vitality in an instant, her entire demeanor turning somewhat dazed.

"It's been a long time since I sang; that felt great. Come on, Shiho, let's have a drink."

Prince Ganlongdao picked up his beverage as a gesture, clinking his glass against hers.

"Oh."

Shiho Manabe responded a beat too late. After the toast, she held the drink with both hands and took a small sip, her beautiful eyes uncontrollably darting toward Prince Ganlongdao.

He was just too handsome.

Prince Ganlongdao had always been handsome.

Yet, at this moment.

Shiho Manabe felt he had become even more handsome.

Although his appearance hadn't changed, it was as if a light had appeared around Prince Ganlongdao.

And she.

Was just like a moth.

Her gaze was constantly drawn to this light, and her body felt an uncontrollable urge to move closer to Prince Ganlongdao.