Once all the equipment in the computer room had been set up, Ding Jiafang discovered that Chen Xiao had actually installed five computers. Not counting the old one in his bedroom, this little room was enough for a whole group to team up in person for five-player games!
"A-Xiao, is this what you're planning to do after graduation?"
Ding Jiafang wiped away his sweat. Seeing Chen Xiao's friend from the computer shop fiddling with the operating systems, he asked out of curiosity.
Still, with the internet becoming more and more developed, and the existence of superpowers now public knowledge, running a content channel or setting up some kind of studio would both be pretty promising.
Surely he wasn't actually opening a private gaming room in his villa and renting it out to people for in-person five-player sessions?
Besides, his "girlfriend" lived here too. Renting the place out as a private esports room wouldn't be a great idea.
"Uh..."
Chen Xiao thought about it. Having Elf Yamada and Mashiro Shiina write novels and draw illustrations did count as a kind of studio, in a sense.
Only, compared with certain ghostwriting studios, the novels and illustrations his household produced were guaranteed smash hits.
"A studio, more or less."
"Nice! If you make a fortune, treat everyone in class to a meal sometime!"
Ding Jiafang threw an arm around Chen Xiao's shoulders and laughed.
The possibility of failure had never crossed his mind. Ever since he had met Chen Xiao, success had followed this classmate everywhere.
With Chen Xiao's connections, putting together a studio team in no time would be ridiculously easy.
"Sure."
Chen Xiao caught the meaning behind Ding Jiafang's words. The meal was secondary; what really mattered was getting everyone together.
"A-Xiao, I've installed all the systems and hooked up the network cables. Whatever you want to download, you can do it yourself later."
His friend from the computer shop finished installing the operating systems on all the computers and gave the two of them a thumbs-up.
"Okay! I'll send you the money right now."
Chen Xiao took out his phone and transferred the money.
"Hey! Forget the installation fee. We're friends-you don't need to be so formal."
After receiving the transfer, his friend from the computer shop sent some of it back to Chen Xiao.
With that, the equipment issue was settled.
Once everything was done, Chen Xiao saw the two of them to the door and arranged for his friend from the computer shop to ride back in Ding Jiafang's car.
"Jiafang, sorry for the trouble. Give him a ride back for me."
"No problem. See you next time!"
Ding Jiafang made an okay sign.
But just as he was about to roll up the window, he suddenly remembered something and said seriously, "Remember! The Magic City Comic Exhibition is in three days. I'll send you the address in a bit, so make sure you bring your friend!"
Ding Jiafang looked as though he were clutching at his last lifeline.
As though his next words would be, "If my lord would have me, I, Lü Bu, would gladly become your adopted son!"
"I know, I know! I'll bring her. Don't worry."
Chen Xiao answered with mild exasperation.
"You have to! You absolutely have to come!"
And so, even as the car drove out of the neighborhood, Ding Jiafang was still howling from the driver's seat.
"Seriously... He's acting like skipping one event will ruin his reputation forever."
Chen Xiao shook his head and grumbled.
But then he thought it over. He hadn't been involved in anime fandom in this life, and this was a Comic Exhibition in Magic City. The organizers were probably the biggest and best-known names in the scene.
Perhaps, for Ding Jiafang, this really was a crisis that could force him to leave the fandom for good. Even if he didn't leave in the end, his reputation would be shot.
Although he would soon be attending Shenzhou Nova Academy, getting embroiled in a mess before he left might become a lingering demon for Ding Jiafang.
"I'll help him, then. But who should I send?"
If someone on Inori Yuzuriha's level went, the sensation she caused would surely rival Black Rock Shooter's.
After all, it was only one song.
Then he would make his move on a girl band... No, start with a girl band.
"A-Xiao, did your classmate leave? I heard him mention a Comic Exhibition just now. Does he need our help?"
Mahiru Shiina quietly poked her head out from behind the villa's front door.
"Yeah. It's just going onstage and singing."
Still, there were only a handful of choices.
Huh? With so many anime school idols, any one of them could sing, so why were there only a handful?
Ahem! Although Chen Xiao had watched the School Idol Project anime for a while in his previous life-a Love Liver-and knew about the Gakuen Idolmaster raising game, he hadn't made a single figurine of any of those girls.
Please. Shipgirls and Fate/Grand Order alone already ate up enough time.
Not to mention characters from other anime and Gensokyo. He simply hadn't had time to make anyone from the Idolmaster series!
So the only girl bands currently in his display cabinet were Icy Tail from Saekano, Girls Dead Monster from Angel Beats!, Kessoku Band from Bocchi the Rock!, Togenashi Togeari from Girls Band Cry, and the veteran Light Music Club.
As for why there was no "suffering upon suffering"...
Besides the lack of time, the absurd plot of Ave Mujica had force-fed Chen Xiao a heaping mouthful of crap in his previous life. Unable to stand that black-hole-level gravitational field of angst, he had turned into Zhang Beihai midway through watching and taken Natural Selection ahead at flank speed...
"So... I choose you! Kita!"
After thinking for a moment in front of the display cabinet, Chen Xiao finally placed his finger on Kessoku Band's red-haired girl.
Ikuyo Kita: Huh?
"Why isn't it me?!"
The little firecracker in the display cabinet couldn't sit still anymore.
She immediately materialized and jumped out of the cabinet, swinging both hands to unleash her "Raging Train Fists" on Chen Xiao's chest.
Of all the bands in his figurine collection, Nina Isari was probably the one with the strongest desire to perform.
When she had seen Chen Xiao's finger move toward her, Nina had already been ready to materialize and throw herself at him in thanks. And then he went and pulled this!
"There, there, Nina. A-Xiao must have his reasons."
Rupa materialized, hooked her arms under Nina Isari's armpits, and pulled her away from Chen Xiao.
The other members of Togenashi Togeari materialized as well.
Momoka looked indifferent, Subaru Awa was curious about what the Comic Exhibition in this world was like, and Tomo Ebizuka gave Nina a rather speechless look.
"Ahem. Nina, this is a solo performance. Would you still want to sing without MMK-Momoka-and the others backing you up?"
Chen Xiao raised a hand, cleared his throat, and explained.
"Uh, well..."
Nina Isari froze at his words.
If everyone wasn't performing together, she wouldn't be in the mood to sing either.
"But I... I won't have Ijichi and the others backing me up either. Will that really work?"
Ikuyo Kita, whom Chen Xiao had chosen, materialized too, worry written all over her face.
Although she wouldn't run away at the last minute like she had in the original story, making her-the least technically skilled one-perform onstage was still a little...
"For you, Kita, it doesn't matter how well you sing. You just have to look cute."
Chen Xiao smiled and ruffled Ikuyo Kita's hair.
After all, she was only filling in for Ding Jiafang to sing a song. There was no need to take it that seriously.
But upon hearing that, Nina Isari, whose mood had just settled down, grew annoyed again.
"What? Are you saying I'm not cute?"
Oh dear. The little firecracker was hissing.
Chen Xiao offered no explanation. He simply had her and Ikuyo Kita make an "ehe" face together.
"Ehe~!"
Ikuyo Kita was like an adorably dazzling flashbang going off.
"Eh... ehe..."
Nina Isari looked a little stiff.
"Well, that settles who wins, Nina."
Momoka delivered her verdict with her arms folded, and the others nodded in agreement.
"You... you bunch of bastards!!!"
Nina Isari completely lost it!
Before you continue