Chapter 121: The Concert Concludes

As the appointed time arrived, the concert began promptly. Perhaps from years of experience in the afterlife, Hisako and the others immediately fell into rhythm. The melody of CrowSong filled the air, the stage lights illuminating at just the right moment, eliciting a wave of cheers from the audience.

“Behind me, the wall of blinds,”

“The fingertips radiate the scent of iron,”

“Pressing forward on that crowded path...”

...

“Amazing! Senior Iwasawa and the others look so cool right now!” With the concert underway, the atmosphere swelled rapidly. Behind the scenes, Miyu Yuya watched Iwasawa and her bandmates perform with calm composure, her admiration growing. At the same time, she felt a flutter of nervousness about joining them on stage soon.

The GDM band’s exquisite tones and vocals captivated every listener, making the hours seem to pass swiftly. No one noticed how the concert was nearing its end. The long performance had drained the young Iwasawa and the others, sweat glistening on their brows.

After a song ended, Iwasawa caught her breath, steadying her breathing. Knowing the time was nearly up, she picked up the microphone and spoke.

“We’re so happy you all came to the concert. Thank you very much for your support. Unfortunately, this concert is almost over.”

Hearing that, the audience—who had lost track of time—began calling out for more songs. Some realized hours had slipped by since the opening, and they noticed the sweat on the performers’ faces.

“So sorry, but let us begin the last song to end the concert. We’ll be inviting a very talented friend to sing with me! I’m sure you all know this song—MySong.” Iwasawa’s spirits lifted with the crowd’s enthusiasm, but her strength was waning. She signaled for the others to rest while Miyu Yuya, who had been waiting patiently, stepped onto the stage.

Noticing that everyone except Iwasawa had returned backstage, the audience’s initial disappointment quickly gave way to curiosity about Miyu Yuya’s identity. Since Iwasawa had recommended her, surely her singing would be good—especially with Iwasawa present.

“Who’s this girl? She’s kind of cute, but can she really sing? Not everyone has Iwasawa’s talent,” someone in the crowd murmured skeptically.

“I don’t recognize her. I’ve never seen her before, but if Iwasawa says so, she probably isn’t bad,” another replied.

Whispers about Miyu Yuya’s identity buzzed through the audience. Most were willing to listen out of respect for Iwasawa and the band, though few expected much. Standing on stage, Miyu Yuya felt the weight of tens of thousands of eyes on her for the first time. Her heart pounded audibly in her chest.

“Don’t be nervous. Don’t overthink things. Even if you fail, it’s not a big deal. I’ll support you! Failure isn’t anyone’s fault. There’s nothing to fear,” Iwasawa said gently, noticing Miyu Yuya’s anxiety. These words almost made Hisako, backstage, spit out her drink in surprise.

After recovering, Hisako’s gaze turned strange. Only she knew that these were the very words she had once used to encourage Iwasawa before their first impromptu performance. And now, Iwasawa was passing them on to Miyu Yuya. How unexpected.

But the words worked wonders. Miyu Yuya took several deep breaths and relaxed. Iwasawa strummed her guitar, the clear accompaniment resonating through the venue.

“Hurriedly searching for the meeting place, the day has already ended,”

“The sky shrouded in gray haze, nothing visible ahead,”

“The so-called sensible ones smile, wondering what lies their next words will be,”

As Iwasawa sang the first line, Miyu Yuya seamlessly joined in. The same song, the same melody, the same lyrics—to the audience, it felt like two completely different interpretations, yet perfectly harmonious.

Compared to Iwasawa’s confident smile, Miyu Yuya made a few small mistakes earlier, quickly masked by Iwasawa’s support. But no matter—she was overwhelmingly happy. Iwasawa had drawn her into a world where singing alone was pure joy; nothing else mattered.

“Surprisingly good! This girl sings pretty well!” Gradually, the crowd’s perception of Miyu Yuya shifted. Her singing reached a commendable level, especially in perfect harmony with Iwasawa.

On stage, the two exchanged a smile. Just hours ago, they had met for the first time. After Iwasawa’s invitation to sing together, they hadn’t rehearsed at all, only briefly discussing their singing styles.

Never having collaborated before, their rhythm was guided purely by feeling—an impromptu duet. Yet, they succeeded. When the last note fell, the audience was silent, immersed in the lingering beauty of the song.

As Iwasawa and Miyu Yuya retreated backstage, the roaring cheers and applause resumed, lasting a full ten minutes. Only after the band reappeared to thank the crowd did people begin to disperse.

“Phew, finally everyone’s gone. I didn’t realize how exhausting a real concert could be,” Hisako flopped onto the sofa, her hands trembling slightly from hours of playing.

“Tiring, yes, but so much fun!” Miyuki Irie smiled contentedly.

“Right? Right? I felt the same! And at the end, Iwasawa and Miyu sang remarkably well. As your senior, I really have high hopes for you!” Shiori Sekine, refreshed after resting, adopted a mentor’s tone and patted Miyu Yuya’s shoulder warmly.

“N-no, it’s not me—it’s all thanks to Iwasawa-senpai,” Miyu Yuya replied shyly.

After a while, the group felt the weight of fatigue and longed for sleep. They bade a reluctant farewell to Yezhen and the others, who escorted them back to their lodgings with assistants chosen by Yezhen.

Though Miyu Yuya only sang the final song, she too felt weary. Yezhen’s entourage arranged for Vanber to drive her home.

Upon returning, Miyu Yuya found that her usually busy parents were home earlier than usual. In the living room, they were engaged in friendly conversation with two unfamiliar men dressed in suits, their smiles warm and relaxed.

“Oh well, it probably doesn’t concern me. I’ll just go to bed. Mom, Dad, I’m heading to sleep now!” It had been the happiest day of her life. Cheerfully, she greeted her parents before hurrying to her room.

“Miyu, wait!” Her mother’s voice stopped her unexpectedly. “These guests are here to see you!”

“To see me?” Miyu Yuya blinked, puzzled by the strangers she had no memory of meeting.