Girl Band, Gravity Capture

Page 100

"……call."

The intense yet ambiguous temperature flowed into the girl's every heavy breath, circulating in the space between the two.

...Now, Gen Xudou also finds the scent of Ruoye Mu to be quite pleasant.

Was it because the girl's innate, subtle fragrance naturally dissipated, or was it because the hormones that were being secreted and becoming more concentrated in Mutsu's body were being slowly baked out by that heat, like the moisture in bread being baked...?

I can't think.

They pressed themselves together, and the thumping of their heartbeats grew louder and louder, drowning out the background noise of the surrounding environment.

As darkness fell, the dim light enveloped the two who remained inseparable, faintly illuminating the glistening moisture on their lips that had begun to glisten after their secret kiss amidst the sparse pedestrians.

Not once, not twice.

Instead, it's five minutes, ten minutes...

In some cases, Xu Dou lowered his head voluntarily, while in others, Mu couldn't help but stick close to him.

Each time, I only remember to stop when I'm almost out of breath and my head is spinning.

Are you satisfied?

No… I even feel the warm sensation in my lower abdomen is getting stronger and stronger…

I guess I'll want more...

If Ye Mu's mind had completely evaporated, he would only follow his deepest desires.

If it weren't for Yuan Xudou's subsequent reminder, given her more experience with spending hours together and thus retaining some rationality, she might have forgotten everything.

“It’s getting late… Mu, let me take you home.”

"Uh-huh……"

A sweet, cloying gasp escaped her throat. Mu, who had barely regained a sliver of consciousness, could only nod weakly, her limp body barely moving.

The Truth Revealed in Chapter Twenty-Two

On the train taking Wakaba Mutsumi home, she seemed exhausted from what had happened earlier, and the joy of their reunion had lifted her from a gloomy and dejected state, draining her energy. The train had barely started its swaying journey when the girl, as if too tired to continue, began to tremble uncontrollably.

Noticing that Ruoye Mu was sleepy, Yuan Xudou asked her which stop to get off at, then gently put his arm around her delicate shoulders, letting her lean against him for a short rest.

Indeed, Wakaba Mutsu was extremely sleepy. Her half-open eyes quickly closed completely, and she quietly nestled against his shoulder, her even, soft breathing filling the air.

Yuan Xudou shielded her in a corner, glanced at the schedule to confirm the approximate time, pressed his slightly sore eyes, and cheered himself up to wait quietly for the train to arrive at the station.

While waiting, he suddenly felt a strange sense of familiarity with the scene before him, as if he had seen it somewhere before.

Enveloped by a sense of déjà vu, Yuan Xudou raised his head, his dark and serene gaze slowly sweeping across the carriage.

A tram, a bench, a sleepy girl beside me, the faint light filtering through the window...

Wasn't this something he had experienced once in the afternoon?

It was that girl with beautiful cherry-pink hair, who fell asleep on the tram while reading broken English... He thought that such a fleeting encounter would be quickly forgotten and become hazy, but now, when he thinks back, he is surprised to find that his impression of her is so clear, and he can even vaguely recall the outline of her cheek when she lowered her head.

Where...did I ever cross paths with her?

Such a thought was quickly dismissed. Yuan Xudou, with his excellent memory, couldn't possibly forget the image of someone he might have had a past relationship with; they would feel like complete strangers.

...However, it would be rather strange to think about another girl you just met today while the girl who likes you is sleeping next to you.

Realizing this, he temporarily put the matter back into the depths of his mind.

His attention returned to Wakaba Mutsu. Genji gently moved the hand that was supporting her shoulder, brushed aside the slightly messy strands of hair that fell in front of her forehead, and tidied them up a bit.

He looked closely at Mu's pretty face, which was leaning against his shoulder like a little animal nestled in a blanket, relaxed with a sense of security, and felt a little strange.

Her hair was light green, and her delicate eyebrows appeared slightly lighter due to the light and their density. Her long, thin eyelashes, which trembled with her breathing, seemed a little darker, but they still belonged to the green color scheme... Of course, it was very beautiful and did not ruin the beauty of the cool color scheme at all.

The reason he found it strange was that he had seen Toyokawa Shoko and Nagasaki Motoyo up close, face to face, but the result was that although the color of their eyebrows was the same as their hair, a bright sky blue and a warm flaxen color, their eyelashes were pure black, the same as their hair and eye color.

Thinking back more carefully, it seems that the other people who left a deep impression on me are all like Xiangzi and Su Shi: their eyebrows and hair are the same color, and their eyelashes are black—except for Shiina Ritsuki, whose hair is naturally black.

Sitting on the cool bench, slowly waiting to enter the station, Yuan Xudou, who was no longer filled with worries when he arrived, was probably a little bored at this moment.

While it wouldn't be to the point of counting the number of eyelashes on each side of her face, she definitely needed to think of something to distract herself, lest she inadvertently catch the girl's drowsiness and fall asleep with her. It wouldn't be funny if she missed her stop because of that.

It's decided. From now on, we'll treat this matter as a research topic and study it in detail.

First, consider genetic and expression factors...

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.

Several tens of minutes was just enough time for Yuan Xudou to trace Mu's kinship, and then, by expanding his thinking, he deduced from her and Xiangzi's very similar golden eyes that the two might have a real blood relationship, even though they were far apart.

After all, it's not serious research; it's just passing the time with meaningless thinking. I don't expect to come up with a well-founded viewpoint; I just let my thoughts wander.

When the announcement that the tram was about to arrive at the designated station sounded, he immediately gathered his thoughts and gently shook Wakaba Mutsumi awake beside him.

Supporting the girl who had just woken up, whose steps were still unsteady and whose lower back pain, though somewhat relieved after rest, still ached slightly, the two slowly walked out of the platform.

"...Xu Dou."

Following Wakaba Mutsu's guidance, and sensing her reluctance at the impending reunion, Gen Xudou silently slowed his pace.

The setting sun, its golden hue almost sinking below the horizon, cast long shadows of the two. The wind rustled along the roadside, like whispers passing through the leaves.

She had countless things she wanted to say to him, but when she actually opened her mouth, she found that she had no idea where to begin.

Finally, he could only purse his lips and speak softly.

"Just drop me off there, I can walk back myself..."

Today, I've already indulged myself enough and enjoyed a time of carefree indulgence that I could hardly imagine at other times.

If it were like before, even if she got injured from ballet practice, she would still find a way to drag herself home. But today, she was practically carried home by Xu Dou…

Being treated like a treasure and carefully cared for is certainly a source of happiness... but it can also create a sense of unease, like being overwhelmed by the pampering, wondering if it's all too wonderful.

Rather than using up all the joy at once, the girl preferred to accumulate more and more of the love and admiration that were so precious to her, little by little, over a long period of time.

Moreover, she was not mentally prepared to let Xu Dou come into contact with her mother, Sen Minami.

So, just stop in front of your house.

"……it is good."

Seemingly understanding her thoughts, Yuan Xudou did not raise any objections and nodded silently.

Seeing the slight remorse on the girl's delicate face, before she could apologize, the boy smiled gently and said first:

“It’s okay, I understand Mu’s intentions… When you’re ready, I’m always ready to be with you.

Regardless of the relationship, meeting the parents of someone of the opposite sex is something that requires a lot of courage, especially if the family atmosphere is not harmonious. It is normal to feel nervous and resistant to it.

"Xu Dou, thank you..."

The expression on her face changed from fear and guilt to pure attachment and gratitude. Ruoye Mu pressed one hand gently against her chest, then slowly clenched her fingers into a fist, as if making a decision for herself.

Yesterday, Su Shi told me about Xu Dou's recent situation... When I called, Xiangzi's tone was resistant and cold... Today, Xu Dou showed sadness when the band was mentioned...

No, we can't keep running away and hiding it like this.

If telling the truth could make Xu Dou feel that the band's breakup wasn't his fault, but rather something everyone was helpless about and had no choice in...

"I...I have something I want to tell you..."

"It's about Xiangzi's family..." She swallowed nervously, "Actually, Xiangzi is currently living in—"

"——Mu."

However, the expression of hesitation, urgency, surprise, or sudden realization that she had imagined did not appear on Yuan Xudou's face.

He listened to the girl's words and simply nodded calmly.

“I already know all that… I know why Xiangzi left, what she went through.”

"You don't need to worry too much about her. She's staying at my place right now... Didn't Xiangzi tell you?"

"……Eh?"

With her eyes widening suddenly, but her golden pupils contracting sharply, Wakaba Mutsumi uttered a bewildered murmur.

"……what?!"

In her mind, "Wakaba Mutsu," who had been happily watching the two's intimate interactions all day, feeling a sense of fullness and satisfaction welling up from the depths of her body, and was lying on the sofa, not wanting to move at all, suddenly jumped up and uttered an incredulous question.

Chapter Twenty-Three: The Final Decision Revealed

In theory, Toyokawa Shoko should have broken ties with Xu Dou because of the conflict and argument that night. However, due to her strong sense of pride, she refused to accept any help and left the band that everyone cherished without explaining herself...

—Now, are you living at Xu Dou's house?

Because she understood her stubborn pride and obstinacy, "Mu" was willing to sacrifice herself and bear the infamy that led to the band's disbandment, so that Xiangzi and Xu Dou could break free from their constraints and escape together...

...Xiangzi didn't even intend to tell himself the truth.

If Ye Mu had no doubt that Yuan Xudou might be lying, it was not only out of absolute trust, but also because this matter was far beyond her comprehension. Moreover, Xudou had no reason to tell such an easily verifiable and meaningless lie.

So, that's true.

As she painfully reminisced about the wonderful times she had spent with everyone, chewing on the remnants of false warmth and happiness left in her fragmented memories late at night... Xiangzi returned to Xu Dou's side full of hope.

...She stood once again in the bright, warm light of the campfire, while she continued to huddle and tremble in the cold, dark darkness.

Of course, the girl could think of many reasons to excuse her.

For example, Xiangzi, who had already left the band at that time, did not know what he would do next, and naturally could not imagine the resulting situation, nor was he aware of his own suffering.

—Then why did she deliberately hide it from me and not tell me that she had already reconciled with Xu Dou?

For example, Xiangzi's situation did not actually improve. Although she lived in Xu Dou's house, it was still not a happy place for her, and it could not bring her back to the light.

However, what she looked down upon was precisely the life that would bring her immense satisfaction and that she longed for...

Disdain for the past, rejection of Xu Dou, forgetting the band... and the cold, fierce interruption, the arrogance and resistance in the voice...

Was it all fake, a performance just to deceive me?

Xiangzi, why...why did you do this...?

Noticing Wakaba Mutsu's surprise upon hearing the answer, and the subsequent confusion that followed, Gen Xudou, wanting to soothe her emotions, accompanied the girl for a while longer, managing to bring a faint light back into her dazed and unfocused pupils.

Ultimately, limited by the distance, the boy, who had already approached the dangerous distance to Wakaba Mutsu's house, could only say goodbye to her.

Even he... couldn't erase the chaos and confusion that arose from the collapse of Wakaba Mutsu's reasons for persisting because he was deceived by his closest half-best friend in such a short time and with just a few words.

...Moreover, to be honest, after realizing that Xiangzi hadn't told Mu about this, Yuan Xudou didn't think the former had any right whatsoever.

He could let go of his anger towards Toyokawa Shoko's previous cold and harsh actions, but he could neither forgive others for their anger and rejection caused by her behavior, nor did he want to do so.

Genjiro Tou was not the kind of person who indiscriminately tolerated everyone, or even demanded that others do the same. His love for Toyokawa Shoko outweighed his hatred, so he was able to tolerate the mistakes she had made before, rather than thinking that everything she did was right and that she didn't need to bear the consequences.

He simply chose to accept the bitter fruit that belonged to him, the bitter fruit that Xiangzi was meant to taste, instead of continuing to be so calculating.

Otherwise, he would have eased the strained relationship between Su Shi and Xiang Zi long ago, a relationship so obvious it was practically written on their faces, where they were mutually exclusive. Because he never took the girls' indulgence and favoritism towards him for granted, but rather saw it as an emotion that needed to be cherished, he was even less likely to arbitrarily distort their likes and dislikes or deprive them of their right to judge.

If Mu harbored resentment towards Xiangzi, he would say something nice for Xiangzi, but that was the limit. Whatever Mu's final thoughts were, Yuan Xudou could understand and would not interfere further.

So, aside from a few words of comfort that were better than nothing, he couldn't say anything more.

Unless Genjiro immediately picks up Wakaba Mutsu and uses other stimuli to wash away the confusion that is slowly spreading in the girl's heart, and uses his own appearance to replace the Toyokawa Shoko who is repeatedly questioning her mind... not to mention Wakaba Mutsu's own intentions, and whether she would be frightened, he has no plans to carry out such an action.

Feeling powerless to some extent, Yuan Xudou left the road in front of the Mu family's house.

Silently gazing at his retreating figure, Wakaba Mutsu remained rooted to the spot, not immediately taking a step to go home.

With only a few steps left, even though her slender waist was a little sore, walking back wasn't too difficult. With Xu Dou practically embracing her the whole way, she walked back effortlessly; it was too early to say she was tired.

What held her back as she lifted her foot was the intense turmoil in her heart, which manifested in the blankness in her eyes and the resentful words that had been echoing in her mind since the beginning.

'Toyokawa Shoko! I told you she was a bad person!'

'We shouldn't have broken up with Xu Dou because of her! The band's disbandment is all her fault!'

'If it weren't for her, none of us would have...'