Girl Band, Gravity Capture

Page 64

The only people awake in the carriage, besides the driver, were Yuan Xudou, who had just woken up, and Toyokawa Shoko, who had woken up a little earlier than him and couldn't wait to wake him up, and who looked full of energy at the moment.

"……What's wrong?"

Fortunately, Yuan Xudou was not tired and did not have any morning grumpiness. He was only a little confused about the girl waking him up, but not unhappy.

Therefore, he can calmly lower his voice and ask the other person why they are so eager to wake him up.

"We're almost there."

Toyokawa Shoko took out her phone and showed the time to the boy.

It was close to four o'clock in the afternoon.

"Because there is a difficult road ahead that will take a long detour, we are actually quite close to the sea now."

Following the direction pointed by the girl's fair finger, he looked out through the curtain that the girl had slightly lifted a corner of.

The dense forest, with its overlapping and overlapping layers, resembles a deep and mysterious magic realm, spreading out a vast expanse of green supported by shadows.

The lush, tranquil, and natural suburban scenery, so different from the bustling city, comes into view, and just looking at it brings a sense of peace and joy.

Further away, at the edge of his vision, he saw that patch of azure.

The water shimmers with sparkling light, stretching outwards to the horizon, magnificent and expansive, an incredible beauty.

Following the clear sky of almost the same color, it was as if the boundary between heaven and earth had merged into one, a wondrous sight.

With soft, flowing hair the same color as the beautiful scenery, the sky-blue-haired girl turned her head.

A bright, dazzling smile bloomed on her face, as if it were the most beautiful scenery in the world, making everything else she had just seen pale in comparison.

"I'm sorry, I disturbed your sleep, Xu Dou."

She spoke softly.

Although she said these words, there was no apology in Toyokawa Shoko's voice.

Only the most genuine joy and elation, like a rainbow refracted in a glistening dewdrop, spread out in undulating radiance.

"—Because I want to be with you, the first to see this scenery."

"...Just the two of us."

Chapter Ninety-One: A Visit to the Mansion

"Finally—we've arrived—"

As the car slowly came to a stop, people helped each other out, their bodies numb and legs weak from sitting. They stretched their limbs in the open space to relieve the stiffness caused by the long journey.

The afternoon sunlight was no longer as scorching as at noon. The warm rays shone on the skin, dispelling the chill that had seeped into the bones from spending hours in the air conditioning, and bringing a comfortable warmth.

Finally freed from the long journey, a delighted Toyokawa Shoko opened her arms, her clear, melodious voice trailing off into a long, drawn-out tone.

Shiina Riki, standing to the side, looked up in awe at the building that stretched as far as the eye could see, towering several meters high, and which was perhaps more aptly described as a "manor" than a residence.

"This is too big..."

Not to mention the six members of CryCHIC, she felt that an entire symphony orchestra could fit inside.

In this desolate, remote mountain forest, there is such an exquisite and luxurious seaside villa... The enjoyment of the tycoons is indeed beyond the imagination of a girl from an ordinary family like her.

Recovering from the initial shock, a hint of excitement flashed in the girl's light purple eyes.

A luxurious mansion in the wilderness, a holiday where only young people exist, a party spent with friends... these mysterious words combined together undoubtedly have a huge appeal to girls their age.

"Hehe, for the next two weeks or so, this place will be entirely ours."

Responding to Shiina Tatsuki's exclamation with a slightly smug tone, Toyokawa Shoko then put her hands on her hips and called on everyone to move the luggage.

After unloading the bags and packages from the car and checking them to make sure everything was accounted for, Toyokawa Shoko temporarily placed them on the open ground in front of the door. She then politely spoke a few words with the driver, who had rolled down the window. The woman, who appeared to be in her twenties or thirties, nodded and drove away on her own.

As they watched the vehicle carrying them arrive, and the tool connecting them to the outside world slowly disappear into the horizon, a feeling of being isolated from the world arose spontaneously from the bottom of everyone's heart.

Far from the hustle and bustle of the city, everything in front of me seemed so unfamiliar, yet so captivating.

The sounds that once filled my ears were no longer the chatter of pedestrians and the hum of vehicles on the street, but the subtle chirping of cicadas in the woods. The colorful lights and neon signs were no longer in sight, but instead swaying shadows and boundless vegetation.

Not far away, the golden sand shimmered under the sunlight, and the salty sea breeze blowing from it left a moist touch on the skin, stimulating the tip of the nose and imprinting the smell and shape of the sea into the mind beforehand.

The only people I can call familiar are those around me.

Everything that was new and exciting to them aroused curiosity, fear, and... immense anticipation.

"Alright, everyone, let's move our luggage into the lobby first."

First, she snapped out of her mesmerizing thoughts, then smiled and clapped her hands, the crisp sound waking everyone up.

"Because this house is so big, it will take enough time to familiarize myself with it all this afternoon. Let's leave the beach trip for tomorrow."

The other five nodded without objection (II) Gui Qi Tuo Jiu (I) Shu (VI).

They moved their belongings to a corner of the spacious hall, which felt large enough to host a performance, and then, led by Toyokawa Shoko, they began to learn about the structure of the house.

"The first floor mainly consists of functional rooms."

"This is the bathhouse."

Pushing open the ornately decorated glass doors and passing through the changing room, she led the group into a giant bathtub filled with mist and large enough to accommodate dozens of people.

"Towels, shampoo, and other essentials are all provided in the changing room. The water here is also changed regularly, so there's no need to worry about hygiene."

"And then, this is the kitchen."

"However, I haven't been inside much... I'm not very clear about what's inside, so Xu Dou and Su Shi will have to figure it out yourselves."

Yuan Xudou nodded, indicating that he understood.

Reassured that the matter was entrusted to him, Toyokawa Shoko led everyone to the next room.

"This is a music practice room!"

When music was mentioned, her interest was noticeably higher, and the other girls also showed expressions of interest.

"Because of exams, everyone has probably not had a formal performance for a while, right? The equipment here is very complete and well maintained, so we can finally start rehearsing again."

Upon hearing this, they all nodded in agreement.

Playing at the beach is important, but practice can't be neglected either—after all, everyone's primary responsibility is still the band, and music, as the initial bridge connecting them, cannot be taken lightly.

It's been a long time since they've played together, and the girls are itching to get back to playing.

Sensing the same anticipation emanating from her companion, which mirrored her own, Toyokawa Shoko, her face beaming with joy, continued forward, introducing the next room.

"This is where we store miscellaneous items. If you need anything, you should be able to find most of it here."

"This is the lounge. There are lots of books and some gaming equipment inside."

"This is the screening room..."

"This is..."

After touring the first floor of the mansion, everyone felt that it was not like a house should be equipped with such features. Instead, it was as if an entire street had been shrunk down and put into it. The completeness of its functions was amazing.

Even Xiangzi himself was surprised to find that it took several people several tens of minutes to go through the rooms he had just gone through, following the list prepared by the housekeeper.

"Next is the second floor, which is where we'll rest."

"There are dozens of rooms in total. Everyone can just pick one to stay in and then take your luggage to your room later."

"Although there are only six of us in this house, for safety reasons, let's stay next to each other."

"In case of any emergencies, living together will be much more convenient."

It's a reasonable suggestion, and the six of them never intended to separate anyway.

After a brief discussion, the order in which their dorm rooms were arranged was decided.

From left to right, they are Mu, Xiangzi, Xu Dou, Su Shi, Deng, and Li Xi.

In fact, the room, which is almost the same size as a normal apartment, could easily accommodate six people living together. The reason for having one room for each person is simply to protect each other's privacy.

To this end, the group specifically designated an adjacent room as a shared activity room, so that they could hold parties together in the evenings.

"By the way, there's one more thing."

After assigning their rooms, Toyokawa Shoko, who had planned to go back downstairs to take care of dinner, suddenly remembered something and called out to the five people who were heading up the stairs.

Faced with the inquiring gazes, the girl frowned slightly, and a hint of difficulty appeared on her usually cheerful face.

"Well... 'Because of some design layout reasons, each room does not have a private bathroom'... That's what the housekeeper told me."

"Therefore, there are only public restrooms at the ends of the corridors on both sides of the second floor."

Toyokawa Shoko raised her hand and pointed to the side closer to them.

"However, it's just a slightly longer route, it should be fine, right?"

Chapter Ninety-Two: Xiangzi's Confusion and Speculation

After briefly familiarizing themselves with the layout of the mansion, so that they wouldn't get lost in the overly spacious, maze-like house, they returned to the first floor.

Now, the clock in the hall ticks away, and the hands of the antique clock, which has a distinct sense of age, point to six o'clock in the afternoon.

Genjiro and Nagasaki Motoyo went into the kitchen to prepare dinner for the others. It was getting late, and the two needed to serve the food quickly, so they temporarily put aside their task of teaching the other girls how to cook.

Microwave oven, electric oven, coffee machine, popcorn machine, ice cream machine...

"...The kitchen utensils are a bit too complete."

The interior, decorated in a classical style and exuding an air of timeless elegance, was furnished with incredibly modern cooking utensils, some of which he could only name but had never actually used.

Modernity and tradition coexist in conflict yet harmony, creating a wonderful contrast between the old and the new.

—From this perspective, the Toyokawa family does not seem to be the kind of rigid, old-fashioned, and strictly disciplined noble family; they are quite open to new things.

While pondering, he also checked the safety of the kitchen utensils.

"She must have had some skincare treatment recently, and she looks pretty good."

"Xu Doujun, I've found the ingredients!"

Peeking out from the doorway, a gentle voice, like silky brown hair, reaches the senses even before the words have a chance to enter.

Filled with the excitement of exploring the unknown, Nagasaki Motoyo's sweet voice was tinged with a fleeting tone.

"It's not a refrigerator or freezer, but stored in a cellar-like place... Wow, that feels a bit mysterious."

It was like a centuries-old manor hidden away from the world, just like in a storybook or fairy tale—she had slowly adapted to and become addicted to this subtle thrill that was out of place in her daily life.

"it is good."

Quickly getting into cooking mode, Yuan Xudou calmly walked towards the cutting board.

"Su Shi, go and collect the menu items that everyone wants to eat tonight."

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.

the other side.

No matter how skilled a chef is, the time required for cooking cannot be skipped in the blink of an eye, and a steaming hot meal cannot be served directly.

After asking everyone about their favorite dishes, Nagasaki Motoyo returned to the kitchen to help the boy, while the remaining four sat around a long table bathed in the bright yellow light of a luxurious crystal chandelier, feeling somewhat bored.

"It feels so empty here."

The initial surprise at seeing such a spacious hall gradually faded, and the person who gave her the greatest sense of security was not by her side at this moment.

Facing the seemingly empty mansion where a shout would echo, Takamatsu Akari shrank back somewhat timidly and whispered her thoughts in a timid tone she hadn't heard in a long time.

"After all, there are only six of us, there's nothing we can do about it..."

This mansion was originally designed to accommodate several generations of the family for summer retreats, and it also had space reserved for butlers and servants. It's understandable that a house that should have housed dozens of people would feel deserted when occupied by a few teenagers.

Besides, they aren't all here yet.

Shoko Toyokawa, who had felt the same way, sighed helplessly. Even after being away for only a short while, she couldn't help but think of that person whose mere presence brought peace of mind to those around her.