Girl Band, Gravity Capture

Page 74

Unlike Su Shi, who had the advantage of being geographically close and was gentle and approachable, able to gradually melt Xu Dou's defenses; and unlike Xiang Zi, who was in sync with Xu Dou and dared to pester him to create opportunities to deepen their relationship.

She was always passive, always waiting for the boy to speak first, unable to properly express her feelings, and didn't know how to change herself.

Wakaba Mutsumi even felt a little envious of the "other Wakaba Mutsumi" who had briefly appeared in her life before. She was much more lively than the girl and even had the courage to touch Minamoto Koto's cheek directly with her hand.

...However, Xu Dou chose her.

Ruo Yemu never imagined that anyone would care so much about her existence, or need her so much. She never imagined that she, who had lived as an appendage to others since childhood, with an empty heart, could receive something that belonged only to her.

She doesn't need to perform, pretend, pander to others, or run errands for anyone's requests... yet people will still consider her important and affirm her value and significance with genuine gentleness.

It doesn't matter if I cause trouble, or if there are communication difficulties... It feels so wonderful to be cared for and appreciated.

It's like soaking in a hot spring, feeling warm all over, gently enveloped by the spring water.

So... she also wanted to do something for Xu Dou.

It wasn't something she was asked to do, nor was it to cater to expectations... she simply hoped to give back a little something in return. Even though in her heart, this was less than one ten-thousandth of the salvation Xu Dou had brought her.

However, Su Shi and Xiang Zi occupied most of the space around him. Mu didn't want to be the one fighting over him, nor did she want to be a potential burden. Therefore, even though she was extremely envious of the two who could freely get close to the boy, she just watched silently from the sidelines.

Until... she discovered what appeared to be a hickey on Su Shi's neck, and through probing, confirmed it.

At that moment, did the girl feel bittersweet or sad? It seemed that the person she liked was about to be snatched away by someone else, while she had only taken half a step into the starting line.

In any case, the intertwined feelings ultimately led to her actions at this moment—she followed him to the lounge without saying a word, yet with a clear intention, just for this moment, which was not a long time alone with him.

This might be the first time she has actively pursued something.

However, Ruoye Mu had not figured out what to do, nor did she know what she wanted to do.

Does she expect Xu Dou to treat her the same way he treated Su Shi? Does she hope he can understand her feelings?

Quietly squeezing the boy's hand, with her head down and eyes blank, Ruoye Mu slowly gleaned some of her inner thoughts from that lingering support.

“…Then, Xu Dou…”

A blush gradually crept up her earlobes, then spread across her fair cheeks. Her soft whispers trembled slightly, like delicate blades of grass peeking out.

Suppressing his racing heartbeat, he exhaled hot, burning breath.

She raised her head with a dazed look in her eyes, her body involuntarily leaning forward towards the direction where he was.

"……do you like me?"

Chapter 105 I Will Never Refuse Everything You Want (Part 2)

...So cute.

Her focused yet shy eyes, her delicate green hair revealing her small ears, and her seemingly calm but actually tense and charming face were all part of her captivating beauty.

It is vibrant and alive, a far cry from the indifference and emptiness of the past.

This is the pure beauty that he fostered, and that blossoms only for him.

In the air filled with a romantic atmosphere, Gen Xudou, his heart pounding, slowly released his grip on Wakaba Mutsu's hand.

Then, as if handling a fragile and exquisite piece of porcelain, he carefully and slowly embraced the girl's slender waist.

The moment the sensation of physical contact came, Wakaba Mutsu, her face flushed, collapsed into his arms, like a real doll, surrendering all control over her body and letting the boy do as he pleased.

So, Yuan Xudou supported the girl's head from behind.

His light green hair flowed between his fingers as he gently kissed Wakaba Mutsu's hot, soft cheek.

He prefers to demonstrate his feelings through actions rather than words.

If we were to categorize his feelings for Mu into liking and disliking, the answer would undoubtedly be liking—she always silently seeks opportunities to offer selfless care and affection from behind, like a pure white bouquet of flowers, a taciturn girl. As long as one doesn't overlook her efforts, how could one not have feelings for her?

Since Wakaba Mutsu has already mustered the courage to confirm whether there is a possibility that the two of them have feelings that go beyond friendship... then he will naturally follow his heart and respond accordingly.

He released her hand, tilted his head slightly, and with a perfectly gentle smile, explained his answer to the girl.

But the next moment, Yuan Xudou, who was attacked by the unexpected move, opened his eyes wide in surprise.

Squeezing out a bit of strength from somewhere, Ruoye Mu reached out and hugged his neck, struggling to sit up, and awkwardly placed the same kiss on his face.

A soft, sweet sensation came from the side of my face. It didn't contain any stimulating elements, but it still made my heart flutter.

After she finished, she seemed to have lost all courage and strength, collapsing limply onto the boy's chest, only able to stay upright thanks to his shoulder.

His bright, golden pupils were now covered with dizzy lines, and his limbs seemed to have lost all strength and were out of control. His soft, disordered breathing clearly reached the boy's ears... Clearly, this was the boldest thing Ruoye Mutsu could do.

Distracted by the girl's unexpected attack, Genji was momentarily stunned as he looked at Wakaba Mutsu, who was displaying a charming and alluring demeanor that seemed to both resist and welcome her.

...That was an expression that showed he was willing to cooperate and accept whatever he did.

Pure yet alluring, dreamlike yet resolute.

—Xiangzi and Lixi might come looking for them at any time after they finish their bath.

We shouldn't do anything too dramatic, nor should we leave obvious marks on each other.

Such thoughts flashed through my feverish mind and then quickly disappeared without a trace.

He lowered his head and gently kissed Wakaba Mutsu's soft lips.

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.

"Xu Dou—and Mu, what are you guys playing at?"

With her long, sky-blue hair still damp, Toyokawa Shoko, wrapped in a close-fitting bathrobe, eagerly pushed open the door to the lounge, her wet footprints barely visible as she stepped out of the bath.

She saw the two people standing shoulder to shoulder, so she greeted them cheerfully and went over to them.

Behind Toyokawa Shoko, Shiina Tatsuki, also radiating dampness, slowly walked into the room, tidying his slightly disheveled hair.

Looking back at the situation, Yuan Xudou, with a calm expression, pressed the pause button. The two little figures waving weapons on the screen immediately stopped, and a large "Pause" appeared on the screen.

Standing to the side, Wakaba Mutsu, whose expression was calm but whose cheeks were slightly flushed, also turned her head to look at the two uninvited guests.

'Mu's face is a little red... Did she get too excited while playing?'

As the other half of the girl, Toyokawa Shoko naturally noticed the slight abnormality in Wakaba Mutsu's expression. However, not paying much attention to it, she quickly found a reasonable excuse and put it out of her mind.

She sat down next to Yuan Xudou with great interest, staring at the game interface with curious eyes.

"what game is this?"

"I didn't look closely, I just picked one randomly," the boy replied casually. "If you and Lixi want to play together, we can choose a game that can be played by four people."

"There are actually games like this?" The chaebol heiress, who was completely ignorant about electronic entertainment, widened her eyes in surprise.

"There are games that can be played by a hundred people, but they just can't be operated on the same device."

Yuan Xudou stood up, answering her questions while taking two more controllers from the cabinet next to him and connecting them to the host.

During a break in their conversation, Shiina Tatsuki also consciously walked over and sat down in the empty seat next to Wakaba Mutsumi.

She wasn't particularly interested in what to do; she had only come along to kill time with the others. She turned her head with great interest to watch Xiangzi and Xu Dou's peaceful and harmonious conversation, feeling quite content.

'……Um? ’

But after a while, she suddenly caught some amazing images out of the corner of her eye.

A vague feeling told her that something unseen in normal life had just happened within her field of vision, and the source seemed to be...Wakaba Mutsumi?

Confused, Shiina Ritsuki quietly shifted some of her attention to the girl beside her, whose face remained as expressionless as ever.

A moment later, she caught that scene again and understood the reason for that strange feeling.

—Mu seems to be secretly licking his lips?

As if savoring something, every now and then, Ruo Yemu would stick out her pink tongue in a very small motion and quietly lick her lips quickly—this was not only a stark contrast to the indifference she maintained on her face, but also something she would never do given her high level of etiquette education.

Also, I feel like her posture is a little stiff...

Shiina Tatsuki narrowed his eyes slightly in suspicion.

But on Ruoye Mutsu's face, which showed no change in expression to a normal person, and whose thoughts and intentions could only be seen through by someone with exceptional observation skills like Yuan Xudou, she quickly failed.

Her deep purple eyes, which had initially seemed hesitant to give up, shifted their scrutinizing gaze to her surroundings.

But after looking around, she only saw two glasses of mango juice that were half-drunk, with a few half-melted ice cubes floating on the surface.

...The juice was so delicious that you licked your lips?

That reason is ridiculously silly. Shiina Tatsuki would rather believe that the two of them grabbed the wrong cups while drinking, leading to an indirect kiss... To be honest, that idea is actually quite reasonable.

With nothing to do, she idly speculated about what might happen between Xu Dou and Mu during their brief time alone, and she herself was speechless and amused by her own wild imagination.

All told, it's only been less than an hour, what could possibly have happened?

"Lixi, your controller."

"Ah, thanks."

The game controller that Yuan Xudou handed over at just the right moment interrupted the girl's thoughts.

Having gained nothing, Shiina Tatsuki simply gave up.

However, the boy's calm, dark gaze followed her line of sight and noticed the two drinks she was looking at last.

Would you like something to drink?

"No need... Hmm, that seems fine too."

Subconsciously rejecting the offer, Shiina Tatsuki immediately changed his mind, just like Shoko, and put the question he had just been considering out of his mind.

"Mocha Coffee Bar".

“Then I’d like a cup of Earl Grey tea,” Toyokawa Shoko chimed in.

Yuan Xudou nodded to indicate that he had received the message, and then walked out of the room with steady steps.

Taking this opportunity, Toyokawa Shoko, who was very interested, picked up the controller and began to explore the operation mode of the game called "Super Chicken Horse" on the screen. Shiina Tatsuki also wisely gave up thinking about the current situation between the two of them.

...Anyway, she can't ask in person and won't get a real answer, so thinking about it too much is useless.

Besides, even if one morning she really found Xu Dou lying in bed with someone else... Shiina Riki felt that she wouldn't be too shocked at that time.

If I had to describe it, it would be something like a natural progression, going with the flow, a natural outcome... That's the feeling. Given the current relationship between the six of them, it's not surprising that things have reached that point.

With this in mind, she felt at ease and stopped her suspicious behavior.

After waiting a short while, the boy returned carrying steaming cups of coffee and black tea.

He distributed the drinks and sat down in his original seat.

On his left was Xiangzi, with whom he shared a deep understanding, and on his right was Mu, with whom he had just shared a kiss. The two were also childhood friends... Their eyes, which were similar in color but one was warm and bright and the other was calm and ethereal, seemed to drift over him at the same time, giving Yuan Xudou a strange sense of disorientation.

At the same time, I felt a little relieved.

Fortunately, the timing was perfect; otherwise, if Xiangzi and Lixi had seen him embracing peacefully, it would have inevitably caused all sorts of chaos.

...Also, I hope this time it won't be like last time, where someone else discovers it.

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.

Nagasaki Sosei and Takamatsu Akari, who had just woken up from their afternoon nap, gradually came downstairs and joined in after greeting everyone in their sleepy, hoarse voices.

Once everyone was present and they had played a few rounds, Toyokawa Shoko suggested a long-awaited ensemble performance in the music room, to which the other five readily agreed. Playing music held more appeal for them than the games.

However, since the performance by Kasuga Kage, they haven't really touched an instrument properly for over a month, and the tacit understanding they had developed needs to be re-established.

Yuan Xudou, who didn't need to participate in the ensemble, let the girls practice their instruments and regain their feel for the music, while he went to the changing room in the bathhouse to get a hair comb and tidy up Takamatsu Takamori's messy hair, which had a few strands sticking up after her afternoon nap.

Although it wasn't that the girl couldn't do it herself, due to her almost single-minded and simple thinking, she often didn't even realize it—normally, her mother would do this, but in this mansion without a guardian, the responsibility of taking care of Takamatsu Akari naturally fell to him.

Then, somehow she learned that the boy had taken on the job of teaching the granddaughter of Tsuzuki Shisen, a girl as cat-like as Rakuna. On the way, Toyokawa Shoko suddenly had a whimsical idea and wanted to see Genji Koto's solo performance.

Because when he usually instructs them, he only plays a small section where there are problems, and he always pauses, explaining and asking questions. No one has ever heard the boy's solo in its entirety.

With a little encouragement from Toyokawa Shoko, the curiosity of the other four was also piqued, and they all agreed to the decision.

So, reluctantly accepting their expectations, Won Heo-doo ultimately chose the guitar as the instrument for the demonstration.

On one hand, it was because he had specifically requested a guitar for Lena, which met Xiangzi's requirements. On the other hand, he also wanted Mu, who had just been intimate with him and also played the guitar, to experience more, which is why he did not choose a piano, which is also suitable for solo performances.