CHAPTER 341: CHAPTER 259 TOKYO UNIVERSITY MAY FESTIVAL (END)_2

The music she played had already become people’s smiles, deeply penetrating into their hearts...

The music continued, the cheerful tune still playing.

When the shock brought by the violin interlude had not yet subsided, it suddenly stopped.

Just as the audience wondered why it didn’t continue.

Then, Hanamaru Hanabi’s soft sound sang the slightly sorrowful lyrics again: "Although I understood long ago, as the years pass, even your naked eye will forget me, when I still want to understand deep within the body, the moment the throat only summarizes and nurtures words..."

The singing continued, and so did people’s expectations.

"In order not to let this memory fade,

In order not to let this song disappear without a trace, please don’t forget,

just to remember it for a little while, even though I’ve thought so since long, long ago,

God probably resides in your fingertips..."

This song has a brisk rhythm, yet the lyrics possess a melancholic atmosphere, sung tenderly by Hanamaru Hanabi’s delicate voice, as if telling a story.

And starting from the first half, the gradual telling of the moment was elevated to a brilliant sunny mindset by a stunning violin.

The mood was like opening the window facing the bright sunlight on the morning of the second day after a storm, then looking at the translucent green leaves with droplets still hanging, and taking a deep breath of the fresh air after the rain.

Meanwhile, the audience felt a refreshing sensation in their hearts.

Making people feel joyful in this approaching summer of May.

"It’s really nice!"

Listening to a classmate’s exclamation, Todaka Keichiro turned his head to find him recording with a phone.

People are curious creatures, when a place gathers a large crowd, it only attracts more spectators.

Umezu Nana and Seisa Takeshun were among those who squeezed into the crowd after much effort, having just switched classes and were replacing the morning classmates to explore the school.

In front of the Yasuda Lecture Hall was the largest stage of the May Festival.

She recognized the person on stage: "Uesugi-kun?"

"Seisa, when did Uesugi-kun sign up to perform?"

"Senior... It seemed he mentioned he was going to practice something... but I didn’t know what he was practicing." Seisa Takeshun realized he didn’t recognize the other three girls on stage, but they were all very good-looking.

Umezu Nana stood at the front of the crowd, watching Uesugi Sakura holding the guitar, bathed in sunlight, handsome and talented, and thought, the so-called boyfriend of one’s dreams should be like this...

"What Uesugi-kun mentioned should be practicing the guitar..."

The accompaniment was catchy, ethereal, and crisp, with the lead singer’s voice as captivating as a young girl’s.

Seisa Takeshun asked, "What’s the name of this song?"

"Not sure... I haven’t heard it before, but it’s really nice." Umezu Nana noticed that most of the girls’ gazes were on Uesugi Sakura, perhaps overly focused on his face, many people actively ignored the ring on his hand.

A five-minute song isn’t long.

Listening for five minutes felt easy, but for the performer, the effort put into it had to be measured in "years."

The stage showcased an accumulation of skill and experience.

Like Kyujuu Rika, her piano skills were cultivated from childhood.

Kitagawa Sakisa, although playful and a bit lazy, was often urged by her to study together.

Ayaka Rie, too, had been learning drums since middle school, although she hadn’t practiced for a while, the foundation was there.

After the song finished, Hanamaru Hanabi was still tense, not yet reacting, when applause like waves covered the five people on stage.

She quickly bowed apologetically to the audience clapping continuously below, then scurried down the stage.

The staff went on stage, and Uesugi Sakura and the rest also bowed to the audience and withdrew.

"Hanabi-chan!"

Behind the stage in a small tent, Kitagawa Sakisa immediately ran over to hug Hanamaru Hanabi, rubbing against her neck.

"Don’t do that, everyone is here." Hanamaru Hanabi said softly, but having successfully performed a song she always wanted to sing with everyone, she couldn’t help but feel a subtle happiness inside.

"Hanabi-chan was amazing, wasn’t she?"

"Not that great..."

Hanamaru Hanabi wasn’t sure how well she sang, her mind on stage was focused on remembering the lyrics, remembering what the next line should be, when she snapped back, she had already finished singing.

Everyone was still applauding for her.

"I still didn’t sing well... my words were unclear in many places... too quiet...."

"It’s okay, the overall atmosphere looked fantastic, didn’t you notice so many boys looking at you?"

"Well... I know..." Hanamaru Hanabi wasn’t very comfortable with too many people watching her.

Kyujuu Rika walked over, her beautiful appearance smiling lightly: "This is the result of everyone’s effort together, making up for the regret of not performing a program together in past cultural festivals, although the preparation time was a bit rushed, and some details weren’t perfect, the overall result was quite satisfying for everyone."

Ayaka Rie: "College is still fine, after graduation, there genuinely won’t be time to get together again, this performance... is also a precious memory."

Kitagawa Sakisa continued hugging Hanabi, moving intimately, smiling as she said: "Hehe, I still think Hanabi-chan was the best! Singing out the image of the girlfriend in my heart perfectly."

"Not at all." Hanamaru Hanabi vaguely felt there were still many people watching her, and her nervousness hadn’t faded.

The black skirt brushed against the white formal dress, which in Uesugi Sakura’s view, was just Kitagawa Sakisa being overly enthusiastic.

She seemed to have few friends besides those present.

Apparently, before Kitagawa Sakisa transferred to Kamigoe, she hadn’t attended a formal school, always taught by private tutors.

As for why she could go to the strictly-reviewed Kanzaki Togoshi Private Academy without having attended middle school, one could only say her family had great influence.

Seeing Hanabi make so many good friends, he felt quite gratified, at least they all cared for her, with the concerns of friendship.

They spent less than 15 minutes on stage for a song, with 10 minutes spent in preparation.

The response was quite enthusiastic, at least many people, like some tourists attending the May Festival outside, recorded videos, the reason being - mainly because there were many beautiful girls, and he, Uesugi, having been featured in several newspapers for being the national Kyudo champion, was somewhat famous.

The Tokyo University Kyudo Department’s recruitment poster had his name on it, along with the chuunibyou title media had given him.

It’s now standing by Sanshiro Pond.

Getting this program opportunity required some gratitude to Senior Seisuke, who managed the backstage for him.

Let’s talk more when there’s an opportunity in the future.

After chatting for a while, Uesugi Sakura left the backstage with Hanamaru Hanabi and the others, carrying his guitar.

On the way, he noticed that occasionally, fellow students would take an extra look at them.

He guessed they were probably wondering which department Hanabi and the others belonged to.

Unfortunately, Tokyo University didn’t have them, only himself, as they were all from the neighboring Tokyo Art University.

Surroundings were bustling with people in the campus passageways, lined with various small stalls.

There were also senior students openly selling their notes, consulting outsiders on life, with glasses on.

Honestly, the business was quite good.

Carrying the name of Tokyo University on one’s head makes people look at you differently, making life a lot more convenient.

Two ladies came over, carrying little ones, with smiles all over their faces.

Kitagawa Sakisa’s eyes lit up when she saw Hanamaru Hanami, thinking she was a smaller version of Hanabi, wanting to hug her, also saying his sister Uesugi Shin was cuter than himself, Uesugi Sakura.

He admitted his sister, being small, was indeed cute.

But does the word cute need a man like him to compare with a one-year-old girl?

Uesugi Sakura watched the girls laughing and chatting around the two little ones in front, redirecting his attention back to Hanabi.

Previously, she was a girl who would hide behind him when slightly nervous or shy.

Now she could sing quietly on stage facing so many people.

Perhaps this is growth...

Uesugi Sakura stood aside, listening to the sound of ginkgo leaves swaying in the wind, watching Hanamaru Hanabi smile, took out the vibrating phone from his pocket, and answered it without looking at the screen:

"Hello."