After breaking up, my ex asked me to win her back

The next day, when Kagura Hikaru saw Ayakoji Chiyoko in the classroom, she had some good news to share.

"The students of Tsukinomori really like your painting, including their teachers and the school leadership. They are planning to organize it and display it around the campus."

"You can also see the topic of that painting on Twitter," Kohinata Motoyo said with a smile, showing her phone screen which displayed a #TsukinomoriOilPainting hashtag.

A female student from Tsukinomori had taken a photo of the huge oil painting divided into twenty pieces laid out on the ground, also thoughtfully including an aerial 'full-body shot'. The post had over three thousand retweets and was quite trending.

Once the people from Tsukinomori arrange the oil painting neatly and present it in its entirety, the visual effect would be even better. Discover hidden content at My Virtual Library Empire

Kagura Hikaru glanced at it twice and then didn't look any further, pushing the phone back: "As long as they are satisfied, there should be hope for reestablishing ties with Tsukinomori."

"Of course," Ayakoji Chiyoko nodded, "their attitude has softened a lot after accepting our gift."

"That's good."

That Ayakoji Chiyoko had fallen into her current controversial plight was undoubtedly the doings of Kiryu Hina and the others, and they did it for Kagura Hikaru. In the end, for him to wrap things up was indeed a fitting conclusion.

However, Kagura Hikaru only intended to go this far and would not get too involved, it was time to focus on his own matters.

One was to keep an eye on Komori Ai so she wouldn't trouble her friends and family.

He also needed time to adjust to living with the Kiryu father and daughter and to investigate Kiryu Masaki's true character to save his mother from another failed marriage.

The last matter was ... an accident? Perhaps that's an exaggeration.

In any case, it disrupted Kagura Hikaru's plans and showed him a very interesting future.

Lunch break at noon.

Kagura Hikaru declined the lunch invitation from Kiryu Hina and others and found Ai Cheng Hua Lian.

They agreed to meet on the rooftop of the old school building.

Just like that day, Kagura Hikaru brought his homemade bento, and Ai Cheng Hua Lian shared with him chocolate bread bought from the snack shop.

The two sat at the highest point of the rooftop, eating, gazing at the distant scenery, and talking.

Since he met her, Kagura Hikaru had been through quite a lot, from being coerced by Kiryu Hina out of guilt to now with Ayakoji Chiyoko becoming a control freak and yandere, only Ai Cheng Hua Lian remained unchanged.

As she had back then, walking towards him under the sunlight with a smile that captivated him, now too she wore a similar warm smile, engaging in close conversation with Kagura Hikaru:

"Mr. Sagami has arranged for us to meet at the livehouse this afternoon, you'll come, won't you, Kagura?"

"Yeah."

Kagura Hikaru nodded, recalling the chubby talent scout he had seen the day he stood in for the Red Pepper Band's guitarist.

'Sagami' was the surname of that talent scout, who had found the Red Pepper Band the day before yesterday and officially passed them his business card. This indicated that he had thought things through and wanted to become the band's agent, helping them sign with a music company to become professional musicians.

What lay before the four members of the Red Pepper Band was a genuine chance to enter the music industry.

It was an opportunity that all underground musicians dreamt of, and it seemed wasteful even to consider rejecting it.

Not just the members of the Red Pepper Band were in a dilemma over this, Kagura Hikaru felt the same.

Because Mr. Sagami had also expressed a desire to work with him, entrusting Ai Cheng Hua Lian to pass along his business card to him.

That is to say, not only was the Red Pepper Band in the talent scout's sights, but Kagura Hikaru seemed to have moved him with his performance on stage last time.

But to be honest, Kagura Hikaru wasn't very excited about it, as he had had many people approach him back when he performed at the livehouse, hoping he'd go pro, but he had always refused citing youth and the need to prioritize studies.

This time, however, he was unexpectedly somewhat tempted.

Kagura Hikaru guessed that this was probably a burst of vitality following a narrow escape from disaster, or as one might call it, boredom after recovering from an illness with nothing to do.

The idea of actively wanting to work truly signified his brain must be broken.

After interacting with Ai Cheng Hua Lian, he planned to accompany her for another meeting with the Sagami Talent Scout.

Last time he met the person, Kagura Hikaru was in a state of amnesia, even forgetting his own ability to read minds, but this time was different.

Even if not for himself, for Ai Cheng Hua Lian and her band friends, he must personally confirm whether the talent scout was truly a music company agent or a cunning fraud.

High school girls signing strange contracts blinded by fame and deceived by adults are not uncommon in the Island Nation.

"Have you all made up your minds?" Kagura Hikaru gently asked, swaying his chopsticks.

He was asking about the Red Pepper Band's stance on this matter.

As he guessed, it was certain that the few of them had not reached a consensus, since they were still high school students with no definitive ideas about their future. Moreover, if they decided to move towards professionalism, not only would they grapple with whether to balance studies, but they would also face parental approval, which wouldn't be sorted out so quickly.

Ai Cheng Hua Lian's response confirmed this, as she hesitantly said, "Nana and Maya (the bassist) both want to sign, Zhen Chun is still torn, I... don't have any particular thoughts, I'll listen to everyone else."

"Don't you want to be a professional musician?"

"Uh, actually I don't know, maybe that kind of work would be great, maybe not as good as I think, I don't have that kind of experience for reference." Ai Cheng Hua Lian shook her head, her attitude somewhat pessimistic, "So I'll just go with what Zhen Chun and the others decide, I don't want to split up from them. If everyone decides to sign, then I will too."

"What if you decide to sign and your parents, what will they say?"

"I, I will try my best to persuade them!"

"Good luck."

Kagura Hikaru bit a piece of bread and chewed with one cheek puffed out.

Ai Cheng Hua Lian and her bandmates stepping on stage to perform was certainly not just for play; they had their own ambitions and dreams.

Now, the members of Red Pepper Band were facing a major turning point in their lives.

Soon it was the afternoon, after school.

Kagura Hikaru and Ai Cheng Hua Lian stepped out of the train station and met up with Ruzaki Mami, Hoshimi Nana, and Saijo Maya, then headed together toward the live house they had agreed upon.

On the way, the girls were unusually silent, probably nervous, and they weren't discussing the decision either.

Upon arrival, they quickly spotted the talent scout; the plump Mr. Sagami came forward enthusiastically to greet them, then shook hands with Kagura Hikaru.

"I'm glad you could come, Mr. Kagura. You might have heard, the music company I represent is also very interested in you."

"Yes, I'm aware," Kagura Hikaru looked into his eyes, "If we sign the contract, will you be our agent?"

"Absolutely," Mr. Sagami nodded.

"Are you sure your music company is reliable? I don't want to be fooled."

"Ha ha, if I've done anything to make Mr. Kagura distrustful, I apologize. If you doubt my identity, you can call to verify; I truly am a talent scout for the music company."

[These days kids are so wary.]

[Well, that's society's fault, isn't it?]

[You've acquired through mind-reading: Baseball +2]

[Baseball lv4 (60/100)]

Kagura Hikaru smelled the scent of vanilla ice cream, the aroma of truth.

He nodded to himself, it seems this man's identity is genuine, including his interest in recruiting them.

With that, troubles seemed to multiply.@@novelbin@@

To accept the invitation to debut or not, that was the question.