69novels Page 31
Page 31
Seeing the smile on Baili Xiao's face and hearing his words, everyone fell silent—who hasn't had someone they liked? Perhaps she/he is still in their phone's contact list, or perhaps they've long since disappeared and are no longer in contact.
But everyone has different and beautiful memories of their first love.
"Alright, everyone, please don't gather here. I don't want to be taken away by security for disrupting the airport's normal order!" After making a harmless joke, Baili Xiao took Shiina Mashiro's hand and walked towards the edge of the crowd. The people in front of him automatically made way for him.
"Wait!" The mysterious girl, surrounded by security personnel, screamed. Before she could say anything more, the police baton moved even closer.
"Shut up! Take her to the lounge and question her about her motives!" The man, who seemed to be the security captain, said sternly. The others responded, and one of them grabbed the girl by the back of her collar with his right hand and lifted her up.
"Uh... Could you please let her go? She's my friend." Baili Xiao shrugged, still maintaining her smile: "Perhaps it's because we haven't seen each other for a long time, she seems a little agitated, please don't mind her."
"Huh?" Not only the security personnel, but even Shiina Mashiro tilted her head and looked at Hyakuri Akira with a puzzled expression on her face—she had never heard of Hyakuri-sensei having such a friend who dressed like a terrorist.
"Did you hear that?! Did you all hear that?! Let me go! Let me go!" The girl broke free from the security guards' grasp and ran to Baili Xiao's side in a flash, not forgetting to stick her tongue out at them as she turned back: "If I weren't so magnanimous, I would definitely have complained about your unreasonable behavior!"
"Alright, let's go..." Baili Xiao didn't plan to linger at the airport any longer, since there were too many people there and it wasn't a suitable place to talk.
...
In the convenience store, Baili Xiao chose a quiet spot and ordered a juice and a Baumkuchen for Shiina Mashiro, while he himself only ordered a glass of water... As for the girl sitting opposite him, there was nothing in front of her.
(Is he really that stingy? That shouldn't be the case. In my research, Teacher Baili is supposed to be a very generous person.)
Lost in her own thoughts, the girl blinked and secretly observed Baili Xiao through her sunglasses.
"Yazawa Nico, a third-year student at Otonokizaka Academy?" These words suddenly escaped Baili Xiao's lips. Immediately, he keenly sensed the girl in front of him stiffen. "Looks like I wasn't wrong?"
In fact, when he saw Yazawa Nico striding towards him, Baili Xiao could have easily dodged—but he didn't choose to.
That outfit was so unique, such a classic look, and those signature black twin tails. Plus, the reason Baili Xiao came to Idol City 4.9 was because of the existence of "Otonokizaka Academy". It was easy to guess the identity of the girl in front of him - one of the all-stars of the sadomasochistic drama in his previous life, the one whose "Nico Nico Nico" brainwashed countless otaku.
"Ah, who is Yazawa Nico? I, I don't know." Yazawa Nico said, glancing at the emergency exits in the fast food restaurant out of the corner of her eye.
(Hmm, the tables and chairs are spaced out, perfect for escaping. With the stamina and speed I've developed from training with Tojo Nozomi, escaping shouldn't be too difficult... Wait, why am I running? Didn't I come here to find Hyakuri-sensei?)
"Teacher Baili! Please save our academy! If this continues, Otonokizaka Academy will be wiped out of this city!"
P.S.: Something came up at home today, so I'll make up for the two pictures I owe you all tomorrow.
Chapter 0086 A Glance Confirms, Consensus Reached! (1/5, Please Subscribe)
"Please help us, Professor Hyakuri! If this continues, Otonokizaka Academy will be demolished from the city!"
Baili Xiao looked at Yazawa Nico, who had stood up and bowed, picked up his glass of water and took a sip. His eyes narrowed slightly as he pondered her words.
"Can you tell me what happened at the academy?" Baili Xiao asked softly. In fact, he naturally knew about the problems facing Otonokizaka Academy. He just wanted to confirm the differences between reality and the anime storyline.
"Our school is facing closure. If no new students apply, we might not survive until this summer..." Nico Yazawa's expression was complicated, her tone full of disappointment. "In our city, this is a rule that has continued to this day... Many academies can't produce idols, so they can't attract more students—they all want to go to academies with more potential..."
"So, Otonokizaka Academy is facing the crisis of having to close down because it hasn't produced any idols for a long time and the number of students enrolling in the 04 class is decreasing?" Bai Lixiao nodded, looking directly at Yazawa Nico. The latter looked complicated and wanted to deny it, but it was the truth.
"Mr. Baili, I've read all three volumes of your '5 Centimeters Per Second' series, and I even have the illustrations and posters! I know you started from scratch and achieved great success in a short time. I hope you can share your experience with us and guide us Muse on the path!" Yazawa Nico bowed deeply, almost touching the table, showing great humility in front of Baili Xiao.
Baili Xiao tapped her fingertips lightly on the table and smiled slightly: "You don't need to do that. If it can help you or your academy, I don't mind helping. But what about the Muse you just mentioned?"
"Huh? Oh! That's the name of our idol group. We hope to gain everyone's favor, improve the school's reputation, and attract more students to apply." Yazawa Nico's voice paused, her tone becoming very low: "But, so far, we haven't succeeded..."
In idol cities, the ability to cultivate popular idols is an important indicator.
If a well-known idol group could emerge in our school, it would greatly enhance the school's reputation. Increased reputation means more freshmen, which in turn means the possibility of "future idols" being born.
In the long run, this will create a virtuous cycle, with strong schools becoming stronger and stronger... while for weak schools, "abandonment" is the only outcome—Otonokizaka Academy is a case in point!
"You should know about my studio, right? We produce light novels and illustrations, which, in my opinion, have absolutely nothing to do with your idol path." Baili Xiao frankly expressed his concerns. Of course, this was just on the surface; in his heart, he already had a way to make Muse a hit.
“Yes, that’s true…” Yazawa Nico’s smile was a little stiff. In fact, before seeking help from Baili Xiao, she tried everything she could to create performance opportunities for Muse. However, no matter how hard Muse tried, how cute she was, or how sweet her voice was, her debut path was still bumpy at the beginning.
(I originally wanted to leverage Baili's current popularity to seduce Muse, but now it seems that was a bit of a pipe dream. Oh well...)
Nicole's mood plummeted, and even her fair face lost its color.
A silence fell over the room. After a few seconds, Baili Xiao's sleeve was gently tugged—Shiina Mashiro, her orange eyes fixed on him, pointed to the empty plate in front of her and said softly, "Teacher."
There should have been something called "Baumkuchen" on the plate before...
"I understand." Baili Xiao gave a wry smile, thinking to herself, "She really likes Baumkuchen." At the same time, a thought suddenly popped into her head.
(If we let Muse and Mashiro come into contact... maybe it can change Mashiro's current state? Yes, that way...) Baili Xiao's eyes lit up.
Although everyone in the studio has their own unique personality, none of them are particularly lively, and everyone is quite busy. Expecting to subtly influence Mashiro through them is simply wishful thinking.
But the Muse are different. They are determined to become idols. They are lively, active, cheerful, and sometimes silly. If Mashiro is with them, she should see changes soon, right?
Having made up his mind, Baili Xiao coughed lightly: "Yazawa Nico, I understand your situation roughly. Although I am just a professor of light novels and drawing, I already have an idea in my mind on how to make Muse an idol group."
Ni310 was slightly taken aback, taking a full three seconds to process the meaning behind Baili Xiao's words. In an instant, her mood shifted from low to high: "Really? Teacher Baili! Please teach me!"
Baili Xiao slowly shook his head and extended a finger: "I can help you become the most popular idol group in this city, and even a household name in the world, but there is only one requirement!"
"We'll grant any request!" Yazawa Nico agreed without hesitation. Baili Xiao couldn't help but roll her eyes, then pointed to Shiina Mashiro, who was eating her second slice of Baumkuchen, and said in a voice only the two of them could hear, "Mashiro is a genius at drawing, but unfortunately, she doesn't know anything else besides drawing. I hope you..."
"Yes, yes! Don't worry! Leave it to us!" Yazawa Nico nodded as she listened, her eyes shining brightly as she looked at Mashiro.
Shiina Mashiro paused slightly in her right hand holding the silver fork, looked up at Yazawa Nico, and was puzzled as to why the latter had a mischievous smile on her face.
"Alright, now that we've reached an agreement, take me to meet the other members!"
Chapter 0087 Mashiro, Smile! (2/5, Please Subscribe)
Otonokizaka Academy, Idol Research Club.
Today is the weekend, and students are not allowed to enter the school in principle, but... well, what can you do when Kotori's mother is the head of the academy's board of directors? After a few sweet words in her mother's ear, Kotori successfully obtained permission to "use the clubroom normally on weekends."
"Sigh..." Honoka Kousaka sighed, slumping onto the table, completely listless.
"Honoka..." Hearing Honoka sigh again, Minami Kotori forced a smile, walked over to her, and patted her shoulder: "Honoka, now is not the time to give up. Even if all our concerts have failed, even if fewer than ten people watch our performances..."
"Please, Kotori, please! Please stop talking!" Even though she knew that Minami Kotori meant well, Kousaka Honoka couldn't help but sigh when she heard those appalling statistics.
"Hey! Even you, who can always smile, have given up. What are we supposed to do now?!" Nishikino Maki frowned and slammed her right hand on the table—her innate strong aura made her say the words she had just spoken. She had expected Honoka to stand up and retort, "Ah, I'm not stubborn at all!", but... Honoka remained lying on the table, motionless!
"There's nothing I can do. I've done everything I could and put in the effort. Sigh, is it really that hard to become an idol?" Honoka groaned weakly, pressing her face tightly against the table and not lifting it for a long time.
A deathly silence fell over the club; no one spoke, and everyone's expression gradually turned grim.
(This won't do, if this continues, Muse will disband!) Minami Kotori was a little anxious, her eyes darting between Honoka and the others, trying hard to think of a solution—she didn't want to give up on Muse, it was the result of everyone's hard work to get to where it is today, and she couldn't bear to give up so easily!
Suddenly, she spotted an empty seat and her eyes lit up: "Don't be discouraged, everyone! Didn't Nicole say she was going to meet someone important today? If we can succeed...~"
“I’ve heard ‘If we can succeed’ at least five times already, Kotori.” Sonoda Umi sighed. As Honoka and Kotori’s childhood friend, she really didn’t want to say such a thing, but there was no way around it. Defeat is defeat. In the spirit of archery, failure is not shameful; what is shameful is not admitting defeat!
The club fell silent again. Student council president Eli Ayase and vice president Nozomi Tojo exchanged a glance, and the latter saw a resolute look in Eli's eyes.
"Thump, thump, thump!" Heavy footsteps echoed in the hallway outside, followed by the club's door being flung open with a "whoosh," and everyone's eyes turned to the figure standing in the doorway.
Nico Yazawa's forehead was covered in sweat. She wanted to say something, but her rapid breathing prevented her from speaking for a long time. After taking a few deep breaths, she felt a little better: "Quick! Quick... get ready... Teacher Hyakusui... he'll be here soon!"
(Teacher Baili?)
The group exchanged bewildered glances, none of them showing any surprise or astonishment, as if to say, "Oh! It's actually Teacher Baili!"—they had been busy training and hadn't had time to pay attention to anything else, so they were unaware of the newly popular "5 Centimeters Per Second" and Baili Xiao's reputation.
Of course, the hesitation was only momentary. Someone whom Yazawa Nico calls "teacher" must be no ordinary person. Based on that alone, they should take action.
"Maki! Help me pack the suitcase!"
"Ok!"
"Little bird, look at me, I don't think I'm too upset, do I?"
"Don't worry, Xiaoguo, just show your usual smile!"
"Rin-chan, could you please help me put the tables and chairs away?"
"I got it, meow~"
Baili Xiao glanced at the note "Idol Research Club" on the door, then looked into the room. What came into view was a row of girls standing neatly, all secretly watching him out of the corner of their eyes.
Since it was the weekend, everyone was dressed casually, and with the weather getting hotter as summer approached, their exposed fair skin dazzled Baili Xiao's eyes. He had lived surrounded by people like Kasumigaoka every day, and his aesthetic sense towards women had long since improved. But when he saw everyone, he couldn't help but sigh inwardly, which showed just how good-looking they were.
"Welcome, Hyakuri-sensei!" Led by Yazawa Nico, everyone bowed and said this. Koizumi Hanayo and Sonoda Umi even bit their tongues because they were so nervous.
"Why are you standing? You're making me feel awkward." Baili Xiao scratched his cheek and pointed to the chairs surrounding the table in the middle. "Please sit down. I just came to visit at Yazawa Nico's invitation."
No one spoke, nor did they sit down. Their eyes, of various colors, were fixed on Baili Xiao, without shifting their gazes for a moment.
Baili Xiao was taken aback, then sighed with amusement: "Looks like you won't sit if I don't? Okay, I understand."
As he spoke, he pulled Mashiro to sit down on a chair. Only then did the members of Muse look at each other and take their seats one after another. Of course, since Baili Xiao and Mashiro had taken up two seats, Hoshizora Rin and Koizumi Hanayo just randomly found two cardboard boxes to sit on.
"Nicole, please introduce Hyakuri-sensei to us." Tojo Nozomi, the vice-president, looked at Yazawa Nico. Although she had a smile on her face, Nico could clearly see a hint of reproach in her eyes—(Why didn't you tell us about Hyakuri-sensei beforehand? How rude of you!)
"Ah, haha..." Yazawa Nico chuckled dryly, scratching her hair. She had been too excited to remember this earlier. "Hyakuri-sensei is..."
"She's just a third-rate novel and illustration teacher, no need for an introduction." Bai Lixiao interrupted Yazawa Nico's introduction, the smile on his lips slowly disappearing as his eyes swept across everyone's faces: "Nicole has already told me about the problems that Muse and Otonokizaka Academy are facing. I can help you become a famous idol group, but you need to do one thing for me."
"Really?" Honoka's eyes lit up, and she couldn't help but exclaim in surprise, but she quickly realized her lapse and covered her mouth tightly.
Hope also shone in the eyes of the others, and their previous gloomy expressions vanished, replaced by smiles.
Only one person paused for a moment before speaking up, "Teacher Baili, forgive my rudeness, but may I ask what you want us to do...?"
Bai Lixiao shrugged, tilting his chin slightly towards Zhenbai: "First, could you make her smile?"
Chapter 0088 Nico Nico Nico! (3/5 Please Subscribe)
laugh?
For a normal person, this should be the easiest thing to do, right?
Upon hearing Baili Xiao's request, Tojo Nozomi's smile froze, and she looked at Yazawa Nico—her icy gaze seemed to say, "What happened? If you don't tell me now, you'll..."
Nico didn't decipher the threatening words that followed "you," because she had already lowered her voice to tell everyone about Shiina Mashiro's situation.
“This… is so pitiful.” Honoka looked at Mashiro with a worried expression after hearing Yazawa Nico’s words. Mashiro looked back at her in confusion, not understanding what she meant by “pitiful.”
The "natural airhead" trait is frequently found in fan fiction, and many otaku even enjoy the "cute" feeling it brings. However, in reality, it can be quite a headache.
"Thump!" Honoka had barely finished speaking when Sonoda Umi, who was sitting next to her, stood up and tapped her head hard with her finger: "Honoka! Watch your words! Mashiro-san was just too focused on one thing and neglected other things! How can you presume to label someone as pitiful?!"
Sonoda Umi's tone was very harsh, and it did not soften at all because Honoka was her childhood friend—having practiced archery since childhood, she could fully understand Shiina Mashiro's love for drawing, just as she loved archery!
(No, my love for it is far from what Ms. Mashiro has... Ms. Mashiro can devote herself entirely to drawing and completely ignore everything else, while I am often attracted by other things and neglect my archery training...)
Sonoda Umi looked at Shiina Mashiro with eyes full of admiration. That's why, when her childhood friend Honoka said "How pitiful," she didn't hesitate to stand up and warn her.
"Ah, yes, I misspoke, I'm so sorry, Mashiro-chan!" Honoka smiled apologetically and clasped her hands together as she softly apologized to Shiina Mashiro, knowing that her words had been somewhat inappropriate.
However, it cannot be denied that Shiina Mashiro, who can only draw and is completely unable to take care of herself in other matters, gives ordinary people the first impression of being... pitiful.