Lin Qingqing pulled a small notebook from her bag and opened it.
“The first part of the opening. The plan says Sister Yuki, you come out alone from the lift, sing your first solo as the opening, then we come out from both sides to make our appearance and give a speech. After that, it’s all our group songs or your solos. But I think this is a bit… too monotonous, or lacking in innovation.”
Hoshino Hikari nodded, “Yeah, I also think it’s a bit too by-the-book. We should add some innovation.”
Lin Lu thought for a moment and said, “Maybe… we could do an instrumental ensemble performance? We’ll have team performances later anyway, and we all play different instruments. Why not use this as integrated training, or… test the performance effect?”
Minazuki considered the feasibility of Lin Lu’s suggestion and gave a slight nod, “I think that works.”
She then recorded something on her tablet and drew a simple stage diagram.
“If we arrange it like this, due to time constraints, we don’t have time to learn a completely new song for the performance. Let’s just use our team’s image song. For positioning, Chiyoyuki, you’re the main performer and play piano, so you take the center C position. Hikari and I will stand on the left and left rear, and Qingqing can be on the right…”
Minazuki went on to arrange details like how the stage lighting should be set up.
Everyone listened attentively.
“That’s roughly the plan for now. When the time comes, we can also have some fan interaction or invite someone on stage for a duet. Does anyone have any questions or suggestions?”
“Nope! Phew~ Minazuki, you’re so amazing. You can arrange everything flawlessly. I can’t imagine what this team would do without you.”
Lin Qingqing rested her chin in her hands, looking at Minazuki with admiring eyes as she sighed.
“That’s why the four of us should form a lifelong band… Magical Girl Idol Group!” Hoshino Hikari laughed, putting an arm around Lin Qingqing.
“Hey, hey, hey! Dummy Hikari, let go! My cake is going to fall!”
“Ahem… A lifetime is a bit too far, isn’t it?”
It was the first time Minazuki had received such praise.
The tablet in her hand almost slipped.
She wasn’t that reliable…
“Hehe, Minazuki, don’t be modest. Honestly, in this team, you’re really like… hmm… a big sister? Without you, these two, Hikari and Qingqing, would probably mess everything up.”
Lin Lu took a sip of her drink and smiled, praising Minazuki.
She genuinely admired someone as rational and efficient as Minazuki.
Such people often made the most correct and efficient choices and were indispensable cores of a team.
“Where is all this praise coming from… ‘Sister’ or something…” Minazuki sighed, “It’s past four. If there are no other issues, I think we can finalize the plan like this? We can always bring up problems later.”
Lin Lu nodded, “Yeah, that’s fine. We’ve been talking for so long, I’m getting hungry. Let’s have some dessert first. I’ll treat everyone to dinner tonight.”
“Yay!! I want a big feast!”
“Me too! And I want a tiramisu! Ah! Hikari, you dare steal my cake! Prepare to die!”
Lin Lu watched Lin Qingqing and Hoshino Hikari roughhouse like two kids and smiled helplessly, “You two, be careful. Don’t break the restaurant’s vase.”
She then called the server and ordered two more desserts.
***
By the time they finished dinner, it was almost nine at night.
The four of them walked out of the restaurant.
A chilly night breeze swept past, making Hoshino Hikari shiver.
“Brr~ It’s a bit cold.”
“Serves you right! Who told you not to wear more clothes?”
Lin Qingqing rolled her eyes at Hikari, then inadvertently noticed the somewhat rough-looking handmade scarf around Minazuki’s neck, embroidered with two cute little dog patterns.
“Hey~ Minazuki, where did you get that scarf? It looks like… someone knitted it for you by hand? It’s so cute~”
Minazuki was taken aback.
Then, under everyone’s incredulous gaze, her eyes actually softened considerably.
She stroked the scarf and explained, “This scarf… was knitted for me by my little sister.”
“WHAT?! ×3”
Even Lin Lu was quite surprised to see Minazuki like this.
“We never knew you had a little sister! She must be adorable!” Hoshino Hikari looked at the scarf and said.
Though the workmanship was rough, the two little dog patterns revealed the gentle nature of the maker.
“Mmm… My little sister is very cute.”
“Wow~ I never thought even Minazuki was a siscon.” Lin Qingqing clicked her tongue in amazement.
“Alright then, we should head back. Sister Snow, you be careful on your way home~”
“Okay, bye.”
Lin Lu nodded, bid farewell to everyone, and flew home.
“You’re back? How did the discussion go?”
Lilith, seeing Lin Lu push the door open and walk in, fluttered her wings and flew over.
“It went fine. We’ve finalized all the specific details and flow for the performance. Just waiting for next week’s show.” Lin Lu nodded, then suddenly felt puzzled.
“Why are you suddenly so interested in my affairs?”
“What kind of talk is that! Who else would I care about if not you? You’re my only successor!”
“I don’t believe you.”
Lin Lu looked suspiciously at the fluttering Lilith before her.
“Hey! I’m serious! With the little snacks I’ve absorbed from you fighting Shadow Beasts, I should be able to restore my physical body by next week. I can go watch your performance.” Lilith blinked her little eyes proudly.
“So~ Why don’t you quickly thank the great Lady Lilith for caring so much about her dear successor?”
“Yes, yes, yes~ Thank you, great Lady Lilith.” Lin Lu rolled her eyes at Lilith.
“But appearing in public as soon as you restore your body… won’t that…”
“Don’t worry. In a small place like this, it’s impossible for anyone to detect or recognize me. Even that Hui Yan who put you in the hospital that day… what was her name? Oh right, Changmeng. Even she wouldn’t recognize me. At most, she might sense that my power signature is ancient and strange.”
Lilith knew what Lin Lu was worried about and quickly waved a wing dismissively.
“Is that so… Then how is your strength recovery going?” Lin Lu nodded, somewhat curious.
“Not great.” Lilith shook her head and said, “Restoring my physical body is pretty much the limit. As for power… just a bit stronger than an ordinary human.”
“Alright.”
Lin Lu didn’t mind.
After all, it had only been a few months.
Lilith being able to restore her physical body was already beyond expectations.
It was probably due to the inexplicable increase in Shadow Beasts these past months, providing more ‘snacks’ from battles for Lilith to recover.
“Ding-dong-ding~”
As soon as Lin Lu sat on the sofa, her phone in her bag rang.
She glanced at the caller ID and answered.
“Hello? Why are you calling me?”
“What’s that supposed to mean! Can’t I just call you?”
Lin Xiaoxi’s slightly dissatisfied voice came through.
“What good could possibly come from you calling me? State your business if you have any, or begone if you don’t.”
“Tch! Big Sis, do you know Chiyoyuki?”
Lin Lu frowned, ‘Huh? Why is Xiaoxi bringing up Chiyoyuki? Has my identity been exposed? Impossible!’
She suppressed her inner confusion and replied calmly, “Yeah, of course I know her. She’s that Magical Girl who’s been pretty popular lately, right? What about her?”
“Hehe~ Your dear little sister here managed to get VIP tickets for Chiyoyuki’s debut performance through some means~ So, how about it? Want to go watch the show with your dear little sister?”
“No.” Lin Lu refused without hesitation.
“Hmph, I knew you’d want to… Huh? No?” Only then did Lin Xiaoxi process the refusal.
A surprised cry came through the phone, nearly piercing Lin Lu’s eardrum, “Are you sleepwalking?! I’m talking about Chiyoyuki’s performance! A Magical Girl!”
“Yeah, I know. Not going. I have something else to do then. Can’t make it.” Lin Lu rubbed her ear.
“No way, what could be so important? Sis, do you know how hard it is to get tickets for a Magical Girl’s debut performance?!”
Lin Lu sighed.
She really didn’t know how hard it was, because… she was Chiyoyuki…
“Ahem… I really don’t have time. Little sis, just go with a friend.”
“Sigh… Fine, fine. Sis, you’re really missing out. If you skip this, you might never get a chance to see Chiyoyuki perform live in your life. I’ll hang up now.” Lin Xiaoxi sighed regretfully on the other end.
“Okay, bye.”
After Lin Lu hung up, Lilith chuckled beside her.
“Your little sister wants to see your performance too? You’ll have to perform well then. Looks like even your sister is your fan.”
“Sigh… To be honest, if Xiaoxi comes… I just hope she’s not in a too conspicuous spot in the front row.”
Lin Lu imagined herself performing on stage with Lin Xiaoxi holding a fan sign and waving it right below the stage, shouting things like “Chiyoyuki! I love you!” and felt a wave of embarrassment.
But in that instant, Lin Lu suddenly remembered the gentleness in Minazuki’s eyes tonight when she mentioned her little sister…
Maybe… it wasn’t so bad for Lin Xiaoxi to come see her perform…
A faint smile touched the corner of her mouth.
“Tsundere…”
Lilith, noticing Lin Lu’s smile, couldn’t help but mutter a small Tsundere remark.