Tokyo Yandere Girlfriend

Chapter 45

Inside the Tokyo CTSD recording studio.

"Riding on the silver dragon's back..."

As the girl finished the last line of the song, the sound engineer behind the glass gave an 'OK' hand sign.

Seeing the gesture, Kitajo Shione let out a sigh of relief, a gentle smile spreading across her face as she walked toward the exit.

However, just as she stepped out of the recording room, she noticed the staff standing there, staring blankly at her.

Several of them frowned deeply, wearing expressions that were hard to describe.

Shione was caught off guard by the scene.

Normally, at this point, everyone would start the polite exchange of bows.

Voices of "Thank you for your hard work," and "Please take care of her" would echo back and forth.

Feeling the strange silence in the air, Shione didn't dare speak. She pursed her lips and quietly approached her manager.

"Um, Miss Fukada, is something wrong?"

Before Shione could finish, she noticed tears shimmering in Fukada Fuyuna's eyes.

"No."

Fukada shook her head, wiped the tears from her eyes, took a deep breath, and tried to steady her complicated emotions.

"Then what is this all about?"

Following Shione's gaze to the staff's expressions, Fukada smiled softly and said,

"It's because your singing was just too good, Miss Kitajo. It seems not only me but everyone was moved by your voice."

"This song is so powerful; I was deeply inspired by you."

"It's like it was tailor-made for you. If only A-sensei..."

At these words, Shione's chest tightened, her delicate brows furrowing slightly.

Noticing Shione's frown, Fukada immediately fell silent, her face showing embarrassment.

She knew about Shione's breakup with Shiratori Kiyoya.

Before, Shiratori would always be present during Shione's recordings, so she never had to comfort her herself.

Even after half a year, Fukada still wasn't used to it, let alone Shione. Aware she had touched on a painful subject, Fukada quickly lowered her head and apologized,

"I'm so sorry..."

But before she could finish, Shione waved her hand with a smile,

"No need to apologize. I've gotten used to it."

With that, Shione turned and bowed ninety degrees to the staff, saying,

"Thank you all for your hard work and care."

As her voice echoed through the air, the previously silent atmosphere instantly came alive.

"Thank you, Miss Kitajo."

"I was deeply inspired. It reminded me of my grandmother."

"Hearing Miss Kitajo sing this song gives me the strength to work overtime today."

"Then Yamada-san, once Miss Kitajo's new song is released, you can listen to it every day while working overtime."

"Hahaha..."

Laughter and cheerful voices swept away the tearful mood from moments before.

Even the usually stern sound engineer smiled.

Ikawa Satoshi stepped out from the booth and praised Shione,

"One take and done, Miss Kitajo, you're amazing. This song feels like it has the potential to be a hit..."

Shione hurriedly bowed,

"Mr. Ikawa, you flatter me."

Ikawa waved his hand seriously,

"Don't be modest, I'm just speaking honestly. Miss Kitajo, I remember you have a concert next month, right?"

"Yes, in Kanagawa..."

"With the concert and these two songs, if all goes well, you'll firmly establish yourself in the music scene."

Before Shione could respond with polite words, he asked again,

"By the way, A-sensei, has he really retired?"

Hearing this, Shione lowered her eyes and softly replied,

"Yes, I believe so. I don't know much about it either."

"That's such a pity. Such a genius, sigh..."

Ikawa sighed with regret but wasn't one to dwell on sadness. After greeting some staff, he left.

...........

With everything done, Shione sat in the car on the way back and took out the lyrics she had read countless times from her handbag.

Her gaze fell on the words:

"Sorrow transforms into my wings."

"Scars guide the way forward."

"Riding on the silver dragon's back..."

Kiyoya, is this what you wanted to tell me?

'Creak.'

The girl squinted inside the carriage, her pale hand clutching the paper tightly as her heart ached faintly.

I got used to having you by my side. Without your wings, do you really think I can still keep moving forward?

Isn't that just wishful thinking?

The more you think that way, the less I'll let you have your way...

'Bzzz.'

Suddenly, the phone in her handbag vibrated. Shione came back to herself and brought the phone up.

A string of messages appeared on the screen.

Takahashi Mio...

Seeing the name, Shione squinted, frowning in puzzlement. Her finger hovered over the screen as she thought for a moment before tapping it open.

But when she saw the photo sent, her eyebrows relaxed, a slight smile appeared on her lips.

She replied, "?"

The message immediately turned to read, and above it appeared "The other party is typing."

"Takahashi Mio: Who is this person?"

"Kitajo Shione: Wrapped up so tightly and wearing protective gear—I don't have x-ray vision or anything like that."

Seeing her reply, Takahashi Mio, sitting in the dojo, bit the corner of her lip and typed an explanation:

"One of them is Shiratori Kiyoya; the other is a girl who does kendo. You know who it is, right?"

The smile on Shione's face grew even wider, satisfaction shining in her eyes.

Actually, from the first glance at the photo, she recognized Shiratori Kiyoya.

How could she not?

His height, his back, his shoulders—whether he was wearing protective gear or not—she remembered everything clearly.

She had already engraved him completely in her heart.

As for the person clinging to him in the photo, she didn't even have to think—it had to be Hasegawa Saori.

Ever since she chatted with that fool on the way back to Kyoto and confirmed when Saori returned to Tokyo, she had been counting the days.

She even called her the day before yesterday and told her everything about Shiratori Kiyoya dating Takahashi Mio at school.

Just because she can endure it doesn't mean Hasegawa Saori can.

I really want to see, Shiratori Kiyoya, if you really have such a heart of stone.

Since you think I can do well without you and that my career will go smoothly, what about that fool?

She's so stupid—can you really just leave her alone like that?

With these thoughts, Shione bit her lip hard and quickly typed a reply:

"If it's a girl who does kendo and is very familiar with Shiratori Kiyoya, it should only be her..."

"Takahashi Mio: Who?"

"Kitajo Shione: If I'm not mistaken, her name is Hasegawa Saori... his first love."

......