By the time Chihaya Yui found Xingyun Liuge, she had already changed into a fluttering white stage outfit adorned with layers upon layers of lace.
"It's very cute, of course, but…"
Chihaya Yui unconsciously scratched her cheek with one finger.
"It doesn't really seem suited for movement."
The skirt was a little too long, covering most of her calves.
And then there were the white heeled ankle boots hugging Xingyun Liuge's lower legs. If she had to sing and dance in those, what if she slipped and fell?
Chihaya Yui had seen that sort of thing happen before, so she could not help worrying.
Then there was the most important question of all:
What song had Xingyun Liuge chosen?
Xingyun Liuge deliberately kept it a secret. She winked at Chihaya Yui and said,
"If Yui just watches me properly on stage, you'll naturally find out what song it is~"
"So it really isn't The Legend of the Galloping Horse, then."
Chihaya Yui rather liked that song.
But Xingyun Liuge felt it was not cute enough, so instead she had chosen a song that did not exist in this world.
When the keyboard was carried onto the simple stage, everyone below—spectators, trainers, and horse girls alike—was startled.
Was she planning to perform her own accompaniment?
Was she really going that far?
Her long, fair fingers flew swiftly over the two keyboards set facing one another, like two white butterflies dancing lightly across the keys.
Xingyun Liuge swayed with the music and opened her throat in song. Her voice, clear and sweet, flowed through the speakers and reached the audience below.
"Please, Cinderella,
don't let your dream end as nothing but a dream.
For the sake of that dazzling future,
rise and act now."
The sound effects mimicked drums and guitar. As for bass—unfortunately, the simulated low end was drowned out by the other parts. If one did not listen carefully, it was almost impossible to hear.
"…Unexpectedly good?"
Chihaya Yui held her chin, feeling that Xingyun Liuge could handle the stage surprisingly well.
Belno Light, the girl with the B-shaped hair ornaments at either side of her head, immediately perked up her ears.
"I've never heard this song before. What's going on? Is it original?"
She was definitely intrigued.
"…"
Oguri Cap said nothing, but her ears had perked up as well, and the expression on her face was unusually relaxed.
"Every day, at any time,
I want to stay true to what makes me cute."
Xingyun Liuge winked at the crowd below and formed a tiny heart with her thumb and index finger, drawing a wave of amazed sounds on the spot.
Well, Xingyun Liuge was very cute, so this sort of reaction was only natural.
"No matter if it's crisis or a life-or-death battle,
I still want to cross it calmly and beautifully,
to keep renewing this invincible passion,
never once giving up."
Xingyun Liuge suddenly turned, her long, shapely legs stepping into an elegant dance as her skirt flared outward.
The lace trimming her dress seemed almost to come alive, like little butterflies swirling around her, making her look even more adorable.
"Focus on what I can do,
building it up one step at a time,
all so that this magic
can last forever.
Believing in these real and true skills,
and in miracles born from endless repetition."
Speaking of repetition, Xingyun Liuge could, in theory, open Realm of Death right here and transform it into a grand theater belonging to her alone, then pull everyone inside.
But if she actually did that, tomorrow's morning paper might end up running a front-page headline about a "mass hallucination incident," so better not.
"...
Once you've made a wish,
you have to see it through.
Go search for it—
My only star.
Though it's still so small,
for the sake of that shining future,
start glowing from this very moment."
Playing the keyboard one-handed, Xingyun Liuge raised her other hand high, as if declaring:
Even when the road is hard, you still have to press forward!
And yet the smile on her face remained beautiful and gentle, as though she were also saying:
As long as we keep moving forward together, there's nothing to fear.
Smiles and song were the strongest magic of all.
During the brief pause in the singing, applause and cheers roared into the sky, and quite a few people even pulled out glowsticks.
Using glowsticks in broad daylight was admittedly a little strange…
But that did not matter!
The crowd's excitement gathered into a hot, surging wave of sound, every face lit with happiness.
The song entered its emotional release.
Stretching a hand out toward the audience, Xingyun Liuge lowered her voice slightly as she sang:
"Sometimes I get discouraged too,
sometimes I want to run away from reality,
I miss my chance,
and fail the audition too."
The audience's eyes widened slightly, as if they could suddenly see the image of a young idol girl suffering setbacks, and from there they thought of all the hardships in their own lives.
Wanting to run away?
That was a feeling ordinary people sometimes had, after all. Everyone was trying hard just to live, and everyone encountered difficulties they wished they never had to face.
But right then, Xingyun Liuge's voice turned bright and uplifting again:
"At times like that,
your smile became the strength that supported me,
giving me the courage to try again.
Even if I have to start over from the beginning,
don't forget to pass on your smile
through this endless cycle of battles."
Xingyun Liuge lifted one leg, the nearly perfect line of her calf flashing into view. If she wanted to match the lyrics perfectly, this was probably where she should have kicked off her boots and stood barefoot before the crowd.
But there was no need.
Her radiant smile was more than enough.
Bringing smiles to everyone through running was not just empty talk.
"Everyone is a Cinderella.
Wake up from the dream now.
Start drawing a brand-new story,
and set out to rewrite everything.
...
There are things only I can do.
Admiration alone is not enough.
So—reach out your hand."
As she sang those words, Xingyun Liuge stretched her hand toward the crowd again, but this time her palm faced upward.
It was an invitation.
Her other hand pressed to her chest. The music fell away for a moment, leaving only her voice in clear a cappella:
"O Cinderella living inside my heart,
if I'm all alone,
this story can never begin.
I know I can transform,
and connect with your wish.
May we all become stars
that shine light on others.
For the sake of that dazzling future,
rise and act now.
Please, Cinderella,
don't let your dream end as nothing but a dream.
Once you've made a wish,
you have to make it come true.
Go search for it—
My only star.
Keep chasing after it,
and after you've cried, remember to smile again.
Be sharp and graceful,
but also sweet and lovely—move forward!"
Xingyun Liuge closed with a crisp, lively finish, but did not forget to bring the accompaniment back in as well, giving her debut song a perfectly rounded ending.
The moment the final note faded into the air, applause and cheers exploded with deafening force. Quite a few people were so moved that tears welled in their eyes.
From that moment on, Xingyun Liuge gained a brand-new title:
The Gray-Haired Cinderella.
Join here to read ahead.
In Star Rail, Ultra-Beast Armored — Have I Caught "Equilibrium"? l (Chapter 80)
Uma Musume, But I Only Have Five Years Left to Live (Chapter 150)
Zenless Zone Zero: I'm a Doctor, Not a Bangboo (Chapter 115)
Ben Tennyson Wants to Join the Justice League (Chapter 110)
TYPE-MOON: Redemption Beginning with the Holy Grail War (Chapter105)
Yu-Gi-Oh! — Transmigrated into the White Dragon Girl (Chapter100)
"Is this chat group even serious?" (Chapter69)
I, Lord Ravager, Utterly Loyal! (Chapter100)
Can Playing Games Save the World? 65
Crossover Anime Multiverse: The Demon Hunter of an Unnatural World 70
From Junkman to Wasteland 60
Weekly Refresh of Overpowered 31
I'm Grinding Proficiency Like 40
From Kiana, Lord Ravager, Onwa 60
Honkai: Is This Still the Prev 42
Elf: My Starter Pokémon Is Inc 50
Warhammer: My Primarch Is Remi 50
From Demon Slayer to Grand Ass 50
The Way the Umamusume Look at 31
Uma Musume, but My Cheat Power 26
Naruto: Weaving the Future, Be 26
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