Chapter 609

Heaven or Hell

Her hand in mine, we rushed to the front,

parting the crowds, were once again in the Red Sea.

Time to show off her new shirt.

With the rumble of voices all around and the hoarse shouts of the audience,

I could barely hear the band speaking.

Four of them stood on stage now.

Calling down wrath from heaven.

My eyes were then entranced by their tattooed arms.

Heaven or hell?

Chapter 610

Heaven or Hell

She jumped and cheered along with everyone else,

feet off the ground, her hair bouncing wildly,

with one hand still holding mine.

Seems like she had no intention to let go.

"You're crazy!" I shouted at her over the noise.

Laughing, I followed suit, trying to keep up.

The whine of their guitars was tremendously deafening.

There was no relent to their assault.

Heavy rhythmic riffs, distorted machines filling the earth,

powerful beats shattering my heart to pieces,

but most of all, the singer's song of gutwrenching emotion.

It was music of war.

Chapter 611

Heaven or Hell

This was unsurprisingly Airu's music.

Her soul was one that fought.

No matter what she went through.

Through the darkest valleys and storms.

Her presence had always inspired me to become stronger.

It made perfect sense to me.

The music, I didn't mind at all.

My body absorbed the rhythm and flowed naturally in it.

My head, my feet, my arms, all moving of their own accord.

Just like how she inspired me to keep moving.

I didn't even have a choice.

I grinned at her.

I understood even more now what she meant to me.

Chapter 612

Heaven or Hell

"So what do you think?" She yelled in my ear.

"Amazing." I smiled.

"I listen to them whenever I'm down." Her voice grew into a whisper.

"I can definitely see why."

I could barely understand what they were singing in English.

Yet at the same time, music transcended the language.

I understood their feelings. That was what mattered.

Their song coursed through my blood, like a drug.

And like a drug I felt like there was something I needed to do.

But what?

Chapter 613

Heaven or Hell

The singer was close to us now,

his microphone in a white knuckled grip,

crouching in a low stance just above our heads.

His black laceless Converse shoes I could nearly touch.

On the stage, his eyes met mine for a moment, as if issuing a challenge.

What?

"Oh my god!" Airu was waving.

I laughed at her.

With his outstretched arm in a dramatic Shakespearean monologue,

the singer got on one knee and looked directly at Airu.

I stared in disbelief.

Airu froze.

"H-he's looking at me."

She whispered.

Chapter 614

Heaven or Hell

She giggled and started blushing.

I looked at her incredulously.

"You fangirl!" I teased.

The singer reached out with his hand.

"Oh my god."

A moment later,

I heard her squeak when her fingers brushed against his.

He winked at her.

Suddenly, I had the urge to drag him off the stage and punch him.

Instead, he got up and sauntered over to the other side of the stage.

Chapter 615

Heaven or Hell

I checked the time.

"I think we should meet with the others."

She nodded, still fazed

as the band left the stage

amidst the awe-filled clamour.

It was finally over, their song set.

I watched as they disappeared behind the backstage,

still caught off guard by the singer's charismatic energies

and his surprising gesture towards Airu.

I wasn't sure whether I liked him.

It was as if he challenged me to something.

Chapter 616

Heaven or Hell

We managed to get through the crowd in one piece.

I had grabbed her hand.

Now it was my turn not to let go.

She smiled at me when we got further away,

as soon as we left the noise behind.

All around, at once, the thickening forest began to swallow up all sound.

The sun had sank just beyond the hills by now.

Long shadows of the trees were our quiet escort.

Every now and then a few people streamed by,

walking briskly, trying to make it to the next act.

"That was really fun."

She said quietly.

"Thanks."

Chapter 617

Heaven or Hell

"Thanks for what?"

She looked up at the darkening sky,

trailing slightly behind me.

The sky was ablaze with many colors.

Red, orange, purple, pink.

"Well, you took me to see that band..."

"And.. well." She paused. "Just."

"For everything."

I was quiet.

What exactly did I do?

There was so much more I had to do.

I turned towards her.

"Hey, Airu..."

Chapter 618

Heaven or Hell

"Hmm?" She looked at me.

"I've got to tell you something."

She waited, slightly ahead of me,

looking at her feet now.

I watched her delicately pick her way along the trail,

hands held together behind her.

Suddenly, the sun broke through an uneven group of foliage.

Her hair, her body, everything became golden.

"Ah, that's too bright!"

She squinted and covered her face.

A moment later, she was in my arms.

Chapter 619

Heaven or Hell

"What..." Her voice came out in a whisper.

She was pressed so tight to me I could barely breathe.

"Airu."

I began.

"I...."

I had to say it right?

I needed to say it.

It was too much to bear.

She was silent, her heart pounding against my own.

"I..."

Chapter 620

Heaven or Hell

I stopped.

All words left me.

What was I doing?

I wasn't sure anymore.

All I could feel was her

light breathing against me,

fast, uncertain.

What was I going to tell her?

I couldn't do it anymore.

Something tugged on my heart.

"I...'m sorry."

Chapter 621

Heaven or Hell

"I'll tell you another time."

She looked up at me, still leaning against my chest.

"Seiji...?"

"Sorry." I tried to give a reassuring smile. "Not now."

She smiled back. Disappointment was apparent in her eyes.

They told me they wanted to know.

They told me they already knew.

But, "Alright." She said.

I untangled my arms from hers and took a step back.

"Let's go then."

My heart finally stopped pounding,

its stillness troubled me.

What was it thinking?

What was it feeling?

I didn't even know.

Chapter 622

Heaven or Hell

The walk to Stage B was lengthy.

It was nearly fifteen minutes by the time we drew near.

Six fifty. Ten minutes to go.

The sun by now had settled comfortably below the horizon,

the skies an ever-deepening blue, the sun's last lullaby.

"Airu, it's nearly seven."

"Yeah, we should hurry."

"I've got to see YUI." I winked.

She laughed and nodded.

As my reply, I smiled and took her hand.

Then, we started to run.

Again, like we had before.

My heart filled with joy.

Chapter 623

Heaven or Hell

Stage B was packed from east to west,

leaving absolutely no room to move.

Even in the distance, we could make out the thundering of the crowds.

Like the oceans, their voice was unanimous and unintelligible.

Six fifty two. The current performer was on their last song.

We found ourselves a spot near the edge of the crowds,

with much of the empty campgrounds behind us.

So far were we from the stage,

that we couldn't make out who the performer was.

"Where's Miko and them?"

We looked all around.

All we could see were people.

Chapter 624

Heaven or Hell

No one picked up.

It was probably too loud to hear or feel their phones.

"This sucks. We're supposed to meet up with them!"

I shrugged. "Just me and you again." I laughed.

She grinned. "I guess it doesn't suck that much."

"What's that supposed to mean?"

"Nothiing."

The announcer appeared.

"Next, a surprise guest performer will take the stage!"

As if on cue, the crowd erupted into cheers, howling and calling out,

the entire ground shaking with the noise. Airu covered her ears.

"So loud!"

I nodded distractedly.

Loud was an understatement.

There was nothing that could explain the overwhelming excitement filling the entire world around us.

The overwhelming feeling ballooning in my own body and soul.

Chapter 625

Heaven or Hell

There she was.

On the stage, a slight figure.

A girl and her lone guitar.

Everyone was still cheering and clapping,

here and there someone was shouting YUI's name.

She bowed. Somewhat nervously.

I remained speechless.

This was my first time seeing her in a live performance.

What would this mean to me?

Chapter 626

Heaven or Hell

"Airu, we gotta get closer! Follow me!"

I grabbed her arm.

Airu hesitated for a brief moment at my sudden desperation.

I had to see the stage better.

DId she have something to say to me?

Whenever I listened to her music,

there was always something within it.

A little morse code for me.

Whatever she sang, YUI could always speak to hearts and to souls.

I had to get closer.

There must be something for me.

Chapter 627

Heaven or Hell

We raced past the crowd, alongside many faceless bodies.

Sometimes we had to push our way through,

where they clumped up together.

"Oh, over there!" Airu pointed.

"Yeah!"

There was a hill, rising with a steep slope,

a hunchbacked bear covered in green fur.

Although it was beyond the boundaries of the audience area,

it was just to the left side of the stage, high above the crowd --

a clear view.

Luckily, not many had spotted it. Only a few people found their refuge there.

In the distance, back on stage, I heard the strum of the guitar.

It was starting.

Chapter 628

Heaven or Hell

We made it to the top of the hill, breathless.

Climbing it was near impossible,

the grass damp and slick with spring growth.

I collapsed onto the ground beside Airu.

She giggled. "You're so out of shape."

"Shut up."

There was a group of five congregated near us,

who gave us a quick glance over.

I turned my attention back to the stage.

We were alot closer now.

She was beginning to sing.

Chapter 629

Heaven or Hell

I could see her clearly.

She was sitting cross-legged,

a candle lit on the top of her guitar case.

It's flame calm and still in the gathering darkness,

swaying gently, back and forth, with the music.

This was her element.

This was where she began.

It was something so familiar to me.

Yet, it was so different to see it with my own eyes.

All around the audience was hushed,

entranced by the magic woven into the air.

All of nature moved in to listen.

Every sound of the strings,

every note and word she sang,

carried a powerful spell sweeping amongst us all.

I waited. I braced myself.

For something to speak to me.

Chapter 630

Heaven or Hell

I felt Airu's gaze, waiting for something to happen.

Did she know?

My dreams, my heart, they had always spoken to me.

Above all, I needed some clarity now.

I didn't know what I was doing.

I didn't know what I was feeling.

I didn't know what I had to do.

I knew I needed the answers.

I could find it here.

So I waited.

Chapter 631

Heaven or Hell

A minute went by.

Nothing happened.

Two minutes went by.

There was this silence.

From the loudspeakers,

I could hear YUI's voice singing, full of emotion.

Full of passion. Full of life. Full of dreams.

Her dreams.

Yet, I was only watching, observing.

From far away.

I panicked.

Soon, the song ended.

Chapter 632

Heaven or Hell

Applause filled the skies; stars quietly twinkling above,

the heavenly bodies were like apparitions fading from view.

It was a silent, awe-filled applause.

No one dared to speak.

No one dared to cheer.

Just simply applause.

They knew about the mystic spell still in the air.

Filling every breath with revitalizing power.

I could hear all of the world soaking in her song.

She, herself, was silent on stage.

Eyes closed, still sitting.

Letting the candle speak now.

I watched as everyone listened in.

What did they hear?

Why was it that I couldn't?

Chapter 633

Heaven or Hell

The grass underneath me was cool,

like the surface of a lake, calm and silent.

I was floating.

Above me, all I could see was the vast expanse of stars.

Fluttering white and yellow dots painted across the deep purple sky.

They were ever so fragile, disappearing from view;

a trickery of the eye. I lost track of countless stars.

I heard my sigh.

Airu was beside me, giving me a stern look.

"No sighing!" She said. "There's nothing more beautiful than this..."

Ahead of us, I could see the glow of the stage fade into the sky above.

Her second song had begun, dancing with the stars above.

Yet it was so far away.

Unreachable.

I heard nothing.

The stars told me nothing.

Chapter 634

Heaven or Hell

Just like that, her second song had finished.

Melodies fading into memories.

Still, my heart and soul was silent.

As if they didn't recognize me.

Like I had been disconnected from my own self.

Everything was so distant from here.

This bubble.

Was so comfortable.

Did I want to break through it?

This bubble.

Held no worries.

No stress.

No complications.

No uncertainty.

I closed my eyes.

Chapter 635

Heaven or Hell

I heard Airu lie down beside me on the grass.

She sighed, happily.

"I thought I would never feel more blissful than being in Kyoto."

"This moment is a lot more beautiful. Than anything."

Her voice was like a lullaby.

"YUI has such a powerful aura! It's like magic."

I smiled. "For sure. That's YUI-san." I opened up my mouth to say more.

But nothing came.

I couldn't tell her that I didn't hear anything this time.

That I thought I had lost my dreams and my soul.

As if answering my thoughts, "I think she's just saying to soak in the moment."

I opened my eyes. To the countless stars above.

"Don't worry about tomorrow." Airu hummed. "Just gotta live on here today."

I looked at her.

Her delicate features soft with the glow of heavenly light.

She smiled up at the sky.

"Make memories with people you love today."

Chapter 636

Heaven or Hell

"You've sure become quite the philosopher."

She laughed quietly. "And you sure sound like you need a philosopher."

She turned to look at me, her eyes sparkling.

Just like the stars above.

Our eyes met.

I didn't reply.

There was only silence between us.

In her eyes, something was gleaming.

Like a door into her soul, closer.

Closer, it felt like there was something I needed.

She had something my soul was missing.

Her eyes fluttered close.

Chapter 637

Heaven or Hell

She was warm,

like a comforting aura,

swallowing me.

Closer.

Suddenly, she turned away,

her eyes open.

Blushing profusely, she sat up.

"I'm sorry..." I heard my shaky voice.

What just happened?

"I don't know what got to me..."

She shook her head. "I-it's fine."

What was I doing??

Chapter 638

Heaven or Hell

We were silent,

even as she leaned back onto the grass.

Beyond, another artist took to the stage.

But I could barely hear the music over my pounding heart.

The stars above were the same as ever.

Watching, listening.

It was hard to see stars in the city.

Yet here, in the middle of the countryside,

hidden from reality, its own bubble,

this was where they shone.

Fantasy or reality,

fake or real,

lies or truth,

I didn't know.

But here, I was the most comfortable.

Chapter 639

Heaven or Hell