Chapter 105: "Turning Carbon into Diamond part 2"

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The girl kept singing—or rather, roaring. A small crowd gathered around her. When she finished, she was breathing heavily. Her cheeks were somewhat flushed, partly from the effort and partly from the lyrics of her song. She felt that maybe it wasn't a good idea to sing that. She didn't know why she did it; the lyrics just came out with the flow of her emotions.

While she was worried and the crowd remained silent, she heard applause. Everyone, including her, looked at who did it. A young man with wild green hair, red eyes, tall, and with a charming smile.

Recognizing these features, the crowd shouted: 

Crowd: "Wandering Musician!"

Before the crowd could approach, the young man spoke. 

Tadano: "Quiet ∼"

The crowd stopped involuntarily. They were surprised, but Doichi was the most astonished by what she had just witnessed. Before she could continue thinking wildly, the young man spoke again. 

Tadano: "Why are you coming to me? The one you were watching was this charming lady… I admit it's an incredible song; you have great potential…" he said with a smile on his face while extending his hand.

Doichi understood the gesture and timidly shook the young man's hand. 

Tadano: "Tell me… would you be interested in joining me?" he asked while shaking Doichi's hand.

The woman was stunned. The crowd went wild and roared with cheers. 

Man 1: "Wow, the Wandering Musician is scouting people!" 

Man 2: "Yes, if the Wandering Musician chose her, then she has unlimited potential!" 

Woman 1: "Kya!!! It's Brother Wandering Musician! He's so handsome!" 

Woman 2: "What a lucky woman! If Brother Wandering Musician chooses her, then her future is limitless!" 

Woman 3: "It's true! Just look at the rising star, little Ai!" 

Man 3: "Does this mean the woman in front of us will be a future national Idol?" 

Man 4: "Quick, take a picture and ask for an autograph!" 

Woman 4: "I want one too!"

The crowd went crazy and quickly surrounded the duo. Other people also quickly approached the place. You must be joking if you think they won't. The Wandering Musician's fan base already exceeds a hundred million worldwide and continues to grow every day. If he appears, many will quickly report it, and people will rush over as fast as possible.

Doichi was overwhelmed for a moment… Happiness came very suddenly. She signed a few autographs and took a few photos before the crowd completely overwhelmed her. Fortunately, before that, the man who caused this problem took her hand and with a snap of his fingers, the crowd around them stopped.

In her daze, the young man pulled her, and they both escaped.

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In a secluded street, Doichi was breathing heavily. You must be joking; she could barely eat less and maintain good physical condition. But before she could complain, she remembered something. 

Doichi: "My stuff!" she cried out, scared, and quickly wanted to go back and retrieve her things. But she was quickly stopped by the young man. 

Tadano: "Calm down… calm down, here it is." He said with a smile while making her suitcase and guitar appear.

Doichi was left with her mouth open upon seeing this. But she quickly recovered and took her things. She carefully examined her guitar, worried about any scratches or cracks. When she saw none, she sighed in relief. 

Tadano: "I see you really care about this guitar…" he said with curiosity while looking at the guitar. 

Doichi smiled as she lovingly rubbed the guitar. With a sweet and nostalgic voice, she said. 

Doichi: "It's from my father… the last thing I have left of him… it's my most treasured possession." 

Tadano: "Oh… That's beautiful. In a way, you inherit his teachings, right?" he asked. 

Doichi nodded. 

Doichi: "Every time I play it, I feel like he's still with me… Although it's good that he isn't. I don't have the face to see him in this state…" she said with joy but ended with a somewhat disconsolate and bitter tone. 

Tadano: "Oh come on… Did you forget what I told you?" 

Doichi: "Eh?" 

Tadano: "*Sigh* I want you to join me, let me make you an Idol…" he said while extending his hand.

Doichi: "W-Why me? I'm just a street performer… all the clubs I went to kicked me out, saying I was just a waste of time and money… I… I'm not worth it… I'm not worth the attention of someone as famous as you…" she said somewhat doubtfully and with self-contempt.

Tadano: "Then those clubs are trash! They don't understand your art at all! Believe me when I say you're a diamond in the rough just waiting for someone to polish it… and you know what? I want to be that someone… would you allow me to be?" 

Doichi: "I… I don't know…" she hesitated.

Tadano: "Then why don't I lift your spirits a bit with a song?" 

Doichi: "Really? But the crowd…" 

Tadano: "Don't worry, we've moved far enough away… consider this a little private concert just for you ∼" he said with a smile on his face.

Doichi blushed a little at seeing him and after a bit of hesitation, she nodded. The young man pointed to her guitar and asked. 

Tadano: "May I?" 

Doichi hesitated, but in the end, she handed it over. She smiled seeing how carefully and gently he took it.

He sat on a nearby bench, and she sat next to him. 

Tadano: "Then… let's start with this song that will brighten your sad heart ∼" he said with a smile while his hands skillfully moved around the guitar, tuning it in record time. 

[BGM BLUE BIRD – AKALA KAI]

Tadano: "You say if you could fly, you would never come back… You aimed for that blue, blue sky…"

His voice was gentle, calm, and warmed the heart. The sound of the strings perfectly accompanied his kind voice. His voice transported her to the past and showed her all the good times she had with her father. It also showed her the bad times, when she lost her father and her home. Up to the present.

But it didn't stop there. His voice showed her. It showed her the future she could have. People cheering for her. Money in her pocket. Delicious food. A soft bed. And up high, her father smiling at her. She couldn't help but burst into tears. She also saw it. While he played, she could see a faint reflection of her father in that young man playing the guitar. He was much better than her at playing the guitar, so much that he resembled her father.

Unconsciously, she reached out and grabbed his clothes while he sang. He didn't stop and instead smiled at her. She seemed to see the same smile her father had given her.

Doichi: "Oto-San…" she said with tears in her eyes while clinging to him. She cried. And cried very hard. The young man continued singing the song once more. At some point, the woman fell asleep.

Tadano stored the things in his spatial ring and took them with him.

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*POV Doichi*

Doichi: "Ah!"

I woke up abruptly in a strange place. Before I could say anything else, a voice sounded. 

Tadano: "I see you're awake; you'd better eat quickly before it gets cold." Said the young man from before while placing a tray of rice porridge on the nightstand.

Doichi: "Um… this… I…" 

Tadano: "What's wrong? Do you want me to feed you?" he asked playfully.

My face flushed quickly, and I shook my head vehemently. You must be joking; I would never let a younger man feed me, it would be an insurmountable embarrassment. Carefully, I took the porridge and ate. It was delicious. Before I knew it, I had finished. Turning my head towards the young man sitting there, he smiled at me.

He stood up. Not long after, he returned with another plate. I didn't hesitate and took it. I was very hungry. Once full, I looked at the room. It was nice.

Doichi: "Is this your house?" I asked.

He smiled with amusement and then said something shocking. 

Tadano: "No… it's Your house ∼" 

Doichi: "Eh?" 

Tadano: "Hehe, since you were able to sleep peacefully next to me, it means you accepted for me. So now you are my Idol in training, and of course, that comes with benefits. This apartment is one of them. You get it for free for 6 months, depending on your performance, it could be yours forever, hehe."

Doichi: "Eh!!!" 

Tadano:"Hehe, you don't need to worry about anything and rest so you can regain your energy… someone will come to see you tomorrow afternoon to sort out the minor issues of your contract. Until then, Arai Doichi, or rather, Ado-Chan…" he said, bidding farewell before leaving through the door.

When I got up and opened the door, he had already disappeared. When I went to look for my things, I found them next to the nightstand. The new thing was that my guitar now had a nice case. I had always wanted one, but money didn't allow it. On the bottom, it was written "Property of Ado."

I sat on the bed, thoughtful. 

Doichi: "Well… I guess I now have a new job, it seems I finally had some luck, huh, Oto-San?" I said while looking at the guitar in its case.

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Author's Note: "Well, here is the final chapter. If my workload is low, I promise to bring more chapters. Putting that aside, remember to drink plenty of water and that I love you all very much. Sincerely, your favorite depressed author."