See You Again was originally a high-quality, deeply sincere work dedicated to mourning a friend.
However, on Earth before Denji's transmigration, it was influenced by a widely known meme. Whenever the intro played, Denji's brain would automatically switch to double-speed playback, and a half-body portrait of a smiling Black man in a purple and gold jersey would appear before his eyes. It was truly difficult to keep the corners of his mouth turned down, which somewhat ruined the song's inherent emotion and atmosphere.
But the world of Terra didn't have this meme, allowing everyone in the bar to purely enjoy the song.
Sora stood in the center of the bar's stage, gripping the microphone, using her solid vocal skills to interpret the emotions within the melody. She wasn't the type of "flower vase" idol who relied solely on a pretty face, but a powerhouse capable of crossing over into opera, achieving massive popularity even in a place like Siracusa—a region that once belonged to Leithanien and boasted a long, rich musical culture.
Even though it was an unfamiliar song she was singing for the first time, she still grasped the rhythm and technique perfectly. Every expression of emotion was contagious enough to touch people's hearts.
The several employees of Penguin Logistics all hailed from foreign lands, and all had bid farewell to close friends in the past. At this moment, listening to the lyrics, "The day I reunite with you will surely be when the flowers bloom," a faint sense of nostalgia and melancholy welled up in their eyes.
Croissant thought of her old acquaintances in Minos, and Texas also thought of her childhood friends.
Exusiai, who was the best at managing the atmosphere, was also missing her older sister far away in Laterano, but she didn't want to let the sorrowful mood linger and spread.
She abruptly stood up, planted both hands on the bar counter, and proposed energetically, "Let's all clap to the beat and harmonize! Let's hype up the atmosphere!"
As she spoke, she pulled out two glow sticks from who-knows-where, sometimes waving them in support, and sometimes clapping along with the rhythm. The brightly glowing halo above her head also swayed left and right with her movements, creating an excellent cheering effect.
The others chimed in one after another; whether by the bar or on the sofas, the rhythm of their clapping hands became uniform.
When the vocal humming of the climax began, Sora's voice soared, carrying a piercingly infectious power. Croissant, Exusiai, and Texas also accompanied her with harmonies.
A melodic chant of "Ah↗Oh↘Oh↗Oh↘, Ah↗Oh↘Oh↗Oh↘Oh↘Oh↗, Ooo↗Ooo↘Ooo↗Ooo..." continuously echoed throughout the bar.
This tacit coordination not only sang out their longing for old friends but also reflected how much they cherished their current companions and the present moment.
Emperor was also itching to join in. When the chorus transitioned into the rap section, he waved his flipper at the band member responsible for rapping, signaling for the microphone.
That rapper wasn't very familiar with the lyrics to begin with, especially with some of the retro grammar mixed in, making his performance a bit stumbling. Seeing the boss speak up, he immediately and obediently gave way.
Emperor was not only a veteran rap OG but also deeply experienced with the Terran language. The moment he took the mic, he went all out. His deep voice was full of texture, and his flow was smooth and powerful, interpreting the rap section to absolute perfection.
"Hell yeah! The boss is fucking awesome!"
Exusiai quoted a slightly vulgar yet perfectly fitting Yenese slang term to express her current feelings, continuing to pump her fists excitedly.
The atmosphere in the bar was instantly pushed to its peak. Even the passing bartenders couldn't help but stop in their tracks, nodding their heads and swaying their shoulders to the beat.
As the song ended, Sora, whose enthusiasm was fully ignited, picked up the other two sheets of music Emperor had handed her. She smiled and said, "Next, I'll sing two country songs for everyone. They were also sent in by that mysterious contributor."
For Denji to still remember their melodies even after transmigrating, they had to be unquestionable classics in the realm of country music.
The first song, "Take Me Home, Country Roads," had a cheerful rhythm. The guitar melody skipped lightly, and Sora's voice became melodious, as if leading everyone down the country roads of their respective memories, embarking on a journey back home.
But the following song, "500 Miles," marked a sudden shift in tone. The melody carried a faint sorrow and melancholy.
"Five hundred miles from home, my clothes are ragged and torn; If that train departs, leaving me no time to see you; Then it means I have left alone in sorrow..."
The lyrics were like a hangnail, gently pricking every wanderer who was struggling away from home and, for various reasons, unable to return.
Sora's voice grew gentle and lingering. The noise in the bar gradually subsided, leaving only the melody flowing through the air. Homesickness, like drifting Originium dust, weighed heavily upon everyone's hearts.
The reason these songs were chosen by Denji—aside from their simple melodies and easy-to-remember lyrics—was because they concealed his own state of mind. Was he not also a drifting wanderer, alone in a foreign land? His memories held recollections of a civilization entirely his own, and his journey to find his companions remained completely devoid of clues. These three songs also expressed his own state of mind.
After the performance ended, the bar remained quiet for a few seconds. Then, Exusiai took the lead in applauding, praising the performance of Sora, Emperor, and the band members.
"Quite interesting melodies. I'll sign these songs no matter the asking price. If it's not enough, deduct it from Penguin Logistics' profits!" Emperor declared with immense bravado.
"Eh? What about our salaries then? Boss, you can't just love the new and abandon the old, playing favorites like this!" The girls immediately voiced their noisy protests.
However, even though they were making a joyous ruckus, they all knew that Emperor was a good boss who would never shortchange his employees. Aside from paying the compensation for the public property the girls destroyed daily, he had also paid the Yenese social security in full for all of them.
Knowing that Emperor wouldn't actually dock their pay, Exusiai couldn't help but comment, "These songs are great, but they're way too sad. It's hard to imagine what the creator has been through!"
"Oh, right! If I meet the person who wrote these songs, I'll definitely give him a slice of apple pie to comfort him!" she said, patting her chest.
Croissant rolled her eyes. "Sister Exusiai, please don't sprinkle Char Siu on someone else's wounds! Your apple pie might just make him even more emo!"
"Then I'll just give him a suuuuper big hug, how about that!" Exusiai said with a grin, resting her hands on her hips.
Right at that moment, the glass door of the bar was pushed open. Denji, having just arrived at his destination, walked in.
His mind had been full of serious thoughts about discussing a collaboration with Emperor. But as his gaze swept across the interior of the bar, his old, severe condition of pent-up frustration flared up again.
Denji's eyes were instantly drawn to the four beauties of completely different styles within the bar:
The sweet-looking popular idol, Sora;
The deeply energetic and lively girl, Croissant;
The coldly glamorous Texas, whose aura could kill both men and women alike;
And that angel who looked the most dazzling of all, and who seemingly even planned on giving him a hug.
Denji instantly froze, forgetting to even take a step forward. Aside from his deeply repressed hormonal thoughts, his brain temporarily couldn't hold anything else.
If it were any other protagonist, staring blankly at beautiful women during an occasion meant for serious business would seem incredibly unreasonable and extremely off-putting.
But considering his name was Denji, this wasn't strange at all.
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