Lonely Rock for the Blind.

Page 325

"The senior didn't come today."

"Ok?"

"They said they have to leave for a few days or something..."

"what…"

Hiroi Kikuri closed her eyes and began to think.

"The store manager said they might have been invited to perform, so..."

"That's impossible."

Kikuri Hiroi shook her head and said.

"Eh?"

Kita Ikuyo looked up at Hiroi Kikuri.

"Well, although Xiao Qing used to go to perform in places that were quite far away, he usually went and came back on the same day. Also, there are very few bands inviting Xiao Qing now. After all, everyone has pretty much figured out that [Poison Cat] seems to want to disappear."

"Then...then could it be that you are..., senior?"

Kita Ikuyo's yellowish-green pupils trembled.

"Run away to...other cities...and never come back or something?"

Because... because of Ryo-senpai's sudden confession...

"That's not it either."

Kikuri Hiroi shook her head.

"Although Xiao Qing is not an adult, she is still very responsible compared to someone like me. If she says she will come back in a few days, then she will definitely come back in a few days. Maybe 3 days, maybe 5 days, but she will definitely come back."

Kikuto Hiroi smiled at Ikuyo Kita.

"Don't worry, he won't run away."

"... "

Kita Ikuyo's hand quietly clenched.

"Indeed... after all, they all stayed back then."

Kita Ikuyo raised her head.

"Just now... I actually had a fleeting moment of doubt that my senior might..."

"Haha, I get it. After all, it's true that you can overthink things."

Hiroi Kikuri squinted her eyes and spoke with the air of someone who had been through it all.

"Kikuri-senpai?"

Kita Ikuyo suddenly felt something was off.

Kikuri Hiroi shook her head.

"Well, right now, if Xiaohong can find Xiaoqing, it will be a huge advantage."

"... "

Kita Ikuyo was stunned.

"But how should I go find it?"

"I don't know~"

Kikuri Hiroi shook her head.

"I'm not a prophet or a seer, nor am I Xiaoqing's stalker. How would I know where he is?"

"Inviting you out in...in the name of Kiku-senpai..."

"No way, since he told you he'd be back in a few days, I doubt he'd tell you."

Hiroi Kikuri shook her head.

“Under certain circumstances, he is still very vigilant and will not come out without bait.”

"Um…"

Kita Ikuyo clenched her fist.

"Well, we can always use bait..."

Hiroi Kikuri narrowed her eyes.

"Hey, Xiaohong, did you see anyone acting strangely yesterday?"

Kikuri Hiroi said.

"Eh?"

Kita Ikuyo lowered her head and began to think.

"If we're talking about acting a bit strange... including me... it seems like everyone's doing it a little bit?"

"Ahem... Let's talk about who's the strangest."

"... "

Kita Ikuyo lowered her head and began to think.

Previously, when the atmosphere within the team was not good, everyone was indeed not very talkative.

However, even though she was in a bad mood, Ijichi-senpai would still try her best to encourage everyone with her energetic voice at such times.

and so…

"Ijichi-senpai... is behaving strangely."

"Little Rainbow Summer?"

Hiroi Kikuri thought for a while.

"Perhaps she knows something?"

"...Should I just go and ask?"

Kita Ikuyo looked at Hiroi Kikuri and asked.

"Let's test the waters first. By the way, have you told Xia Qing that you're now a [Band Hunter]?"

Kikuri Hiroi said.

"No... No one except Yili knows it was me."

Kita Ikuyo shook her head and said.

"But Xiao Qing will definitely guess it's you. If he finds out that [Band Hunter] has started to become active, what will he think?"

Kikuri Hiroi asked, squinting her eyes.

"...[Because of me, Yudai ran away to vent.] That kind of thing?"

Kita Ikuyo said, her eyes wide open.

"That's about right~ It's like this."

Kikuto Hiroi took a liquor box out of her pocket.

"At that time, he might come looking for you because he's worried about you."

"But... how do I let my senior know?! Should I just send him a message?"

Kita Ikuyo looked at Hiroi Kikuri and asked.

"Then your purpose will be too obvious!"

Kikuri Hiroi shook her head.

"It's best to be discreet about your purpose. That way, if you sense something's off about someone, just quietly reveal your own situation, and it might reach Xiao Qing's ears."

Kikuri Hiroi raised her finger and said.

"The most suspicious person is Ijichi-senpai... Could he know where senpai is? Or even keep in touch with senpai?"

Kita Ikuyo suddenly realized.

"Yes, that's what I mean."

Kikuri Hiroi nodded.

"I understand!"

Kita Ikuyo stood up.

"Thank you, Kikusato-senpai!"

"Haha...you're welcome, you're welcome..."

Hiroi Kikuri quickly waved her hand and said.

"I'll head home now! Goodnight, Kiku-senpai!"

Kita Ikuyo bowed slightly in farewell.