Lonely Rock for the Blind.

But I am still trying to change my future.

Why is this?

"Hello~ My name is Eliza Shimizu~ I haven't been in Japan for very long~"

The blonde British woman smiled at herself and stroked the black cat beside her.

"You, hello."

Kikuri Hiroi held the bass guitar, trembling with nervousness.

The other person's blue eyes were looking at me, with a smile in them.

"Lovely girl, what can I do for you?"

"I…"

Hiroi Kikuri licked her lips.

"...I saw your guitar solo at the comic convention today, it was really amazing. Do you have a band?"

"... "

The woman named Eliza Shimizu slowly tilted her head.

"I actually didn't intend to play in a band."

"!"

Kikuri Hiroi took a sudden step back and then took a deep breath.

My nose is starting to feel sore…

I was rejected...

It's like... finally getting the ending you thought was the right thing to do, feeling both sad and at peace.

Conflicting emotions circulated in my chest countless times.

"Sorry to bother you... I'll head back now..."

"your name."

"Eh?"

Hiroi Kikuri turned around and stared blankly.

Eliza Shimizu smiled slightly.

"what your name?"

"...Hiroi...Kikuri".

"Hey, Kikuri."

Eliza Shimizu picked up the black cat beside her.

Do you like cats?

"...Huh?"

Hiroi Kikuri opened her mouth, unsure how to answer.

Eliza Shimizu tilted her head and smiled. The twilight cast an orange haze over half of her face, while the other half was shrouded in shadow.

"I really like this cat. It's cute, fluffy, kind, strong, and gentle."

Eliza Shimizu gently stroked the cat on her lap.

"But I also dislike this cat a little."

"…Why?"

Hiroi Kikuri asked blankly.

"Because, this cat isn't my cat."

Eliza Shimizu picked up the cat and then let it go.

The cat landed on the ground and walked away on its own.

"That's a cat that's always near the comic convention. It'll befriend whoever gives it food, and I gave it some too, but it doesn't actually recognize me at all. It's so mean..."

“I’m sorry… I don’t understand what you mean, Miss Eliza.”

Hiroi Kikuri was frightened.

She really felt that there was something wrong with the foreign woman in front of her.

Although Kikuri Hiroi knew very well that this was also her own malicious speculation about others.

Ignoring the kindness of others and arbitrarily labeling them as villains...

It's like paranoia...

That's why I embrace misfortune...

"I'll join!"

Eliza Shimizu suddenly laughed.

"A band or something, that sounds like a lot of fun."

"...!"

Hiroi Kikuri was stunned for a moment before she suddenly realized what was happening.

Would you... like to join us?

"Yes, I'd like to."

Eliza Shimizu smiled.

"Kikuri, you thought I would refuse at first, right?"

"I'm sorry... I'm sorry!"

Kikuri Hiroi began to bow and apologize.

"... "

Eliza Shimizu narrowed her eyes.

"I still can't see your face clearly."

Chapter 268 The Only Courage

The child who hides best during hide-and-seek is usually not the object of admiration for the other children.

Once everyone can no longer find her, they will all return to their own homes.

The child who hid best waited and waited, but no one came.

So in the end, he climbed out of the old wooden box and went home all alone.

...

……

"Cheer up, it's not the first time."

Shima Iwashita said to Kikuri Hiroi beside her.

"...I sang it wrong just now."

Kikuri Hiroi said.

"There's nothing I can do about it, Kiku. There are too few audience members, and they're all looking at their phones. I even made some mistakes."

"Eliza Shimizu said."

"... "

Hiroi Kikuri held the bass without saying a word.

"Okay, let's go eat. Don't think about it too much."

Iwashita Shima patted Hiroi Kikuri's head and said.

Eliza Shimizu followed.

Hiroi Kikuri looked at the two of them and trembled.

Then he asked.

"Don't you... regret it?"

"..." × 2

The two of them turned around at the same time to look at Kikuri Hiroi.

He didn't speak.

But Kikuri Hiroi's pupils trembled.

You'll regret it later...

After all, since we formed a band together, we haven't even had 10 audience members at our shows.

I've always paid for it out of my own pocket...

"You might regret it if you keep standing there daydreaming."

Iwashita Shima shook his head.

"If I regret leaving earlier, now, don't think about it too much, go eat."

"... "

Hiroi Kikuri nodded and followed Iwashita Shima.

Eliza watched quietly from the side, maintaining a smile without saying a word.

...

……

.........