Lonely Rock for the Blind.

"Hiroi Kikuri said in a low voice."

"Is that so... alright then."

Eliza nodded.

The two fell silent.

Five minutes later, Eliza spoke.

"People are prone to regret... Kikuri."

"... "

Hiroi Kikuri looked at Eliza.

"I've said it before, I can understand part of how you feel, but... you're not at my level yet."

"...to what extent? To what extent?"

Hiroi Kikuri asked.

"Don't worry about it. I just want to say that Xiaoju still has a chance to regret it."

"...I won't regret it."

"No, you'll regret it, Kiku."

Eliza smiled.

"The next second, the next minute, tonight or tomorrow night... or maybe... decades later..."

"... "

"You will definitely have a moment of regret. At that moment, your heart will be unable to bear everything, and you will run away to loneliness."

Eliza's tone was somewhat certain.

Hiroi Kikuri felt an inexplicable surge of anger welling up inside her.

“Eliza… what I’m asking you is…”

“I know what you asked me to do, and I will do it because I promised you and consider myself your friend.”

Eliza's blue eyes gazed at Hiroi Kikuri.

"That's why I need to repeat what I just said."

"... "

Hiroi Kikuri opened her mouth.

"Kikuri, how much longer do you need?"

Eliza asked with a smile.

“I have nothing left, but you definitely still have something. I sincerely hope you won’t give up.”

"...I simply made a choice."

“I understand what Kikuri means, so these words are just suggestions.”

Eliza nodded.

"... "

Hiroi Kikuri was silent for a moment, then asked.

"...Eliza...why did you join my band in the first place?"

"I want to try it, I want to have some fun, I'm bored, I..."

Eliza paused for a moment.

Hiroi Kikuri suddenly felt a sense of fear.

She opened her mouth.

"Stop talking... Eliza, stop talking."

"…All right."

Eliza nodded.

Kikuri Hiroi slumped onto the table in front of her.

She suddenly thought of something.

These are the words we spoke a long, long time ago when we were all having dinner at Eliza's house.

When did Xiao Qing meet Eliza?

When did Eliza meet Xiao Qing?

...

……

.........

As night falls, the outfits inside [Starry Night] are completely different from usual.

The adorable decorations fill the space with a festive atmosphere, like a comforting microwave oven.

"... "

Next to the beverage machine, Nekoyashiki Haru was lost in thought.

"Senior, what's wrong?"

Kita Ikuyo's voice rang out, pulling Nekoyashiki Haru out of her daze.

"Sorry, I was spacing out for a bit."

Nekoyashiki Haru smiled at Kita Ikuyo.

"... "

Kita Ikuyo looked calmly at Nekoyashiki Haru's face, then asked softly.

"Is something on your mind?"

"!"

Nekoyashiki Haru paused for a moment.

He wanted to say that he was fine, but he seemed unable to lie to the girl in front of him.

Yes, there is.

"What is it?"

Kita Ikuyo continued to ask.

"There's a friend I used to trust quite a bit, but now I'm a little worried..."

Nekoyashiki Haru said softly.

"...Is that Kikuri-senpai?"

Kita Ikuyo was silent for a moment before asking.

"!"

Nekoyashiki Haru's pupils contracted slightly.

Then he nodded.

"Yes."

"... "

Kita Ikuyo pursed her lips and then looked at the crowd in the distance.

"Actually... I'm a little worried too."

"Ok?"

"Because before, before you made this decision, Kiku-senpai helped me."

Did it help... you?

"Yes, it helped, though it's hard to say how much."

Kita Ikuyo lowered her head slightly.

"But helping is helping, and it seems like I've forgotten about them again."

Kita Ikuyo closed her eyes, then looked worried and turned to look at Nekoyashiki Haru.

"Has something happened to Kiku-senpai?"

"...Probably not."

"?"

Kita Ikuyo was taken aback.

Nekoyashiki Haru sighed.

"At least on the surface, everything seems fine, but I just feel something's off. Some of her seemingly reasonable actions now feel a bit off to me..."

What do you mean by "something's not right"?

"do not know."

Nekoyashiki Haru shook her head.

"... "

Kita Ikuyo moved slightly closer to Nekoyashiki Haru and patted Nekoyashiki Haru's back.

"Everything will be alright. If something really happens, everyone will definitely help Kiku-senpai."

"That's true..."

Nekoyashiki Haru nodded slowly.

But the unease in my heart still lingered.