Lonely Rock for the Blind.

"what happened?"

Nekoyashiki Haru tilted her head.

"No... I'm a little surprised that you're behaving so normally..."

Iwashita Shima pursed her lips.

"...Don't you...care about it that much?"

"...I can't say I don't care, but I can't continue to care like this."

Nekoyashiki Haru walked towards the sofa.

"Shima, have you found new band members yet?"

"...You mean new?"

Iwashita Shima was startled.

"Hmm, [ck Hack] should continue, right?"

"Nekoyashiki Haru said, then glanced at Hiroi Kikuri beside her.

"Is Kiku-san the same way?"

"Hmm, Shima...we're going to continue, right?"

Hiroi Kikuri looked at Iwashita Shima, their purple pupils meeting her wine-red pupils.

"...Yes, we need to continue."

"Then let me help you find one? Actually, I know quite a few bands... although they might not have a good reputation, but you should be able to find a decent guitarist. Your live shows shouldn't be clashing with the End of the Band's schedule right now, so I can definitely fill in."

As Nekoyashiki Haru spoke, she subconsciously reached into her pocket to take out her phone.

However, they found nothing.

"what…"

Nekoyashiki Haru was slightly taken aback.

"The power's out..."

What does Xiaoqing need a cell phone for?

Kikuto Hiroi quickly took out her phone.

"Can I use it on my phone...?"

Hiroi Kikuri suddenly froze.

The glaring message on the phone's notification bar made his purple pupils shrink sharply.

I want to see Qing.

"!!!"

Kikuri Hiroi's expression froze.

When Iwashita Shima, on the other side of the sofa, saw Hiroi Kikuri's reaction, she was suddenly stunned.

A bad feeling arose.

Could it be that…

"What's wrong, Kiku-san?"

Haruto Nekoyashiki looked at Kikuto Hiroi with concern.

"It's nothing, it's nothing... nothing at all."

Hiroi Kikuri paused for a moment, then immediately turned around and smiled.

"I just realized that my phone battery was almost gone."

"... "

Iwashita Shima pursed her lips.

After explaining the reason to Nekoyashiki Haru, Hiroi Kikuri stood up.

"I'm going to take this call on the balcony, I'll be right back!"

Kikusato Hiroi walked towards the balcony.

Nekoyashiki Haru watched the woman's departing figure and remained silent for a while.

"...Haa."

Iwashita Shima sighed.

"As expected... even if you try to act like nothing happened, the atmosphere will still become strange."

Nekoyashiki Haru also sighed.

Am I being too flamboyant?

"...No, it's just that those of us in the know can tell...and there's something about it that makes my heart ache."

Shima Iwashita said.

Does it hurt your heart?

Nekoyashiki Haru tilted her head helplessly.

"There's nothing to feel sorry about, it's all in the past."

"The past doesn't mean it didn't exist... I care about you, so of course I'm touched by your feigned nonchalance."

Iwashita Shima closed her eyes.

"Qing, don't go near Eliza from now on."

Shima Iwashita said.

"...I wasn't planning on going to see her anyway."

Nekoyashiki Haru shook her head.

"I know, but what if she finds you again?"

Iwashita Shima sighed.

"It's not impossible, you know?"

"Then come find me."

Nekoyashiki Haru squinted her eyes.

“If she is willing to come to me, I don’t need to hide from her like I’m in fear.”

"...That's true..."

Iwashita Shima nodded slightly.

"By the way, regarding your blindness, I went to Eliza to ask her about it. You have the right to know."

"You say it."

Nekoyashiki Haru nodded.

Iwashita Shima pursed her lips and then recounted the story Eliza had told her.

"... "

Nekoyashiki Haru fell into a long silence.

"I'm angry too... Qing, you must be feeling bad too, right?"

Iwashita Shima looked at Nekoyashiki Haru and said.

"...Rather than feeling bad, I feel more like it's absurd..."

Nekoyashiki Haru gritted her teeth, all the muscles in her body tensing up at that moment.

Only then did I gradually relax.

"...I'm truly innocent..."

Nekoyashiki Haru said softly.

"It's already good that you can recognize your innocence instead of saying that everything is your fault."

Iwashita Shima nodded.

"She's leaving the day after tomorrow, right?"

"Nekoyashiki Haru asked."

"Yes, I'm leaving the day after tomorrow."

Shima Iwashita affirmed.

"... "

Nekoyashiki Haru turned her head to look at Hiroi Kikuri outside the balcony.

He was on the phone, and his body seemed to be trembling slightly.

"...I'm actually more worried about Kiku-san..."

"Nekoyashiki Haru said."

"...She must have been in a lot of pain...and even forced herself to become like this."

"...Actually, not much has changed."

Iwashita Shima shook his head.

"But she took this step so as not to make me feel uneasy."

Nekoyashiki Haru smiled.

"...You can look at yourself more."

Iwashita Shima's eyes were unbearable.

"I've been watching, but I didn't want to show it all and make everyone worry."