I'm here to form a band, what do you want to do!

Volume 1: Chapter 31: Just a Meal Replacement

"Hong...Hongxia?"

A panicked voice sounded, and Hong Xia glanced across the room with a faint smile on her face.

Sure enough, they are all here.

The three people who appeared in front of her were dressed completely differently from the usual rock musicians, especially Yamada Ryo, who was dressed in black with her hair tied up, looking like a widow.

In particular, there is a black and white photo hanging in the center of the room.

"Is that so?" she said to herself.

After hearing her say this, Yamada Ryo calmed down.

"Hongxia, how did you find this place?"

"My uncle and aunt told me, otherwise I wouldn't know that you have such an event."

"Senior, I actually want to tell you."

Goto Ichiri raised her hands weakly, completely lacking the grace of a lady.

Ever since that incident, she has been filled with guilt and self-blame. Even though Yamada Ryo keeps trying to persuade her, her personality seems to have reverted to the stage of resisting communication.

"I wouldn't listen even if I told you."

"Hongxia, please sit down and have some tea first."

"Ah, make tea! Oh, and bring her a cup of tea."

After hearing what Yamada Ryo said, footsteps were heard at the back of the room, and no one knew who was still there.

Thinking of this, she looked back a few more times and was speechless for a moment when she saw a girl walking in with a teapot.

Oh, it turned out to be Erli. She was scared to death.

"Sister Hongxia, you are finally here!"

Erli, who was already in junior high school, poured the tea, sat next to her and rubbed her cheek.

"Well, do I really need to come here?"

"Hey, the sisters said..."

"Erli, have you finished your homework? Do you still want to apply to the University of Tokyo?"

"Sister, I want to be a rock musician too."

"Okay, then go back to your room and practice guitar."

After being stunned for a while, Ijichi Hongxia watched them escape in a panic, and her eyes fell on Yamada Ryo.

"What are you hiding from me?"

"Hongxia, how could I lie to you?"

Yamada Ryo blinked his eyes and pretended to be pitiful, but under Hong Xia's cold gaze, his expression gradually calmed down, and he pursed his lips and smiled.

"Alas...it's not too late to leave now. I don't want to tell you."

"I'm not so fragile that I can't accept the truth, even if it's about him."

"Hongxia..."

Kita Ikuyo couldn't help but speak. Knowing the whole situation, she had no confidence in such words. If she left now, Hongxia would still be the queen of rock.

"Xiao Xiduo, you are also an accomplice."

Kita Ikuyo was startled, turned her head away, and stared at the photos in the hall in a daze.

When Ito Rin was still around, Kita didn't have to worry about this, but now, a feeling of guilt arises.

【The truth in your eyes went in another direction.】

After Yamada Ryo lit a stick of incense for Ito Rin, his delicate face revealed a look of sadness you had never seen before.

"It's too late, for me and for you."

"Are you someone who likes to beat around the bush?" you asked.

"I've finally managed to be a gentle woman, but Hong Xia comes and bullies me like this."

She stopped talking nonsense, sat down next to you, held your hand, and told you stories from the past.

[The beginning of the story is not about the disease. You want her to get to the point, but several reminders don't work.

, I could only listen to her story calmly. 】

[The time they got to know each other again was sooner than you thought. ]

"No one can change what that person has decided," Yamada Ryo complained. You found it ridiculous to hear her say that Ito Rin resisted returning because she felt ashamed.

[It is unreasonable for a man to feel ashamed and not contact her just because he was injured when he escaped from the underworld.]

Next, she talked about the end of the band. As expected, she was the mastermind behind it. Ito Rin's career as an internet celebrity is also booming.

"I've known about this for a long time. Can't you just focus on the key points?"

You looked up, dissatisfied, and saw a face full of sympathy and sadness.

"I want you to be happier. Is that so difficult?"

"Alright, I knew everything about the illness you're most concerned about. When he was involved in the underworld, he frequently came to the hospital for treatment. When he was diagnosed, I was the first to know."

"He liked you, to the point where he made me jealous. I chose to back down, not because I was so understanding, but because I knew I couldn't win."

A look of happiness appeared on Yamada Ryo's face. Everything had changed drastically since the illness.

“When he found out there was no cure, his first thought was to keep it a secret from you. If you knew, you would definitely be heartbroken.”

"Later, I couldn't hide it anymore, so I pretended to be nonchalant. But even then, he still felt it wasn't enough."

Yamada Ryo clenched her fists. She tried to remain calm, but recounting this experience left her feeling deeply moved.

[She seemed to be just Hong Xia's meal replacement.]

"Although you hadn't confirmed your relationship, you took it upon yourself to announce it during the time the band was ending. He knew you wouldn't let it go, so that's when things started to go wrong."

"I, Kita-chan, and Pochi-chan are all innocent with him. The intimate scenes you saw between us were all acts."

"He wants you to hate him so you won't be so sad when he leaves."

“I don’t agree with his ideas, but I also said that no one can change his mind.”

After saying that, Yamada Ryo stood up and held Kita's shoulders, giving him enough space to calm down.

"There's something I won't hide from you. When I brought him back to meet my parents, I actually had a crush on him. Although I wasn't happy about him being your replacement, at least in those final moments, our hearts were connected."

You stare blankly at the black and white photo in front of you. Ito Rin smiles brightly, as if time has stopped at the youthful days of high school, and we have never grown up.

Your heart has never felt so empty. For a moment, you don't know whether to be sad or angry.

[That person...does he really think you would accept such an ending? ]

[Does that arrogant man think he can control your life like this?]

[He was right. Love has faded from your mind now, and the only thing left deep in your heart is hatred.]

【…】

【But why do I still cry? 】

"Ito Rin."

The sleeping girl suddenly became angry and called out her junior's name. The heavy emotions contained in her words could not be expressed in just a few words.

Volume 1: Chapter 32 He doesn't want to see this

"Senior, don't be sad."

You never thought you would need Goto Ichiri's comfort. You watched her timidly hand you a tissue, then glanced at Erri, who was hiding by the door.

[“I don’t want to hide it from you, but…”]

You smiled bitterly and shook your head, stroking her long hair and asking her to stop talking.

[She has a soft personality and is not good at saying no. Except for the last period when her personality changed, she has never been a strong person.]

[Asking her to go against Ito Rin's will is really asking too much.]

【However, there is something I want to ask. 】

"Where was he finally buried?"

[Hearing this, you looked ashamed, as if you felt that it was rather cruel of you not to have known such a thing until now.]

“Well, we’re going to drive over there later.”

"Take me with you." You sighed.

"Hongxia, you'll be in charge of driving later."

[Wearing a black windbreaker and black gloves, with a hint of sadness on his face, Yamada Ryo's demeanor has become much calmer, making you feel unfamiliar, but you know it's all because of him.]

"After he passed away, I took care of his affairs. You resisted receiving any news about him, so I didn't tell you." Yamada Ryo opened the car door, letting you get in, and brought up something you didn't want to know.

"If I don't ask, you guys should be relieved." You forced yourself to keep your tone cold.

"Oh, don't say that. That's the reality, but the manager was also very helpful."

[Hearing this, you were stunned.]

[So...my sister is also an insider? ]

"My sister, she knows too?" you asked in disbelief.

"She didn't know about it during the implementation phase of the plan, but later, during the funeral, the store manager noticed something was amiss and grabbed Pochi-chan and interrogated her, revealing a lot of information. Seriously, Pochi-chan had clearly promised not to leak anything, but she's completely unreliable."

"As for why the store manager didn't tell you, it's probably because Ito's plan was successful and you weren't affected much, and she doesn't want to change that."

Your anger is no longer as intense.

[It turns out that if I could only see a little more, the answer would be right in front of me. It turns out that you are the only one who doesn't know.]

"Hey, we're going the wrong way. We're heading towards the suburbs." Yamada Ryo reminds you, looking at the location on the map.

"Actually, Ito's parents are here too. They come here to see him every year around this time. Ito left all the money here with them. After we meet, we plan to go meet up with them."

【“!”】

[Is this considered meeting the parents? ]

[Thinking of this, you gradually pick up speed, only slowing down after Xiao Xiduo screams and reminds you that you are speeding.]

"I was so scared." Yamada Ryo patted his chest with lingering fear. He thought you were going to take everyone away.

[After arriving at your destination, while the car is still running, you see the familiar old man walking towards you.]

[Your eyes widened, and you wanted to run to them, but your steps suddenly stopped.]

"I told you guys to come live in Tokyo."

Yamada Ryo warmly hugs Ito's mother and invites them to Tokyo.

"With us here, it's easy to solve any problems."

You silently paused, watching their joyful scene, and suddenly felt like you were superfluous.

"Indeed, during that last period, your presence was basically negative. Yamada Ryo handled everything that happened to him afterwards, so it's normal that Ito's parents are more familiar with her."

【"Hongxia?"】

[A suspicious voice sounded behind me. I turned around and saw my sister was shocked.

Looking at you in surprise. 】

【“How…how did you find this place?”】

Realizing something was wrong, Xingge's tone became guilty, and she grabbed your arm.

"Sister, I'm already angry enough today, so don't be nervous."

[“Even though you hid it from me, I can feel it…”]

You suddenly fell silent. If you knew your sister was doing this for your own good, then what kind of image did Ito Rin, who paid such a huge price, have?