Lonely Rock, Liang is my fiancée

Seeing that Liang was pretending to be asleep and had no intention of talking, Ito Rin found a seat next to Hongxia and sat down.

A white school uniform, a black knee-length skirt, long hair blown by the wind, and a few blushes on the fair and delicate profile.

This is the sunny feeling that a normal high school girl should have. Unlike Liang, she always gives people the feeling that she shouldn't be studying in a high school campus.

"What is Ijichi-san's goal in playing rock music? Do you want to just treat it as a hobby to enjoy your youth, or do you want to become famous enough to hold a concert at a Budokan?" asked Ito Rin.

For someone from a family like hers, it's normal to develop a love for rock music; the only difference is whether it's a hobby or a career.

"That's a tricky question. Of course I want to make The End Band famous, but the Budokan is still too far away from us. If I really have to describe it, it's higher than enjoying youth, but not that far away."

Hongxia pulled her hair out of Liang's tightly clenched hands, and her voice was much softer when she answered his question.

"Since you want to develop to a higher level, then set your goal higher. Maybe you will have a chance to achieve it." Ito's words were not so sincere.

In today's island country, Budokan concerts that can be held for money are no longer as high-end as before, but this also means that if you want to go on stage, you have to rely more on the strength of the economic company behind you.

It would be a miracle if a high school band that started out as an underground band could have the money to hold a concert.

"Hate it! Don't give us such unrealistic delusions!"

"It is possible. We just need to get Liang drunk and ask her to sign the bill for the concert." Ito Rin blinked and joked with her.

When she inherits the family business, her wealth will be more than enough to hold a few concerts.

"Hahaha, when I reach the drinking age, I must try it." Hong Xia forced a laugh and put his right hand on Liang's waist threateningly.

It hurts, it hurts, it was Ito who suggested it, why are you pinching me?

The bell rang for the end of get out of class. Liang, who could no longer pretend, collapsed on Hong Xia, wiping his nonexistent tears and crying, "Hong Xia, you're too much. You even took the money of an old widower like me."

"Shut up." Hongxia covered her face, no longer daring to look at Ito Rin's expression.

Weirdos who are not afraid of social death are simply terrifying.

"Are you guys eyeing my future retirement money? Are you just waiting to get me drunk and drain me dry? I consider you my best friend."

"Shut up, idiot! If you keep talking, I'll deduct the money you owe me from your salary."

"forget it."

Liang, in a good mood, touched the teardrop mole at the corner of his eye, feeling sad that his debts were increasing and he wondered how he would make a living in the future.

Chapter 23: A fulfilling time filled with exams

The stars shortly after school.

"Pochi told me that she has a cold and can't come to work these few days. What a pity." Hongxia changed into her work coat and said with a little disappointment while holding her cell phone.

I was full of energy when I was with her yesterday, but how come I caught a cold after returning home? It’s spring now.

Ito continued mopping the floor with his hands, and replied casually, "That kid is probably backing off again."

"No way, I felt that Pochi-chan had made great progress yesterday. At least she dared to talk to customers."

Your request is really high. However, compared with Goto who asked for leave, the person who is not doing his job deserves more condemnation: "Please make way. Don't fall asleep in the middle of the hall."

"Lift your leg." "Lift this leg, too." "Put away the bass in the corner."

Liang opened his eyes impatiently. It wasn't even business hours yet, so why were they already working so enthusiastically?

Alas, I don’t know when the store manager’s salary for this month will be paid. If it is not paid before the end of the month, she will probably have to eat grass again.

"Click."

There was the sound of a key opening the door, and the store manager Hoshino walked in with a bag. He noticed that they first showed a satisfied expression while working, but then showed an unhappy look.

It seems that the spirit of rock and roll has penetrated deeply into her life.

"Hongxia, you are going to take an exam soon, right?" The store manager, who was occupying the counter and packing up items at the back, suddenly asked.

Under the beverage bar, Hong Xia was refilling the drinks with only her yellow fur showing. "Manager, this is not something you should be in charge of."

"Nonsense, I'm your sister, isn't it natural for me to care about your grades?"

"Who said that I have to treat you like a store manager in the workplace?"

While the two sisters were arguing, Ms. PA looked as if she was reminiscing about the past. “Exams, such distant words. Good luck to you two.”

"How can there be a high school like Shimokitazawa? School has only been open for a few days and we have exams this week. I might as well just skip school." Yamada Ryo expressed his bitter and resentful words in a calm voice.

But Shimokitazawa High School is such a school. Although it is only the second year of high school, the learning progress has reached its peak, and there will be a monthly exam every month to let everyone know the current ranking.

Although the class time seems easy on the surface, the actual pressure of studying has not been reduced much.

But this kind of thing has little to do with people who just guess blindly every time they take an exam, right?

"There's really no difference between you taking the test normally and handing in a blank paper."

Liang looked at him with a cold gaze, her pink lips slightly pursed, making it impossible to tell what she was really thinking, "Are you looking down on me?"

"Yes."

"Humph, this is definitely a provocation. I won't be fooled and stupid enough to compare test scores with you. Go ahead and look down on me." Liang poked his cheek with his finger in disdain, twisting it until Ito's expression was distorted, and then he said stubbornly.

"If you admit defeat, straighten your stance and take your hands off me!"

PA, who was waiting to watch the show, put away her phone in disappointment. Shouldn't this kind of plot development be exciting? Yamada is really a weirdo.

"It's almost time to open for ticket sales. Ito, remember to sit at the front desk. And Ryo, come over here and help me."

The argument over there had stopped and Hongxia began to assign tasks. The friendly Ito naturally acted as the front of the group, while the weird Ryo entered the bar where there was seldom any communication.

A new day of business has begun for Fanxing.

……

Amid the noise in the hall, Hongxia finally remembered that the original intention of forming a band was not to do part-time work. As the number of new customers gradually decreased, she entrusted the work to the store manager and called Ito back to the preparation room.

When Ito left his workplace, he thought that it was no wonder that Ichichi-san chose his home as his part-time job. Besides the familiarity, it was probably because most of the people who came here were regular customers or fans of underground bands.

They come at regular times, and as long as they do their job well during the peak period, they can move freely afterwards.

"However, will the store manager count the time we spend practicing as part-time work?" Ito asked suddenly.

Liang smiled coldly, intending to break his fantasy: "I was deducted from my salary even when I was standing there to rest. Do you think the store manager would be so generous?"

Damn it! Sleeping while standing was a skill she had mastered to slack off, but the store manager so ruthlessly broke it.

"So stingy."

"Now is not the time to complain about my family, everyone hurry up and get ready for training!"

After finding the position of the drum set and touching the drumsticks, Hong Xia said angrily that Liang still had the nerve to deduct her salary. Every time she slept, she had to stand in front of the counter, as if she was afraid that her sister couldn't see it.

And Ito-kun, if you go to Tokyo to work, you won't be paid during your training time.

"Since little Pochi is not here, is it okay for the three of us to practice?" Liang carried the bass on his back and strummed the strings, making a buzzing sound like hitting steel bars.

"Without a lead singer and no songs decided yet, we are just getting familiar with the coordination among the three of us. It doesn't matter if Goto-san is not here."

Ito Rin plugged in the power of the keyboard. Her opinion was different from Liang's. The level of tacit understanding between the bass and the drum set was getting higher and higher. On the contrary, the most conspicuous guitar belonged to another level of relationship.

After all, if a bassist wants to get the correct feedback, he often has to rely on the drummer's expression.

Now that there is an opportunity for individual training, and Ito can help take care of him, he thinks this is an opportunity that cannot be missed.

Hongxia looked at Ito Rin who was arguing with Liang, and suddenly hit the drum set in front of her to attract their attention.

"We should just seize every opportunity to train. As long as we cooperate well enough, we will be able to bring Pochi-chan into our rhythm."

Saying this in front of two people who were far superior to her in level, Hongxia subconsciously clenched the drumsticks, fearing that Ito-kun would behave like he did in school.

Although she has tried very hard, her drumming skills have always remained at the passing level. Not only can she not compare to Ryo who is obsessed with bass, but she is also far inferior to the genius Ito Rin. The only person who may give her some confidence is probably Pochi-chan.

Is it really because of talent, or is it because I haven’t worked hard enough?

I envy talented people so much...

The two people who were arguing about whether to continue repeating the training just now now looked at each other with smiles in their eyes. Ito sat behind the keyboard silently, and Ryoya hugged the bass tightly.

"Don't be in a daze, drummer. I will follow your rhythm."

"oh oh."

The passionate drum beats were played, followed by the bass. After a brief pause, Ito seized the gap between them and inserted the keyboard accompaniment.

The blue-haired beauty in front closed her eyes in ecstasy, deliberately imitating the movements of the famous rock band, moving freely in the narrow standing space, and falling into the ocean of music.

The blond girl sitting in her seat was beating the drum with all her might. The sweat from her forehead dripped onto the drum surface, forming a perfect arc, which was instantly knocked away by the powerful drum beats.

Chapter 24 It hurts, it hurts, no!

After the song ended, Ito Rin sat in her seat and fell into deep thought.

It's bad, but not particularly bad, okay, but it doesn't sound that good either.

All in all, it's the kind of work that people wouldn't pay much attention to after listening to it, and Liang and Hongxia's talent in making entertainment is not as high as Xiao Boqi's. At least the latter can still have the glorious feat of performing on stage with mango boxes.

If you can't be completely good, then be incredibly bad. Mediocrity is music's biggest enemy.

Hongxia, who was unaware that she was being criticized by Ito in her heart, was still celebrating that the addition of the keyboard player made their ensemble more rhythmic.

"Liang, it seems that hard work always pays off!"

Ito Rin interrupted the girl's snickering, unplugged the keyboard, rubbed his temple and said, "Ichichi-san, please try again. I will record the audio and help you find the weak link."

"Oh."

Hong Xia, in high spirits, sat back in her chair and stuck out her tongue, wanting to see Liang's expression so that she could cooperate with her more perfectly.

"And you, pay more attention to the drummer's rhythm when you play later, so that she can get feedback from you." Ito Rin reminded.

Mr. Ito is so strict. I am so good at playing the guitar, but he still criticizes me.

Hong Xia put away her little thoughts, picked up the drumsticks and focused on playing the first note.

After losing the keyboard, their shortcomings were completely exposed. The two girls who were performing could not notice the difference, but Ito Rin who was watching heard it clearly.

When I first performed on stage with them, I didn't have high expectations. As I am a relatively independent guitarist, I couldn't make such a definitive judgment.

Liang's level is one level higher than Hongxia's, and she didn't realize or notice the subtle difference, so the rhythm she played often didn't match the frequency of the drum beats.

Either let her slow down, or let Hongxia speed up. After all, the purpose of establishing a band is to form a harmonious team, not to show off someone's superb skills.

"Stop it." Ito rubbed his eyes and made a pause gesture with his hands. "Ichichi-san, how long do you practice drums every day?"

Hong Xia looked embarrassed and whispered, "About an hour, because I have classes and a part-time job, and it's not convenient to practice after I get home."

No wonder. I don't know how long she has been practicing drums. Her level is only at the entry level. And she wants to form a band to debut...

The unique ideals of high school students are really interesting.

"From what I heard from the ensemble just now, the problem is quite serious. Either you increase the practice time, at least to two hours, and then try to keep up with Ryo's pace."

"Either you ask Liang to slow down and let her cater to you. Anyway, Beth's words won't have much impact."

“If your goal is to debut, release a CD, and become a famous singer, then you’d better improve yourself, otherwise you will always stay at the level of an underground band and end up in regret.”

At the end, there was no more gentleness in Ito's words, and his tone became stern.

She has not been able to achieve any results. No matter how good her relationship with Liang is, she cannot waste her time like this. And to some extent, he also followed Liang in.

Only by working hard can we make progress and allow members to find hope and continue training with full motivation.

Since her goal is to position herself as a popular band at a professional level, she must abandon the playful mindset of high school students.

"I see……"

Hong Xia sat back with her head down. When she raised her head slightly, she saw his stern gaze. She could only cheer herself up and start beating the drum again.

Under the bright lights in the room, her figure playing the drums alone seemed lonely. Ito Rin stared at her in a daze, still listening carefully.

Liang, who was supposed to practice with her, stood beside him and said, "You talk even more outrageously than I do. I don't know what those girls like about you."

She still remembers the scene when that group of girls came to her and handed her love letters. It was such a shame and humiliation!

I should have charged a fee earlier...