Lonely Rock for the Blind

Holding a guitar, Kita Ikuyo walked to the chair opposite Nekayashiki Haru and sat down.

There are two chairs, about two meters apart.

Nekoyashiki Haru straightened his back and sat up straight.

Then he said.

"Shall we start practicing?"

"Ugh?"

Kita Ikuyo was stunned.

Although she was wondering why Nekayashiki Haru suddenly announced the practice session so urgently, she still obediently took out her guitar.

"Is it still... the same song as before?"

"You can play other songs you know."

Nekoyashiki Haru said calmly.

"Try to keep it something I know so I can correct mistakes."

"Um…"

Kita Ikuyo nodded.

Nekoyashiki Haru took out his guitar.

"let's start."

"Then... then I'll try the one I recently learned... the one that Senior and I listened to last time."

"Ah."

Nekoyashiki Haru responded calmly.

Kita Ikuyo took the pick.

"Actually... I'm not sure if I'm doing it right now. How about you come over and feel it out to see if I'm doing it right..."

"You've been practicing for so long that you can't even tell the difference."

"!"

Kita Ikuyo pursed her lips and nodded.

Nekoyashiki Haru's purple eyes narrowed slightly under his sunglasses.

The pick lightly touched the strings, and the smooth notes flowed into Nekayashiki Haru's ears.

He closed his eyes and listened quietly.

Kita Ikuyo raised her yellow-green eyes and looked at Nekayashiki Haru.

Why... Today's senior feels completely different...

This feeling of alienation seems to be just for practicing guitar.

Normally, shouldn't we get along more easily?

Is it because the environment is different?

Or is it because... something really happened between you and Kikuri-senpai last night?

Click~

The pick accidentally hit the wrong string.

The purple pupils behind Nekayashiki Haru's sunglasses opened wide.

"wrong."

"Um…"

Kita Ikuyo responded.

"A mistake? Or is there something you don't understand?"

Nekayashiki Haru then asked.

"It was a mistake..."

Kita Ikuyo said.

"Then play it again."

Nekayashiki Haru answered, his tone flat.

"Ah... um."

Kita Ikuyo nodded.

She was already feeling the pressure.

It's like when you're faced with a math problem in class and the teacher calls on you to answer the question. You look at your classmates around you, but find they don't know the answer either, so you can only turn your head away helplessly. Finally, you try your best to dig out the information from the textbook from your mind and work hard to solve the math problem, but the teacher just watches calmly from the side and says nothing.

It's like this kind of pressure! The seniors are the ones who didn't go to high school! Why do they create such an oppressive feeling?

Kita Ikuyo pursed her lips, then stood up slightly, holding the chair with both hands and moving closer to Nekoyashiki Haru's position.

Nekoyashiki was startled when he heard the noise.

"Yudai?"

"Ah, well, if you get closer, you can hear better, right?"

“…It’s unnecessary.”

"It's okay to do it, isn't it?"

"... "

Nekayashikiharu's tongue lightly supported the roof of his mouth.

Yamada Ryo's words replayed in his mind.

[The expressions and gestures you don’t see when they’re with you…]

"... "

Nekoyashiki Haru narrowed her purple pupils.

Actually, I can notice it if I pay more attention, but I usually ignore it because I can't see it?

Yudai’s approaching behavior at this moment, and all the things he had done before.

Actually, it’s... quite obvious, right?

Nekoyashiki Haru closed his eyes, took off his sunglasses, and rubbed his eyebrows with his hands.

Kita Ikuyo was stunned.

"Senior? What's wrong?"

"…Headache…"

"Ugh?"

Kita Ikuyo's pupils shrank.

Could it be... could it be... a deficit?!

No, no, no! What actually happened with Kikuri-senpai is just pure speculation! I can't continue thinking in that direction!

"Shall I rub it for you?"

Kita Ikuyo stood up and reached out to rub Nekayashiki Haru's forehead, but before her hand touched Nekayashiki Haru's forehead, she was interrupted by Nekayashiki Haru's voice.

"No... Let's continue practicing. I'm fine."

Nekoyashiki Haru put on his sunglasses.

"Um…"

Kita Ikuyo sat back in her seat.

The morning was spent in Nekayashiki Haru's methodical teaching.

Click.

It was not until noon that the door of the rehearsal room was opened.

Ijichi Hongxia looked at the two of them.

"You two, come out and have something to eat."

"it is good."

Kita Ikuyo stood up and nodded, then looked at Nekoyashiki Haru next to her.

"Senior, let me help..."

"No, I can do it myself."

Nekoyashiki Haru said, then took out his blind stick and walked towards the door.

"... "

Kita Ikuyo stared blankly at Nekayashiki Haru's back, then exchanged glances with Ijichi Nikka at the door.

After Nekoyashiki Haru left completely, Ijichi Nijika walked towards Kita Ikuyo.

"How to say?"

"…Senior is truly completely different today than before."

Kita Ikuyo sighed.

"It's like my favorability has been reset to zero."

"Ugh?"

Ijichi Hongxia opened her eyes wide.

Kita Ikuyo put the pick in her pocket.

"It's just like that... well, business-like attitude."

“…As expected, it’s still related to Kikuri-senpai?”

"I think so. For example... if two people are in a relationship, it makes sense for them to keep their distance from me now."

Kita Ikuyo took out her cell phone.

"So...so what now?"

The lines in the yellow-green eyes became chaotic.

"Why don't I book a flight to England now!"

"Are you planning to run away now?!"

Ijichi Hongxia opened her eyes wide.

"Let's make a deal! Whoever loses can't quit the band."

"But that's just the two of us..."

Kita Ikuyo put down her phone in frustration.

"If Kikuri-senpai also has that intention, then it's not fair competition with us at all... She's known us for two years first..."

"Why don't I just call and ask directly."

Ijichi Hongxia took out her cell phone.

"Explode...Explode with her!"

"Don't explode! What if Kikuri-senpai answers [yes]?"

"... "

Ijichi Hongxia was stunned.

"Ijichi-senpai certainly hasn't figured out how to respond when the time comes, so..."

Kita Ikuyo took a deep breath and then spoke.