Lonely Rock for the Blind

In front of the drum, Ijichi Hongxia looked at Goto Ichiri with a smile.

"You're here."

It seems... a little different?

Goto Ichiri looked around the rehearsal room.

Kita Ikuyo clasped her hands together and apologized to Goto Ichiri.

"I'm sorry, Goto-kun, I forgot to ask you to come with me today!"

Different...

Yamada Ryo nodded slightly to Goto Ichiri, then lowered his head and tuned the bass.

Different... Different...

Goto Ichiri sat down in his seat blankly.

"Ah, let's continue practicing some of our previous pieces today. The new pieces might take a while."

Ijichi Hongxia smiled gently.

"Ok!"

Kita Ikuyo nodded vigorously, her smile even brighter than usual.

Yamada Ryo remained silent.

"... "

Goto Ichiri took out a black guitar.

"Ah, is this the new guitar, Goto-kun?"

Kita Ikuyo came over and said.

"Pochi has good taste. The guitar is very handsome."

Ichichi Hongxia praised.

Yamada Ryo said nothing.

"... "

How strange...

Is...something missing?

Why is everyone so...

"Then let's start practicing!"

Ijichi Hongka raised her hand and announced.

The drums started beating, followed by the bass, and Goto Ichiri's hands began to play the guitar.

It's like muscle memory.

Playing it over and over again.

When the song ended, Ichichi Hongxia smiled.

"Good job, everyone! You're all in great form today! Then... keep going!"

Another song.

"Come on, everyone... Phew, I'm a little tired too."

Another song.

"... "

This time, Ijichi Hongxia didn't say anything, but just lowered her head and continued to beat the drums for the next song.

Practicing over and over again, Goto Ichiri's hands were dancing on the guitar strings.

So strange... Really strange...

Why is everyone...

The hand suddenly stopped, and the unplucked guitar fell into silence.

Goto Ichiri lowered his head.

"…What's wrong, Pochi?"

Ijichi Nichinaka looked at Goto Ichiri.

"Are you tired? Do you want to take a break?"

"It's okay if you want to rest. We should combine work and rest."

Kita Ikuyo said with a smile beside him.

Yamada Ryo took a deep breath and exhaled slowly.

Goto Ichiri raised his head.

The smiles of Ijichi Hikaru and Kita Ikuyo were right in front of her.

She trembled her lips and then asked.

"...Haru...where is it?"

“…”×3

Everyone looked at Goto Ichiri.

The smiles of Ijichi Nikka and Kita Ikuyo slowly disappeared at the same time.

Ijichi Hongxia sat back in her seat.

"Kitty...well, there's something..."

"…Senior, there's hope for his eyes…There seems to be a doctor who can cure them."

Kita Ikuyo said.

"Eh?"

Goto Ichiri looked at Kita Ikuyo, and then at Ijichi Nijika.

"But…"

But he didn't tell me about this yesterday.

why?

Goto Ichiri put down his guitar.

"Where have you been, Haru?"

"Ah... well, I'm going abroad for treatment."

Ijichi Hongxia explained.

"Pochi, don't think so much..."

"When are you coming back?"

Goto Ichiri looked at Ijichi Nichina and asked.

"!"

Ijichi Hongxia's red eyes trembled, and she lowered her head without saying a word.

"... "

Goto Ichiri looked at Kita Ikuyo again.

Kita Ikuyo lowered her head.

Yamada Ryo spoke at this moment.

"Several years."

"?"

Goto Ichiri stood up.

"Several years?"

"Ah."

Yamada Ryo responded.

"…but…why?"

Goto Ichiri looked around.

"Why now? You clearly...you clearly didn't tell me yesterday..."

"Because... Kitty didn't want to leave. We had to convince him yesterday."

Ichichi Hongxia explained.

"It's okay, Pochi. Koneko is going to get treatment..."

"Did he…did he tell you?"

"Eh?"

Ijichi Hongxia was stunned for a moment.

Goto Ichiri looked at Kita Ikuyo again.

"Kita-san... Haru... Haru should have said something to you yesterday. Did he say it?"

"I…"

Kita Ikuyo shuddered and then lowered her head.

“I might have wanted to say that, but…”

"unimportant."

Ijichi Hongxia spoke up and continued.

"Compared to the kitten's eyes, everything else is...unimportant."

"... "

Goto Ichiri suddenly felt an extreme feeling of nausea.

She covered her stomach and squatted down.

"Goto-san!"

Kita Ikuyo walked towards Goto Ichiri in panic.

Then Goto Ichiri stretched out a hand to stop him.

Goto Ichiri stood up.

"Where is Qing now? I can go find him..."

"Pochi."

Ichichi Hongxia opened her mouth.

"The kitten is going to be treated, don't let him..."

"no!"

Goto Ichiri said loudly.

"not like this!"

Goto Ichiri looked at everyone with his blue eyes.

"Qing, he said... he would solve the problem, so... that's why he won't leave! Because the problem hasn't been solved yet!"

"... "

Ichichi Hongxia opened her mouth, but couldn't say anything.

"Qing...wouldn't lie to me, so then...he must still be..."