Lonely Rock for the Blind

"I...I don't think I performed well..."

Kita Ikuyo said.

"I say, do you all have to imitate other people's expressions..."

Nekoyashiki Haru, who had been listening from the beginning, said as he molded the "Pochi clay" on the ground into a human shape.

"Hey? Kitty, you didn't say anything just now. I thought you were asleep."

Ichichi Hongxia said.

"I've been listening."

After helping Goto Ichiri up, Nekayashiki Haru looked at the others.

"There's no need to copy other people's expressions. If you blindly pursue the standard of 'good', you'll lose your most important individuality."

Yamada Ryo was slightly stunned.

Nekoyashiki Haru continued.

"People with different personalities should just express their individuality. A band is about bringing together people with diverse personalities to create unified, moving music."

Nekayashiki Haru helped Goto Ichiri walk towards the others.

"We're just taking a group photo. There's no need to pursue anything else. Just take a group photo."

"... "

Ijichi Hongxia blinked, then looked at the others.

"Sorry everyone, I seemed a little obsessed with taking nice pictures just now."

"It's okay, we are the same."

Kita Ikuyo shook her head.

"Let's hold hands and jump up and take a picture."

Yamada Ryo suggested.

"I think it's great! Everyone, just make your most comfortable expression!"

Ijichi Hongxia raised her hands and cheered.

Click!

The flash lights flickered as the four people jumped, freezing their figures.

Nekoyashiki Haru listened to this voice.

Can you see some color...

A new band...

It's not the kind of strange thing where they have different purposes, quarrel every day, break up and get back together again.

There's no grand talk about telling others to take charge of their lives, no exploitation of everyone else for profit, and no band built on guilt and twisted emotions.

"Looking forward to it..."

Nekoyashiki Haru said softly.

"What to expect?"

Beside her, Ijichi Hongka's voice suddenly rang out.

"Yeah? What are you looking forward to, Nekayashiki-senpai?"

On the other side, Kita Ikuyo's hand was holding Nekayashiki Haru.

Several other people also came up and brought Nekayashiki Haru to the red wall.

"Wait a minute, I'm not a band member and shouldn't be in a photo like this."

"We're not taking a band photo right now. Like you said, we're just taking a group photo."

Ijichi Hongxia said with a smile, then pressed the time-lapse camera button and ran quickly towards the red wall.

"Make room!"

"Ah, Ijichi-senpai, please come to my place."

"Move over a little, little cat. You're crowding me."

"Wait, Yili, you're too far away, come here!"

Click!

The last photo of the day was taken with a click.

In the photo, Nekayashiki Haru was squeezed by Ijichi Nijika and Kita Ikuyo, with Yamada Ryo and Goto Ichiri on both sides respectively. Yamada Ryo made a "yeah" gesture, but still had no expression on his face, while Goto Ichiri tried hard to raise his head and looked directly at the camera with a painful expression.

“The photo is a bit messy.”

Kita Ikuyo said.

“But I think it’s great!”

Ijichi Hongxia said with a smile.

"I like this one."

Yamada Ryo said, then looked at Nekoyashiki Haru.

"But you can't see it."

"Hey! Ryo!"

Yidizhi Hongxia said dissatisfiedly.

"…Um…"

Nekoyashiki Haru smiled and nodded softly.

"I can't see...but I've seen enough."

Nekoyashiki Haru said in a soft voice.

Everyone was stunned for a moment, and then they all smiled subconsciously.

The group didn't say anything else, but walked towards the restaurant.

...

……

.........

And then... I met "that thing"...

Under the dark bridge that was the only way to get there, a pale hand slowly stretched out.

“Ugh…Ugh…Ughhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!!!”

Then it made the same sound as a zombie.

“Aa ...

The three people, red, yellow and pink, screamed at the same time.

Yamada Ryo frowned.

"Run! There's a zombie crisis! Run to the west, that's where my secret base is!"

"…No…"

Nekoyashiki Haru twitched his lips.

You can smell the strong smell of alcohol from about 10 meters away.

"Ah... probably... a living person."

Nekoyashiki Haru said with a sigh.

Chapter 29: Drunkard

“Hey hey hey… hey hey hey hey…”

The group looked at the twisted creature lying on the ground in front of them and fell silent.

Her wine-red hair, the excessive redness of her face, and the wine boxes scattered around her had already exposed her identity as a drunkard.

"...Let's go. It's getting late and the restaurant is about to close."

Kita Ikuyo said expressionlessly as he looked at the others.

"...Yeah...that's true. Let's go."

Ijichi Hongxia nodded expressionlessly.

"Wait a minute, wait a minute! Little Hongxia! Sister Hongxia, you know me, right? Don't be so heartless and leave me here! Let me buy you a drink?"

"No! I won't drink! And I don't know a useless adult like Kikuri-senpai!"

"Quack! Why are you a useless adult?"

The woman named Hiroi Kikuri had a sad face.

"I'm the lead singer and bassist of a really great indie band! I'm not some useless adult!"

"Well, it's really great."

Yamada Ryo nodded.

"I still remember your performance that seemed to pollute the entire audience with wine!"

Yamada Ryo walked forward with shining eyes.

“I’ve actually always been a fan of yours!”

"Oh? Oh! Hello, fans!"

Hiroi Kikuri smiled and shook hands with Yamada Ryo.

"What a terrifying band member... No... I can't call him a band member anymore, right? I can only call him a kind of sticky creature that relies on the band, a band creature?"

Goto Ichiri muttered to himself in a voice that only he could hear.

"Um, I heard you guys are having a dinner party? Can you take me along? Hahaha..."

"whispering sound!"

Yamada Ryo suddenly shook off Hiroi Kikuri's hand, took a few steps back, and then began to swing his fists left and right.

"Huh? Huh? Miss Fan, what's wrong with you?"

"I thought it was just a chance encounter, but I didn't expect you to be trying to steal my food? Well, there's nothing more to say. Let's duel!"

"Huh? Am I... am I planning to grab some food?"

"I think so, because you look like a poor guy who is only here to eat. It's natural that Ryo-senpai would be wary."

Kita Ikuyo nodded.

"Why...why is this happening...why do you all think I'm broke?! I'm very rich! Really!"

Hiroi Kikuri took out the wallet from her pocket, opened it suddenly and turned it over, and then a few coins fell out.

"... "

Hiroi Kikuri was silent.

"... "

The others looked as if it was a matter of course.

"Ahahaha... I... I seem to have forgotten that I broke the equipment yesterday... Wait... Wait! I'm usually very rich! Don't leave yet! Take me with you! I'll pay you back later!"

Yamada Ryo shook his head.

"No one can trust what the borrower says."

"Believe me!"

Hiroi Kikuri said in a mournful voice.