Can Lixi look at me alone?

"That's right!"

The blue-haired octopus clapped its hands and glanced casually at the lunchbox she had brought.

Hmm, Lixi is also a girl who really wants to get along with everyone. It's just that her personality is a little awkward?

A gray-haired girl with her pockets full of stones carefully knocked on the door and was then led in by Su Shi.

"This is Gao Songdeng, our lead singer!"

Lead singer...?

She barely dared to look at her, and her voice was so soft that Li Xi could barely hear her.

Can someone with this kind of personality be a lead singer?

Seemingly sensing Li Xi's doubts, Xiangzi offered an explanation.

"It's best if Xiaodeng sings the lyrics herself~"

Did she write the lyrics? Wait... do we actually have the ability to write lyrics and compose music?

"I'll take care of composing! That way, we'll all have our first song very soon!"

Su Shi clapped her hands and smiled, encouraging everyone to keep going.

Lixi felt a little uncomfortable as she straightened her school uniform.

It feels like...they've known each other for ages. I'm the only stranger...

I should take the initiative to build a good relationship with them, since they're bandmates. But... how do I bring it up?

Xiangzi and Su Shi shouldn't need her to do anything... These two people, who are called harmonious and peaceful... She had absolutely no idea what to say.

There was nothing else to do but watch them from the sidelines.

The band didn't seem that happy.

"Lixi! Show everyone how your drumming is!"

She started hitting mechanically.

"Great!"

It's far from being as harmonious as you.

Lixi looked towards the lamp, wanting to hear her sing. But the other person simply avoided her gaze like a frightened animal…

Su Shi stepped in front of her and apologized on her behalf.

"Sorry, if Xiaodeng still doesn't want to sing..."

Two stones fell out of the gray-haired girl's pocket with her movements and landed on the ground with a thud.

"It's not that I don't want to sing...! It's that... I can't make a sound..."

I feel like the lead singer and bassist are dragging down the overall level of the band.

Lixi was even a little relieved that it wasn't her, the drummer, who was holding them back.

I reached out and picked up the stone for her, then handed it back to her, hoping that this would ease her fear of me.

"Thank you, thank you... Lixi."

Is your name a lamp? With your name like this, do you really want to illuminate others?

Lixi glanced at the message notification sound coming from her phone and saw that it was Jieyue reminding her that it was time to eat.

To prevent the food from getting cold if it gets any later, since insulated lunchboxes can't keep food warm forever, Yuzuki thoughtfully reminded her to eat.

Wait... if it's lunchtime now? Maybe I could use this bento box...

Lixi looked at Su Shi, who was easier to talk to.

Have you all had dinner?

The flaxen-haired girl shook her head.

"I plan to eat after this is all over."

After all, it was their first time playing in a band...

"Me too, Hehe! What about Xiaodeng? Did she eat today?"

After seeing the lead singer shake his head, Li Xi made a decision after a brief moment of thought.

"My friend made me a bento box. But I can't eat it all by myself, so let's all eat together...?"

After all, Yuzuki fed that guy snails without a second thought, so... he probably wouldn't mind if I shared them?

"Huh? So it was made by Lixi's friend? I thought Lixi made it for everyone herself..."

Such a large bento box clearly indicates that many people share it; Xiangzi couldn't believe that it was made by a friend for Lixi to eat alone.

Lixi must have wanted to make bento boxes for everyone, but was too embarrassed to ask, so she used her friend as a shield, right?

Su Shi blinked and looked at the lunchbox containing enough tableware for six people.

There's even a spare set... Lixi is so thoughtful.

Volume 1 Crychic! : Chapter 14 Guilt

"So...so lavish!"

Looking at the twelve dishes and a large portion of rice, Deng couldn't help but exclaim in surprise. The excellent insulation layer kept the food warm.

"It really was made by my friend... Let's eat together."

Lixi, sensing that Xiangzi didn't quite believe it, emphasized it again before starting to distribute the tableware.

"Thank you... thank you..."

The lamp... seems very shy. I hope she sings very well.

"Thank you, Lixi~"

Doesn't Su Shi get tired of speaking in a high-pitched voice?

Isn't Lixi tired from making so much food?

"Thank you."

This guitarist seems the most sensible; I think Yuzuki would like this kind of person...

"Alright, I'm starting now!"

Although she felt that Xiangzi was not distant from her, it was good... at least she didn't have to worry about whether she had unintentionally hurt her or caused her to break off their friendship.

……

The aftereffects of sleep deprivation are particularly noticeable.

Without Riki-chan by her side, the pink-haired girl lay sprawled on the bed, sucking on 'Riki-chan' without any strength.

"Sorry... Riki-chan... I'm going to take a nap..."

She hugged the pillow in her arms tighter.

Unaware that the love she had given to Lixi was being shared, the girl pondered what to do that night.

She closed her eyes.

……

"tasty!"

Xiangzi threw the snail shell into the trash can.

"I thought it would be a long time before I could eat something like this again, but I never expected Lixi to..."

Mu chewed on a slice of cucumber, his golden eyes sweeping over Lixi from head to toe.

It wasn't her who did it.

Mu didn't remind Xiangzi, and silently stepped aside to play the role of an observer.

"I've said it so many times already, this really isn't..."

Tsk... I could never make something this delicious.

"Mmm, it wasn't Lixi who made it. Lixi's friend made a five-person bento for her, and then accidentally put in six sets of tableware~"

When Lixi crossed his arms and looked to the side, Xiangzi thought he was being shy. After teasing him a little, she chose not to press the matter further.

The gray-haired girl, whose thinking had been swayed by her words, believed that this was a sign that Lixi wanted to get along with them. After swallowing a piece of stewed potato that had been cooked until soft, her fear of Lixi lessened considerably.

Lixi... Lixi has already done so much, I... I can't go on like this...

She began to dare to look Li Xi in the eye.

It was a bit strange that this group of people wouldn't believe her. The drummer gave up explaining and began to enjoy the dinner that Yuzuki had personally prepared for her.

Su Shi, unusually silent, squinted her eyes. As one of only two people present who could cook, and the only one who could be considered good at cooking, only she knew how much time had been spent on each dish in this bento box.

Although most of her dishes were stews, she didn't know how to make the baked snails. But she was certain of one thing…

If Li Xi made these dishes, then she either skipped class or didn't sleep last night.

Drummer Girl

The school uniform on the screen negated the former, and the seemingly very healthy mental state negated the latter.

Su Shi chewed on the shrimp and fed Mu a piece of mutton.

No matter how amazing Lixi's cooking skills are, they can't change the course of time...

"It's delicious! I wonder how long it took Lixi's friend to make these... ah, I mean, how long did it take her to make these?"

She had a feeling that these were takeout meals from a restaurant.

"...That guy took a long time."

Su Shi's smile made Li Xi feel somewhat uncomfortable, but she couldn't quite put her finger on it... so she simply pretended not to see it.

"I see. Well, that classmate must have gone to a lot of trouble... But is it alright for Riki to share the bento she made for you with us?"

The flaxen-haired girl, who roughly understood what was going on, asked a question.

"It's okay, she... won't get angry about something like this."

Yes, after all, Lixi was made specifically for us!

Xiangzi put down his cutlery and waved to the drummer.

"I wonder if that student would be happy to share the bento she made with us?"

Will Yuzuki feel happy?

Lixi thought for a moment.

"They'll probably be happy..."

After all, Yuzuki would be happy to share with her, and these people are... more suitable to be Yuzuki's friends than herself.

Yuzuki must be really happy.

I'll ask her tomorrow if she wants to join them.

"As long as everyone's happy, that's all that matters. After all, if everyone's playing in a band together and not having fun, then there's a big problem, right?"

Mu packed up her lunchbox for her.

……

The sickly beauty, woken by the alarm clock, felt sticky and uncomfortable all over. She leaned against the wall and took a hot shower in the bathroom before feeling much better.

After turning on the coffee machine, I checked to see if Qilixi had sent me any new messages.

"Thank you for the bento, Yuzuki. It's delicious."

"I left the lunchbox at your door."

You're welcome... Lixi-chan, why are you thanking me? I'd be willing to be Lixi-chan's servant for the rest of my life.

"It's okay, Lixi, what do you want to eat tomorrow?"