Will the plagiarism girl be a substitute for the preference for women?

Aine didn't like it either; the atmosphere during practice was too serious.

If there's something that could motivate her to join the band...

That must be Chika.

A person who is not particularly well-off, a person with a mental illness, yet still performs exceptionally well in language and music.

A person standing beside them, fearing that their brilliance will be stolen away, and unconsciously wanting to chase after them.

A person I admire.

...a person who is very dependent on himself.

And there's also Deng, who's right beside me, having experienced the band's disbandment and hoping for its reunion.

As she was thinking this, Aine looked at the lamp, and the latter couldn't help but meet her gaze with innocent eyes.

Less than a second later, the lamp quickly looked away and said shyly:

"Xiao Aiyin is right. I always stay silent when there are conflicts among everyone."

"I should also be the one to comfort others more often."

"Mm." Aine nodded with a smile.

Perhaps I could try playing in a band for a few days first.

However, after saying goodbye to the lamp, her smile gradually disappeared.

Not everyone has the cost of trial and error.

Some people might simply fall behind the pace during practice, but after being scolded, they become deeply self-blaming and unable to pull themselves out of it.

Aine fears that the mistaken belief she had that night that China was going to commit suicide will one day become a reality.

So she dialed Chika's number.

……

"Actually, I'm not really interested in bands."

Chapter 95 I want to make you... a little happier

After indicating that she was not interested in the band, Aine also expressed the same sentiment.

China vaguely sensed Aine's hesitation and slowly confirmed it:

"What does Xiao Aiyin mean?"

On the tram, Aine did not sit down in the empty seat, but stood very upright, just as she would when she was about to express her views.

"I think if you don't particularly want to form a band, your illness is more important."

"Let alone bands that are performing, when I was in a band in the student council, the pressure of rehearsing was also quite high as the performance approached."

"I just heard Deng say that Li Xi takes the band very seriously, and I guess he will have high expectations for everyone as the performance approaches."

"It's nothing. I'm just worried... that Chizuru might not be able to handle it."

Aine's words seemed to place China in a swaddling cradle of meticulous care, hoping to protect her from harm.

Although she realized that these words were too concerned, China, despite being a patient, was also an excellent person in many ways, perhaps much stronger than she imagined.

But Aine still insisted on her own opinion: if there was no need to form a band, then China shouldn't make things difficult for herself.

"I understand, thank you for your concern, Xiao Aiyin..."

China walked to her bedside and took out the note she had read repeatedly from the bedside table.

Living inevitably involves pressure and blame, but these can be avoided as much as possible, especially for someone with mental health issues.

However, it was precisely because of her illness that she became obsessed with the contents of the note, forcing herself to fulfill them, regardless of whether she had the desire to.

Unless someone connected to the note is willing to step forward and resolve this knot in her heart, it will be difficult for China to let go of this obsession.

Tell me what happened.

China held the note in both hands, tilted her head back, closed her eyes, and tried to call out to another voice in her heart, praying for her response.

Once you've let go of this obsession that has nothing to do with your own will, would you still have the idea of ​​forming a band with the people you care about?

A question, ethereal and echoing, came to mind.

I long for their attention; I hope to no longer be alone; and for that, I must fulfill their wishes.

They wanted to form a band, and in order to keep them, I probably chose to agree.

Among the people you care about, there are also those who insist on forming a band. What would you choose?

China stared at Aine's profile picture during the call, her eyes gradually narrowing.

Then, it slowly opened its mouth.

"I'll try forming a band for a few days first. If I can't adapt, I'll choose to quit..."

"But doing this will hurt them, won't it?"

"It was my oversight. Maybe I should have thought about forming a band more carefully from the beginning. In the end, I had to ask Xiao Aiyin to remind me."

China slowly walked to the restroom, looked in the mirror, as if scrutinizing herself.

After a moment of silence, the person on the other end of the phone also shared their opinion.

"I was the one who mainly initiated the band formation, so Chika shouldn't always blame herself..."

"Moreover, the band has not been officially formed yet. The reason we meet before forming the band is to get to know each other and determine whether we can get along well before deciding whether to join."

After hearing this, Qian Nai seemed to understand.

"So, instead of quitting after officially forming a team, it's better to decide whether to join now, so as to cause less harm to others... Is that what you mean?"

As she spoke, China felt a sense of urgency as she was about to face a choice.

Aine's next words made Chinatsu relax a little.

"That's not necessarily true. Just like what Chika said, we can try forming a band for a few days first, and then choose to leave before everyone develops a deep attachment to the band."

Aine knew that what she said wasn't entirely accurate; this was more true for people who formed bands temporarily to make money and didn't know each other well.

She said that just to make China feel less pressured.

In this pre-formed band, there are three members who have faced the disbandment of the band. China and Sose also have a relationship that Aine doesn't know about, but that she can't help but feel at times.

Aine admits that she is actually an outsider.

While she was making this self-assessment, China also frankly said, "Su Shi really wants me to join the band. She said she would try her best to negotiate with Li Xi so that I can stay in the band."

Sure enough, this band needs Chika.

Aine was certain of this in her heart.

Not only Su Shi, but also Tama seems to need China because China has the shadow of Shoko.

As an outsider, she shouldn't interfere too much, but rather let things take their course.

But... should we just let China fall into unpredictable situations as she is?

Their dedication to the band should perhaps give way to the well-being of China, who suffers from mental illness.

Ultimately, it was my own fault; I shouldn't have been so enthusiastic about forming a band.

However, if we do that, we won't be able to take care of the lights.

It's really hard to please everyone...

In response, Ai Yin has tentatively devised a plan.

"China, isn't Golden Week coming soon?"

"Just tell me you're busy these next few days, and I'll test the waters for you first. After all, four people can rehearse, right?"

"I plan to get to know Lixi better through these rehearsals, and then communicate with her more to see if she's willing to treat you better."

"If it doesn't work out..."

If it's not going to work out, you shouldn't join the band. The second half of that sentence was left unsaid by Ai Yin.

Since China didn't join the band, can I, as an outsider, bring the same impact to the band as China or Shoko did back then?

She unilaterally insisted that China join the band, yet she was unable to take responsibility for the missing members...

That's very selfish.

But she selfishly wanted to let China live an easy life.

"Then let's do it the way Xiao Aiyin suggested."

Chinatsu really does plan to get a thorough check-up during Golden Week and then talk to a psychologist.

Aine did not choose to back down, but instead wanted to help herself while taking care of everyone else.

I'm going to have to trouble Aine again.

But without Ai-yin, she felt lost and helpless.

"I truly feel that I can't live without love..."

"Stop, wait a minute..."

Feeling an invisible force of gravity on her body, Ai-yin called for a stop in time.

"I have something to do, so I'll leave it at that for now."

"Ah."

……

After hanging up the phone, China vaguely felt a strange gaze upon her.

But there was no one else in the restroom except myself.

When she looked up and met her reflection in the mirror...

"what!"

China was so frightened that she clung tightly to the wall.

The other self in the mirror did not move in sync with my own.

Instead, he crossed his arms and looked at himself with a wait-and-see attitude.

"Come closer," Chizuru said calmly in the mirror.

China held her pounding heart and cautiously approached herself.

Suddenly, China stepped out of the mirror frame and embraced China.

And he kissed her.

While China was still in a daze, the mirror image whispered in her ear:

"This is your life."

"There's no need to dwell on the past represented by the note, and no need to hold onto any more obsessions."

"Live freely according to your own will."

As soon as he finished speaking, the illusion vanished.

She looked normal again in the mirror.

China gently touched her lips.

That feeling is still vivid in my mind.

Suddenly, footsteps sounded outside the door, accompanied by a familiar voice.

"China, I'm back! You can come downstairs after I finish cooking~"

"Oh...Okay."

Chapter 96 So... that's how we ended up in bed?

Turn on the tap and let the flowing water run through your fingertips. Suddenly bring your palms together, cup a stream of water, and splash it on your face, rubbing it repeatedly to wash away the invisible dust that has accumulated on your skin during the day.

China usually does this step before going to sleep at night.