They are in the music show, but I am a stranger to them

The training environment of a professional band is completely different from the friendship band that Xiangzi wants to form. Everyone who only knows how to train every day does not have much time to communicate with each other, and it is even more difficult to build a solid friendship.

For this reason, although Xiangzi agreed to get Chen Qi into the team at the beginning, as time went by, looking at everyone who was gradually accumulating pressure due to the high-intensity training, Xiangzi still had a small dispute with Chen Qi.

"Why are you so obsessed with being a professional band? Can't you see that everyone is working hard for your goal, Chen Qi? Are you even exhausted because of it?"

"Wouldn't it be nice for us to continue to get along happily like this and play in a band together for the rest of our lives? Why are you always so nervous, Chen Qi? Always so anxious? What are you so anxious about?"

"——You are so naive, Xiangzi. Do you really think that Crychic can continue like this and everyone will always be together as you wish?"

However, when Xiangzi questioned Chen Qi for the first time, she noticed the boy in front of her who was much taller than her. She showed a look of surprise at that moment, but then she refuted her righteously.

"Your ideal band for communicating emotions may exist for a while, but have you ever thought about how long this moment can last? A month? A year? Or three years?"

"Xiangzi, have you ever thought about what would happen if something unexpected happened to everyone? What's the point of this band that has no interests, no common goals, and is only maintained by friendship? If it's just for building friendship, there's no need for a band, right?"

"Have you ever thought that in the future, when you go your separate ways because of high school and university branches, and you are overwhelmed by all kinds of trivial matters, will this band still exist?"

"Xiangzi, you are the eldest daughter, you may not have such a sense of reality, but in the future, Su Shi, Li Xi, Deng, and even Xiao Mu will all have their own careers and lives."

"For a band that is only maintained by friendship, even if there are still people sticking with it, as long as one or two people leave because of trivial matters, can this band continue to exist?"

...To be honest, Xiangzi didn’t think that far.

Xiangzi even never thought about the too-long-term question of how long Crychic could exist. For this girl who was ignorant of the world and whose ideas were too idealistic, it was too difficult for her to think about separation so soon after meeting everyone.

Xiangzi didn't know how to refute Chen Qi's words, but she felt in her heart that Chen Qi was wrong... His overly utilitarian and overly realistic words were inherently incompatible with Xiangzi's ideals.

Why does he always feel that Crychic will disband?

Deng, Lixi, Sushi, Xiaomu… They were all the ones he had found with great difficulty, and he thought they were the most compatible group. How could they be as fragile as Chen Qi said? Who among them would take the initiative to propose disbanding the band?

Of course, what made Xiangzi feel even more uncomfortable was the implicit words of Chen Qi, which showed his pessimism about the "friendship" with the band that she was trying so hard to maintain, as well as his indifference to the views and opinions of all the band members.

It was as if all of this was not as important as his goal of being a professional band.

Why did he feel that a band couldn't survive on friendship alone?

In his eyes, are everyone in Crychic so vulnerable?

However, perhaps it was Xiangzi's overly obvious change in expression that forced Chen Qi to notice this young lady who was about to explode. After a long silence, Chen Qi said to Xiangzi with a bit of solemnity:

"Xiangzi... my words may not sound nice, but if you are here just to gain friendship and more beautiful things, then Crychic doesn't really need to exist."

"It's not too late to turn back now. I promise that even if you don't form a band, you can still find a way to maintain your friendship."

"Don't wait until the future, when we are really familiar with each other and can't bear to part, to tell everyone that Crychic can no longer be maintained..."

“——We won’t disband!”

However, Chen Qi's last words once again irritated Xiangzi. This young lady, who was always good-tempered and gentle and polite to everyone, lost her temper for the first time and revealed her unyielding character that she was hiding, even without even knowing it.

In the end, the first debate between Xiangzi and Chen Qi, the two absolute core members of Crychic, ended in a bad mood.

That day, Xiangzi returned home angrily and locked himself in his room. Xiangzi was not convinced but didn't know how to refute Chen Qi's words, so he chose to vent his dissatisfaction on the soft pillow and bedding.

Fortunately, as the apple of her parents' eye, Xiangzi did not stay alone for too long. Soon, she was comforted by the two people who loved her most.

"——I think that the kid named Chen Qi is right?"

In Xiangzi's room, Mr. and Mrs. Fengchuan came to care for their daughter because they saw her angry. After hearing what their daughter said, Mr. Fengchuan rubbed Xiangzi's head, met Xiangzi's puzzled eyes, and gently replied:

"Xiangzi, don't forget that Chen Qi is three years older than you. He is already a senior in high school, and he has risked his future in college to join you in this bet on the band. How dare you ask him not to care about the future of the band? You are really being too unfair to him, aren't you?" Si

"I..." Xiangzi, who realized this belatedly, was speechless after hearing his father's words, and Mr. Fengchuan continued:

"What's more, for a boy of his age, career is the most important thing. He is not like you, Xiangzi, who was born in the Toyokawa family. He is just an ordinary person. If he wants to change his fate, all he can do is work hard."

"Just like your father and I, if I didn't know anything at the beginning, do you think your mother and I could still get married?"

Xiangzi had heard about his parents' marriage many times from them and other elders in the Toyokawa family.

My father was originally born in an ordinary family, but he discovered his talent and interest in music in his childhood. With the support of his family, he persisted and formed a well-known band in high school. He also became a representative and went to Tsukinomori High School for exchange performances.

It was from that day that my parents met for the first time, and things started to go wrong from then on.

What happened later was rather complicated as Xiangzi knew. Although his parents said that they fell in love at first sight, the elders in the family said that they had been through a lot of trouble. But in the end, under the pressure of the family, his father managed to overcome it, successfully gained the recognition of the Toyokawa family, and became a son-in-law of the family.

——Although, since her birth, her father no longer spent his energy on the music he loved in the past, but devoted himself wholeheartedly to her and her mother, but as a person who has experienced it, he understands the importance Chen Qi attaches to his career.

However, this was not what Xiangzi wanted to hear.

"Dad, you're off topic, aren't you? Xiangzi's worries now are completely different from what we were worried about back then."

Mrs. Toyokawa realized that her daughter's upset was not caused by this, so she took Xiangzi's hand with a gentle smile and asked him softly:

"Xiangzi, the reason you are angry is that you think that kid named Chen Qi is ignoring your feelings for his own purposes, right?"

"...Yeah." In front of his mother, Xiangzi behaved more like a troubled child. He leaned lightly on his mother's shoulder and answered in a slightly grouchy tone:

"Mom, am I... putting the ⒏￡鵡<_qi∥六路【]３▲〕⑷∨↑泀㈡昭】樹§∧裙＠?: He thinks too badly?"

"It's not just because you think badly of him, Xiangzi, you may have completely wronged him." Mrs. Toyokawa also scratched the nose of her daughter who was protected too well, and after seeing Xiangzi's puzzled eyes, she said gently:

"If that kid really didn't care about you, why would he go to all that trouble to do all this? And why would he lead you towards becoming a professional band?"

"He's worried that your band, which is sustained by friendship, won't last long. Isn't everything he does just to make the band last longer and keep you two together?"

"——Of course, Mom, when I say this, Xiangzi, you definitely don't have a real feeling. After all, Mom and Dad have never had that child, so the judgment may not be completely accurate, right?"

However, Mrs. Toyokawa, who knew her daughter's character too well, gave Xiangzi a method that was most suitable for him despite his still puzzled look.

"Then Xiangzi, observe that kid for a while. Put aside your first impression and pay more attention to the other side that you don't usually notice. Carefully observe his attitude towards everyone in this band."

"When the time comes, your heart will naturally make a fair judgment."

...The other side that I don’t pay attention to?

In the past, Xiangzi always regarded himself as the backbone of the band because he was the first to mention the founder of Crychic. In Xiangzi's view, Chen Qi was the one who led everyone towards the goal of a professional band, and he was the only one who had been trying his best to ease the tense atmosphere of the band and the tiredness of everyone.

But is this really the case?

Following the advice his mother gave him, the next day, Xiangzi came to "RiNG" as usual, but he no longer regarded himself as the backbone of the band. Instead, he chose to observe Chen Qi from a third perspective and how he got along with everyone.

After observing for a while, Xiangzi had to admit that his mother was right.

Starting from the day after he and Chen Qi had quarreled, Chen Qi had quietly adjusted the originally high-intensity training. He no longer used the set of what he called "the plan he got from an old band senior" to demand everyone. Just like Xiangzi said, it allowed everyone to communicate more and spend more time together.

What completely changed Xiangzi's opinion of Chen Qi was that later on, he won back Shiina Riki, who suddenly exploded for some unknown reason.

Although Xiangzi and everyone else didn't know what happened between them, and Lixi never mentioned how Chen Qi convinced her to return to the band, Xiangzi still noticed that when Chen Qi came to "RiNG" the next day, there was an extra bandage on his neck.

As for Nagasaki Suyo, who, like Lixi, has a slightly inferior musical talent compared to everyone else, Xiangzi is worried that she will have an emotional outburst like Lixi, so he also made a special trip to talk to Chen Qi about this matter.

However, Chen Qi at that time gave her a very firm answer:

"Don't worry. If there's anyone who doesn't want Crychic to disband, then Su Shi is definitely one of them. Her mother is usually very busy, and Su Shi would feel bored and lonely at home alone. She is actually quite happy to stay with us for training like this."

...Even I don’t know the situation of the Su family, why would Chen Qi know?

Could it be that he had already discussed this with Su Shi before he knew about it? After all, if Su Shi hadn't said it himself, Chen Qi wouldn't have known about such a private topic, right?

Why had I never paid attention to all this? I had always been comforting everyone, caring about their emotions, and trying to encourage them to get through this devilish training.

But in the end... did I really solve any problems? Did I really know everyone in the band like he did?

This thought popped up in Xiangzi's mind for the first time...and it also made her feel for the first time that what she had done for this band was not enough.

It was clearly he who proposed to establish this band, but he did not do as much as Chen Qi in terms of improving the band's level or solving everyone's problems. He also kept contradicting him and even misunderstood what he did.

Up to this point, she and Chen Qi had been in a "cold war" for a week. Her words back then... must have caused great harm to Chen Qi, right?

I have to apologize to him.

However, just when Xiangzi made up her mind and wanted to find an opportunity to apologize to Chen Qi, she didn't expect that Chen Qi actually found her first and broke the week-long indifference between them.

However, the questions that Chen Qi raised with her were even more unexpected for Xiangzi.

"…Why, Chen Qi, do you want to know something about Xiao Mu?"

"How should I put it... Because I feel like Xiaomu has been trying very hard to get along with everyone in Crychic. Except for you, Xiangzi, Deng, Lixi, and Su Shi, Xiaomu doesn't communicate much. I'm worried that if Xiaomu continues to be lonely like this, she won't have any sense of belonging to Crychic."

Speaking of her childhood sweetheart, whom she was very familiar with, Chen Qi, who had only known Mu for half a month and whose number of contacts could be counted on five fingers, actually showed an attitude of caring more about Mu than she did, and said with an embarrassed look:

"So, I want to write a song for Xiaomu, a song that suits her mood, just like your wish to form this band, Xiangzi, so that Xiaomu can also be in this band and leave a good memory."

"But... I don't know much about Mu, so I hope you can help me."

"Xiangzi, you and Mu are childhood sweethearts, and even grew up together, right? I hope you can tell me something about Xiaomu, so that I can write some songs suitable for her based on her state of mind."

...Even Mu, he has never ignored him?

To be honest, even Xiangzi, her childhood sweetheart, couldn't do this. Although she grew up with Mu, Mu had always responded to almost all requests from her only friend.

When forming Crychic this time, Xiangzi also made up her mind and immediately asked Mu to join. Thinking about it carefully, she didn't even pay attention to what Mu thought about her decision at that time.

0Perhaps it was because they were too familiar with each other, or perhaps it was because Mu always responded to her requests that made her ignore this point...But now, Chen Qi's performance was indeed more concerned about what Mu was thinking than her childhood sweetheart.

However, we have been friends for such a long time, but I have never thought of writing a song for my friend.

For a moment, Xiangzi felt a strong sense of failure in her heart, which made her lower her head involuntarily and apologize to Chen Qi from the bottom of her heart:

Temple: “…I’m sorry.”

⑵ "Huh? What's sorry?" Chen Qi was a little slow to react. He looked at Xiangzi who was abruptly apologizing to him and asked subconsciously.

㈨ "...I, at that time, thought that you, Chen Qi, didn't care about everyone in the band, didn't care about everyone's feelings, and only forced everyone to move forward for your own career."

〇 "But now, I finally understand... You've always been paying attention to everyone, even more than I do, caring about everyone in the band."

As he said this, Xiangzi also showed a bitter smile to Chen Qi. That expression seemed to express the helplessness and conviction of "I really lost to you". He asked Chen Qi from the bottom of his heart:

"Chen Qi, I... want to ask you a question. Please answer me truthfully."

"You... have you been worried from the beginning that Crychic would disband? You are afraid that if Crychic disbands one day in the future, everyone familiar with it will be hurt, so you hope that this band will continue to exist, right?"

These words were all guesses that his mother had once told him. Xiangzi now handed these words to Chen Qi, hoping that the boy could give him an answer that would put his mind at ease.

“…Are you telling the truth?”

However, facing Xiangzi's sudden series of questions and looking at Xiangzi's curious and serious gaze, Chen Qi, after a brief silence, gave Xiangzi an answer that surprised her greatly.

"I am very worried that Crychic will disband, and I am even more worried that the day this band disbands will bring trauma to everyone."

"But, compared to this, I'm actually more worried about you, Xiangzi."

"--I?!"

However, when Chen Qi pointed the finger at her, Xiangzi was stunned for a moment, then her slightly red cheeks immediately revealed an unhappy expression, and she complained, "I'm serious!"

"I'm serious, too." But Chen Qi also chuckled and shook his head. Xiangzi felt his direct gaze and felt his cheeks getting hotter and hotter... His heart was in a mess and he didn't know what to do.

But before Xiangzi could think too much, Chen Qi gave him the answer that he had been worried about.

"Xiangzi, you are right. Deng, Lixi, Su Shi and Xiaomu, they don't seem like the kind of girls who would quit because of their own pressure. But, you forgot to consider yourself, Xiangzi."

"…Although my words may sound alarmist, I am really worried that as the founder of Crychic and the backbone of the band, if you ever think of quitting the band, Crychic will probably be ruined."⒏

"This band, anyone who leaves can probably find someone to replace them, but you, Xiangzi, are special." 5

"...Chen Qi, are you worried that I will be the first person to quit Crychic?"

However, looking at the worried Chen Qi and listening to his mumblings that revealed a strong sense of uneasiness and lack of confidence for some reason, Xiangzi completely understood that he was really worried that he would leave.

Seeing Chen Qi, who was usually the most ruthless and selfless in the band and even more strict during training, actually showing such a worried look in front of him, Xiangzi couldn't help but smile a little after a brief shock, and waved his hand and replied: 6

"What are you thinking? Why should I quit Crychic? I really want us to be together forever."

"Compared to me, Chen Qi, you should pay more attention to yourself. You must have spent a lot of time worrying about Li Xi's affairs recently. You have to be busy with the band's affairs every day, and you also have to write lyrics and compose music. Chen Qi, it would be better for you to take a rest."

"——I'll be fine." Chen Qi listened to Toyokawa Shoko smiling again, but his expression did not relax at all. Instead, he became more uneasy. He smiled bitterly and replied:

"Xiangzi, I'm more worried about you. I...I know I'm exaggerating, but your life has been too smooth. I'm worried that you can't stand the hardship."

"Really? Chen Qi really underestimates me, doesn't he? You are only three years older than me, why do I feel like a fragile glass vase in your eyes?"

Xiangzi laughed in silence. She should have blamed Chen Qi for his baseless stereotype of her, but for some reason, she couldn't get angry when she heard his sincere words of concern for her. She replied half-jokingly:

"If Chen Qi is so worried about me, why not just observe me from a different angle like me and keep an eye on my every move~" Q

"I will definitely change your opinion of me, Chen Qi. I am not a fragile vase, nor am I someone who can be easily crushed." U

Really, what a worrier.

Obviously, he is worried about everyone in the band and is more afraid of separation than anyone else, but why does he always act so ruthless and urge everyone to move forward? :

If I had said these words earlier, I might not have had so many misunderstandings about him.

No, I'm afraid everyone in Crychic is just like me, misunderstanding him because of his strictness, right?