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

"Now, you are free."

"..."

Yeah...I'm free.

But this freedom came from failure.

I didn't change anything... No, even because of my intervention, everything seems to have become worse, isn't it? Perhaps, I was wrong from the beginning. I thought I could change everything in my own way, but now it seems that I am probably the most unsuccessful time traveler who knows the plot, right?

I'm so... sorry for messing up your lives and changing nothing.

So, starting from this day, let's start all over again. I will no longer appear in your lives until the next plot, and each of you will find your own happiness again.

Until then, I will be a stranger to you...

Chapter 2: Reunion after half a year? The song Chen Qi gave to Xiangzi?

"beep--"

With a sharp whistle, Xiangzi, who was trapped in the nightmare of the past, was suddenly awakened. In an instant, all the past events that she still remembered vividly in the dream were shattered like glass.

What appeared before Xiangzi's eyes instead was the familiar neon lights of Tokyo shrouded in darkness, the suffocating tall buildings, and every passerby with tired or confused looks on their faces, walking through the streets like zombies.

All of this seemed so normal. This kind of life had been playing out in Tokyo every day for the past ten years. But this was all half a year ago. Xiangzi, who had not yet suffered a major blow to his family and did not need to worry about his daily food, clothing, housing and transportation, could never experience this.

Half a year ago... just a few days before Xiangzi insisted on quitting the band, her family suffered an unexpected disaster, which caused her, who used to live a life like a goddess and even had the chance to experience life with everyone in the band, to decline into a strong woman who has to shoulder the burden of the family prematurely - even though she is just a high school student.

This also made Xiangzi, who used to be indifferent to worldly affairs, experience the ups and downs of the world in the six months since she left the band, which she had never experienced in her previous sixteen years of life. These hardships, bitterness, and loneliness have tempered her mind and made it completely different from the past.

The naive and weak self of the past has long since died. Now Xiangzi knows very well that she must go all out to improve her family environment and take back everything she has lost with her own hands. Only then can she hold her head high and live with dignity.

Only in this way can she have the confidence to say "I'm sorry" to her former friends... and only in this way can she treat all the bitterness she has experienced as a thing of the past and confess it to them honestly.

Especially, the "him" who was misunderstood by everyone was found...

Thinking of this, Xiangzi, who was sitting on the bench, took out his mobile phone unconsciously and skillfully opened his emails, the chat record at the top with the note "Chen Qi".

[Xiangzi: Chen Qi, can we meet? I want to tell you alone why I left the band.]

…This was the last chat record between Xiangzi and Chen Qi half a year ago. She struggled for several hours, but ultimately could not escape the condemnation of her conscience, and sent this very unusual message to the person she felt the most sorry for.

But in the end, Xiangzi was unable to meet Chen Qi as he wished, and did not even wait for Chen Qi's reply.

It was not until later that she learned the truth from her good friend Mu, who seemed to have changed his calling card after he left the band.

From then on, Xiangzi never saw his "genius" friend again. He was the band's most solid backer and the only one who wrote lyrics and composed music for the band.

But now, Xiangzi wants to find him, she wants to tell him in person that she still wants to realize the dream of "professional band" with him again!

Xiangzi, who had never been pressed by life in the past, didn't understand why Chen Qi was always so anxious. He seemed to be uneasy all the time, always afraid of something... Facing everyone in the band who were having fun, he was always so serious, urging everyone to practice more. Even for this reason, Xiangzi, Lixi and others who did not understand Chen Qi's sense of urgency at the time, argued with Chen Qi more than once.

And every time when the argument came to an end, whenever Xiangzi asked Chen Qi questions like, "Why are you so obsessed with professional bands? Aren't the people now good enough?", Chen Qi would always be slightly speechless, then reveal a helpless smile and explain softly:

"That's great...but it's precisely because everyone is so nice that I want to do everything I can to keep this beauty going for as long as possible."

In the past, Xiangzi did not understand what Chen Qi said. However, now, after experiencing the ups and downs of life, Xiangzi's vision is completely different from the past, and he deeply understands the meaning behind Chen Qi's words.

Dreams cannot be eaten. They will eventually graduate and grow up. Even if she hadn't left the band, after a few years, when they all graduated and went their separate ways, would a band that was brought together just out of interest still be able to continue?

No, this is unrealistic. If you want a band to last long and never be separated, interests are an inevitable part. Even if everyone doesn't care about it today, there will definitely be many disputes over this issue in the future.

Is this why Chen Qi was so anxious to get everyone on the path of a professional band? We always have to be independent. Only when we have reached a consensus on hobbies, personalities and interests can we stay together for a long time... Chen Qi was a few years older than everyone else, and he understood this at the time, but they, who had no worries about food and clothing, could not see through this, and instead mistakenly thought that he was a heartless person...

"Well now, I will inherit your dream, Chen Qi, let me be the next you."

"This time, I will do as you said. I will form a band that can become professional as quickly as possible and realize profitability as soon as possible. By that time, our new band will no longer be like Crychic..."

Only then can I hold my head high and go meet you with confidence. If that day really comes, I will never let your feelings be misunderstood for the second time.

Of course, deep in Toyokawa Shoko's heart, there is actually a very deep wish hidden - that is, if she has a new band in the future, can she try to invite Chen Qi to join again?

As the former founder of Crychic and the one who personally persuaded Chen Qi to join the band, Xiangzi knew all too well that Chen Qi was talented in writing lyrics and composing music. In addition, Chen Qi's goal was to make the band professional, so from practice to rehearsal for public performances, everyone in the band began to focus on Chen Qi and started to work hard.

He can always point out the problems in the band's coordination, just to make the music he created present a better performance. Obviously, when we are together in normal times, he never argues or quarrels with everyone, but when it comes to music, he is often strict and everyone complains...

She, Deng, and Mu are all fine... Well, although Xiangzi doesn't want to brag, she is aware of her musical talent. She formed the band just out of interest and didn't really think that everyone's talents are on the same level as hers. Only Mu's ability can really keep up with hers, right?

As for Deng... Considering the relationship between her and Chen Qi, it was reasonable for Chen Qi to take extra care of Deng, so he would be a little gentler. But Xiangzi still remembered more than once that after everyone's training was over, Chen Qi was alone with Deng, constantly giving Deng special training and encouragement.

Li Xi and Su Shi suffered. To be honest, Xiangzi felt that they were both talented, but it was a bit difficult for them to keep up with Chen Qi's pace.

Su Shi was easy to deal with. Although she was a little tired at times, she basically seemed to be enjoying it. Li Xi was a little troublesome. This was probably why Li Xi had an emotional outburst towards Chen Qi at the end. As a drummer, she was under too much pressure.

So, if the new band I form in the future is on the same level as myself, then... is it possible for Chen Qi to come back?

"No, this is unrealistic." Xiangzi stared at his palm silently. When this thought just flashed through his mind, he couldn't help but sneered a few times and muttered to himself:

"Because of my incident, Chen Qi suffered so much criticism at the time that he even changed his phone card. It was clear that he didn't want to see us again, wasn't it?"

"I haven't formed a new band yet, so I don't have the confidence to go to him rashly."

"Besides, I have no way to contact him now..."

When she thought of this, Xiangzi's heart, which had been beating faster because of her faint expectation, calmed down as if a bucket of cold water was poured on it. Facing her plan that was still far away, Xiangzi silently clenched her fists - she couldn't wait any longer and had to take action now.

"After I get home, I'll call her first to confirm... As long as I explain clearly, she should agree to it."

"Well, let's do this. Go home first, take care of the stinky dad, and then contact Mu."

Because of this dream, Xiangzi recalled her past. After half a year, she finally adapted to her current environment. She finally had enough energy to start her next goal while protecting her family.

And this time, her purpose was clearer than ever. She would quickly form a team that could reach a consensus on interests, and then slowly cultivate mutual feelings and team harmony. Only after everything in the team was stable would she go to find Chen Qi...

Of course, whether he could find him was another matter. After all, it was still a question whether Chen Qi was still in Tokyo.

With such thoughts in mind, Xiangzi finally stood up from the bench and walked towards the tram station. Since her family fell into poverty, Xiangzi's home moved from the best area in Tokyo to Akabane, the northernmost part of Tokyo... The public security there was not good, and it was far away from where she worked. As a girl, Xiangzi really didn't dare to go home alone too late.

"I slept for a long time. Am I too tired? I hope my dad will be asleep by the time I get back..."

Xiangzi rubbed his tired eyes and walked forward muttering to himself, but at this moment, a scenery not far away attracted Xiangzi's attention.

The crowd in front of him was so conspicuous on this commercial street. However, inside the circle, there was no platform or exaggerated banners. Xiangzi could only hear the faint sound of guitar coming from it.

"...Street performance? That's really cool."

Perhaps because this was in line with her hobby, Xiangzi couldn't help but stop for a moment, but she didn't plan to stay too long. After all, judging by Xiangzi's appreciation ability, the level of most street performers was not good enough... Xiangzi had seen many people pretending to be disabled just to beg for some money in the past six months.

"However, being able to gather so many people should be considered quite outstanding, right?" Xiangzi just murmured so much. Just before she was about to leave, she noticed an extremely familiar figure!

A familiar light green hair flashed before Xiangzi's eyes like a brief illusion, and then disappeared into the crowd. After a brief moment of daze, Xiangzi immediately reacted and followed the figure.

"Mu! Wait!"

I definitely wouldn't be mistaken. The figure just now, with that hair color, is definitely my good friend Mu!

But why was she here? Wasn't her upbringing very strict? Would her parents allow Mu to come out alone so late without a valid reason?

All kinds of questions flashed through Xiangzi's mind, but Xiangzi did not have time to think about them now. She only knew that this was a rare good opportunity, and she could take advantage of the remaining energy in her heart to make her plans clear.

Especially, he told Mu that he wanted to bring Chen Qi into the band in the future! In the past, in the band, Mu had the best relationship with Chen Qi besides himself, and only Chen Qi was willing to take the initiative to talk to Mu again and again. As long as he told Mu this, Mu would definitely agree to join the team.

With this thought in mind, Xiangzi took a deep breath and squeezed directly into the crowd. Because of her slightly petite figure, she suddenly lost her sense of direction and could only squeeze forward aimlessly. Unknowingly, she came to the front of the crowd.

"Huh - finally out."

"So where is Mu?"

Xiangzi had just emerged from the crowd and didn't even have time to take a breath of fresh air. The moment she looked around, the light green figure had silently come behind her without her noticing.

"...Xiang?"

"Mu?!"

The calm voice behind her came without warning, and Xiangzi turned around with some surprise, and was met with the familiar indifferent expression of Mu. But before Xiangzi could answer, Mu made a hushing gesture to her, turned his eyes to the front, and said lightly:

"Xiang, don't talk now...Qi's performance is about to begin."

"……Why?"

Qi? When this familiar name echoed in Xiangzi's ears without warning, even someone as calm as Xiangzi fell into a brief state of unconsciousness. Before Xiangzi could come to her senses, another familiar voice rang in her ears again.

This time, compared to the surprise of meeting Yu Mu, the voice brought Xiangzi a tremor in her soul. It was the voice of the young man who made her realize that there are always people better than you, the only one she recognized, and whose musical talent was superior to hers...

"Thank you all for your support. Next, I will bring you a song I composed myself."

It was a familiar clear male voice, but it sounded a little heavier and more tired than in memory. Xiangzi's trembling eyes turned to the tall figure in the center of the scene.

Everything seemed to be the same as he was in her memory, the familiar black coat, black trousers, long dark hair, slightly thin figure, and that delicate and soft appearance that made people feel uncomfortable but comfortable.

But...something seemed different? His temperament, his voice and his eyes seemed to have a little more...sadness?

"Is this... Chen Qi's performance?" However, Xiangzi, who had never expected to meet Chen Qi in such a coincidental way, did not wake up from his daze for a long time. Instead, he asked Mu beside him in a daze:

"Chen Qi, can he sing? And he can also play guitar? I never knew that..."

"...Xiang, you will know next." In response, Mu, who was behind Xiangzi, just looked at her with an indifferent look as if it was a matter of course. Soon, Mu's eyes shifted from Xiangzi's dull face to Chen Qi in the center. His tone was still flat, but with a little more ups and downs, and he said:

"What kind of changes have taken place in the past six months, Qi?"

Mu's light voice had just fallen, and there was not even time for Xiangzi to ask back. Chen Qi, who was in the center of the stage, had already adjusted the tone of his guitar. After clearing his throat, his pair of deep dark eyes unconsciously noticed the figure of Xiangzi who was standing with Mu.

For a moment, the eyes of the two main members of the band who had been separated for half a year collided again in mid-air. However, Xiangzi turned away unnaturally after feeling like he was electrocuted. It seemed that because of the suddenness of the situation, he was not mentally prepared and did not know how to face Chen Qi.

Although Chen Qi was somewhat surprised that Xiangzi would appear here after half a year, when he saw Xiangzi's embarrassed look, Chen Qi understood Xiangzi's feelings.

…It seems that Xiangzi still cares about the disbandment of the band half a year ago. But it’s normal. If she is really like what she said, and can completely ignore the past, she probably won’t be broken by “Haruhi no Kage” in the plot, right?

Now, she hasn’t really become strong yet... Then let me help her and cut off the entanglements in the original work in advance. Just regard it as my last chance to help everyone in Crychic.

Although we can't see many famous scenes from the original novel anymore, Su Shi, Deng, and everyone else in the original novel are all very lovely people. It's better to try not to let those unavoidable mutual injuries happen again.

Chen Qi understood Xiangzi's feelings. The song title that was on the tip of his tongue was paused for a moment because of his own thoughts. The next second, he said the song he wanted to play with a warm smile and a calm tone:

"The name of the song is "Kissing you for the last time" (Kiss you for the last time)."

"To my friends, the people I once cherished, may they no longer have sadness, struggle and helplessness, and after this last kiss, they can let go of the past and move on."

As soon as he finished speaking, the pick in Chen Qi's hand plucked the strings of the guitar, but it was like plucking the fragile strings in the girl's heart, making Xiangzi involuntarily focus all his attention on the young man in front of him.

Chen Qi...were you talking to me just now?

Is this song written for me? Is this the sound he wants to convey to me?

Chapter 3: "Kun's last mouth", Chen Qi's first catharsis?

In fact, it is not Xiangzi's fault for thinking too much, because when everyone was still in Crychic, Chen Qi was fully responsible for writing lyrics and composing music, and his lyrics have a unique style, which is that they can always reflect a person's "inner portrait."

For example, "Spring Shadow" written by Chen Qi and Gao Songdeng was the first song of their band. According to Deng, she was still writing down her words in a booklet, and before she had finished writing the song, Chen Qi had already started to help her, adapting her thoughts into lyrics and adding melody.

Afterwards, most of the new songs Chen Qi created for the band, whether it was "Walking with the Blue Sky" or "Lost Stars Calling", were actually created around the voice of the lead singer Deng.

This also left a deep impression on Xiangzi and everyone in the band.

That is, in the band, the person Chen Qi takes care of the most is undoubtedly Deng.

Because Chen Qi has written the most songs specifically for Deng, and they are the ones that best reflect Deng's mood and maximize the abilities of Deng as the lead singer.

Although Chen Qi also tried to compose a few songs that seemed to have nothing to do with Deng's inner thoughts, and Deng could sing them very well, compared with the songs tailor-made for him, Deng's singing lacked a bit of empathy from the soul.

This also left Xiangzi and others with a deep impression of Chen Qi's creative style, that is, "voice of the heart."

Xiangzi and others would not say much about Chen Qi's love for the lamp. But this time... facing the song that Chen Qi did not write for the lamp, but a song that completely expressed his own feelings, Xiangzi could not help but focus all his curiosity on this song.

Is this... Chen Qi's inner voice? In the past, in the band, he never seemed to reveal his voice to everyone, and he always tried to let the lights sing out his inner voice.

So, what does Chen Qi’s own voice sound like?

Just when Xiangzi had such a thought in her mind, Chen Qi's usual gentle voice, as if he had heard her inner voice, just hit the softest spot in her heart.

"Look up at the faint starlight and spit out your worries to the night sky."

"The ray of hope that fell, melted away lightly."

The lyrics and voice were soothing to the point of making people feel peaceful. Along with the gentle plucking of the guitar strings, Chen Qi's deep dark eyes swept over the focused Xiangzi and Hemu. A relieved smile appeared on the corners of his mouth as he continued to sing:

"You always say, 'You have such a strong character.'"

"The smiling faces beside me were all so cherished."

Sure enough, this was Chen Qi's inner voice, the song he sang to us. After hearing the lyrics clearly representing the past, Xiangzi's heart ached slightly as he silently confirmed this point.

"Such a strong-willed personality"... Yes, Li Xi and I seem to have said such things more than once when we had arguments with Chen Qi.