Loneliness and Rock and Roll with Band Observer

But Toyokawa Shoko felt that her idea was definitely not that simple.

"...Akie, do you know a band called 'Morfornica'?" asked Shoko.

"I'm actually not sure...what style is it?" Akie seemed to have no idea.

"It's the student band of Tsuki no Mori." Shoko said in a cheerful tone, "It's made up of seniors... um, students from Tsuki no Mori High School. I really like their music and unique worldview, and I can feel the power hidden in elegance. I hope to be able to play gorgeous and powerful music like them..."

“…So I formed that band.”

Xiangzi's originally cheerful tone gradually became calm.

There was a brief silence between the two.

Qiu Hui didn't know how to respond because the topic of CRYCHIC was too sensitive and no matter what she said as an outsider, it seemed inappropriate.

So, in the end, it was Xiangzi, the person involved, who continued the topic.

"I quit the band because of my family's financial difficulties." Xiangzi's voice trembled slightly, "Although I didn't actually think about ending it... But, in fact, it ended like this in the end."

"So, maybe I can understand what Akie just said to some extent."

"Some things that are out of place... maybe it's better to end them..."

Xiangzi pursed his lips, lowered his head, and suppressed the emotions surging in his heart, while his hand under the quilt subconsciously clasped Qiuhui's hand.

Chapter 74: Falling asleep in each other’s arms

"……Yeah."

Feeling the squeezing sensation in her palm, Qiu Hui also felt a little uneasy.

...I also promised Guo Liang that I would make The Ending Band a successful band that also retains its own personality.

If you want to succeed, you may have to sacrifice your individuality.

If you want to retain your individuality, you may have to give up success.

Maybe there is a way to have it both ways… but maybe there isn’t.

However, although there are still various concerns...

"...But there are things that must be done." Akie said, "Although trade-offs are inevitable, there are some things that cannot be compromised."

Qiu Hui slightly increased the strength of her hands, as if trying to convey this determination to Xiangzi.

"Although there are often plots in many stories where people give up their dreams for fame and fortune... But to be honest, having such thoughts actually underestimates the meaning of "fame and fortune". It is not something that will become easily obtainable as long as you give up your persistence."

"The so-called market trend is actually very changeable and can completely change overnight."

“So, I think creators… or really anyone, should have something they stick to no matter what.”

"In the face of the pressure of reality, people may have to give up a lot. But if you really give up everything, then...what can you rely on to deal with these pressures?"

Qiu Hui smiled bitterly. What a contradiction.

"We must persevere no matter what?" Xiangzi repeated this sentence in a low voice.

“…I’m sorry, but maybe it sounds a bit like preaching if I say that?”

Qiu Hui didn't know what was wrong with her. Her desire to express herself became stronger and stronger, and she subconsciously talked about many things that she would not normally have the opportunity to mention.

"I got a little carried away." She shook her head a little embarrassedly. "Is this an occupational disease? I always talk a lot about things that I don't even understand."

"It's okay." Xiangzi shook his head. "I think what Qiu Hui said is very good."

No matter what, I must persist...

So, what exactly is this thing to me?

"But I feel a little sleepy."

Xiangzi smiled apologetically.

"We have classes tomorrow, so it's time to go to bed now, right?"

Qiu Hui nodded: "Indeed..."

…Then she quickly realized that the two sides were now in too close contact.

She then hurriedly lay down, resting her head on the clothes she had found earlier, and quickly turned sideways.

"I'll turn off the lights first!"

Qiu Hui pressed the switch on the wall and the room suddenly fell into darkness.

"Good night, Akie."

"Good night..." Akie replied in a slightly shaken tone.

So Xiangzi also lay down, and his arms inevitably rested on Qiuhui's smooth back.

“Um… um, there’s something I need to explain…” Akie said with her back turned, “I’m not sure if I’ll move around when I’m asleep… So, uh, if I make too much noise, or snore or talk in my sleep, please don’t worry, just wake me up, and I’ll try my best to solve the problem…”

"I know."

After Xiangzi replied briefly, he also turned sideways and lay down, trying to make as much space as possible.

Now, although there was only a very narrow distance between the two of them, at least they were no longer touching each other.

The moonlight coming in from the window illuminated the room slightly, allowing Xiangzi to vaguely see Aki'e's hair and a small part of her neck that was slightly exposed as she faced away from him.

Xiangzi originally wanted to get up and draw the curtains, but then he thought that maybe it was not bad like this now.

She stared at it intently for a while, then slowly closed her eyes.

……

Having said that, Xiangzi actually didn't fall asleep.

On the one hand, it was because she had something on her mind, and on the other hand, as Qiu Hui had described before, her sleeping posture was indeed terrible.

“Hmm…”

At first, Akie only made a faint sound, similar to grinding teeth; but soon, as if she was completely unaware that there was someone around her, she tried to turn over, and ended up pressing her whole body against Xiangzi's chest.

“…Huh? No, that’s not the case…. I don’t… this…”

Qiu Hui was talking in her sleep in a weak voice, and she was struggling to overcome Xiangzi's resistance and turn over.

Xiangzi, who had not fallen asleep in the first place, quickly opened his eyes and vaguely saw Qiu Hui's expression with the help of the moonlight that came into the room.

"Ouch."

After successfully turning over and letting out a short nasal sound, Qiu Hui fell silent.

In the dim light, Xiangzi could only make out the vague outline of Qiu Hui's expression.

He seemed to be frowning. Was he having a nightmare?

After a few minutes, Qiu Hui turned over again. This is what is meant by tossing and turning.

Qiu Hui's movements were so big that the quilt was rolled to the side.

Xiangzi reached out and tried to take back the quilt, but Qiuhui quickly flipped it back.

"...The movement is really big. What should I do in this situation?" Xiangzi was a little distressed.

Although Qiu Hui said that he could wake her up, Xiangzi didn't have the heart to actually do it.

The two of them started fighting on the bed over the quilt.

Although Akie did not move frequently in her unconscious state, Xiangzi was extremely careful not to wake the other party and did not dare to make any big movements. Therefore, judging from the results, the two were evenly matched.

I don't know how much time passed like this.

"…If this continues, there will be no end. What should I do?"

Xiangzi moved her body slightly with some distress, allowing Akie's thigh that was on her to slide down, and then carefully tried to pull her left hand out from between Akie's ribs and the mattress.

"…It's blocked by the breasts."

Xiangzi felt distressed because their upper bodies were too close to each other and the space around their chests was almost completely occupied, so their shoulders and upper arms could not move freely.

Qiu Hui frowned while mumbling in her sleep. She did not continue to try to turn over, but twisted her body as if she felt uncomfortable.

The feeling of their bodies rubbing against each other made Xiangzi feel a little uneasy.

Because the air conditioner was not turned on and they continued to exercise, the surface of their skin became wet with sweat. The inexplicable sticky feeling made her feel upset.

Should I try to wake Akie up? I really can't fall asleep if we're stuck together and moving around like this...

But Akie's next move dispelled Xiangzi's idea.

"elder sister……"

Qiu Hui murmured weakly, but seemed to be crying.

She lowered her head slightly, and Xiangzi felt the tingling sensation of her hair brushing across the tip of his nose.

“…I see.”

Although Qiu Hui's talking in her sleep was somewhat beyond Xiangzi's expectations, it was actually reasonable.

"Are you having a quarrel with your family...?"

Xiangzi smiled helplessly.

As expected, Akie is exactly as I thought. She may have a strong mind, but her heart is indeed... very fragile.

So she thought of a way that might solve the problem at hand.

She simply stretched out her hands, wrapped her arms around Qiu Hui's body, which was trembling slightly due to a dream or some other reason, and held her in her arms.

“…This way, he won’t move around anymore.”

Xiangzi smiled, closed his eyes, and gently stroked Qiuhui's back.

Maybe Qiu Hui simply regarded me as a classmate who needed help.

Although we are hugging each other like this now due to some accidental reasons, I believe that we will return to being ordinary classmates tomorrow.

But, maybe this is enough.

Realizing that Qiu Hui in his arms was gradually calming down and feeling her body temperature, Xiangzi closed his eyes with satisfaction.

After a long time, the feeling of being accepted by others again made Xiangzi's heart a little warmer.

Chapter 75 After the Sun Rises

It was shortly after dawn, on the tram to school.

Qiu Hui wiped the mist off her glasses, but her head was still a little dizzy.

I seemed to have had a strange dream last night...

She tried to recall the details, but couldn't remember anything. After all, dreams were just like that, so she didn't pay much attention to it.

Today, Xiangzi woke up first, and then she woke up Qiuhui after getting dressed.

Thinking of this, Qiu Hui couldn't help but blush.

While the other person was awake and dressed, I was still lying naked on the bed...

Qiu Hui wiped her face violently, then shook her head violently to drive away the distracting thoughts.

It is really rude to think about such a strange thing and involve Xiangzi in it.

Qiu Hui tried to find other topics to talk about, trying to calm herself down.

Toyokawa Shoko was sitting next to her, looking dignified, wearing Yuqiu's summer school uniform properly, and putting the private clothes she took off last night in her bag.

"... Xiangzi, do you carry two sets of clothes with you every day?" Akihime asked in confusion.

"Yes." Xiangzi replied with a smile, "It's not appropriate to wear a uniform while working."

"Indeed... that's very thoughtful."

The morning sun shone into the carriage as the tram swayed towards its destination.

"By the way, how did I sleep last night? Did I move around or talk in my sleep?" Qiu Hui asked after she woke up a little. "I hope I didn't disturb you too much."