Loneliness and Rock and Roll with Band Observer

The three of them teased each other and came to the stairs.

As they were about to walk up the stairs, Akie noticed someone walking towards them.

“…Toyokawa-san?” The first one to greet was Aine.

Xiangzi looked at the three people walking side by side. He was stunned at first, but after seeing the identities of the two people next to Aine, he calmed down a little.

"Chihaya-san, Akiie, and...Tomoe. Good afternoon."

After greeting him in a proper manner, she continued on her way without looking back.

"Sorry, I have something else to do. I won't bother you any more."

Deng seemed to want to say something, but faced with Xiangzi's resolute attitude, she had to give up the idea.

"Wait a minute! Toyokawa-san!"

Aine and Akie tried to call out to Shoko, but to no avail.

She could only shake her head slightly and turn to look at the lost and aggrieved Deng beside her.

"It's okay, Deng-chan. I think Toyokawa-san has his own difficulties, right? He's not deliberately trying to ignore Deng-chan."

Noticing the condition of the light, Aine quickly consoled him.

"...Yes, I know."

Although Deng looked a little aggrieved, she cheered up after Aine's persuasion.

Qiu Hui stared at the direction where Xiangzi left with mixed feelings.

Aine then looked at Akie and asked in confusion, “…Just now Toyokawa-san seemed to have called out Akie-senpai’s name. Do you know him?”

"Yes." Akie nodded a little embarrassedly, "How should I put it? Because of various reasons..."

…In fact, we slept in the same bed last night.

Thinking of this, and her unclear feelings towards Aine, Akie became more and more ashamed, and she wished she could find a hole in the ground to crawl into.

"Sorry. I don't really want to talk about this topic for now..." She whispered to herself.

Ai Ne watched Akie mumbling with interest, and was silent for a moment as if she was thinking about something.

Afterwards, she let go of Qiu Hui's hand, went a step further, and directly put her arms around Qiu Hui's waist.

"Then let's not talk about this for now, let's go! Let's go to the Astronomy Club!"

Aiyin held the lantern in her right hand, held the confused Aki in her left hand, and walked towards the astronomy department room.

Chapter 77 Who asked her?

After school.

"...So, why did you come along?"

Akie looked at Chihaya Aine beside her somewhat helplessly.

According to the plan, she was going to discuss the signing with everyone in the band today, and practice for the audition at the agency.

"Since senior can't come to RiNG, I can only go to STARRY with senior."

Aine, who was sitting on the chair, swung her legs carefreely and spoke in a matter-of-fact tone.

"And more! Senior, as a friend of Akihoko, you can go to her backstage every day; then I am also a friend of Akihoko, why can't I go?"

Aiyin asked knowingly, smiling wickedly, showing her sharp little fangs.

"…If you have time, you can come along." Qiu Hui sighed, "After all, you already know it."

The two of them were currently riding on the train to STARRY and were about to arrive at the station.

“Actually, besides simply wanting to be with my senior, I also wanted to learn some guitar techniques from Goto-san.” Aine added, “After all, our band is finally going to start practicing hard for the performance…”

When she said this, Aine suddenly realized a problem that seemed very serious to her, and she showed an exaggerated expression of fussing.

“Senior! I just discovered a big problem!” Aine said seriously, “We’re about to prepare for the performance, but our band still doesn’t have a name!”

“…That’s true.” Akie also responded, “How should I put it? Because various things were happening all the time, I didn’t have time to come up with a name.”

“Hmm… let’s hold another meeting when everyone is free and decide on the name of the team!” Aine suggested.

"To be honest, there are quite a few things to decide."

Qiu Hui looked at the scenery passing by outside the window and continued, "Didn't we say that we'll be in a band for life? Although we may not be able to form a band for that long, maybe we should do something together to enhance our sense of teamwork."

The same is true for those who have left the band. Although after the first performance, everyone may have gradually become one, but activities that strengthen the relationship between everyone may still be indispensable.

After all, the band is a "second family". Family members should definitely keep in touch with each other.

Thinking of this, Qiu Hui couldn't help but feel a little emotional.

I actually... started to actively consider these things?

Thinking back on the cruel fact that she had not made any new friends in that long period of time since the stay-over incident in junior high school until the day when Bunko asked her to form a band, Akie couldn't help but smile at herself.

Is this a slight growth? Or is it that you are gradually getting out of the shadow left behind?

The train began to slow down, and Qiu Hui suddenly thought of the person who had taken her in at that time.

...Come to think of it, we haven't been in touch since then.

Qiu Hui took out her cell phone and opened the contact list.

I have basically no contact with my junior high school classmates, including that person.

"...I wonder how she is doing now." Akie whispered.

“How was your day?” Aine asked curiously.

"Nothing." Qiu Hui shook her head. "We were just old classmates from junior high school. We haven't been in touch since then."

“…Ah, a junior high school classmate.” Aine smiled awkwardly, “I think I can understand.”

When the tram arrived at the station, the two got off together.

After walking for a while, we arrived at the STARRY store.

"Aki-e!" Nijixia, who was the first to arrive as always, waved at the two of them, "Ah, and Aine-chan is here too!"

“Nijiga, and Ryo, good afternoon!” Aine responded positively, “I’m here to play with you all!”

Liang, who was sitting next to Hongxia, turned around and looked at the two people who walked into the store hand in hand.

"That's a good relationship," she commented without thinking, "it looks like the problem has been solved."

Since Goto Ichiri and Kita seemed to be on their way, the three who arrived first started talking with Aine.

Aine was as good at finding topics to talk about as always, and she and Nijika soon started a conversation about high school girls.

However, Liang had no intention of joining them, but instead went to find Qiu Hui who was standing nearby.

"It's about the contract, right?"

Ryo patted the bar chair next to him and motioned for Akie to sit on it.

"Yes. This matter should not be decided by me alone. I think it would be better to explain it to everyone face to face." Akie responded.

This is not just my job, it concerns the future of the band.

“Even Aine is here.” Ryo glanced at Aine who was chatting enthusiastically.

"She insisted on coming along." Qiu Hui sighed.

However, Aine's presence did relieve her stress a little.

After introducing such an unrelated person, the atmosphere seemed to become much more relaxed. The heaviness of the business contract also faded a little in Qiu Hui's heart.

"Have you read the contract?" Ryo asked. "What does it look like?"

"Not yet. The specific situation will only be known when the formal negotiations begin on Sunday," Akie replied.

"Well, tell me what you know now."

As Liang spoke, he flicked the empty cup in front of him with a gesture like flicking his head.

"In short, the agency gave me two options."

Qiu Hui told Liang everything she had learned from Kasumi Shiko.

"First, I will be the only one signed. Everyone who ends up in the band will remain a free agent."

"The second is to sign the entire Ending Band. As for the price, Ryo should be able to guess it."

After listening to Qiu Hui's brief description, Liang rested his chin on his hand and pondered for a moment.

"Are you going to let everyone vote today?" she asked, "to choose one of these two options."

“…About the same.”

Qiu Hui subconsciously adjusted her glasses and then asked, "Ryo, what do you think?"

"I feel that..."

Liang suddenly burst out laughing.

"I was going to say that I respect Akie's opinion, and I'll agree as long as you agree."

"But then I thought about it again. You will definitely follow our advice. Isn't this a vicious circle?"

"That's true..." Akie had to admit, "Because it involves everyone's relationship, I have become a little indecisive."

At this time, Aine and Nijika, who were standing by, also seemed to be gradually talking about related topics.

“Signing a contract with a company, I think it should be a good thing overall, right?” Aine commented as an outsider.

"I don't deny it, but the agency's interference may also have an impact on the musicality and autonomy of the band. This is my main concern," Akie admitted.

“Hmm… I don’t really know about this. But I think, although this kind of plot often appears in stories, it is precisely because this kind of thing is not common in real life that it is regarded as a plot of the story, right?” Aine guessed.

As soon as she finished speaking, her attention was drawn to the movement at the door.

Ichiri and Kita were walking into the store side by side, and with that, the closing band was finally complete.

Chapter 78: The Distress of the Wild Hammer Snake

not long ago.

From the moment you board the train...

No, maybe it should start from today when I go to school...

No, no, if I have to say it, it should have started from that day on!

Goto Ichiri realized that he was worried about Akie's condition.

What she saw that day, Qiu Hui's depressed and melancholy look, has always been engraved in her mind, and it will be replayed over and over again from time to time.

After agreeing to gather together to discuss the contract issue, Yili has been feeling particularly nervous.

Qiu Hui has been working hard for everyone's sake. So, what can I do for her? Can I help her?

At least let her relax a little...

Let her smile more often like before.

On the train to STARRY, thoughts like these lingered in her mind.

Goto Ichiri has long been accustomed to wearing a full set of pink sportswear when moving around, but recently she has increasingly felt that this outfit seems to make her feel particularly hot.

Is it because the temperature has risen as the summer vacation is approaching? However, the weather forecast does not show any signs of this.

Especially at this moment, in this train car, Ichiri felt that the sweat-soaked uniform under his sportswear was very sticky and uncomfortable.

Kita inquired about the situation with concern, but she could only respond with a perfunctory denial.

Although I am not good at socializing and I don’t know what the most appropriate response is...

…But I feel like it would seem weird if I told her that I was worried about Akie.

When the train arrived at the station, Ichiri took deep, nervous breaths, like a frog that suddenly swelled up in a cartoon.

His limbs seemed to be too stiff to be under his control, and he was on the verge of making ridiculous movements.