Loneliness and Rock and Roll with Band Observer

Even now, Haruna still regrets her hasty decision.

Akie mistakenly thought that Yutenji was my puppet, and she became disheartened and became a stranger to him. After that, she even chose to sleep on the streets, and her attitude towards her family became even worse.

And Yutenji... this kid did nothing wrong, but because he participated in my plan, he had to break up with the person he loved... like that.

That incident happened at a critical time when she was preparing for further studies. Yutenji performed poorly in the entrance examination and was forced to go to an unknown high school, perhaps because of this incident.

Haruna actually didn't have any special opinions about her sister's friends, including her feelings for Akie.

However, she always felt a certain degree of guilt for having inadvertently messed up the other person's life.

"You don't need to ask for my opinion." Haruna sighed, "What Akie thinks, whether she is willing to accept you or not, is her own business. I have no right or ability to interfere."

"But, if you need me to help you with something... I'm willing to do my best, just as an apology for what happened two years ago."

Haruna lowered her head slightly.

Although she doesn't wear glasses, her hair is longer than Akie's, and her taste in dressing is much better than Akie's.

But the helplessness and guilt revealed in her expression at this moment would make anyone conclude that these two are indeed sisters.

"I……"

Yutenji on the other end of the phone fell into a brief silence because he was flattered.

"……Thank you."

Having said that, she couldn't imagine what kind of help she needed for a moment.

Although Haruna was very proactive, this friendly attitude made her hesitate and she dared not speak.

"...Miss Haruna, are you still monitoring Akie's movements?"

"That's for sure." Haruna replied, "Although I don't intend to interfere with her actions directly, I should at least be aware of it."

"Then... please, Miss Haruna, please share the information you have collected with me in the future." Yutenji said firmly.

"Is this the help you need?"

"Hmm. This...maybe is enough."

Getting information from Haruna was the maximum assistance she could accept.

If I rely too much on Miss Haruna, wouldn't that in some sense confirm Xiaoqiu's misunderstanding?

So, that's enough. From now on, I will just rely on my own strength...

Yutenji Wakamugi secretly made up his mind.

……

“…Ah.”

The tip of her nose felt itchy and Qiu Hui sneezed forcefully.

It was a bit like the symptoms of a rhinitis attack. She took out a tissue and shook her head in embarrassment.

"Are you okay?" Deng beside him asked with concern.

"…It's okay. Maybe it's because of the pollen." Akie smiled and shook her head.

It was break time. While walking in the garden, Akie came across Deng who was collecting something near the grass as usual.

Since she was just relaxing, she squatted down next to Deng, intending to spend the break with him.

"..."

At this time, Qiu Hui, for some reason, kept staring at Deng's face.

"What's wrong?" Deng asked in confusion while wiping the small stone he picked up.

"Nothing." Qiu Hui shook her head, "I just suddenly thought of someone I met yesterday. He seemed to look a bit like Deng."

"Looks like me...?"

This statement touched something in Deng's heart, causing her to take out the stone she had picked up earlier from her pocket.

She stroked the stone gently and said thoughtfully, "It happens all the time. Just like stones, they have various shapes, so they often remind me of other things."

"So that's why you collect all kinds of stones like this?" Akie looked thoughtfully at Deng's hand holding the stones.

"Yeah." Deng nodded slightly, "I would find it... very interesting."

The conversation between the two had no theme or purpose; it just floated freely like clouds in the sky.

"…About that person." Akie continued, "The one who looks a bit like you. She makes me feel strangely familiar… Maybe it's just because she looks a bit like you? But I think, maybe it's not like that."

“…Is this what they call déjà vu?”

She clasped her hands together into fists and placed them in front of her.

After saying that, Qiu Hui turned around and said to Deng, "Have you ever had such an experience?"

"……have."

Deng put away the stones he had collected and stood up.

Qiu Hui also stood up with her. Since they were about the same height, they could look each other in the eye when looking at each other at eye level.

"That day at the aquarium." Deng smiled gently, "I was really scared at the time. Although I rushed in without thinking too much, I was actually very worried in my heart. What if...what if I didn't succeed? What should I do? Will it become like CRYCHIC again..."

"Light..." Qiu Hui subconsciously wanted to reach out her hand.

But before she could say anything more, Deng continued, “So, thanks to Akee-senpai for showing up at that time and helping Aine and me. Really, thank you very much.”

"…I'm not that great. I was always worried about the outcome." Akie turned her face away in embarrassment. "I only mustered up the courage after being persuaded by others. It's not something worth boasting about."

Deng smiled and shook his head: "Even so, I still want to thank Qiu Hui-senpai."

"Thank you... for being willing to do something even though you felt lost."

Chapter 97 You are always thinking about Aine

"Yes, is that so?"

Qiu Hui was a little uncomfortable with Deng's sudden outpouring of true feelings.

“I’m very grateful to Akee-senpai. Although he was just a supporting member, he cared so much about the band’s affairs. And the same goes for Aine. Thanks to Akee-senpai’s help, Aine is now able to untie the knot that had accumulated during that time.”

At this point, Deng seemed a little embarrassed. Although she couldn't express her joy openly, her emotions still came out unconsciously from her hamster-like posture.

"I...actually..."

Looking at the lamp that expressed her sincere gratitude, Qiu Hui didn't know how to respond.

Because, to me, that band is "the band that Aiyin is in."

Although Deng was thanking me for my contribution to the band, I was actually just concerned about Aine's affairs.

The reason why I care about her so much is because of the kind of indescribable feelings I have towards her.

I seem to be...

Thinking of this, Qiu Hui realized that perhaps she couldn't keep being entangled like this.

Even if I don't make further plans, I will have to face the facts sooner or later.

Because, just like what I said to Aine at the aquarium.

I need to find a way to face my feelings and not keep avoiding them.

"……lamp."

Qiu Hui collected her thoughts and put on a serious expression.

I might, probably, have fallen in love with Aine...

…Even if I just came to this conclusion in my heart, I felt it was a bit too embarrassing.

It is better not to take such a big first step. How can I describe it more appropriately?

...For example, let's take "I like Aine" as a premise for now, and use this as a basis for further consideration.

If I like Aine, and I like her in that sense, then what should I do next?

The person involved is often confused. Based on my understanding of Aine, I may not be able to make a correct judgment.

And in Ain’s social circle, Deng is the one I’m most familiar with.

Perhaps, I should ask her opinion?

"What's wrong, Akiie-senpai? Is there a problem?"

Deng looked at Qiu Hui, who looked a little depressed, with some confusion.

The innocent little face and the pure and clear eyes made Qiu Hui feel a little ashamed of herself.

The latter hesitated for a moment with a bitter face, and finally shook his head.

“…Sorry, just pretend I didn’t say anything.”

Qiu Hui lowered her head in shame.

...As expected. Discussing that kind of topic with Deng always feels a little...inappropriate.

The reason for being inappropriate is not just simply feeling embarrassed.

Just at this moment, the class bell rang, giving Qiu Hui an opportunity to escape.

"I have to go back to the classroom now. See you at lunch break."

After hastily saying goodbye to Deng, she trotted towards her classroom.

When Aine ran away, Takamatsu Deng was the first one to rush out and chase her without thinking.

But I was worried about all kinds of messy things at the time, and even needed a push from others before I could take action.

What does Deng think of Aine? Does she regard Aine as a friend? Or a close friend?

Does she...have similar thoughts to me?

As Qiu Hui ran up the stairs, she thought that she might have done something rude to Deng.

The sensibility of lamps is quite complex and subtle. It is neither polite nor meaningful to speculate on it as I did.

But...even so, when Akie recalled the figure of Hikari running out without thinking, she couldn't suppress the urge to let her imagination run wild.

Will Deng become my...competitor...in this matter?

……

Lunch break, in the Astronomy Department room.

After a whole day of hard work yesterday, Qiu Hui felt a long-lost sense of security in the small astronomy department room.

Although saying “long time no see” might be a bit of an exaggeration, it’s only been two days since the last time, Saturday and Sunday.

But no matter what, she felt that it was really pleasant to have lunch with Aine and Deng like this.

The problem that she had been struggling with during the break had now been temporarily put aside.

Now you should enjoy your lunch break, this is the most important thing.

At this moment, Chihaya Aine, who was sitting next to Akiie, felt a little dissatisfied as usual after noticing the dishes in the other's lunch box.

“Senior, you eat this kind of food every day for lunch.” Aine looked at the contents of the lunch box with some disdain, “Let’s not talk about the taste, is it really nutritious?”

"I pay a little attention to the combination of ingredients, and I occasionally buy dietary supplements." Akihie replied.

"Hmm... Even if that's the case..."

Ai Ne placed her chin on her hand and looked at Akie’s lunch box thoughtfully.

"…By the way, Senior always prepares his own lunch." She said, "Is it because your family is busy and you don't have time to help prepare it?"

"Yeah." Qiu Hui nodded silently without explaining the reason.

Although you can eat in the cafeteria, the cost is that you have to spend more money than preparing your own meals.

"Hmm...how about this?"

Aiyin suddenly had an idea and came up with a good idea.

"Next time I ask my mom to prepare a lunch box, I'll also prepare one for you, Senpai!"

This was a very reasonable proposal, but the suggestive meaning it contained was quite stimulating to Qiu Hui, who had impure thoughts.