Loneliness and Rock and Roll with Band Observer

It doesn’t matter if you use letter codes, the most important thing is to come up with the plot first!

After all, you can always press Ctrl+H to replace all of them after you’ve written the name or something!

"The story begins with A, who plans to reunite with her band for the purpose of making money. Her initial partners are B and C. B is a no-brainer for A, and her role in the plot is similar to that of a delicious appetizer to satisfy the reader's need for "girls clinging" before the relationship between the characters unfolds."

In novel writing, Aki E...or teacher "Akirako", still maintains her cold and pragmatic style.

"Let's put off further character development until the mid-term. Of course, we may also need to consider the popularity at that time. C chose to stand with A out of her own rationality. Relatively speaking, she is more complicated..."

While thinking, Qiu Hui turned her head to look at the two people who were chatting enthusiastically.

It seems that they are discussing aquatic animals such as penguins.

This is good, Qiu Hui thought.

Although I have been troubled by the fact that I would be quickly left out in group chats since junior high school, in this situation, being left out is actually more convenient.

After walking aimlessly for a while, her originally confused mind gradually cooled down and became clear.

"What is the purpose of C and A standing together? If it's just to make money, then it's too low. As the protagonist, A should have a more noble and real goal..."

Qiu Hui lowered her head in thought.

The character's motivations should be consistent with the direction of the plot.

According to my original plan, the original band that had fallen apart should have reconciled in the end.

Then, the basic motivation of the character should be set based on the predetermined trend of "reconciliation".

A and E broke up for the sake of "pure musicality".

So in order to make reconciliation possible, they must have the idea of ​​being "essentially exactly the same".

The separation was not caused by any irreconcilable contradictions, but was actually just a misunderstanding.

In order to give the story a reasonable and happy ending, such treatment is necessary.

"Azi chose to go the commercial route in order to fight against the economic pressure brought by reality. But she unknowingly took the means as the end. Should this be feasible?"

Qiu Hui nodded with satisfaction. It wasn't a very original idea. But to support a light novel that sells well, this old-fashioned but universal core is essential.

Especially for someone like me who can’t really say that I have any special talents.

"The next is the protagonist's opponent. Let's not talk about D, who is also a swinger. E, as a character who is purely against A, must be highlighted in a lot of detail."

If there are illustrations, it would be best if they were cute... maybe she'll unexpectedly be more popular than the protagonist.

"It would be best if I could write about the complex emotions of old friendship and the irreconcilable ideological differences. But to be honest, I'm not very good at this kind of thing because I haven't had many friends since I was a child and I've never had any quarrels..."

At this moment, she suddenly thought of the two people beside her.

Qiu Hui looked at Deng, who was now explaining the activity patterns of a certain tree-dwelling insect in summer in great earnest.

Takamatsu-san...it seems like he has had the experience of failing in forming a band?

Someone as emotional as she is might have a unique experience of the team falling apart.

Should I ask her about what happened at that time for reference?

This thought flashed through Qiu Hui's mind like a bolt of lightning.

But that was all. She quickly dismissed the idea.

...What am I thinking? How can I just expose other people's scars for my own work?

Since I am only acting in my own interest, I should always be careful not to hurt anyone with my actions.

"Let's make other plans." Qiu Hui finally decided.

She quickened her pace slightly to catch up with Touma and Aine who had unknowingly reached the front.

The three of them wandered aimlessly in Akihabara.

I don’t know how much time has passed. Just when Akie decided what color E-ko’s hair should be, Aine seemed to have finally discovered the karaoke bar they were going to this time.

“Look! It’s a chain store!” Aine pointed at the sign, “It’s the brand I always go to! I can use the coupons too, that’s a big help!”

Aiyin led Akie and Deng into the store.

She walked up to the waiter and started talking to him very skillfully.

"Private room, use the coupon, please!"

Qiu Hui, who was waiting in the back, suddenly noticed that Deng was looking around for something.

"Takamatsu-san, what are you looking for?"

"...drink machine." Deng answered a little embarrassedly.

"A beverage machine?" Qiu Hui looked around. "I don't think there's one here."

"I...there were still some when I came last time." Deng lowered her head with a sense of loss, as if the beverage machine was an old friend she really wanted to see but missed for some reason.

“Not every store has a drink machine, right?” Akie shook her head, “Tell Aine to wait for me. I’ll go buy something to drink.”

"Yes, thank you, senior."

Qiu Hui trotted to the convenience store across the street and bought three bottles of mineral water, three cans of barley tea and two bottles of carbonated drinks.

Although carbonated drinks with a terrifyingly high sugar content will generally make you thirstier the more you drink them, sometimes when the atmosphere is right, you will want to have a little.

After paying, Qiu Hui stuffed the small bottles of mineral water and barley tea into her pockets, and two bottles of narrow and long carbonated drinks into her clothes and held them between her arms.

I’m not sure if this store will make a profit from selling high-premium drinks, so it’s better to hide your takeaway drinks just in case!

When I walked into the store, Aine came to greet me.

"Senior! The private room is ready... By the way, why is your walking posture so strange?"

"Don't worry about that, just take me there quickly!" Qiu Hui said in a low voice.

Chapter 23: Remembered and Forgotten

In the private room.

Togawa Akiie pulled two bottles of soda out from under her arms and slapped them on the table. Then she took out bottles of water and tea from her pockets and placed them on the table one by one.

“They managed to smuggle it in using this method?” Aine exclaimed, “How amazing!”

"If I had known we were going to karaoke, I would have brought a bag of drinks." Akie sat down. "I didn't know what everyone's taste was, so I bought a few more."

“Thank you!” Aiyin took a can of barley tea, opened the lid and took a few sips, then grabbed the tablet for ordering songs on the table and started operating it.

“Does anyone have any songs they want to sing?” Aine asked.

"I don't care." Akie replied.

"There's no song called 'I Don't Care'! Then why don't you order one yourself after I order it?"

"Hmm. What about Takamatsu-san?"

The lamp that was asked stared blankly at the microphone on the table.

"……have no idea."

“There’s no song called ‘I don’t know’.” Akie said helplessly, “Then let Aine-san choose a song first. I think once the atmosphere gets going, Takamatsu-san will know what to sing.”

Deng didn't answer, just stared at the microphone quietly.

"Hmm..." Aine pondered over the tablet. She didn't seem to know what song would be appropriate.

If she was choosing songs with the goal of making them as enjoyable as possible for everyone, then she would probably have to spend a lot of time thinking about it.

After all, "whatever" and "I don't know" are actually the most difficult multiple-choice questions to answer.

Qiu Hui turned her head and looked at the big screen in the private room.

Although no one requested a song, it was still automatically playing some recent popular songs.

The previous song had already come to an end when everyone came in, and the screen quickly switched to the next song.

The melody, created using the arrangement style that was popular in the idol industry more than a decade ago, echoed in the small private room.

"...'B Komachi'?" Akie looked at the dancing girls on the screen in disbelief. "They are so old-fashioned. They were active in this group for more than ten years."

"What is that?" asked Deng.

"It's a very old idol group." Akie answered, "I learned about this when I was watching idol animation. It was very popular more than ten years ago, but after the center position retired for unknown reasons one day, its popularity plummeted and it gradually disbanded."

"...They dispersed." Deng nodded disappointedly, "Just because one person withdrew?"

"Yes. After all, all the others combined are just accessories for the center, Hoshino or something. There is an overwhelming difference in popularity. Rather than being a group, it's better to say that it's all built around her alone."

Qiu Hui stared at the image on the screen that was more than ten years old, and couldn't help feeling a little emotional.

"There seem to be many different opinions about why she suddenly retired at the peak of her popularity. Some say it was because she had a falling out with the agency, some say she simply felt it was boring to fool otakus, and there is even an outrageous saying that she retired to raise a child..."

"...Anyway, her sudden retirement caused quite a stir in the industry. For several years, it has been a popular topic on the Internet like an urban legend."

Speaking of this, Qiu Hui suddenly remembered something.

“Oh, there’s even speculation that ‘retirement’ is actually a euphemism for ‘death’,” she added. “Because the case was so horrific and even involved supernatural elements, the news was blocked in order to suppress the social impact, and retirement was used as the official explanation... But that’s purely conspiracy theory and fiction.”

"Isn't it too much to arbitrarily edit other people's lives like this?" Deng responded somewhat sadly, "What would the real Miss Hoshino think of these statements?"

"After retiring, he completely disappeared from the public eye just like No○-senpai, and naturally he never expressed any opinions. That's why there is Hoshino... oh, right, the 'Hoshino Ai Death Theory'."

Qiu Hui picked up the bottle of mineral water, unscrewed it and took a sip.

"The reason why I know so much about her is actually thanks to this 'Hoshino Ai Death Theory'. The suspense novel based on this somewhat ridiculous hypothesis was a big hit, and it was even adapted into a very successful anime. That's why I care about the affairs of an idol group with a history almost as long as mine..."

At this time, the image of B Komachi on the big screen was switched, and it seemed that Aine had already ordered the song.

“Can I sing Sumimi’s song first?” Aine said as she turned the tablet upside down and handed it to Akie, “Senpai, you can sing the next song!”

"Okay." Qiu Hui took the tablet for ordering songs and swiped it casually.

Although I came here to practice singing, being the lead singer in a high school band doesn't really require much in terms of skills. As long as I can sing the songs of ordinary idol groups or pop songs clearly, it should be enough. Pursuing something too advanced may have the opposite effect.

After selecting a few songs that she thought were appropriate, Qiu Hui handed the tablet back to Deng beside her.

"If you really don't know what song to order, just look at some random ones."

"Thank you." Deng took the tablet, but didn't operate it. He just stared at the screen in a daze.

Her eyes under her short hair were dodging, and from time to time she would quietly turn to the two people beside her, like a small animal that yearned for the outside world, but was unable to calm down and act because of its vigilance.

Aiyin sang this refreshing pop song with great excitement, which effectively livened up the atmosphere.

Senior Togawa was smiling and tapping her hands lightly. Although she didn't seem very excited, one could still feel that she was in a relaxed and happy mood.

…The last time I spent time like this at karaoke with everyone was a long time ago.

The tablet is right in front of me. Do you want to try ordering some songs?

If I sing it here now, can everything be made to be like it was "last time"?

Looking at the search box in the upper right corner of the tablet, Gao Songdeng suddenly felt an unexpected impulse.

She grabbed the tablet, opened the search box, typed three words in it, and pressed the search button.

"...No." She shook her head.

Of course not. Definitely not.

"That song" that we all played together at that time will never be mentioned or remembered by anyone again as we all fall apart.

“Haa… I finally finished singing!” Aine shouted, “Sumimi’s new song unexpectedly took up quite a lot of energy! Senpai, it’s your turn now, eh?”

"I'll try my best." Qiu Hui took the microphone and began to sing along with the melody of the next song.

Aine-san and Togawa-senpai both seem very happy.

It's rare that they are willing to come here with me...

He turned off the search box and started browsing the popularity ranking page of the alternative songs.

...Would it be better if I act happier?

Chapter 24 Transition

after a while.