Loneliness and Rock and Roll with Band Observer

Although the voice was almost the same as Akie's, and the tone was calm and gentle, it gave Wakamugi a chill.

“Hello…”

Ruomai realized it in an instant.

Although she is Xiaoqiu's sister...but there is no doubt that she is more like an "adult" compared to her peers.

After a brief greeting, the other party got straight to the point.

"I'm relieved that Qiu Hui is staying with you temporarily, but this is not a long-term solution after all."

"So, I hope you can persuade Qiu Hui to go home early and stop making trouble."

Togawa Haruna smiled and gave the order in a pleading tone.

"Wait a minute, I..."

Ruomai wanted to defend himself.

“…Is this really okay?”

Although I wanted to defend myself, I couldn't find a suitable reason, so I could only raise such a pale question.

"Whether this is good or bad for Akihime, we as family members undoubtedly have more say."

Haruna slightly restrained the smile on her face.

"Akie has been away from home for far too long."

"She actually doesn't know anything. It's only with your help, Yutenji-san, that she was able to hold on for so long."

"I think Akie must have told you about her thoughts, right? She couldn't stand the constraints of her family, she wanted to escape the goals we set for her, and other naive thoughts like that."

"Children of this age tend to have some immature and ill-considered ideas... even I am the same."

"But no matter how many unorthodox opinions you have, one day you have to get back on track."

"Yutenji-san, if you really care about Akiie, you should make the right decision based on long-term planning."

Even through the projection screen, Wakamai could feel the oppressive silence conveyed by Haruna's gaze.

She retorted unconvincedly: "So... why don't you consider Xiao Qiu's thoughts more?"

I said, Xiaoqiu ran away from home! She obviously pissed people off, but now she still has such a cocky attitude!

"Mistakes need to be corrected. That's my conclusion after consideration." Haruna replied calmly.

"It's a mistake to say that..."

Ruomai felt as if something was blocking his chest.

"Xiao Qiu said that if I didn't take her in, she would just sleep on the street!"

"Even though she didn't tell me clearly, the fact that she could make such a plan shows that she really hates you guys, doesn't it?"

Looking at Wakamai who looked like a standing cat, Haruna just smiled helplessly, as if she was watching a child throwing a tantrum.

"...I don't want things to turn out like that. So, I hope that as a friend, you can help her."

"As a friend, your words may have more weight in her heart than those of us old-fashioned family members."

"If the same advice is given by you instead of us, maybe she will be more receptive to it."

Ruomai shook his head vigorously: "I promised her. Before she can support herself..."

"Have you ever thought about how long this would take? And how likely it is?"

Togawa Haruna on the projection screen looked down at Wakamai.

"If you happen to have enough financial resources to support Qiu Hui for three to five years, or have enough influence to help her realize her illusory dream, then I might really consider discussing this matter with you in detail."

"But, as a student who lives on the living expenses given by my parents..."

Haruna asked.

"...What are you going to rely on to carry Akie's life?"

"..."

Yutenji Wakamugi wanted to say something.

But she realized she was running out of words.

She had no chips to play against the man in front of her.

What Ms. Haruna said is... quite right.

It is very difficult to prepare living expenses for one person for two people.

Xiaoqiu's housework skills are quite poor, and she is always fired from her part-time jobs. She said she would rely on odd jobs to supplement her living expenses, but in fact she can't do it at all.

This is a matter of course. Because she actually...

...It's the eldest lady.

Ruomai remembered the car and the conference hall of the luxurious hotel that had been booked out.

I thought of my parents who divorced due to a property dispute.

The vehicle that Haruna-san used to pick up an ordinary junior high school student like me...

…is enough to tear my family apart.

Although Haruna didn't mention it, Wakamugi realized something.

Xiaoqiu has never told me in detail about her family situation.

Every time she was asked, she would answer perfunctorily.

I always thought her family situation would be more complicated than my own...

...Unexpectedly, this turned out to be true, but this "complexity" was in another sense.

Is she worried that if I knew her family background, I would look at her with a tinted spectacles?

Whether being overwhelmed by wealth that does not belong to her, or being kept away from her because of it, these are not the results she wants to see.

So, as the eldest daughter who grew up in such a family, what kind of life path was originally planned for Xiaoqiu?

But no matter how you imagine it, even the most banal and boring possibility...

...It's much better than what I can give her.

Yutenji Wakamugi wanted to refute.

So what if she is a young lady? Is the life you arranged for her really what she wants?

I really want to try to be like the protagonist of the story and say these cool lines that sound like a second-year junior high school student.

But Ruomai soon realized that he might not be qualified to do so.

Because, compared to Xiaoqiu's dream...

...I care more about Xiaoqiu.

I want her to be grateful to me.

I want her to depend on me.

Rather than wanting to help her realize her dream...

...Perhaps I am more looking forward to the scene where her dream is shattered and she has nowhere to go, and can only throw herself into my arms.

I helped Xiao Qiu out of my own selfish desires...

"..."

"Yutenji-san, please think about this carefully," Haruna said, "There is one more thing..."

The staff member who was operating the projector before responded.

He took out a small black box from his pocket and placed it in front of Ruomai.

"This money is for Akie's living expenses. If I'm not mistaken, she should have been relying on your living expenses during this period. So, please accept this money. This is not compensation or bargaining chip, it is just a simple payment."

Ruomai opened the box with slightly trembling hands, and there was cash inside.

For a junior high school student, that's a lot of cash.

In addition, there is a business card with contact information.

"From now on, we can contact each other via phone, text message, or social media. I don't intend to force you, but I hope you can truly stand in Qiu Hui's position, think carefully about what is the best solution for her, and then make a decision."

After explaining everything, Haruna smiled and cut off the call.

Staring at the gradually retracting projection screen, Yutenji Wakamugi took the box full of money and walked out of the meeting room with a sullen face.

...It feels a bit like a scene in a story.

"Take this money and leave my daughter"... It feels like that.

For a moment, Ruomai thought about being like the protagonist in the story, scattering the money everywhere and then walking away.

But she realized she couldn't do it.

As Ms. Haruna said, the money was used to take care of Akie.

Therefore, I cannot deal with it arbitrarily based on my own ideas.

Carrying the box, Ruomai walked out of the door of the luxury hotel. She had never felt the sunlight was so dazzling as it was now.

……

Haruna offered a lot of money, a lot indeed.

Perhaps with her family's financial resources, this would be just a piece of cake.

But for Ruomai, this money has real weight.

These weights weighed on her heart, forcing her to reconsider her position.

What kind of choice is the best for Xiaoqiu?

Ruomai spent several days thinking about this problem before he came to the final conclusion.

"Hey, Xiaoqiu."

"What's wrong?"

"Nothing... I was just wondering. Is it really okay to continue like this?"

Wakamugi pretended to be nonchalant and asked Akie this question.

Today was not a special day, and it was just an ordinary dinner time. The two of them were sitting in an ordinary family restaurant.

But, precisely because everything was so ordinary, Ruomai chose to fulfill his promise to Haruna at this ordinary time and place.

She decided to try to persuade Qiu Hui to go home.

At this time, Qiu Hui and Ruomai were eating and chatting face to face.

She looked at Ruomai's face with some confusion, and the latter's melancholy expression made her a little worried.

“What do you mean by ‘really good’?” she asked. “Isn’t the situation pretty good now? I found a new part-time job, and Ruomai’s living expenses have also increased…”

Ruomai didn't know what to say.

She explained the money she got from Haruna by saying it was "extra living expenses from my parents."

"That's exactly what I said...but I want to confirm it a little more." Ruomai said guiltily.

"Akie...are you really planning on staying with me forever?"

"Have you ever thought about going home?"

As soon as he said this, Ruomai felt a little regretful.

Could you be more tactful and pay more attention to Xiaoqiu's feelings?

But Ruomai knew that this might be inevitable.

Perhaps some words, no matter how they are said, will eventually be regretted.