Loneliness and Rock and Roll with Band Observer

Her eyes did not linger for too long on the exaggerated and flattering slogan, but quickly shifted her attention to the signboard designed based on the illustration.

The protagonist "Ayumi" and the character who serves as the protagonist's antagonist "Ena" are placed on both sides of the pile of books. One is laughing heartily, while the other has a sullen face as if someone has been owed wages.

In short, it has a bit of the classic "no-brained, unhappy" combination. However, this is not the focus of Qiu Hui.

She was more concerned with the part below the head.

"Well……"

In fact, when Qiu Hui saw the original design given by the illustrator, she always wanted to complain.

Are the character's figures designed a little too...good?

The sign in front of her made her feel this way.

The artist may have been very restrained, and the size, shape and proportion of certain parts were barely controlled within a range that was barely reasonable for a girl...

But no matter how she looked at it, Akihie still felt that Teacher Kashiwagi Eri had some other side jobs before.

Moreover, Ayumi's hair was painted pink for some reason...

She frowned and looked down, scanning the flat chest, slender waist and long, round thighs of the person on the stand.

Fortunately, I deleted the tiger tooth setting at that time. Otherwise, wouldn’t it seem that I was…

"Akie?"

"Ah! Deng, what, what happened?"

Qiu Hui, waking up from a dream, looked towards Deng and found that she was holding... five books in her arms.

"Deng, why did you buy so many?" Qiu Hui asked, a little scared.

"...I want everyone to read it too." Deng replied.

"You don't have to buy so many! You can lend your copy to everyone after you finish reading it, right?"

"Then I won't be able to read it again." Deng shook his head.

“You actually plan to read light novels multiple times… ahem, it seems a bit inappropriate for me to say this. Even if that’s the case… I don’t think you need to buy five copies, right?”

Qiu Hui persuaded anxiously. Five copies is too much anyway! Did he buy one for every member of the band?

"Besides, Deng, think about it, what if no one is interested? It will definitely become awkward!"

After hearing what Qiu Hui said, Deng seemed to realize the crux of the problem.

"Even if I have to buy it, I think buying two copies is enough. If the book is bought but not read, I think this is a greater humiliation for the author than if the book was not sold at all..."

After a moment of silence, Deng nodded silently, put the three extra books back into the display case, and went to the front desk to pay.

Qiu Hui also breathed a sigh of relief.

I enthusiastically introduce something I'm very interested in to others, but the other party has no interest in it at all...

I don’t want such an extremely embarrassing thing to happen to Deng at all!

After paying the bill, Deng carried the books in the bag given by the bookstore and continued to go to RiNG with Qiu Hui.

"Akie-senpai, after the band is done, things are about to get busy, right?" Deng suddenly asked.

"Yes." Akie answered, "Because we were originally planning to use the name of the light novel writer playing in a band to promote the product, so the activities of both sides will be roughly combined."

"Then..." Deng lowered his head slightly.

Akie roughly knew what she wanted to ask, so she answered first: "Even so, as long as I have time, I will try my best to come here to help. Deng can rest assured about this."

"Thank you, Akiie-senpai." Deng said with a smile, "It's a blessing to be able to spend time together like this."

"...Is that so?" Akie felt a little uneasy.

Are you all together...?

I am only concerned about this matter because I want Aine to play in the band happily.

Although objectively I was thanked by everyone for this... I still had a strange feeling.

Qiu Hui tilted her head slightly, trying to check Deng's expression.

As a result, the light turned around and happened to make eye contact with it.

After a tit-for-tat confrontation, Qiu Hui finally turned away feeling somewhat guilty.

Deng was also on the Ferris wheel at the time, and she also witnessed the "joke" I played.

Although, neither Aine nor I mentioned what happened back then, but considering Deng’s personality, will she really remember that joke…

…Or would she see that I wasn’t actually…kidding?

If that were the case, what would she think and what would she do?

"Come to think of it." Akie said nonchalantly, "Didn't Deng say this before? Everyone who likes the band, including me."

"...Yeah." Deng nodded, "Because I hope that the days we spend together like this can continue forever."

"I'm still a little uncomfortable with Deng's standard for the word 'like'." Akie smiled, "But, in this case..."

She thought back to what Deng had said earlier.

"Deng said that he wanted to form a band for his whole life, right?"

"So, am I included in this band?"

Qiu Hui felt that this was a question that had to be asked sooner or later.

I'm the support keyboard player.

Although the planned "official candidate" may never actually join, there is no way for me to become an official member since I am already active as a member of the band that has ended.

Even now, I care about her band simply because I love her.

"I don't think I'll be able to form a band with Deng for the rest of my life, right?" Qiu Hui said in an uncertain tone.

After thinking for a moment, Deng said in a low voice: "...Hmm."

She didn't say anything else afterwards and just continued walking with her head down.

Chapter 2 Reliable Seniors

When the two walked into the practice room, they found that there were only two people waiting inside.

Li Xi, who was sitting behind the drum set, frowned and gritted his teeth at the screen of his mobile phone, and seemed not to notice the arrival of Deng and Qiu Hui.

The first one to come up and say hello was Su Shi.

"Good morning, Deng-chan, and Aki-senpai!"

"Good morning," Akie responded.

It seemed that Li Xi only realized at this time that the two people had appeared. He hurriedly put down his phone, stood up nervously, and greeted the two people.

“Aine, and Runa, are you not here yet?” Tomo put the small bag containing books and notebooks on the ground and asked after looking around.

“As for Aine, she said she’s on her way. But I don’t know how long it will take. I think she’ll be late again.”

When Li Xi mentioned Aine, his expression was obviously not very good. However, his tone of voice seemed to be a little gentler than before.

"As for the stray cat... I don't know where she is right now! Really, I added her to the group chat before, but she didn't reply when I sent her a message..."

Li Xi was obviously getting annoyed, and Su Shi stepped forward to comfort him at the right time: "Li Xi, don't be too angry. After all, little Le Nai does seem to be a person who does whatever she wants..."

But just as he finished speaking, the door of the practice room was pushed open.

Dragging a suitcase, Lenai walked slowly into the practice room, ignoring the gazes coming at her.

"...A stray cat?" Lixi asked in surprise.

"coming."

While taking out the guitar from the box, Lenai responded indifferently, just like the way a regular customer of a street ramen stand would respond to the boss's greeting.

Technically, she was not late now.

But Li Xi was still a little angry.

"I'm talking to you!" She raised her voice slightly, "Since we're almost there, at least send a message to the group to let everyone know!"

"...I forgot." Rakuna responded as if it was a matter of course.

Judging from the results, she did come to practice on time this time.

However, her casual attitude makes one wonder if this is just a coincidence.

"Don't say that so casually!"

Li Xi was so angry that he left his seat and came to Lenai, as if he wanted to have a good argument with her.

But before she could say anything, Lenai plugged in the power cord of the guitar and interrupted her by playing his own music.

"Wait a minute! It's not time to start yet, is it?" Li Xi stopped them, "Everyone hasn't arrived yet..."

"But I want to play guitar."

Le Na opened her heterochromatic eyes wide and stared at the angry Li Xi without any intention of retreating.

"...I can't stand it. There's no team spirit at all." Lixi was a little discouraged by Lenna's stubborn attitude.

Su Shi smiled and tried to smooth things over: "After all, little Le Nai just decided to join us not long ago. Maybe they need more time to get used to each other, right?"

"I know! But no matter what, I shouldn't..." Li Xi, who was a little irritated, tried to argue.

"Well, I think it's better not to quarrel."

Seeing that Li Xi was about to get angry, Qiu Hui quickly lowered her voice and tried to dissuade him.

"On the one hand, it will ruin the atmosphere, but on the other hand, I think that given Rakuna's personality, arguing with her is totally useless, right?"

"...You mean useless?" Li Xi asked with a slightly stern face.

She was very excited just now, but seemed to calm down a little under Qiu Hui's influence.

Akie subconsciously analyzed the problem: "How should I put it... I wonder if all artistic geniuses are like this, with some quirks. If we can't get along, there's no point in saying more."

"...'Radio waves'?" Li Xi didn't seem to understand.

"It's about the way of thinking." Qiu Hui said, "Only by figuring out what she is thinking and why she thinks that way can the favorability of such characters be improved..."

"Character? Favorability?"

As a result, Lixi looked even more confused.

"...In short, what Togawa-senpai means is that I should try to understand the thoughts of stray cats, right?"

Despite Akie's occupational illness, Riki managed to understand her intentions.

"That's it." Qiu Hui nodded, "This kind of thing can't be rushed. So, since she's here..."

She turned her head and looked at Lenai who was playing the guitar by herself.

"…Just focus on practice for now," she concluded.

"Yeah." Li Xi's brows relaxed and he nodded slightly.

Although I'm not a formal member...but having Togawa-senpai here is really helpful.

After saying these words to Lixi, Qiu Hui silently took out the keyboard from the equipment bag on her back and set it up.

I have always been very attentive during practice, and I have also worked very hard on things outside of practice.

He obviously has another band to take care of and other jobs besides the band, but he cares so much about our affairs.

Although I don't quite understand the reason, I am really grateful to her.

Li Xi's mood improved a little, and he no longer worried about Lenai's matter.

As Togawa-senpai said, it is better to focus on the task at hand for now.

So she picked up the drumsticks and used them as a warm-up before starting the formal practice.

In the following period of time, she beat the drum in front of her while thinking about the next arrangements.

Now that it's summer vacation, it's time for the band to start working hard for their first performance.

Kasuga Shadow... Although I often use this song during practice, it is still not suitable as a song for performances.