Loneliness and Rock and Roll with Band Observer

In short, as long as Aine wants to know, there is a way to find out.

Thinking of this, Qiu Hui felt secretly happy.

After all, this meant that Aine seemed to care about her quite a bit, and would even take the initiative to guess about things related to her.

“Of course I guessed.” Aine said with a smile, “I remember that Goto-san seemed to have been with you, Senpai, and then he suddenly had an attack.”

"Well, I think it's normal to have such a guess, right?"

She looked at Qiu Hui, smiled playfully, and patted her shoulder: "Besides, I was only half-believing it just now, but Senior confessed everything directly!"

Qiu Hui then realized that she had confessed herself and lowered her head helplessly.

...Well, but after all, the other person is Aine, so it doesn’t matter.

"Since you have guessed it, I might as well just explain this matter clearly." Qiu Hui said.

Although she said it as if she was “forced”, in fact, in her heart she actually wanted to talk about these things with Aine.

Akie realized that, in a sense, there was a subtle relationship between Ichiri and herself, and between herself and Aine, like a food chain.

There is a one-sided feeling between them that could perhaps be called "like".

"To put it simply, Goto-san likes me. She has already admitted it, but I..."

Qiu Hui's speech was interrupted at a critical moment.

She wanted to speak several times, but soon realized that she didn't seem to have the courage to say what she wanted to say.

Fortunately, Aiyin spoke up in time and helped her solve the problem.

"Did you reject her?" she said with a smile and went straight to the point.

The straightforward statement instantly exposed Qiu Hui's cover-up.

"...It can't be considered a rejection? But... maybe... it's no different from a rejection."

Qiu Hui sighed.

At this point, we can no longer deceive ourselves and others and shirk our responsibilities by using ambiguous statements.

Even if you haven't figured out how to make amends for the situation yet, you should at least acknowledge the harm you've caused.

"Is that so? In other words, you 'don't like' her, senpai?"

Aine’s statement was still so direct.

Although Qiu Hui instinctively resisted, she still nodded slightly.

“That’s quite difficult.” Aine smiled, “Because, I think that feelings are something that can be said to be there or not. No matter how hard you try, you can’t create something out of nothing. So, one-sided love is troublesome for both parties.”

"It goes without saying that the person who is rejected will feel troubled even if he is the one who is rejecting others."

Aine said this in a meaningful tone, looking at Akie as if she meant something.

"When I was in trouble before, you helped me. So this time, it's my turn to return the favor."

"Although I may not know more about this than you do, I will try my best to do something!"

Looking at Aine’s face that was approaching her eagerly, Akie smiled a helpless smile.

“I’m happy that Aine has this thought, but…”

If you really want to help me, please agree to help me...

The next moment this thought flashed through her mind, Qiu Hui dismissed it herself.

On this point, my opinion is the same as Pochi's.

If the feelings are given to you by the other party out of sympathy, it is better not to accept them.

“‘But’ what?” Aine asked, looking very interested.

“…Nothing.” Akie shook her head. “If Aine wants to help me, then…tell me your opinion.”

"If you were in my shoes now, what would you do?"

Qiu Hui asked.

There is a small double entendre in this. On the one hand, he is asking for advice from Aine, and on the other hand, he is also using this to see how Aine feels about him.

"Since you've clearly rejected it, I think it would be better to just pretend that it never happened."

Aine stated her opinion somewhat uncertainly.

"Didn't you say that, Senpai? Confession means changing the status quo, putting the existing relationship at risk, and so on."

"If you have such concerns, you should find a way to resolve them. So, you should work hard to make the other person realize that 'our relationship will not deteriorate because of this'."

Aiyin, so that’s what you think.

"So, will you do the same?" Qiu Hui asked, "Even if you reject the other person's confession, will you work hard to repair the original relationship?"

“At least, I will probably give it a try…” Aine’s words were a little vague, and she herself didn’t seem to have much confidence.

At this point, Akie probably understood what Aine meant.

"I see. I'll write it down for reference." Akie chuckled.

"However, I have another question. I wonder if it's convenient for me to ask..."

“You can ask me anything you want!” Aine stressed, “Because I will try to help as much as possible!”

“Then let me ask. In this situation where you have already rejected the other person, do you think you should ask the other person to give up the idea of ​​liking you?”

Qiu Hui, who asked the question, had a calm expression.

However, Aine’s face was disturbed when she was asked this question.

This question seemed to touch something in her heart, so she could no longer think about the problem calmly.

"...I'm a little embarrassed. Sorry, senpai, this question may be difficult for me to answer."

"Why?" Akie asked calmly.

"because……"

Aine’s breathing became a little disordered.

"…Whether I do it or not, it feels… a bit too much."

"If I try to persuade them to give up their idea... it would be like returning a gift that I've put so much thought into."

"But if you don't do this, the other party might get the illusion that there's still hope, and then work harder to hurt themselves for an impossible goal."

"I think Senpai is a very gentle and reliable person, but he is always too hard on himself. Senpai also helped me a lot with the aquarium incident before."

"So, I really don't want to...ah."

Aiyin woke up as if from a dream, realizing that she seemed to have broken through a layer of window paper just now.

Because of inner anxiety, some things that should have been kept under the table are unknowingly brought to the surface.

"Senior, I'm sorry, I..."

Facing the flustered Aine, Akie simply shook her head slightly.

"I see."

She looked completely unaware of what was happening.

Or maybe she had already realized it and was just pretending not to react.

"I'll write it down for reference."

Chapter 8: Something seems to be lost

Qiu Hui did not lie and did not hide anything.

Her thoughts now were as simple as what she said.

Aine didn't seem to give a direct answer, but her statement was enough to interpret her clear attitude.

If we look at it from the perspective of the rejecting party, whether we support or oppose the other party giving up the rejected feelings, it will hurt the other party in different ways...

...Then, give up the right to influence the other party by expressing your opinion, and leave the choice of "what to do next" entirely to the other party.

"But even if I really do nothing...it doesn't mean I can be exempted from all responsibility."

Qiu Hui sighed softly and said something like this.

Even though she was just describing her own opinion, it sounded slightly sarcastic to Aine.

“Right, right?” Aine said in a panic, “That’s why things like this are so troubling…”

"Yes, that's true."

Akie looked at Aine’s charming face in front of her with mixed feelings.

……Yes.

Even if you run away from the problem, it won't be solved.

Perhaps, the responsibility that comes with "rejecting others" is a shackle that "others" themselves cannot escape.

The only person who can remove this shackles is the person who was hurt by the rejection.

Qiu Hui closed her eyes and let her thoughts flow in her mind.

As for Yili, I should take my due responsibility.

But, on Aine’s side, I might be able to give up my right to pursue the matter.

After all, feelings cannot be created by coercion or charity...

"……well."

Qiu Hui sighed softly.

Actually, I don’t like Aine that much, right?

Although she is very enthusiastic and proactive, and has helped me with many things, big and small...

Although she likes to show off, she is kind-hearted. She looks carefree but actually she cares about what others think...

Although she has various advantages, and it is undeniable that she looks cute...

As she thought about it, Qiu Hui couldn't help but laugh out loud.

"...Senior? Why are you laughing?"

"Nothing, just thought of something interesting."

Qiu Hui smiled and continued to silently tear off those inappropriate feelings in her heart, bit by bit, like beef jerky.

It is true that Aine has various advantages.

But, I don’t have to be with Aine.

After I started playing in a band, my social circle became larger and larger, and there were more and more people who could be called "friends"...

Really, it doesn’t have to be Aine.

"Senior, Senior?"

“…I didn’t say anything until now, so I guess I scared you. Sorry.”

Akie looked at Aine.

She seemed... a little flustered for some reason.

This is only natural.

After all, she had just made it clear.

So, is she scared?

Afraid that our relationship will deteriorate irreversibly as a result?

If you have such concerns, you should find a corresponding solution. Therefore, it would be better to let the other party realize that "our relationship will not deteriorate because of this."

This was a point Aine had expressed before.

Theoretically, Qiu Hui thought that maybe she should do the same...