Loneliness and Rock and Roll with Band Observer

After paying the meal bill in advance, the two left the table and came to the door of the family restaurant.

At this moment, the last bit of sunset has slowly dissipated into the sky shrouded by night.

A cool breeze blew in from between the two buildings across the intersection, making Qiu Hui feel relaxed and happy. It was rare to have such a refreshing breeze in the early summer of July.

"So." She turned to look at Liang beside her, "Is there something that we have to talk about outside?"

This time, she deliberately didn't pay much attention to whether her tone was polite or not.

The other person didn't look like the type who would care about such a small matter, so Qiu Hui was happy to be more casual.

"It's too busy inside." Liang replied, "Since this is a topic between two people, I think it's better not to talk about it in a place where everyone is around."

Her neatly trimmed dark blue short hair fluttered slightly in the breeze, and her uncovered snow-white and slender neck stood out against the backdrop of the night.

If we exclude the fact that she is always concerned about money, she is indeed a beautiful woman with a stern temperament, Qiu Hui thought.

"Are you going to talk to me about something that only concerns the two of us?" Akie asked, "Is it about composition?"

"You guessed it right." Liang nodded.

She put her hands in her pockets and whistled a breath.

From the indifferent expression on the other person's face, Qiu Hui could not discern the detailed intentions.

"I heard it from Nijixia. Akiie, you are also planning to participate in the composition work of the band, right?"

"That's not the case." Qiu Hui shook her head. "What I mean is, if there are any simple chores that require my help during the process, you can ask me to do them as much as possible. I will only express my opinions when necessary."

Ryo looked at Akie for a while without saying a word.

"That's a very cunning statement." She commented after a long silence.

"cunning?"

"Sincere band members are usually a little more arrogant," Liang explained, "Humility is a kind of cunning in music."

"Is that what Ryo thinks?" Akie chuckled, "I think that statement itself is a bit cunning."

"How do you explain it?"

"I don't know. I just have this feeling."

"Oh, I see."

The two of them strolled on the sidewalk outside the store, carrying on an erratic conversation.

"How much do you know about composing music?" Liang asked.

"...I don't know much. If I have to say anything, it's just a little common sense."

“Is this a humble statement?”

"No. It's really just a little common sense."

"Even if you only know a little, you have to force yourself to take on this responsibility. Do you have any reason to do this?"

Ryo's question made Akie stop involuntarily.

"..."

After a moment's silence, Qiu Hui spoke.

"...Actually, there is no valid reason."

If I have to say it, it’s just because I “want to do it”.

She swallowed the second half of the sentence she was about to say.

Perhaps this is an occupational disease of light novel authors. After publishing too many comments in the novel, even if it is a topic that they know nothing about, they can't help but want to get involved.

However, this willful thought is not enough to be expressed in front of serious people.

"There's no reason." Ryo nodded, as if thinking about what Akie said.

Then she stopped in front of a convenience store and stared at the drinks in the refrigerator.

"Are you thirsty?" Liang asked suddenly for no reason.

"Do you want me to treat you?" Qiu Hui suddenly answered for no reason.

"I never said that." Ryo shook his head.

"Then I'll take that as your consent." Qiu Hui walked into the convenience store, "Just don't choose anything too expensive."

The two followed the entrance sound and came to the refrigerator containing drinks.

When she reached out and touched the cold drink bottle, she suddenly felt a strange feeling in her heart for no reason.

After choosing the drinks, Liang took a look at the price tag and then turned to show it to Qiu Hui.

That's an acceptable number. Qiu Hui nodded.

"Qiu Hui, you remind me of an old friend." Liang said suddenly, holding a drink.

"So, it's not the case anymore?" Akie blurted out according to her first reaction.

"Not anymore." Liang nodded, "Because she is a vulgar person who is too sincere."

Arriving at the counter, Qiu Hui took out some change from her pocket and paid for the two drinks.

“It’s rare to hear someone describe a person in this way.”

She commented to Ryo as she left the counter.

"So, am I on the side of vulgarity or sincerity?"

Liang's way of expression was so direct that it was even a little rude, but Akie didn't seem to feel uncomfortable at all.

On the contrary, I was touched by the offense without too much malice, and felt a subtle sense of comfort like eating chili peppers.

Liang took a big gulp of the drink and then spoke.

"To be precise, I think Akie is vulgar and hypocritical."

She applied a meaningful adjective to Togawa Akee.

Chapter 30 What is your "sincerity"

"Don't say that to someone you've just met." Akie laughed. "Generally speaking, you'll be disliked."

"So you hate this?"

"Please explain what this sentence means first, and I will decide when the time comes."

The two of them came to the dining area inside the convenience store and sat down on the provided high stools, facing the street view outside the floor-to-ceiling windows.

Liang gently pushed the drink bottle aside and explained, "Actually, this isn't the first time I've formed a band with someone."

"Why, Ryo has also had a bad experience with his original team?" Akie asked, "It seems that internal conflicts are really an indispensable part of forming a band."

This is not surprising. In reality, people will conflict for inexplicable reasons.

The negative emotions that accumulate little by little from small problems and are usually imperceptible will almost always burst out in an instant for some inexplicable reason.

"The reason I quit was because of my ex-friend. Her obsession with being popular was too severe and hard to bear. She was always struggling with inexplicable problems to attract attention, and gradually lost interest in the music itself."

“So we can no longer consider each other as musical partners,” Akie concluded. “What a pity.”

"Regret? I think this is actually good for both parties. If you have to do something reluctantly, it would be better not to do it."

Liang tapped the tabletop lightly with his fingers.

"But, in my opinion, Ryo is no less vulgar than anyone else," Akie said in a sarcastic tone.

The other party's unrestrained speaking style made her care less about so-called social etiquette.

"How to say?"

"Ryo-kun is always worried about money. And he seems to always have debts. Isn't that bad?"

“…If you put it that way, I don’t deny it.”

Not sure if it was her illusion, Qiu Hui seemed to feel that the other person's face turned a little red, and he looked a little embarrassed.

"Ryo-san's spending concept is probably pretty horrible. It's hard to imagine a high school student being so short of money," Akie commented.

But if you think about it, playing a musical instrument is a pretty expensive hobby, isn't it?

"...Well, how should I put it? Actually, I have various reasons for being here." Liang said expressionlessly, "Actually, due to my parents' investment strategy, my family's assets have shrunk greatly, and we have to rely on short-term debt with extremely high interest rates to make ends meet..."

“…This can’t be true, right?”

"Akie saw through it right away." Ryo sighed in disappointment, "How boring."

"Who told you to have such a stiff expression when you were talking nonsense?" Qiu Hui chuckled.

This kind of dialogue, which was somewhat like a skit, made her feel good.

She turned her head and paid close attention to how Yamada Ryo was dressed.

The main colors are black and gray, and the design minimizes the exposure of skin, giving people a dull and indifferent look and feel.

"Come to think of it, this outfit of yours doesn't look like something a fashionable high school girl would choose," Akie commented. "Rather, it looks a bit restrained and neutral."

"I'm more used to this," Ryo responded.

"Hmm...if you look closely, you don't seem to be wearing any makeup." Akie looked at her face. "In other words, the biggest expense for a normal high school girl doesn't even exist on you. Where on earth do you spend all your money?"

"Even I am occasionally curious about this question." Liang answered seriously.

"Well... for example, all the money was spent on things related to musical instruments?" Akie guessed.

"It's possible—"

Liang pulled the drink bottle back and took a sip.

Putting the bottle down, she and Qiu Hui looked into each other's eyes.

"——Just like you."

"…Is it related to me?"

"Of course." Liang nodded seriously, "What you said just now reminded me. Maybe I know how to explain what is meant by 'hypocritical vulgarity'."

What? So you didn't know what that meant until just now?

“Ahahaha, then please don’t judge others with words you don’t even understand…”

"I apologize for this. When I saw you, I felt my intuition and said it directly. Please forgive me." Liang expressed his opinion unexpectedly seriously.

Qiu Hui was slightly surprised and didn't care about this issue anymore.

"So, what does that mean?"

"So-called hypocritical vulgarity... let's put it this way. Akie, your speeches in front of everyone so far seem to be deliberately following a certain kind of 'common sense'. Or rather, you deliberately want to show that you know 'common sense' by heart."

Togawa Aie paused slightly as she was about to pick up the drink.

"You are eager to show your understanding and approval of the 'common sense' that the vulgar masses pursue, but... I can sense it more or less. You actually don't believe in those things, right?"

Ryo continued speaking with his usual calm expression.

"This is what is called 'hypocritical vulgarity'. Your 'vulgarity' is not sincere. Of course, as for what is 'sincere' to you... after all, we have only just met. I can't guess it by guessing."

Having said that, Liang showed a faint smile.

"What is your 'sincerity'? Please tell me with words and music."

She raised the drink bottle and handed it to Qiu Hui.

"cheers."

……

"……cheers."

Although he felt it was a bit funny, he still picked up the drink bottle and pretended to touch it lightly.

I unscrewed the bottle cap and took a sip, almost not caring about what the liquid inside tasted like.

"You really used a very cunning wording." Akie smiled, trying to suppress the inexplicable impulse in her eyes, "What exactly is 'sincere' to me... Actually, I don't know."