Loneliness and Rock and Roll with Band Observer

"Yeah." Akie admitted as a matter of course, as if she was just saying something like "I didn't have breakfast today."

"this……"

Li Xi's mind went a little blank.

She has always lived in the shadow of her sister, existing as "Shiina Maki's younger sister."

She was dissatisfied and miserable with the current situation and wanted to do something to change it...

...But she had never, or dared not to imagine, that there was such a path to take.

This kind of thing is not even within the scope of consideration of Shiina Riki.

Right now, the relationship between Lixi and her sister is very strained, but at this moment she has an urge to persuade Qiu Hui to have a better relationship with her sister.

Her elder sister, Ms. Haruna Togawa, was standing outside the door at that moment.

Lixi recalled what she had said before.

"...Please don't tell her that you've seen me or that I came to Tokyo, Riki-san."

So that's what's going on. She suddenly realized.

"Akie, I'm sorry to hear that..."

"There's no need to apologize." Qiu Hui said, "It's just the result of my personal paranoia and stupidity, as well as some misunderstandings and various coincidences."

She spoke lightly, but Li Xi always felt that he couldn't just listen to it lightly.

"So, the time when you ran away from home, Akiie..."

"If we count from the beginning, it's been almost two years now," Akie answered. "Thanks to the income from the novels, I have no problem making ends meet and even have a little surplus."

"Two years..."

Li Xi was a little dazed.

She hated living in her sister's shadow and hoped to take a step forward and find a space of her own.

But what Togawa Akihime did was to tell her: You can do more than just take a step. In fact, you can just run all the way to the end of the world!

Li Xi hopes that he will not be a vassal of his sister forever...

…but she also couldn’t imagine completely severing ties with her sister.

"actually……"

Li Xi subconsciously wanted to speak and tell her that Miss Togawa Haruna was actually outside the door, chatting with her sister.

She recalled what Nagasaki Motoyo had said, and hoped that Akie could also communicate well with her sister.

"Actually what?"

"…No, it's nothing. I already know enough. Let's… continue talking about composing." Lixi said.

"Okay, I understand... Ah, Li Xi, wait for me for a moment. I'll be away for a while."

"Okay. I'll wait for you."

There is no longer any discernible sound coming from the other end of the headphones.

Is he talking to that person who might be Toyokawa Shoko? Li Xi thought.

……

Putting down the headphones, Qiu Hui turned around and looked at Xiangzi behind her.

During this time, Xiangzi had basically finished cleaning the entire room.

"What Akiie said about 'having conflicts with her family', so that's what it really means." Xiangzi whispered.

"Yes." Qiu Hui sighed and whispered, "Now that I think about it, both my parents and my sister were excellent people who cared about me very much. I think it's basically my fault that things turned out like this."

"yes……"

Xiangzi nodded meaningfully.

It’s all “my own problem”.

"I have finished my work, so I won't... disturb Qiu Hui anymore," she said.

"I understand. Please wait a moment. I will go find the money..."

Xiangzi looked at Qiu Hui who was checking the timer and looking for cash, and then looked at the narrow single bed.

Thinking back to the "thing" that I hadn't put away due to negligence or some other reason, and thinking back to the time when I was in the same bed with Akie...

"Shoko-san, what's wrong? Why do you look so weird all of a sudden?"

“No, nothing… Thank you, Akie! Anyway, I’m leaving now!”

Xiangzi left Qiuhui's residence with his heart pounding all the way.

Chapter 25: Aine, how do you feel now?

after a while.

"…It's getting pretty late now, and I should get some rest. Riki, you should also be careful not to stay up late."

Li Xi glanced at the clock. It was only ten o'clock.

Ten o'clock is not too late, is it? she thought.

"I'll pay attention. But I'm a little surprised that Qiu Hui isn't the type who stays up late." Li Xi said.

She originally thought that Qiu Hui would be the type who was used to going to bed late, just like herself.

"I used to stay up late a lot. But I was often told to go to bed early, so I gradually adjusted my schedule." Akie responded, "Besides, if you don't get enough sleep, you will lack energy, and your performance throughout the day will be worse. It's totally not worth it."

"I see. See you then?"

"See you later. Li Xi should also remember to get some rest."

Qiu Hui cut off the voice call. Li Xi sighed. Although Qiu Hui said so, she actually had no intention of going to bed early.

If you get up at seven o'clock tomorrow and sleep for six hours... or five hours, then you will have at least four hours left.

There is so much that can be done in four hours, especially considering that preparation for a performance should be completed as quickly as possible, even if it is only four minutes, it should be used properly.

However, you should take a short break in the middle to organize your thoughts and relax a little.

Thinking of this, she picked up her phone to check if there was any new message.

“…Aine?”

Li Xi looked at the message alert on the screen with some surprise.

It's really strange that guy would come to me for something...

Chihaya Aine. Riki's first impression of her was actually quite bad.

Frivolous and likes to show off, his skills are terrible, and he has an inexplicable relationship with lights...

However, the series of events that have happened from the formation of the band to today seem to have gradually left some traces on her.

Although I still often make mistakes, I have indeed become more diligent in my practice. Although I still have some irrelevant thoughts and actions, my passion for the band seems to be gradually revealed...

Thinking of this, she opened the message from Aine.

"Rikki, it's summer vacation now, I want to invite everyone in the band to go to the beach together!"

...play? Li Xi frowned.

"The most important thing now is to prepare for the performance! Don't always think about that kind of thing!" she replied.

I just felt that Aine’s attitude was a little serious... Was it my illusion?

"Eh? Rikki is too strict! Even the seniors agreed!"

Aiyin seemed to be checking her phone, so she replied quickly. This guy really has nothing to do again...

…But before that, what Riki was more concerned about was the word "senpai" mentioned by Aine.

"When you mentioned everyone in the band, did that include Akiie?" she replied.

“Yes! Of course, that includes Senpai!” Aine quickly replied, “Rather, is there any reason to exclude her?”

...That’s right, Li Xi sighed.

Not only me, but this guy also unknowingly regarded Qiu Hui as a member of the band?

"She just told me that she is busy with her own work, so she may not be able to continue to be a supporting musician for us for a long time."

Riki inputted the message and sent it to Aine.

"She told me that she hopes to finish the preparations for the performance as soon as possible because after the first performance, she didn't plan to continue."

Aine didn't send a reply for a long time.

Just when Lixi was getting a little impatient, the reply finally appeared.

It was a series of emoticons, basically expressing the meaning of "shock".

"That's why I said to focus on preparing for the performance," Riki replied, "and to cause as little trouble to Akie as possible."

“How could this happen…” Aine replied.

To be honest, this seems to be the first time Lixi has seen someone enter ellipsis while chatting on the Internet.

“Aine, have you set a time?”

"Probably in the next few days."

"Don't be so cautious! Since you've suggested that we go out together, you should make plans in advance, right?"

"Let's not worry about that for now. If that's the case, do you agree, Riki?"

"Well, anyway, tell everyone after you make your decision."

"okay, I get it!"

After finishing his talk, Li Xi exited the chat interface and suddenly realized something.

“Did Aine just now…” she thought, “…call my name correctly?”

……

"..."

Aiyin threw her phone on the coffee table, and lay down on the sofa, looking at the ceiling through her glasses.

Busy with my work...

Yeah, I actually knew about it a long time ago. I was going to end the band, but I just signed a contract recently, and now I have a lot of work to do...

but.

Senior, I don't plan to continue being a supporting musician...

No! What support musicians?

Whether it's me or Xiao Deng, everyone has actually...unconsciously regarded the seniors as official members, right?

She recalled what Qiu Hui had said to her in RiNG.

She felt at that moment that something important had ended...

"Did I... do something wrong?"

Aine muttered to herself.

Maybe I didn’t do anything wrong. Even if my senior answered this question in person, she would just say this with a smile.

I don't have any "like" feelings towards you, senpai. This matter itself is legitimate and blameless, even senpai himself would think so.

Just like the senior didn't want to continue being a support musician... No one can blame her for this.

Thinking of this, a very subtle idea suddenly popped up in Aine's mind.

Could it be that... Senior, all along, you have been doing this for...

“No, no, no! Aine, what are you thinking about!?”

For a moment, Aine wanted to roll around on the sofa, but luckily she stopped this unwise idea in time before she fell.