Loneliness and Rock and Roll with Band Observer

"Even if there is a mistake...it's all Pochi's fault."

"That's what I was thinking. I'm really sorry. I don't think I have the energy to think about what I can do to avoid it..."

"Akie!"

Goto Ichiri suddenly shouted.

Qiu Hui stopped and looked slightly surprised.

Yili seemed to realize that it was a bit strange to shout in the bathroom cubicle, so he quickly lowered his voice with some fear.

"Akie, don't think about those things."

"You just said that, didn't you? You want me to make a request of you. If that's the case, the first request I'll make of you is this!"

"Don't think too much, just leave it to me!"

After saying that, Yili laughed embarrassedly.

“…Hehe. I’ve always wanted to try saying something like this.”

She raised her head and her eyes no longer dodged.

"Akie, you may really not like me. But even if you don't like me, you are always thinking about me."

"Even though I don't have any special talents other than playing the guitar..."

"…Even if Akie doesn't like me, I am satisfied as long as she pays attention to my thoughts."

Yili reached out and pushed away Qiu Hui's hand on her shoulder, then pressed it on her slightly thin shoulder instead.

"But, like I said before, I won't give up."

"So... I will continue to work hard... to help Akie."

Qiu Hui, who had her shoulders pressed by Ichiri, suddenly felt an inexplicable sense of uneasiness.

"I'm glad you think so, Pochi, but what exactly do you mean?"

Ichiri looked at Akie's frowning face and smiled shyly.

"... Let's start by making sure Akie no longer feels any psychological pressure."

"Akie always seems to think that I am fragile and need care, so no matter what I do, I have to consider my thoughts."

“It was the same thing just now. He actually said ‘I can make any request I want’ and I thought he was shirking responsibility…”

"Akiie really underestimated me, didn't she? That's why I feel so stressed!"

Goto Ichiri suddenly made the accusation in a righteous manner.

Her courage then swelled up like a balloon that was suddenly filled with a large amount of gas.

"I have never been able to make friends for various reasons, and I have gradually become introverted and socially anxious!"

“But! Because of Akie, I am a little bit more confident now!”

Although he said that, he was still hesitant when speaking. Akie couldn't help but smile because she thought it was a little funny.

"So!" Ichiri's eyes widened and he increased the strength of his hands, "I will also make...excessive demands!"

“Just like this!”

This time was the same as last time. Ichiri didn't even bother to take off Akie's glasses.

“Hmm!”

Qiu Hui's back pressed against the wall of the cubicle, making a dull thud.

She was just finding it a little funny that the other party was being so cowardly, but now she was being pressed against the wall and kissed forcefully... Oh my God, this was the second time!

Although it was the second time, Qiu Hui did not become more calm.

On the contrary, she was even more flustered than the first time.

After all, we were in the Ferris wheel cabin before, with only air around us, but now we are in a public restroom!

“Hmm? Hmm! Hmm…”

Since she couldn't say anything anyway, Qiu Hui simply suppressed the urge to speak.

She now just prayed that there was no one else in the cubicle...

“…Haha.”

This kiss didn't last long. After a few seconds, Yili broke away hastily.

“All in all!” Her face was like a ripe tomato. “Don’t, don’t always think that I’m…weak…or something like that! I can…can…”

"..."

Goto Ichiri flung open the cubicle door and ran out.

"..." Qiu Hui smiled bitterly and shook her head.

"...That's too much." She said in a low voice.

However, thanks to this sudden incident, although she was a little annoyed, the sadness that had been lingering in her heart seemed to have eased a lot.

Chapter 28 Senior Liang, I Want One-on-Many

Coming out of the cubicle, she straightened her slightly messed up clothes in front of the mirror.

Qiu Huiben wanted to leave the bathroom just like that, but before she could react, she stared at the mirror in a daze for a long time.

"..."

I feel like... I want to give up on myself, Qiu Hui thought.

Before, I had always followed certain principles, treated feelings and all related behaviors carefully, tried to clarify the definition and extension, and thought about appropriate response measures...

...It turned out to be a mess. Neither Pochi nor I felt happy about it.

However, if I put aside these inexplicable restrictions and just let Pochi do whatever he wants to me unilaterally, it feels like both parties will benefit.

So, is it really necessary?

Don’t worry about whether the relationship is true or false, or about boring questions like what to choose.

As long as someone needs it, just respond. Wouldn't it be better this way?

“…Forget it, don’t think too much about it for now.”

Qiu Hui muttered to herself and left the bathroom.

Soon after, the band finished practicing in the room.

"Is this a real commercial recording studio?" Kita excitedly picked up his phone and took photos everywhere, "How amazing!"

"It does seem to be much more luxurious than STARRY." Hong Xia reached out and touched the acoustically designed soundproof wall.

Although she said that it was better than STARRY, judging from her expression and tone, she didn't seem as excited as Kita.

"Ooooh, this microphone looks really..." Ryo stared at the device, his eyes shining.

Qiu Hui didn't care too much. She just found the instrument provided by the agency and started operating the panel.

"Today we're mainly practicing, but according to our agent, it would be best if we could record a few alternative versions." She operated the synthesizer panel while explaining today's schedule to everyone, "Of course, we only need to record the audio tracks, so there's no need to finish the video part today."

"Anyway, all we have to do is practice as usual and play like we did in previous performances, right?" Kita asked.

"Yeah, that's it." Qiu Hui nodded.

Come to think of it, I don’t think I’ve had any in-depth communication with Kita-san so far.

For some reason, Qiu Hui suddenly remembered this incident.

After Kita finished talking to Akie, he turned around and looked at Ichiri who was tuning his guitar.

"Don't be too nervous, Xiao Yili." She smiled, "Just perform as you normally would!"

"Oh...yeah! I understand!" Ichiri nodded vigorously.

When she ran out of the bathroom, she happened to meet Kita who had just arrived.

Since Ichiri looked very flustered at the time, Kita wondered if it was because it was her first time in a recording studio, an unfamiliar environment, and she wasn't quite used to it yet.

At the end, the band members quickly took their positions and prepared for practice.

"Hongxia, shall we begin?"

"OK!" Hongxia said and started beating the drumsticks.

After the practice began, Qiu Hui played with ease.

After a considerable amount of practice, she can now finish the band's current repertoire with relative ease.

Therefore, she still had enough energy to think about other things while practicing.

In terms of pure results...

While playing, Qiu Hui recalled what had just happened.

...Pochi kissed me forcibly, for the second time.

It was strange. Perhaps because the things she had encountered recently were too many and too complicated, Qiu Hui realized that she unexpectedly had no special feelings.

I didn't feel shy as described in the story. On the contrary, I felt relieved.

If I could just let Pochi do this to me, I could alleviate her problem to some extent...

How can I put it, isn't this pretty good?

While Akie performed the assigned passage beautifully, some rather unorthodox ideas were running through her mind.

After a temporary break from practice, she went straight to Ichiri.

"I feel like Ichiri is in pretty good shape today." She said meaningfully, "You play very smoothly."

"Hehe, there's nothing special about it." Ichiri smiled sheepishly, "I just played it as usual..."

"Pochi-chan, if you can just perform at your normal level, you'll be amazing!"

After praising her like this, Hongxia came close to Qiu Hui and asked quietly, "Xiao Qiu Hui, what happened before..."

"I can't say it's resolved." Qiu Hui also responded in a low voice, "I can only say that it has been alleviated for the time being."

Looking at Yili who was showing a tacky smile at the moment, she felt relieved but also a little uneasy.

The current... situation cannot be considered as a real solution to the problem.

It's just that the final outbreak of the problem has been postponed for a period of time in a way that both sides can barely accept.

"What do you mean by relieved?" Hong Xia didn't quite understand.

However, she did not dwell on this issue for too long: "Well, as long as everyone's mood can be improved, that's enough!"

After saying this, she found Ichiri and started chatting with him and Kita.

Looking at the three people who started talking, the smile on Qiu Hui's face gradually disappeared, and finally turned into a restrained but clear distress.

How should the problem between Yili and I be resolved in the end?

Should we "confirm the relationship"? Should I, or she, be "responsible" for something?

Regarding Aine's matter...should I give up? Or should I continue to work hard to promote mutual understanding until both parties are fully aware of each other's situation before making the final conclusion?

Questions like these probably can't be discussed with Pochi himself.

In the Ending Band... no, or rather, in Akihie's small social circle, there was perhaps only one guy who could calmly discuss such issues.

"cold."

"What's wrong?"

"Come here for a moment, I have something to ask you."

"Would you like me to provide you with relationship counseling?"

"You're only so sensitive about boring things like this." Qiu Hui sighed.

The two of them came to the corner of the practice room and separated themselves from the three people who were chatting about other topics.

"What kind of relationship problem is it?" Ryo asked with his usual nonchalant attitude, "Ah, speaking of you and Pochi..."

"It just so happens to be related to that. To put it simply, I..."