Loneliness and Rock and Roll with Band Observer

"Don't know? So, you're not sure what to do?"

"Yeah." Deng nodded slightly.

"Akiu-senpai has never agreed to officially join," she said. "So, although I also hope that Akiu-senpai can continue to accompany us, I don't know whether I should tell her."

"I think... if it's Akiie-senpai, she might agree. But is that really okay?"

After that, Deng suddenly used her usual weak tone to say something that had nothing to do with her style: "'The band is actually an unexpectedly loose structure, right? Due to various reasons, disbanding and reorganization are common!'"

“…Ah! This, is this a line from the novel?” Aine realized it all at once, “The protagonist said this when explaining why he re-formed a band!”

The novel naturally refers to Qiu Ranzi's new work.

"I believe that Ms. Aki Ryoko's works must have been filled with her own true thoughts." Deng lowered his head slightly because of his depressed mood.

Although Deng didn’t explain it clearly, Aine felt that she had guessed it almost exactly.

Deng probably feels that his seniors don't actually agree with the value of "forming a band for life", so he's worried about the conflict of ideas between them, right?

"Xiao Deng, actually..."

Aine was about to speak, but suddenly realized something was wrong.

Facing Deng's puzzled look, she could only smile and shake her head: "...Nothing."

Actually, my senior started playing in a band because he liked me...

...I almost told Xiao Deng about this inexplicable thing!

Aine's face immediately turned red, and she had the urge to slap herself. Saying such a line... No, to be honest, thinking like this is too self-righteous!

Also, did I just think that as long as I agreed to my senior's request, she would obediently agree to come back and play in the band with us, even if it meant giving up her job?

How can you think like that! It's a bit too... what!

“Aine…” Deng looked at Aine who had suddenly become confused for some reason and revealed an uneasy look.

And just then.

"Good morning."

Togawa Aie walked into the practice room and greeted everyone as usual.

And Aine quickly noticed her arrival and was about to step forward to greet her.

“Senior! Senior…”

Aine was stunned.

She hardly recognized who was in front of her.

The originally messy black hair was now combed smooth and straight by someone's superb skills, exuding a raven-feather-like luster. The side was pinned up with a bright yellow hairband, which looked neat and proper, and particularly set off the quiet side of its owner's temperament.

The face under the neat bangs - originally an unpolished jade, now seems to have been processed into a perfect work of art by the hands of a famous craftsman.

The gray color that originally covered it due to lack of care and maintenance was now swept away, replaced by unprecedented whiteness, rosiness and luster.

The originally ordinary black-framed glasses now seemed to have become part of this gorgeous composition, making the girl's eyes look even brighter.

"…Is there something on my face?" Qiu Hui adjusted her glasses awkwardly.

"...Qi, Qiu Hui?" Li Xi's eyes widened in shock, "Why are you so..."

"Akiie-senpai!" Deng turned around and greeted with a smile. She didn't seem surprised at all, and didn't seem to care about the change in her appearance at all.

"Nothing, they are all the work of friends." Akie smiled a little embarrassedly, "Compared to this, what about Suyo-san and Rakuna-san?"

She has always put her work first, even now that she has a new look.

"Sushi said she'll be here for a while. As for the stray cat... I asked her in the group chat but she didn't reply. I can only pray that she can come on time."

Li Xi didn't waste his attention on the details. After a brief moment of surprise, he immediately returned to his normal pace.

But for others, it's a different story.

"……friend?"

Aine looked at Akie, dumbfounded.

A friend who can help with makeup?

Chapter 44: Seek “Friends” and Receive “Friends”

Qiu Hui lowered her head and looked at the clothes she was wearing with a little embarrassment.

At first glance it's just a simple summer top and skirt, with some simple accessories that have a gauze-like texture.

But Miss Miao Meng used her strength as a beauty blogger to match this simple outfit, which Qiu Hui herself could not understand, into a refreshing and quiet style.

Qiu Hui herself has become accustomed to the feeling of walking around in public wearing oversized T-shirts, and only when attending formal occasions does she pay a little attention to her appearance.

"That's not right!" She still remembered that Miao Meng had righteously retorted last night, "Although the ability to cope with situations is also important, a girl's most beautiful side should be shown to the people she truly cares about!"

...Maybe that's the case.

As a result, the next day, which was this morning, before going out, Qiu Hui decided to let Miao Meng control her for once.

The result is that every detail of her from head to toe, from makeup to outfit, is actually the work of Miao Meng.

After obtaining Qiu Hui's consent, Miao Meng even specially recorded a video using the equipment in the studio, preparing to upload it as an update tonight.

Anyway, she usually appears in public with a mask as "Akirako"...so it doesn't matter even if she appears in the video, right?

Moreover, Qiu Hui herself also hoped that she could help Miao Meng, so she let her do so.

Now, she is tuning the electronic piano in front of her.

This is still the entry-level model she bought when she first started playing in a band. Now, the band already has instruments prepared by the agency, so this entry-level electronic keyboard is specifically used as an instrument for this band.

“Aine, what’s going on?”

Akie felt Aine approaching, so she raised her head and looked at her.

Although there had been some emotional frictions before, the two had been friends for a long time after all. So Qiu Hui did not deliberately adjust her expression, but just looked at each other naturally.

“I… that…”

Aine hesitated, which was unusual for her.

She tugged at the corner of her plaid skirt somewhat nervously, and her eyes seemed to be more focused on Aki's piano keys than on Aki herself.

She must have something to say, but she either forgot what to say or didn't know how to say it.

But, it seems rare that Aine would be speechless like now...

"What's wrong?" Qiu Hui asked with a friend's concern, "Is there anything bothering you?"

“I’m upset, I can’t even say what’s bothering me!” Aine shook her head vigorously, “Actually… uh, didn’t I say before that I wanted everyone to go to the beach together?”

"Yes, I remember. What's wrong?"

"Hmm... Actually, I was thinking, since we're going to the beach, and it's summer vacation, why not... have a training camp?"

Aiyin seemed to have finally remembered how she usually spoke, and described her plan with great excitement.

“How should I put it? Right now, our band still lacks a sense of teamwork, right? So at this time, we have to rely on training to narrow the distance between each other!” Aine said seriously, “This kind of plot is very common, right? Seniors must be familiar with it too!”

"Training? It sounds good..."

Qiu Hui thought about it and then offered a suggestion that reflected her personal style: "But it will be expensive, right? Renting a house, and various other expenses."

Aine was stunned, then she couldn’t help laughing: “As expected, Senior would care about this kind of thing! It’s okay, if it really doesn’t work, it’s okay for me to pay for Senior’s share, okay?”

"That's one thing." Qiu Hui shook her head in annoyance. "If it takes too long, I might not be able to spare enough time..."

"..."

The smile on Aine’s face disappeared, and a hint of bitterness appeared on her face.

She felt conflicted, happy and unhappy at the same time. She was happy that her senior was still considering the issue from the premise of "if I were to go".

As for the unhappiness, it is because...

“…If you don’t have time, I can’t force you.” Aine smiled bitterly and shook her head, “But… can you at least come for a day and a night?”

"I'll try to arrange the time." Qiu Hui nodded with a smile, "Does anyone else know?"

"When everyone is here, I will tell everyone at once..."

Although Akie agreed, Aine didn’t look like she was in a good mood at all.

"...Anyway, thank you for considering this, Senior."

"Thank you? Why should I thank you?" Qiu Hui asked in confusion.

"...Nothing! Anyway, I'm going to go get ready for practice!"

Aine turned and left, leaving Akie a little confused.

"..."

In fact, it would be normal even if the senior didn’t come at all.

Because, this training camp is held to enhance the team spirit of the band members...

Senior, he wasn’t even part of the band.

She is just my "friend".

It's not something special.

Moreover, she took a step back and placed herself in that place according to "my wishes"...

…So, why…am I dissatisfied?

Taking out the guitar from the instrument bag, Aiyin stared at the guitar strings in a trance and even forgot to pick it up before standing up.

She suddenly realized that she had unknowingly forgotten all the words she had planned to say.

And if you think about it carefully, it seems that there is no need to say it at all.

It seems that the senior already knows... clearly what "friend" means.

Although the relationship is friendly, it is not irreplaceable to each other.

It can be put on a scale as a weight and compared with other factors to draw a conclusion on which one is more important.

She's already... treating me like a friend.

I should be...satisfied, right?

She stood up with her guitar in her hand and looked in the direction of Qiu Hui.

Qiu Hui had already walked over to Li Xi, and they were chatting about something. It seemed to be about music scores, and they seemed to have agreed to find a time to discuss composition and arrangement together.

At this point, I can no longer say it.

"Please continue to be a supporting musician" and so on.

Because, if my senior asked me "why", how should I answer?

I have already rejected my senior's feelings because I don't "like" her and don't want to bear the weight of that word.

If that's the case, then why would she...

Yes. If you think about this from the perspective of a senior, and in the way that a senior thinks...

I rejected her, so what could I offer her in exchange?

“…Aine?”

Aine turned her head and saw Deng standing next to her.

Deng looked over with some concern: “…Just now, what Aine wanted to talk about was something related to Akiie-senpai?”

Chapter 45: Longing but Wanting to Escape

“Yeah.” Aine nodded somewhat discouragedly, like a drowned puppy, “I hope that Senpai can continue to stay, but I don’t know how to say it…”

And the look on Tomo’s face that seemed to empathize with her made Aine feel a little uneasy.

“Aine, do you also feel troubled by not being able to express your thoughts?” asked Deng.