Loneliness and Rock and Roll with Band Observer

So the two of them turned back and came to an open space where there were many lounge chairs. After finding two beach lounge chairs placed side by side, they lay down on them, one on the left and one on the right.

Qiu Hui felt the sea breeze brushing against her body and slowly said, "Su Shi, what do you want to tell me?"

However, before Su Shi could speak, she took the initiative to put forward her own guess.

"…Is it related to Toyokawa Shoko?"

When referring to Xiangzi, Qiu Hui deliberately used his full name.

"Akihie guessed it." Su Shi answered, her voice sounding a little nervous.

"I think that Suyo-san may have a slight misunderstanding." Akie carefully considered her words, "I have never 'admitted' that I have a relationship with Toyokawa Shoko. Therefore, I can't 'help' with this matter, and I can't give any guarantees..."

"…Is it because Xiao Xiang doesn't want me to know about your relationship?"

A rare hint of urgency appeared on Su Shi's face.

She completely ignored Qiu Hui's official documents and directly put the facts she guessed in front of Qiu Hui.

“I…can’t…”

Qiu Hui shook her head nervously, an uneasy expression on her face.

In Su Shi's eyes, this look even seemed a bit cute for some reason.

"Although Akie didn't say anything, she didn't deny anything either." Suyo smiled, "If you really don't know anything, why don't you just deny it outright?"

"Please, please don't make assumptions..." Akie's rebuttal became increasingly weak.

"That's right. These are indeed just my own guesses."

Realizing that she seemed to be pushing too hard, Suyo changed her words to relieve the pressure Akie was feeling.

"Akie didn't say anything. So, if I guessed something right... it's not Akie's fault."

"..." Akie responded with silence.

Su Shi turned his face back and looked up at the blue sky.

"Akie is really responsible. She obeyed Xiaoxiang's request, but she was still unwilling to really deceive me..."

She spoke to herself, then sighed softly.

"If Xiao Mu could be like you..."

"Who is 'Xiao Mu'?"

"Ah, nothing." Su Shi responded, "Anyway, what I want to tell Qiu Hui is that I will definitely not let you down."

"Although you were just a supporting musician I invited at the beginning, the bond that has developed between you and everyone over this period of time is real."

"So... I will definitely find the most suitable keyboard player for this band, so that Akihime can focus on her work with peace of mind."

"Even if Akie leaves, I will definitely let this band continue for 'lifetime'."

Su Shi turned around again and smiled at Qiu Hui.

"I am very grateful for Sushi's kindness."

Qiu Hui looked at the sky thoughtfully.

"So, there is one thing I think I need to make clear to you."

"What is it?" Su Shi said in a calm tone, waiting for Akie to speak.

Akie's expression turned serious.

"Mr. Suyo, what I just said is based on the premise that 'that person' agrees to your request and joins this band."

Akihie recalled the scene when she had previous contact with Toyokawa Shoko.

"But have you ever thought about it, seriously thought about it?"

"If that person is unwilling to join no matter what..."

She turned her head and met Su Shi's eyes.

“…What are you going to do?”

Chapter 59 "Must have a keyboard player"

"You don't want to... no matter what?"

Su Shi's thoughts were interrupted for a moment.

Qiu Hui's question forced her to face a problem that she was always unwilling to face.

She has been turning a blind eye to this problem all along.

Principle 1: Xiaoxiang will definitely be convinced by me. Principle 2: If you doubt that Xiaoxiang will not be convinced by me, then refer to the first principle...

Nagasaki Suyo has already built a high wall of paranoid consciousness in his heart.

She had been frightened by Togawa Aki's efforts to unite the band, and her hope had been rekindled by Togawa Aki's vague and ambiguous assurances. She could no longer allow this hope to be shattered a second time.

Just as the seams of broken porcelain become more indestructible after being repaired, at this moment, Su Shi can no longer accept the possibility that Toyokawa Shoko is unwilling to return no matter what.

Even just considering it as a hypothetical possibility...it's impossible.

"Akie, what do you mean?"

Qiu Hui also noticed the slightly trembling tone of Su Shi, so she reiterated her thoughts: "I have already said it. I can't give Su Shi any guarantees on this matter."

"I'm just guessing based on the current situation that Toyokawa Shoko will come to the show, and I don't have much basis for that."

"As for the next step, whether you can convince her to join us, Suzuki, is something that no one can guarantee. No one except Toyokawa Shoko herself knows exactly what she is thinking..."

Having said this, Qiu Hui hesitated for a moment, as if she was wondering whether she should say the following words to Su Shi.

But she said it after all, out of a sense of responsibility towards her friend.

"This includes Suyo-san, and you as well."

Qiu Hui's serious and slightly worried expression at this moment was very different from her panicked look just now.

After the initial nervousness, she quickly realized Su Shi's intention, so she tuned her mentality to the corresponding channel.

"Since you can't read Toyokawa Shoko's true thoughts, you should always consider the worst-case scenario and be mentally prepared accordingly..."

"Please stop talking!" Su Shi suddenly almost shouted.

The sound was so loud that even passers-by nearby were startled.

Qiu Hui was naturally also shocked.

Something that had been surrounding Nagasaki Motoyo seemed to have shattered in that instant.

"Moyo-san, you..."

"……ah."

Su Shi realized his loss of composure and quickly regained control of himself.

"I'm sorry, I mean, please don't continue talking about this topic... I'll try to think about it."

However, it is hard to say how much significance this kind of afterthought still has. At this moment, Su Shi seemed to be aware of this, so there was still a little panic and uneasiness in his eyes.

“Well, then…”

Qiu Hui was also frightened by this sudden outburst, so she didn't say anything more.

There was an awkward silence between the two people lying side by side on the recliner.

Miss Su Shi...is she really okay?

Togawa Aie was in doubt.

She hopes that Xiangzi can return to the band and thinks this is the best choice for the band. I can understand this.

But I just asked her to consider Xiangzi's thoughts before taking any action... Why did she react so strongly?

Even if we consider the worst case scenario, that is, Xiangzi does not want to join no matter what, then Su Shi can still continue to form a band with everyone... If it really doesn't work, it's not impossible to remove the keyboard player...

Just then, Qiu Hui suddenly thought of something.

That is what Su Shi mentioned when he invited himself to join.

In this band, it was already decided in advance that there would be a keyboard player.

Considering her intense reaction just now...

...Instead of saying "this band must have a keyboard player", wouldn't it be more appropriate to understand it as "this band must have Toyokawa Shoko"?

Thinking of this, Qiu Hui turned her head and tried to look at Su Shi's expression.

The latter was currently lying on his back, his eyes fixed on the sky, his expression difficult to discern.

"..."

Togawa Aie vaguely realized something.

There seemed to be a problem hidden in this band that was far more serious than Aine's previous depression and escape.

She sincerely hoped that this was just an illusion caused by her overthinking.

but……

"Senior! And Suyo!"

“…Aine?”

Akie sat up straight on the recliner and looked at Aine who came to her.

Aiyin was smiling and seemed to be in a good mood. In her hands, she was holding a huge...

"watermelon?"

“It’s watermelon!” Aine laughed.

"…Where did you get this thing?" Akie was puzzled.

"Well, that's not important! What's important is that when you think of playing at the beach, you'll definitely think of playing with watermelons, right?"

Aine looked at the two of them and invited them enthusiastically, “I just searched for you for a long time but couldn’t find you two. I didn’t expect you to be lying here. It would be too boring to just lie down and bask in the sun. How about we play together? There are a lot of watermelons, we can play several times!”

"……a lot of?"

Maybe it was because she happened to meet a vendor selling watermelons on the beach, so Aine bought a lot of them in a rush.

However, it doesn’t matter where the watermelon comes from. What matters is what you do with it next.

"In fact, I've never played the watermelon game with anyone before." Qiu Hui said with some emotion, "I've never been to the beach with friends before..."

"That's not important!"

Aine took two steps forward and grasped Akie’s hand.

"Aren't you playing at the beach with your friends right now?"

She grinned, revealing a full set of neat white teeth.

After holding Qiu Hui's hand, she turned around and looked at Su Shi who was sitting on the recliner.

"Sushi, come and play too. It's so boring to bask in the sun alone!"

"I'll just... forget it." Su Shi sat up, then smiled helplessly, "I'm not very good at this kind of game..."

“Sometimes it’s actually fun to be bad at something! Come on, come on!” Aine insisted.

Su Shi looked at Ai Yin, who was as excited as a puppy, and a barely perceptible gloom flashed in his eyes.

“How should I put it? Hitting watermelons… is done by following your friends’ instructions, right?” Akie also chimed in, “I think it can also… uh, help the band members get along better with each other?”

Even Qiu Hui herself felt that this statement was a bit forced, but it seemed to have a great impact on Su Shi.

“…Then, I’ll come too!”

After a while of hesitation, Su Shi smiled and agreed to Aine's request.

"Great! Then how about Sushi come too?"

Aiyin stepped forward and took Su Shi's wrist, and with two people on the left and right, the three of them returned together.