Loneliness and Rock and Roll with Band Observer

My thoughts and my actions...are they really contradictory?

Su Shi changed into her nightgown, sat on the edge of the bed, staring at the scenery outside the floor-to-ceiling window, without saying a word.

After a moment, she picked up her phone out of habit to check if there were any new messages.

not at all.

This is only natural.

Su Shi felt a sense of fatigue that was a bit too strong.

So be it.

I don't want to care about anything...

If there is anything...let's talk about it tomorrow.

……

Chihaya Aine was sitting on the sofa in her room, talking on the phone.

The noise of a running train came to my ears, and the person on the other end of the phone seemed to be commuting.

“…So, do you think it’s better to leave it like this for now, Senior?” Aine asked.

There was a rare sense of fatigue in her voice. Performing was exhausting in itself, and coupled with the series of events that followed, even though she usually seemed full of energy, she was a little overwhelmed at the moment.

"Yes. I think this might be a better approach."

Qiu Hui on the other end of the phone didn't sound that enthusiastic either.

“It can only be like this.” Aine sighed, “Actually, even now, I still can’t quite believe that things would turn out like this.”

"During the training camp, everyone was so happy, right? Suyo is always so gentle..."

Aine’s voice became smaller and smaller.

"Senior, let me tell you."

"What's wrong?"

"If Sushi really doesn't plan to come back... then, what should we do?"

Aine felt a sense of uneasiness deep in her bones.

She originally planned to join the band just to fit in with the atmosphere of Yuqiu.

But now, this band, which has not even had a chance to come up with a name, has unknowingly become a very important part of her life.

She had gotten used to the existence of this band, used to practicing hard, used to encouraging each other with Deng, used to being dictated to by Li Xi with a gloomy face, used to Le Nai's performance, used to Su Shi's smile, and...

…This band has permeated every aspect of her life.

So when it was cut off, Aiyin suddenly realized that such a big piece of her life was missing.

Faced with this strong feeling of emptiness, she habitually planned to seek help from her seniors.

If it were a senior, there would definitely be a way.

Aine, who had this thought, had not yet realized that, before she knew it, the positions of helping and being helped between her and her senior seemed to have undergone a subtle reversal.

But, completely to her surprise, Qiu Hui on the other end of the phone just smiled helplessly.

"I'm sorry, I don't know what to do."

In Aine's bewildered silence, Akie continued to explain.

"Once Su Shi calms down, I will continue to try to persuade her, but I can't give any guarantees on this."

"As for what the band should do in the future, that's not a topic I'm qualified to interfere in."

“That’s not true!” Aine subconsciously wanted to argue, “Senior obviously…”

what.

She realized something was wrong.

Yes.

The seniors are not even support musicians anymore.

"I've been busy with my work since I finished the band recently, and I'm not sure how much energy I can spare to think about this matter. And right now I'm a complete outsider in this band's affairs, so..."

"I understand. It's my fault for causing trouble to you, Senior."

Although she apologized, at this moment, Aine felt a vague impulse in her heart for some reason.

Could it be that……

Now it’s not that the senior needs me, but... do I need the senior?

Chapter 112: Fainted by the Heavy Girl

When she returned to her residence, Qiu Hui took a quick look at the time and found that it was already quite late.

It was indeed a very fulfilling yet tiring day, she thought half-jokingly.

I took out my phone and checked for new messages as usual, and found that there were quite a few unread messages. Although most of them were advertisements, there were also a lot of content related to work arrangements.

"MV... new song, next performance... and radio show and stuff like that. I'm really nervous."

Oh, and there is actually a light novel. The release date of the second volume is getting closer and closer...

Qiu Hui shook her head vigorously. She had been spending too much energy on social affairs recently, so she had no time to care about work.

The sales of the first volume of the new work are actually quite good. Compared with works of similar themes from the same period, it can be considered quite good.

But this actually puts higher demands on the content of the next volume. Now that the interpersonal relationships in the book have been laid out, readers will naturally want to see more intense emotional conflicts next...

“…But I’m so tired.”

Qiu Hui pushed open the door. Miao Meng's house uses a fingerprint lock, which can be opened directly after entering the information.

From a distance, you can see Miao Meng in the studio, wearing headphones and facing the computer. He is probably doing some editing or something.

Qiu Hui had no intention of disturbing her. She just put her things by the door, closed the door, then quietly walked to the sofa in the living room, sat down, and let the soft and elastic surface capture her.

Intense...emotional conflict?

Just thinking about it, Qiu Hui felt as if her brain was producing a dull pain as if lactic acid was accumulating.

It is said that most of the people who are good at writing romance novels are virgins.

Qiu Hui originally thought that this statement might not be tenable.

But after experiencing a series of events during this period, she did feel that thinking about and constructing those emotional conflicts and contradictions was simply a torture.

It's the same principle as if you are too tired from work you won't want to go to the gym.

Perhaps the emotions that people can invest in building and maintaining relationships can also be quantified as a resource. If you spend too much in the real world, it will be difficult to squeeze out a share to invest in the virtual world.

Qiu Hui was almost lying on the sofa, and she couldn't help but close her eyes without even taking off her glasses.

so tired.

Of course, you have to concentrate when you are playing. After the performance, it should be a chance to relax, but the conflict between Su Shi and Xiang Zi follows again.

Aiyin and the others, as well as Suyo, and even Xiangzi...

Although dealing with the emotional entanglements of high school girls is indeed a little more pleasant than arguing with office workers, but... when I should feel tired, I will still feel tired.

It also includes people I like and people who like me. These factors, in turn, make things more complicated.

It's even more complicated. The person I like doesn't seem to like me that much.

I don’t particularly like the person who likes me…

...Oh, by the way, although I always find it funny to think about this kind of thing, will there be other people who fall in love with me in the future?

On the other hand, will I fall in love with someone else again?

"...Hey, Mr. Akiko, no matter how tired you are, please don't sleep on the sofa, right?"

Ah, there is a sound.

Qiu Hui opened her eyes and looked around dazedly.

It was Miao Meng, of course, there was no one else in the room.

She was wearing home clothes and smiling, without any makeup, but probably with a lot of night skin care products on.

Without makeup, Miao Meng lacks some of her former beauty and charm, and some insignificant flaws are exposed.

But such a change is not without its good side. After taking off the beautiful disguise used to attract attention, some things that truly belong to her are revealed.

Miao Meng naturally stretched out her hand and put it on Qiu Hui's shoulder.

"Do you want me to help you?" She said with a smile, "It might be harder than you think to escape from the sofa by yourself."

"...Thank you." Akie nodded weakly.

Qiu Hui naturally agreed to this somewhat strange request, and Miao Meng herself seemed a little surprised by it.

Qiu Hui's obedience actually aroused her interest. She smiled and turned sideways, almost hugging Qiu Hui, who was relatively petite compared to her, from the sofa.

"..."

In response, Qiu Hui had no other reaction except for her face turning slightly red.

"I say, what's wrong with you today, Akira?"

The teasing tone in Miao Meng's smile changed subtly. When she looked at Qiu Hui, her eyes seemed to be really worried.

"Nothing... I'm just tired."

"Is it because of work?"

"It's not work..." Qiu Hui shook her head slightly.

"Oh, so it's because you played too much with girls outside?" Miao Meng covered her mouth and chuckled.

"If you insist on putting it that way...it's not impossible." Qiu Hui shook her head helplessly.

Although there are still many mysteries about her roommate who often appears to be overly enthusiastic that Qiu Hui does not want to delve into, she has to say that for her now, the feeling of getting along with Miao Meng is actually quite good.

Even if we exclude... uh, some vulgar factors like face and figure, and then exclude purely material things like improved living conditions.

Even if all external interference is eliminated, Qiu Hui feels that it is not a bad thing to have a roommate who has a somewhat free-spirited personality, has no demands and is always willing to help others.

Miao Meng just smiled. She was standing behind Qiu Hui at this time, with her hands on Qiu Hui's shoulders, so Qiu Hui couldn't see her expression.

“…Speaking of which, you went to help out with the band that Aine was playing today, right?” she asked.

"Yeah." Qiu Hui nodded, "If nothing unexpected happens, this will be the last time."

"Can we part ways amicably? If so, then there's no problem."

"Maybe... maybe not." Akie answered ambiguously.

If we take Su Shi's situation into consideration, this matter cannot be considered a perfect ending by any means.

But... Qiu Hui is no longer even a supporting musician. She no longer needs to take even the most basic responsibility for the band.

Not to mention, now she actually... doesn't really want to continue to be involved in the band's affairs.

"I……"

"It's okay, no need to explain to me."

Miao Meng gently kneaded Qiu Hui's shoulders. Her technique was just right, giving her a subtle sense of comfort.

"Thinking about this kind of thing... is very tiring. Akirako, you should take a short break, like lying down on the bed or something like that. Sometimes people just need to be touched appropriately, which is good for their physical and mental health..."

Halfway through his speech, Miao Meng paused and made a new suggestion.

"Oh, by the way, since you look like you've lost your mind, how about I give you a little massage? It might help relieve your fatigue!"

“…Thank you.”

Qiu Hui nodded as if relieved.