Loneliness and Rock and Roll with Band Observer

"...Okay? Maybe."

Qiu Hui smiled bitterly and nodded, saying nothing more.

After that, everyone who finished the band exchanged some information about each other’s progress until the sun set and the time left for everyone was about to end.

Everyone went their separate ways at the entrance of STARRY. This time, Akie did not take the usual route home, but walked along the same road with Goto Ichiri.

After saying goodbye to everyone, Akie and Ichiri were on their way home.

At this moment, Qiu Hui's cell phone suddenly rang.

"Sorry, I have to take a call."

Generally speaking, the people who call me are mostly editors.

Qiu Hui looked at the caller ID and it was just as she expected.

"Hello?"

"...We have read the outline you sent us before. There are generally no problems. You can try to write a draft based on the current outline... Of course, remember to give everyone good names."

"…That's for sure."

"The new work will be released in early August, about two weeks into the summer vacation. So, it would be best if you can produce a draft before July. By the beginning of the summer vacation, the draft must be completed and ready for printing and publishing, so I'll have to trouble you to work harder."

"I see."

"Ah, and about that band activity... have you already started preparing seriously for that?"

"Yes, I'm currently preparing for my first performance."

Akie deliberately distanced herself from Goto and lowered her voice, trying her best to prevent her from accidentally hearing the conversation.

"It would be best if that could be done before the new book is released. The library is trying to make the band's business operations coincide with the popularity of the new book release."

"I understand. There shouldn't be any problem with that. Don't worry."

"Yeah. That's good. But writing and playing in a band at the same time, and going to school... must be difficult, right?"

Kasumi Shiko sighed on the other end of the line.

"...I'm sorry, there's not much I can do for you in this situation. But if you encounter any difficulties, please try to talk to me."

"You're just a high school student after all. Don't overestimate your ability to bear it."

"I see. Thank you, Miss Editor. See you later."

"Well, take care. See you later."

Qiu Hui hung up the call and put away her phone.

After ending the call, she quickened her pace to catch up with Goto Ichiri who was standing in front of her.

The two walked together, but they didn't say a word to each other. After all, Goto Ichiri was not very good at finding topics to talk about.

They arrived at the tram station, bought their tickets, and walked to the platform.

In the end, it was Qiu Hui who took the initiative to find a topic to break the awkward silence.

"Well, Pochi, your guitar playing skills are amazing." Akie said, "You don't look like a high school student anymore. You can be described as a genius."

“Ahahaha, actually, it’s not that great…”

Although the expression on his face clearly meant "I am really that amazing", Goto still responded like this.

"Have you been practicing since childhood? I think it's very important to practice when it comes to musical instruments."

"Since I was a kid... almost. It's been several years now. At that time... I wanted to play the guitar because of a certain opportunity, and my parents were very supportive. So I started practicing with my dad's guitar, and I have been practicing until now."

"Pochi's father was also in a band?" Akie was a little surprised, "But it's not surprising. This can also be said to be a family tradition."

"Ahaha, I guess... Then, what do Akie's parents do?"

Goto Ichiri asked. She seemed to really want to know about this.

"My parents...huh?"

Togawa Aie closed her eyes somewhat dejectedly, thinking about how to respond.

“…This is a little hard to describe.”

She sighed.

"If I must say, they are... people who live in a more correct world than me."

A gloomy atmosphere suddenly emanated from her.

Having lived in a similar environment for many years, Goto Ichiri had developed a very keen sense of dark atmosphere, so he quickly noticed this.

"Hmm..." Goto was a little nervous, "...I'm sorry, did I ask a question that I shouldn't have asked?"

"It's okay. There's nothing we can't talk about." Akie said with a smile, "Rather, I'm glad that Pochi is interested in my affairs..."

Accompanied by sharp friction sounds and clanging mechanical noises, the tram slowly passed the platform at this time.

"Let's get in the car first."

It was a time when the train was carrying a relatively high number of passengers. However, Qiu Hui still found a good opportunity among the crowd in the carriage very skillfully.

"Pochi, come here! There are two people trying to get off the bus!"

“Ah… I’m coming!”

The two of them took advantage of the time when the crowd getting off the bus was pouring out but the crowd getting on the bus had not yet poured in, and quickly squeezed in and sat in the two empty seats.

"Phew... I'm so lucky that there's still a seat..." Qiu Hui thanked.

As soon as Akie and Ichiri sat down, the empty seats in front of them were immediately occupied by countless passengers.

Although not having to stand is a good thing, sitting also has its own troubles.

They are seated near the edge of one side of the seat and face pressure from other passengers on the other side.

"Not good. This seat is already quite tight for two people, and it will be even more crowded with the musical instruments..."

Caught between the guitar and the keyboard, Akihiro and Ichiri were in a dilemma.

"I'm sorry Pochi, it might be a bit crowded... A-choo!"

Goto's hair brushed across Akie's face from time to time, causing her to sneeze uncontrollably.

Chapter 44: A Different Kind of Elbow Fight

"…Not good. Am I too impulsive?"

The seats were much more crowded than Qiu Hui had originally imagined.

Especially when musical instruments also need to occupy a certain amount of space.

"Pochi, shall we put the instruments in front?"

"Yeah, it does feel a bit crowded..."

The two took down the bags containing the instruments, placed them in front of them, and held them between their legs.

Logically, this should free up a little more space, but as soon as the space was freed up, the passengers pouring in from the other side immediately occupied it.

"Oh!"

After all, the long chair was packed with people, and the space left by Qiu Hui and the others was insignificant from the perspective of the entire chair.

Soon, the space they occupied was once again compressed to the limit.

“Damn… it’s so crowded…”

Qiu Hui raised her left hand irritably, placed it on the handrail at the edge and stretched it out. This way, she didn't have to clamp her hand between the edge and her body.

However, she couldn't do the same with her right hand. She could either hold it in front of her body at a strange and uncomfortable angle, or just let it stick out and hit Goto Ichiri beside her.

Correspondingly, Goto Ichiri didn't seem to know how to place his hands properly.

At this moment, she was posing as if she was hugging the guitar in front of her, with her elbow just against Akihime's waist.

"…It hurts so much." Akie thought painfully.

Just keep pressing against it... It actually happened to be pressing against the part of the waist that would itch if someone touched it...

Although it's uncomfortable to be pushed up, I guess Goto-san is feeling the same way. She's probably also troubled by the crowd, right?

Furthermore, it would be fine if she kept still. If Goto-san were to change the position of her hands, her elbows would probably move around on her waist in an attempt to adjust them... That would be really unbearable.

After comprehensive consideration, it is better to be patient here...

At the same time, over at Goto Ichiri's place.

What to do, what to do, what to do, what to do...

Goto Ichiri wondered if he shouldn't sit down.

Although it would be crowded even if standing, the bench now had so many people sitting on it that the level of crowding was far beyond normal and had reached a level beyond common sense.

What should I do… It’s scary enough to be with so many strangers, but I have to get so close to them!

In front of him were countless strangers who were looking down at him like a wall of giants.

On the right side was a stranger who was also tall, gloomy, and exuded a dangerous aura.

Due to his social phobia instinct, Goto Ichiri subconsciously chose the only relatively safe direction.

That is, on the left side where Togawa Aie is.

So, driven by instinct, she almost unconsciously moved towards Qiu Hui.

This put Qiu Hui under even greater pressure.

...Why are you pushing towards me?

Feeling the sudden increase in pressure from Goto's elbow, Akie's expression became even uglier.

I'll just top it...please can you not have a bit of angular velocity like a drill...

...It's really itchy when I twist and turn like this!

The strong and somewhat Yin-powerful impact only lasted for a short while. It seemed that Goto Ichiri had found a more comfortable position for her, so she stopped changing her position.

This made Qiu Hui feel relieved. Although it would still feel a little uncomfortable to continue to press on it, at least it wouldn't move around like before...

“Bang!”

Qiu Hui forgot one thing.

That is, the moving tram will be bumpy.

The bumps in the car will undoubtedly affect the passengers inside the car.

As a result, the elbow, which had been almost fixed in position, inevitably began to tremble again.

"Why are you here again..."

Qiu Hui closed her eyes in pain and clamped her legs around the guitar bag to divert her attention.

Oh my goodness... If I had known it would be like this, I would have just stood there!

An electronic reminder sounded in the carriage, as if the next stop was about to arrive.

...Great. Since we are going to the next stop, some of these people in front of us will probably get off as well.

At that time, I will just stand up...

...No. If I think about it carefully, if I stand up, someone else will definitely take my seat.

In that case, wouldn't it be the same as leaving Goto-san among a large group of strangers?

...If it was that guy, just imagining it would be a tragic scene that is unbearable to watch.

Qiu Hui gritted her teeth fiercely.

I'd better hold back...

We arrived at the station just in time.

The speed of the tram gradually decreased.

In the instant before the train comes to a complete stop, everyone on board will experience a swing of the largest scale due to inertia.

“Hmm!”