Loneliness and Rock and Roll with Band Observer

This is not good. From the time of practice until now, I have not been in touch with you all at all...

Aiyin was extremely nervous, and Li Xi wasn't much better.

When Riki saw Aine, his eyes widened, and then he looked as if he had accidentally choked on food.

Her face turned pale and she walked over to Aine, holding the order sheet tightly in her arms.

Li Xi looked at Aine at a loss, her eyes evading. Perhaps even she herself didn't know whether she should be angry or apologize, so she could only avoid this test by avoiding her eyes.

However, as a worker's professional ethics, she felt that she shouldn't ignore the guests like this.

"...What would you like?"

Li Xi finally overcame her tangled heart. She reluctantly turned her eyes away, stared at Aine stiffly, and said so.

“Ah, uh, I…”

The current Aine might be able to empathize with Riki.

What should I do? After the argument in the practice room, I haven’t contacted Rikki since then!

At the time, my mind was full of negative thoughts like "the band is going to disband" and "no one needs me", so I ran out without thinking too much, because I didn't have the courage to face everyone at that time...

But, from Rikki's point of view, I just wanted to quit unilaterally without any clear reason!

She is usually very strict about band matters! And she also cares a lot about Xiao Deng's feelings! What Xiangzi did before hurt Xiao Deng, so she really hates Xiangzi!

I'm done for. I won't be scolded by her, right? She must be trying to maintain her dignity as a worker so she didn't react further, right?

A surge of excitement rose in Aine’s heart.

"Ah... uh, I want... the normal one?" she ordered stupidly.

"What's the usual one, please?" Li Xi's face turned pale and his brows were furrowed.

"I'm sorry! Um, it's that... uh, Darjeeling! Darjeeling black tea!"

Aine said hurriedly, feeling a little guilty.

You must not provoke Rikki at this time, otherwise you will definitely be scolded!

"Hot?" Li Xi asked as he made a mark on the order list with an expressionless face.

“…Do you have anything iced?” Aine asked with a forced smile, “It’s so hot today… Ahaha, I kind of want to drink something iced…”

"It looks like the ice machine is broken today. No ice."

"Ah? Then, then room temperature..."

"A cup of Darjeeling at room temperature. Thank you for your patronage."

After saying that, Li Xi turned around abruptly and went back behind the counter without looking back.

"..."

After that, she fell silent and started to busy herself with the matters at hand, and it seemed that she had no intention of talking to Aine at all.

……

I'm such a fool.

It would have been fine if I didn’t dare to contact Aine to explain the situation to her before, but why, now that she’s standing in front of me, I still don’t dare to say even a word?

Beneath Shiina Riki's livid face, was hidden inner self-blame and regret.

It’s Su Shi’s problem that she doesn’t want to come back, but it’s my problem that the band has become like this and Xiao Deng has become so sad.

The reason I said such extreme words and put pressure on Aine and Deng was just because... I hated Suyo who always thought about Toyokawa Shoko.

To put it bluntly, it's just my personal likes and dislikes.

Looking at Aine who was staring at the table in a daze, Li Xi wanted to say something but really didn't know how to start.

That’s not the case. Everyone actually hopes you’ll come back…

If the other person is really determined to leave, there would be no point in saying this.

Doing meaningless things like Su Shi did would only make the other person's impression of you worse, wouldn't it?

"Hello, could you please place your order?"

The guest's call woke Lixi from his self-blame.

No, now is not the time to think about this, I have to do my part-time job well first.

She came to another seat that was a few tables away from Aine’s seat.

"Hello, I would like a cup of..."

The customer who ordered the menu was tall and slender, and dressed a little strangely. Although he was indoors, he was wearing a large sun hat with side curtains, as well as very dark sunglasses and a mask, which almost completely concealed his face and short purple hair.

"Really? Please react a little faster next time. I called you so many times!"

“…I’m really sorry.”

After taking the order for this strange customer, Lixi hurried back to the counter.

However, it seemed that fate did not want her to settle down and work properly. As soon as she returned to the counter, she saw another customer she was very familiar with walked into the store.

Familiar flaxen hair, familiar white dress, familiar figure and face...

Nagasaki Suyo. Li Xi frowned. I didn't expect her to come too.

But...why did Ae-in and So-se come to RiNG today?

This question left her a little confused.

Isn’t the band already...temporarily unable to perform?

Chapter 9 Xiaoxiang also did it

Nagasaki Suyo was deliberately staying away from the cafe on one side of the atrium.

Because she knew that Lixi might be working there today.

After leaving the band, she didn't know what Li Xi's schedule was like. It was possible that it was her turn today.

If possible, it would be better not to meet her, Su Shi thought.

If I meet Lixi, she will definitely ask me why I haven't contacted everyone for such a long time.

I really don't want to waste time explaining to her.

At this point, when Su Shi talks about that band again, his mood becomes quite complicated and irritable.

She didn't like this complicated, irritating and helpless feeling, but she didn't know where to start and couldn't solve the problem from the root.

So we can only settle for the second best and stay away from all triggers that may lead to the phenomenon.

Therefore, Su Shi deliberately quickened his pace, quickly crossed the atrium, came to the intersection of the performance stage area, and stopped here.

Looking at the people coming and going, she suddenly realized that if she didn't want to be noticed, should she cover up her appearance a little?

For example, changing your hairstyle, changing into clothes that you don’t usually wear, wearing sunglasses and a mask, etc.

Although doing this may not necessarily be effective, at least the probability of being discovered will be smaller, right?

...No, that's not necessary.

Su Shi changed his mind and felt that there was no need to spend so much time on this.

Even if you are noticed, just keep silent.

Thinking of this, she almost had a picture like this in her mind: Li Xi questioned her angrily, and she responded with short and cold words that it had nothing to do with her, and then left without a care, leaving only her back to Li Xi who was gritting his teeth...

...Just like Toyokawa Shoko's attitude when she faced him.

The stage area was not open yet, so Su Shi just stood at the entrance waiting.

Looking around from here, you can see notice boards with notices posted.

A student-looking girl was walking with her friends, chatting and laughing. They came to the bulletin board, took out a flyer that looked like it was printed by themselves, and posted it on it.

Probably recruiting band members. The bulletin board allows customers to post anything they want, which is one of its design purposes.

Su Shi couldn't help but clench her clothes. She happened to pass by the bulletin board that day and met Aine and Akie. Then she heard the name "Light" from them, and then she suddenly came up with the idea, and then so many things happened.

If... I had known Xiaoxiang's thoughts earlier, and knew earlier that she didn't want CRYCHIC to be resurrected at all...

Perhaps it was a psychological effect, Su Shi felt that his vision was covered by a layer of blurry mist.

In a trance, that petite and slender figure seemed to appear before her eyes again, with two ponytails neatly tied with a jet-black headband hanging down like a waterfall.

As if he had drunk a strong drink, the illusion became more and more vivid. Su Shi even thought he saw those beautiful amber eyes.

There is gentleness, joy and a little uneasiness in it, as if expecting something to come.

Nagasaki Suyo was a little dazed. She unconsciously stretched out her hand towards the phantom, as if she could catch it by doing so...

...Wait, something seems wrong.

Su Shi abruptly withdrew his hand.

That didn't seem to be an illusion. Because if it was an illusion, there probably wouldn't be another... Xiaomu beside Xiaoxiang.

Wakaba Mutsu was wearing a dark blue plaid dress. The ruffled edges and small black leather shoes highlighted her doll-like beauty.

Next to her, Toyokawa Shoko continued to wear the familiar uniform, and at this moment, she was smiling and expressing her feelings about the notice on the bulletin board...

...Then, Mu gently touched Xiangzi's waist.

"Xiang."

"Mu, what's wrong?" Xiangzi turned his head.

"…Suyo, over there."

Mu calmly raised his hand and pointed at the stunned Nagasaki Suyo.

Xiangzi's reaction was far less calm than that of the green-haired girl next to her.

She first widened her eyes and stared in disbelief for a few seconds, then frowned and asked, with obvious and deliberately suppressed anger in her voice.

"What are you doing here? I should have said I don't want to have anything to do with you anymore, right?"

Su Shi, who had never thought that he would be able to meet Xiao Xiang again in such an occasion, was too dazed to respond in time.

Instead, Mu asked as if to smooth things over: "Su Shi, are you here to watch the show?"

"Ah... yes! I came... to see the show!"

Su Shi woke up as if from a dream, and his tone almost subconsciously added an earnest and slightly humble tone.

But this state did not last long. She soon realized that her reaction at the moment did not match the relationship between the two.

She then let out a long sigh and her expression turned cold.

“…But that has nothing to do with you.”

Su Shi's eyes were as cold as a temperatureless stone statue.

It is quite ironic that Sushi and Xiangzi can at least agree on one thing at this moment.

After that absurd kneeling scene, the two of them could almost be said to have severed all ties.

Needless to say, even Su Shi could not remain indifferent to Xiangzi's undisguised aggressiveness; and Xiangzi was completely fed up with Su Shi's absurd and self-righteous obsession, and there was not the slightest desire to see her again.

At this moment, the two of them were like the generals in a historical story who were about to go into battle when two armies were confronting each other, and Ruo Yemu was caught between the two's cold murderous aura and didn't know what to do.

"I heard that you seem to have abandoned your own band." Xiangzi smiled sarcastically, "You are really obsessed with the past. You are willing to act so ridiculously for a band that has long ended, but you don't take the band that is still in existence seriously at all."

"What does it have to do with you?" Su Shi retorted sharply, "You were the one who said you didn't want to have anything to do with me anymore. Which band I join is my own business, right?"

"I have never denied it." Xiangzi sneered and shook his head, "I just feel pity, sadness and shame for the time, energy and emotions wasted on Deng, the members of the band, and Qiu Hui."

"...How can you, who destroyed CRYCHIC with your own hands, say such things?"

Although Su Shi's tone didn't change much at first glance, the uncontrollable anger in it was still quite obvious.

Just as she was about to continue to retort Xiangzi, she suddenly realized something.

“…Wait a minute, you mean Aki? Are you…coming here to see Aki’s performance?”

Xiangzi was also stunned.

"……The same to you?"