Loneliness and Rock and Roll with Band Observer

Ruomai held his chin with both hands and looked over with interest.

"There are some things that don't need to be hidden." Xiangzi smiled and shook his head. "Since the goal is commercial success, there is no need to keep saying things like 'pure musicality' that are not what you really mean. The importance of image in business is sometimes higher than technology, and this is a fact that needs to be acknowledged."

"I like the fact that you tell the truth."

Ruomai nodded with satisfaction.

Toyokawa Shoko. This girl who looked a little embarrassed in her dress successfully changed Ruomai's first impression of her through the conversation just now.

As a partner, it is a good choice.

Of course, Yutenji Wakamugi, who had this thought, didn't know that the girl in front of her could be regarded as a bad partner that she wanted to avoid as much as possible...

But that is a story for later. Now Ruomai is happily making subsequent plans.

"Since Xiangzi is so easy to talk to, I will be a little more straightforward. What are the benefits for me to participate in this project?"

Facing Ruomai's questioning, Xiangzi took out his mobile phone as if he was confident.

She showed a photo.

"The lead singer is Sumimi's Hatsuka." Xiangzi said calmly.

Although the negotiations with the firm had not yet been completed, she still used the Chuhua card in advance.

The effect was very obvious. Even the beauty blogger who was just passing by seemed to have heard of Sumimi's name. Ruomai's eyes widened slightly as she looked at the phone screen.

"Besides that...Mori Minami-san, have you heard anything about Yutenji-san?"

"Oh, I remember that! Could it be that... ah! Are you saying..."

Ruomai stretched out his hand in surprise and pointed at Mu in another photo.

"Yes. The guitarist is the daughter of that entertainer and famous comedian... This will be the first time she will be known to the world as an entertainer."

Xiangzi explained with a smile.

“Although I am financially strapped, my strength lies in my personal connections.”

"This new band is built on the foundation of many well-known figures... This is what I think Yutenji-san can benefit from."

Chapter 26 The Last Meeting

I don't know if this is enough to convince the other party.

After laying out all his current chips openly on the table, Xiangzi sat back slightly with some trepidation.

Of course, she had actually prepared for both scenarios long ago. Even if the other party disagreed, Xiangzi would not hesitate to look for another candidate again.

She is different from some people...she is not obsessed with certain people.

I don’t…

"Hey, Shoko-kun?"

Ruomai, who was sitting across the table, stretched out her hand and waved it gently in front of Xiangzi.

"Don't get distracted when you're negotiating with someone," she said half-jokingly.

"...I'm sorry." Xiangzi shook his head guiltily.

She was indeed distracted.

What she was thinking about just now was not just about Yutenji-san.

Yutenji is very suitable for the new band I am going to form in every way, but she is not the only one who must be the drummer.

I was just... struggling with something else.

Now she should focus on the negotiation at hand. Xiangzi was clearly aware of this, so she temporarily cleared the distracting thoughts about "someone" and refocused her attention.

"In short, I hope Yutenji-san will consider my proposal carefully."

Correspondingly, Ruomai showed a satisfied look.

"We'll think about it carefully."

Thus, the two negotiating parties reached a consensus in a subtle sense.

What we are going to discuss next are some further, more subtle, complex and technical terms.

However, although both parties seemed to be discussing the situation of the band, in fact, both parties were in a subtle state of absent-mindedness.

The problem that is now bothering Shoko Toyokawa had already surfaced long before she decided on the drummer.

Should I try to invite Qiu Hui? Xiangzi asked himself.

From a purely technical point of view, the answer to this question is already very obvious and does not require much proof.

Chuhua is the lead guitarist, and Mu is the second guitarist. As long as the drummer and bassist are selected, plus myself, the band members will be officially filled...

…there’s absolutely no need for a second keyboard player.

Of course, the so-called band composition is not something that is so rigid that there is no room for adjustment.

If you are determined to bring someone in, you can always assign him a suitable job.

But Xiangzi knew that in addition to the technical requirements, he had to face another problem.

Toyokawa Shoko told herself in her heart: This band doesn't need Togawa Aike, just as Togawa Aike doesn't need this band either.

Qiu Hui herself also repeatedly emphasized that she "can't really help much."

Not to mention that she already has a band and writing job... Even if the new band does have commercial prospects, inviting her would just be adding unnecessary workload to her.

While Xiangzi was discussing the specific technical details with Ruomai, he was also thinking carefully with his extra attention.

I feel comfortable and at ease when I'm with Aki.

As long as Qiu Hui is present, even if she doesn't have to do anything and just exists, I can feel a kind of wonderful comfort.

When did my relationship with her become like this?

The compatibility of our personalities, similar circumstances, and a series of coincidences made Qiu Hui and I friends, and I also began to have thoughts about her that went beyond "friendship" in the ordinary sense, without knowing when.

Although her financial situation has not improved fundamentally, certain changes in her state of mind have allowed her to examine her thoughts about Qiu Hui with a relatively calm attitude.

This kind of calmness sometimes even scared Xiangzi himself.

The paranoia and anger before meeting Qiu Hui have now become like fossils in a museum, with only some traces to prove that they once existed.

Her existence, in some miraculous way, completely absorbed Toyokawa Shoko's psychological problems into Akiie herself.

She helped me solve other problems...so, the next thing I have to do is to solve the problems related to her.

How should I face Qiu Hui?

"..."

Xiangzi was silently thinking about issues that had nothing to do with the negotiations.

I was so engrossed in the conversation that I almost forgot I was in the middle of it.

I hope Akie can join my band, Shoko thought.

It didn't really require her to put in much effort, nor was it thought that she could contribute much technically or to the band's reputation.

I simply feel that her presence makes me feel at ease.

What on earth is this feeling...

...Oh no, what am I doing!

"Sorry, I was distracted."

Xiangzi apologized in a panic.

However, to her surprise, Yutenji Wakamu in front of her seemed to be dazed by something.

“…Uh…Ah? Oh! Sorry, I was just…”

The two looked at each other and smiled awkwardly at the same time.

"Anyway, I'm still sorry."

For some reason, Xiangzi suddenly thought of Qiu Hui and expressed his apologies politely.

"It's nothing, we're actually the same..."

And Ruomai in front of her made a similar response.

The reason was simple, she was also distracted for some reason.

In fact, if the two of them could open up and discuss what they were thinking at the moment, they would be surprised to find that the cause of their distraction was actually... the same person.

Why do you think of Xiaoqiu at this time?

Ruomai maintained a polite and friendly smile while thinking a little unhappily.

Originally I wanted to find something to do instead of hanging around her all day, so I got involved in the band's affairs.

"Okay, then we..."

So the negotiations between the two continued.

Since both parties have clearly laid out their respective interests on the table, there is not much to say about the subsequent negotiations.

Toyokawa Shoko also quietly and secretly made up her mind.

Once the band members are roughly decided upon... let's invite Akie to a final band member meeting.

Should she join the new band? How should I view her existence? How should our...relationship continue...

I should take this time to think carefully about these vexing issues, and then discuss them clearly during the meeting.

Thinking of this, Xiangzi even felt an inexplicable sense of relief.

Being able to think about interpersonal relationship issues calmly like this... Just for this alone, I have to thank Akiie very much.

So, Toyokawa Shoko made up her mind.

Chapter 27 After Midnight

a few days later.

Since that lunch with Su Shi, Togawa Aie's life has returned to the so-called normal track.

For her, these few days were no different in essence from any other period of time she had experienced recently.

Write as a light novel writer, practice as a band member, help others solve problems as a friend, and spend a happy and relaxing time with each other as a lover.

Qiu Hui felt that her life seemed to be on the right track at a pace similar to "The Sims".

Various tasks and events are categorized by color and alphabetical order, and stored in layers of drop-down menus, waiting to be accessed at any time according to your daily schedule.

Funds were now plentiful. Thanks to the frugal habits inherited from the days when money was tight, and the occasional donations from friends that Akie had no intention of refusing, her expenses were kept fairly low.

The sales of novels have been quite optimistic recently, so I can get a considerable share from the library; the previous performance at RiNG was quite successful, and the share of ticket sales and miscellaneous income can be regarded as very good income.

Since income was significantly higher than expenditure, the numbers in the savings account gradually became more substantial.

Once material abundance is guaranteed, spiritual freedom will have a foundation.

I'm very happy.

Qiu Hui felt that she was now qualified to convince herself so calmly.

I have accomplished a lot. I have a lot of friends. Even the love from others, which used to be a luxury, I can now view and enjoy it as if it were normal.

I recalled the days I had spent in that small, dark rental house, the times I had to walk an extra ten minutes to get to the bathhouse and the laundry, and the ridiculous statements I had made, such as “I will definitely rent an apartment with a bathroom in the future”…

I'm very happy, right?

Am I not happy?

Togawa Aie asked herself this question over and over again.

Of course, my life has not been easy, she admitted.

For example, there was not much time left in the summer vacation, and the deadline for the third volume was getting closer.

For a light novel author, publishing a new volume about once a month is not considered fast. Akie has long been accustomed to this work rhythm, so the arrangement of the library is not meaningful at all.

But perhaps the biggest difference between fiction and reality is that the latter does not happen in a pre-planned way like the former.