Loneliness and Rock and Roll with Band Observer

Chapter 4 Self-Expression

Togawa Akie felt a little guilty.

Especially to the bassist who was looking at him with just the right amount of encouragement.

Based on her experience as a light novel practitioner in summarizing characters, she felt that this Ryo was most likely the type who was "absurd about small things but serious about big things."

I am not a serious person at ordinary times, but I am not a human being when I am serious. That’s the feeling.

The look of these casual characters when they become serious is a key factor in any story; it often carries sincere emotions and even elevates the theme.

And I'm just a guy looking for someone to form a band for business. Is this really okay?

After the song ended, Qiu Hui took two deep breaths and looked in Liang's direction with some timidity.

"……how?"

"He's the type that can be saved," Ryo concluded seriously.

“…It may sound a little subtle, but can I take this as an endorsement?”

"Maybe." Liang smiled, "I can feel that he has some basic skills, but maybe he hasn't practiced for a long time?"

"You can guess this?"

"Just the basics."

Liang paused and continued to explain: "If you have a foundation, you can quickly pick it up with a little practice. It's enough for our band - after all, I'm the only professional in the team."

"Don't call yourself a professional so seriously!" Hong Xia patted her on the shoulder.

Qiu Hui looked at the two people teasing each other, and after a moment of silence, she finally mustered up the courage to speak: "So, can I join?"

"Of course!" Hong Xia gave a bright smile, "No matter what, you can always join in and give it a try! Maybe something that you originally thought was impossible can be done after a little practice and gradual familiarity, right?"

"...Yes!" Akie nodded vigorously.

Don't overthink it...it's all about business!

I am so lucky to meet such a gentle person when I am just walking on the street. I can't really spend too much energy on the band, so isn't it great to be able to form a band with such a tolerant person?

Even though the process was a bit messy, it was a success!

I'll contact the editor first...

Just as Qiu Hui was planning her next move, Ryo spoke again.

"By the way, we still haven't found the guitarist."

"Indeed..." Hongxia felt a little deflated when she thought of this, and her beautiful eyebrows drooped slightly.

"I'll try to look for one in school." Akie volunteered, "Because Yugaoka is a school with a strong band atmosphere, and there are a lot of guitarists!"

Because, generally speaking, when it comes to learning a musical instrument, most people's first reaction is either piano or guitar, right?

Many kids who dream of forming a band pick up their guitars and practice hard, but when they finally come out, they find that the supply of guitarists is already oversaturated, and there are simply not enough drummers and bassists to form a band with too many guitarists...

…and there seems to be a saying that there are very few bass players in particular. Why is that?

"If you pay a little attention, I think you should be able to spot the lone guitarist. Of course, it's hard to say how good he is. After all, in a sense, he was the only one left."

"That's a good idea!" Nijixia agreed, "Then I'll trouble Togawa-san!"

"Of course, we will continue to look for a guitarist." Liang added, "Remember to keep in touch, otherwise I'm afraid we will have to introduce a cruel elimination system. It will be very troublesome."

"It's unlikely that we'll find so many candidates at once..."

The three of them chatted in the store for a while, and on a whim, they tried to play a very simple song together. The guitar part was temporarily replaced by Akihime on the electronic keyboard.

Of course, the result was a mess, as expected. The three players' abilities were so different that their performances did not match at all.

However, according to the drummer, "As long as we practice more together, we will gradually develop a tacit understanding." They did not have too many opinions about this failure, but simply felt that playing together was fun.

In such a joyful atmosphere, time passed slowly.

"I have something else to do later, so I'd better leave now?" Qiu Hui said.

"Please add me as your LINE friend before you go! Please keep in touch later, okay?"

After exchanging social network accounts with the two, Qiu Hui left the LIVEHOUSE called "STARRY".

The fresh breeze outside blew through her hair, and she felt relieved as if a heavy burden had finally been lifted off her shoulders.

"We've found the band members. They're students from other schools that we met at the store." I sent this message to the editor to inform him of the latest progress.

It will probably take some time for the library's so-called "commercial operation" to begin - at least until the guitarist is in place and the first performance begins.

For the time being, I will stop worrying about the band's affairs and think about what to write in the new work.

It is getting dark, the sun is setting, and the sunset glows over the land of Shimokitazawa. For this bustling fashion district, this is another form of morning glow. The vibrant and restless night is about to begin on this street.

Walking on the sidewalk, passing by low-rise buildings with a strong Heisei style, Qiu Hui admired the scenery around her, and countless ideas in her mind collided with each other like table tennis balls.

"First of all, the subject matter has been decided to be a band, so let's make this the main plot of the new work. Starting from a purely hobby campus band and then moving on step by step... No, no, this seems a bit too old-fashioned. The training system for high school girls as entertainers has a history of nearly ten years, right?"

“But I think I’m better at writing about high school girls… so it’s better to use a student as the main character. Well, let’s use a setting where she’s a student but her level is very high from the beginning. Forget about the training system. Or maybe she was very good at first but gradually her performance got worse because she couldn’t find the feeling… something like that?”

"We also need to consider the development of the relationship between the main characters. To be honest, this is the real core of the story. The band and the like are just motivations and triggers, so... um..."

Akie was walking in circles unconsciously on the street, but she was completely unaware of it.

"Also, should I repeat the formula of the previous book, or try to explore new areas? Considering stability and readers' expectations, it would be more appropriate to put old wine in a new bottle... Maybe... or... like this?"

As she walked, a sudden inspiration occupied her mind.

"I get it! In addition to building relationships, there should also be plots of relationships breaking down and building them again!"

Qiu Hui suddenly took out her cell phone, opened the note-taking app, and started writing quickly with the nine keys.

“Design two bands for the main characters. Both sides fall apart for some reason, and they are already in a disbanded state when the story begins. Some members are completely hostile to each other, while others still miss the old times; some pretend to be completely hostile to each other but actually still miss the old times, and some pretend to still miss the old times but actually are completely hostile to each other…”

It's completely turned into a tongue twister!

“Then, at the beginning of the story, the new band is formed by some members of the two old bands due to the personal relationship between two of them! In short, in addition to the conflicts between the original members of each band, the conflicts between the two teams are introduced! It sounds really complicated! But I always feel that it will be very impressive after it is written!”

The new band only needs five members, so the first volume should focus on the relationship between these people. The others can show up in the early part of the second volume and leave an impression, and then be released little by little as the story develops...

This way you can keep writing for many volumes! When you feel like you have nothing to write, just add in the new characters you have prepared!

"Hmm... I feel like inspiration is coming!"

Decision made, I’ll go home and start writing!

Chapter 5 Two guitarists landed at the same time

the next day.

“Hmm…”

Togawa Akie wanted to sleep forever. The desktop had a black hole-like attraction to her mind.

Last night, I wrote a lot of plot summaries and character profiles in a fit of excitement. As expected, I couldn't sleep because I was too excited, and the result was that I couldn't stop feeling sleepy in class the next day.

And it’s already afternoon, but I’m still feeling sleepy. What a loser!

"Let's get back to yesterday's topic. The tradition of 'private novels' in Japanese literary history..."

The dead look in the eyes of her Chinese teacher, Hikigaya, made her already low enthusiasm for class even worse.

Sure enough, I should sleep first, right? Anyway, I don’t care about further studies, and it doesn’t matter what my grades are…

...But if I sleep in class, wouldn't it feel like I'm letting myself down? Maybe the teacher will notice it, and I'll get into all kinds of trouble?

So maybe I should just continue to listen? At least pretend to be listening carefully...

"…The above keywords may serve as the best footnotes to Japanese literature during the Taisho era. get out of class is over, students. See you tomorrow. Please remember to review pages 72 to 81 of the textbook…"

No, when did the bell ring for the end of get out of class?

Qiu Hui, who had been struggling with whether to sleep in class, suddenly discovered sadly that when she started thinking about sleeping in class, she had actually already completed the action of sleeping in class.

Looking at her classmates who were dispersing and then forming small groups, preparing to leave school together or go to club activities, Qiu Hui felt like crying but had no tears.

What? I fell asleep a long time ago...

Fortunately, Hikigaya was a teacher who didn't make things difficult for his students. He just glanced at Akiie who was still lying on the table, smiled, shook his head, and walked out of the classroom.

Pushing herself up from the table, Akie looked around.

She has not forgotten her important mission of finding the lone guitarist.

I shook my head vigorously to drive away the tiredness.

During lunch break, she walked around the second grade floor but didn't find the right person.

"Let's try our luck with a first-year girl this time."

Thinking of this, Qiu Hui went downstairs and came to the first-year floor.

Anyway, let's start with Class A.

Peeking in from the windowsill, Akie's eyes scanned the entire classroom, searching for someone who looked like a lone guitarist.

She actually hates dealing with strangers, and especially hates being rejected by strangers.

Even if the other person is just a passer-by whom she may never see again in her life, being rejected will make her feel uncomfortable for several days.

Therefore, in order to avoid this unpleasant situation, be sure to do your research in advance and try to hit the target right away!

Keep an eye on all directions and listen carefully to all directions. Qiu Hui mobilized her five senses and paid attention to any possible signs.

She soon noticed a conversation between several people in a corner.

“Sorry, sorry! I’m really happy to be invited, but to be honest, I’m not very familiar with Afterglow, so… well, and to be honest, I’d rather be the lead guitarist…”

She just said guitar lead vocals, right?

Qiu Hui was delighted.

I can’t wait any longer! This is a rare opportunity, so go ahead bravely, girl!

If you miss this one, it means you have to look for the next one... This torture is enough once!

"...Hello! You just mentioned the guitar vocalist, right?" Qiu Hui rushed into the classroom and only then saw the other person's appearance clearly.

The other person has straight long light pink hair, with short braids hanging down on both sides of her neck. She has a pretty face and some traces of the current fashionable makeup, and looks like the type who keeps up with the trend.

"Excuse me, but who are you?" The other party seemed to be frightened by Qiu Hui's actions and looked embarrassed.

"I'm a second-year student named Togawa Akee..."

After introducing herself, Akie suddenly froze when she realized the problem.

Did I just appear very abruptly and interrupt other people's normal conversation very rudely?

"… Sorry, I showed up so suddenly. Did I disturb you?"

"How could that be? It's okay!" Several other students who were sitting in their seats chatting with the pink-haired girl responded with a smile, "In fact, you came at the right time. Actually, Aine-chan is looking for a partner to form a band, but we already have a guitarist in our band."

Well, it turns out that guitarists are easily left out.

Turning to the first-year girl named Aine, Qiu Hui eagerly invited her, "Our band is in need of a guitar vocalist! I've been looking for a whole day and haven't found the right person!"

"Eh? Then, can I come?" She seemed a little surprised, but more happy than surprised, "That would be a great help! My name is Chihaya Aine! Please give me your guidance!"

He actually agreed so straightforwardly?

Qiu Hui was deeply moved by this.

"I'm Togawa Akeie from Class C, second grade! Thank you for your guidance!"

I thought I would be politely rejected, but the other party seemed very enthusiastic. That's great! Chihaya-san LOVE!

Qiu Hui quickly took out her phone: "I'll notify the rest of the team right away! Wait a moment..."

The sudden sound of a notification interrupted her words.

"Wait, is there any new information? It's from Nijixia... Huh? Did you find the guitarist?"

She stared blankly at the message on her phone screen.