Loneliness and Rock and Roll with Band Observer

...What zombie? It’s just me.

She sighed silently in her heart. It's true that misfortunes never come alone.

Yesterday I was still worried about what I would do if I couldn't get back to work, but today it just happened...

In order to prevent pain in her throat, she tried hard to suppress the urge to cough, then slowly moved her body, reached out to pick up her mobile phone from the bedside table, and glanced at the current time and date.

The time is relatively early, which is within the normal range of waking up time.

But the date was very late...Akie realized that it was now one day closer to the end of summer vacation.

In fact...I have to prepare to report to school the day after tomorrow.

"..."

Oh no, do I have to take sick leave just as school starts?

Although this is not a bad idea, it is still not good after all...

……and many more!

Qiu Hui suddenly realized something more important than the start of school.

I spent almost the entire day yesterday with Ruomai...so how is she doing now?

Qiu Hui sat up straight, and because of her sore muscles, she could only get out of bed slowly. Then she slowly walked to the door, pushed it open and left the room, then walked through the living room...

“Ahem! Ahem!”

A muffled cough was heard through the wall. It was obviously not from Akie herself, so there was only one answer.

"Ahem, good morning, little... ahem! Qiu..."

Ruomai pushed open the door and looked over with a dazed look.

"……you also?"

Because her throat was extremely sore, Qiu Hui decided to speak as little as possible.

"I, I caught a cold too... Sorry, Xiaoqiu yesterday... Ahem! I clearly told you... I didn't pay attention..."

Although he was clearly infected by Qiu Hui, Ruomai still showed an apologetic expression.

"..."

Qiu Hui really didn't want to speak, so she could only shake her head without saying a word.

I was the one who didn't pay attention.

Recalling the series of events that started on the sofa yesterday, Qiu Hui lowered her head in shame.

Her face was flushed, and she didn't know whether it was because of shame or because of the symptoms of a cold.

I was so focused on that at the time that I didn't even think about catching a cold...

If I had known this would happen, I should have waited until my cold was healed before...

...Well, it seems pointless to think about that now.

So, what to do now?

Qiu Hui questioned Ruomai with her eyes and gestures.

"I'll go get some medicine. How about we just take the medicine and sleep in bed all day?"

The latter seemed to have less severe sore throat symptoms and had a stronger desire to speak normally.

It seems that this is the only way, Qiu Hui thought.

Although a cold is not a serious illness, there is really no quick cure.

All I can do is take some medicine to relieve the symptoms and then lie in bed and rest.

“…I’ll come too.”

Looking at Ruomai who was rummaging through boxes and cabinets looking for cold medicine, Qiu Hui also came over.

Although she didn't know how she could help in this matter, seeing the other party's sickly appearance, Qiu Hui felt that she would feel guilty if she did nothing.

"Xiao Qiu, can you see if there is any in the cabinet over there...ah, I found a box here...oh, there are only two pieces left..."

Ruomai stared at the board of medicine in his hand, which was mostly hollow, with an embarrassed look on his face.

On the other side, Qiu Hui searched the cabinet where the medicine might be kept, but to no avail.

If there is no medicine, someone will have to be sent to buy it. However, now that both of them are suffering from a cold, it seems inappropriate for either of them to go out.

"..."

Qiu Hui silently took out her mobile phone, opened an application such as a note-taking app, wrote something quickly on the soft keyboard, and then showed it to Ruomai.

"I'll ask if everyone has time to bring us some medicine."

“… Indeed.” Wakamai nodded, agreeing with this approach. “For example, if we’re looking for Aine, she…”

Before she finished speaking, her expression became a little subtle.

No matter what, Aine and I are still...

Qiu Hui, who was watching from the side, probably guessed what Ruomai was thinking.

This is indeed a problem, Qiu Hui thought.

Since all these things are caused by me, it is my responsibility to come up with a proper solution...

“Ahem! Ahem!”

She then started coughing violently, completely messing up her original thoughts.

"...Anyway, let's go back to bed and rest, you and I too!"

Ruomai responded anxiously. Her face was now showing an abnormal flush.

So the two of them drank some water, took the only two remaining cold medicine tablets, and returned to their respective bedrooms.

After getting back into bed, Qiu Hui took out her phone and sent a message to Aine...

...And the editor and the agency. I have to tell them I have a cold.

Qiu Hui sent the messages one by one, step by step.

I caught a cold at this very moment, doesn’t that mean my chances of meeting the deadline are even lower?

The muscle aches and drowsiness, coupled with the mountain of to-do items, made Qiu Hui feel more irritable than ever before.

Alas, I clearly felt that everything was full of hope yesterday, and that things would definitely turn around, but after just one night...

“…Huh?”

Qiu Hui suddenly noticed a message reminder.

The sender's name interrupted her thoughts.

The sender is "Tōrō Takamatsu".

Chapter 61: Deng's Request for Help

Once again, failed.

The brushstrokes create shapeless patterns on the paper.

Gao Songdeng looked at the large shadows drawn on the paper.

I obviously don't want to watch everything end like this.

I should have stood up and done something.

But, it can't be done.

Couldn't do it.

The pencil rubbed against the paper of the notebook, making an annoying rustling sound.

Although it was drawn by Deng herself, even she herself could not tell what was drawn on the paper.

Just like her mood at the moment.

Is it sadness?

Maybe yes.

However, I couldn't cry out loud and couldn't shed tears.

Deng gently put down his pen and stared at the notebook in front of him in a daze.

It's been a long time.

She looked up at the calendar on the table.

The floral illustrations were dated, and most of the cells had been crossed out in pencil.

The summer vacation was almost over, and she suddenly realized this.

A long time has passed since that performance.

And I...did nothing.

Just like this, curled up in silence in the only space that belongs to me.

Even if I opened my mouth, I wouldn't know what to say.

Not even a soundless cry could be uttered.

Deng placed his hands on the table, lowered his head, and buried it in his arms, letting his vision be covered by darkness.

Maybe I shouldn't have formed a band in the first place.

She couldn't help thinking so.

When Aine... left. Why can't I say anything?

Even if it's just crying. Why are you unwilling to even make this most basic attempt?

A lifetime is a very heavy thing. I... should have understood this a long time ago.

I made such a willful request, but I couldn't do anything...

People like me, really, shouldn't...

"……lamp?"

There was a knock at the door.

Along with it came the sound of conversation which was slightly muffled due to the presence of a door.

"Deng, you haven't left the house for several days, right? What happened?"

"..."

I don’t know what to answer, and I don’t know how to answer.

The lamp continued to remain silent, immersing its own world in darkness.

The voice on the other side of the door was silent for a moment, then made a sound like a sigh.

I am sorry.

Deng silently thought so in his heart.

It won't help even if I tell you.

It will only make the sadness and pain more intense.

Maybe, I shouldn't have started over from the beginning...

Although it was summer, the lights seemed to be in a cold wind and were shaking slightly unconsciously.

I thought that this time there would be changes.

I thought that we would be able to move forward this time.

But, in the end, we are back to square one.

I want to be sad, but I can't even shed tears.

Deng raised his head and stood up from the chair.