Loneliness and Rock and Roll with Band Observer

"Hmm...senpai, um...which one do you like?"

"Will you give it to me?" Qiu Hui asked doubtfully, "But I'm not hurt?"

“It’s not about that!” Aine shook her head, “Let’s not worry about the reasons for now, anyway, do you have any animals that you particularly like, senior?”

"Animals? Even if you suddenly ask me that..."

…I don’t really have any special interest in animals, Qiu Hui thought.

"...Any animal will do!" Deng looked at Qiu Hui expectantly, "There are many kinds!"

"Hmm... then..." Akie was a little troubled, "... a wyvern?"

"..." Deng was stunned.

"...Or a mind sucker?" Akie blurted out after stopping thinking.

“How can there be such a band-aid!” Aine said in dissatisfaction, “Except for fantasy creatures!”

Gao Songdeng lowered his head in disappointment, and the loneliness in his eyes was difficult to suppress even if he tried to hide it.

"Sorry! Um, I... I didn't mean to make fun of you..." Akie realized that she probably said the wrong thing by accident, "Then... are there any jellyfish?"

"We have this!" Deng suddenly became alert, trotted to the iron box and started searching.

Seeing the light, Akie breathed a sigh of relief.

Aine looked at her, seeming to have doubts about something.

"Senior, what did you mean by 'deliberately teasing'?"

"Eh? What I mean is, I didn't mean to tease Takamatsu-san by finding some impossible style. I just didn't know what to say, so I blurted it out..."

“So you can understand it this way?” Aine suddenly realized, “I thought you really wanted a band-aid with a lizard pattern…”

"…If there really is one, I would really like it!"

At this time, Gao Song Deng, who was rummaging through the iron box at the back, seemed to have found the corresponding style of Band-Aid.

“Ah, I found it!”

Deng brought the still properly sealed Band-Aid to Qiu Hui and handed it to her solemnly.

"Thank you." Qiu Hui accepted the gift with a smile, "The luster of the jellyfish and the background color match each other to create an ethereal feeling. I like it very much."

She watched the light's reaction.

It looks like you're happy, that's good.

After this episode, everyone finally gathered around the desk and started today's lunch meeting.

The three of them opened their lunch boxes.

Aine's lunch looked rich in variety and well presented, which was consistent with the impression she had left on people in that restaurant before.

“Ah, this octopus sausage is so cute!” Aine looked at Touma’s lunch box.

"This is made by my dad..." Deng replied a little embarrassedly. The dishes in her lunch box all looked handmade, containing the ingenuity and love of the maker.

“Wow! Let me see, where’s Senpai’s lunch… huh?” Aine couldn’t quite believe her eyes, “It’s unexpectedly… simple?”

"They are all boiled or fried in oil." Qiu Hui responded, "My parents... don't have time to cook for me, and I don't want to bother myself. So I just boil it."

“The ingredients look very simple…” Aine commented, “Apart from chicken breast, there are only cheap vegetables. It feels like something you would eat when you’re on a diet.”

"I don't have any plans to lose weight recently..." Qiu Hui said with a wry smile.

After all, I can’t gain weight even if I want to.

"Is that so..."

Aine looked at Akie's lunch box, then at that pale face, with a thoughtful expression on her face.

"Um, Senior's parents..." Deng asked, "...are they usually busy with work?"

"They are very busy and are often not at home," said Qiu Hui.

"...Is that so?" Deng lowered his head and stared at the homemade food in his bowl. "Senior seems to always be alone at school."

"After all, apart from that guy Qiu Rongzi, I don't have many friends." Qiu Hui shook her head, "However, now I have less and less time to be alone, after all, I have to take care of the band's things."

“Right, right, right!” Aine nodded, “Ah, come to think of it, I haven’t told you, Deng, but I’ve already found the members to form a band with!”

"Huh?" Deng looked surprised.

“Although the bassist is the only one confirmed for now, Akie-senpai will also help out as a keyboard player!” Aine introduced proudly, “It feels like things will get lively soon!”

“Is that so… ah.”

Deng Qiang smiled and nodded, but he didn't seem very happy.

“Ah, come to think of it, I invited you to join the band before, but something unpleasant happened, right?” Aine continued, “It was my fault back then. So, don’t worry, I won’t try to invite you again!”

"...Yeah." Deng lowered his head and responded in a voice so low that it was almost inaudible.

Looking at Aine and Tomo, Akie was unsure whether she should tell them her guess.

...After thinking about it carefully, I decided to give up.

What Nagasaki-san is planning is just my baseless guess at this point.

There is no need to speak out until further evidence is obtained.

Chapter 69: Community of Shared Future

"Actually, there's something I don't know if I should ask." Akie swallowed the food in her mouth and said, "What did Takamatsu-san think of the band he was in before?"

"..." Deng's expression changed slightly, but he remained silent.

"Although both of you call me 'senior', to be honest, Takamatsu-san, who has experience in playing in a band, is actually my 'senior'." Akie said, "So, if possible, I would like to hear your opinion."

Deng put down the tableware and stared at the lunch box in front of her quietly. She bit her lip lightly, as if she was troubled by this question.

Qiu Hui had anticipated this possibility. After all, the other party didn't look like the type who could speak out everything calmly.

"It's okay, if you feel embarrassed..."

Qiu Hui was prepared to be rejected. However, Deng shook his head unexpectedly.

"The band is... a 'community of shared destiny.'" She mustered up her courage and uttered a word that was difficult to understand.

"Huh?" Qiu Hui was puzzled. "What do you mean by a community with a shared future?"

"That's what the person who invited me said in the beginning." Deng explained slowly, "I don't really understand what fate is. But, that person invited me sincerely, tried very hard to understand me, and looked forward to seeing me very eagerly..."

She spoke slower and slower, as if she was delaying the final conclusion as much as possible.

"...But, I failed to live up to that expectation. I messed up."

Deng lowered his head and stopped talking.

In fact, Qiu Hui still has doubts. Deng's narration did not really mention the true meaning of the band to her; she also did not make it clear whether she thought the failure of the band was directly related to her own behavior.

But Qiu Hui also understands that she is not a police officer and has no power or obligation to find out the truth. It is not commendable to uncover other people's scars simply to satisfy one's curiosity.

"...It's a very regrettable result." Akie nodded, "If you feel embarrassed, it's okay not to continue."

"...Yes." Deng nodded, "Thank you."

The astronomy room was once again filled with a heavy atmosphere.

Aine felt something was wrong and said with a smile: “Eat first, eat first! If you leave it out for too long, the lunch box will get cold!”

"That's right." Qiu Hui agreed, almost understanding the other party's intention, then picked up a piece of boiled chicken breast and started chewing it with rice and lettuce.

Deng also nodded and started to eat the food in front of him bit by bit.

After a while, she raised her head and looked at Aine: “…Speaking of which, how about trying to exchange meals?”

"Okay! I also want to try the cooking of Xiao Deng's parents!" Aine responded positively.

"Um……"

Deng turned his head and looked at Qiu Hui's boring lunch box.

"...Senior, do you want to change?"

"..." Qiu Hui turned her head away embarrassedly, "...No need."

If I exchange meals with them, wouldn't that just be me taking advantage of them?

Aine looked at Akie who had a stern face and couldn’t help laughing.

"……why are you laughing?"

“I knew that Senpai would never agree to this.” Aine smiled mischievously.

After all the hassle, the atmosphere of the lunch party finally returned to a relaxed and happy track.

Everyone stopped talking about the band and started chatting about everyday topics that high school girls usually talk about while eating.

after a while.

"Everyone has finished eating." Qiu Hui nodded, "Well, I'll excuse myself first."

There is still some time before lunch break ends. If I have to say, I can still write half a scene.

“If we go back from here, it’s actually on the same route, right?” Aine suggested, “How about we go back together?”

"I have no objection." Qiu Hui nodded.

The three of them put away their lunch boxes, went to the bathroom to wash up, and then walked towards the stairwell together.

At the stairs, three people who were chatting about irrelevant topics happened to meet someone coming down from upstairs.

This person has long blue hair tied into two ponytails with a black hairband, and has a pretty face.

The first person she saw among Akie's group was Chihaya Aine.

She smiled and greeted Aine in a friendly manner.

Aine noticed the other person and exclaimed in surprise, “Ah, it’s the person I met in the music room before!”

Aine waved enthusiastically in response.

"What a coincidence." The other party smiled and nodded, "We met again at school. Speaking of which, after that, you found a way to form a band... "

The other person's smile froze.

The second person she saw was Togawa Akee.

“What’s wrong?” Noticing the other person’s strange behavior, Aine was a little confused, “Are you talking about the band members?”

Akiie, who noticed the interaction between Aine and the other party, raised her head and happened to meet the other party's eyes.

...Have I seen this blue-haired female student before somewhere before? Qiu Hui thought.

The female student who made eye contact with Qiu Hui was immediately at a loss as to what to do.

"Yes... yes, band members..." She suddenly turned her head to the side, as if as long as she couldn't see Aki Ei, Aki Ei wouldn't be able to see her either.

“Um! You’ve found it, huh? Although right now there’s only the bass and a temporary keyboardist…” Aine said with a smile.

"Oh... well, then, anyway, it's... a good start, huh." The blue-haired female student replied with a forced smile.

Qiu Hui looked at her with some confusion.

Although I don’t remember where I met her, she seemed to have left a very deep impression on me.

And it's quite negative?

Is my image in Hanqiu so bad? Why?

“…Come to think of it, what’s wrong with you? Are you feeling unwell?” Aine asked, “You’re acting strange all of a sudden.”

"Ah...it's okay, nothing happened..."

The female student suddenly widened her eyes.

She stopped looking at Qiu Hui and turned her gaze to the last person she saw.

That was Takamatsu Touma who was following behind Akie.

"...!"