Loneliness and Rock and Roll with Band Observer

Light novel author.

Commercial operation of the library.

The "original ecology" approach.

The intention is to attract attention as a lead singer.

The plan is to use band activities to create an idol-like persona and to create topics in conjunction with new works.

Everything.

Togawa Akeie slowly told everyone who had ended the band the whole story.

"It's almost time for our first performance... I think it would be shameful to continue hiding this."

"Perhaps, it's too late to tell everyone now? So..."

Qiu Hui began to speak incoherently.

Although I didn't know what to say next, despite the tension, I still felt a sense of relief in my heart.

…Anyway, it’s finally out loud.

This fact alone is enough to make people feel refreshed.

"..."

After the band ended, everyone fell into a longer silence.

This news was beyond the common sense of high school girls and it was difficult for them to accept it for a while.

"Hmm... so..." Kita spoke first, "Akie-san is actually... a celebrity? Joining the Ending Band is actually part of some kind of business plan?"

Qiu Hui nodded to show her agreement.

"So... the production team really exists?" Goto Ichiri's brain was a little confused, "Are there cameras filming now?"

"That's not the case." Qiu Hui shook her head, "They don't interfere with my daily activities."

"Well, I don't really understand what business planning is..." Nijixia smiled apologetically, "Well, the so-called 'library' you mentioned, is it like an agency? The kind that will give orders to Akie's activities?"

"There aren't many signs of that right now... but I think there will be some sooner or later."

Qiu Hui lowered her head, looking like a defendant waiting for the judge's decision.

"This is one of the things I feel most sorry for. For my own personal purposes, I dragged everyone into unnecessary trouble..."

"……I see."

The last person to speak was Yamada Ryo.

She looked at Qiu Hui, smiled meaningfully, walked up to her, and whispered in her ear:

"Akie, you are indeed a very 'vulgar' and hypocritical person."

Chapter 73 Bond

"…What do you mean?" Akie looked at Yamada Ryo.

But the latter just smiled and retreated without saying a word.

She seemed to be the only one among the remaining four who ended the band who could understand what Akie was thinking right now.

Qiu Hui looked at everyone and found that their reactions were very unexpected.

No one accused her of having ulterior motives.

on the contrary……

"Well, does this mean..." Goto Ichiri muttered to himself, "...when we finish our band performances, the industry will really take notice of us? Will we be able to sell a lot of tickets?"

Goto Ichiri's eyes lit up, as if he saw a bright future where he could make up the quota without having to work part-time.

"That's not good!" Kita exclaimed, "Hey, Akiie, how many followers do you have on your social media accounts? You're not going to be an internet celebrity by accident, are you? That way, the band can also benefit from it, right?"

Kita Ikuyo excitedly held Aki'e's hands, making the latter a little at a loss.

"Although I don't understand what commercial operation means..." Hong Xia laughed, "But I think that ending the band will probably attract more attention and give us a chance to stand on a higher stage, right?"

She looked at Qiu Hui, who seemed a little at a loss.

"Isn't this unexpectedly good news? Why does Akie-chan look like she's made a mistake?"

Hongxia's question finally made Qiu Hui realize everyone's attitude.

"..."

So...is this how everyone views my affairs?

Did my previous worries turn out to be unnecessary?

Qiu Hui looked at Liang who was standing beside her.

The latter responded with a smile: "You know, I really like money. I don't hate kids who can make money."

“I, I thought…” Akie blushed and lowered her head, “I would be seen as a bad guy who wanted to gain fame and profit and played with everyone’s dreams…”

"I don't think so!" Goto Ichiri summoned up the courage to shout, "Akie, you've tried so hard!"

"Akie is a very kind person." Kita smiled brightly, "She helped me when we first met."

"Not only does she practice very hard technically, but I can also feel her strong desire to get to know everyone in the team better." Nijixia also nodded, "So, I can feel Akie's feelings for this band!"

Togawa Aie looked at everyone with mixed feelings.

After I said it out loud, I realized that my assumptions and everyone’s real thoughts were completely different…

"Well, thank you all... for someone like me..."

My eyes feel so sore.

Are you going to cry?

No way, it's so embarrassing!

"Ah, come to think of it, I have an idea, it may not be correct." Liang said suddenly.

With moist eyes, Qiu Hui looked in Liang's direction.

"Although you claim that you are acting for 'profit', to be honest, I have a feeling..."

"...In fact, you might be the one who cares least about 'profit' among us."

Ryo's words were somewhat unexpected to Qiu Hui.

"Why do you think so?"

"Who knows?" Liang spread his hands indifferently, "It's just a feeling."

Facing Liang's response, Qiu Hui couldn't help but laugh out loud: "Your feelings...maybe unexpectedly accurate."

She does have a point.

At this point, there's no need to continue deceiving myself, right?

"...Anyway, I'm sorry for causing trouble to everyone because of my behavior." Akie wiped away her tears and apologized with a smile.

"Why are you still apologizing after all this? I really don't understand you!"

Amid the laughter of the crowd, Togawa Akeie also secretly made up her mind.

Although the cause seems a bit inexplicable, no matter what, this bond that was born out of chance always has a real part.

In order to make my first performance a success, I have to work twice as hard.

As a member of the "ending band".

"By the way, it seems pretty cool to use a pseudonym to appear on stage. Maybe it will become a topic unexpectedly?" Kita suggested, "How about we take this opportunity to open our own social media account after we end the band?"

"Oh! Good idea!" Hong Xia agreed, "Then, how about appointing you, Kita, as the Minister of Ending the Band's Social Network?"

"I've always been curious about what the novel written by Akiie would be like?" Goto asked curiously.

“I don’t think that’s something you can show to people you know.” Akie covered her face. “Please, even if you’re really interested, please don’t tell me what you think after watching it…”

"I think I can understand that." Goto Ichiri nodded empathetically, "This feeling of not being able to let go in front of someone you know well..."

"I don't quite understand the novel..." Liang's eyes sparkled, "But can you give me some sales data?"

"It's just average, right? Not enough to make you rich, so your expectations will probably be dashed..." Akie teased with a smile.

It feels so good.

It feels like chatting and gossiping among friends.

Togawa Aie thought.

Although I have been under various pressures in various aspects during this period of time.

But this feeling right now must be the best reward I can expect, right?

……

Ichichi Hoshige watched everyone's conversation silently from the side.

It's a commercial operation, a library, an agency, etc...

Togawa Aie, you really are a worry to me.

Even though he looks like just an ordinary high school student, can he be associated with those scary words?

That's right, after all, she comes from that kind of terrible family...

……wrong.

If you think about it carefully, that Togawa Akeie is actually in a situation where she is running away from home, right?

She did not rely on her family's influence to establish connections with the commercial world.

The truth is quite the opposite. She has cut off her material connection with her family, so she has to rely on the power of commercialization to maintain her daily life.

Recalling her previous extraordinary interest in part-time jobs, Xingge shook her head helplessly.

"What a troublesome family."

Whether it was Togawa Haruna, who used all means to closely monitor but did not initiate direct interference, or Togawa Akiie, who relied on this freedom from interference to really achieve a lot single-handedly, both were a little beyond her expectations of ordinary people's family relationships.

However, one thing is one thing. No matter how much she sympathizes with the child, Ichichi Xingge will never turn a blind eye to her and the complex commercial factors behind her.

The library's main business is to publish novels, but it lets its authors engage in "band business" - leaving aside other things, just this casual attitude of treating bands as labels and sticking them everywhere is enough to make Xingge angry.

Even if Qiu Hui herself is indeed participating in the band activities with a serious attitude, we cannot tolerate the forces behind her making random comments on ending the band.

If possible, I hope things won't develop to that point...

Ichichi Xingge shook his head slightly and returned to his post.

Chapter 74 Daily Life and Progress

Today's practice ended in a pleasant atmosphere.

After saying goodbye to the other members, Akie left STARRY and called Chihaya Aine.

"Hello? What's up, senpai?"

"It's like this." Qiu Hui said, "I should have told you before that the band will hold its first public performance soon after it ends."

"Yeah, I know. Is there anything else?"

"Actually, it's like this. For some reason, I plan to wear a mask when I go on stage and appear under the pseudonym 'Akirako'."

“Eh? Senior, you’ve already picked a stage name? It really is… Wait, Akirako?”

Aine seemed to have discovered the problem.

"...You've noticed it, haven't you?" Akie sighed, "That's the truth. Novelist Akie Aki, keyboardist of the band End, Akie Aki, and ordinary high school student Togawa Akie...are actually the same person."

“Wait, wait, let me sort this out! Senior, aren’t you Akiaki Ko’s classmate?” Aine said in surprise on the other end of the line.

"I did say that... because to be honest, I don't really want Takamatsu-san to know my identity." Aki said frankly, "How should I put it? In front of readers, I hope to separate 'me as an author' and 'me in real life' a little bit."