Loneliness and Rock and Roll with Band Observer

I'm surrounded by friends who play the same instruments and everyone is very friendly, so why did it turn out like this?

Unable to come to a conclusion, she shook her head helplessly.

Although I call myself a light novel writer, my understanding of human personality is far from that level.

"It's okay. If Goto-san doesn't want to go on stage first, it's okay for me to go first, okay?"

This time, Aine, who was considered Goto's "rival", was the first one to take the initiative to comfort her.

"No need. Let me go first."

With a bitter face, Goto Ichiri took the bag off his back, unzipped it, and took out his guitar.

“I’ve been behaving very inappropriately since just now, but everyone has been very kind and indulged me. I’m going to die of shame if this continues…”

She walked onto the stage with her guitar and plugged in the effects unit; then she got ready to play and nodded slightly to the four people in the audience as a gesture of greeting.

"I'll improvise a piece. Please bear with me."

Standing on the stage, Goto took a few deep breaths and forced himself to relax.

She gently lifted her bangs, stared at the strings in front of her, and at the audience who were looking at her expectantly.

He raised his hand and pulled it down suddenly.

What followed was a strong and impressive sound.

Qiu Hui felt that her heart seemed to tremble as well.

Amazing!

The opening was like thunder in the night, and the smooth and powerful melody suddenly flowed out like a heavy rain in the summer afternoon. Goto's pale fingers jumped flexibly between the strings, playing notes that seemed to soar between the five lines.

Chihaya Aine opened her eyes wide, and didn't even notice the strap of her guitar bag slipping off. Fortunately, she intervened in time and managed to hold the guitar before it hit the ground.

Goto, who was originally shrouded in an atmosphere of uneasiness, seemed to have become a different person at this moment. She moved naturally to the unbridled melody she played, like a hero on the battlefield with an indomitable spirit.

Qiu Hui gently covered her chest with her hands, feeling the fierce beating of her heart. The speakers placed very close to her blasted out waves of sound, causing her body and heart to beat along with them.

Liang said nothing, but just nodded continuously.

Hongxia smiled and nodded, giving a thumbs up to Goto who was immersed in the music on the stage.

And Aine, who had come here as a competitor, lowered her head and stared at her toes, wondering what she was thinking.

The improvisation ended quickly. Qiu Hui felt that the performance lasted only a moment, but it also seemed to last a lifetime.

Is this really music that a high school student can play?

"……above."

Goto Ichiri stopped playing and was once again enveloped by the same atmosphere as before. But this time she seemed a little happier than before, perhaps because she noticed the positive attitude of the crowd.

"It's indescribably beautiful." Liang nodded slightly, "Now I'm a little worried whether I can be worthy of you after the band ends."

"You played really well! I knew Goto-san could do it!" This was Hongxia's statement.

“Hey, hey, I, that…”

The target of these compliments laughed sheepishly, and the way he laughed seemed extremely tasteless.

“… Actually, it’s not that bad, right? Eh heh.”

Qiu Hui nodded slightly. It was great. This feeling of relying on one's own strength and gaining the approval of others without a doubt.

She didn't say much, but just clapped vigorously for Goto.

“That’s amazing.”

At this moment, Chihaya Aine suddenly spoke with a lonely look on her face.

"Goto-san's performance was truly astounding."

“Yes. But now it’s your turn, Aine-san! I’m looking forward to your performance as well!”

"I... I feel that, at this point, actually... there is no need for me to do anything, right?"

Aine let out a long breath and smiled apologetically.

"I'm sorry to bother you all. I think it would be better if I didn't join the closing band."

As soon as she finished speaking, she turned around resolutely, regardless of Hongxia and Liangdi's attempts to keep her, and walked towards the entrance, gradually starting to jog.

“Aine!”

Why did you suddenly run away?

Looking at Aine who ran up the stairs and left STARRY, Akie looked embarrassed.

"Sorry, I'll go catch up with her!"

Akie also started running, trying to keep up with Aine.

Although I don't know why she ran away inexplicably, but anyway, she was invited by me and she is a junior from the same school as me.

Although I don’t understand the specific reason, I always have a feeling that... I should take responsibility.

Rushing up the stairs and coming outside, Akie took a short breath and ran in the direction where Aine had escaped.

Chapter 8: Break Free from the Shackles of "Opportunity"

Togawa Aie hates being with strangers.

Of course, "hate" is only an approximate answer, and its emotional color may not completely match Akie's psychological state.

To say that they “don’t want to” is not appropriate, and to say that they “can’t” is not accurate either.

Relatively speaking, the most accurate expression might be “not inclined to”.

It wasn't all out of fear, nor was it all out of disgust.

It's more like a lack of motivation or opportunity. That's what Qiu Hui thinks.

To use an analogy, it is like a person bound by gravity. Even if he jumps up and tries to touch the stars in the sky, he will only be pulled down by gravity and return to the wilderness where there is nothing but himself.

Only by relying on sufficiently strong power and accelerating to a certain level can one break free from the restraints and head towards the sky.

Most of the time, Togawa Aie doesn't have that motivation.

Only with rare opportunities can she accidentally rise into space and reach out to the stars called "others".

"Although the origin of all this was just because I needed to find a band to run a business, a series of coincidences gave me the opportunity and reason to meet Nijigasaka, Ryo, Goto, and of course Aine."

Such opportunities don't always come along.

So, if it appears even once, I want to catch it.

If I let Aine leave here like this, perhaps the two of them will never meet again in the future.

Precisely because I have few friends, they are particularly precious.

Even if there is only a slight possibility, I don't want to give up just like that!

“Aine! Wait for me! Why did you suddenly run away?”

Aine slowed down her pace. She turned around and saw Akie, who was breathing heavily, approaching her.

“Ahaha… Ming, you obviously came here on purpose… huh… didn’t you?”

After holding her knees with both hands and breathing heavily for several times, Akie finally raised her head and met Aine’s eyes.

"Senior, are you eager to know?"

Akie nodded in response.

"…Why? Senpai has already found a great guitarist, right?"

"That's another matter." Akie said seriously, wiping the sweat from her face.

Aine looked at Akie in front of her with mixed feelings.

"Actually, it's not a good reason. It would be embarrassing to tell it to Senior. But since Senior has followed me here, it's better to tell him."

She paused for a moment, as if preparing herself mentally, before continuing.

"Besides the band's functions, there is a decisive difference between a guitarist and a guitar vocalist. Do you know what it is, senior?"

"I have no idea."

"I'll give you a hint. It's the difference in appearance."

"It looks like... ah, I see. The lead singer is standing in the middle of the stage, but the guitarist is standing in the corner, right?"

Aine covered her mouth and chuckled. “That’s right. If I stand in the center of the stage as a guitar vocalist, I’ll attract the most attention and become the most watched person in the band. So I want to be a guitar vocalist, that’s it!”

"That……"

Akie seemed to understand what Aine meant.

"Goto-san's performance is just too amazing. If I stand on the stage with her, I won't be able to attract as much attention as she does even if I'm in the center. Is that right?"

"My seniors really understand me." She lowered her head and smiled bitterly, "So, maybe it's better for me to find another band."

She took out a small square handkerchief from her pocket and wiped away the few drops of sweat that had escaped from Qiu Hui's forehead.

"I have already answered your question. Can you answer mine too?"

"What's the problem?"

"Why did you follow me, Senior? There's no need for that, right?"

"I followed you because I think it's hard for me to make friends."

Qiu Hui also smiled helplessly.

“If there is no ‘moment’, even if you force yourself to interact with strangers and make more friends, you will always feel powerless.”

"The reason why I joined the band was actually because of some other opportunity. Joining the band itself led me to look for a guitarist, which led to the opportunity to meet you, Aine."

"This is all too coincidental, just like the plot in a novel. If I don't catch it this time, I don't know when I'll have the chance to catch it next time."

"If I let you go without asking for your reasons, maybe our lives will never intersect again from now on... so..."

Qiu Hui's cheeks flushed slightly with shyness, and she became more and more incoherent as she spoke.

“Well, I, actually, this might seem strange, right? It’s not a big deal, but it’s like, this, like that…”

"It's a bit strange, Senior's idea. Senior, you take making friends too seriously, don't you?"

Aine said with a smile on her face.

"In fact, as long as we say hello, have lunch together at school, and chat about trivial topics, then slowly and unknowingly we can become friends, right?"

Qiu Hui nodded: "I... I know that too, but I can't stop myself from thinking this..."

“Is there anything wrong with that? Rather, I think it’s cute for a senior to think like that!”

"Eh? Yes, cute?"

Aine suddenly came very close to Akie, who felt a little bit at a loss as to what to do.

Especially the faint fragrance coming from the hair, which symbolizes fashion trends and Yangjiao temperament.

"Especially the fact that I feel like 'we'll never meet again' is so cute!"

Chihaya Aine took two steps back and waved at Akie.

"I'm leaving first. After all, I still need to find a band that can attract my attention..."

"...But! If you want us to have a new encounter, please feel free to contact us!" She took out her phone and opened the app interface. "How about exchanging contact information?"

"……Um!"

After that, Aine left, leaving Akie standing there alone.

"But if you want to meet again, just contact me anytime."

She smiled and put her phone away.

"Sure enough, maybe because I read too many fictional stories, I may have overdramatized real-life interpersonal relationships."

She sent a message to everyone who ended the band.

"I'm fine now, I'll be right back!"