Loneliness and Rock and Roll with Band Observer

The two people sitting on the steps have been waiting here for a long time.

“…Is it too early after all?” Aine sighed, “Maybe Deng replied to the message just before the show started, so she can’t come out until the whole show is over.”

"Is there a possibility that we've been stood up?" Qiu Hui asked.

“Not really?” Aine shook her head. “I don’t think Deng is someone who would do something like this.”

"Before she decides to reply to Suyo-san's message, she may feel conflicted and wavering. But now that she has replied, she will definitely keep her promise and come to see us."

After listening to Aine's opinion, Akie nodded slightly: "Maybe it is true."

Aine seems to know a lot about Takamatsu-san's affairs.

After all, they were classmates with a closer relationship, she thought.

The color of the sunset became darker and darker, and the starry sky behind it could almost be vaguely seen.

The two continued to wait on the steps until a sudden moment.

“Ah! Xiao Deng!” Aine stood up, turned around, and waved towards the entrance of the planetarium.

Gao Songdeng jogged towards where the two of them were.

"…I'm sorry to have kept you waiting."

“It’s okay, it’s okay!” Aine smiled, “We just arrived!”

"...Yeah." Akie also nodded, "It happened about two or three minutes ago."

Although both of them explained it this way, Deng still looked a little embarrassed.

“Would you please sit down first?” Aine patted the empty space next to her.

"……Um."

Deng nodded, sat down and lowered his head.

"...Where's Su Shi?" she asked.

"As for Sushi, it seems like she has something else to do and hasn't come here yet." Aine said.

"I see." Deng nodded slightly.

Her expression looked a bit disappointed, but also a bit relieved.

"We're here today to talk to Nagasaki and Shiina about forming a band," Akie said. "But I just found out today that they and Takamatsu were actually in the same band together."

“Moyo-san told us about CRYCHIC, didn’t she?” Aine said with a smile.

"Oh..." Takamatsu Deng lowered his head, seemingly having no interest in this topic.

"Come to think of it, I didn't know that Deng was the lead singer! She sang the song 'Haruhi Shadow' really well! Deng told me before that she wasn't good at singing..."

"…I'm really not good at singing." Deng said with a slightly trembling voice.

"That's not the case." Akihime also encouraged, "'Haruhi Shadow' is a good song that can touch people's hearts..."

"…That's all thanks to Xiaoxiang!"

The lights now seem like they will cry in the next second.

"It's my fault. I didn't respond to her expectations and sang the important song she composed like that. That must be why she..."

That's why she left CRYCHIC alone, right?

The lamp, unable to speak smoothly, cried in its heart.

"It's not Xiao Deng's fault."

"what?"

With tears in his eyes, Deng looked at Su Shi who had appeared nearby at some point.

"It's not Xiao Deng's fault, nor is it Xiao Xiang's fault. No one should be blamed for CRYCHIC becoming like this."

Su Shi sat down next to Deng and looked at her gently.

"…If it's not anyone's fault."

"Then why did CRYCHIC disband?"

Deng stood up suddenly and ran out like a flash.

Just like what happened in the private room before——

"Wait a moment!"

Before Akie could react, Chihaya Aine beside her had already rushed out without thinking.

She reached out and grabbed Deng's arm, forcefully stopping her before she could run away.

“If you run away like this every time, won’t it be hard to explain what’s going on?” Aine shouted anxiously, “Please, Deng-chan! Even if you have to run away, can you at least promise me one thing before you run away?”

The lamp stopped struggling and seemed to have calmed down.

"……What's up?"

“Let’s find a time, any time is fine, as long as Xiao Deng thinks it’s appropriate.” Aine said while panting, “Come to RiNG, and have a good talk with me and the other members of the band. Let’s communicate everyone’s ideas clearly, and resolve any misunderstandings!”

"I know Xiao Deng must be feeling very confused right now, so it's okay for you to calm down for a while, no matter how long it takes! But, you must come and talk to everyone after you calm down! Can you promise me that?"

"……Um."

Aine let go of her hand. Deng immediately started to jog and soon left everyone's sight.

Looking at the back of the light going away, Aine sighed helplessly: “Is this the only way now?”

She turned back and returned to Qiu Hui and Su Shi.

The look in Akie's eyes when she looked at her was simply one of awe: "...This is a very courageous move."

“That’s normal. Didn’t senior chase me out in the same way back then?” Aine smiled.

She turned to Su Shi and said apologetically, "I'm sorry, even though I said I would help, Xiao Deng still escaped. However, since she agreed to come and have a good talk with everyone, I think after she calms down..."

“It’s okay.” A tired Su Shi smiled and shook her head, “Aine doesn’t need to apologize. On the contrary, I should thank you for letting me meet Xiao Deng after a long time.”

As she spoke, she rubbed her fingers unconsciously. “I think I can’t do something like that just now. Aine, thank you so much for helping me with this.”

"You're welcome! I'm only doing this because I care about Xiao Deng..."

Looking at Chihaya Aine, Akiie suddenly felt a little ashamed of herself.

Although Takamatsu-san is my reader and is moved by what I write, I myself cannot correctly understand her feelings.

This time, Su Shi asked me to help persuade her, but instead of helping, it seemed to have the opposite effect.

"'Haruhi no Kage' is a good song that can touch people's hearts." I shouldn't have used such ambiguous statements. I should have directly praised Takamatsu-san's interpretation of the song instead of the song itself.

Although the specific reason is unclear, in her opinion, her singing is the only flaw in the song. So the more people praise the song, the more it hurts her.

On the contrary, Aiyin, faced with the dire situation caused by my gaffe, responded effectively and quickly.

Maybe essentially, I am not very suitable for dealing with others, Qiu Hui thought.

How should I put it? Actually, I kind of admire someone like Chihaya Aine, who can handle someone like me with ease...

As she was thinking about it, Qiu Hui suddenly felt her cheeks getting hot.

Chapter 81 Look at Your

After finishing her conversation with Aine, Nagasaki Motoyo turned around and made eye contact with Akie.

"I also have to thank Senior Akiie this time." Su Shi said with just the right amount of politeness.

"You're welcome." Akie responded briefly.

Once again, she sensed something unnatural from Su Shi.

Just ask tentatively first.

"Moyo-san, actually, after watching that video, I feel a little uneasy. I was very impressed by Toyokawa-san's performance. I'm afraid that with my limited skills, it would be difficult to compare with her level."

Akie adopted a humble and slightly fearful attitude, expressing her uncertainty about whether she could be a support keyboard player.

After she finished speaking, she focused her attention and waited for the other party's reaction.

"Don't think so." Su Shi smiled, "Although Akie-senpai is a temporary support musician before the official candidate is confirmed; but this does not mean that I regard you as a 'replacement for Xiaoxiang'."

Qiu Hui felt that Su Shi's statement seemed to support her latest inference.

I am not a "replacement for Xiaoxiang"... Does this mean that Su Shi is also concerned about the possible impact that Toyokawa Shoko may have on Takamatsu, so she has no intention of inviting Toyokawa Shoko back?

"It's normal for people to be different. Asking a senior who already has a band to help is already asking too much. To make more demands is too unreasonable."

Su Shi continued to express his thoughts in an appropriate tone and wording.

“I see, Motoyo-san is really considerate.” Akie nodded with a smile, “I can be considered a friend of Takamatsu-san and Aine. Since Motoyo-san is willing to accept me, I will definitely work hard to help them as a supporting musician.”

"It's great that Senior Qiu Hui has this kind heart." Su Shi nodded slightly, "Xiao Deng is a very delicate and sensitive person. I am sincerely happy for Senior Qiu Hui to care about her situation."

It seems that Nagasaki Motoyo really cares about Takamatsu-san's feelings.

Perhaps, it was my fault for assuming maliciously about her from the beginning?

However, even though she had this thought, the unnatural signs that she could sense from Su Shi still lingered in Akie's mind.

...Maybe I'm thinking too much?

After all, I'm not a famous detective. It doesn't seem appropriate to speculate on other people's motives without authorization, right?

"Ah, come to think of it, Akie-senpai has been emphasizing her 'low level'." Suyo suddenly said, "Now Deng should be alone and calming down. If you have time, can you come back to RiNG with me and show me Akie-senpai's performance? There should be public instruments available there."

“Isn’t it great!” Aine came up to him suddenly, “I want to see how Senpai plays the keyboard, too!”

"I don't have any special plans tonight." Qiu Hui nodded, "Then I'll show you my ugly face."

So the three of them returned along the same route and returned to RiNG.

Although it was getting dark, the LIVEHOUSE had the most people at night. Right now, RiNG was also very lively.

"I'm going to discuss the use of musical instruments with the front desk. Please wait here for a moment, Akiie-senpai."

After Suyo left, Akie and Aine found a seat in the cafe and waited for her.

At this moment, Qiu Hui's cell phone suddenly rang.

"... Ryo?" She answered the phone with some confusion, "Why did you call me?"

"Hey, Akie. Are you in RiNG now?"

"Why did you guess it so soon?" Qiu Hui asked back.

"If you want to know why, it's because I'm sitting on your left across the aisle."

Akie turned her head and saw Yamada Ryo sitting in his seat in an exaggerated pose.

“Ah, it’s the bassist of the band that ended up here!” Aine also noticed Ryo’s presence, “Good evening!”

Ryo left that seat and walked directly to the table where Aine and Akie were sitting, and sat down.

As usual she seemed to have ordered nothing, so changing tables would not cause any additional problems.

"It seems like you come here quite often?" Qiu Hui asked.

"Because I didn't have any practice today. But Akiie, are you here to watch the performance as well?"

"No." Qiu Hui shook her head. "Come to think of it, I haven't told everyone who has ended the band about this yet..."

Qiu Hui briefly explained the whole story.

"...I see." Ryo nodded. "You're helping out in Chihaya's band. Are you able to handle it?"

"It's true that the pressure is very great." Akie nodded, "But Nagasaki and I have emphasized that we will only come to help when we are free. So for now, there is no problem, and it will not affect the completion of the band's activities."

"Oh..." Liang looked at the two people sitting side by side in front of him and nodded meaningfully, "...I understand. It seems that after what happened that day, your relationship has really improved by leaps and bounds."

"…What do you mean specifically?" Akie frowned slightly.

But Aine admitted it with a proud look on her face, "That's it! By the way, Yamada-san, do you know? Just like the time when Senpai invited me to join the band, I met Senpai by chance on the RiNG bulletin board, and then I met Motoyo-san by chance with Senpai!"

"And then, by chance, you were invited to form a band together?" Liang asked.

“That’s right!” Aine nodded vigorously, “It’s really fate!”