Loneliness and Rock and Roll with Band Observer

Chapter 116 The night before this episode

After night falls.

Goto Ichiri, who was called outside the store alone by Hongxia, felt a little uneasy.

"So, is it because of that?"

Yili looked at Hongxia beside him.

"Yeah." The latter nodded, "After hearing Pochi's speculation before, I wanted to test it out a little. Now it seems that it may be true."

"Sure enough, things aren't going well at Akie's home...or has something happened?" Ichiri asked worriedly.

"It's probably too early to draw conclusions now." Hong Xia shook her head. "But I think that since she answered like that, it means...she is at least thinking about this issue seriously."

Hongxia raised her head and looked up at the night sky where a few stars were barely visible.

"Akiu asked everyone about commercialization before, but I didn't answer." She continued, "Because, although I also hope that the band can become famous and perform on a bigger stage like Budokan, but... I think my ideas are not limited to just that."

Hongxia stretched out her hand towards the sky as if trying to grab something.

"I was expecting something bigger than that."

Goto Ichiri turned his head and looked at the girl's profile with awe.

"...It's even bigger than climbing up to the Budokan. How big is that? Are we going to climb up to the moon?"

"That shouldn't be possible, right?" Hong Xia laughed. "But I think we should wait a little longer. It's too early to draw conclusions now."

"When would be a good time?"

"After this performance, how about that?"

Hong Xia suggested with a smile.

"I think everyone's thinking will change in some way after that."

"Hmm... I feel like the pressure is getting greater and greater..."

Ichiri had negative thoughts as usual.

"It's normal to have such thoughts." Hong Xia nodded, "After all, this is an important performance. I'm sure everyone is just like us, wanting it to be a success no matter what."

"But there's no point in getting too nervous. As long as I continue to practice hard from tomorrow and do my best during the performance, I think that will be enough!"

"Oh... I get it, but I feel like..." Goto Ichiri still couldn't muster up the energy, "Do your best... It feels like a very sunny and positive slogan, I feel a little bit..."

"Well, in that case, how about changing the approach a little?" Nijiya smiled, "After seeing how Akie comforted Pochi-chan, I also got some ideas!"

She cleared her throat slightly and said, "It doesn't matter if Bochi doesn't have to do his best! Because Bochi's guitar playing skills are the best, even if you only use half of them, it's enough. Just do what you want!"

"Ahahaha, I think half might not be enough..."

Provoked by the strange-looking Hongxia, Goto Ichiri smiled, which was a rare occurrence for him.

"...I think... at least... 80%, no, 90% is good!"

She smiled and made up her mind.

……

The date for the first performance was finally set for Wednesday.

On the Monday and Tuesday before that, Togawa Aie spent time in quite intensive practice.

During lunch break, I would borrow the piano in the music classroom for extra practice. After school, I would make final adjustments with everyone in the store. In the evening, I would handle a series of work matters, including the operation of the official account.

After a few tweets, the news that Akiho is playing in a band has spread among the fan community. Recently, the comment section of Akiho's tweets has been filled with replies asking about the time and location of the performance.

In addition, there are many comments questioning whether Qiu Rangzi is not doing his job and is slacking off.

Therefore, Qiu Hui, who was sitting in the classroom at this moment, took out her mobile phone and sent a tweet without any pictures, which roughly meant that a new work depicting the theme of a girl band will be released soon, so stay tuned.

I hope that everyone will have the impression that "I play in a band in order to write new works", which is beneficial.

Putting down the phone, Qiu Hui let out a long breath.

Today is Wednesday. In other words, tonight is the day the band ends their performance.

Rather than saying that she was nervous now...it would be better to say that she no longer had the energy to even try to feel "nervous".

Although it is completely clear rationally that it doesn't matter if this premiere is not so successful.

But emotionally, I still want to do my best.

"...I'm not that into playing in a band." Akie sighed.

She didn't intend to go to this extent just because of her love for music. She knew it very well.

It’s for everyone in the band that we’re done with, so I want to try as hard as I can.

She remembered what Hong Xia had said on Sunday night.

Finishing the band, she said, "was almost like a family."

I didn't give a direct answer at the time.

Because I know very well in my heart that the other party does not have the obligation to care for me like my family does.

To me, they were strangers whom I had never met until the moment I walked into STARRY.

I must exchange the care I receive from them with something of guaranteed quality and quantity.

and so……

“Hey, Senior!”

“…You scared me. Aine. What’s the matter?”

Akie turned her head. She was now used to Aine coming upstairs to see her from time to time during lunch break.

“Even Deng is here.” She also noticed Deng who came with Aine and was waiting outside the door.

Aine smiled and invited, “Would you like to have lunch together? I feel like if I leave you alone, you’ll start to think of some inexplicable things and make yourself feel bad.”

"...You really got it right." Qiu Hui sighed.

She left her seat with her lunch and followed Aine to the door to meet up with the lights.

"Aki-sama," Deng asked politely, with a worried look on his face, "Um, is Aki-sensei's performance tonight?"

"Yeah." Qiu Hui nodded. "That girl is probably so nervous right now that she didn't even come to school. I guess she's hiding in a recording studio practicing like crazy... I'm really worried about her."

"I see..." Deng nodded with some concern, "I hope it goes well."

“Senior, Xiao Deng and I will go to cheer for Akira tonight!” Aine said with a smile, “Senior, will you come too?”

Akihime realized that Aine was acting for Tomo, and nodded. "I will go, but I will stay backstage to help, so you two probably won't be able to see me then."

“Oh, so that’s the setting… No, so that’s how it is!” Aine laughed.

The three of them walked side by side towards the astronomy department.

After chatting with Aine and Deng for a while, Akie's originally nervous mood seemed to relax a little.

Performance... There's no point in thinking so much now.

On the contrary, thinking too much can easily lead to nervousness and poor performance.

So, it would be better to relax a little.

Chapter 117 Final Preparations

After school.

In the LIVEHOUSE "STARRY".

Akiie, who had switched into the form of Akiyoko early on, waved to Hongxia and Liang who had been waiting there.

"Good afternoon!" Hong Xia said with a smile, "It's finally time!"

"Yeah." Akira nodded, "Finally... it's time."

Everyone gathered together and discussed what they should do in the remaining time.

"Finally, let's play together again?" Qiu Rongzi suggested, "Just treat it as a rehearsal."

"Didn't we rehearse it over and over again yesterday? I don't think it's necessary." Liang shook his head. "On the one hand, it will consume energy. On the other hand, if something goes wrong during the final rehearsal, it will probably seriously affect your mentality."

"Ryo can say something that makes sense sometimes." Hongxia agreed, "I think it would be nice for everyone to just chat and talk together and relax!"

"That's fine." Qiu Rangzi nodded. She never cared.

"But I think we can play something else," Liang suggested, "It can warm us up a bit, but it won't affect our performance later."

"Sure! Then why don't we just practice something to pass the time?"

"Um."

So the three of them did some loose independent practice to pass the time.

Soon, Kita and Ichiri from the Xiuhua duo also arrived at the store.

In this way, all the members of the ending band are present.

"It feels like there are more and more customers..." Ichiri said uncomfortably, "They are everywhere outside."

"They're probably all here for Akira-chan, right?" Hong Xia guessed, "But my sister stopped them all outside, saying it's not business hours."

"Come to think of it, there's a guy who looks like a security guard in the store recently." Liang said, "Is he hired by the store manager?"

"I asked my sister." Hongxia said, "She said it is true."

"It seems quite troublesome." Qiu Rangzi nodded.

"Don't take it too seriously." Hong Xia quickly explained, "It's not Qiu Rongzi's fault. It's better to say that my sister and I are very happy that the business has improved!"

Qiu Rangzi nodded and said nothing more.

Although there is the factor of Akira Ko, the Ending Band is essentially a high school band that is performing on stage for the first time.

Therefore, Ijichi Xingge did not arrange a very good time slot for them, but just let them perform two songs on the stage as a warm-up band when the official business just started.

In other words, the time they go on stage is almost the same time as when their usual practice ends.

Everyone practiced their parts sporadically, stopping from time to time to chat about topics that had nothing to do with the performance, as if nothing would happen next.

“…Excuse me.”

Akizo...or rather, Akihime suddenly spoke, attracting everyone's attention.

"I don't think it's necessary to deliberately avoid talking about the performance."

"...That's right." Hong Xia smiled nervously, "It feels like the more I try not to think about it, the more related thoughts will pop up."

Qiu Hui nodded to show her agreement.

It's normal to feel nervous.

"I asked my sister yesterday," she continued, "Since the schedule for Monday was released, many people have come to ask about ending the band and Akirako by name."

"I didn't say that on the official account." Qiu Hui shook her head.

"But everyone seems to have known it..." Nijixia said with a wry smile, "There are unexpectedly quite a few guests who came because of Akirako. According to my sister, the number has far exceeded the quota for the performance."

Although being able to sell tickets is a good thing in theory, Qiu Hui knows that there is also a worrying side to it.

"...Don't think too much."

Qiu Hui looked at everyone.

"I'll take care of the business matters, so just focus on your performance."

"...Yeah." Hongxia nodded with a forced smile.

But Liang frowned slightly and said mercilessly: "...You know, it's useless to say such things."

"...Ah." Akie sighed, "Indeed."

There are some words that the ears may understand, but the body and heart cannot.

At this time, Ichichi Xingge came over.

"It's almost time. Everyone, go backstage and get ready."

She might have thought about saying something encouraging, but in the end she just left this calm instruction.