Loneliness and Rock and Roll with Band Observer

Xiangzi actually asked about this matter directly, and Qiu Hui was a little surprised.

In that case, she decided to answer truthfully.

She would not take the initiative to mention things that the other party did not ask.

But if the other party has already asked, she will not choose to lie or hide it.

She sincerely wanted to understand the situation.

In order to help Xiangzi realize this, she didn't want to hold back.

"I know the band's name is 'CRYCHIC'. And the keyboard player before was you, Toyokawa-san, in front of me." Akie answered calmly.

However, Toyokawa Shoko in front of her could not behave as calmly as she did.

Her evasive eyes and stiff smile betrayed her wavering state of mind at the moment.

"Tomo's new band is going to have a keyboard player, but the candidate has not been determined yet, so they asked me to help out there temporarily." Akie continued her attack, "Although it's just my guess, the 'undetermined' candidate may be..."

"...I won't join." Xiangzi said suddenly.

The calm demeanor she had been trying to maintain from just now was completely destroyed at this moment.

Although Qiu Hui hadn't asked yet, she still expressed her opinion in advance as if it was a conditioned reflex.

Her face turned slightly pale, her lips were tightly pursed, and she lowered her head nervously, staring at the table.

Just saying these words seemed to drain all her strength.

"I see." Akie just nodded, "Thank you for telling me."

After a brief pause, she continued, "Just as Toyokawa-san wanted to know about Tomo's current situation, I also decided to talk to you in order to know Toyokawa-san's current situation."

"I was not asked by Deng or anyone else to gather information for others. It was just out of my personal curiosity and concern for Deng's old friends that I took the initiative to want to know more."

Qiu Hui reported her position. Although Fengchuan-san in front of her showed strong hesitation, she did not move to leave the table. In other words, she might not be so opposed to continuing the conversation.

Therefore, for Qiu Hui, now might be a good time to take back the initiative in the conversation and express her own demands.

"I'm just a friend of Deng, and I don't have the position to interfere in the affairs of that band. Therefore, I fully respect all the decisions made by Toyokawa-san regarding that band."

"I will not try to persuade you to change your mind, nor will I insist on asking for information you don't want to tell me, nor will I disclose the information I have learned to anyone who Toyokawa-san does not want to know."

"So, I sincerely hope that Toyokawa-san can tell me as much as possible about anything that can be said."

After finishing the long statement, Qiu Hui felt as if she was sweating all over.

Although her face still had a gentle and steady expression, she already had the urge to collapse to the ground without caring about her image.

Pretending is really annoying... That's why I hate socializing with strangers.

Because if it is a stranger, you have to take various possibilities into consideration, try your best to avoid making mistakes, not to cause disgust, and strive to leave a good first impression.

Moreover, even if one does the best one can, one cannot expect satisfactory results.

It is even difficult to test it - because the other party will subconsciously conceal their true thoughts out of politeness, so there is no way to know how your response appears to the other party.

So, socializing is really tiring.

After a long period of preparation, Akiie, who was already feeling a little exhausted, was looking forward to the reaction of Toyokawa Shoko.

"..."

Xiangzi just continued to remain silent.

Although he didn't express his opinion, he didn't show any intention of leaving either. He just maintained the awkward silence.

Qiu Hui knew that she had put a lot of pressure on the other party, so she didn't say much. She just tolerated the other party's silence and continued to wait for the other party to speak.

The first person to break the silence was the waiter who brought the drinks they ordered.

Taking a sip of steaming black tea, Toyokawa Shoko calmed herself down a little.

She wasn't ready to speak yet, and just quietly observed the other person's actions.

Togawa Akiie took the coffee slowly, took out the sugar cube and added it into the cup, then stirred it elegantly and rhythmically with a spoon.

Xiangzi noticed the coffee liquid in her cup swirling like a vortex. Although she stirred it vigorously, there was no sound of the stirring spoon hitting the wall of the cup.

After stirring evenly, she took out the stirring spoon, gently shook off the remaining droplets, and set it aside; then she picked up the coffee cup and sipped silently.

strangeness……

…Why does Togawa-senpai look like she comes to the cafe often?

As if trying to divert his attention to relieve stress, Xiangzi observed Akie's appearance.

The school uniform was washed to a pale color, the hair was a little messy, and the face had no trace of makeup and looked a little haggard.

Overall, it gives people the impression that people will indeed rush to buy expiring products.

However, from the details of drinking coffee, and from the chance encounter during lunch break until now, her attitude and way of speaking in the negotiations are not at all consistent with the impression left by her appearance.

It's just like... the attitude of someone who has received a complete etiquette education.

Xiangzi raised his head and found that the other party was still maintaining a polite and gentle smile.

She felt as if she could no longer remain silent.

This is a disrespect in negotiations, but the other party showed the utmost tolerance towards this disrespect.

But Toyokawa Shoko could never tolerate herself accepting such tolerance unscrupulously.

"……I see."

After a long silence, Toyokawa Shoko finally calmed down and spoke.

"I am very grateful that Togawa-senpai can understand my position. Therefore, as long as you can keep your promise just now, I will try my best to tell you everything I can say."

Xiangzi took a deep breath and tried to calm himself down.

"The question you want to ask, senpai, is 'Why should I quit CRYCHIC'?"

After she finished speaking, she observed Qiu Hui's reaction.

Chapter 4 Sympathy for Different Diseases

Finally, we've come to this topic. Togawa Aie smiled slightly because her plan had worked.

I had originally taken a roundabout approach out of fear of stepping on a landmine, but this time I actually brought up the topic myself. So, even if I can't get the information I want, at least the other party won't have a bad impression of me.

Although it was tiring to pretend like that, it seemed to have worked to some extent.

In her heart, Qiu Hui was somewhat reluctantly grateful for the education she had received.

"That's true. This is not only a problem that bothers me as a bystander, but it is also a knot that has been bothering Deng since that time and has only been untied recently." Akie sighed, "Although Deng has come out of the shadow of that time, I think that even if she forms a new band, she will still care about this reason."

"lamp……"

Shoko frowned in pain, and Akie noticed it keenly.

"I'm sorry," Akie said, "I won't tell anyone what I know without your consent, Toyokawa-san. Even Tomokazu."

"...Thank you, Togawa-senpai."

Even though it had collapsed countless times so far, Xiangzi once again put on a calm and polite attitude on his face and thanked him.

"Even though you've made so many concessions, there's really not much I can say. I'm very sorry about that."

As Xiangzi spoke, he was thinking about another question in his mind.

"I quit CRYCHIC entirely because of my personal reasons."

As she spoke, she observed Akie's appearance and posture, looking for a possible explanation.

"As for the specific reason... I can only say that it is caused by the difficulties in reality. Due to some... financial and life problems, I have to consider stopping the band activities indefinitely. Due to various reasons, I... can't tell you about this..."

Xiangzi seemed to want to say something else, but in the end he didn't open his mouth.

She noticed that after hearing these words, Qiu Hui seemed to realize something.

"Financial troubles." Qiu Hui nodded as if she had known something for a long time, "Perhaps I can understand."

This statement also activated Xiangzi's thinking.

...Can Togawa-senpai really understand?

Xiangzi suddenly felt inexplicably excited.

The scene of that chance encounter in the convenience store suddenly replayed in her mind.

The preference for discounted goods, the unkempt appearance, the haggard face, and the incompatible, polite and proper style of doing things.

Could it be that... the Togawa-senpai in front of me is the same as me...

...Have you encountered similar things?

To be honest, this idea was a little too bold, even Xiangzi himself couldn't believe it.

The few signs we have so far are not enough to draw such a radical conclusion.

But... Toyokawa Shoko really wanted to agree with this conclusion.

I really want to approve this judgment in advance based on my subjective opinion without sufficient evidence.

Are we the same kind?

Are we...

……wrong.

Xiangzi's original eager anticipation was suddenly extinguished by a fact that she had already known for a long time.

Togawa-senpai is playing in a band.

Even, playing in a band with the lights.

This fact made Xiangzi's sensibility no longer support her previous judgment.

If it is true that Senior Togawa and I had the same experience.

However, she is still active as a support musician.

So, what about me who left everyone behind and went away alone?

This possibility made her dare not think further.

Togawa Akee in front of her continued with a normal expression: "If that's the case, many problems may be explained. It's understandable that Toyokawa-san doesn't want to tell everyone about these things..."

Qiu Hui sighed, her eyes reflecting a melancholy that was not common among people of her age.

"...After all, this isn't something a middle school student should be thinking about."

She cast a well-hidden look of sympathy at Toyokawa Shoko in front of her.

"Economic difficulties." Behind this understatement, there may be countless blood and tears.

She is different from me. My choice was voluntary, but her experience may be due to the random arrangement of fate.

From my point of view, I am not qualified to comment on her choice.

Perhaps it is enough to know that her reasons are the difficulties in reality.

After all, Deng has now stepped out of the shadow of the past and rejoined the band.

For someone who has chosen to leave, it is better to respect her choice.

Thinking of this, Akie expressed her gratitude: "Thank you very much for talking to me about this today. My personal curiosity has been fully satisfied. I will keep my promise in the future and not tell anyone else about these things, please rest assured, Toyokawa."

"Yes, I understand." Xiangzi replied a little tiredly, "I also want to thank Togawa-senpai for understanding me."

Qiu Hui nodded with satisfaction.

At this point in the conversation, we can almost declare victory over.

The two of them spent the rest of the time sipping the drinks in front of them.

Qiu Hui tried to finish the coffee in front of her as quickly as possible, after all, she had to go find the closing band later.