Loneliness and Rock and Roll with Band Observer

"In that case, I'll find a time to ask them. Thank you everyone," Akie said with a smile.

This brings the number of people scheduled to attend the meeting to seven, which is really lively.

Chapter 8: Unnamed Band's First Practice

The next day at noon, in Yugaoka, the Astronomy Department Room.

“…So, Senpai is going to hold a study session with everyone who has left the band.” Aine said, “And can we also participate together? I’m really looking forward to it!”

"Can I go too..." Deng seemed happy about this, "Thank you, Akiie-senpai."

While having lunch together, Akie, Aine, and Deng talked about the impending final exams.

While discussing this topic, Akie naturally mentioned the study session that was decided to be held yesterday evening.

Both of them gladly accepted Qiu Hui's invitation.

"Ah, but there's something I need to make clear to Deng first." Akie added, "Akirako doesn't care about anything except writing novels right now, so she won't participate."

Akihime and Akihiko are two different things, I haven't forgotten this setting.

“I see…” Deng looked a little disappointed.

“Well, Akiho-sensei is very busy after all.” Aine consoled him, “She should be preparing for a new work right now, right? Hasn’t she already posted a preview on the official account?”

"Hmm!" Deng's attention was immediately drawn to this topic. "It's actually about a band. I'm looking forward to it!"

"That girl kept pestering me backstage, saying that inspiration had just come to her..." Akie said, "I don't really understand. But it looks like she's writing smoothly now."

"That's great." Deng smiled.

The writing of the first draft has indeed come to an end.

Qiu Hui expects that she can finish the first draft and send it to the editor before the study session begins.

Next, you should be able to roughly complete the polishing and enter the final revision process before the final exam.

In this way, it should be possible to go on sale smoothly as planned shortly after the start of summer vacation.

This is Qiu Hui's top priority at the moment. If the commercial performance after the release is good, her financial situation will also be greatly improved.

...I feel a little excited when I think about it.

"By the way, do you have any other plans for the afternoon?" Aiyin asked, "Mr. Sushi just sent a message saying that we need to gather at RiNG this afternoon."

"Really? Let me see...it's true." Qiu Hui also saw a similar message on her mobile phone.

That's right. Now that the band has been formed, the next thing to do is practice.

"I don't have any other plans," Akie said, "so I'll definitely go... But I haven't even decided what song to practice yet, right?"

"...Yeah." Deng nodded, "Last time... we didn't come to any conclusion."

“Is there any song that Deng wants to sing?” Aine asked proactively.

"The only song I can sing is 'Haruhi Kage'." Deng answered a little embarrassedly.

"No one is born knowing how to sing," Akie responded. "Even if you can't sing now, you'll be fine as long as you practice. But..."

After a moment's hesitation, she added, "...If you want to play Kasuga Kage, I don't mind."

Seeing this, Aine agreed, "Haruhi Kage is a great song! I'm also looking forward to seeing what the current Xiao Deng looks like when she sings that song!"

"..."

The lamp said nothing, as if it was feeling a little melancholy in its heart.

Seeing the light, Qiu Hui suddenly remembered the conversation with Toyokawa Shoko yesterday.

At that time, Toyokawa was very eager to know about Deng's current situation.

I think, just like how Deng cared about Toyokawa, Deng is still concerned about Toyokawa's affairs.

"Haruhi Shadow" is a song written by both of them. Perhaps topics related to it triggered Deng's memories.

However, this forced Qiu Hui to start considering a problem.

Should I tell Deng about the conversation I had with Toyokawa-san?

I promised Toyokawa that I would not tell anyone about her financial difficulties.

But if I simply said "I talked to her", would that be considered a violation of this promise? Would it be good for Deng to tell her this?

While Akie was struggling with these questions, Aine seemed to realize that the light was low. She quickly found another topic and evaded the question about Kasuga Kage.

Looking at the two people whose atmosphere had become harmonious again, Qiu Hui decided that it would be better not to say anything for now.

I don't understand the situation well enough and shouldn't act rashly.

……

After school.

Since there were no other plans, Akie naturally accompanied Aine and Deng to RiNG.

She and Aine brought their respective instruments and walked into the store with Deng.

"lamp!"

Noticing everyone's arrival, Lixi was the first to come over and enthusiastically asked about the lamp's well-being.

She was not wearing a shop assistant uniform today and did not seem to be working, but she was still one of the first people to arrive at the store.

"The studio reservation has been made. Should we go now? Or should we wait a little longer? Would you like some water? I..."

Faced with Li Xi who suddenly approached, Deng seemed to unconsciously take half a step back.

"I'm fine...Thank you, Lixi." She lowered her head slightly, looking a little restrained.

"Oh, then, I..."

Deng's reaction seemed to make Lixi a little disappointed.

Aine laughed strangely, as if she had achieved something. “Rikki, you really are unpopular!”

"Huh? What do you know now?"

Facing Riki's fierce gaze, Aine smiled and said nothing, but just put her arm around Deng's shoulders.

“Aine…” Deng looked a little shy, but she didn’t seem to show much resistance.

"..." Li Xi turned his head away without saying a word, with a look of disgust and a hint of confusion and melancholy.

Qiu Hui didn't pay much attention to the little friction between the three people, but asked Li Xi directly: "Where is Su Shi-san? Hasn't she arrived yet?"

"Su Shi? She's already in the recording studio." Li Xi quickly recovered from his melancholy when asked, "Are you all ready to go over now?"

"Well, let's talk over there if you have anything to say." Qiu Hui said.

The four of them arrived at the designated recording studio for practice, and Nagasaki Motoyo was already waiting there.

"Good afternoon!" She smiled at everyone, "Would you like some water?"

She naturally distributed the prepared bottled water to everyone.

When it was Akie's turn, Suyo smiled and said, "I also want to thank Togawa-senpai for coming today. The reward will be paid on time as agreed before, so don't worry."

"Yeah." Qiu Hui nodded, feeling a little strange in her heart.

Reward...

Although in theory, it was natural to pay the hired support musicians, for some reason, Akie felt that it was very...inappropriate for Suze to ask for compensation in the current situation.

"Everyone!" Su Shi called the other four people together, "Let's first decide on the piece of music to practice, how about it?"

This issue should have been settled at the previous dinner party, but due to various reasons, it had to be postponed to now for further discussion.

Chapter 9 Li Xi's Plan

Qiu Hui, who considers herself as a supporter of the musicians, does not intend to express her opinion actively.

So she just stood aside and waited for everyone quietly.

“I think, since everyone is just starting out, why don’t we try playing a simple cover song?” Aine suggested first, “Oh, by the way! How about playing Sumimi’s song? I remember the official website once released a beginner-friendly cover sheet!”

"…What is that?" Li Xi denied mercilessly, "I've never heard of it."

“Eh? I thought most high school girls had heard of it…” Aine felt a little disappointed after hitting a wall.

"Then, what do you think is a better play, Li Xi?" asked Su Shi.

When asked this question, Tachibana Shiina seemed to think that this was not a question that needed to be considered at all.

"Isn't Kasuga Kage great?" She asked as if it was a matter of course, "Does Tomo feel the same way?"

"If everyone thinks it's okay, I'll also... have no problem." Deng answered uncertainly, "I should be able to sing well this time..."

Riki, who received positive feedback, glanced at Aine as if to show off and said, “Well, what do you think?”

“I think Kasuga Kage is a good choice…” Aine sighed, “Although I’m not very familiar with him, but since Xiao Deng doesn’t object, then I don’t have any objection.”

"If you agree, then there's no problem." Li Xi nodded with satisfaction, "Then..."

"Lixi, can you wait a moment?"

"Huh?" Lixi turned his head in disbelief.

Unexpectedly, this time the objection came unexpectedly from Nagasaki Motoyo.

"I think what Kasuga Kage said might be a little... inappropriate?" Su Shi said with a smile.

"What's wrong with it?" Li Xi asked, "Or are you worried about Toyokawa Shoko?"

"No! I think that Kasuga Kage is, after all..."

Su Shi seemed a little nervous. She seemed to have some objections to Kasuga Ying's choice, but she couldn't express it clearly.

“…This is a song created by everyone in CRYCHIC.

When writing the song, the lead part was designed based on Xiao Xiang and Xiao Mu's situation. "She added, "Will it be a little inconsistent if Ai Yin and Aki Eun-san play it?"

After finishing the statement, Su Shi breathed a sigh of relief, as if he was happy that he had found the right words.

"If they don't match, just practice more. One day you'll get used to it." Riki said seriously, "I have confidence in Togawa-senpai..."

As she was talking, she suddenly realized that there seemed to be a guy at the scene who made her feel a little unconfident.

"...Ah." Li Xi shook his head, "That's right. After all, that guy is still here."

"Rikki, what you said is too much!" Aine protested in dissatisfaction, but Rikki turned a blind eye.

"Anyway, in order to make that guy master it as much as possible, I will try to change the score, re-arrange it, and simplify the parts that need to be simplified." Li Xi said firmly, "Su Shi doesn't have to worry about this."

"Huh? Do you want to modify it?" Su Shi seemed a little surprised.

"If it's not appropriate, change it." Li Xi said firmly, "Isn't this a matter of course?"

"...That's right." Su Shi nodded with a smile, "It can't be helped."

She acted as if she approved of Riki's attitude, but Qiu Hui, who was observing everything without saying a word, suddenly felt an inexplicable sense of unease in her expression.

Nagasaki Suyo, does she really think that there is "nothing that can be done about it"?

At this time, Shiina Tatsuki, who had unknowingly taken the lead in the meeting, continued, "Okay, then the song to be played has been decided..."

“…But think about it, apart from that guy, you, Suyo, haven’t practiced a musical instrument for a while. The same goes for Touma. If you haven’t sung for a long time, it may take some time to get back in the mood.”

At this point, Li Xi seemed to have made his own arrangements.

"I think we should not worry about the ensemble today. Let's just practice on our own and remember how to play our instruments. After all, the official practice can only begin after I finish the re-arrangement... By the way, Togawa-senpai."

"What's the matter?" Akihime was a little surprised when she was called.

"Togawa-senpai, have you ever studied music theory before? Or, have you ever participated in composing or arranging music?"

Facing Riki's question, Akie nodded uncertainly, "I did participate, but I didn't do any important work. As for music theory... I only know it by 'learning'."

She wasn't quite sure why Li Xi specifically came to her to ask these questions.

Perhaps it was because Toyokawa Shoko was the composer and arranger in the original band, and was also a keyboardist, so Li Xi naturally thought that the keyboardist should know how to compose.

"That's great." Riki nodded with satisfaction. "The keyboard plays an important role in Kasuga Kage, so when I'm adapting it, I'd like to hear the opinions of Togawa-senpai, the keyboard player. I'll contact you with the details later, is that okay?"