Loneliness and Rock and Roll with Band Observer

s3/1717737905.203583/AqKY

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Chapter 17: Meet Again in the Music Classroom

The next day, lunch break.

Aie Togawa felt that her life seemed to be gradually getting back on track recently.

The band's activities are going quite smoothly, and there haven't been any major mistakes in the writing of new works so far.

My financial situation improved and I made new friends.

She had officially completed the first draft of the first volume of her new work at school before lunch break, and she was in a very happy mood at the moment.

After converting the written document into PDF and sending it to the editor, she felt a sense of accomplishment.

After lunch, she felt happy and decided to go to the music room to practice the piano for a while.

"I have an appointment with Shiina-san in the afternoon, and I plan to relax a bit in the evening. So, I'll take some time out to practice at noon, so that I can avoid getting unfamiliar with the technique as much as possible." This is what Akie planned.

Normally, no one would use the music classroom during lunch break.

But to Qiu Hui's surprise, this time, she heard the sound of a piano coming from the music classroom as she approached it. In other words, the place was occupied.

Since she couldn't practice the piano, Qiu Hui originally planned to go home.

But on second thought, who would use the music classroom at this time?

"I met Toyokawa-san in the music classroom before. Maybe the person playing the piano in there now might be her?" Akie thought.

She might have had the same idea as me and deliberately used her lunch break to practice piano in the unoccupied music classroom.

Thinking of this, Qiu Hui decided to go to the music classroom to confirm the identity of the person playing the piano.

If it's really Toyokawa-san, then I just happen to have something to talk to her about.

Pushing open the door, Qiu Hui found a chair and sat down without saying a word.

As she expected, it was Toyokawa Shoko who was playing the piano.

Her hairstyle was as meticulously groomed as ever, and she sat in front of the piano with a straight and elegant posture.

At this moment, she was playing the middle and latter half of the piece, which was the most emotionally cathartic part. The arpeggios that rose and fell like the tides flowed out from her fingertips like a torrent.

It didn't take her too long to figure out that the piece Xiangzi was playing was the third song in "Dream of Love", a famous piece based on the songs of lyric poets and intended to express romantic feelings.

Having said that, Qiu Hui seemed to be able to sense it to some extent.

Rather than pursuing "love", Xiangzi seems to want to express the helplessness of "loving but not being able to get it".

From the arrangement of intensity and the control of subtle differences in rhythm, one can detect a sense of realistic sadness hidden behind the lofty and bold romantic declaration.

Thinking of this, Qiu Hui shook her head helplessly. What weird things am I thinking about again?

Making pretentious comments like this makes one feel like he is some famous musician.

Having such a view... is probably just because one knows the performer's current situation in advance, so he makes a preconceived judgment on his own.

Therefore, Qiu Hui gave up commenting on the performance in her mind and just continued to sit quietly and enjoy it.

As the afternoon sun filtered in through the window and shone into the girl's hair, the performance gradually came to an end.

Ending with a gentle and bright, yet somehow melancholy mood, Toyokawa Shoko took a deep breath and took her hands off the black and white keyboard.

She turned her head and looked at Qiu Hui who had been sitting there for a long time.

"Togawa-senpai," she nodded, "I didn't expect to see you again so soon."

"I plan to come here and practice for a while during lunch break." Akie said, "Does Toyokawa think so too?"

"...Yes." Xiangzi nodded, "Because in the afternoon, this place is usually occupied by the wind band."

There was a hint of resentment in her expression.

Seeing Xiangzi's expression, Qiu Hui followed her meaning and said, "Come to think of it, in such a large city like Yuqiu, there is only one music classroom equipped with a piano. It's really not enough."

"There's nothing we can do about it." Xiangzi smiled and shook his head. "After all, Yuqiu is a high school that emphasizes further studies, so it's relatively weak in the arts, so they don't invest too much in this area."

After saying that, she looked at Akie and suggested, "So, Togawa-senpai, are you planning on practicing the piano now?"

"If you want to continue playing for a while, I don't mind." Qiu Hui shook her head. "After all, I'm practicing for the band. I still need to work hard in the recording studio."

"Indeed." Xiangzi's smile seemed a little bitter, "The band..."

She lowered her head slightly and remained silent for a moment as if she was making up her mind.

Then, Toyokawa Shoko suddenly stood up from the piano stool, walked straight towards Akihime and sat next to her.

"Speaking of the band, I have something I want to ask you, Senior."

Qiu Hui quickly understood what Xiangzi meant.

"Are you talking about Deng and the others?" she asked.

"Besides the lights..." Xiangzi paused, "Actually, there is also the senior herself."

"Besides being a support musician for Togawa, do you have any other activities? For example, joining a band as a full member?" Shoko asked eagerly.

How exactly is Togawa Akee living now?

And how much similarity does she have with myself?

Toyokawa Shoko really wanted to know the answers to these questions.

Akie didn't know what Shoko was thinking. She just answered truthfully as if it was a routine matter: "I do have my own band. However, I am the only member of the band who is from Hanaoka. The others are from other schools."

"I see." Shoko nodded. "Then, may I ask, what is the reason why Togawa-senpai is supporting Deng?"

"Reason?" Qiu Hui thought for a moment and replied, "One of the reasons is the reward..."

"Reward?" Xiangzi's eyes lit up, "Do you mean money?"

"It's money indeed." Qiu Hui nodded a little embarrassedly, "I didn't plan to do so at first... But since the other party is willing to give it, then I am naturally willing to accept it. After all... Ahaha, no one would hate money."

"That's right." Xiangzi smiled and nodded.

It turns out that Togawa-senpai also has special thoughts about "money".

So to say……

"Just now, the senior said that this was 'one of the reasons'." Xiangzi, whose mood seemed to have improved a little, continued to ask, "Then, what is the other reason?"

"Another reason..."

Xiangzi's question made Qiu Hui involuntarily start to think about the causes of the current situation.

The most direct reason why I will provide support there is Su Shi’s invitation.

But it seemed that Su Shi took the initiative to invite me after realizing that Deng and I had an unexpectedly close relationship.

The reason why I accepted it at that time was because I vaguely felt this sense of disharmony, so I was worried about Aine and Deng, and I agreed to it for the time being so that I could observe Suze's movements more conveniently.

This series of motivations...seems quite difficult to summarize.

and……

Akie suddenly realized that one of the explanations given by Su Shi at that time for inviting her seemed to be related to Toyokawa Shoko in front of her.

Chapter 18: The Lost Man Chasing the Light

She recalls what Sushi said then.

The official keyboard player "has not been decided yet", but "it will be decided one day."

Combined with Su Shi's performance in the recording studio before, Akie guessed that the meaning of this sentence could be completely understood as "Although Toyokawa-san has not decided to join yet, she will join one day."

However, Toyokawa has already made it clear that she will not join the new band.

After all, she left the band due to financial difficulties.

Rather than saying that she "didn't want to continue playing in a band," it would be more accurate to say that the so-called financial difficulties prevented her from pursuing any hobbies. Perhaps this is a more appropriate understanding.

Well, as long as the so-called financial difficulties exist, the possibility of her returning to the band is zero.

Putting aside all emotional interferences, Qiu Hui easily came to this conclusion.

But what about Su Shi?

At first, she didn't even know that Toyokawa had transferred to Haneda.

When Toyokawa told me the reason for leaving the group, he also emphasized that he "couldn't tell anyone about this."

Is she still wishful thinking that Toyokawa-san is unwilling to return to the band just because of a "misunderstanding" or something like that?

Because she needed to think about this series of facts, Qiu Hui fell into a long silence.

"Togawa-senpai?" Shoko asked tentatively, "I'm sorry, did I ask a question that I shouldn't have asked?"

“No, that’s not the case. It’s just that the reason is a bit complicated, so I have to sort out my thoughts a little bit.”

After saying that, Qiu Hui pondered for a moment before continuing.

"In the beginning, I was invited by Su Shi."

"Su Shi?" A trace of barely perceptible annoyance flashed across Xiangzi's face. "It's her indeed."

Akie continued, "She mentioned that the band had already reserved a keyboard player. However, since the 'official candidate has not yet been determined', she hoped that I could help out temporarily."

That was all she was going to say for now.

As for the statement that "Su Shi invited me to attract the lights", it is essentially just my unilateral speculation. If I say it directly, it will be suspected of gossiping behind my back.

Thinking of this, Qiu Hui decided to say less.

"Is that so? You even paid me for it."

After hearing this explanation, Xiangzi nodded.

"That guy is really... should I say he is very confident in his financial resources?"

There was a hint of sourness in Xiangzi's words.

I really don't understand what Su Shi is thinking.

On the one hand, you keep pestering me, and on the other hand, you pay other keyboard players to provide "support"?

This contradictory attitude made Xiangzi extremely angry.

Suppressing her dissatisfaction, she continued to talk about the topic of compensation with a smile on her face: "...By the way, how much is the compensation?"

"3,000 yen per hour."

When Qiu Hui mentioned this number, she could almost be said to be a little ashamed.

"...To be honest, I myself think it might be a bit too exaggerated," she said with a smile.

"Three thousand..." Xiangzi was slightly surprised.

This number is actually quite tempting to me now...

...Realizing this, she felt somewhat delighted by Akie's reaction at this moment.

Togawa-senpai also seemed to think that 3,000 yen was a good income...

Although for an ordinary female high school student who has no independent income and lives on pocket money, 3,000 yen per hour is considered a somewhat scary high salary.

However, Toyokawa Shoko, who had preconceived ideas and projected her own situation onto the other person, now interpreted the facts the way she wanted through her own subjective filter.

If I were still in Tsuki no Mori... 3,000 yen would have been something I could easily take out.

Thinking of this, Xiangzi couldn't help but feel a little bit of blame for himself at that time. If he had been a little more financially savvy at that time and saved a little of the pocket money that he couldn't spend...

...No, that kind of thing is in the past now and is not something we should consider now.

The point is, Togawa-senpai would consider 3,000 yen a lot of money, which means...

Xiangzi felt that he seemed to have really found someone like him.

But, she also felt that if it were just that, it would not be enough to make her as excited as she was now.