Loneliness and Rock and Roll with Band Observer

As if she had spotted this opportunity, Aiyin took immediate action and took hold of Akie's arm.

After a moment of symbolic resistance, the latter finally accepted the status quo reluctantly.

Meanwhile, Nijixia, who was walking at the end, observed the expression of Akie, who was sandwiched between Ichiri and Aine.

Is this shyness or nervousness?

What does Xiao Qiuhui think about this situation? Is she really resisting it, or is she just trying to resist it?

Hongxia thought about it.

Come to think of it, Aine and Koakie seemed to be very close.

After all, they are friends from the same school, and compared to the band members, they have their own strengths and weaknesses. There should be some differences in the way they get along with each other.

Although she also seems to be the cheerful and lively type, there are still subtle differences between her and Kita and me.

If I were to use Chihaya Aine as a reference, what should I do...

"Um, Ijichi-san."

"Hmm? Ah, Takamatsu-san, what's wrong?"

Hongxia turned her head and looked at the lamp beside her.

"I... look forward to ending the band," Deng said. "After watching the performance, I think it's a great thing to be able to bring together the personalities of five people like that."

"I'm still playing in a band, but it doesn't seem to be going very well. So, I want to talk to Ijichi-san and everyone else who has ended their band."

There was a hint of anticipation in Gao Songdeng's animal-like eyes.

"I want to know...what the band is all about."

Chapter 32 "Ichichi Kouka's Way of Speaking"

Hongxia's home looks quite simple and is a comfortable apartment that gives people a homely feel.

Everything had been cleaned up in advance for this party; while everyone was studying, Xingge also prepared some things that might be used for the party.

Everyone sat down on the sofas or pre-prepared cushions, and the scene was bustling.

Deng sat down next to Hongxia, and suddenly felt the touch of Aine's hand on his shoulder.

“Deng-chan, how are you feeling today?” Aine asked with a smile, “It seems like Deng-chan isn’t in a good mood. It seems like you didn’t say much before.”

"I feel very happy." Deng replied.

"Hmm...but Deng-chan doesn't look very happy, does she?"

Aine simply sat down next to Deng and started chatting.

"Is it because I didn't explain it well that Deng didn't understand?" she asked, "Or is it because he was thinking about something else and couldn't concentrate?"

"…I was thinking about something else." Deng nodded.

After saying that, she noticed the movements of Qiu Hui who was sitting on the sofa.

Akiie seems to be chatting with Goto and Yamada right now.

But Deng didn't know if it was his illusion: Qiu Hui seemed to glance in his direction vaguely every once in a while.

“What’s the matter?” Aine asked.

"Maybe it's something to do with the band?"

The one who answered Aine was not Tomo but Nijika who was sitting next to her.

"Ah, Ijichi-senpai..."

"Just now, Deng said that she wanted to talk to me about the band." Hongxia said with a smile, "Ain and Deng are in the same band, right? Then, how about Ain joining in?"

“Of course it’s no problem.” Aine nodded, “Lil’s worried about the band after all…”

She stroked her hair with a wry smile, "No wonder. After all, things haven't been going smoothly since the beginning. If Ijichi-senpai can help, I'd be very grateful."

Although things have gotten better now, and I have gained some confidence in playing the guitar, the current situation is still a bit worrying, Aine thought.

Ijichi Hongxia also noticed the two people's worries and said, "In this case, let me, as a senior in the band, help you answer your questions!"

The affinity was so strong that it seemed like the bursting sunlight, and it also infected the lights that seemed a little restrained.

"Well, can I ask you a question first?" She asked, "Ijichi-senpai, how did the band get started?"

"Well... I was the one who first proposed it," Nijixia answered. "Ryo is an old friend of mine, so when she heard about it, she joined in. Then, Akira... Akira ran into the two of us in the store by chance one day, and she said she wanted to join in, so we agreed."

"After that, I ran into Bochi-chan on the street, and Akira also ran into Kita-chan on the street... So when you think about it, we ended up being a group of strangers!"

Hongxia felt a little embarrassed, but smiled with some pride.

"I see." Takamatsu Deng exclaimed, "Is this a coincidence..."

She lowered her head, as if recalling the past.

"So, Xiao Deng, how did you start your band?"

"Let me answer this!" Aiyin smiled, "At first, I wanted to form a band with Xiao Deng, but she rejected me because of the failure of forming a band before. After that, when I was looking for band members, I met the bassist of Xiao Deng's previous band by chance, and then I agreed to form a band with her."

"Is that so? Then, did Xiao Deng join in later?" Hongxia asked.

“Yeah! This is all thanks to Akie-senpai. Although she didn’t agree to officially join, with her help, we cleared up some of Xiao Deng’s misunderstandings about her previous band. So, Xiao Deng, the bassist and drummer from Xiao Deng’s previous band, the four of us, plus the senior who is currently providing temporary support, formed a new band!”

"That's really cause for celebration."

After saying that, Hong Xia changed her mind and said, "However, Xiao Deng mentioned before that the new band is not going well?"

"Yeah." Deng's mood was a little low, "Aine and Riki... the drummer, for some reason, often quarrel. Bassist Suyo is also a little... I'm not sure what she's thinking."

"I see. To put it simply, there is absolutely no sense of unity." Hongxia nodded.

“On the contrary, the senior who provided support has been busy doing this and that for the harmony within the team.” Aine sighed, “I always feel a little sorry for her.”

"Are you talking about Akie?" Nijixia asked in surprise, "So she often comes to your place... No, this is not the main topic now. Speaking of the topic of 'lack of a sense of unity'..."

She paused briefly, recalling the results of the previous discussion in the family restaurant.

"…'Sense of unity' is born with 'musicality'." Hongxia repeated Liang's point, "In simple terms, everyone plays together, prepares for the performance, and slowly forms a sense of unity!"

"So, I mean, I need to practice more and prepare for the performance..."

Chihaya Aine didn't seem to want to hear such an answer, but she still forced a smile and agreed.

"Well, that's quite a constructive suggestion. I will continue to work hard in the future..."

“Aine…” Noticing Aine’s displeasure, Deng became a little worried.

Hongxia soon realized that her opinions did not seem to be suitable for the other party's situation.

"Yes, but the situation over there seems to be a little more complicated."

Hong Xia pondered for a moment and said, "Xiao Deng mentioned it just now, right? Xiao Ain and the drummer often quarreled? Why is that? I feel that this should not be a simple problem of 'lack of unity'..."

“Well, how should I put it? I think… maybe it’s because I’m an ‘outsider’.” Aine analyzed, “And my skills may not be that good, and I often back down…”

"Level?" Hong Xia asked in confusion, "I didn't expect it to be a serious band?"

“Ah, not really. How should I put it…” Aine scratched her head, “Rikki… um, that’s the drummer Rikki. He’s different from me. He takes the band very seriously, so we often clash because of this.”

"I see." Hongxia nodded. "How should I put it? I think at this time, we really need a leader to coordinate."

"...Team leader?" Deng raised his head.

"Everyone has their own personality, right? Their attitudes towards music are also very different." Hong Xia explained, "Although we don't have such intense conflicts of opinion here, I can understand it. After all, Liang quit the band she was in before because of musical conflicts."

“Oh, so Yamada-senpai also had an experience of quitting the team?” Aine seemed very interested.

“That’s right. So, I think that if we want to unite members with different opinions and become one, we need someone to stand up, gather everyone’s consensus, and become the direction for everyone!”

Hongxia stated her point of view with a bright smile.

"'Leader' and 'direction'?"

Deng looked at Ichichi Hongxia, who was emitting warm light like the sun, with a look of confusion.

Chapter 33: Team leader Xiao Deng?

Build consensus, become everyone's direction, and guide everyone forward.

There have been people like this...

"Xiao Xiang..."

I said it unconsciously.

The lamp lowered its head, its eyes unfocused.

The past before the establishment of CRYCHIC emerged in her mind.

On that pedestrian bridge when the cherry blossoms are falling.

Xiaoxiang appeared without any warning.

Just as Mr. Ijichi said just now, CRYCHIC is also a band that was born out of "chance encounter".

From the moment it was born, it was so beautiful that people couldn't help but question its authenticity.

Even though I have not been understood by everyone until now, and even though I have never known how to describe my inner world and the world, Xiaoxiang... seems to have understood everything from the beginning.

He composed such a beautiful melody from my messy thoughts and encouraged me, a useless person, to sing it all out.

She is the direction of everyone in CRYCHIC...

...is also my direction.

…Looking back now.

Everyone at CRYCHIC... everyone except Xiaoxiang.

Mu, Su Shi, and even... Li Xi.

Everyone is together because of Xiaoxiang.

After Xiaoxiang left that day...

...Although I already know that her leaving was not caused by my fault.

But even so, there was nothing I could do after she left.

I can neither win back Xiaoxiang, nor can I be the direction for everyone after she leaves...

…That’s why CRYCHIC disbanded.

"...Light?"

If I could become more like what Ichichi-senpai said...

"Little Light!"

“Aine?” Startled by Aine’s voice, Deng looked at Aine as if waking from a dream.

"I'm sorry, but Xiao Deng just immersed himself in his own world again." She looked at Deng and patted the latter's shoulder gently, "Did you think of something?"

"Yeah." Deng nodded.

"Ahaha, um, did I say something that I shouldn't have said?" Hongxia also smiled awkwardly.

"No." Deng shook his head firmly, "Ichichi-senpai is not wrong. Instead, I should be the one thanking you."

"You're welcome. I was just talking in general terms." Hong Xia smiled and shook her head. "However, I would like to provide some more specific suggestions. This will also help Xiao Qiuhui."

"Akiie-senpai?" asked Deng.

"Yeah! Just now you said that Akie is always busy with the band's affairs over there, right? She's the same over here. Although it's true that she's Akie's friend... but I still feel like this is causing her too much trouble."

Hongxia sighed and shook her head helplessly.

“But even if I tell her not to work so hard, she’ll just agree and continue doing what she wants, right? So, I have to change my mindset and take the initiative to find ways to reduce her workload!”

Hongxia concluded like this.

“That makes sense!” Aine agreed, “Well, let’s discuss how we can unite our band, shall we? First, we need a leader, right?”

"Yeah." Nijixia nodded, "To be honest, I actually thought Aine was a good fit from the beginning."

“Huh, so what?” Aine immediately became complacent, “I knew I was a good match for this, it’s all because of that Rikki guy who didn’t know what he was talking about!”