Loneliness and Rock and Roll with Band Observer

After listening to Yili's statement on the other end of the phone, Hongxia nodded slightly.

"I think she might care a lot about 'fairness' when it comes to socializing with people."

"Fair?" Ichiri on the other end of the line was a little confused.

"To put it simply, it means that you have to pay as much as you gain...Is that how it feels?" Hong Xia smiled.

"Akiie is really grateful that we accepted her, so maybe she has been forcing herself to make an equal contribution to ending the band... Of course, it's what she considers to be an 'equal contribution'."

"is that so……"

"Yes, so I think that even if we ask her not to work so hard, it will only have the opposite effect." Hong Xia shook her head helplessly, "Will she understand this proposal as our goodwill towards her, and then pay more in return to repay this goodwill?"

"I don't quite understand but it feels so scary!" Ichiri sighed.

"It's really worrying." Hong Xia continued helplessly, "Is it because you still mind that you joined the disbanded band for commercial operations? Or is there another reason?"

"I really want to ask her in person... but I feel like she won't tell me the truth even if I ask her. This is not like a high school student at all... She's more like an adult who always says polite things."

"...Then, what do you think we should do, Niji-chan?"

"I don't know either. Akie-chan doesn't look like a high school student, but I am a genuine high school student. I don't know things that I shouldn't know."

Hongxia leaned back in her chair and swung her calves to relax.

"Maybe... it's because we haven't experienced enough together. So, Akie-chan can't really open her heart to us yet."

"Since there is no other solution... then we can only follow our instincts and let nature take its course."

"Well, I think what Hongxia said makes sense. After all, I don't know how to do anything other than playing the guitar. So, I can only put my hope on the performance itself, right?"

Goto Ichiri also sighed somewhat depressedly.

At this moment, she suddenly thought of the message that Qiu Hui had sent in the group before.

"By the way, have you read the message that Akie sent in the group not long ago, Hongxia?"

"I've read it. It says that we need to go to the library to negotiate with the agency about the contract."

"Signing a contract... I never thought this day would come so soon." Ichiri sighed, "After the band ended, we were able to enter the commercial field so quickly, all thanks to Aki... Hehehe, I wonder how much money we can make by then..."

"You're so honest, Pochi-chan."

After saying that, Hong Xia sat up straight.

"But, to be honest, I find it quite amazing. He was just an ordinary high school student who could play drums not long ago, but now he seems to be on the verge of becoming a serious band member..."

Looking out the window, Hong Xia gazed at the few stars in the night sky.

Although it is actually difficult to see the starry sky in Tokyo, you can still find a few of the brightest stars in the night sky at this moment.

Even if you end the band in the future, will you be able to continue to move forward smoothly and become a popular band that is loved by everyone?

The girl imagined what the future would be like in her mind.

Chapter 37: Su Shi at the School Gate

Two days later.

Because she had to attend the training arranged by the library, there was really nothing to talk about on her weekends off.

Training during the day, polishing new works at night, and chatting with Aine. This is what Akihime does on her days off.

“Good afternoon, Senior.” Aine leaned down and looked at Akie’s face. “I feel like your complexion becomes worse after the day off.”

“Because you can slack off as much as you want during class, but you can’t during training,” Qiu Hui admitted.

“What a strange value system…” Aine exclaimed.

Aine, Akiie, and Tomo, the three of them gathered in the astronomy club room for their lunch meeting as usual.

This has almost become their routine.

“Rikki said they have practice today.” Aine said, “Will Senpai come?”

"I will come. I have nothing to do today anyway," said Qiu Hui.

“That’s good.” Aine smiled, “Come to think of it, I’ve been practicing hard these past two days, and I think I’ve made some progress! After seeing this, Rikki probably won’t look so bad all the time, right?”

“Yeah.” Deng nodded, “I think Riki will definitely notice Aine’s efforts.”

"It would be great if that were true," said Akie.

She scooped a spoonful of food from her lunch box and put it into her mouth and chewed it dry. The taste was as bland as always.

Yesterday, Shiina sent her a message to inform her of the progress of her arrangement. She said that she would bring the revised "Haruhi Kage" score to practice today.

Although Su Shi said in the group chat set up by the band members that it was too early to play Kasuga Kage, Li Xi still insisted on bringing the new score for everyone to try.

The debate about Kasuga Kage lasted for quite some time in the group chat. In the end, without Akie present, Riki and Suyo reluctantly reached a compromise: in addition to Kasuga Kage, everyone would practice other songs.

“Speaking of which, there’s something I’ve always been curious about.” Aine suddenly asked, “Why does Motoyo-san seem to not want us to practice Kasuga Kage? It’s obviously a very good song.”

"I think... maybe he's worried about Xiaoxiang?" Deng guessed.

"You mean Toyokawa-san?" Akiie interrupted, "...That's right. After all, she wrote the song."

She was still not sure whether she should tell Deng that Toyokawa Shoko had had contact with her.

After comprehensive consideration, she felt that perhaps it would be better not to say it.

After all, Toyokawa himself doesn't seem to want to have anything to do with his former teammates anymore; and Deng, who has just walked out of the shadow of his past failure, doesn't seem to be suitable for related stimulation anymore.

"But maybe it's not a bad thing for me if everyone doesn't practice Kasuga Kage."

Aine lowered her head and stared at her fingers while speaking.

"That song is pretty difficult after all."

After staring at her fingers for a while and gently rubbing the newly formed and slightly rough calluses near the fingertips, Aine put down her hands and asked, “But why are you worried about Toyokawa-san? Didn’t she stop playing in the band and even cut off contact with everyone?”

“Senior said that it was because she ‘got into trouble’, but I don’t know what the situation is.” Aine sighed, “If it were me, I would probably be more inclined to ask for help from everyone instead of cutting off contact without saying anything, right?”

"Maybe."

Qiu Hui suppressed the urge to continue saying something and just ate food as compensation.

……

After school for some time.

There was a practice scheduled this afternoon, but because Deng had to organize the activity report of the astronomy club, Akie and Aine waited for her for a while before preparing to leave school together.

"……Um?"

Akiie, who was changing her shoes while walking to the entrance of the teaching building with Aine and Deng, suddenly noticed a familiar figure at the entrance.

From her hair color and hairstyle, we can tell that the person is Toyokawa. At this moment, she is clinging to the door, peeking out furtively, as if she is spying on something outside the door.

"So, after that...ah, Toyokawa-san?"

After changing her shoes, Aiyin seemed to notice Toyokawa Shoko clinging to the door, and without thinking much, she called out?

"Xiao Xiang?" Deng looked in the direction of the voice and happened to meet Xiangzi's eyes when he turned around.

"..."

The two were speechless. The first to react was Xiangzi. She turned around quickly and ran down the corridor; her movements were so fast that people couldn't even see her expression clearly.

To her, the lamp was like some kind of scary monster that she had to avoid.

This wasn't the first time she had reacted like this to Deng. Ever since the day she transferred to Yugaoka, the two of them had always maintained this awkward relationship of running away from each other whenever they met.

“He ran away.” Aine was confused, “Why?”

"..." Deng lowered his head in silence.

“Maybe he felt that it would be awkward to meet up with Deng after what happened with him quitting the band,” Akie commented as she put away her indoor shoes.

"...Yeah." Deng nodded. "Even if we meet, I don't know what to say to Xiaoxiang. Xiaoxiang may also think of me in the same way."

“Well, although this is indeed regrettable, it’s better not to worry too much about it now.” Aine patted Deng’s shoulder gently, “We still have to practice later, how about relaxing a little bit?”

While Aine was comforting Deng, Akie looked out the door, following the direction that Shoko had been peering at.

The gate of the teaching building faces the gate of the entire Yuqiu campus. From Xiangzi's position and angle, he can have a clear view of the situation at the gate.

In addition to the students preparing to leave school, Qiu Hui also seemed to notice something special.

That looks like the school uniform of Tsuki no Mori?

Qiu Hui pressed her glasses hard against her face, and the scene in the distance became a little clearer in a short time; the face of the flaxen-haired visitor from the Moon Forest also became recognizable.

It's Suyo-san, Akie thought.

She stood quietly at the door, occasionally looking up to pay attention to the situation inside the teaching building.

At this moment, her expression suddenly changed and she unconsciously took two steps back, as if she noticed Qiu Hui's presence.

“Senior, what are you looking at?” Aine noticed Akie’s strange behavior and asked curiously.

"Nothing." Qiu Hui shook her head, "I just saw Su Shi-san standing at the door, as if she was waiting for someone."

“Suyo? That’s perfect.” Aine smiled, “Then let’s go over and say hello to her, then go practice together, shall we?”

"Well, let's go," Akie agreed.

As she walked, she thought about what had just happened.

If he is really waiting for someone... then who is Su Shi waiting for? The three of us?

Chapter 38 Plans for the First Performance

"Hey - Suyo-san!"

To Aine who greeted her from a distance, Su Shi smiled and waved her hand in response.

Aiyin and the others soon arrived at the school gate and met up with Su Shi.

“I didn’t expect Suyo would come all the way to Hanegaoka.” Aine asked, “Is there something wrong? She also said in the group that she would be late for practice.”

"Indeed, I had some things to do before coming to Yuqiu, but now I have finished it, much faster than I expected." Su Shi looked normal, "So I came to the school gate to wait for everyone and prepare to meet up."

“Really? Well, but if you were going to wait for us at the entrance of Hanegaoka, why didn’t you tell us in the group chat beforehand?” Aine asked, “If we don’t notice, it will be troublesome if we miss it, right?”

"From a practical point of view, I didn't miss it..." Su Shi smiled and tried to change the subject, "Come to think of it, it seems that Riki has prepared a lot of new songs today. Is Aine okay now?"

“Of course it’s no problem!” Aine waved her hand confidently, “I’ve already regained the feeling I had in junior high school little by little!”

"Really? That's great." Su Shi nodded gently.

Qiu Hui, who was standing by, looked normal and didn't say anything, but she still felt something was wrong.

Just as Aine said, if Suyo was standing there just to wait for the three of us, it would be strange if she didn't tell the group. What if we left school before that?

Could it be that he simply forgot? That would be too...

At this time, Qiu Hui thought of Toyokawa Shoko who was leaning on the door to observe the situation at the school gate.

Could it be that she noticed Su Shi standing at the door and that’s why she was acting furtively like that?

Since Toyokawa ran away after seeing the lights, she probably didn't want to run into Suyo, who was also a member of the old CRYCHIC. Maybe...

"Akie-senpai is here today too."

At this moment, Su Shi suddenly came up and talked to her, interrupting Qiu Hui's thoughts.

"Recently, Senior Akihime has been contributing a lot to our band's affairs, and I would like to express my gratitude to you for this." Su Shi said with a smile.

"You're welcome. This is what I should do." Qiu Hui nodded, "...after all, I've been paid."

Aine seemed to suddenly remember something when she heard the word “remuneration”, and turned to look at Akie and asked, “Speaking of which, after the official keyboard player is chosen, what are you going to do, senior?”

"If the official person is chosen, my mission will be accomplished." Akie said as a matter of course.

"Then, Akie-senpai...will you leave?" Deng asked, his voice seeming to tremble a little.

"Rather than leaving, it would be more accurate to say that I never joined in," said Qiu Hui.

Although it would be nice to play in a band with Aine...but after all, they asked me to help out because they didn't have a regular keyboard player.

"Well, even if we find a regular keyboard player, she might still have problems, right?"