The social phobia substitute will not dream of the band girl

"and?"

"He also told me, 'If it's Yukina, you can definitely do it. I believe in you'...something like that."

"That's it..."

This will really make people cheer up.

"...Please return to your seats, the exam is about to begin." The teacher walked into the examination room from outside the classroom and said this.

"Then Minato, we'll talk later..."

"Yukina..."

"?"

"Just call me Yuki."

"Manami...Yuukina-san has to call me by my name too."

The two looked at each other and smiled.

"Do your best on the exam, Yukina-san."

"...I will!"

Yukina's fighting spirit was ignited. After the exam, she could devote herself to the band activities. In order to achieve her goal, she must work harder, starting with the exam in front of her!

In the end, I still don’t know who that “he” is. It’s really curious... After the exam, Manami Tamura thought so as she watched Yuki running away.

But at this point, this kind of thing is not important. After all, how can someone who can say such words be a bad person?

But, livehouse...why not go check it out during summer vacation, with him? Tamura Manami looked at the sky outside the window. The sun in late July was so dazzling.

"...I have to work hard too~"

And so, they embarked on their respective paths.

Chapter 62: The Attack and Defense Are Different

April 2016, 7, sunny.

For other students, it was a day of anxious results and holiday assignments, but for Ping Xin, it was a rare day of rest. He didn't have to worry about school for the next month or so, and he didn't have any work arrangements. It was a day completely his own!

But what should I do with such rare free time... At this moment, Pingxin is like an author who has been accustomed to sitting still and writing 1+ words every day, but suddenly one day he is forbidden to write. He is at a loss and has no idea what to do.

It seems he's been pursuing her too closely lately, having been rejected by both Karin and Asuna. So, he can't pursue her any further. Work is also going smoothly, everything is proceeding according to plan, leaving him no room for meddling in his subordinates' work. After much deliberation, Hirayuko has decided to let it go, and it seems the only way to pass the time is to eat, drink, and have some fun.

Naturally, he had a seat at the Qianlong Pavilion. Today's chef was a Yan-King, originally from Suzhou and Hangzhou, so Pingxin ate two more bowls of "Banchuan" (Hangzhou-style fried noodles). As his body grew stronger, his appetite decreased significantly, at least to within human standards. Trying new things was one way to stay positive in life, and that was why Pingxin implemented the "rotation system." But now, with something more desirable in his life, he wasn't so reliant on food anymore.

After patting his belly and feeling good, he continued on his aimless journey. Or should we say, "stroll?" He wandered around the Wheel of Fortune arcade, but couldn't find Nilu. It was then that Pingxin realized she hadn't been here for a while.

Feeling lost, Pingxin politely declined the others' requests to stay and continued strolling, playing with cats and dogs along the way, returning to the familiar shopping street. At some point, a sudden realization struck him: everyone had changed. The world was constantly changing, for better or worse, but he seemed completely unaware, as if he had been abandoned by the world.

He has changed—

His body became stronger, his mind became smarter, and he even gained super powers, but has he really changed?

Or... has he really gotten better?

Pingxin doesn’t know, really.

“Brother…Brother!”

Hearing the shouting beside him, he finally came to his senses and looked at the other person sitting next to him, rubbing the cat. His only relative now, his sister, Asuka Matoki.

"...What's wrong, Xiao Xiao? Did something happen that I need to deal with?"

Perhaps he himself wasn't aware of the hint of expectation in his tone. When someone needed help, his presence became valuable, he could take center stage, the protagonist of the story. If being dependent on others was a disease, then Ping Xin was willing to endure it for the rest of his life.

"No, nothing happened. I just came to call you home for dinner—"

That's it...

When I came to my senses, it was already dusk.

"Brother...letter."

"Ah... um... I got it, both of them. I'm glad everyone had a great time."

"...What about you?"

"...Ah...I...of course I'll be happy too. After all, I've done everything I planned—"

But is this really enough?

Asuka Batoki didn't ask and Hirayuki didn't answer, but they both knew what each other was thinking.

"Okay, let's go back... You should go back later too."

Pingxin stood up, put the furry creature on his legs on the swing seat, and left with his sister, leaving only a series of meows echoing in the place.

No matter how confused you are, you always have to move forward, even if it is not what you want.

July 2016, 7, overcast.

The last glimmer of the rainy season had left Ping Xin in a bad mood. While he could enjoy rainy days, cloudy ones were not so appealing. He had originally wanted to stay home and rot quietly, but suddenly he remembered he had something important to do and had to get out of bed. Perhaps finishing that book during summer vacation would be a good idea.

"Ding dong~"

He'd just picked up his pen when someone arrived. Was there a curse associated with writing? Ping Xin's expression changed. As he put it down and picked it up again, the urgent doorbell rang again. Well, at least now he was sure it wasn't some kid playing with the doorbell... After all, the shadows wouldn't let that happen a second time.

But who could that be... The pen spun on his fingertips, surging up and down along with his thoughts.

He believes the most fascinating aspect of Gacha (card drawing/twitch toys) games lies in their "unknown" or "uncertainty." Even if the expected rewards are limited, the feeling remains addictive. The current situation is similar to that of card drawing. So, who among my acquaintances would play during this time?

After muting his phone and placing it on the table, Pingxin let his mind run wild. Countless possibilities, countless endings, and countless solutions emerged from his mind. After several minutes, he slowly set off. All this was witnessed only by the maids who had been watching from the shadows. They could do nothing but lament that it was "that time" again.

"...If it was Asuna, she would have definitely kept ringing the doorbell or yelling after being ignored the first time...If it was Karin, she would have probably felt disliked and left sadly...If it was Akane, she would have been planning how to teach her master a lesson gracefully...If it was Nel, she would have probably just kicked the door, but now she would have probably punched me in the chest with her little fists? If it was—" He kept mumbling as he walked forward, and now he was like a human being bewitched by a magic ring.

"...Ping Xin?"

Clearly in holiday mode, Mizukuri was once again roaming the large sofa in the mansion's living room. She was staring in amazement at Pingxin's convulsion; it was the first time he'd seen him like this. He, too, acted oblivious to the others, humming a tune as he made his way to the door.

For no reason, she felt fear.

He let go of the doorknob three times, and finally, after wiping off the non-existent sweat from his hands, Ping Xin finally opened the door and saw the person behind it.

"...Too slow! Ping Xin, are you really willing to sacrifice everything for Roselia?"

...Oh my, even he couldn't have imagined such a development~

Chapter 63: Camping at the seaside?

"I'm sorry."

"excuse me."

"Excuse me~"

"The fallen angel Ako is doing d..j here..."

"...Come, come, Ayako (whispering)"

"And Roselia's companions descended here!"

Minato Yukina, Hikawa Sayo, Imai Lisa, Udagawa Ako, and Shirokan Rinko entered the house one after another. Were they here to use the practice room? No, that's not right! If they wanted to use the space, they would have just made a reservation with Alpha or someone else in advance. In that case, they wouldn't have given him the "chance" of opening the door.

According to his understanding, the five people of Roselia now gather in the private room or family restaurant of Qianlong Pavilion when they hold combat meetings or seminars, so this is not the reason... It is really curious. Why did he suddenly run over here without saying a word when his ordinary communication equipment was on standby all day?

"Hey, good morning~"

"Ping Xin-kun, it's already afternoon. Seriously... you're being so sloppy on the first day of summer vacation."

Disciplinary Committee member Miss Sayo is as strict as ever, hahaha. But to be honest, he did manage some things last night until the wee hours of the morning, and he was almost up all night. Actually, it wasn't long since he got up.

"Speaking of which, why did you suddenly come to my place? You brought suitcases and bags with you, just like you were going on a trip..."

"We do plan a trip, but not a tour—"

"It's 'cultivation', Brother Pingxin!"

So, the "training" Ako mentioned was probably just intensive training, like the traditional summer beach camp in episodes 7 or 8... Perhaps their purpose here was to get equipment or request some assistance? After all, they were good, dedicated kids. Even though Hirayuko allowed them to freely use his resources, they still gave him advance notice.

"I understand. I wish you a safe journey~"

"...What are you talking about? Ping Xin, as the advisor, you have to come along too."

"No, no, no, the beach, sunshine and beautiful girls are a perfect match, but I don't need that, right?"

After all, it's better not to test her personality too much. It's too early to talk about beautiful girls, swimsuits, sunscreen, living under the same roof, etc.! ...After all, he has no confidence in his self-control. Before, his ripple attainments were 1000% without any perseverance.

He also gets annoyed by the large crowds at the beach in the summer, the accosting of yellow-haired people, and the littering, which ruins everyone else's mood. Wait... Perhaps he has assets or connections that include a private beach, right? Thinking about it this way...

"...What are you thinking about, Pingxin? Training camp starts tomorrow, and I'll leave the details of the training plan up to you. We, Roselia, will be relying on you and everyone else for a while from now."

"...I see." Alpha, appearing out of nowhere, adjusted his glasses and replied. Well... by now, no one would be surprised by their appearance.

But they were training here... While the facilities were indeed excellent and the rooms were always available, it wouldn't be a stretch to not go out and have fun in the summer, right? They were serious, though... Heishin could sense it in their auras. Though he felt a hint of disappointment that he didn't want to voice, the joy, satisfaction, and sense of accomplishment that came from being recognized and relied upon filled his heart.

"...Okay! Now's the time... So everyone, go clean up your rooms and put your things in order. I'll check on each of your practice sessions and make plans for the future. Since you've come to me, it means this isn't just ordinary 'practice' but a 'training' that will take you to the next level. So be prepared, I'll guide you very strictly... Now then—"

Disband! "

"Yes!" x5

The five of them, some open, some expectant, some excited, some anxious, and some hopeful, followed Alpha and the "newcomer" (Omega) to their respective rooms. Wait, how should they allocate the rooms? Single rooms for all five wouldn't be fun or co-educational, but a double room would be extra. Should they just combine them into a king-size bed room for five? Shirogane Rinko would probably be shy, but with acquaintances and the opposite sex... Hiranobu was torn.

"...It's going to be busy again, brother."

"Yeah...but you don't have to learn their mysterious ways of appearing and disappearing, Xiao."

Hirayukoshi, who was lost in thought (random thoughts), was startled by his sister's sudden voice.

"But brother also thinks it's more handsome this way, doesn't he?"

"Yes, that's right..."

But does this have anything to do with your actions? No, it probably does. After all, Asuka Matoki loves him, in every sense of the word. Ever since her younger sister's self-destruction as a child helped him rally, their relationship has remained the same. But even this flawless result is terrifying. I'm afraid she'll suddenly unleash her emotions one day.

"Come to think of it, you seem to be pretty popular in junior high, right? Why don't you try forming a band? I guarantee your guitar skills are at a professional level."

Ping Xin's consideration was that forming a band would enrich her life and give her more friends to confide in. This would also give them a reason to reduce their contact, making it the safest approach.

"...'The time' hasn't come yet."

Asuka Matoki was obviously influenced by his brother and has the same riddle-solving style.

"Is that so... Then I'll leave it to you to decide. I'll go see if they need any help."

Despite his words, he'd already decided to get to the bottom of this. After all, how many stories have you come across where someone regrets not caring enough or paying enough attention? Whether it's the part-time jobs everyone is helping Nero and Karin with, or Karin's unexpected encounter with a kind landlord, these are just little tricks he uses to reassure him.

The reason so-called power and wealth fascinate people is that they allow them to dominate their fellow men, to control their lives and deaths, and even to manipulate their fates. Ping Xin is not obsessed with these things, but he likes the convenience and peace of mind they bring.

"But that doesn't hide the fact that I'm a rotten person... Lan, why are you holding the box? Put it down and let me do it."

I didn't expect her to volunteer to help with the suitcases, and she even changed into her clothes. So she suddenly ran away just now to change clothes as a courtesy to the visiting guest?

Mei Zhulan, you are so friendly!

There are still 3 minutes until the team battle occurs——

Chapter 5: Our Band of 5 vs. Your Band of

"Hmm...box? Um...why are you so enthusiastic all of a sudden? Are you having any weird thoughts?"

Weird idea, what?

Who, me?

What kind of person could use a suitcase... ahem, that's clearly not what she meant. So, is she saying I'm being too attentive for no reason? While that might seem distrustful, it's also a form of trust. And being wary of adolescent sexual beasts (boys) is perfectly reasonable.

"Also, your tone was weird just now. Are you talking about something I don't know?"

"..."

Ever since she learned about ripples, Mizukami's perception has become stronger and stronger. If she were the naive girl before, she would never have noticed this. She has really grown up.

"Ding dong~"