The social phobia substitute will not dream of the band girl

"But it doesn't sound like your song... at least not entirely. While the style is consistent with the ones I've heard so far, I can hear the emotion you've poured into it. Is that right?"

"Can you...hear that?"

Yuki was a bit surprised. After all, not long ago, she was a technical enthusiast. She hadn't expected that someone who was now considered the most talented singer would actually pay attention to the emotions in a song, not just the technique. Could it be, as Hirayuma said, that only emotion could bring out the strongest power?

"That's probably the feeling... You must have put a lot of things into this song, Yukina—but this won't work."

"...Do you think I should abandon the emotions and focus on singing the song itself?"

While that might seem like an answer Yuki would accept, it's one she wouldn't accept now. She used to prioritize technology, but that perspective slowly changed after meeting Hiranobu, who served as both her mentor and friend.

However, this was not due to his strong recommendation, but because she had changed unconsciously -

She met Hikawa Sayo, found Imai Lisa, and then gained two teammates, Shirogane Rinko and Udagawa Ako, on the same day. The five of them finally formed Roselia.

Then they continue to work hard, move forward for their own ideals, and strive for the team's goals.

However, in the process, she gained a strong rival, Afterglow, and even she had to admit that Mizukuri really has a unique ability in singing. In addition to her rivals, they also gained many fans, both domestically and overseas.

Even she was shocked when she found out that Ping Xin had been adding subtitles to their songs and posting them on foreign websites. It was exciting and thrilling that they even had fans in countries across the ocean.

With the help of fans, they successfully participated in the 2016 Tokyo Summer Music Festival as invitees and their popularity exploded again, and then they came all the way here——

"You've always done a great job... but compared to my expectations, you didn't do well enough today."

Fearful and uneasy, yet filled with anticipation, the five of them lowered their heads after checking each other's gazes and said in unison, "Please, please guide us."

"...The reason is very simple, that is because this song is not yours - although the lyrics and music are partly yours, the things they hold in them are different.

Now that you are on this stage, what you should show is Roselia’s music and the way you five live. This is what I want to see in your performance.”

"...our own, music."

Yes, this is a matter of course, but everyone has forgotten it.

"So sing for yourselves, play for your own dreams. Not for those who are not here, but for those who are here—

I'll be looking forward to it next year... Goodbye, Roselia."

Gently closing the door, Phoenix left the place. This was a rare moment of selfishness on his part. You guys better work harder—

"Although this will cost them some popularity and fans, keeping those impurities will only taint their music and dreams... So it's fine this way, take a year to settle down, and then find your own music. I'm looking forward to it~"

I just don't know why, but such a handsome line makes people feel that he should have an evil smile on his face. Maybe this is why he rarely speaks in public.

Volume 2: Not a Queen

Chapter 1: First Date

A group of people gathered in the room, each doing their own thing——

"Koito——"

"Um, what's wrong, Enka-chan?"

"No, nothing... Come to think of it, you seem to be very happy these past two days. Did anything good happen to you?"

Higuchi Enka, who was reading a magazine, suddenly spoke to Fukumaru Koito, which gave her a bit of a fright.

“Eh—..Is there?”

"Yes, yes... Higuchi, get me a mandarin orange."

"Ahaha~ Hina (I) think so too. Enka-senpai, Hina wants one too~"

Enka sighed and put the magazine down, only to find an empty plate that was once filled with mandarin oranges. "You guys actually finished eating all the stuff I put on the table earlier...and what about lunch later?"

"It should be the Eho-maki... But speaking of the New Year, it's still like this, isn't it?" Asakura Toru yawned on the table. People tend to feel sleepy when they eat too much, not to mention now that they are sitting in a warm kotatsu.

"Sitting in the kotatsu and eating mikan with Toru-senpai, today is also a happy day~" Hina Ichikawa put down her phone, stretched and yawned. She was also very happy today.

No, it should be happiness.

"But you've already eaten the mikan, right?" Higuchi Enka walked out of the kotatsu and put on her clothes, specifically her signature black tights. She'd been wearing thick tights in the kotatsu, which made her sweat easily, so she had gone bare-legged.

"Eh~~"

"Oh, and Mikan, in the kitchen."

"...I'll get it, do you want it, Koito?"

"Hey, is that okay? Then...I want one too!"

The footsteps faded away, heading downstairs, and then returned a minute later. It was Higuchi Enka who returned, along with nearly ten mandarin oranges in a container in her hand.

"3Q~"

"Ahaha~ Enka-senpai actually managed to leave the kotatsu, that's amazing~"

As they spoke, the two reached for the mandarin oranges on the table. Higuchi Enka, however, showed no intention of getting back into the kotatsu. She turned to Koito and asked, "Is everything really okay, Koito? I see you haven't done much homework lately. Even though you don't have to go to private school these few days after the New Year holiday, you still have homework every day, right?"

"It's no problem. I don't have to go to the private school anymore. I'll have more time to spend with everyone... Ah, it's not that I'm giving up, I just got a really great tutor. Yes... really great!"

"..."

It looked like she was hiding something, but never mind. After all, Koito's upbringing was quite strict. If there really was a problem, her parents would have taken action, but that didn't seem to be the case right now. Anyway, it was a good thing. Since she didn't want to talk about it, I wouldn't ask.

"...Want to go out, Higuchi?"

"Well, we have an appointment in the afternoon and we'll have lunch there." Higuchi Enka opened the door but was stopped. Seeing that they were shivering in the cold wind blowing in from downstairs, she closed the door and continued.

"Hey, Enka-senpai, you do have friends~"

"Wait!...Hina-chan, that's not a good thing to say!"

While Fukumaru Koito was a timid little animal with strangers, hiding at the slightest sign of trouble, she was quite courageous around her acquaintances, especially her childhood friends. To put it bluntly, she might be considered a bully, but the fact that she could confront a problem directly like this spoke volumes about the strength of their relationship.

"Friends... maybe it's hard to say. It's more like social practice—like taking care of a patient."

"That's really amazing... Have a nice trip—"

"Ahaha~ Bon voyage, Enka-senpai~"

"Enka-chan, be careful on the road!"

"...Well, I'm going out—"

Less than a second after the door closed, it opened again. Koito who was reading, Toru who was in a daze, and Hina who was chatting on the phone all looked at her.

"Don't eat too many Mikan. Xiaoyi, please keep an eye on them for me."

"I understand, Enka-chan."

"Well, then I'm going out."

This time the footsteps were moving downwards correctly, but they stopped when they reached the first floor.

"I always feel... that Enka-senpai is sometimes like a mother." Hina suddenly stopped typing on her phone and said.

"Ah...I understand." Asakura Toru agreed in his real name.

"If you worry too much, you won't be happy~"

About ten minutes later, the door of Asakura's house was opened and closed.

Is he back? ...No, he must have gone out.

......

...

..

"If you worry too much, you won't feel happy...?" Pingxin stroked his chin. "Hmm, that makes sense. As expected of 'Sunday', my master of happiness theory. So, here's my reply: 'I've learned a lot from you. You're truly my mentor on the path to happiness.'" Send.

"...Did you ask me out just to let me see you chatting with someone else online?...Go back."

"Wait a minute, aren't I just killing time chatting with people while waiting for you... And on a first date, shouldn't we start with 'Have you been waiting long? No, I just got here too'?" Ping Xin put his phone in his pocket and adjusted his clothes slightly.

"I never said this was a date... So, where are we going today?"

Still holding onto his arm, his hands still on his chest. Hasn't he let down his guard yet? What a high-level opponent...

"I personally believe that the most important aspect of so-called 'dating' is to get to know each other better. Many couples mistake the fake, sweet facade they create for reality, which is why so many people get married and then divorced on a whim...

To sum up, I hope to have a relatively honest date while respecting each other. Ms. Higuchi, if you feel there is anything wrong, please speak up directly. Is this 'condition' okay?"

He didn't reply immediately, but Pingxin could feel that the atmosphere had eased a little. As expected, for rational and negative people, having such a "constraint" as a safety net would make them feel more at ease. No one understood this matter better than him, after all, he himself was the same.

"...You asked for a date the first time we met, and you were already thinking about marriage on the first date. You're like this to everyone, Mr. Lover."

"How could that be? I'm not a casual person. Precisely because I'm not that kind of person, I want to take responsibility to the end... Ah, are you jealous?"

"...Come on, you lead the way."

You're avoiding the topic, right? Or are you just trying to avoid me? Regardless, as long as you're responding, that's a good start, isn't it?

"Leave it to me. I'm actually quite familiar with this area—"

Welcome to my realm, Miss Higuchi.

Chapter 4000 Don’t Eat Too Much ()

"Shouldn't I compliment you first, like, 'You look so cute today' or 'Your outfit suits you so well today'?"

"...as you like."

"But I won't say that, because Miss Higuchi is already very cute, isn't she? Although a hooded hoodie isn't cute enough for most girls, I think you look very unique when you wear it like that. If you want to use such a 'little trick' to dissuade me, unfortunately, it's impossible."

"I don't have that plan." Higuchi Enka replied quickly.

"By the way, I also like wearing hoodies, especially when I take my pets out. They love to crawl into my hood. And the pets are in the hood, and then they look over your shoulder and look ahead. Isn't this a cute action?"

"...Don't you feel choked?"

"It's fine once you get used to it. I'm in pretty good shape, after all, I exercise regularly, so if you feel tired, just let me know. Whether it's a princess carry or carrying me on my back, I always do what I say."

"I appreciate your kindness, but I have a question... Have you always been such a talkative person?" Higuchi Enka asked, feeling a sense of unease as Hirayoshi suddenly paused and looked at her with a smile. How should I put it... It felt like being stared at by a feline, right? She didn't quite understand.

Cats are known to play with their prey before enjoying it.

"Actually, no... I appreciate that you have a vague impression of 'Asuka Ma' based on the information I revealed in the letter. Thank you for your concern. But I am Hirashin, 'Asuka Ma Hirashin'."

"..."

"No matter what you knew about me before, it was all partial and incomplete, and even... there were intentional or unintentional disguises on my part, even though most of what I said was genuine... Because I wanted to get to know you better, I took the initiative to talk, and said a lot. But actually, I prefer quiet time, and I'm usually the type who doesn't talk nonsense."

"...Is that an explanation?"

"Hmm—not entirely. The main reason is that you don't look like you'd initiate a conversation with me, do you? And if I don't say anything, I'll definitely have a terrible day. I absolutely don't want that. Those are probably the two reasons."

What a clumsy person... but also very cunning -

The clumsiness lies in the way it communicates, and the cunningness also lies in the way it communicates.

You're such a fool to show your sincerity to others without caring about anything...

......

...

..

"So, why are we here?"

Following Hirashin, Higuchi Enka entered the cafe. The Christmas decorations that had been put up the previous month had been removed, and now many oriental-style decorations were displayed throughout the cafe. At the entrance, there were the aforementioned New Year decorations, such as the kadomatsu trees on either side of the door and the shimen ornaments hanging on the door and windows.

Of course, there are also things like Eho-maki, red bean soup made with mirror-shaped rice cakes, and grilled rice cakes... But are these things that a normal cafe should have?!

Ahem, let's not worry about that for now. Heishin expertly led Enka inside and found a quiet spot with a good view, where they sat down first. Even though it was just after New Year's, the place was still crowded. Heishin smiled as he sat across from her, observing Enka as she observed the cafe.

One of the reasons for choosing this location is that if you set up a gun here, you can control the entire store (crossed out)...it best showcases the charm of Yuze Cafe, and also——

For people who lack a sense of security, being in a position to secretly control the overall situation is perfect.

After watching for about a minute, Enka looked away and turned to the man sitting opposite her, asking the same question as before: "So... why are we here?"

But her ordinary gesture of crossing her arms across her chest caught Ping Xin's attention. After all, he rarely saw this gesture on his family members. Because it was "ordinary", it was "ordinary"...

"Hehe..." He chuckled softly, trying to hide his true thoughts before finally speaking, "I've already explained the reason, right? Coming here, I think we can exchange opinions more freely. Prior communication is crucial for teamwork."