Lonely Rock for the Blind.

"I...I don't think I performed well either..."

Kita Ikuyo said.

"I mean, do you all really need to mimic everyone else's expressions...?"

"Shaping the 'pocky mud' on the ground into a human shape," said Nekoyashiki Haru, who had been listening in since the beginning.

"Huh? Kitten, you weren't saying anything just now, I thought you were asleep."

"Ichi Nijika said."

"I've been listening the whole time."

After helping Goto Ichiri up, Nekoyashiki Haru looked at the others.

"There's no need to copy other people's expressions. Blindly pursuing a standard of 'good' will cause you to lose your most important personality."

Yamada Ryo was slightly taken aback.

Nekoyashiki Haru continued.

"If you have a different personality, just express your own personality. A band is about bringing together people with diverse personalities and playing unified, moving music together."

Nekoyashiki Haru helped Goto Ichiri walk toward the others.

"It's just a group photo, there's no need to pursue anything else, just taking a group photo is enough."

"... "

Ichi Nijika blinked, then looked at the others.

"Sorry everyone, I think I was a little too fixated on taking nice photos just now."

"It's okay, we're the same."

Kita Ikuyo shook her head.

"Let's hold hands and then jump up to take a picture."

Yamada Ryo suggested.

"I think it's great! Everyone, just show your most comfortable expression!"

Ichi Nijika raised her hands and cheered.

Click!

The flashbulbs went off as the four jumped, freezing their figures in time.

Nekoyashiki Haru heard this sound.

You can see a little color...

A newly formed band...

It's not the kind of strange thing where everyone has their own agenda, they argue every day, and they break up and get back together again and again.

There's no grand talk about asking others to hand over their lives to them, no exploitation of everyone else for personal gain, and the band isn't built on feelings of guilt or twisted emotions.

"Looking forward to it..."

"Nekoyashiki Haru said softly."

What are you expecting?

Suddenly, Ichika Nijika's voice rang out from the side.

"Yeah? What are you looking forward to, Nekoyashiki-senpai?"

On the other side, Kita Ikuyo's hand was holding Nekoyashiki Haru's.

The others also crowded around, pulling Nekoyashiki Haru along to the front of the red wall.

"Wait a minute, I'm not a band member, so I shouldn't be in this kind of group photo."

"We're not taking band photos right now, just like you said, it's just a group photo."

"Ichi Nijika said with a smile, then pressed the time-lapse photo button and ran quickly toward the red wall."

"Make way for me!"

"Ah, Ijichi-senpai, come to me."

"Little cat, move over a bit, you're crowding me."

"Wait, Yili, you're too far away, come here!"

Click!

The last photo of the day was taken with a click.

In the photo, Haru Nekoyashiki is squeezed between Nijika Ijichi and Ikuyo Kita, with Ryo Yamada and Ichiri Goto on either side. Ryo Yamada is making a peace sign but remains expressionless, while Ichiri Goto is struggling to lift his head and staring directly at the camera with a pained expression.

"The photos are a little messy."

Kita Ikuyo said.

"But I think it's great!"

"Ichi Nijika said with a smile."

I like this one.

"Yamada Ryo said, then looked at Nekoyashiki Haru.

"But you can't see it."

"Hey! It's cold!"

Ichi Nijika expressed her dissatisfaction.

"…Um…"

Nekoyashiki Haru smiled and gave a soft "hmm".

"I can't see... but I've seen enough already."

Nekoyashiki Haru spoke softly.

Everyone paused for a moment, then instinctively broke into smiles.

The group didn't say anything more and walked towards the restaurant.

...

……

.........

And then… I encountered “that thing”…

Beneath the dark bridge on that only route, a pale hand slowly reached out.

"Ugh... Ughhhhhh... Ughhhhhhhh!!!"

Then it made the same sound as a zombie.

“Eee ...

The three people, red, yellow, and pink, screamed at the same time.

Yamada Ryo frowned.

"Run! There's a zombie apocalypse! Head west, that's where my secret base is!"

"…No…"

Nekoyashiki Haru twitched the corner of her mouth.

You can smell the strong aroma of alcohol even from about 10 meters away.

"Sigh...it's probably...a living person."

With a sigh, Nekoyashiki Haru said.

Chapter Twenty-Nine: The Drunkard

"Hehehe...hehehehehehe..."

The group stared at the twisted creature sprawled on the ground before them and fell silent.

Her wine-red hair, excessively flushed face, and the scattered wine boxes beside her had already revealed her identity as a drunkard.

"...Let's go, the restaurant will close soon."

Kita Ikuyo said expressionlessly, looking at the others.

"...Hmm...that's true, let's go."

Ichi Nijika nodded expressionlessly.

"Wait, wait! Little Hongxia! Little Hongxia, you know me, right? Don't be so heartless as to leave me here! Shall I buy you a drink?"

"I won't drink! I absolutely won't drink! Besides, I don't know a useless adult like Kikuri-senpai!"

"Quack! How come you're such a useless adult now!"

The woman named Hiroi Kikuri had a mournful face.

"I'm the lead singer and bassist of a really awesome indie band! I'm not some useless adult!"

"Yes, that's really impressive."

Yamada Ryo nodded.

"I still remember your performance, which seemed to be trying to taint the entire audience with alcohol!"

Yamada Ryo's eyes shone as he looked ahead.

"I've always been your fan!"

"Oh? Oh! Hello, fan!"

Hiroi Kikuri smiled and shook hands with Yamada Ryo.

"What terrifying band members... no... they can't even be called band members anymore, can they? They're more like some kind of sticky creature dependent on the band, or band creatures?"