Anime Crossover Band, Rock Girl Won't Let Me Go

Chapter 248 Shiina Tatsuki's Return Gift

Chapter 248 Shiina Tatsuki's Return Gift

[Li Xi: Are you still among the stars?]

[Bai Qiu: I just cleaned the beverage machine and haven't left yet. Li Xi, what's wrong? Did you leave something behind?]

[Li Xi: No, wait a moment, I need to talk to you, I'll be there soon.]

After asking on the tram and confirming that Bai Qiu was still in Fanxing,

With a mix of nervousness and anticipation, Shiina Tatsuki got off the train at Shimokitazawa Station. She gripped her handbag tightly and ran towards the starry sky without stopping.

She was both afraid of keeping Bai Qiu waiting and also seemed to be eager to see that person.

……

Bai Qiu looked at the message Li Xi sent on his phone with some confusion.

Although he didn't know why Li Xi suddenly came back to him after leaving, and didn't say anything on the phone, he still sped up his work.

After waving goodbye to Hongxia and Liang, Bai Qiu walked out of the Starry Sky Gate and saw Shiina Riki running towards him from not far away.

As a gust of wind swept past him, Li Xi stopped in his tracks, his body tilting forward due to inertia, and finally stopped panting in front of Bai Qiu.

Lixi rested her hands on her knees, panting heavily, as if she had just finished a fierce race.

"Lixi, why are you running so fast?"

Seeing Li Xi's expression, Bai Qiu smiled and said with a hint of helplessness, "Didn't I say I would wait for you?"

"..."

Upon hearing Bai Qiu's words, Li Xi did not respond for a moment.

She was only slightly opening her mouth, still panting, her fair cheeks flushed slightly, and her forehead was covered with fine beads of sweat.

Seeing that Li Xi hadn't caught her breath yet, Bai Qiu wasn't in a hurry.

"Would you like to go inside the Starry Sky area and sit for a while? You could even have some water."

"I am fine."

Shiina Tatsuki shook his head.

After taking a deep breath, Li Xi straightened up and stared intently at Bai Qiu's face.

Bai Qiu felt a strange sensation in her heart as Li Xi stared at her so intently.

"I've come to..."

Holding the bag in front of him, Li Xi opened his mouth, about to say his purpose, when a sudden question came from behind Bai Qiu.

"Hey? Qiu, you haven't left yet?"

Shiina Riki swallowed back the words that were about to come out, and quickly looked at the entrance steps of Fanxing with Bai Qiu.

Ijichi Nijika, with a slightly confused but gentle expression, and Yamada Ryo, carrying a violin bag, were standing there.

Yamada Ryo spotted Shiina Tatsuki and looked at the two of them with great interest, displaying the expression of a bystander watching a melodrama.

Bai Qiu nodded and explained, "Yes, Li Xi wants to talk to me about something."

"Mr. Lixi?"

Hongxia paused for a moment, tilted her head slightly, and only then did she notice that there was another figure behind Bai Qiu.

"So it's Lixi back." Hongxia couldn't help but exclaim softly, then quickly said to Lixi, feeling a little embarrassed.

"Li Xi, I'm sorry, I didn't notice you just now."

"Well, it's okay."

Shiina Tatsuki shook her head, answering calmly.

Ichi Nijika looked at the expression on Shiina Tatsuki's face and nodded thoughtfully.

This atmosphere makes it seem like there's something very important to say, doesn't it?

It might not be convenient for her and Ryo to stay here any longer.

Therefore, Archangel Nijika Shimokitazawa decided to leave with Ryo first, leaving space and time for Hakushu and Shiina Riki.

"Then you two can continue your conversation." Hongxia gave a gentle smile. "Liang and I have other things to attend to, so we'll be leaving now."

"I do not......"

Yamada Ryo opened his mouth to say he was fine, but Nijika quickly covered his mouth and then pulled him forward by Nijika's arm.

"Rainbow... let go, I'm fine..."

Yamada Ryo made inaudible syllables, waving her hands wildly, her straight legs, covered in black stockings, tensed up as she tried her best to stay in place.

She's fine, nothing's wrong with her.

She is very free now.

She just wanted to stay and watch Bai Qiu's drama unfold.

However, all of Yamada Ryo's resistance was nothing more than a futile act of defiance.

How could a mere bassist possibly defeat the powerful drummer, Nijika Ijichi? The battle was almost entirely one-sided, with Yamada Ryo being dragged along by Nijika without any suspense.

As she pulled Yamada Ryo away, Nijika still had the energy to turn back and give Tachiki and Shiraaki encouraging and comforting smiles respectively.

The expression seemed to be telling Li Xi to cheer up, and telling Bai Qiu not to let the girl show a sad expression.

"..."

Bai Qiu and Shiina Riki watched them leave in silence.

Dragging Ryo along until they reached the street corner, Nijika finally released Ryo's mouth. Ryo, who had just caught his breath, immediately gave Nijika a thumbs-up and praised her:

"Okay! It's fine, Hongxia. You're so smart. You can see and hear what they're going to say here."

Yamada Ryo was still trying to drag Nijika down with him.

Anyone who didn't know better would think that Hongxia and Liang were in cahoots.

Hongxia's face darkened slightly. Although she was also very curious, she decided that she couldn't do it if she thought of Bai Qiu's trust in her.

"Eavesdropping and peeping are absolutely forbidden, absolutely not!" Hongxia said to Liang in an annoyed tone, "Come back with me!"

"No." Yamada Ryo shook her head. "Aren't you even a little bit curious about what they're going to say next, Nijika?"

"Doesn't this look like she's about to confess her feelings?"

Based on his experience reading light novels, Yamada Ryo patiently guided Nijika.

Hongxia was startled, her face flushed slightly, but her simple moral compass prevailed over the urge to eavesdrop.

"Liang, you'd better come back with me obediently."

Taking a deep breath, Yamada Ryo, furious at her lack of ambition, spoke to Nijigasaki Natsumi with resentment:

"Hongxia, you'll regret this!"

……

……

After watching Hongxia and Liang disappear around the corner, Bai Qiu turned back and smiled at Lixi, "Lixi, what were you trying to say just now?"

"I have a gift for you."

Shiina Tatsuki, who was already mentally prepared, stated frankly.

She had already mentioned giving Bai Qiu a gift a few days ago.

Now that there was no one else around, Lixi wasn't so embarrassed anymore.

Bai Qiu suddenly realized what was happening and turned her gaze to the bag on Li Xi's shoulder.

He raised his hand to his chin, looking at Li Xi with interest, and said, "So Li Xi was too shy to give me a gift in front of everyone."

"Did you rush back just for this reason?"

This aligns with his understanding of Li Xi. Although he said that, Bai Qiu was also thinking to himself, "This is really bad."

He didn't expect Li Xi to prepare so quickly... she was so conflicted just a few days ago.

He hadn't bought the drumsticks he wanted to give Lixi yet, and he couldn't give her a pair like the ones Hongxia had.

"certainly not."

Shiina's face, which had just relaxed, tensed up slightly again in an instant. She stubbornly argued, "I...I just forgot."

"Alright then, Lixi, you're right."

"Because we were so focused on the performance today, we forgot."

“Yes, that’s it.” Li Xi looked embarrassed.

Bai Qiu chuckled and shook her head, then asked curiously, "Quickly open it and let me see what it is."

As Li Xi's apprentice, Bai Qiu knew that there was a limit to teasing Li Xi; if he continued, Li Xi would put pressure on him.

"Ah."

Shiina Tatsuki gave a soft "hmm" and then moved her fingers to the zipper, making a "zip!" sound.

She showed the handbag to Bai Qiu.