Crossover Anime: A Musical Anime - Lighthearted and Enjoyable

Page 219

"Maki is so amazing. Riki is so lucky to have such a great older sister."

The middle-aged woman praised him with a smile, completely oblivious to the increasingly worsening look on Shiina Riki's face.

Shiina Riki pursed her lips, unable to speak.

"Lixi, I bought drinks."

At this moment, Bai Qiu, holding two drinks, walked up to Li Xi with a smile, temporarily interrupting the conversation.

"Lemonade or orange juice, which do you want?"

Bai Qiu also noticed the middle-aged woman chatting with Li Xi.

He gave the other person a strange look.

Is it an elder that Lixi knows?

But I always felt that something was off about Li Xi.

Seeing that there was another person next to Li Xi, the middle-aged woman also looked at Bai Qiu for a moment and asked Li Xi, "Li Xi, who is this?"

"My friends in the band."

Shiina Tatsuki answered, but dared not look at Bai Qiu, and his hands began to tremble slightly.

The middle-aged woman simply nodded, her attention returning to Shiina Tatsuki.

Her eyes lit up, and she asked:

"A band? Oh, a wind band like your sister's?"

"No," Shiina Ritsuki shook her head, "I play electric guitar, bass..."

"Okay, Auntie doesn't really know much about these things!"

Before Shiina Tatsuki could finish speaking, the middle-aged woman interrupted him with a nonchalant smile, then switched over to talk about what she was interested in.

"Which school does Lixi attend now?"

"I am in... Hanasaki River."

Shiina Tatsuki answered softly.

She thought her expression must look terrible right now.

Please, please stop asking!

Lixi pleaded bitterly in his heart.

For some reason, that feeling of inferiority, which she hadn't experienced for a while, returned to her at this moment.

And all of this seems to be even more extreme than ever before.

Why? No!

She didn't want Bai Qiu to see her incompetent side!

"Hanakawa? Huh?" The middle-aged woman looked quite surprised and raised her voice, "Didn't Riki go to Yuukoka to study like her sister?"

"Well, no."

Seemingly unable to contain himself any longer, Shiina Tatsuki lowered his head and made muffled sounds.

"That's a bit of a shame!" The middle-aged woman shook her head a few times, smiling as if she had been through it all, and advised with a smile:

"Lixi needs to work harder too. Learn more from your sister and get into a good university."

"And that rock band... let's just forget about it! They sound so frivolous, it'll just waste our time..."

"Stop, stop talking!"

Shiina Riki suddenly looked up and shouted.

He didn't bother to look at Bai Qiu's expression, or rather, he didn't have the courage.

She squeezed into the crowd and ran away.

Bai Qiu reached out her hand in surprise.

"What happened to Lixi?"

The middle-aged woman was taken aback and looked at Bai Qiu in confusion.

"Auntie, Lixi's grades are excellent, she doesn't need you to lecture her! Also, please don't have this kind of stereotype about bands!"

With a curt remark, Bai Qiu, not wanting to waste any more words with the old lady, turned and chased after Li Xi without looking back.

Li Xi is the most important person now.

Chapter 208 I admire Li Xi!

Bai Qiu caught up with Li Xi in a short time.

Looking ahead at the petite figure squatting under the big tree, her head buried deep between her knees.

Bai Qiu did not go up immediately.

Instead, she recalled the conversation in her mind and pondered the reason why Lixi suddenly ran away.

Was it because the older woman kept comparing Lixi to her older sister that Lixi's mentality collapsed and she couldn't stand it anymore?

Just like last time when Su Shi took the lyrics to "The Lamp" to Xiang Zi to compose music.

Although Li Xi appears strong and resilient on the surface, she actually has a vulnerable side inside.

I've been overshadowed by such an outstanding older sister since I was a child, living in her shadow.

It would be unpleasant for anyone to be in that situation.

Bai Qiu shook his head and sighed, then walked over to Li Xi and squatted down.

Seemingly hearing the noise in front of her, Shiina Ritsuki's ear, which was hidden under her hair, twitched slightly.

But she still didn't raise her head.

Shiina Riki didn't want Bai Qiu to see her weak, incompetent, and pathetic side.

However, deep down she hoped that the other person would come looking for her.

Just like last time when we found her house.

Shiina Ritsuki hates this version of herself.

"Lixi," Bai Qiu called softly, handing Lixi the orange juice she had just bought. "Would you like a drink?"

Bai Qiu didn't treat herself badly either.

He also drank a few sips of lemon water to moisten his throat.

"...Don't look at me."

A muffled, low voice squeezed out of Li Xi's mouth.

Lixi moved her arm slightly and buried her face even deeper.

Even so, Bai Qiu could still faintly hear soft sobbing.

He gazed at Lixi's thick, black hair.

Bai Qiu frowned; he wasn't very good at comforting girls either.

Not to mention that this time it's Li Xi.

After hesitating for two seconds, Bai Qiu reached out and gently rubbed Li Xi's head.

"You...what are you doing?"

The sudden touch on his head made Lixi abruptly raise his head.

Her teary eyes widened slightly as she stared at Bai Qiu, filled with astonishment and a hint of shyness.

"I was just trying to comfort you, wasn't I?"

Bai Qiu smiled and withdrew her hand.

After all, that's how he comforted the lamp.

Shiina Ritsuki paused for a moment, rested her chin on her arm, pursed her lips, and whispered:

"I'm not a kid."

Only then did Shiina Tatsuki belatedly realize that her face, which had been covered in tears, was now exposed to Shiraaki.

So she hurriedly reached out and rubbed the corners of her reddened eyes, trying to hide her tears.

"I won't laugh at Lixi, and I won't tell anyone."

Seeing Li Xi's actions, Bai Qiu assured him.

Then, Bai Qiu placed the drink on Li Xi's lap.

After a long while, she slowly reached out and grasped it, but did not drink it.

"Am I terrible?"

Shiina Riki glanced at Bai Qiu and suddenly said in a slightly trembling voice, "They just ran away like that."

"That doesn't exist."

Without the slightest hesitation, Bai Qiu gave a negative answer.

The forest was very quiet, with only the sound of the wind rustling the leaves and the occasional voices of the two people.

"Then why..."

Shiina Tatsuki muttered something under her breath, then closed her mouth again.

"Lixi, tell me, tell me your troubles and worries." Bai Qiu sat down next to Lixi.

"……don't want."

“But it will make Lixi feel better if she talks about it.” Bai Qiu reached out and rubbed Lixi’s head again.

"You...!" Li Xi glanced at Bai Qiu with displeasure, her lips slightly pursed. "Why should I tell you?"

"Because we're going to be in a band for life."

Under Bai Qiu's unwavering gaze, Shiina Riki turned his head away as if in retreat.

Will you look down on me?

"You idiot Lixi, what strange things are you saying?" Bai Qiu said displeasedly, "How could this be? If you keep saying this, I'm going to rub your head again."

Taking a deep breath, Lixi spoke softly and with some difficulty and bitterness:

"From childhood to adulthood, in other people's eyes, there is only my older sister. I know that my older sister is very outstanding. Whether it is her personality or her ability, she is better and stronger than me. I am like an appendage of my older sister."

"But even though... even though I've been trying my best, I still can't catch up with my sister at all."

Li Xi's eyes revealed an undisguised sense of inferiority.

"Those people are blind; they can't see Lixi's good points."

Bai Qiu said calmly.

"That's not the case."

Shiina Riki made a sound like she was throwing a tantrum.

Bai Qiu laughed, then became more serious and said again, "Having an overly outstanding older sister is indeed very torturous."

And with your strong-willed personality, Lixi, it's even more difficult for you.

Hearing Bai Qiu's words, Li Xi's expression couldn't help but darken.

She knew it was because she was competitive, unwilling to accept defeat, and wanted to compare herself to her sister.

"But I admire Lixi."

"Huh? You... appreciate it?"

Shiina Riki immediately turned to look at Bai Qiu, her face flushed and hot, but fortunately the dim surroundings helped her hide it well.

To Shiina Tatsuki, these words sounded like Shiraaki saying she liked her a lot.

Although we know that Bai Qiu probably didn't mean it that way, it still makes us think in that direction.