People are in Mygo, and I can write their personalities.

“I have spoken to Hatsune Miku, and Xiangzi has indeed not had any contact with Hatsune Miku during this period. I can guarantee that.”

"Really? Then it really is your problem."

"Forehead."

That's all for now, nothing else.

"and many more!"

Seeing that Toyokawa Sadaharu intended to end the conversation like this, Shoko could not accept it no matter what. "Father... Mr. Toyokawa, although I know this request is excessive, if Shoko doesn't want to stay there anymore, can she come back?"

"Heh...you're quite interesting."

"W-What's wrong?"

"How do you know that Xiangzi doesn't want to stay in the home where she's supposed to be? She's completely come to terms with reality, you know? Although the child's emotions don't seem very stable yet, she said herself that she doesn't want to go home. Toyokawa Kiyoko, you'd better come to terms with this reality as soon as possible."

"How could that be... You mean... she really doesn't want to come back?"

“That place was never her home, so why should she go back? Following you will only ruin her otherwise perfect life. If you could work as well as you are now and keep doing it… I wouldn’t force her to come back.”

"But you have completely destroyed everyone's trust in you through your actions. Of course... you may still believe in yourself, but that doesn't matter anymore. Nobody cares."

"No...that's not how it is...she can't..."

"Hang up."

The phone call ended just like that.

Shoko Toyokawa slid weakly off the chair, collapsing to the ground like the last drop of rain falling from the sky. She had no companions behind her, and she seemed as if she would be evaporated by the sun at any moment when it broke through the clouds.

She hated... but not Nanami Natsuki who caused all of this, but her father.

The better her memories of her father, the more disgusted she felt with this father now. What right did he have to do this? Even if her father believed that this body swapping was a lifelong thing... he wasn't the only "victim" of this!

Why can't he take care of me the way I did back then?

Isn't he the father? Shouldn't these things be his responsibility?

Oh right... I'm looking for Nanami Natsuki...

The only way for me to end this "game" now is to find the game's administrator, Nanami Natsuki. If it's her...

No, that's impossible.

The moment the idea crossed Xiangzi's mind, he quickly dismissed it.

How could Nanami Natsuki possibly help him? She's not that kind of person; she's always taken pleasure in toying with him. This is probably exactly what she wants to see right now:

Feeling embarrassed and remorseful, he knelt before her, admitting his foolishness and weakness, and then tearfully begged her to end everything.

Then... she looked down at herself with a mocking smile and said sarcastically:

'What are you thinking, Xiao Xiang? How could I possibly let you have your way? The suffering you're going through right now is only natural.'

But now, besides seeking help from Nanami, who else can she tell all this to?

Hatsuka? But Hatsuka couldn't possibly understand any of this... Besides, telling Hatsuka wouldn't make any difference, since she's now completely at Nanami's mercy.

Was this Nanami's original purpose? To make everyone around her unreliable, to make her feel the despair of being isolated and helpless with no one to turn to for help that she had experienced before.

Even knowing that she had personally driven away all the friends she could have turned to for help, Nanami Natsuki probably laughed until she cried, and then secretly mocked herself madly...

No, even knowing the hope was slim, Xiangzi didn't want to just sit there doing nothing.

She didn't think she was being selfish, even though she had been a very selfish person before... But this time, she was going to take back her life and take back what was hers.

After struggling to her feet, Toyokawa Shoko didn't care that it was still past the end of the workday; she pushed open the door and prepared to leave the company.

But as soon as she opened the door, she ran into the head of the Sumimi project.

"What are you doing...?"

"Excuse me, I need to go out for a bit."

"Are you kidding me?" The person in charge, holding a folder, frowned and blocked Xiangzi's way. "Do you know that this is a critical period? The sheet music you submitted hasn't been revised yet. Are you going to dump all this mess on this young girl?"

“Um… Supervisor, I can change it myself, there’s no need to trouble Mr. Toyokawa.”

Behind them came Chu Hua's voice, which sounded somewhat nervous but firm.

The project manager frowned, not reprimanding Chu Hua for interrupting, but looking at the man in front of him with amusement, he said:

"Toyokawa Kiyoko, do you think you're still the same person you used to be?"

"……What do you mean?"

"So many days have passed, and you still haven't produced a piece that satisfies me. Everyone else knows to work overtime to catch up on the schedule, but what about you?"

It's only 8 PM and you're already thinking about going home? What... do you think you're the heir to the Toyokawa family? You can leave whenever you want?

The reason I haven't said anything these past few days isn't because of your relationship with the Toyokawa family, but simply because I wanted to see when you would finally accept reality.

"I……"

"Finish fixing the problems on this sheet music before tonight, and then... what are you doing? Get back here!"

While the manager was looking down at the sheet music, Toyokawa Shoko ran towards the elevator without looking back. When she reached Hatsuka's side, she saw the manager grabbing his arm, ready to persuade him. At that moment, she realized... she really was a coward who needed help from others.

She thought she could do everything right, but often she would make a mess of everything and everyone.

She hasn't been in the creative mood these past few days, and the people at the company are constantly putting pressure on her. She... is only barely staying because of her father's status and is being treated like a pushover.

"Nanami, where are you now?"

"Me? I'm in RiNG."

"...Could we meet and talk? I have something I'd like to tell you."

"This..." Nanami Natsuki on the other end was a little reluctant, after all, she had just broken down Riki's psychological defenses. "Okay, come over quickly, just find me at the front desk."

Okay, if Nanami is willing to see her, then there's still a chance...

Shoko Toyokawa was so anxious that she didn't want to take the subway anymore. She hailed a taxi on the street and headed towards RiNG.

"Did you have a fight with your family?"

"...Huh?"

The taxi weaved through the busy streets. The driver in the front seat glanced briefly in the rearview mirror and then launched into the taxi driver's usual habit of chatting.

"This one……"

"Just by looking at you, I can tell you're in such a hurry and seem a bit nervous and scared, especially since you ran out of the company at this hour... You must be looking for your friends or family, right?"

"...More or less."

In a way, Nanami Natsuki is indeed related to her, although she would never reveal this relationship to anyone else.

However, Xiangzi really wasn't in the mood to chat with the driver at the moment, so she pretended to be mute for a while. Seeing that the passenger didn't want to talk much, the driver also stopped talking.

After getting off the bus and paying the fare, Toyokawa Shoko ran quickly, afraid that Nanami Natsuki would leave before the time was right... As for why she didn't say it directly on the phone, it was also because she was afraid of failure.

Or rather, Xiangzi felt that the chances of Nanami being able to help her were not high to begin with.

If she gets rejected over the phone, will she still be able to find Nanami in person? That kind of situation... she simply cannot accept it.

"Nanami!"

Wow...you're so fast?

"stand……"

Before Xiangzi could finish saying the name Lixi, he immediately shut up, after all, he shouldn't know Lixi right now.

But why does Lixi seem so strange right now? She looks like she's lost her soul.

Xiangzi didn't have time to think about other people's affairs. She walked up to Qihai and planned to grab her arm and take her to a secluded corner for a detailed talk.

"No, uncle, please don't do that! You're going to break my arm!"

"..."

"Alright, alright."

Nanami Natsuki followed Shoko to the backstage dressing room with a somewhat helpless expression, and then locked the door behind her.

"Tell me, Xiao Xiang, what did you want to talk to me about? You seem quite agitated."

"..."

"You didn't just come here to stare at me, did you? Then I'm leaving!"

"Nanami...please."

With a thud, Xiangzi performed a dogeza (a deep bow) directly in front of Qihai, "I don't want to do this anymore... I've had enough. Why do I have to take on other people's lives?"

"I really don't know what to do now. I don't know who to trust, my grandfather? Or my father? They both seem like strangers to me now..."

"Are they even family now? If Mom were still here, what would she think... Waaaaah... Mom... I miss you so much... Waaaah..."

"No." Nanami Natsuki was bewildered by Shoko's agitated state. "What are you trying to do with all this rambling? Who upset you this time?"

"...My father has already gone home."

"Forehead."

Nanami Natsuki raised an eyebrow, seemingly pondering or examining something, before finally laughing out loud, "Oh~ so that's what you're talking about."

"So...you want me to switch you back with your father?"

"..."

"Tell me, isn't that right?"

"Um……"

"Okay."

"...Huh?"

Toyokawa Shoko was stunned. There was none of the harassment or mockery she had imagined, and after her "Okay," there was no other sound except for her own breathing.

Why...did she just agree like that? Why would Nanami Natsuki agree? There's no reason for her to agree so easily...

"Shouldn't you continue to make things difficult for me, and then... make me go through the arduous process of getting my body back at an even more cruel price?"

"What are you talking about? I said from the beginning that it would be at least 10 days. After 10 days, you can switch back whenever you want. Do you think I'm the kind of person who would easily go back on my word in a transaction?"