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

“Yes, I’m very talented, right?” Nanami Natsuki put on a very dejected look. “But what’s the use? Different backgrounds often determine a lot of things. No matter how talented a poor person is, she can’t carefree access to the fields where she has the talent but no financial support.”

So, Xiao Xiang, are you feeling extremely proud of yourself?

"Huh? What...?"

"Isn't that right? It seems I play a special role in your eyes. Shall I guess?"

Toyokawa Shoko shrank back, realizing that the girl who had seemed so harmless just moments before suddenly had a terrifying aura. Shoko kept backing away and soon fell onto the bed behind her, after all... Nanami's room was already so cramped.

Nanami Natsuki then climbed onto the bed, looking down at her with an air of confidence that seemed to see right through her.

"Xiao Xiang, you know... you can't live without me right now, right?"

"What? I... how could I..."

"Don't lie to Lady Nanami Natsuki~"

Nanami Natsuki realized that Shoko was actually very easy to understand, since many of her thoughts were written on her face. The expression she showed confirmed that Nanami's probing question had indeed hit Shoko's heart.

This is so delicious, Xiao Xiang... Even if it weren't for making Su Shi feel betrayed and Chu Hua feel despair, Nanami Natsuki couldn't help but want to devour this trembling little guy.

"Sure, if you really want my approval, then I'll give it to you."

"No, I don't understand what you mean!"

Sensing that Nanami Natsuki's tone was somewhat different from her expectations, Toyokawa Shoko began to twist and turn her body. To her surprise, she suddenly became sleepy, but not enough to make her fall asleep completely.

"Let me tell you a story I made up. There was a little girl who knew from a young age that she had a niece who was about the same age as her. The niece was just as cute as herself, had outstanding musical talent, and they were even closely related."

"She admired this dazzling young girl because, in her eyes, her niece was well-mannered, had many friends and companions, and had won many piano competition awards. She was the perfect image in her mind."

"..."

"But one day, this girl discovered that her 'idol' had actually fallen into depravity, giving up a wealthy life to experience a life without hardship, casually abandoning his friends, and finally even giving up everything related to music."

Ah~ In order to restore her idol's former glory, the girl decides to take a series of actions to help her accept her family background, realize the importance of friends, and understand the meaning of music...

"What exactly are you trying to say?!"

Seeing Xiangzi roar in shame and anger despite the drowsiness debuff she had given him, Nanami Natsuki was extremely excited.

"Didn't I tell you what I was going to say from the beginning? These are just fictional stories, just fantasies made up by someone who is unwilling to admit that no one can truly understand her inner thoughts anymore."

"She not only used vain lies to cover up her doubts about her self-worth, convinced that others' resentment towards her stemmed from their distorted longing for her; she also attempted to erase the family relationships she did not want to face, deceiving herself that the malice she could not resist was disguised kindness."

"Ah...you are so naive. You wrap yourself in such fantasies so that you don't have to live in fear and self-doubt every day."

"You...you mean me?"

"Of course, otherwise why would you show such an expression in front of me? Admit it, Xiao Xiang, I've always been a special person in your eyes, haven't I?"

You always think, "If only all of this were true, if only everything Nanami Natsuki did was for me..." Tsk tsk, it's such a pity, Xiao Xiang. Why do you always feel that no matter what you do, there will always be someone who comes to your side, tells you that she actually understands you very much, is willing to help you change all your mistakes, and supports you towards a better future?

"me......"

Toyokawa Shoko is now filled with regret. She regrets why she left home behind her grandfather's back and ran away to this place. She regrets why she still couldn't help but become cowardly and hoped that someone would stand up and understand her predicament when she was most confused.

She even... placed this impossible idea on Nanami Natsuki, the only person currently who knows all her secrets, for some strange reason.

Is it because only in this way can she fall asleep peacefully?

Because if even those who know everything about her genuinely despise her, then is she truly all alone?

"Actually, you're expecting something, right? You're expecting that every time you talk to me, I can use that gentle tone I use on the phone to communicate with you. So when I scold you, you feel like I'm spurring you on, and when I speak nicely to you, you just take advantage of it."

"Because you can't live without me anymore, you...you're so pathetic, you've become an idiot who can't think straight without Nanami Natsuki-sama!"

"No, that's not how it is..."

Toyokawa Shoko fiddled with her little head, how could she possibly admit that she actually had that thought in her mind?

What devastated her most was not anything else, but the fact that her little fantasies, which she used to comfort herself, were ruthlessly shattered by the person involved. Why was that...? Did this despicable guy discover her vulnerable side long ago and deliberately agree to form an alliance with him to put her in a false sense of security and satisfaction?

"It's okay, I'm willing to be Xiao Xiang's closest family member."

"...Huh?"

"Whether it's fantasy or not doesn't really matter, right? If fantasy itself can give people hope, isn't that the best gift for you?"

"So, Xiao Xiang, I'm willing to be your only support. After all, I'm partly responsible for making you like this. As a toy that I've broken, of course I have to take responsibility for fixing it, right?"

"Xiaoyue...you..."

Xiangzi's eyes revealed a hint of doubt. She looked at the perfect and exquisite face so close to hers, and the words of denial seemed to be stuck in her throat, unable to be uttered.

"And Xiao Xiang, you really don't need to be so self-conscious. I've seen all your struggles that no one knows about, your inner turmoil, and your resolute attitude towards your family... How about this, as long as you beg me, I've decided to completely accept you, and I'll give you all the emotional comfort you want."

"From now on, you no longer need to feel lost. You can tell me all your worries, and I will become your family, like a part of you, giving you a sense of security that normal people can't have..."

"I......"

Toyokawa Shoko's eyes glazed over completely, because she had indeed spent a long time in this feeling of loneliness where she couldn't find anyone to rely on. Nanami Natsuki had indeed appeared in her world like a beacon of light. At least, Nanami had made her father one of the few family members she could look forward to at this moment.

But the emptiness in her heart was still huge. The sense of fulfillment she once had, surrounded by happiness, was like poison corroding her nerves. The more lost she became, the weaker and more helpless she became, and the more she hoped that a hand would reach out from the darkness to pull her out of the mire.

Nanami's face drew even closer, and finally, Shoko felt her lips loosen. An unprecedented sensation made her instantly abandon all thought.

Yes... this is the feeling she wanted, a feeling of finally being completely surrounded by someone, so that she could be led to the path of happiness without much hesitation.

Toyokawa Shoko grabbed the hand that reached out to her from the "darkness," no longer wanting to think about what the owner of that hand was thinking about taking her away.

Compared to those who couldn't catch up with her at all, this girl was the one she could rely on the most.

Their fingers intertwined, the warmth of their bodies passing between their palms. Xiangzi was willing to believe... to believe that the story she had imagined was true, because if the story was true... then all her previous sadness and regret would turn into gratitude and thanks.

She didn't want to be surrounded by negative emotions anymore; she just wanted a family member she could truly rely on, an "elder" who could truly give her a sense of security and wouldn't let her down.

"Auntie..."

The taboo-like address gave Xiangzi an immense amount of determination. Yes... they were originally family, they had a blood connection, and they had already exchanged all their secrets.

"Oh, I see... Xiao Xiang, your memory is truly wonderful."

"......What?"

Nanami Natsuki's inexplicable remark broke Shoko's confused state and made her realize how taboo she had done.

She covered her mouth, but then seemed to feel that doing so was like "preserving" another person's breath, so she quickly let go of her mouth and gasped for air.

What did you do to me?

"Hmm... It's nothing. I just looked through some of your memories and then recorded them in my brain."

"You...you were lying to me all along?!"

"I told you to beg me, but you didn't... Instead, after I kissed you a few times, you kept calling me 'Auntie, Auntie,' tsk tsk, Xiao Xiang, so you have this kind of fetish."

"you!!!"

Toyokawa Shoko's face flushed red. Her rationality seemed to return to her body as the sudden drowsiness disappeared, but this also made her even more ashamed and indignant, because she understood... Nanami Natsuki had grasped all her weaknesses.

Having no secrets left in front of her, and having had such a shameful experience of trying to rely on the other person and giving up thinking, Shoko, who realized that Nanami Natsuki was an obstacle she could never overcome in her life, was both angry and at a loss.

Insults? Threats?

She couldn't do anything... She didn't even dare to ask what memories the other party had taken.

"I gave you a chance, Xiao Xiang, but you didn't cherish it. You can't blame me for that, can you? And you were really good... Xiao Xiang, you actually stuck to your principles and didn't bow down to me. It seems I have to add a few points to your evaluation."

"..."

Damn it! Why does she feel somewhat happy?!

"But there's something I'm still curious about, Xiao Xiang. Putting aside Su Shi and Xiao Mu, Chu Hua should be the one who knows the most of your secrets, right? So... why don't you try to rely on her?"

"..."

Why? Toyokawa Shoko asked herself the same question.

Perhaps it's because Xiangzi herself can't even believe herself now. Someone who fully realizes that she can't help but get angry at those who care about her is afraid to face the way those people look at her.

She couldn't even take the initiative to reconcile with Su Shi, because Xiangzi was afraid of hurting the other party again.

This is her, this is Toyokawa Shoko, who realized she had a flawed side.

"Because only when I'm facing a shameless bastard like you, I don't worry that what I do when I lose my mind will hurt you."

"Ugh... How heartless! Would it be acceptable if it were me?"

"..."

It sounds impressive, but it actually means that Nanami Natsuki is the only person who will never completely push her away, no matter how stupid she is.

"Find me a bed, I definitely won't be able to go home tonight."

"Just sleep with me."

"...Alright then."

............

Friday, April 24, 2020 (Tokyo time).

Haneda Airport welcomed a pink-haired girl who had returned from studying abroad at a special time.

To be honest, Ai Yin is extremely exhausted, both physically and mentally. Jet lag is one reason, and the embarrassment she feels is another.

He even accidentally bumped into a foreign woman at the airport because of these reasons.

"Should I have responded to her apology...?"

After all, she was distracted.

Why...? Aine felt that this was really bad of her. She seemed to care too much about how others perceived her. Because of this, she tried hard to mold herself into the model student that everyone admired.

It wouldn't be accurate to call her a people-pleasing personality, but Aine does think she reacts too sensitively to certain things.

If she hadn't been so bothered by her embarrassing moment in the British classroom, and had just laughed it off, would everything have been fine?

If she hadn't insisted on using her Japanese name and had actively adapted to her drastically changed living environment, would she have avoided returning to Tokyo in such a sorry state?

But she just can't do it... She loves to share, loves to see the enthusiastic reactions of her friends after she shares things, loves to be in the spotlight, and loves to be the center of attention.

Speaking of which... why did she impulsively decide to study in the UK? Her spoken English is actually quite average; it's just that her written grades are very high.

Yeah, it might really have just been a moment of impulse.

This is so embarrassing... If she could, Aine really didn't want to run into those old classmates who were there when they talked about college admissions. Just thinking about it made Aine even more anxious.