I said you are all war criminals

Like a daydream, the dazzling golden color.

Chapter 4: The Truth or Falsehood of Memory

Hongxia almost killed Liang.

If it weren't for the fact that she didn't have the [Crispy Krispie] hanging around her waist that had accompanied her for half her life, if it weren't for the fact that she didn't have a machine in her body that could support her bones and internal organs, if it weren't for...

...if it weren't for those golden eyes that were like a daydream.

Ijichi Hongka will really kill Yamada Ryo.

Instead of just a slap in the face.

"Sorry, I have to go out for a while-"

Throwing down these words, Hongxia rushed out of Starry, leaving behind Yamada Ryo, who had been slapped for no reason. She ran three blocks before entering a public restroom and splashed water on her face at the sink.

Drops of water dripped down Hongxia's face.

This helped her calm down a bit.

"...Am I, back in time?"

Pressing her palm against her forehead, Hong Xia couldn't help but mutter to herself. Could it be that she had returned to a time half a century ago when nothing had happened?

No, it doesn't feel the same.

...Rather than saying "returning to the past", it's more like "gaining memories of the future".

Hongxia closed her eyes and felt the emotions surging in her heart.

This feeling surged and surged, but it didn't come from Nijika's own heart. It was a feeling from the distant future, belonging to "Ijichi Nijika, the leader of the anti-Yamada army."

Apart from that feeling, Hongxia doesn't remember much.

I remember clearly what happened on the day I killed Liang, but the same cannot be said for what happened before that.

Those memories are very fragmentary.

Some are about who I met in a certain year and month, some are about what I ate in a certain weather, and some are about memories of things I can no longer remember... The disjointed memories are like a diary torn into pieces by a shredder, leaving only a few pieces of broken paper.

However, even memories as small as scraps of paper can give us a glimpse into the life of "Ichichi Nikka".

It's like literally rebelling against Yamada Ryo's life.

“…How is that possible?”

After raising her head, Hongxia saw herself in the mirror above the sink.

It was obvious that her complexion was extremely pale. Rather than saying "like she was about to die", it would be better to say "she didn't look like she was still alive".

After all, if this memory that came from nowhere is any indication, in just a year or two, Yamada Ryo will devote himself to cybernetics technology, and then...

……wrong?

Hong Xia suddenly came to her senses.

Is Liang that smart?

Cyberprosthetic technology. Although Hong Xia didn't know what that technology was, she could feel from her fragmented memories that it was a very advanced technology.

Was that technology invented by Liang?

"No, it's impossible no matter how you think about it."

Hong Xia looked in the mirror, and the color gradually returned to her face.

Because she had discovered the irrationality of that memory: Yamada Ryo's grades were not ideal.

The last time Hongxia tutored Liang, she started with first-year middle school knowledge. Besides, Shimokitazawa isn't a prestigious school; only two or three students get into the University of Tokyo each year... There's no way Liang could possibly get into the University of Tokyo, so why would he need a cybernetic body?

"That's right, this memory is definitely fake... I must have watched too much anime, so I have such stupid thoughts."

Thinking of this, Hong Xia rubbed her face vigorously, washing away the remaining water stains. After that, she smiled broadly at herself in the mirror.

"Okay, Hongxia, go back now and apologize to Liang--"

"Please borrow it."

Hongxia's shoulder was hit hard.

The blonde girl stumbled, realizing she'd been occupying the sink for too long. She quickly took two steps back and apologized, "Sorry, I took too long!"

“…It’s nothing.”

The man who had just bumped into Hongxia was a man who was four or five years older than her and looked to be a college student. He was wearing a jacket and his hair was messy, but he didn't look slovenly at all. Instead, he had a sophisticated air.

To be honest, Hongxia felt that this man looked a little familiar.

The man didn't pay much attention to Hong Xia. He just washed his hands roughly and seemed to be about to leave. However, for some unknown reason, Hong Xia asked, "Do you know Liang?"

"Ryo...Ryo Yamada?"

The man looked over with a slightly surprised look, "Who are you to Liang?"

——It’s a friend.

If it were a day ago, Hong Xia would have answered without hesitation. After all, for Hong Xia in the past, Liang was her friend. This was an answer that she could give without hesitation and was the truth.

But now, Hongxia's tongue paused like a stuck gear.

“…A friend.”

"That girl Ryo doesn't have many friends..." The man was silent for a moment, then said with a tone of sudden realization, "You are Ijichi, right? Nice to meet you. I'm Hakuno."

"Hakuno?"

Hongxia knew this name.

It’s not that Liang had ever mentioned this name, but he knew this name from his memory, from his future memory.

In the future, Hakuno is Koukai's prosthetic doctor. Every synthetic fiber in Koukai's body was installed by him personally. Koukai was able to kill Yamada Tower and Yamada Ryo with Hakuno's help.

Hong Xia raised her head and looked carefully. She actually saw some shadows of the future Bai Ye in the current Bai Ye's face... This glance made Hong Xia's mood even heavier.

You know, she didn't know Bai Ye originally, but Bai Ye's figure appeared first in this future memory...

"You know me?" Bai Ye rubbed his hands together, "It's no wonder I give Liang so many red envelopes every year. What did she say about me?"

"Ah, hahaha, she didn't mention much..." Hong Xia came back to her senses and quickly smiled to cover it up. She didn't know what Liang thought of Bai Ye. "What is your relationship with Liang? She hasn't told me yet."

"Tsk, this girl..."

Bai Ye reached into the sink and washed his hands hastily twice. "I'm her cousin, and her mother is my mother's sister."

Liang's cousin?

Hongxia thought carefully and it seemed Liang had mentioned her cousin once or twice. However, Liang hadn't mentioned him often, so it was no wonder Hongxia had no memory of him before.

"Speaking of which, I'm planning on taking Liang out for dinner tonight. Do you want to join us?"

Bai Ye seemed to notice Hong Xia was in a daze and said something. Upon hearing this, Hong Xia quickly shook her head, "No, you two siblings are having dinner together, so why would I bother going?"

Besides, Hongxia had just slapped Liang in the face, and she was still feeling a little embarrassed.

"Forget it then," Bai Ye didn't force it, "Bye."

Chapter 5: Let’s have barbecue for dinner

The setting sun fell under the clouds, half-burnt.

It's a good time to barbecue.

Bai Ye pulled a brand new barbecue grill from the trunk and placed it on the lawn by the river. This was Bai Ye's secret base. Ever since crossing over, whenever Bai Ye felt down, he would come to this riverbank to barbecue... As you watched the sunset, as you counted down another day, your worries seemed to vanish.

A little further away, Ryo Yamada took off his shoes and socks, stretched out his slender legs, and dipped his feet in the cool river water.

The trickling river water straightened her feet. Her toes, round and small, as white as the finest mutton-fat jade, swayed gently in the clear water, shimmering with a delicate sheen. The curve of her instep was graceful, her ankle slender, without a trace of excess fat, like a meticulously crafted work of art.

However, Bai Ye had no time to admire the pair of ankles, he just kept fiddling with the barbecue grill.

"Phew, it's finally done."

Bai Ye wiped the non-existent sweat from his forehead. The barbecue grill he bought in the simulator with two bronze achievements looked advanced, but it was actually a bit troublesome to use.

But as long as it is done, it's fine.

After lighting the fire, Bai Ye placed skewers of fat and lean meat on the grill. The charcoal fire made a sizzling sound and the fragrance gradually spread in the air.

Yamada Ryo was still sitting by the river, his white feet slapping the water from time to time, causing ripples.

"Hey, why aren't you talking today?"

While flipping the skewers, Bai Ye asked casually, "Don't you usually like to talk about the band?... Why don't you talk about Hong Xia?"

Honestly, Hakuno was curious about how Nijika would react after gaining access to the memories in the simulator. However, to avoid a similar situation like "Yamada Ryo's death," he secretly bought Ryo a "spiritual transformation after death" as insurance—even if Ryo was killed by Nijika, Hakuno could still bring her back to life.

"Um……"

Yamada Ryo did not respond to Hakuno, but just pulled his feet out of the river, sat on the shore with his knees hugged, and gently touched his face.

Seeing this, Bai Ye stopped asking questions. He had been in this world for over three years and considered himself a competent cousin. So, seeing Liang was in a bad mood, he simply opened a can of beer and handed it to her, "Feeling down? Have a drink?"

Yamada Ryo shook his head, "I'm still a minor."

"How can you play in a band without drinking?" Hakuno said as he brought the beer to Yamada Ryo's lips.

“…You are right.”

Liang took the beer, tilted his head back, and took a big gulp. The cold liquid flowed down his throat, bringing with it a slightly spicy taste. The spiciness didn't feel like chili, but more like an unpleasant touch.

The blue-haired girl exhaled heavily, as if she wanted to let out the depression in her heart.

"Brother Bai Ye," Liang's voice was a little hoarse and a little drunken, "Why did Hong Xia suddenly slap me? Did I do something wrong?"

"Based on my experience with you, it's normal for you to get slapped."

Bai Ye complained mercilessly.

He put down the grilled skewers in his hand and started counting on his fingers.

"Ever since I came to Tokyo, you've been asking me to borrow money every week, starting at two thousand each time. So, how many times have you borrowed from that Hong Xia... Your family hasn't been short of your money, right?"

“…Bass is really expensive.”

Ryo looked away.

"You just want to borrow money, right? You want to see if the other person is willing to lend you money," Bai Ye said pointedly. "If you don't lend money, you can't confirm that the other person is a friend. Only by establishing this kind of financial relationship can you feel at ease... You have a typical mental illness."

Yamada Ryo bit his lip, said nothing, and just took another big sip of beer.

"You, you..." Bai Ye shook his head and added a piece of charcoal to the oven. "If you keep going like this, you will definitely suffer."

Liang didn't say anything, but just stared at the oven in front of him stubbornly, as if there was some profound secret inside.

"...Okay, tell me in detail, why did you get slapped?"

Hakuno put the new skewers on the grill.

He was indeed very curious about what Hong Xia would do after obtaining the simulator's memories.

Judging from what he observed when he met Hong Xia at the door of the public toilet today, Hong Xia's mental state was very good.

Liang narrowed her eyes, staring at the dancing flames in the oven, as if hiding what she wanted to say. After the flames danced a few times, she took another swig of beer before answering.

"When I went to the band practice room at noon today, I felt something was wrong." Liang's voice was nasal. "Hong Xia was sitting alone in the corner with her head down. She was completely different from usual."

"I thought she was in a bad mood, so I went over and made a joke," Liang's voice trailed off. "But then she suddenly stood up..."

"Did someone slap you?" Bai Ye put the grilled skewers on the plate and asked in surprise.

Liang nodded. "She was really cruel... Should I ask her for medical expenses?"

"You deserve it." Bai Ye mocked mercilessly, "It's your fault for always owing money and not paying it back."

Liang puffed up his cheeks. "I will pay it back. It's just that I haven't found another buyer yet... I mean, haven't I found a new friend who's willing to lend me money?"

Bai Ye rolled his eyes. He didn't know who this scumbag looked like. "And then what? She beat you up and ran away?"

Ryo sniffed, "I didn't even get to apologize."

Bai Ye frowned and said in a tone of disappointment, "Hey, can you please stay out of trouble? You deserve a slap for borrowing money and not paying it back! Look at you, besides drinking, playing bass, and owing money, what else can you do?"

Liang proudly replied, "Playing with women!"