Can Lixi look at me alone?

IF route: The story doesn't actually end in happiness.

Mortis looked at Mu, who was standing there blankly, and reached out to help her smooth her hair.

This is a movement I learned from Yuzuki, specifically used to soothe Mu's restless heart.

"Xiao Mu won't need me anymore. Take good care of yourself. If you're unhappy, go find Jieyue... It's best to stay away from that bastard Xiangzi. Also... Go find Jieyue when you're happy, and go find Jieyue when she's unhappy or happy!"

Mu reached out and grabbed the sleeve of Mortis's gorgeous performance costume, forcefully interrupting her instructions.

"I do not want…"

A blue-haired girl who looked exactly like her hugged her helplessly.

"Well... getting close to Xiangzi isn't out of the question..."

Mu Ping's calm voice carried a hint of reluctance.

"That's not what I meant."

Mortis tilted her head in confusion, tapping her chin with her index finger as she pondered.

"Could it be that Mutsuki doesn't want to get close to Yuzuki...? How could that be? Yuzuki is so good to Mutsuki... How could Mutsuki not want to..."

Mu interrupted her irresponsible words once again.

"I don't want you to leave."

Mortis was stunned. Their two beautiful golden eyes met, and time seemed to stand still at that moment.

"do not

Just kidding, Xiao Mu. If I stay here, everyone around Xiao Mu will start to like me.

Mu shook his head firmly.

"Yuzuki won't hate me."

"But others will!"

This is the first time Mortis has shown his aggression towards Mu.

"To them, a Xiao Mu who can talk, laugh, and be more cheerful is always more valuable than a Xiao Mu who can't talk or laugh!"

She patted her companion's shoulder hard, reminding her of this cruel reality.

"It's not just Soyo, it's even Xiangzi, even Dad and Mom... it's all like this! The only one who would be sad for Mutsuki, and who would like Mutsuki more now, is Yuzuki!"

Her speculation was somewhat arbitrary, but who can be absolutely objective?

"So, I..."

"I can perform."

Mu grabbed her sleeve even harder.

"I'm good at acting... I, I can..."

Perform in a way that makes you popular...

Mortis gently pulled her hand away, smoothed out the hem of her clothes, turned her back to her, and looked at the sunlight outside the window.

"It's no use, Xiao Mu... doesn't like performing. If I stay, it will only make Xiao Mu unhappy."

She snapped her fingers lightly, and the surrounding environment transformed into a stage. Mu had already put on a mask and was holding a guitar, waiting for the performance to begin.

Behind her, Crisium, who had just finished providing accompaniment for Xiao Xiang's puppet show, sat down to rest in a chair.

This is the character design that Xiaoxiang gave to Yuyue. After the puppet show ends, Crisium will lose her life and can only sit motionless.

The pink-haired girl, who felt a little thirsty, coughed lightly and endured the discomfort to watch her teammates' performance.

She... didn't know how to describe her feelings.

The angels have been gone for a long time.

He left quietly, yet always used his left hand to help her.

She wasn't sure where her best friend, who had always been there for her, was now.

Are you there?

……

No one answered.

Yuzuki's earrings shone brightly under the stage lights, drawing the attention of many viewers to the girl huddled in the shadows.

She loathed those looks.

But... Xiang said she needed Mujica, needed her help, needed all of this.

Therefore, she was willing to endure all of this.

But...when will the show end...? I'm so sleepy...

During the day, she had to accompany Lixi and Hailing at school; in the afternoon, she had to practice at Mygo; and in the evening, she had to help Xiangzi. Jieyue yawned in the shadows.

However, I am now a lifeless doll...

So I'll just...

With a soft thud, and amidst gasps from the audience, Yuzuki froze and collapsed onto the stage.

Yes, that way I can rest legitimately.

Xiangzi glanced back and gestured for his companions to continue. Hailing and Miaomeng exchanged a look, pretending nothing had happened. Chuhua didn't hear anything at all; only Mu wanted to approach her... but was afraid of disobeying Xiangzi.

He could only stand there and continue playing.

Silly Mu... Where is the performance compared to Yuzuki!

Mortis sighed and continued watching the performance.

Yuzuki also relaxed her body, closed her eyes, and tried to sleep.

……

"Yuzuki, can you explain what you're doing on stage?"

The girl, who had been shaken awake, wiped away the tears from the corners of her eyes and stared at Xiangzi with innocent eyes.

I'm sleepy...

Xiangzi grabbed her collar, forcing her to look at him.

Did you do something with Lixi or Hailing recently that caused your lack of sleep?

"Sleepy... then why not..."

She paused for a moment, then gently hugged Yuzuki.

"Is it because of me that Yuzuki hasn't been able to rest properly?"

Chu Hua handed her a drink and then helped Xiangzi put Jieyue on the sofa.

Their relationship has improved a lot compared to before, probably because... Yuzuki is really likable.

Part of the reason is that she really did slap those two people with her left hand.

After understanding everything, Chu Hua no longer sees Xiangzi as her only salvation as before. She accepts that Xiangzi also has flaws, and she also accepts that Xiangzi has been taking advantage of her all along.

What Xiangzi once gave her, a certain pink-haired idiot also gave her.

Xiangzi gave up her family inheritance rights and focused on shining on stage with her own band. She grew a lot and changed a lot.

Mujica was all she had.

Because many precious things cannot be described as mere objects. She still slept in the same bed as Yuzuki, but now Yuzuki would no longer slap her while she was asleep to deliberately wake her up and then pretend to be asleep again.

Everyone has changed a lot, except for one person…

Mu held Jieyue's hand as they walked together down the street in the evening.

A sliver of the setting sun could still be seen on the horizon, and Mu felt the cool evening breeze, causing Jieyue to gently wrap her clothes tighter.

"Xiao Mu~"

Mu heard someone calling her from behind, and when she turned around, she saw Mortis standing in the setting sun.

She was waving at him incessantly, and standing next to her... was that Yuzuki?!

Mutsu looked at the girl beside him in disbelief, and only felt relieved after realizing that the girl next to him was not a hallucination.

The angel who had been watching over Yuzuki with her gaze revealed a satisfied smile.

Yuzuki no longer needs her, just as Mutsuki no longer needs Mortis.

Everyone will protect her.

Lixi, Mu, Hailing, Xiang, Chuhua, Miao Meng, Le Nai, Ai Yin, Su Shi, Deng.

The angel intended to watch Yuzuki depart, but Mutsuki forcefully stopped her, preventing the distance between them from increasing.

She wasn't ready to say goodbye.

She didn't know what to say or do. But she just didn't want Mortis to leave, she just didn't.

She opened and closed her mouth, as anxious as an ant on a hot pan.

In the end, he didn't say anything.

The cool, soft touch in her palm calmed Mu down a little, and Jieyue reached out and patted her head to soothe the inexplicably agitated Mu.

Mu discovered the problem.

The moon is moving forward, while I am facing behind it.

Mortis's encouraging smile made Mu uneasy, but that unease quickly turned into reassurance.

Because Mortis ran over, and then

He pushed her hard.

Goodbye, Xiao Mu!

Does growing up necessarily mean giving up something?

I don't understand this principle.

I want both Yuzuki and you…

……

I see…

I will be fine, and I will be a good person to Wakaba Mutsu.

Mortis nodded in satisfaction and walked with the angel toward their end.

after all…

Mortis, fearless of death.

Mortis and the angel mark the beginning of the story, while Chika Yuzuki and Wakaba Mutsuki mark the end.

It's time to wrap this up, everyone.

The following are a few unsigned messages; perhaps Yuzuki can tell who posted them at a glance.

"I want to eat the matcha parfait made by Yuzuki."

　"Yuzuki is very gentle. I hope that next time... I can make konpeito myself and give it back to her."

"The cooking was excellent; I hope she enjoyed the lotus seed soup."

"If I could, I want to be best friends with Yuzuki for life!!! How could anyone not like the incredibly gentle and beautiful Yuzuki?! Really? Really? Really?!"

"Even the bottom edge has the material from Koyuki!"

"I shouldn't have called you mentally ill; maybe I'm the mentally ill one."