After Xiangzi died, I inherited her harem.

"Yuyu! Yu...Yu..."

Chapter 107 I am not the sun, but merely the moon that borrowed its light.

The tram wasn't crowded at midday. Toyokawa Shoko sat upright near the door, but her body was somewhat stiff, with half of her body pressed against the cold glass window, as if trying to draw some support from it.

A slightly bulky paper bag rested on her lap, held in Toyokawa Shoko's arms as if she were cradling some fragile treasure.

She took the day off again today.

Attending classes only in the morning and taking leave in the afternoon has become an indelible mark on her life over the past year—a "privilege" that carries shame yet is something she has no choice but to do.

While I don't do it every day, I do it on two fixed days every week.

At Haneoka, it seemed that she was the only one who would ask for leave in the afternoon so frequently.

Now, this "privilege" seems to have taken on a new meaning, causing a strange ripple in Toyokawa Shoko's heart that she couldn't quite define as either anticipation or embarrassment.

In the year since moving out of the Toyokawa family home, taking afternoons off has become the norm.

The air conditioning in the car seemed to be turned up a bit too high, causing Toyokawa Shoko to shiver slightly, but the sunlight streaming through the window was shining brightly on the girl.

That warmth and thoughtfulness that penetrated the slight chill was almost ironic, just like her mood at that moment.

Toyokawa Shoko disliked this feeling of warmth and coolness, and even more so, she disliked the slight unease that followed, creeping into her heart like vines.

Even though that kind of life lasted for a year, Toyokawa Shoko still worried that her classmates and friends would find out about her part-time jobs.

Toyokawa Shoko knew that, given the personalities of her friends, even if they discovered her downfall, they wouldn't show any alienation or sarcasm; what they were more likely to show was concern.

If that kind of concern really came up, she wouldn't know how to respond.

But now, those worries have gradually disappeared, and the fact that he formed Ave Mujica is no longer a shameful secret in the eyes of his friends.

Furthermore, she could even brazenly use this reason to ask the girl named Chihaya Aine for certain information, and she would even receive encouragement from them.

All these changes are because...

Yu Yu...

The girl turned her head to the side, leaning half of her body against the tram, her face pressed against the glass, watching the tall walls and buildings rushing past outside the window.

But every few seconds, Toyokawa Shoko's eyes would involuntarily glance at the bag on her lap, as if checking to see if the lunchbox inside was safe.

The hand resting on the bag had its fingertips slightly curled, unconsciously digging into the smooth drawstring of the paper bag, making a faint, almost inaudible friction sound.

The lunchbox in the bag contained cooked food, rice, and the pastry that Youyu supposedly liked at [RING], which she had gathered from several places.

Iced water... I'll buy it when we get there, it has to be iced.

The free meals at the agency's cafeteria might be more refined and delicious than these takeout options, and it's obviously more convenient to just go to the company cafeteria to get them.

But Toyokawa Shoko stubbornly believes that only by spending her own savings can this concern seem less...cheap?

The thought gave her a bitter irony—she was clearly trying to express a non-material emotion in the most material way possible, clumsily.

But family... it seems like that's always been the case.

Looking at her reflection in the car window, especially her bright amber eyes that were still clear even in their illusory state, Toyokawa Shoko felt a little dazed for a moment.

Toyokawa Shoko's fingertips lightly traced the outline of her eyes in the reflection on the cold glass.

For a fleeting moment, Toyokawa Shoko hallucinated the person who had passed on to her those eyes that her grandfather had described as jewel-like.

One's own mother.

She abruptly pulled her hand back, as if burned, her fingertips curling up and hiding in her palm.

That warm, sun-like figure was the source of all her elegance and radiance.

Over the past year, Toyokawa Shoko had actually considered giving up. She wondered if she could change her mind and bring her father home if she went back to the Toyokawa family home and cried and begged her grandfather.

But every time his gaze fell upon the silent doll left behind by his mother on the cabinet, that weakness called compromise deflated instantly, like a punctured balloon.

Even Toyokawa Shoko himself couldn't explain what he was insisting on.

Is this a clumsy imitation of a mother? An imitation of the sun that can easily warm everyone.

But in the past year, I've become like a stone that can't be warmed up, cold and self-centered.

Which one is the real me?

This question was like a fine needle, pricking Toyokawa Shoko every now and then, bringing a sharp sense of confusion.

But one thing is certain: if my mother saw me now, she would be disappointed.

I am neither warm nor elegant now, and I am unable to shine on others like the sun.

The only thing she clung to was her mother's teaching, "Don't give up easily," which served as a fragile talisman, proving that she hadn't completely disobeyed her mother's expectations.

But... is simply "not giving up" enough?

How far is this cold and clumsy persistence from becoming the sun that a mother hopes for?

Can taking the initiative to reconcile with Youyu, showing him care, and helping him overcome his inner shadows become the beginning of my own transformation?

As he watched the scenery rushing past the window, the closer he got to his destination, the more intense the drumbeats in Toyokawa Shoko's chest became.

She closed her eyes, not to rest, but to try and shut out the growing panic brought on by the rapidly approaching...

She wasn't sure what she was worried about; she just felt inexplicably agitated.

Lifting her eyes, Toyokawa Shoko took a deep breath and forced herself to think about something simpler and more concrete.

For example... Yuyu, are you eating properly now?

Probably not. Without Chihaya Aine around, he doesn't seem like someone who can overcome what's supposedly a severe psychological trauma and go to the cafeteria to eat.

Chihaya Aine......

As the name flashed through her mind, Toyokawa Shoko's fingers, gripping the edge of the paper bag, tightened suddenly, leaving several deep creases on the smooth paper surface.

The image of that pink figure flashed through her mind, and Toyokawa Shoko lowered her eyelids slightly, blocking out some of the sunlight.

Her brows furrowed slightly without her noticing, revealing a hint of jealousy and resentment in her expression.

I am...

The building's shadow completely blocked the sunlight from reaching Toyokawa Shoko's eyes, and the slight swaying of the tram as it slowed down startled her awake.

Almost immediately, Toyokawa Shoko straightened up, gripping the handrail with one hand and quickly protecting the paper bag on her lap with the other, as if afraid that the tram's gentle swaying as it slowed down would cause the paper bag to fly off her lap.

She pursed her lips, and Toyokawa Shoko unconsciously tapped her toes lightly on the floor twice, revealing a hint of barely perceptible anxiety.

As soon as the door opened, she was the first to stand up. Her movements were so quick that they seemed abrupt. Clutching the paper bag, she squeezed out of the train and hurried toward the platform exit.

It's as if if you're even a step too slow, the carefully selected food in the bag will get cold and lose its meaning.

Leaving the platform and crossing the street, it didn't take long for the high-rise building of the brokerage firm to come into view for Toyokawa Shoko.

When the receptionist's surprised gaze fell on her, she belatedly realized that this was the first time she had stepped into the school wearing Haneoka's school uniform.

Looking down at her clothes, she saw a jacket that resembled a suit, and a pleated skirt with a dark green mesh pattern, giving off a strong student vibe.

Although it looked immature and typical of a student, even Toyokawa Shoko had to admit that the school uniform looked much more formal than her usual plain dress.

I don't think Youyu would find this behavior and clothing too casual.

The elevator ascended smoothly. Toyokawa Shoko stared at the changing floor numbers, her arms tightening slightly as she held the paper bag.

Almost reflexively, she raised her free hand and ran her fingertips quickly over and over again along the hem and lapel of her coat, trying to make it look neater and more formal.

Upon reaching the floor, the elevator doors opened. The corridor leading to Ave Mujica's office was short, but Toyokawa Shoko's pace slowed down, until she was practically dragging her feet on the carpet in front of the door.

The office door was right in front of her. Toyokawa Shoko was holding a paper bag like it was a hot potato.

A hand was raised, the fingertips hovering a few millimeters above the cold doorknob, but the doorknob, which should have been cool, now felt like a red-hot iron.

He put it down, then picked it up again, repeating this three or four times.

The girl's toes twitched slightly back and forth on the carpet, as if searching for a more suitable foothold.

What should I say to Youyu after I go in?

I learned about your psychological trauma from Aiyin. Don't be stubborn; your health is more important...

No, saying that would probably make Youyu feel like I'm reopening his wounds and provoking him.

Yuyu, I'm worried about your health. Please eat properly first, okay...?

No, no, no, how could I show such a weak side in front of Youyu?

That weak version of myself should have died long ago.

The girl's footsteps lingered in front of the office door, her fair hand resting on the latch. She knew that with just a slight turn she could see her target, but her hand kept slipping away.

She knew this wasn't right; everyone had already arrived, yet she was still hesitating at the last minute.

He was so close to seeing Toyokawa Yuu.

All it takes is a little courage to overcome shame, and the patience to clarify and explain even if the other party initially misunderstands you. Then you've achieved your goal for today.

Even though he always seemed to be at odds with her, Toyokawa Shoko knew that her fiancé was actually the understanding type.

Since joining Ave Mujica, he has taken care of the feelings of almost everyone in the band.

As long as you go in and speak politely, even if the other party doesn't understand your thoughts, they won't be as confrontational as before.

If only... he could muster the same initiative and courage he had when he stopped Deng from committing suicide on the overpass, invited everyone to form a band, and impulsively used Deng's notebook as lyrics and composed music for it.

Just like my mother once hoped that I would become the sun.

but......

Standing in front of the door, unconsciously rubbing her fingers together, Toyokawa Shoko looked down at the spotless ground beneath her feet, so clean it seemed to reflect light.

Looking down at the gleaming office doorknob, Toyokawa Shoko saw once again, through the distorted reflection, her eyes, inherited from her mother.

If it were a mother, she would surely be able to gracefully and calmly open the door and resolve everything with the warmth of sunshine, right?

Even Youyu would probably find it hard to resist her mother's gentleness.

But... I really am not the sun.

I am merely... a moon that barely shines in the darkness, borrowing my mother's light.

Fair fingers rested on the cold doorknob, tightening and loosening repeatedly.

His knuckles turned slightly white from the force, but no matter how hard he tried, he couldn't push open the door. It only required a gentle twist...

Slowly pull your fingertips away from the doorknob and gently move them up toward the door panel.

Or perhaps you shouldn't open the door yourself, but knock and let Youyu open it for you.

I don't know why I can't turn the bolt, but I don't want to go back empty-handed.

Torn between two options, and wanting to find a compromise, Toyokawa Shoko was about to knock on the office door.

[Clang——]

A muffled thud as something fell to the ground, mixed with the sound of other items scattering and crashing, suddenly burst open from inside the door!

Thinking? It doesn't exist.

Before consciousness can process any information, the body has already made its most primitive and direct response.

The doorknob, which was welded shut by an invisible chain just a second ago, was suddenly twisted open by a huge, brute force.

That hesitation, shame, and self-doubt were completely washed away the moment that ominous sound was heard by a more primal torrent called worry and fear!

The door was pushed open forcefully, and the scene that came into view made Toyokawa Shoko feel as if her heartbeat slowed down, and even her blood stopped flowing at that moment.

The computer screen glowed dimly, and the cursor blinked alone on the blank document.

The mouse was pulled and hung in mid-air, the cable still swaying slightly.

The office chair that belonged to Yuu Toyokawa, which she hadn't sat in since she joined Ave Mujica, lay sprawled on the floor, its base wheels spinning futilely.

Her mind went blank; she didn't even realize she had rushed forward, and she felt no pain as her knees hit the floor hard.

Shoko Toyokawa, who had complained countless times about the poor sound insulation of the door, was now extremely grateful that it had managed to transmit that deadly noise.

For the first time, emotions of panic and worry surfaced so clearly, tearing apart the carefully maintained facade of calm and revealing the urgency on Toyokawa Shoko's face.

[Crack--]

The carefully prepared lunchbox packaging bag slipped from his suddenly weakened hand and hit the floor with a dull thud.

Chapter 108 Youyu, Please Be Patient (Edited, please refresh, 7k)