After Xiangzi died, I inherited her harem.

I don't know what else to say. All I can do is apologize.

But the source of his apology was not just because he had made Toyokawa Shoko worry.

"It's alright, it's alright... I will definitely make sure Mutsu can return to the sunlight..."

Gently embracing her own body, Toyokawa Shoko's comforting voice reached Wakaba Mutsu's ears, causing her to subconsciously tighten her grip on the hem of her clothes.

"At that time, Xiao Mu will no longer have to make herself suffer by living in such a cramped place."

I don't actually feel wronged...

Ruoye Mu opened her mouth slightly, but ultimately did not say what was on her mind.

The sound of sticking out the tip of the tongue eventually turned into a somewhat insincere agreement.

"...I believe in Xiang."

"I'm so sorry my house is so small and dark, Miss, but I don't think you have any right to say that about me."

Yuu Toyokawa's voice, oblivious to the opportune moment, interrupted the conversation between the two people she hadn't seen for several days, her tone ambiguous between teasing and complaining.

Excited to see the half-body again, Toyokawa Shoko gently released her arms and turned around to find that Toyokawa Yuu had already set out the dishes while the two were catching up.

The meal for three people completely filled the not-so-large coffee table, leaving no room for anything else. Toyokawa Yuu even held the three lunchboxes filled with white rice in her hands.

Because of the last-minute decision to bring Toyokawa Shoko along, Toyokawa Yuu specially ordered another dinner, just like before.

Even if she didn't really care about Toyokawa Shoko's basic needs, it would still be a bit of a mood killer to have her standing empty-handed while she and Wakaba Mutsu were eating.

Moreover, given the relationship between Wakaba Mutsumi and Toyokawa Shoko, she couldn't possibly let Toyokawa Shoko stand aside and watch them eat.

That's why there's no other way.

"Wait, Youyu, are you saying this is your home?"

However, there was something that concerned Toyokawa Shoko more than sitting down to eat together.

Youyu just said this is his home?

His amber eyes swept around the room, which was furnished in a way that didn't look like a home; it was more like a temporary, sponsored hotel.

Compared to my cramped rental apartment, it's only slightly more spacious.

The only place that could give one a sense of vitality was the stuffed animals on the bed, and there was also Wakaba Mutsumi's guitar.

The blue-haired girl was somewhat surprised, both that her fiancé had arranged for her real half to be in their home.

Even more surprising was that Toyokawa Yuu, theoretically the young master of the Toyokawa family, actually lived in such a place.

"I'm sorry it's not luxurious enough, but as you can see, Miss, this is all the space I have. If you're thinking of seeking refuge with me, then forget it."

With a wave of her hand, Toyokawa Yuu stuffed one of the boxes of rice into Toyokawa Shoko's arms, and then handed the other box to Wakaba Mutsu, gesturing for everyone to sit down and eat.

"I'm just surprised. I didn't expect my grandfather to arrange a place like this for you, and... you actually let Mu live in your house."

After unpacking the lunchbox, Toyokawa Shoko found that some of her suspicions had been confirmed, and her mood was actually calmer than she had imagined.

Is it because they already had some guesses based on that small stack of banknotes and that note...?

Subconsciously, I lightly bit the disposable chopsticks in my hand, and the force I didn't control well even left a shallow tooth mark on them.

Toyokawa Shoko's mood wasn't as agitated as she had imagined, but... it was more complicated.

Watching Yuu Toyokawa serving food to Mutsu Wakaba, who seemed to have long since adapted to this kind of life, Shoko Toyokawa was momentarily unsure whether to be wary or jealous.

She had complete confidence in Wakaba Mutsu.

Toyokawa Shoko knew her own personality all too well, and even if they lived under the same roof, nothing out of the ordinary would probably happen.

As for Toyokawa Yuu, she had no reason to be suspicious.

Within Ave Mujica, there was no shortage of people who fawned over him.

Leaving aside Yutenji Wakame, who gets up early for profit, she has always seen Hachiman Kairin's fawning over Toyokawa Yuu, whether it was helping him as his deputy or standing by his side time and time again in her previous disputes with Toyokawa Yuu.

Even on the night of the celebration banquet, after Yuu Toyokawa left the table, she chased after him.

Even so, Toyokawa Yuu still didn't say anything, and Toyokawa Shoko had no reason to doubt her fiancé.

Compared to the people in Ave Mujica, Toyokawa Shoko even felt that Chihaya Aine was more worthy of vigilance than the others.

but......

Looking at the two people sitting side by side on the sofa beside her, silently but tacitly picking up food from the table, as if they had been working together for a long time and could understand each other with just simple movements, Toyokawa Shoko just felt...

Uncomfortable.

He reached his chopsticks into Toyokawa Yuu's lunchbox, snatched some of the rice that Wakaba Mutsu had given him, and casually scooped a piece of rice from his bowl.

Bathed in the somewhat astonished and puzzled gazes of the person on her lower body, Toyokawa Shoko also scooped out a piece of rice from her lunchbox and put it into Toyokawa Yuu's lunchbox.

"Why are you all staring at me? Let's eat first. Youyu has to go back to the company later."

Without meeting her gaze, Toyokawa Shoko looked away and stuffed the food she had taken from Toyokawa Yuu into her mouth.

With Toyokawa Shoko's reminder, the other two also realized that time was no longer plentiful.

Including the journey back, it even felt like we were racing against time.

Dinner proceeded in silence, though the three people sitting on the only sofa in the room each had slightly different thoughts.

It wasn't until Toyokawa Yuu, who was the quickest to act, put down her empty lunchbox, wiped her mouth with a napkin, and slowly began to speak.

"Speaking of which, Xiao Mu, Ai Yin is planning to invite you out this weekend and ask you some questions about playing the guitar."

"I'm not going..."

The concise tone conveyed the speaker's intentions with the fewest syllables, but also successfully obscured their true thoughts.

"If I leave here, it will cause trouble for Youyu."

Noticing the slight change in Toyokawa Yuu's expression, Wakaba Mutsu quickly realized that he seemed to have said something wrong again, and hurriedly added his next thoughts.

“I’ll figure something out for Ms. Minami. You can’t stay cooped up at home all the time; it’s not good for your health.”

As her expression gradually softened, Toyokawa Yuu did not give up on her plan to take Wakaba Mutsu out and continued to persuade her.

"But......"

"Mu, listen to Youyu, you really need to make more friends."

Before Wakaba Mutsu could finish saying "but," Toyokawa Shoko's voice rang out from the other side of Toyokawa Yuu.

Nodding to his own upper body, Toyokawa Shoko's eyes were filled with encouragement.

"...I understand, I will be good."

Nodding in the end, Ruoye Mu returned to silence and reached for the dishes on the table, which were already mostly empty.

Unfortunately, it seems that Toyokawa Shoko has set her sights on the same target.

[Crack--]

As if they were telepathically connected, the chopsticks collided together for the first time.

Chapter 118 Hanasakikawa's Tracking Methods (5k)

The three of them didn't have much time to eat, but it was enough for the sun to completely sink into the night.

The city's neon lights lit up one after another, illuminating the darkness in the field of vision, making visibility even better than at dusk.

The door to his room had been closed again not long ago, indicating that the engaged couple who had just dined with him had left.

Ruoye Mu sat back down on the edge of the bed, her gaze still fixed on the street below the window. However, this time, she wasn't holding her guitar, but the cell phone that Toyokawa Yuu had bought for her.

And in the phone, there was another contact—Toyokawa Shoko.

No need to look anymore, they've already gone far away.

Only after the engaged couple who had gone out together completely disappeared from Wakaba Mutsu's sight did Metis's voice resound in the girl's mind.

This time, however, it carried a rare hint of disappointment and frustration, with the dissatisfaction being quite evident.

[Xiao Mu, why did you give Xiangzi this phone number? This is something that belongs only to us and Mr. Youyu.]

The questioning voice carried a hint of anger that wasn't particularly obvious.

In the past, Metis would never have dared to speak to Wakaba Muku like that, but things are different now.

Although Mr. Youyu bought that phone for Xiaomu, Xiaomu then mentally handed it over to Yumu.

In theory, the disposal of this thing has absolutely no direct relation to her.

However, Metis simply did not want Shoko to interfere in her relationship with Toyokawa Yuu.

Xiangzi clearly has everything: the status of a fiancée, the privilege of acting coquettishly at will, and the freedom to not be restricted.

You can't have all those things even if you want them, and Xiangzi already has them all, yet he still wants to get involved in the little secret that he and Toyokawa Yuu have left.

What's even more infuriating is Xiao Mu. Xiangzi just asked her casually, and she obediently handed over her new contact information.

Xiao Mu, what are you thinking?

"I want to... help Youyu..."

Holding her phone to her chest, Ruo Yemu slowly closed her eyes, shutting out the dazzling neon lights of the city.

Actually, she didn't really want to give her contact information to Toyokawa Shoko.

Even if they are each other's half-bodies, this is a secret that has nothing to do with Toyokawa Shoko.

But there is one thing that Ruo Ye Mu is quite clear about.

“I don’t want to be a burden, but we can’t get out. The only one who can help Youyu is Xiangzi.”

Seemingly unable to refute Ruoye Mu's words, Metis's voice did not continue to echo in her mind.

After a long time, he managed to squeeze out a sentence.

[Xiao Mu always says such nonsensical things. If that's the case, then we shouldn't have come to see Mr. Youyu in the first place... Clearly... coming here would only be a burden...]

Once again, Ruoye Mu was choked by the words of her other self, words that were enough to wound her heart. She gently hugged her arms.

"Because I don't want to leave..."

【Whatever, I don't care anymore. Just make sure you teach Aiyin guitar well this weekend, because Mr. Youyu promised.】

"I know......"

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

The office door was pushed open, and Toyokawa Shoko and Toyokawa Yuu appeared before everyone.

Because they went to see Chihaya Aine and Wakaba Mutsu separately, they were a little late. Today, it was unusual for Toyokawa Shoko and Toyokawa Yuu to arrive late together.

Inside the office, everyone except for Mutsumi Wakaba, who was unable to participate in Ave Mujica's activities, had already arrived.

"Mr. Youyu, you've finally arrived."

"Mr. Youyu..."

The moment they saw Yuu Toyokawa bring Shoko Toyokawa into the room, Kairin Hachiman and Hatsune Miku stood up from the sofa at the same time, their eyes focused on the boy who had entered.

Only Yutenji Wakana remained seated, blinking her eyes in confusion, as if everyone had secretly conspired beforehand and she was the only one who hadn't been informed.

For a moment, she didn't even know whether she should stand up like Hachiman Kairin and Hatsune Miku.

Without exchanging pleasantries with the people she had gradually become acquainted with, Toyokawa Yuu simply waved her hand, gesturing for the two somewhat excited individuals to sit down, and then went straight to her desk to pick up the documents she had already printed that afternoon.

Ignoring the two people who greeted her, Toyokawa Yuu turned her gaze directly to Yutenji Wakanagi, who was still sitting on the sofa and hadn't yet figured out what the two were up to.

"Time is of the essence, so I'll keep it brief. Ave Mujica's current predicament is not only Mortis's absence, but also the postponement of some program schedules due to some production teams' excuses. The largest program that Ave Mujica can participate in recently is 'Music Space,' which I have here, and he will be appearing with Sumimi."

"Hey, are we supposed to be stepping stones with Sumimi?"

The one who raised the question was Yutenji Wakame, who had just learned of the news.

As the only member who hadn't received prior information and only realized the severity of the situation when Yuu Toyokawa announced it, she accepted reality just as quickly as the others.

That's why she can understand some of the intricacies involved.

The practice of experienced members mentoring newcomers is a common tactic among idol groups. Established members bring their new teams on shows to increase the exposure of the new groups.

It sounds wonderful, but in most cases, new teams are just there to be the background for their seniors. Their expected goal is simply to become familiar with the team. Most of the time, they are just there to be the straight man or catch up on jokes. Joint appearances are just a nicer way of putting it.

In a sense, this "stepping stone" status is also a way to increase the exposure of new groups, something many groups would kill for.

However, Yutenji Wakame did not think that Ave Mujica needed to use this method to gain popularity, given her abilities.