After Xiangzi died, I inherited her harem.

Today, this guy seemed incredibly energetic; it wasn't just lively, it was practically fawning.

However, if they were truly being attentive, they wouldn't have left the person there and left alone.

Although they are friends and classmates who get along well, Shiina Tatsuki, who has never actually looked into each other's hearts and pasts, can only give a strange evaluation in his heart when he sees that Hachiman Kairin has become somewhat different from usual.

However, this did not prevent her from refusing.

This wasn't cold-blooded; it was just that her band was about to start rehearsals soon, and Shiina Tatsuki's personality wouldn't allow the band to stop because of her alone.

“Hey, [RING] isn’t a bar, we don’t offer childcare services. I’m really worried about you. Why don’t you wait by the side or just wake him up? I have to go to rehearsal later.”

“Mr. Youyu has nothing to worry about, and I have other band support work to do. If you are busy later, you can wake him up then.”

Picking up the bass box beside her, Hachiman Kairin nodded to Shiina Tatsuki and left the hall of [RING] without giving him a chance to refuse.

Looking at his friend's decisive back view, and then at Toyokawa Yuu lying on the table, basking in the sunlight streaming through the shop window, with no one even drawing the curtains for him, Shiina Ritsuki couldn't help but feel that the way the two of them were getting along was strange.

So, does being able to relax mean simply doing some superficial work and then feeling at ease and ignoring everything else?

"Tanuki, we're here!"

Hearing his companion's energetic voice, Shiina Tatsuki turned his head and saw a pink figure. His furrowed brows and inner confusion all turned into a helpless sigh.

"I've already told you, don't call me that."

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

In a hazy state of consciousness, it seemed as if someone was calling to him, accompanied by the sound of a wooden board being gently tapped.

Yuu Toyokawa tried to lift his head, but the sharp pain in the back of his head made even this simple movement difficult.

In fact, he didn't just stay up all night. Before being pushed down the stairs by Metis and returning to this era, he stayed up all night and spent an entire day dealing with the guests at Toyokawa Shoko's funeral.

After nearly two days and two nights of sleepless nights, even coffee couldn't rouse him. Instead, after his nerves were slightly relaxed, the barriers of his consciousness were overwhelmed by a wave of weariness.

However, just as he had said to Yahata Kairin before.

A peaceful sleep was indeed a luxury for him; even in those brief dreams, two faces kept appearing in his mind.

One image shows Miku Miku's face with a sickly flush and a dazed smile as she snaps her own neck.

The other image shows Metis's triumphant and twisted expression as he pushes himself off a tall building.

It's true... I can't even have a peaceful dream.

"Uh……"

With difficulty, Yuu Toyokawa lifted her head and opened her eyes. In her still blurry vision, a pink sun seemed to rise.

"Sir, are you alright? Sleeping with your head on the table is bad for your neck, isn't it?"

Chihaya Aine tilted her head and looked at Toyokawa Yuu, who was covering her forehead and seemed to be in some pain, and couldn't help but feel worried.

The friendly tone and concerned words, even if this concern was merely out of instinctive kindness and positivity, still made Toyokawa Yuu feel much more at ease.

"I'm fine, I'm sorry for causing you trouble."

Yuu Toyokawa politely and courteously expressed her apology. Her last memory was having breakfast with Kairin Hachiman in the [RING] and talking about work.

Since the voice wasn't from Hachiman Kairin, and he was still lying on this somewhat familiar table, it meant that Hachiman Kairin had probably left him here alone while he was asleep.

"Your name is Youyu, right?"

Another somewhat cold voice appeared, followed by the sound of knuckles tapping on the table, causing Toyokawa Yuu to subconsciously shift her attention to it.

It turns out that the one tapping the table with their knuckles and disturbing my sleep wasn't the pink sun, but someone else entirely.

Shiina Riki was also sizing up the boy in front of her, who looked to be about the same age as them, and her brows furrowed deeper and deeper.

She thought she knew a little about Yahata Kairin. Since the other party addressed Toyokawa Yuu as "sir" instead of "classmate," did that mean that this boy, who was about their age, had a working relationship with Yahata Kairin?

"Hai Ling has already left. She asked me to look after you. I also have a band to practice now. Are you okay on your own?"

"Li Xi, don't talk like that. This gentleman hasn't recovered yet."

Chihaya Aine placed a glass of ice water in front of Toyokawa Yuu, her gray eyes revealing kind concern as she looked at his ashen face.

“Mr. Youyu, are you really alright? You look...very tired.”

Chapter 25 Nagasaki Sase's Investigation

"Thank you for your concern. It's just a lack of sleep, which is common for people who work. I'm actually much better now."

Faced with Chihaya Aine's concerned gaze, Toyokawa Yuu simply waved her hand lightly, indicating that she was fine.

He had, of course, recognized the pink-haired girl in front of him, as well as the companions gathered around her.

In fact, back when Hachiman Kairin brought him to this LiveHouse called [RING], Toyokawa Yuu was already prepared to meet the rest of the band that Toyokawa Shoko had once formed – CRYCHIC.

After all, aside from the cause of Toyokawa Shoko's death ten years later, there were other things that also intrigued Toyokawa Yuu.

Shoko Toyokawa once formed two bands and also maintained some contact with MyGO!!!!!, which absorbed a large number of CRYCHIC members.

It could even be said that both Ave Mujica and MyGO!!!!! are essentially there to clean up the mess left by the original band CRYCHIC.

Yet, this was the succubus who single-handedly stirred up three bands.

After her death, only Metis, who inherited Wakaba Mutsumi's body, and Nagasaki Sase attended her funeral.

It's one thing for bands like Ave Mujica to band together for profit, but the members of CRYCHIC and MyGO!!!!! don't seem like such cold-hearted people.

So, what changes occurred in Toyokawa Shoko's interpersonal relationships during those ten years? It's impossible that others were completely unaware that Toyokawa Shoko was dead.

"My name is Yuu, Yuu Toyokawa, and I am a manager in charge of band planning."

After briefly introducing her name and profession, Toyokawa Yuu lowered her eyes slightly, using the lingering weariness on her face to conceal the strangeness in her eyes.

His gaze subtly swept over Nagasaki Souse, who was standing behind Shiina Tatsuki and Chihaya Aine but hadn't followed them over.

Moreover, even the members who attended the funeral behaved strangely.

Yuu Toyokawa still remembers that complex look in his eyes, which was filled with hostility and blame.

In the past ten years, have I offended Nagasaki Sase in any way?

"Huh? Mr. Yu looks so young, yet he's already a band's manager?"

Did they realize that the boy in front of them, who looked to be about the same age as them, was actually a manager?

"Wow, that's amazing... Hey, Tanuki, we'll definitely have a chance to perform on a big stage someday, right?"

"There will be opportunities, after all, you all seem to have quite a lot of talent."

Hearing that Chihaya Aine actually had such thoughts... or rather, that it was just a fleeting fantasy, Toyokawa Yuu breathed a sigh of relief.

If the other party has absolutely no interest, he really doesn't know how to approach them to extract the information he wants.

"This is my business card. Although I'm just a nobody right now, if you're interested in playing some popular bands, like... Ave Mujica, I can still help you get a few tickets."

"Really? Tickets for Ave Mujica are really hard to get."

Upon hearing Yuu Toyokawa's words, Aine Chihaya's eyes lit up.

She is quite self-aware of her abilities; she's okay at playing in student club bands, but she'd rather not perform on stage.

However, she also enjoys following trends, and Ave Mujica, who recently became a sensation at her debut, is one of the artists she follows.

"How could that be? MyGO!!!!! We don't do those kinds of commercial performances. You have no idea what the words 'professional band' mean... You too, we appreciate the good intentions, but we're not interested in commercial bands."

Shiina Ritsuki glared at her companion, annoyed, as she turned away the business card that Toyokawa Yuu handed her.

Sometimes, she also felt a headache from Chihaya Aine's showy personality.

It was fine before, since it was just small-scale stuff in their own band.

However, if it involves a talent agency or brokerage firm, then it's a completely different concept.

but……

Looking at Toyokawa Yuu in front of him, Shiina Tatsuki's eyebrows rose as if by habit, and just looking at him could bring a considerable degree of pressure.

Has Hai Ling already started to get involved in this field?

Indeed, given her skill level and reputation among various bands, it's not surprising that she would receive such favor.

"Anyway, our band needs to start rehearsing soon. Hailing's request ends here. If you're still tired, find a place to rest."

Holding Chihaya Aine's elbow, Shiina Tatsuki turned around and headed towards the rehearsal room that had been reserved in advance.

Since the last one, they haven't had a decent live show in a long time, and Shiina Tatsuki could sense that the members were somewhat tired.

As the band leader, it was naturally her responsibility to reintegrate the band's spirit and momentum.

However, some people clearly don't intend to leave just like that.

“Mr. Yu, you just said your surname is... Toyokawa. I have some questions I would like to ask you.”

Taking two steps forward, Nagasaki Sase took the business card that Shiina Tatsuki had refused.

Looking at the surname above, which was identical in both pronunciation and font, Nagasaki Sase pursed his lips but couldn't help asking a question.

"Excuse me, do you know Xiao Xiang? I mean... Toyokawa Shoko."

Chapter 26 The Boring Man

Nagasaki Saseya also knew that associating things with each other based on surnames was somewhat wishful thinking.

However, the presence of Toyokawa, the band's manager, and Toyokawa Shoko's musical talent made it difficult for her not to draw certain associations.

"Xiangzi..."

Seeing Nagasaki Sase take the initiative to speak, Toyokawa Yuu was secretly pleased, but her face still showed hesitation and wariness.

He wasn't afraid of being misunderstood as having ulterior motives, after all, his purpose was indeed not very pure.

For example... ten years later, Nagasaki Sase was no longer just a bassist in an unknown small band.

On the contrary, she has entered the company her mother worked so hard to build, and now controls resources that even the Toyokawa family has to respect.

This information was found by Toyokawa Yuu when she was looking through the list of funeral guests.

It was clearly written on that list.

Nagasaki Sase was invited not as "a friend of Toyokawa Shoko," but as "a guest of the Nagasaki family."

In other words, this is someone worth trying to win over.

Before finding a way to revive Toyokawa Shoko and suppress the collateral relatives who covet the inheritance, Toyokawa Yuu needs some allies with vested interests to help him stabilize the situation.

At least until he successfully brings his deceased wife back to life, he needs to get some people to help him cope with the pressure, instead of watching the people who separated from his family rebel against him every day.

Ten years later, Nagasaki Sosei will have this value.

"Based on current social relationships, I should be considered Xiangzi's sworn brother, but who are you, and what business do you have with Xiangzi?"

The wariness that appeared on Toyokawa Yuu's face left Nagasaki Sase speechless for a moment.

Originally, I was just asking with a vague hope, hoping it would be a lucky guess, and I was prepared to face Toyokawa Yuu's blank expression.

But unexpectedly, this boy, who looked about their age, had such a close relationship with Xiao Xiang.

My sworn brother...

Thanks to the education she received at a prestigious school for young ladies like Tsukimori, Nagasaki Sase was able to understand the difference between the "sworn brother" that Toyokawa Yuu spoke of and the "sworn brothers" formed by street thugs.

In other words, from a legal perspective, it wouldn't be an exaggeration to say that the person in front of her, Toyokawa Yuu, is a close family member of Shoko.

Furthermore, if the "sworn brother" that Toyokawa Yuu mentioned is truly that kind of sworn brother, he might end up like Xiangzi in the future...

Not only Nagasaki Sase, but also the Persian cat girl who kept her head down enjoying her matcha parfait, were drawn to the attention of everyone else in MyGO!!!!!. Even Chihaya Aine was a little curious about what Toyokawa Yuu had said.

How come I keep running into people connected to Toyokawa Shoko no matter where I go?

“My name is Nagasaki Sosei. I was Xiaoyang’s classmate before she transferred schools, and also a friend of hers who used to be in a band… but that band has ended.”

As if he had rediscovered some kind of hope, a glimmer of light appeared in Nagasaki Sase's eyes.

“Before, Xiaoxiang and I had some unresolved conflicts. I wanted to find an opportunity to talk to her, but she refused to see me.”

Lowering her head, Nagasaki Sase pursed her lips, then nervously wrapped her long hair around her fingertips again and again.

The live event I held before did reconcile me with the MyGO!!!!! people, but there's one very important person whose story isn't over yet.

"Why should we care what she did? She ran away on her own back then; it was her own choice."

Shiina Riki interrupted the conversation irritably. She knew that Nagasaki Sase was still hung up on a certain guy, but she should at least be mindful of the occasion and the person in question.

In her experience, anything involving Toyokawa Shoko in a band is bound to be bad.