After Xiangzi died, I inherited her harem.

I've died so many times trying to get this thing, and you're just going to give it up with such a satisfied look on your face?

Supporting Toyokawa Shoko's coffin, Toyokawa Yuu stood up from the ground, even pulling Toyokawa Hatsune up with a forceful effort.

He only wanted to return to ten years in the future alone, and didn't want to bring any other lives with him.

If it were those family members who wished for my death, that would be one thing, but as for Toyokawa Hatsune... I promised to help her ten years ago, do you expect me to die with you at a time like this?

That's such a waste. It makes me look like some kind of sucker. Does that mean I have to forgive someone just because they risk their life to be nice to me?

No, I won't give you that kind of opportunity to show goodwill.

You can die or not, you loyal golden retriever, but don't die in front of me as if it were for my sake.

I haven't fully taken advantage of you yet, so how could I let you use the experience of "dying with me" to make me soften my heart towards you like I did towards Wakaba Mutsu?

I was ready to die, and you still came out to cause trouble at a time like this.

Hatsune Toyokawa, you really are... useless.

"Yu Yu...sir?"

Finally recovering from the shock of that slap, Toyokawa Hatsune looked at Toyokawa Yuu in confusion, not understanding why he, who seemed to be planning to commit suicide with Toyokawa Shoko, would suddenly do such a thing.

"Let's go, cough cough... get out of here."

High temperature, lack of oxygen, and inhalation of too much smoke and dust made it difficult for Yuu Toyokawa to even speak. It was already an extraordinary performance under her desperate situation that she was able to pull Hatsune Toyokawa up from the ground. Now, she almost fell down after taking only a few steps.

However, she was supported by Toyokawa Hatsune, who had just been pulled up from the ground.

Seeing the puzzled look on Toyokawa Hatsune's face, Toyokawa Yuu had a lot of things she wanted to say to this loyal golden retriever, but neither her physical strength nor her mental state allowed her to do so.

Due to lack of oxygen and suffocation, Toyokawa Yuu's vision began to black out in waves.

Before completely losing consciousness, Toyokawa Yuu managed to come up with a reason that could reliably morally blackmail Toyokawa Hatsune.

"Xiangzi doesn't want you to die, and I won't allow you to die in front of me. You're not qualified to die for us. Sending you away is so that you can see the scenery we can no longer see in our place... Hatsune, don't die."

Chapter 146 Toyokawa Yuu is still alive?

"No...no...don't pull me!"

Outside the Toyokawa family mansion, Mortis stared at the burning mansion, his golden eyes brimming with tears of panic.

The beautiful woman with long light green hair struggled, but several people held her arms or pressed her shoulders to prevent her from getting close to the sea of ​​fire. They even forcibly took her away from the courtyard that was gradually being engulfed by the fire.

The one who was pulling Mortis away the most forcefully, clinging tightly to her waist, was a woman with long pink hair and wearing a gray trench coat.

"Yuyu...Yuyu is still inside, Aine, don't pull me."

The golden pupils were illuminated even more brilliantly by the firelight reflected in them, and it seemed as if magma was flowing in their depths.

Not only Mortis, but even Wakaba Mutsu's emotions were completely out of control at this moment. For the first time since their birth, the two personalities acted together instead of arguing or one of them standing idly by.

The woman with golden eyes had her palms burned red and even had some blisters. There were also some charred marks on the arms of her shirt. It was not hard to guess that she had tried to break down the main door of the mourning hall when she first discovered the fire.

Unfortunately, the fire spread much faster than she expected, and with the others, especially Chihaya Aine, trying their best to hold her back, even the more agile Mortis had no chance to get close to the door again.

"Xiao Mu, calm down, the fire inside is already very big."

Chihaya Aine clung tightly to her former friend, closing her eyes and forcing herself not to look at the burning mansion.

After discovering that the mansion was on fire, causing a commotion, she was unable to stay in the car any longer.

Upon getting out of the car, they discovered that Mortis, who was even more emotionally unstable, was about to jump into the fire. They had no choice but to desperately hold her back to prevent her from doing anything rash.

Chihaya Aine didn't know why the fire suddenly started. According to the original plan, as long as Toyokawa Hatsune handed her guitar to Toyokawa Yuu, he should understand her thoughts.

Based on Chihaya Aine's understanding of Toyokawa Yuu, that selfish, lying, stubborn, and unyielding man would still be the same as he was ten years ago... wanting to make the most of everything at hand while being unwilling to truly get involved.

Therefore, I sent him someone he would never feel guilty about using—not Toyokawa Hatsune, but Nagasaki Sosei.

If Toyokawa Hatsune simply takes out her guitar and tells Toyokawa Yuu that she asked Nagasaki Sousei to help her return to Tokyo quickly, the man will understand that she pleaded with Nagasaki Sousei for his sake.

Yes, Chihaya Aine never thought that Toyokawa Hatsune could be of any help to Toyokawa Yuu, or even that Nagasaki Souse could be of any help.

Yuu Toyokawa had expressed a clear dislike for Sase Nagasaki for the past ten years.

He, Toyokawa Yuu, didn't want to be implicated, so he took the initiative to join forces with those two people he didn't particularly like, just to force him to make a choice.

If you don't want to really get involved, then accept Wakaba Mutsumi and Mortis's protection plan before your group actually starts taking action, or leave Tokyo with Hachiman Kairin.

Using her own safety and taking advantage of Toyokawa Yuu's feelings for her, she tried to force him to give up his stubbornness and choose a compromise... just like ten years ago when he used their friendship to put himself in a dilemma.

She had lied to Toyokawa Hatsune, so her trip back wouldn't do her anything except convey the message that she was pressuring Toyokawa Yuu.

She also lied to Nagasaki Sase. She couldn't actually repair or eliminate Toyokawa Yuu's hatred for her through this incident, and she couldn't even reunite everyone who once belonged to MyGO!!!!!

After forcing Yuu Toyokawa to make a choice, he would leave Tokyo immediately, as he could no longer stay in this place as a conman.

Upon closer reflection, the so-called plan was utterly absurd and laughable, but it was precisely this ridiculous plan that Chihaya Aine found extremely feasible—her relationship with Toyokawa Yuu had been just as absurd ten years ago.

Taking advantage of the other person's personality and feelings, forcing them to do things they don't want to do.

It's just that ten years ago it was Toyokawa Yuu who forced him, and now it's his turn to force him.

But...why?

Why did the fire start? I turned myself into a liar almost exactly like you, and this is what you give me in return?

With her eyes closed, Chihaya Aine clung tightly to Mortis's waist, using the strength of her arms to vent the complex emotions in her heart.

Beyond sadness and resentment, she harbored a deep-seated self-reproach she dared not dwell on.

Is it because of his own coercion that the stubborn Yuu Toyokawa refused to choose either option, preferring to perish in the fire, and even implicated Hatsune Toyokawa as a result?

As for the possibility that she simply died for Toyokawa Shoko, Chihaya Aine simply did not believe it.

Even if this couple is truly compatible in every sense of the word, and could even be described as a match made in heaven, it is precisely because of this that they share almost identical selfishness.

If Toyokawa Yuu really wanted to commit suicide for love, she wouldn't have waited until now, much less asked for my help before.

So... you'd rather commit suicide by setting yourself on fire than choose from the options I left you... can't you even do what I want, just once?

The fact that she might have directly caused the deaths of two people, one of whom was quite important to her, made Chihaya Aine unwilling to think about it further, and she even planned to run away in panic.

She simply doesn't have the personality of Toyokawa Yuu, who would rather grit her teeth and fight than admit defeat.

If it weren't for the fact that she could still keep calm by "stopping Wakaba Mutsu and Mortis from doing something foolish," Chihaya Aine would have been afraid that she would already be on the run again.

"Yuyu...why...?"

Seemingly having finally exhausted all their strength, Ruoye Mutsu and Mortis gradually stopped struggling and no longer thought of rushing into the distant sea of ​​fire.

A cacophony of voices filled the air, some expressing surprise, others anger, and still others relief at having escaped the fire.

However, Ruo Yemu and Mortis had no intention of distinguishing these emotions at the moment, and they continued to maintain the tough and calm posture they had put on in preparation for the negotiations with the family to split up.

Staring blankly at the sea of ​​fire before them, Ruo Yemu and Mortis murmured to themselves, their dazed eyes seeming as if they were in another world.

"Why? Didn't I say I would protect you...? Am I really that far behind Xiangzi?"

Mingming, they were lying in the same bed last night, and could even feel the warmth of each other's breath.

Even though, this morning, Toyokawa Yuu was still thoughtfully combing her hair. In order to match the hairstyle he had styled for her, she was still carefully selecting clothes from a closet in front of the wardrobe, and even came downstairs a little late.

Clearly... he had asked me yesterday to sort out Xiangzi's belongings and choose what to use as burial items for her.

So, the burial object you've been looking for is actually yourself?

I never felt that Xiangzi had left you... So that's what he meant?

The raging fire scorched the Toyokawa family's villa, sending waves of heat washing over our faces.

The fire was completely out of control. Mortis was pulled back again and again until he could only watch from afar as the ruins of the villa were mercilessly burned by the flames, along with his beloved.

For a fleeting moment, Wakaba Mutsu and Mortis suddenly understood Hachiman Kairin's feelings.

This feeling of never being able to win, and that even if the main character dies, you can only live in the shadow of the other person, is truly despairing.

If I had known, I should have done everything I wanted to do last night while Youyu was asleep. Now that I've decided to leave, what am I afraid of confirming the rumors?

Even... if he had that kind of relationship with Youyu, would he have more attachment to this world and wouldn't have done such a thing?

However, it's too late to start thinking about this now.

When Yuyu disappears into the flames with Xiangzi, what expression will she have on her face? Will it be the lonely yet sweet smile she had when she said, "I never felt that Xiangzi had left me"?

The golden-eyed beauty, who had stopped struggling, was now limp. If it weren't for Chihaya Aine's support, she probably would have already sat on the ground.

Filled with frustration and despair, Wakaba Mutsumi and Mortis both forgot that, besides Toyokawa Yuu, there was another person inside the mansion when the fire spread.

A commotion suddenly broke out among the crowd behind them, as if someone was exclaiming something, but Ruo Yemu and Mortis had no intention of investigating.

She took out an old cell phone from her bosom, its screen already worn and faded, looking like it was made ten years ago. Before the beautiful woman with golden eyes could even grasp the marks left by Toyokawa Yuu on it, she felt as if the sunlight enveloping her was being blocked by something.

Looking up in a daze, Mortis saw a pair of golden eyes that were exactly like his own.

"Minami..."

Mori Minami, her biological mother with whom she had always had a bad relationship and who, at her behest, was not even allowed to attend Toyokawa Shoko's funeral, stepped out of her home for the first time in a long time.

During her daughter's most vulnerable time, she provided companionship for almost the first time in her life.

"Don't worry, Mom is here."

He took his daughter from Chihaya Aine's arms, let her lean against him, and used his chest to completely block her view.

Minami looked at Chihaya Aine, who was also in a daze, with great interest in her golden eyes, and silently mouthed a few words to her.

Seemingly sensing that this younger person, who, like his daughter, had been deeply affected by the fire, might not understand his meaning, he took out his phone and waved it as a gesture.

Already lost in despair and self-blame, Chihaya Aine didn't even have the thought to think. Instinctively following Mori Minami's guidance, she took out her phone from the pocket of her trench coat.

The black screen lit up as a message happened to arrive. Upon seeing its contents, Chihaya Aine's gray eyes widened suddenly.

"this......"

As soon as the first syllable was uttered, Senmina put a slender white finger to her lips, gesturing for silence.

Pointing to her daughter who was nestled in her arms, silently weeping, Mori Minami placed her finger on her red lips and gently stroked them from left to right.

The actress, who has not appeared in the public eye for many years, still possesses undiminished skill, easily attracting attention even with such a simple action.

As her gentle and charming aura wafted over her, Chihaya Aine also understood the message that Mori Minami wanted to convey to her.

Keep this a secret from Wakaba Mutsu and Mortis, or else keep quiet for me...

After putting away her phone, Chihaya Aine pursed her lips, her gaze lingering for a moment on her friend who was crying silently in Mori Minami's arms, looking utterly distraught, before finally leaving quietly.

"Minami, it's so noisy around here..."

Not long after Chihaya Aine left, Mortis's dejected voice came from Minami Mori's arms.

"It's okay, you're already very tired. Let me take you home to sleep, in the same room Yu-Yu-Jun was in last night... A good night's sleep will make everything better."

Gently stroking her daughter's hair, Minami Mori narrowed her golden eyes slightly, watching Chihaya Aine's departing figure.

You'd better be sensible, because I'm hoping to rely on you to help my daughter make a comeback in the entertainment industry... Yu Yu Jun.

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

Wearing her grey trench coat, Chihaya Aine hurriedly left the crowd that had been mourning at the Toyokawa family mansion, her steps somewhat unsteady.

The fire in the villa spread too quickly, and she was so preoccupied with her grief and holding onto Mortis and Ruoye Mu that she didn't have time to drive her car away.

Now, the car that Nagasaki Sase lent me is covered in flames on the tires, and it's too late to drive it away. I can only pray that Nagasaki Sase's car can withstand the high temperature.

However, Chihaya Aine didn't care about those things at the moment. Instead, she took out her phone again, and a message from Nagasaki Sase was in her inbox.

It was only after being reminded by Minami that Chihaya Aine saw this message, which helped her recover from the disappointment of possibly having personally caused the deaths of Toyokawa Yuu and Toyokawa Hatsune, and she even obediently listened to Minami's threats.

Nagasaki Sase: [Hatsune and Yuu are fine, we'll meet at my house later.]

Chapter 147 Nagasaki Sase's Astounding Wisdom (5k5)

"Lord Youyu, are you awake?"

The anxious calls slowly awakened Toyokawa Yuu.

Before he even opened his eyes, the burning sensation in his throat made him unconsciously furrow his brow, and his eyes were so sore that he couldn't help but want to rub them. Even opening his eyes was extremely difficult.

Forcing myself to open my eyes, my tear ducts uncontrollably secreted glistening drops under the stimulation of the sour sensation, and even my vision became blurred. I didn't know if it was the effect of the liquid in my eyes or the smoke and fire in the fire.

However, judging from that title that he would never have heard ten years ago, Toyokawa Yuu could probably tell that he hadn't died.

Thinking of this, Toyokawa Yuu couldn't help but feel annoyed.

Returning to ten years ago this time, he felt he had already gained enough.