After Xiangzi died, I inherited her harem.

Those childhood memories, filtered through the lens of time, seem to be forever filled with endless leisure.

Toyokawa Hatsune nervously glanced around the car window, as if afraid that several unidentified cars might suddenly appear from around any corner and take her and Du Jie down, or even do something more outrageous and drastic.

However, even after the vehicle had been driving on the road for more than ten minutes, the situation she feared still did not occur.

Even so, the blonde beauty still watched the vehicles that occasionally drove past her group with a somewhat paranoid eye. Every sound of wheels passing by her ears would make her tense up unconsciously.

Compared to the somewhat paranoid Toyokawa Hatsune, Yutenji Wakame seemed much more relaxed. After driving safely for a while, she gradually relaxed and even hummed a tune, a familiar melody that reminded people of her time in the band ten years ago.

As a gentle breeze blew in from outside the car, the beads of sweat on Yutenji Wakana's palms, which had just been sweating slightly from nervousness after tricking the two into getting into the car under the name of Hachiman Kairin, began to dry in the breeze.

Unlike Toyokawa Hatsune, who is paranoid and fearful, and unlike Toyokawa Yuu, who is in the center of a vortex and has to subconsciously think about many things, Yutenji Wakame's thoughts are quite simple.

Her task was simply to coax the two "Toyokawas" sitting in the back row into bed and take them to their destination; that was all.

The only thing to worry about is what to do if her story is exposed and the two refuse to cooperate. Yutenji Wakana doesn't think she has the ability to drag these two people into the car in broad daylight.

Although in terms of strength, I have never slacked off in my drumming practice and am confident that I am better than Toyokawa Hatsune in this aspect, while Toyokawa Yuu looks like a seriously injured person who has just been dragged out of the fire and is even walking with a trembling gait... it seems that there is a possibility that I can successfully force my way through.

As for other things, such as whether other cars would follow her on the road or she would be stopped, they were not within her consideration, and even if she did consider them, it would be useless.

Moreover, it seems that things are going quite smoothly for Minami. At least, the fact that she took the two people away has been seen by those big shots as "an arrangement by one of their own" thanks to her efforts.

Since that's the case, there's no need to worry about things beyond your control. This is a habit that Yutenji Wakame has developed over the years after becoming a nobody.

After all, with his current wealth, he couldn't make any promises to Toyokawa Yuu about saving him from dire straits, and their relationship was far from that level.

I just felt I should do something, and then reluctantly did it without feeling like I was losing out.

Now that everything is normal and no one has called to say anything unsettling like the situation has changed, it's better to relax than to be as worried as Hatsune Toyokawa.

After all, with her former teammates all achieving great success, if she didn't learn some ways to console herself, given her complex personality of mixed inferiority and arrogance, she would probably be consumed by jealousy long ago.

“Amoris......”

A familiar greeting reached Yutenji Wakana's ears from behind, jolting her just as she relaxed, and she gripped the steering wheel tightly with both hands.

"what happened?"

This name hasn't been used for ten years, and even ten years ago, not many people used this string of syllables to refer to themselves.

Rather, offstage, only Yuu Toyokawa would insist on using this name to refer to herself, and the two always maintained a professional, colleague-like distance.

Another person who enjoys this treatment is Toyokawa Hatsune, who is also sitting in the car now, but her situation is different.

Yutenji Wakame used to naively believe that Toyokawa Yuu was treating her in a businesslike manner, until she learned a secret that changed Hachiman Kairin's fate and realized that it was clearly a means to cover up their strangely close relationship.

From this perspective, the manager who was always fair, serious, and an admirable role model in Yawata Kairin's eyes seemed to have been full of selfish motives from the very beginning.

Perhaps it was this feeling, which had long since lost its meaning with the disbandment of the band Ave Mujica, that caused her to react somewhat excessively when she heard this name again after so long.

"The person who sent you to pick us up shouldn't be Hailing, right?"

Raising her thoughtful gaze, Toyokawa Yuu's voice was resolute.

He had personally experienced the methods of the Toyokawa family, and he couldn't possibly let himself leave so easily. Besides...

"Hailin would never say those kinds of things to me, not even as a relay... She always wanted to appear strong and reliable in front of me, and she would never say those kinds of hesitant confessions to me."

As Yuu Toyokawa's voice faded, the atmosphere in the carriage, which had begun to ease, stiffened again.

Toyokawa Hatsune immediately looked nervously at her old friend sitting in the driver's seat, and reached out to touch the door handle, only to find that it had already been locked from the inside.

"...Couldn't you have waited until I got there before you exposed me? Even if you figured it out, there's no point in saying it now, Mr. Manager."

After a brief silence, Yutenji Wakana sighed, feeling a little regretful. She should have said something different; the more she said, the more mistakes she made.

"As long as I get you to your destination, I'll consider all the favors you've done for me before as repayment. We'll both be happy to have an easier time then, and I'll explain things to you later, okay?"

“If you want to help me, then I don’t think there’s any need to hide it. You can be honest with me about who else is helping me behind the scenes.”

There was no tension or wariness in Toyokawa Yuu's voice. It was not only that she sensed no hostility in Yutenji Wakana's words, but she also felt that it would be better to die now and be done with it.

"Honesty is mutual, Mr. Agent, but we've never been one to hide anything from each other. How about we ask and answer each other's questions?"

The purple-haired beauty in the driver's seat expressed her refusal with a flippant attitude. Based on her understanding of Toyokawa Yuu, this man would not reveal the secrets on her mind.

"Okay, go ahead and ask, then answer my question."

To Yutenji Wakana's surprise, Toyokawa Yuu simply nodded slightly in response to this flippant rejection and joke, taking the joke seriously.

Now, it was Yutenji Wakana who seemed a little embarrassed.

"...Mr. Youyu, what exactly do you want?"

After much thought, Yutenji Wakami realized that this was the only question she could ask.

She has been unable to understand this man's behavior logic for the past ten years.

While he may be described as generous, he is by no means a mild-mannered gentleman. Aside from his almost daily banter with Toyokawa Shoko, he always manages to calculate every single benefit the band can realistically offer.

But even Yutenji Wakana himself doesn't believe that he's driven by profit.

From the time he met this man until now, he has almost never left anything for himself.

The shopping company gave it to Yawata Kairin, and during the storm of Yawata Kairin's betrayal, it gave freedom to Toyokawa Hatsune, while companionship and gentleness were reserved for Wakaba Mutsumi and Mortis.

Even this morning, he intended to give his life to Toyokawa Shoko as well.

From this perspective, it seems that he, who was filled with selfishness from the very beginning, was actually selfless and generous... although he was hardly generous to himself at all.

"I want to die."

His words were simple and unwavering, so much so that Toyokawa Hatsune couldn't help but stare in astonishment at the man who could speak of his own death so calmly.

Yutenji Wakana, who was driving, couldn't turn around, but judging from her sudden pause in breathing, she was probably quite frightened by Toyokawa Yuu's words.

"I can't accept a world without Xiangzi. It would make me lose a lot of things, including what I've always believed in."

Ignoring their surprise, Toyokawa Yuu continued speaking with a calm expression.

The calm tone and simple wording made Toyokawa Hatsune, who was standing next to her, clench her fists and subconsciously look away.

As if afraid of being scorched by the sun, they dared not look directly at the blazing sun overhead, worried that the unspoken thoughts in their hearts would be burned to ashes under the sunlight.

"Lady Yuu, I also..."

With her head down, Toyokawa Hatsune quietly reached her hand towards the hem of Toyokawa Yuu's clothes and murmured softly.

It's as if as long as I can borrow light from the sun, even if I can't become the bright moon, I can at least become some kind of fluorescent light.

“You can’t do it. I told you that you have to go see the sights that Xiangzi and I have never seen before. This is Xiangzi’s expectation of you, and it is also my order.”

Reaching out and pressing down on Toyokawa Hatsune's wrist, Toyokawa Yuu didn't even turn her head to look at the blonde beauty with complicated eyes beside her, but instead looked at Yutenji Wakana's back.

“Now, you should answer my question, Amoris.”

"...You heard what the agent said. So, should I implicate you, or will you tell the story yourself?"

After a moment of silence, Yutenji Wakana took off the sunglasses she still wore even while driving and threw them at Toyokawa Yuu, who was sitting in the back seat.

It wasn't until she reached out and caught it that Yuu Toyokawa discovered that the sunglasses were connected to a hidden earphone.

Indeed, how could Yutenji Wakanagi, alone, dare to intervene in the matter of taking away Toyokawa Yuu, who was being watched by many eyes?

Even if she was the only one picking up and dropping off Yuu Toyokawa, she must have maintained constant contact with certain people.

But judging from her attitude, at least the contact person and she were not simply superiors and subordinates. Yutenji Wakame not only had the mind to joke, but was even willing to expose him.

With Hachiman Kairin ruled out, the remaining candidates are...

Before Yuu Toyokawa could find a suitable candidate in her mind, Minami Mori's voice came through the earphones.

[It's really unexpected that Youyu-jun is so devoted to Xiaoxiang. I was originally planning to set you up with my precious daughter, but now it seems...]

The old woman, whose tone alone could conjure up a repulsive smile in Toyokawa Yuu's mind, paused. Her voice, which had been tinged with laughter, now carried a hint of melancholy and wistfulness.

Since she didn't have a chance last night, she probably won't have one in the future.

Mori Minami pinched her brow in slight distress, a bitter smile involuntarily appearing on her lips.

Someone like her, who has spent half her life in the world of fame and fortune, is most incapable of this kind of deep affection.

Exhaling a soft breath, Mori Minami understood a little why Mortis, who didn't care much about Toyokawa Shoko, hadn't succeeded in getting her despite being the villa manager for so long.

"...I have no intention of taking Xiao Mu and Mortis with me. I can walk this road by myself."

After carefully organizing her thoughts, Toyokawa Yuu's response was somewhat irrelevant.

"Well then, Ms. Minami, as an elder, I think you should also have the virtue of helping others achieve their goals."

Hearing this demand, which was practically a counter-attack, Minami's bitter smile deepened.

This has backfired, and now I'm in a bit of a dilemma.

Rationally, for the sake of his own ambitions, he should resolutely refuse. If he could control Toyokawa Yuu, he would have the possibility of making his daughter make a comeback.

Her words to the Toyokawa family were not entirely false; her daughter was exceptionally talented, and how could she waste her most precious years?

but......

Looking down at the red doll she was holding in her arms, Mori Minami suddenly felt deflated and leaned back, throwing her body onto the sofa.

He truly lives up to his reputation as the most promising young man; even after all these years, he can still easily create difficult problems for him.

[I've already colluded with the Toyokawa family. They won't suspect that Meowmeng considers herself one of their own for the time being. Now is the best opportunity. As long as you agree, I'm confident I can get you out of Tokyo. Then you'll be free to fly high. The Toyokawa family will be too busy dividing up the inheritance to bother with you, which will be enough for you to escape abroad with my help or Hailing's.]

She earnestly explained her current situation to Toyokawa Yuu. This old woman, who had always been a synonym for a vicious and ruthless person in Toyokawa Yuu's mind, was now surprisingly showing a bit of earnestness and concern.

Even Yutenji Wakame, who was driving, felt that perhaps he, as a half-teacher, had been living a secluded life at home for the past few years, cultivating his character and no longer pursuing fame and fortune as before.

[...There are still many people who care about you and don't want you to leave like this. Not to mention my daughter and Hailin, you didn't want Nagasaki Sase, who brought you and Hatsune away from the fire and took you to that hut, to feel like you were doing something in vain.]

Upon hearing Minami's voice, Yutenji Wakana instinctively shrank back, shattering the slight fantasy she had just had.

It's hard to tell whether this is persuasion or provocation. Didn't I tell that old woman that Toyokawa Yuu hates Nagasaki Sase? Why do I have to use her face to persuade her?

Minami Mori is still the same Minami Mori; it's impossible to figure out what she's thinking.

"...I would be very happy if I could make Soyo fail at the last minute."

For the first time after getting on the bus, Toyokawa Yuu's voice carried a hint of laughter, overflowing with a kind of narrow-minded vengefulness.

[I think I understand... Meow Dream, let them both get off the bus. I'll notify others to pick up Hatsune Miku.]

Is it only... Toyokawa Hatsune?

Yutenji Wakana's hand on the steering wheel tightened slightly, her expression somewhat complicated, but in the end she still reached for the gear shift lever.

If she could persuade her otherwise, Minami had already done so; since this was Yuu Toyokawa's choice...

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

In the living room of the Wakaba family home, Minami listened to the sounds coming from the other end of the phone, closed her eyes wearily, and silently hung up the phone.

It's been a long time since I've organized a game, and this is the result. I guess I'm getting old.

Even in the end, he refused to admit his defeat, and even brought up Nagasaki Sase, a person whom Yuu-kun disliked and who might further deepen his misanthropic mentality.

It seems like they're giving advice, but they're actually already compromising... How shameful.

Now I really need to rack my brains to figure out how to comfort my two precious daughters.

But before Mori Minami could recover from her brief moment of dejection, the doorbell rang suddenly.

Supporting her slightly immobile body, she opened the door, and in Mori Minami's golden eyes, she saw the figure of a woman in a suit.

“Ms. Minami, excuse me, I’m looking for Mortis.”

Looking at the tired and worried Mori Minami in front of her, Hachiman Kairin was puzzled, but she forced herself to keep her expression unchanged.

Her goal was to find Wakaba Mutsu and Mortis, but the old woman in front of her who was deliberately hiding the fact that Toyokawa Yuu was still alive from her daughter was not on her side.

For now... it's best not to clash with her.

"I can't get through to her on the phone. Would it be convenient for me to meet her?"

"...Go in, they're on the second floor."

The scrutinizing gaze swept over Hachiman Kairin several times before Mori Minami finally stepped aside and opened her door.

She didn't need to guess to know why Yahata Kairin had come to see her daughter at this time, but she neither stopped her nor offered any explanation.

Let them be. Getting involved in these kids' affairs only makes things more exhausting.

Chapter 153 Heart-Piercing Sea Bell

In the guest room where Toyokawa Yuu had collapsed yesterday, Wakaba Mutsu and Mortis, whose bodies were still considered petite among their peers even after ten years, were curled up on the soft bed, clutching a cell phone that had been manufactured at least ten years ago.