After Xiangzi died, I inherited her harem.

They've taken the bait...

Toyokawa Yuu's smile became more genuine. The Hachiman Kairin of ten years ago was still easier to fool than the lady in the suit ten years later.

"You don't need to put on such a serious, all-or-nothing expression. What you need to do is the same thing I asked you to do last time: maintain the relationships within the band. I'm not worried about Xiangzi and Xiaomu, and Amoris is already tied up in his contract. I'm more worried that Dolores might not be able to withstand the pressure from Sumimi at this time."

Having achieved her goal, Toyokawa Yuu withdrew her fingertips from the back of Hachiman Kairin's hand, her tone ambiguous, whether it was persuasion or seduction.

“I hope I can entrust Dolores to you and maintain her loyalty to Ave Mujica… Actually, I’m also a little worried about you, after all, you’re juggling so many bands at the same time, and Ave Mujica isn’t a must-have for you.”

Looking directly into Hachiman Kairin's emerald eyes, Toyokawa Yuu seemed to be simply joking.

"Hailin, you wouldn't betray me like Dolores did, right?"

"...Of course, I assure you that I will keep Dolores obedient and there is no possibility that he will betray Ave Mujica... Likewise, I will never betray you."

Reaching out and grabbing the hand that Yuu Toyokawa had just pulled back, Kairin Hachiman pulled her in front of her.

Lowering her head, she pressed her forehead against the back of Toyokawa Yuu's hand, and Hachiman Kairin's voice was serious and earnest.

"This is Timoris' promise to you. I believe that one day you will lead Ave Mujica to the top. Until then, I will always be your supporter."

Chapter 156 Please Forgive Me for Having No Way Out (5k)

Maybe today is my lucky day?

After having a meal together at a ramen shop that was called a late-night snack for Toyokawa Yuu, but should be considered dinner, Hachiman Kairin took the initiative to pay at the counter, and this thought couldn't help but arise in my mind.

The former Kairin Hachiman dismissed this claim with disdain.

With very few exceptions, almost everything that happens today can be traced back to yesterday.

Even Yuu Toyokawa himself admitted that with the band being targeted, he was indeed struggling to carry the team alone.

But if someone can't hold on any longer and needs to ask for help, why come to me instead of someone else?

Putting everything else aside, if his fiancée, Toyokawa Shoko, were willing to put aside her pride, she might just lead the band out of their predicament.

However, Mr. Yuu still chose her, which made Hachiman Kairin secretly feel a little pleased, and... a little dissatisfied.

After all, Toyokawa Yuu had made it very clear that as her fiancé, he wanted to appear reliable and, in essence, wanted to share the burden with his fiancée, Toyokawa Shoko.

Hachiman Kairin wasn't sure where her jealousy came from. She simply didn't want another band she had poured her heart into to fall apart. On that basis, it was indeed something to be happy about that Toyokawa Yuu was willing to accept her help. At least it could prevent the band from collapsing because of someone's stubbornness.

However, a hint of dissatisfaction quietly ignited in his heart... was it because he was still only an assistant and not a commander?

As she took the money out of her wallet and handed it to the clerk, a hint of contemplation flashed in Hachiman Kairin's emerald-green eyes.

Now, I am indeed one of the few things Mr. Youyu can rely on.

Even though Wakaba Mutsu regained some freedom thanks to Toyokawa Shoko's efforts, he still couldn't participate in the band's affairs.

Yutenji Wakana lacks the skills to manage band affairs, and Misaka Hatsuka... no, perhaps I should call her Hatsune Miku, she herself is an unstable factor.

Not wanting to cause Toyokawa Shoko any distress, he was probably the only option left.

I never expected that Mr. Yuyu would have such thoughts about Xiangzi. He didn't want his fiancée to be troubled by the band's affairs, so every time she tried to interfere, her expression would turn ugly. It was a subtle and inarticulate feeling.

Logically speaking, this is not a healthy way of getting along; it doesn't even consider other people's feelings and just imposes what it considers to be care.

But... Hairin Hachiman can understand Yuu Toyokawa. When she was with her first band, she was just as headstrong and convinced that she was doing the right thing.

It turns out that Mr. Youyu and I are the same kind of people.

The thing I once wanted to do but failed to do is now being done by Mr. Youyu to his fiancée in his own way... I'm a little envious and jealous.

While lost in thought during the checkout process, Hachiman Kairin felt as if she understood the source of her slight dissatisfaction, and then she felt relieved.

How Yuu Toyokawa and Shoko Toyokawa get along is not something she can dictate. As long as she is certain that she is Yuu Toyokawa's only support right now, that is enough.

This feeling of being trusted and relied upon... even made Hachiman Kairin feel a little dazed, as if she had returned to several years ago when she was still in junior high school, confidently inviting others to form a band.

[Hailin, please, you can definitely lead our band to success, right...?]

The past, which I had long been unwilling to recall, unconsciously surfaced at this moment. Back then, I didn't understand that everyone has their own definition of success, and that the perseverance and ability one possesses cannot necessarily achieve results that satisfy everyone.

However... if it were Mr. Yuu, this problem certainly wouldn't exist.

After all, we are the same kind of people, and we are all doing the right thing.

Having figured everything out, Hachiman Kairin took the remaining change from the clerk, turned around, and found that Toyokawa Yuu had already left the seats where the two of them had been and was waiting for her outside the door.

"Didn't you say you were planning to bring lunch for Xiaomu?"

Looking at Yuu Toyokawa's empty hands, Kairin Hachiman was somewhat puzzled.

She knew that the young man was currently struggling financially while also supporting another band member, which was why he deliberately chose a shop with lower prices. However...

"There's no need for that for now. Being able to go out is good news for Xiao Mu. Although she still can't go to school or work, it's still worth celebrating. I plan to take her out for a little celebration later."

Yuu Toyokawa smiled and shook her head. The smile in her eyes and the corners of her mouth seemed to indicate that she was genuinely happy for her band members, but her eyes were slightly unfocused, carrying a hint of embarrassed awkwardness.

"so......"

Hachiman Kairin also smiled, a mischievous glint in her slightly narrowed eyes. She could probably guess what Toyokawa Yuu wanted to say.

This kind of private arrangement, which is strictly speaking unrelated to the band, would never have been shared with me by my manager, who used to say "we try to talk about work," unless...

"Um... it's just... Hailing, could you...?"

Seemingly finding it difficult to make her next request, Toyokawa Yuu deliberately softened her tone.

"Do we need to say these things about our relationship?"

Before Toyokawa Yuu could utter his seemingly awkward request, the boy was too proud to embarrass him.

As she handed her wallet to Toyokawa Yuu, Hachiman Kairin felt an unprecedented ease in her voice as she spoke to the boy.

The filter created by their different positions gradually fell away, perhaps marking the beginning of their ability to truly be friends.

In comparison, a few expenses are nothing. Not to mention that he has saved up some money by working as a band mercenary over the past few years, the amount that Toyokawa Yuu has contributed to the band is far more than that.

Since that's the case, I can't afford to lose to him.

"That was not what I meant."

The hand that was handing over the wallet was gripped tightly.

Under Hachiman Kairin's astonished gaze, Toyokawa Yuu stuffed the black leather wallet back into her hand, even squeezing her fingers to tighten her grip on the wallet.

Yuu Toyokawa frowned, her eyes seemingly reflecting the helplessness of being misunderstood, as well as a hint of annoyance.

"I am indeed in a bit of a predicament right now, but it's not that bad yet. Besides, if I'm willing to put aside my pride, I can always find a way to solve the money problem. I just... wanted to invite you to come with me and Xiao Mu in a little while."

By prying open Hachiman Kairin's fingers and forcing her to grip the wallet she was offered again, Toyokawa Yuu pushed her hand back.

"I hope to complete the weekend's shooting in one morning. Although I arranged it, I'm not an expert on the specific details, so I hope you can work together beforehand."

Her expression gradually became serious, and Toyokawa Yuu seemed to have returned to her previous businesslike state, as if her slight embarrassment just now was simply because she was embarrassed to take up Hachiman Kairin's private time.

"I see, I understand. I have no objection to this arrangement."

Realizing that she had just been deluding herself, Hachiman Kairin nodded somewhat awkwardly, also putting on a stern face to hide her embarrassment.

However, when faced with the wallet that Yuu Toyokawa pushed back, this time Kairin Hachiman did not take it back. Instead, she grabbed the boy's wrist and forcefully stuffed her wallet into his hand.

"However, please accept these things, Mr. Youyu."

The boy's face was reflected in her emerald green eyes, and Hachiman Kairin's expression was serious.

"Mr. Youyu just said that as long as you are willing to put aside your pride, you can always solve financial problems. If that's the case, why can't you give it to me? I don't think our relationship will develop into a financial dispute over such a small matter."

The reasoning was almost impeccable. If we only consider the literal meaning and ignore interpersonal relationships, Toyokawa Yuu really couldn't find anything to refute Hachiman Kairin.

Moreover, the other party did not give him a chance to refute.

After forcibly shoving the wallet back into Toyokawa Yuu's hand, Hachiman Kairin turned and left, leaving the boy with no choice but to throw the wallet on the ground if he wanted to refuse again.

"I will take care of arranging the venue for the gathering later. Mr. Yuu only needs to take Ruoye there."

Seeing that Hachiman Kairin was taking a tough stance and had already begun to make arrangements on her own, which in a sense was even overstepping her authority as her superior, Toyokawa Yuu just watched her back silently without saying anything more.

Although there were some deviations, overall, it was proceeding at its own pace.

A confident person like Hachiman Kairin will not be convinced or obeyed by being inexplicably neglected or suppressed; instead, she will only become more self-willed and do things her own way.

Conversely, all I need to do is indulge her ideas, let her swell with confidence, and lure her into making mistakes that she can't salvage on her own. This will naturally shatter her self-confidence, and then I can take control of her.

As for what I have in my hand...

Looking down at the wallet in her hand, Toyokawa Yuu was momentarily speechless.

He never intended to ask Hachiman Kairin for money. Even if he really couldn't survive one day... he could just go find Hatsune Miku himself.

The last time he died, that guy owed him the title of head of the Toyokawa family, so it's no big deal for him to collect some interest now.

But now, things seem to be getting a little complicated; I'm caught between not being able to return the wallet or not.

However, it was just a minor, harmless deviation, and Hachiman Kairin wasn't the type to ask me for leniency in official matters just because of a personal favor.

Just consider it as indulging her mistakes and deliberately tolerating her; I have my own rhythm.

After putting Yawata Kairin's wallet into her pocket, Toyokawa Yuu turned and walked in another direction.

His place was far from here, so he had to find another car. Should he be grateful that Hachiman Kairin had offered to deliver the travel expenses to his door?

While waiting by the roadside, Toyokawa Yuu took out her phone and began contacting Wakaba Mutsumi and Metis, who were staying obediently at home.

Even he himself didn't realize that, without noticing, he had lost his previous resistance to taking the bus.

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

In the small house that resembled an urn, where Yuu Toyokawa lived, a girl with long light green hair and golden eyes stood by the window as usual, looking down at the crowd below, which had thinned out considerably due to the night, but was still quite lively.

Her golden gaze swept over the figures, searching for the one she had been waiting for.

Although he had only been living with Toyokawa Yuu for a few days, Wakaba Mutsu seemed to have gotten used to this life of standing by the window every night waiting for Toyokawa Yuu to come home.

Even though the total area of ​​this small house is smaller than her bedroom at Wakaba's house, it is not convenient for washing up or sleeping. Every morning, Toyokawa Yuu has to take away the futon that she just laid out the night before in order to make room for movement and passageway.

Even dinner has to be brought back to her by Toyokawa Yuu after she gets off work late at night.

What Ruoye Mu couldn't understand was that, objectively speaking, she could be considered a pampered young lady, yet she didn't have much to say about her current life, which, judging from the description, might not be considered destitute, but was definitely suffocating.

Occasionally, Ruoye Mu would even have some irresponsible thoughts, wishing that this kind of life could continue forever.

After all, if I open my mouth or try to do anything, I'll cause trouble for others. Staying quietly in one place like a potted plant is a better choice.

However, Ruoye Mu also understood that his thoughts were less irresponsible and more selfish.

Putting aside the trouble that staying here for too long would cause Toyokawa Yuu, he couldn't possibly make that boy, who was also still in his developmental stage, sleep on the floor every day.

Sure enough, it was wishful thinking to stay quietly like a potted plant and not cause any trouble. Even just being there was already causing trouble for Youyu.

Upon realizing this, Ruo Ye Mu lowered her head somewhat dejectedly, and her gaze fell upon a familiar figure.

The girl with golden eyes looked up in surprise, took a few steps from the window and crossed the not-so-spacious room, standing expectantly behind the door.

She saw that Toyokawa Yuu had returned.

With her eyelids slightly lowered, Ruo Yemu focused her attention on her hearing, listening to the familiar footsteps gradually approaching outside the door.

It felt as if a small hammer was constantly striking my heart, gradually solidifying the vague unease within, and calming down the wild thoughts that I had when I was alone.

"Welcome back, Yuu."

As expected, the first thing that caught her eye when Yuu Toyokawa pushed open her front door was the familiar face of the golden-eyed girl.

He has said many times that there is no need to stand behind the door to greet him; it is actually a good choice to pass the time on the computer or mobile phone before he comes back.

But clearly, Toyokawa Yuu has never succeeded in changing the girl's mind in this regard.

"Yes, I'm back. How is Metis?"

He reached out and ruffled Wakaba Mutsu's head. The light green hair flowed through his fingers, and the slight oppression brought about by his feigned compliance with Hachiman Kairin seemed to be slowly washed away by the waterfall of hair.

Unfortunately, his meetings with Hachiman Kairin weren't over yet. He still had to take Wakaba Mutsu out later to face the girl who had betrayed him twice in the future.

Thinking of this, Toyokawa Yuu's mood became heavier again, and even the movement of gently stroking the girl's hair paused.

"Metis has obediently gone back to stay there. I'm sorry for her being so willful today."

She did not resist Toyokawa Yuu's somewhat intimate gestures towards her; Wakaba Mutsu was already used to this behavior.

Sensitive to emotions, she could tell that Toyokawa Yuu always felt a sense of exhaustion when she came home from get off work each day.

If this can make things a little easier for him, Wakaba Mutsu will be very happy.

"There's nothing to apologize for. You've been stuck here with me for a while now, and you must be getting really bored. Luckily, Xiangzi has already spoken with Ms. Minami, so you'll be able to go out normally again soon."