After Xiangzi died, I inherited her harem.

Even a supernova, let alone a rising star, still needs to get some sleep.

With her eyes lowered and her heart filled with resentment towards Hachiman Kairin, Yutenji Wakame wanted to rest a little longer before Toyokawa Yuu arrived, but the sound of Hachiman Kairin pacing around her made it impossible for her to calm down and rest.

"Hey Hai Zi, can you be a little quieter? We're not late, and we're not the last to arrive. You don't need to be so anxious."

"I wasn't anxious; I was just rehearsing what to do in advance."

With her fingertips tracing lines in mid-air, Hachiman Kairin mentally simulated the actions from the already finalized script.

Although she had already practiced in the rehearsal room in advance these past few days, she still wanted to practice in person before Toyokawa Yuu arrived, so that she could avoid any mistakes and try to get all the scenes involving her on the first take.

Yuu Toyokawa hoped to finish all her work in one morning, so she naturally wanted to save him as much time as possible.

Even though this isn't a serious film or television production, but rather a short video somewhere between behind-the-scenes footage and a small team drama—a mix of hype and business—Hachiman Umiyuki hopes to do her best, as it concerns her influence within the band for the foreseeable future.

After all, this kind of content creation task has always been within Toyokawa Shoko's purview, and she has never allowed anyone else to interfere.

The script that I had worked out with Toyokawa Yuu on the night I forcibly stuffed my wallet into her hand, when she brought Wakaba Mutsu out for a celebratory dinner, should have been forcefully and irrevocably thrown into the trash by Toyokawa Shoko.

Even if it were Wakaba Mutsu, whom I had dragged along to offer advice, she probably wouldn't be on my side to support this work, which contains some of her contribution.

The reason this script was adopted is entirely because Yuu Toyokawa later strongly supported her in the office.

Faced with this challenge to her authority, Toyokawa Shoko unusually refrained from arguing directly with Toyokawa Yuu as she usually would, even though she was completely in the right this time.

The final adopted plan was that the small theater parts related to the world view would be handled by Shoko Toyokawa, while the behind-the-scenes content would be handled by Kairin Hachiman.

Although she didn't adopt her script entirely, even that was enough to make Hachiman Kairin feel flattered.

The important thing is not whose decision the shooting plan should follow. Hachiman Kairin is not Toyokawa Shoko; she doesn't have such a strong desire to control the worldview.

In her eyes, what was truly important was that Yuu Toyokawa was willing to take the initiative to cross the line of authority that she and Shoko Toyokawa had drawn up long ago.

Previously, Yuu Toyokawa had shown almost unconditional favoritism towards his fiancée, Shoko Toyokawa, but now he has begun to extend that favoritism to himself.

Hachiman Kairin wasn't sure whether this favoritism stemmed from Toyokawa Yuu's trust in her, or from the favor she had done for him by forcibly giving him her wallet to help him out of his immediate financial crisis.

All she knew was that this time, Toyokawa Yuu had chosen to show her favoritism, so she couldn't betray that trust no matter what.

This is why, even though she knew it wasn't appropriate, she still chose to bring Yutenji Wakana and Hatsune over a while in advance.

The three of them are now in the same boat, so it's always a good thing for them to come here in advance to familiarize themselves with the venue and perform well.

Unfortunately, it seems that only I have this somewhat ambitious idea.

Yutenji Wakana simply walked around the venue, intending to take a nap on the fairly comfortable sofa, while Hatsune seemed to be simply waiting for someone, without any prior preparation.

This performance from her teammates made Hachiman Kairin feel a little worried.

By standing up for him so strongly, Toyokawa Yuu was taking a risk. He had told himself that as her fiancé, he wanted to appear reliable in front of Toyokawa Shoko.

If he messes up this time, his image in Toyokawa Shoko's eyes will likely become that of a reckless person who doesn't keep his promises and is prone to making mistakes on a whim.

In that case, he probably wouldn't be a suitable fiancé in Toyokawa Shoko's eyes, and their recently improved relationship might even crack again...

Her hands paused slightly, and Hachiman Kairin gently shook her head, discarding a thought that had just arisen in her mind—or rather, an immoral one.

Trying to sabotage important business in order to ruin the relationship between an engaged couple is not the mindset of a competent deputy.

Strange, why would I have such a thought? What I want most is for this band, to which I have poured my heart and soul, to thrive.

Looking down at my phone, my face was reflected on the unlit screen.

Hachiman Kairin could clearly see the incomprehension and confusion in her own eyes... as well as the delusions deep within that she herself might not be able to understand.

The simulated actions in her mind stopped, and Hachiman Kairin fell into deep thought, not understanding why she had such a thought just now.

But before she could figure out the answer to the question, the sound of high heels pushed open the door to the room.

As Ms. Nagasaki, dressed in a suit, entered the venue, she saw the host arrive and immediately put aside her still-unresolved thoughts, taking the initiative to greet her.

The same applies to Yutenji Wakana and Hatsune Miku.

Ms. Nagasaki naturally didn't ignore their politeness, but she didn't waste too much time either. She simply nodded to them and then stepped aside from the doorway.

"Mr. Toyokawa, the ladies have been waiting here for a while."

Hearing this title from Ms. Nagasaki, Hachiman Kairin's eyes lit up. The person she had been waiting for had finally arrived.

Good morning, Mr. Yuyu.

Seeing the boy following behind Ms. Nagasaki and quickly entering the room, the complicated thoughts that had been bothering her were instantly dispelled, like bubbles meeting the sunlight.

Following Yuu Toyokawa's previous request, Ms. Nagasaki decorated the space in a very cozy manner. Although the overall layout still maintained a space between an office and a lounge, it no longer looked like an office space, but rather had a home-like feel.

Even though it was just a temporary venue, appearing here with Yuu Toyokawa still brought an involuntary smile to Hairin Hachiman's face.

However, Hachiman Kairin's smile quickly faded as the two girls who followed Toyokawa Yuu entered.

Toyokawa Shoko and Wakaba Mutsu followed behind Toyokawa Yuu, and it seemed that the three of them had arranged to come together.

It's not surprising that Yuu Toyokawa would follow Mutsuka Wakaba. Where the girl is currently being hidden is still a secret that hasn't been revealed within the band. Hachiman Kairin had asked her about it before, but only received a silent shake of her head.

Only Toyokawa Yuu knows where she is, and naturally it should be Toyokawa Yuu who brings her, but Toyokawa Shoko...

It's perfectly normal for engaged couples to come together—she tried to convince herself of this reason, but Hachiman Kairin still couldn't bring herself to smile again.

Good morning, Hailing. It seems I'm late.

She smiled and nodded to Hachiman Kairin as a greeting, but before the other party could respond, Toyokawa Yuu had already steered the conversation elsewhere.

This feeling of being ignored despite the enthusiastic response made Hachiman Kairin blink, ultimately unable to utter words like "I didn't wait long."

After greeting the other two girls who had already arrived, Toyokawa Yuu noticed a hint of disappointment in Hachiman Kairin's eyes, but he didn't offer any words of comfort, which was exactly the effect he wanted.

More important than these things right now is to get down to business.

Seeing that Yuu Toyokawa's smile gradually faded and a somewhat serious expression appeared on his face, Ms. Nagasaki, though she hadn't spent much time with him, still understood his excellent professional demeanor.

"The photography team is ready and can start at any time."

When the host, Ms. Nagasaki, said such a thing, the others, who had just been somewhat relaxed, immediately became serious, which meant that they should now get into work mode.

"Could you please wait another half hour? Although the script has been rehearsed within the band before, the venue is new, and I think everyone needs some time to get used to it."

Turning to Ms. Nagasaki beside her, Yuu Toyokawa made a request.

“Of course, no problem. You can call me anytime once Mr. Toyokawa feels everything is ready... I’ll excuse myself for now.”

Ms. Nagasaki had no intention of refusing a reasonable request.

Just as she was about to turn and leave the room, a voice made her stop in her tracks, feeling somewhat embarrassed.

“I don’t think it’s necessary. I’ve already taken Amoris and Dolores to familiarize themselves with the venue.”

Yawata Kairin's words have made it possible for the decision, which was originally agreed upon by both Toyokawa Yuu and Toyokawa Shoko, to change.

Therefore, Ms. Nagasaki, as the cooperating party, had no choice but to stop and wait for the others to give a definite answer before responding.

Noticing that everyone's eyes were also focused on her, Hachiman Kairin kept a straight face and did not show any fear.

“Oblivionis and Mortis also handled part of the script editing, and were even the main creators. They had also rehearsed many times in the rehearsal room beforehand, so I don’t think there will be any problems.”

Turning her gaze to Yuu Toyokawa, Kairin Hachiman noticed that the other woman's expression seemed somewhat unnatural, so she spoke up again to make amends.

"Furthermore, Mr. Youyu also said that it would be best to complete all the filming work in one morning, and I think the earlier we start, the better."

"It is precisely because time is of the essence that I do not want to waste time by starting over due to mistakes. Spending time preparing is to save more time... Timoris, I hope you understand this."

Yuu Toyokawa frowned, looking at Kairin Hachiman, whose desire to perform had been growing stronger lately, a hint of seriousness flashing in her eyes.

He naturally hoped to see the other party become arrogant, and even looked forward to Hachiman Kairin making a mistake, so that he could use it as a starting point to put more pressure on her and make her completely afraid to do anything unnecessary behind his back.

However, Toyokawa Yuu didn't want Hachiman Kairin to make a mistake at this time, as it would waste a lot of time.

She was going to meet Chihaya Aine with Wakaba Mutsu that afternoon.

Moreover, mistakes that are not merely a waste of time will not have a very negative impact on the band's affairs. They are not overwhelming enough to warrant making such mistakes.

“I understand, Mr. Yu Yu, I have always understood, but I also hope that you can trust the abilities and qualities of everyone in the band.”

This time, facing Yuu Toyokawa, Kairin Hachiman did not back down any further.

She trusted her own judgment and believed that Toyokawa Yuu was the kind of person who prioritized public affairs and wouldn't harbor ill will towards her because of momentary personal emotions.

As long as the final result is good, then there's no problem.

I think...

The lines between her brows furrowed deeper and deeper. Toyokawa Yuu was about to reject him with a more severe attitude when someone suddenly tugged at her sleeve.

The words that were already on the tip of his tongue were swallowed back by the boy.

Even without turning around, he knew whose action it was.

This obedient and cautious behavior, though it seemed like something Wakaba Mutsu would do, Toyokawa Yuu knew that the quiet girl would never contradict her own ideas on official matters.

Therefore, the only person who could have blocked my speech was...

“I think Timoris’s suggestion is fine, let’s do as she says, Yuu.”

A voice, tinged with a confident smile, rang out, and the first person to agree with Hachiman Kairin's idea was the one who agreed.

Toyokawa Shoko took two steps forward, moving from behind Toyokawa Yuu to his side, her amber eyes reflecting her fiancé's puzzled gaze.

"We are indeed in a hurry, we're going out together this afternoon, aren't we?"

Seeing the somewhat puzzled look on Toyokawa Yuu's face, Toyokawa Shoko softly explained.

Whispers that only the two of them could hear, even though they weren't exactly in a public place and were all acquaintances who knew about their relationship, still seemed a bit too intimate.

"I'm going out with Xiao Mu, so strictly speaking, you're not on the list."

The warm air from Toyokawa Shoko's whisper echoed in Toyokawa Yuu's ear, making him feel uncomfortable.

Toyokawa Shoko's gentle demeanor was something even he had never seen before.

However, Yuu Toyokawa also knew that it was only in front of others that Shoko Toyokawa would show this kind of behavior, which was hard to call gentle or just polite. In private, the two of them would inevitably keep a straight face when they talked.

Leaning close to Toyokawa Shoko's ear, Toyokawa Yuu whispered back, mimicking what his fiancée had just done.

His attitude wasn't so gentle; instead, he corrected Toyokawa Shoko's earlier statement, as if he disliked traveling with his fiancée.

However, to outsiders, the behavior of these two just now should undoubtedly be classified as intimate behavior between an engaged couple.

Yawata Kairin's fingertips clenched silently, and an indescribable feeling gradually began to linger in her heart.

However... since Toyokawa Shoko is willing to agree to her plan, that's a good thing. She doesn't want to have a falling out with Toyokawa Yuu over this little scheduling issue.

Moreover, since Toyokawa Shoko herself has agreed, it won't be entirely her responsibility if any problems arise during filming.

Feeling a mix of relief, disappointment, and even bitterness, Hachiman Kairin felt her emotions growing increasingly complex, but ultimately she didn't show them at this moment.

In particular, the feeling became even heavier when she heard that Yuu Toyokawa, who had clearly settled into her work mode, was now calling her Timoris, while still addressing Shoko Toyokawa by her first name.

Logically speaking, as the two people with the highest decision-making power in the band, if they don't want things to go well, then no one else should have a good time either. It should be a good thing that they are willing to be close instead of being at odds with each other every day like when the band was first formed.

"Since Xiangzi has said so... Xiao Mu, are you alright?"

Even Toyokawa Shoko was willing to agree to Hachiman Kairin's plan, so even if Toyokawa Yuu couldn't come up with a way to refute it for the time being, she couldn't find a reason to refute it either.

He turned his questioning gaze to Wakaba Mutsu, who was standing to the side. If even Wakaba Mutsu indicated that there was no problem, then he did not intend to continue to obstruct him.

Although none of these people made him feel at ease, he did have confidence in the abilities of his own team members.

"I'm OK."

Wakaba Mutsu's golden gaze swept around the area before finally nodding calmly at Toyokawa Yuu.

Not having enough time to familiarize oneself with the area is not a problem, as the place itself is not a maze that is so complicated as to be incomprehensible.

At worst, she could have Metis perform in her place temporarily, or rather... that was her original plan.

They had an appointment with Chihaya Aine that afternoon, and since Toyokawa Yuu didn't want to waste time, having Metis handle it was the best option.

She would never make a mistake when it comes to acting.

"...Then let's go with Timoris's plan. According to the arrangement, we'll shoot the short film content that Xiangzi has planned first, and then the more casual behind-the-scenes footage."

While it's presented as behind-the-scenes footage, it doesn't reveal the true details behind the scenes; much of the content is still acted out.

After all, Ave Mujica is a masked band, so they can't really let everyone call each other by their real names and expose themselves in advance.

Behind-the-scenes footage, rather than showing fans the true side of the band behind the scenes, makes them feel that this is the true side of the band behind the scenes.

"Ms. Nagasaki, could I trouble you with coordinating with the photography team?"

Looking again at Ms. Nagasaki, who was waiting quietly to the side without urging or intervening, Yuu Toyokawa spoke again, her voice carrying a hint of entrustment and apology.