After Xiangzi died, I inherited her harem.

"Who would have that kind of impression of you? This time it was just because I was hungry... Tanuki, I want to eat cake. My matcha parfait has already been stolen and eaten by Renai."

Chihaya Aine glanced at the stray cat quietly enjoying its meal and noticed that it was already devouring its own matcha parfait. She breathed a sigh of relief and immediately used it as an excuse to open up a space for herself and ease the awkwardness.

You ate my matcha parfait, so it's not too much to ask that you use me as a shield, right?

"Yes, yes, you and Xiao Mu can go practice guitar first. I'll bring the cake up to you when it's ready."

This enthusiastic and vain guy, who ended up making things a bit awkward for me, made me feel somewhat helpless, to the point that even the embarrassment of being caught talking behind my back was somewhat lessened.

Shiina Tatsuki gave a brief, perfunctory reply and did not immediately bring over the food that Chihaya Aine had ordered.

Although she was a waitress at [RING], she was also Chihaya Aine's friend, so she could tell that this guy wasn't really hungry; he was just trying to hide his embarrassment.

Instead of actually bringing the food up, it's better to get her to do her job sooner rather than later.

She winked at Wakaba Mutsu, who was standing to the side, and the golden-eyed girl beside her understood and walked over to Chihaya Aine.

Even though the two have had very little communication since CRYCHIC disbanded, the tacit understanding between them as former friends still exists.

After exchanging glances with Yuu Toyokawa to make sure he had no objections, she spoke to Aine Chihaya.

"Aiyin, guitar."

This time, Chihaya Aine, who is usually enthusiastic and always takes the initiative in interpersonal interactions, was at a loss. She was urged upstairs by Wakaba Mutsu, whose voice was calm. Even Kaname Rakuna followed along, holding the unfinished matcha parfait, as if she were just joining in the fun.

Being coached by two guitar prodigies at the same time, hopefully the C chord master can handle it.

Watching the girls walk upstairs, Toyokawa Yuu couldn't help but sigh.

"It's really rare to see Aine with this expression. I thought that with her enthusiasm, she wouldn't care about such a little embarrassment."

Instead of going upstairs with them, Toyokawa Yuu felt that if she followed, she might actually get in the way.

He could sense that Ruo Yemu had been clinging to him too much lately, and whenever he was around, Ruo Yemu would subconsciously try to please him.

No matter what she does, she always subtly seeks my opinion first, including when she took Chihaya Aine upstairs just now.

Learning guitar from Mutsumi Wakaba on the weekend was a very serious request made by Aine Chihaya in front of herself and Shoko Toyokawa, not just a casual remark.

If I were also present, Ruoye Mu would ask me questions no matter what she was teaching, which would greatly affect the teaching efficiency.

"This is the first time I've seen her so determined to hide something. I guess in her heart, you're quite special, even among our friends."

Suppressing her slight unease and trying not to think about the time she was lectured by the other person on the train, Shiina Tatsuki took the initiative to talk to Toyokawa Yuu, while placing a tray on the table in front of the boy.

A beautifully crafted breakfast cake and a glass of ice water were neatly placed on the tray. The cake was the same one that Yawata Kairin had ordered for Yuu Toyokawa when he first visited this LiveHouse for breakfast with Yawata Kairin.

"Aine ordered this for you. Even if she changes her mind, it would be awkward to just send it to her like this. You should take care of it."

He paused, and Shiina Tatsuki's tone seemed to carry a hint of reluctance, as if he didn't want to admit his current tone.

"Or, you can take this as my apology to you for what happened on the train last time... I just heard from Ai Yin that you don't like to eat properly. This cake is the one you ordered when you came here with Hai Ling. You didn't refuse it then, so it should suit your taste."

Shiina Ritsuki unconsciously glanced away, realizing that she was really bad at dealing with the man in front of her.

It wasn't just because of the embarrassment of being lectured by the other person on the train, but also because of the other person's much more mature and reliable demeanor.

Occasionally, when facing Yuu Toyokawa, she would have the feeling of facing her own older sister.

That kind of confidence, as if he could calmly deal with any trouble, always made her jealous and ashamed.

"...Is there anything you want to ask?"

After a moment of silence, Toyokawa Yuu didn't believe that Shiina Tatsuki would be so eager to help for no reason, even if it was under the guise of an apology.

"I would like to ask you..."

Shiina Ritsuki gritted her teeth, feeling as if she were facing her older sister again, her thoughts having been seen through once more.

The difference is that after her older sister sees through her thoughts, she will express her love for her younger sister in her own way.

As for Toyokawa Yuu, he would only bluntly tear away this layer of politeness and pretense, regardless of whether such behavior would inadvertently reopen a wound.

What makes Shiina Tatsuki even more distressed is that, regardless of the type, it would be a torment for someone with her personality.

"How can I make my band as harmonious as Ave Mujica, so that every member genuinely wants to contribute to the band?"

Thinking back to his friends and classmates, who have been frequently late, leaving early, or even skipping class lately because of the band Ave Mujica, Shiina Tatsuki asked this question.

She really wanted to know how to get the band members to have the same passion that Kairin Hachiman had for Ave Mujica.

Chapter 168 Please help Youyu

Harmony? Ave Mujica?

Upon hearing Shiina Tatsuki praise his band in such a way, Toyokawa Yuu's first reaction was to find it amusing.

He was truly unaware that his band, which was practically a concentration camp for problem children, was being praised for its harmony, and that people even envied its atmosphere and wanted to emulate it.

However, before the sneer at the corner of her mouth could truly rise, Toyokawa Yuu's expression froze slightly on her face.

He found that, based solely on objective performance, he seemed unable to refute Shiina Tatsuki's view.

Ave Mujica truly possesses a strong sense of unity, which keeps the band firmly together even in the current critical situation.

If Ye Mu is obedient, and Metis listens to her every word, then as long as Toyokawa Shoko doesn't cause any problems with Hatsune, there won't be any major issues. As for Hachiman Kairin... she can now be considered to be receiving living expenses from her in an objective sense.

Even the most opportunistic Yutenji Wakana did not choose to run away after discovering the band's current predicament.

While the possibility that the original indentured servitude contract played a role cannot be ruled out, nowadays, no one would easily choose to leave Ave Mujica.

Objectively speaking, Ave Mujica can indeed be considered a united band today.

A group bound together by practical interests may indeed appear united to outsiders who are unaware of the truth.

However, despite the praise being given to the band she managed, Toyokawa Yuu was not happy.

He felt even more irritated when he saw this girl who knew nothing about the inside story, yet harbored fantasies and expectations about something she didn't understand at all.

Why do some people always have expectations and aspirations about things they know nothing about, and then start causing trouble for others...?

No, in this respect, Shiina Ritsuki is actually one of the better performers. At least her so-called trouble was just asking a few questions, rather than pestering her and then no longer hiding her true feelings.

I'm unhappy and want to get revenge on a woman who recently spoke ill of me and whose cooking made my stomach churn.

Based on Toyokawa Yuu's understanding of a certain person, the best way to make her suffer, to make that self-righteous guy who thinks the band is important to everyone show an expression that makes him happy, is to destroy her band.

From the perspective of a commercial band manager, there are countless ways to induce a student club-style girls' band to fall apart.

If you guide them out of the confines of student clubs, it would be very difficult for a group of normal high school girls to run a band on their own, given their abilities and perseverance.

Judging from information from ten years later, Nagasaki Sosei still harbors resentment towards MyGO!!!!!

Now, all he has to do is subtly manipulate this girl in front of him—who is already considered reliable in MyGO, but knows nothing about commercial bands—and he can just wait to see the woman's twisted expression.

"...Ms. Shiina Tatsuki, I don't mean to be rude, but you have the wrong idea about your band."

After a moment of silence, Toyokawa Yuu slowly spoke, pointing to the seat opposite her at the next table, indicating that the black-haired, purple-eyed girl should sit there.

Looking at the girl who didn't suspect anything and sat obediently opposite her, with a serious expression as if she wanted to take out paper and pen to take notes, like a good student, Toyokawa Yuu could feel her heartbeat rising with a little bitterness.

Should I feel ashamed of her humility and trust, or should I laugh at her naivety?

"What does 'misdirection' mean?"

Shiina Tatsuki looked at the young band manager in front of him. Even from the perspective of the adults in the LiveHouse, he was definitely a successful person in the band field, having a band with unlimited potential like Ave Mujica.

She desperately wanted to get some answers from the other party, even if it was just some reference.

Why is it that after going through so many ups and downs to finally form the band, there isn't much of a sense of unity and upward mobility among the members? In fact, apart from myself and Wildcat, almost no one has enough enthusiasm to continue performing live.

If Wildcat simply enjoys live performances, then why does he urge or even semi-force everyone to nitpick over a group activity that objectively doesn't offer much benefit and subjectively only needs to avoid major mistakes to be a happy one?

Shiina Riki only knew that he felt jealous of his friend, Hachiman Kairin.

Every time Shiina Ritsuki inadvertently turned around at the end of get out of class and found that the other person was either late, left early, or simply asked for leave halfway through class, leaving the desk empty, Shiina Ritsuki would feel an indescribable sense of loss and anxiety.

In the past, although Hachiman Kairin would also be busy because of the more than thirty bands she was in, she never felt this way.

Shiina Tatsuki had no idea what her friend was busy with, or how busy a commercial band's work could be to put a high school student under such pressure.

But she knew that her friend had found a career that she could devote a lot of energy to and still enjoy, while she... didn't even know what to do next with the band, and could only repeatedly and forcefully emphasize - live, live, perfect live.

It seems that as long as you set a goal, even if you don't have a precise standard to measure it in your heart, you can stop feeling so lost.

But Shiina Tatsuki knew in her heart that things couldn't continue like this.

If I continue to deceive myself like this, not only will I surpass my sister, but even Hailing will leave me far behind.

Therefore, although Shiina Tatsuki doubted the character of Hachiman Kairin because she always mentioned him, she still hoped to get some guidance from her.

But... what does it mean if the location is wrong?

"What do you mean by that band MyGO!!!!! from Ai-On? Is it just a student club that you play with friends out of interest, or is it your stepping stone into the music industry, or perhaps..."

Yuu Toyokawa paused, and her gaze toward Tatsuki Shiina held a hint of something the girl couldn't yet comprehend.

"Are you simply planning to bring this band into the realm of commercial bands?"

"No, I didn't have that thought."

Without hesitation, Shiina Tatsuki shook his head, refuting the question decisively.

"Deng's personality makes it difficult for him to even handle a regular live performance. He needs to warm up the crowd to get into the zone. Although Ai Yin is very interested in popular idol bands, he definitely doesn't have the perseverance to go through high-intensity training just to get a chance to perform."

No further examples are needed; these two are sufficient.

Shiina Tatsuki was just confused and agitated; she hadn't yet reached the point where those feelings clouded her judgment.

She knew very well that if anyone in the band had the potential to enter a commercial band and make a living based on their musical skills, it was probably only herself and that stray cat whose skill level would be considered mere fodder for a student club like MyGO!!!!!

As for Nagasaki Sase... her feeling towards Shiina Tatsuki is strange.

She could sense that she cared about everyone, but it also seemed that she didn't really care about the band's development.

"Since you yourself believe that this band has no chance of becoming a commercial band, why ask me this kind of question and make trouble for yourself?"

Seeing Shiina Tatsuki's unwavering rebuttal, which shattered most of her dark schemes, Toyokawa Yuu felt... slightly happy.

It's pretty good. At least in Chihaya Aine's band, not everyone is so clueless. There are people with clear minds.

No, what I'm thinking is guiding Shiina Tatsuki's thinking in this direction, not using her to cause chaos in MyGO!!!!! so I can enjoy the wonderful expression on Nagasaki Sosei's face.

Taking revenge on Nagasaki Sōse and protecting Chihaya Aine are contradictory. Which do I value more...? No, that's not right. Given Aine's personality, she doesn't need me to protect her at all.

With her mind a bit of a mess, Toyokawa Yuu lowered her gaze slightly, picked up the glass of ice water that Shiina Tatsuki had just placed in front of her, but did not pour it into her mouth.

There's no use thinking about it now. Shiina Tatsuki won't fall for it, so I'm forced to be a good person.

"Since it's a student club, you don't need to have that kind of anxiety. You just need to enjoy the time you can squander at this stage and have fun with your friends. If it's a commercial band, band development is not something you should be thinking about either. The manager will be more anxious than you."

He tilted his glass and poured the slightly misty ice water onto the cake on the plate.

Shiina Tatsuki could clearly see that the exquisitely shaped pastries collapsed quickly after being poured with ice water, which shows how much their texture would be damaged.

"Student clubs and commercial bands are not things that can be easily combined. If you can't distinguish between them and try to force them together, then this is the bitter fruit you will suffer."

Yuu Toyokawa pushed the man in front of her, who hadn't touched her at all but was completely destroyed, in front of Tatsuki Shiina.

The girl hesitated for a moment, then picked up the knife and fork from the plate and put the pastry, which had become a complete mess, into her mouth. She quickly frowned because of the strange taste and feeling.

However, Shiina Tatsuki did not vomit because of the strange discomfort. Instead, she frowned and finished off all the food that did not suit her taste.

This behavior, however, made Toyokawa Yuu raise an eyebrow; he was somewhat unsure what Shiina Tatsuki was trying to express.

Frowning, Shiina Ritsuki swallowed the cold, sticky pastry that had been soaked in ice water, which seemed to have turned into a semi-liquid food. He took it as the bitter fruit of his immature and wild thoughts, endured the cool sensation that seemed to spread down his esophagus, and let out a long breath.

"Thank you for your suggestion, Mr. Youyu. Without you, I'm afraid I would have been stuck in this dead end for a long time."

With her eyes lowered, the slight curve at the corner of the girl's mouth seemed to restore some of her former carefree spirit.

"I won't talk about my own future for now, but as for MyGO!!!!!......I'm very satisfied with the atmosphere we have right now."

Looking at the girl in front of him who had not been swayed by him, refused to be used by him, and instead turned around and became his life mentor and good man, Toyokawa Yuu herself felt a little stubborn.

Although I don't want to take responsibility, I feel like I've never been able to achieve my goals when facing the members of this band called MyGO!!!!!

"But personally, it seems you'd prefer to be like Hailing and join a commercial band, right... not just because of your relationship with Hailing, but also because of your outstanding older sister?"

Without making a sound, using a tone that seemed to be for the good of others, she tore open up wounds that others were unwilling to talk about. Even Toyokawa Yuu herself felt that her behavior was somewhat despicable.

He couldn't see any clear benefit in doing this to himself; it was completely self-destructive. But if he destroyed MyGO!!!!!

"You know my sister?"

Shiina Riki looked somewhat surprised. This boy, who had supposedly only recently arrived in the city, seemed to know something about his family affairs.

"I've only heard of her reputation, and people in the industry think highly of her."