After Xiangzi died, I inherited her harem.

"...I understand. I just need to stay obediently behind Mr. Yu and entrust everything to him, right?"

Looking into Toyokawa Yuu's eyes, Metis's golden eyes revealed a hint of cautious inquiry, as if he wanted to get a definite answer.

"...You can understand it this way: I already have enough things to worry about, so it doesn't matter if I have a little more or a little less."

Feeling as if she had fallen into some kind of trap, Toyokawa Yuu released her hand from the girl's chin, forcing her to look into her eyes.

Heading towards the station, Toyokawa Yuu left Metis behind, somewhat unable to cope with the other's gaze.

However, before he had taken more than a few steps, he felt a pair of delicate hands encircle his waist.

"I'm so happy. Now that Mr. Youyu says so, I feel relieved..."

Sensing the boy's somewhat stiff movements, a hint of cunning appeared in Metis's eyes.

If you don't want to use tactics like exchanging leverage to lower the other person's guard, try unilaterally acknowledging their past contributions...

Yu Mu's ideas have always been so effective.

“I will obediently hide behind Mr. Youyu, and Mr. Youyu can’t abandon me either. Besides here, I don’t know where else I can find shelter from the wind and rain... At least here, only the wind that Mr. Youyu can’t block will blow on me, right?”

Chapter 172 Umi Ling, I'm very disappointed in you.

Nine years and three hundred and fifty-one days before Toyokawa Shoko's death, early morning.

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

Tokyo is a bustling city, and real estate agencies are already busy early in the morning.

The weekend has passed quickly, and both work and studies are back on track.

However, this agency has a rather counterintuitive characteristic: compared to the weekend, it is a bit quieter during the day on weekdays.

Many artists who are still studying have more free time on weekends than on weekdays.

so......

“Mr. Yu, this was sent by Ms. Nagasaki.”

Yawata Kairin opened the door to Ave Mujica's office and placed an unopened package on Toyokawa Yuu's desk.

Seeing that she hadn't appeared at school early in the morning, but instead at the agency, even wearing Ave Mujica's performance outfit and a mask that perfectly captured her girlish charm, Toyokawa Yuu's eyelids twitched a few times.

After taking up a weekend morning for everyone to work, Yuu Toyokawa generously gave the band members a day off on the second day of the weekend, including himself.

It wasn't that I was deliberately being lax, but I just couldn't resist Metis's persistent pleading. So, just like when I took Wakaba Mutsu off from class and the two of us played aimlessly for an afternoon, I took her on almost the same route we took back then.

Anyway, there wasn't anything particularly important to do before Ms. Nagasaki handed over the results of her filming, so there was no need to worry about making mistakes.

However, when Yuu Toyokawa had breakfast with Mutsumi Wakaba, who had already regained control of her body, early this morning, and arrived at the office half an hour earlier than everyone else to deal with the work left over from yesterday, she realized that the only person in the band who didn't have academic worries was not the one who loved work the most.

Yawata Kairin arrived at the office even earlier than him; the girl was already waiting inside the office the moment he pushed open the door.

Not only did they draw back the curtains to ensure the office was well-lit and ventilated, but they also completed the usual cleaning before Yuu Toyokawa arrived. The first thing he saw when he entered was a lavish breakfast already laid out on the coffee table.

The girl with cascading black hair sat quietly at the table, her eyes slightly lowered, until she heard Toyokawa Yuu push open the door and enter. Only then did she open her emerald-like eyes, inviting her to have breakfast together before truly starting work...

To be honest, even now, when she recalls what happened not long ago, Yuu Toyokawa, who had been working for quite a while, still feels dizzy.

Who taught her all of this?

Yuu Toyokawa glanced at the time on her computer desk. According to Hanasaki River's schedule, they were probably already in their second class.

He turned to look at Hachiman Kairin, who was standing next to his desk in her Ave Mujica costume and showed no sign of leaving. Finally, he asked the question he had wanted to ask the last time she did this.

"Don't you Hanasaki River students need to take attendance? This isn't the first time you've come during class time, is it, Hailin?"

"I have already asked for leave because the band activities require time. This is not a truancy, so there is no need to worry."

When Yuu Toyokawa asked her about her studies, Kairin Hachiman blinked and answered the boy's question with great seriousness, as if she took his inquiry as a sign of concern.

"I don't need to worry about my grades. I can handle most courses by just previewing them. For some courses that are a bit tricky for me, I also have enough reliable friends to borrow notes from."

"No, what I mean is, you don't need to come at a time like this. The band isn't so busy right now that they need to drag you out of school to do manual labor."

Faced with Hachiman Kairin's well-reasoned response, Toyokawa Yuu felt a little exhausted, and even felt guilty for gradually ruining a good student.

Even if, in theory, completely destroying Hachiman Kairin and taking complete control of her academic future, career achievements, and even interpersonal relationships would be the safest course of action for him.

However, keeping a useless person is completely pointless to him. What Toyokawa Yuu needs is a subordinate who is obedient to him and as capable as possible.

If Yawata Kairin starts skipping school from now on, Toyokawa Yuu might even worry that if he doesn't leave the shopping center to her in the future, she might have trouble finding a job.

Seeing Yuu Toyokawa's face slowly darken, the satisfied smile that seemed to come from being cared for by Yuu Toyokawa also slowly stiffened and disappeared from Kairin Hachiman's brows.

She knew her actions might displease Toyokawa Yuu, or rather, it was something she had anticipated from the beginning.

Demonstrating one's passion for work, even to the point of being willing to sacrifice some personal interests, was a method that Ms. Nagasaki taught me when I consulted her.

The enthusiastic woman in the suit even specifically instructed that this attitude should only be used when the project faces difficulties or even becomes unsustainable, so that one's "sacrifice" can be more effectively transformed into leverage for future rewards.

If this were done under normal circumstances, it would become worthless flattery, making people mistakenly believe that one's efforts are cheap.

But Hachiman Kairin knew that Toyokawa Yuu wasn't the kind of person who would look down on the band members.

Even Yutenji Wakana, who had already signed a contract to sell herself into servitude long ago, was being tried to increase her value.

Therefore, Yuu Toyokawa must be dissatisfied with her behavior, which can be described as self-degradation in her studies.

This dissatisfaction did not stem from any disgust; on the contrary, in Hachiman Kairin's view, it was precisely a sign that the other party cared about her.

Meanwhile, Hachiman Kairin is confident that by using the workplace skills she learned from Ms. Nagasaki, she can ensure that even if Toyokawa Yuu is dissatisfied with her, she will not forcefully drive her away.

Finally, Yuu Toyokawa will accept the fact that she is the only person besides him who is not bound by academics and can be with him in the office at any time.

By then, Yuu Toyokawa should no longer refuse his help. With the joint support of the two of them, the band should be able to avoid falling apart.

"Mr. Yuu, thank you for your concern, but I don't think it's a mistake to temporarily shift my main focus from school to the band..."

Shaking her head, Hachiman Kairin did not agree with Toyokawa Yuu's idea this time. Her tone, which was so certain that her decision was correct, could even be considered as arguing with her boss in some companies with a bad workplace atmosphere.

Even within this agency, it's rare to see an artist still in school so openly talking back to their manager.

But in Hachiman Kairin's view, her behavior was perfectly justified.

The moment Yuu Toyokawa accepted his wallet, their relationship was no longer just that of colleagues and superiors; it became that of friends who would keep in touch even when they were out working.

"As you can see, the situation in Ave Mujica is not optimistic right now. Most of everyone's energy is focused on the show they will be appearing on with Sumimi tomorrow. Apart from Amoris and Oblivionis who have to go on stage, Mortis who can't work, and Doloris who needs to attend as a member of Sumimi, I'm the only one who's relatively free."

Yuu Asahikawa smiled, her face, adorned with emerald-like eyes, exuding confidence and composure.

Yawata Kairin felt as if she had rediscovered the earnest and passionate state she had when she first formed a band.

This autocratic style, which had once led to the disintegration of her band, was something that Hachiman Kairin avoided like the plague, fearing a repeat of the same mistake.

And now, she feels like she's regained this state of being, better than ever before, because the person in front of her, Toyokawa Yuu, is the same as her in this respect.

She believed that the other party would understand her behavior and thoughts.

"But when everyone is busy working for the future of the band, this leisure is a shame to me. If I can't do anything for the band, the only one who is idle will inevitably doubt whether he should exist."

"Even if it's just to put my mind at ease, Mr. Yuyu, please allow me to spend more time on the band for the time being."

A statement so accurate that it's hard to refute its meaning.

Yuu Toyokawa looked at the girl's face without saying a word, and only the soft breathing of the two of them could be heard in the office.

He could, of course, tell what Hachiman Kairin was thinking.

Rather, those ideas were deliberately induced by him.

This girl, who had always adhered to social etiquette in the other bands she had joined and never participated in band decisions or affairs, began to overstep her bounds and become insatiable when it came to Ave Mujica.

Having discovered Hatsune's identity, he coerced her into siding with him, and also had objectively meaningful financial dealings with her manager, thus gaining considerable leniency.

From an outsider's perspective, one would probably have to praise her as the mastermind behind the band.

At times like this, one should encourage her arrogance, lure her into making mistakes, and then seize the opportunity to make sure she can no longer cause trouble.

so......

"Hailin, I think you should first figure out your own position."

A stern rebuke came from Toyokawa Yuu's mouth.

Looking at the girl who was frozen in place, with a hint of surprise showing on her face, Toyokawa Yuu didn't seem to agree with her idea at all.

Ultimately, Ave Mujica is just a band.

As Ave Mujica's manager, Yuu Toyokawa, who should theoretically cling to this cash cow and never let go, denied the band's importance in front of Urin Hachiman.

"You're only sixteen. With modern medical technology, you haven't even lived a fifth of your life. There's no need to rush to make the few things you've experienced your life the meaning of your existence."

"Mr. Youyu..."

Standing by the desk, Hachiman Kairin looked at Toyokawa Yuu, who had suddenly erupted in anger, and was momentarily at a loss for what to do.

This was completely different from what she had imagined.

She knew that Toyokawa Yuu was in dire need of help and needed someone to share some of the pressure, whether it was work or management.

Shouldn't my actions have been met with gratitude, like offering help in a time of need? Why...?

"Did I do something wrong?"

“Showing up here at a time like this is already a mistake. As your agent, as long as I haven’t called for Ave Mujica to gather, you are still just a student. You have betrayed my expectations of you as a friend regarding your studies.”

After the stern rebuke, Toyokawa Yuu's voice softened slightly.

“You don’t need to aim to be a bassist in a commercial band. Unlike me, whose fate is already sealed, you might become a well-known figure in the band industry, or you might put down your instrument and become the owner of a shopping mall, or even… take over this management company and go from being a band member standing on stage to a behind-the-scenes role like me, working for the spotlight.”

As if envisioning the future of his friends and subordinates, Toyokawa Yuu's tone grew increasingly disappointed.

On the contrary, after being scolded by Yuu Toyokawa, Hairin Hachiman did not get angry at all; in fact, her breathing became trembling.

She never imagined that Toyokawa Yuu would think of her to this extent, even imagining several possibilities for the future.

The disappointment in the other person's tone made her feel suffocated.

But what Yawata Kairin found most difficult to accept was...

Unlike someone like me whose fate was already sealed...

You imagined so many possible futures for me, but in the end, you never had any hope for your own future? Mr. Youyu, what exactly are you...?

I wanted to ask, but I couldn't bring myself to ask.

The answer was already there the moment the question was posed.

The trembling in her body gradually subsided, and Hachiman Kairin's shoulders slumped, looking somewhat deflated.

She knew that Yuu Toyokawa did not want her to be here right now.

"...I understand. I'll head back to school now, Mr. Youyu. Please allow me to take my leave."

"Stop right there. I didn't say you could leave."

Just as she turned around, Yuu Toyokawa abruptly stopped her before she could even take a step.

Turning around, the boy tossed a box into Hachiman Kairin's arms; it was the same delivery box she had just brought in from the courier station downstairs.

"Sit here and help me check the contents of this room. It should be the finished video that Ms. Nagasaki sent."

Standing up from her office chair, Toyokawa Yuu pointed to the spot she had just left and gestured for Yawata Kairin to sit down.

It was indeed unexpected that Yawata Kairin would take leave to come to work, but since she was already there, he had no reason to let go of this free labor.

"I'm going to Sumimi now to check if there are any flaws in the contents before I get back... I'm sure you know what effect I want to achieve."

Chapter 173 We might become friends

"Mr. Youyu, it's been a long time!"

Knock on Sumimi's office door, and after a moment a brown-haired girl peeks out from behind the door. Her eyes light up the moment she sees Toyokawa Yuu.

On the contrary, Yuu Toyokawa was quite surprised to see that it was this popular idol who opened the door, rather than Sumimi's manager.

Actually, he had felt something was off when Junta Mana visited his office last time.

I've seen this popular idol a little too often during my school days.

"It's only been a weekend since we last met, it hasn't been that long."

Seeing the cheerful smile on Junta Mana's face, Toyokawa Yuu returned the smile with a similar one.

I actually have a pretty good impression of this popular idol, Toyokawa Yuu.

She is experienced and knows how to conduct herself properly. Even at the height of her career, she has almost never caused trouble for anyone and is well-liked throughout the entire agency.