After Xiangzi died, I inherited her harem.

Gently rising from the stool, Toyokawa Shoko pulled down the piano's lid, covering the rows of distinct black and white keys.

“Recently, Youyu has been having lunch with Mu, so... I don’t need to worry about his diet.”

After briefly explaining why she had reappeared in the music classroom, Toyokawa Shoko's gaze lingered between the two girls, but she had no intention of leaving immediately.

She could tell that Chihaya Aine seemed to want to talk to her about something privately.

Similarly, she also had something to say to this pink-haired girl.

"Aiyin, how are things over there? How was your guitar practice with Mu this weekend?"

"Well... it's alright, but Xiao Mu's skills are a bit too good. It's a bit difficult for me to learn from her."

When this topic was brought up, Chihaya Aine paused slightly, and her expression became even more unnatural.

If what he said to Toyokawa Shoko when he entered the door could be considered as "concealing something," then this time it was a true lie.

Although she appears quiet and reserved, and not very easy to communicate with, in terms of teaching ability, Wakaba Mutsumi is indeed much stronger than Kaname Rakuna, who is a gifted and inspirational teacher.

Chihaya Aine learned what she taught very quickly, otherwise she wouldn't have been so proud of herself back then.

However, he couldn't very well tell Toyokawa Shoko that her and Wakaba Mutsu's teaching plan hadn't even started for long before the learning content turned into listening to Metis complain, and that he hadn't learned much at all.

This matter cannot be told even to Yuu Toyokawa, let alone to Shoko Toyokawa.

"Is that so... Then I'm relieved. After all, it was something Yuu promised. I was worried that Mu wouldn't do a good job."

After giving Chihaya Aine's answer a meaningful look, Toyokawa Shoko finally nodded and gave a relieved smile.

"Xiao Mu... are you okay? I heard from Soyo that she hasn't been to school for a week."

A somewhat weak voice interrupted the conversation between Toyokawa Shoko and Chihaya Aine.

Takamatsu Akari nervously clenched the hem of her clothes, but her pinkish-gray eyes couldn't help but want to ask Toyokawa Shoko about Wakaba Mutsu's recent situation.

Whether it was because they were friends in the same band, or because she reminded him how to win back Nagasaki Sase in the success of MyGO!!!!!, Takamatsu Akari couldn't help but care about the girl with the light green hair.

Although Chihaya Aine, who had recently met Wakaba Mutsumi, told herself that the girl seemed to be doing well lately, ... this cheerful pink-haired girl wasn't the type to give a flawless excuse.

Some harmless little things were fine, but when it came to things that she felt guilty about, Chihaya Aine's unease was clearly visible... just like when she came in earlier.

Takamatsu Akari could tell that Chihaya Aine didn't want to talk about it, and in order not to put her friend in a difficult position, she didn't press the matter further.

But no matter what, I still feel worried.

"Don't worry, Yuu is taking care of her. He cares about Mu just as much as I do. Besides... want to go get some bento together?"

A simple smile reassured Takamatsu, but those few words of comfort were more convincing than a lengthy explanation.

After all, Toyokawa Shoko meant it sincerely.

"Let's eat lunch together, yay!"

Upon hearing that Toyokawa Shoko had expressed her willingness to join their lunch group, Chihaya Aine was the first to cheer.

Gao Songdeng's attention was diverted, and he nodded happily, his shy smile becoming brighter.

"However, I think I left my lunchbox in the classroom. Could you please ask Aine to go get it with me? I've been in Haneoka for a year and I haven't been to the Astronomy Club's area yet. I need someone to show me the way... How about you go over there and prepare a table that can seat three people?"

Looking at the two girls before him with his amber eyes, Toyokawa Shoko's suggestion was quite reasonable, and naturally no one objected.

So the three girls split into two groups, going their separate ways temporarily at the top and bottom of the stairs.

One girl in pink, the other in blue, walked side by side down the stairs, listening to Takamatsu Akira's footsteps growing fainter and fainter until they disappeared completely.

"Ai-yin..."

"Shoko..."

Almost simultaneously, the two girls spoke in unison, then paused slightly after hearing each other's words.

"You go first, Aine."

Without stopping her footsteps as she descended the stairs, Toyokawa Shoko humbly gestured for Chihaya Aine to speak first.

At Toyokawa Shoko's prompting, Chihaya Aine didn't refuse and even spoke without much thought.

"Xiangzi, are you aware that Youyu and Soyorin don't get along?"

"...If Mu knows this, how could I not know it?"

After a moment of silence, Toyokawa Shoko did not deny Chihaya Aine's statement.

Rather, it would be strange if her fiancé had a good relationship with a friend he used to be in a band with.

"The last time Ave Mujica held a concert, Yuu said those things to defend me, so it's normal that Soyo dislikes her. Although Yuu is gentle, she's not the kind of person who swallows her anger."

Recalling the time when she first met Yuu Toyokawa, and how their conversations were almost like mutual attacks, a genuine smile involuntarily appeared in Shoko Toyokawa's amber eyes.

Sometimes, she did wish that Toyokawa Yuu would become more aggressive towards everyone, so that people would keep their distance from him.

Unfortunately, so far, that aggressiveness seems to be something he enjoys alone; even when facing Nagasaki Sosei, Toyokawa Yuu would subconsciously restrain himself.

But this special treatment... doesn't seem so bad?

"Since Soyo doesn't have a good impression of Yuu, Yuu certainly won't continue to put up with it. It's normal for their relationship to develop into one where they can't stand each other but are polite but insincere, or even openly express their disgust."

"Huh? Xiangzi knew all along?"

Chihaya Aine was slightly taken aback upon hearing Toyokawa Shoko's explanation.

It seems that Toyokawa Shoko is indeed fully aware of the relationship between her fiancé and her friend, but...

"Haven't you thought about helping them resolve these conflicts?"

"I don't intend to interfere in Youyu's interpersonal relationships."

Toyokawa Shoko shook his head, saying that he didn't even bother to think before he started lying.

However, she does not intend to interfere too much in the relationship between her fiancé and Nagasaki Sase.

Rather, it would be better if they could maintain this state of mutual loathing, or even go further and completely break off relations.

Even if she was unwilling, Toyokawa Shoko had to admit that Nagasaki Sawa's usual gentleness and thoughtfulness were indeed more endearing than her own.

If the two of them have a good relationship, I should feel a sense of crisis.

"Oh, I see... I thought I could ask Xiangzi for help with this."

Chihaya Aine looked somewhat disappointed upon learning that her hopes had been dashed.

In her original thought, regardless of whether Toyokawa Shoko's view of the relationship between the two was good or bad, it could at least break the situation where they disliked each other but had to pretend to be kind to each other.

The worst-case scenario is a complete break, where the two never speak to each other again, which would be peaceful enough, and Xiao Mu and Metis wouldn't have to live in fear anymore.

However, Toyokawa Shoko's laissez-faire attitude towards their relationship left her at a loss for what to do.

"So, what was Xiangzi trying to say to me just now?"

"Aine cares a lot about Yuu. His relationship with Soyo isn't exactly a feud, but it's definitely not harmonious either. Even Mutsuki couldn't easily get involved. You're willing to worry about something like this..."

Instead of immediately moving on to a new topic, Toyokawa Shoko turned to look at Chihaya Aine, her amber eyes reflecting the girl's slightly flushed face, which had become a little red from her praise.

"Youyu is so lucky to have a friend like you, so lucky that I'm a little jealous."

"Eh?"

The atmosphere seemed a bit off.

Chihaya Aine could sense that Toyokawa Shoko's tone was not as bright as the smile on her face.

Moreover, this wording, no matter how you look at it, seems more like the fiancée is jealous because her fiancé has a good relationship with a male friend.

Did Xiangzi come to me just to say this?

No, thinking about it carefully, Yu Yu's attitude towards me does seem to be a bit too indulgent.

So, should I clarify things now? Would it be inappropriate if my actions affected the relationship between this engaged couple...?

"Don't be so nervous, Aine. I've said before that I never intend to interfere in Yuu's relationships, but I want to ask you a favor..."

Looking at Chihaya Aine in front of her, Toyokawa Shoko's eyes were serious.

This lively and enthusiastic girl, who is somewhat similar to herself a year ago, can bring her an even greater sense of crisis than Mutsuka Wakaba.

But at the same time, he is also her most reliable friend now, without exception.

As for Wakaba Mutsu... although I don't want to say it, my half-body really can't be of much help right now.

The last time I asked her to say those things to Nagasaki Sase at Ms. Nagasaki's company, it was already a struggle, and the results were poor.

Moreover, Toyokawa Yuu's protection of Wakaba Mutsumi might be even greater than her own, which made her somewhat worried...

"Youyu trusts you a lot, even more than he trusts me. At least there are some things he'll do in front of me because he doesn't want me to worry, but he'll confide in you. If he has any troubles that he can't solve, can he tell me?"

Looking at Toyokawa Shoko, who seemed worried about her stubborn fiancé, Chihaya Aine hesitated to speak.

She knew, of course, that Toyokawa Yuu's stubborn personality meant she might only relax a little when facing her.

Given this, it's not surprising that Toyokawa Shoko would come to him for this reason.

But what could he possibly tell her?

Although Yuu Toyokawa is dependent on me, her attitude towards me is generally that of a friend, and she doesn't share work-related matters with me.

If there's anything I know that could be useful to this engaged couple, it's probably only...

"Xiangzi, do you know... about Metis?"

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

Daytime always seems to fly by.

As night fell and the city lights came on right on time, Ruoye Mu sat on the sofa in her office, flipping through the textbooks that Toyokawa Yuu had gotten for her.

As always, Hachiman Kairin leaned half of her waist and hips against the edge of Toyokawa Yuu's desk, her emerald eyes slightly lowered, as if she were pondering something.

The other people in the office didn't pay much attention to Yawata Kairin's behavior of treating the area around her desk as her own territory, since she had been doing this for quite some time.

Instead of sitting in her usual office chair, Toyokawa Yuu sat on the sofa with the band members, a rare occurrence.

More accurately, he sat next to Wakaba Mutsu, watching the girl's profile as she focused on her textbook.

"Has Xiangzi not arrived yet?"

Yuu Toyokawa glanced at the time on her phone, then looked towards the office door, her brows furrowing silently.

Today, Toyokawa Shoko was unusually late.

Although this young lady has been arriving at the last minute almost every day since handing over the job of her manager to me, this is the first time I've been late like today.

"They're probably stuck in traffic, Mr. Youyu. Should I call and urge them to hurry up?"

Sensing the slight displeasure in Toyokawa Yuu's tone, Hatsune suggested with some apprehension, fearing that if Toyokawa Shoko was late, her manager would really get angry.

Now, everyone else in the office has arrived, and even Wakaba Mutsumi, who hasn't appeared here for a long time, has surprisingly shown up on the sofa.

On the contrary, Toyokawa Shoko, who is the team leader, has not been seen yet.

Yuu Toyokawa frowned, not immediately responding to Hatsune's suggestion. Her fingertips lightly brushed across the phone screen, as if she was hesitating whether to make the call herself.

Today, with the help of Mana Junda, Mutsuwa Wakaba was able to enter the agency, and Ave Mujica finally managed to have everyone together.

With his body temporarily back, Toyokawa Yuu had hoped to give Toyokawa Shoko a pleasant surprise, but instead, she found herself getting impatient and restless.

Just as Toyokawa Yuu was struggling with her decision, familiar footsteps sounded outside the door, making Hatsune breathe a sigh of relief. Toyokawa Yuu and Wakaba Mutsu both turned their gazes toward the door.

Toyokawa Shoko pushed open the door, her gaze not even lingering inside the room, and immediately called Wakaba Mutsu out.

It was as if she knew from the very beginning that Wakaba Mutsu was currently in Ave Mujica's office.

"Mortis, come out here for a moment, I have something to tell you."

Chapter 178 Do you really want me, Mortis (death), to die?

Standing at the office door, Toyokawa Shoko looked at Wakaba Mutsu, who was sitting next to Toyokawa Yuu, holding a textbook in her hands.

Her amber eyes tried to appear calm, but a hint of panic lingered deep within.

Harmony is not just about harmony...

When Shoko Toyokawa learned about this from Ayane Chihaya, she felt the blood rushing through her heart cool down.

From childhood to adulthood, they've been together day and night, and their understanding of each other might even surpass that of half their own bodies, yet they still harbor such a huge secret.

This is not simply a matter of one's own body not telling them something.

For Toyokawa Shoko, this event could be considered a complete overturning of a part of her past understanding of life.