After Xiangzi died, I inherited her harem.

Looking at the address the other party replied with, Hachiman Kairin turned off her phone screen and casually slung her bass box over her shoulder.

"I have something to do today, so I'll skip the rehearsal."

Yawata Kairin informed Takamatsu Akari and Shiina Tatsuki, who were standing nearby, and then left the door of [RING] without waiting for their reply.

Their departure was equally swift and decisive, even more so than their departure.

Watching Hachiman Kairin's departing figure, Shiina Tatsuki frowned.

This isn't the first or second time that Hachiman Hailing has missed rehearsals, but she does have work to do, and none of us are high school girls who can be obsessed with the band all the time, so it's really hard to say anything to refute her.

Moreover, she was just a mercenary, and what hired her was only a favor, not a profit.

"Tomorin, Hailing, she..."

Shiina Riki looked at Takamatsu Akari with some difficulty, but found that the other's expression was as calm as ever, as if he didn't care that someone was absent.

“That…tomorin…”

Nagasaki Sase, who had been unable to get a word in edgewise, finally found an opportunity to join their conversation, a somewhat deliberate smile on his face.

"Hachiman can't make it, but if needed, I can actually come..."

However, all she received in response was a faint shake of her head.

It was as if the absence of one or two people in rehearsals made no difference to her.

"It's just that the bass is missing, it won't affect the rehearsal... Lena should be here soon, let's get the matcha parfait ready."

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

Inside a coffee shop next to Haneoka Girls' School.

Chihaya Aine sat by the window, watching the students leaving school in a bustling manner as get out of class ended. A hint of nostalgia flashed in Chihaya Aine's eyes.

She used to be one of them. As soon as the bell rang, she would carry her guitar, pull the hand of the student in front of her, and head to the LiveHouse called "RING" to meet up with the band.

It's truly nostalgic, both for this school called Haneoka and for this café.

Regardless, it's still somewhat surprising that a coffee shop can stay open around a school for ten years.

"You ordered iced water."

The waiter placed two glasses of ice water on the table, one in front of Chihaya Aine and the other on the opposite table.

Chihaya Aine gently swirled the glass of ice water in her hand, her reflection shimmering in the glass.

Perhaps it was because of the misty air, but at one moment, Chihaya Aine felt that the reflection, which had matured considerably, seemed to become childish and immature again.

"Honestly... I've become quite sentimental. Maybe I should try to go inside the school and wander around, and then lament how things have changed."

"If you really want to do it, it's worth a try."

The man's voice reached her ears, pulling Chihaya Aine's gaze from her reflection in the water back to reality.

Ten years have passed. The boy has grown into a young man, his figure has become more upright, and the suit he wears no longer has that slightly ill-fitting awkward feeling he had back then.

Yuu Toyokawa looked at the pink sun sitting by the window. Her gray-white trench coat was not as vibrant as the school uniform of Haneoka Academy ten years ago, but it made her long pink hair even more dazzling.

Although theoretically they should not have seen each other for nearly ten years, in his perception, less than a day ago, Chihaya Aine was still trying to help him overcome his psychological trauma.

Therefore, even though her appearance has changed a bit, the naive and cheerful girl has transformed into an intellectual and dignified lady full of scholarly air, Toyokawa Yuu still recognized Chihaya Aine at a glance.

"Ah, it's Yuu. Is it really okay for you to come to me at a time like this?"

Chihaya Aine smiled slightly as she looked at Toyokawa Yuu, who had somehow ended up sitting at the opposite table.

Unlike her usual enthusiasm and liveliness, she was more like a habitual politeness and goodwill, making Toyokawa Yuu feel somewhat unfamiliar with her.

"You said Ms. Xiangzi just passed away, so you should be by her side now, right?"

Chihaya Aine took a sip of the ice water in her hand, her voice tinged with complexity.

Just as she didn't know why she jumped on a plane to Tokyo immediately after finishing her studies, she was equally confused about why she agreed to meet with Yuu Toyokawa.

If it's just about wanting someone to confide in about the loss of one's wife, then a phone call would be fine.

"After all, the Toyokawa family is different from my family. Those are large financial families with very strict rules."

If someone sneaks out to see other people before his wife has even been buried, bad rumors are bound to spread, and he may have already been discovered.

"I asked Hatsune Miku to help me out for a while, so there shouldn't be any problems within half an hour."

Glancing at the time, Toyokawa Yuu knew very well that the situation was urgent.

At a time when his control over the Toyokawa family is still unclear, it's possible that his secret meeting with someone has already been discovered.

He was well aware, of course, that leaving the Toyokawa family's territory at this critical juncture might mean he would soon be "forced to commit suicide for love" due to various unforeseen circumstances.

But some things can't be said over the phone, nor can they be said after the funeral.

If he were to truly limit his activities to the Toyokawa family home, to that mansion that even Hatsune, as the villa's caretaker, might not be able to fully control, then after the funeral, he would probably only have one path left: death.

Power and intelligence are the two things I lack most right now.

The former can protect oneself, while the latter allows one to judge who can be trusted, rather than being stabbed in the back.

But even outside the Toyokawa family's territory, who can I trust... or rather, who can I use?

If Ye Mu appears to be crippled, it's uncertain whether he can command the power of the Ruo Ye family. It's also unclear how well they can be utilized in their current state.

Moreover, if one doesn't know the reason why she became like this, it would be extremely difficult to even control her now that she has become a doll.

To reconnect the doll's threads, we must first determine exactly how they broke in order to address the problem effectively.

As for Nagasaki Sase, although that woman now seems to be willing to do anything as long as she can be forgiven, Toyokawa Yuu knows that it is probably just a one-time favor.

Having satisfied his need for forgiveness, he feared he would no longer be able to order her around.

This card must be used to its fullest extent where it is most needed.

Moreover, I need to know what happened back then in order to determine exactly how far I can utilize Nagasaki Sose now.

But given Ruoye Mu's current state, she couldn't be expected to give a decent answer, and Ruoye Mu herself couldn't possibly ask Nagasaki Sōse that question.

After much thought, Chihaya Aine is the only one I can trust.

She must have experienced everything that happened back then, and she's been in England for the past ten years without any financial entanglements with the Toyokawa family...

Therefore, there is no risk in asking her this kind of question.

"Aion, I need your help."

Looking at the pink-haired beauty before him, Toyokawa Yuu spoke sincerely.

"Xiangzi left so suddenly, and she left behind so many connections and networks that only she could control. Now... I don't know who I can trust anymore."

Faced with the sincere attitude of Toyokawa Yuu, Chihaya Aine's expression did not change much, but there was a little strangeness in her eyes.

The Toyokawa Yuu standing before him spoke as if she had just met him ten years ago, her words and actions revealing a hint of confusion and weariness.

He looks more and more like he did ten years ago...

No, it should be said that the more Chihaya Aine recalled the past, the more she realized that the Toyokawa Yuu she knew ten years ago resembled the tired and somewhat bewildered man in front of her.

"But what can I do?"

A hint of helplessness appeared on her pretty face. Pink Sun, who was always helpful in my memory, seemed to be saying no for the first time.

“I haven’t been back here for many years, and the Toyokawa family is something far beyond my reach. If I want to seek help, Soyorin… ah, I should call her Soyo-san now… she’s probably a more reliable choice than me.”

This tactful way of rejecting Yuu Toyokawa's request shows that we are no longer young and impulsive, acting on a whim.

Maintaining social distancing and avoiding getting involved in troubled situations are the most basic principles of life.

Besides, she herself is the kind of person who is slightly afraid of trouble.

I was just returning to Tokyo for a graduation trip after completing my academic career. If I get involved in this kind of thing, my travel plans will probably be completely ruined, and even my return trip will be affected.

Although I didn't make any proper travel plans myself.

Even so, reason still warned Chihaya Aine not to repeat the same mistake, as this city was not a place for her to stay for long.

However, even though she declined, Chihaya Aine still offered Toyokawa Yuu the best suggestions she could think of.

"Ms. Hachiman Kairin seems like a good choice. I remember you two have always had a good relationship... Over the years, Soyo-san has occasionally messaged me to tell me things. It seems that she took over the Starlight Plaza shopping center after Ms. Shoko's father passed away. She should be able to help you..."

"But they are no longer trustworthy."

As Toyokawa Yuu's voice rang out, for the first time in front of Chihaya Aine, who had matured considerably, Toyokawa Yuu's eyes revealed a look of surprise and disbelief that she had never shown in front of anyone else.

Even Hatsune, who had received his help when she acquired the surname Toyokawa, chose to kill him.

The current Toyokawa Yuu simply doesn't dare to trust Hachiman Kairin's "trust".

Moreover, that was his impression of Hachiman Kairin from ten years ago. Ten years later, he hadn't even met Hachiman Kairin yet.

Who can say for sure what that bassist who likes to dominate others will become after gaining more power?

"Ai-yin..."

Looking at the girl in front of her, the sincerity in Toyokawa Yuu's eyes almost turned into a plea.

"Help me, the only person I can trust right now... no, the only person I dare to trust right now is you."

Ten years later, everyone I come into contact with is trapped in a quagmire, and everyone could potentially betray or even kill me.

The only one in front of me is Chihaya Aine, who has just returned from England.

He has no vested interests and possesses a character that inspires confidence.

This is the only person Yuu Toyokawa can now openly say she trusts.

"Tell me the whole story of what happened back then. I need to sort it out carefully and figure out who still has feelings for me... In return, if there's anything you need my help with, I'm willing to do it as long as it's within my power."

"Trust..."

What a heavy word.

Muttering the word repeatedly, Chihaya Aine's gray eyes became complicated as she stared intently at the man before her.

I never expected him to have the nerve to say that word in front of me.

Chihaya Aine's gaze fell on the glass of ice water that hadn't been touched since she entered the room, and then she looked out the window at the vibrant students on the street.

"Do you really trust me, Yuu? When you're with Hachiman-san, don't you often talk about trust? There's no reason to treat me differently."

Chihaya Aine's reply made Toyokawa Yuu's expression freeze.

He didn't know how to answer the question. If he had to say, he couldn't find a strong enough theoretical basis for trusting Chihaya Aine. He could only use the vague excuse of trusting her character.

However, in today's vortex of power struggles, is so-called character really always trustworthy?

Reason tells Yuu Toyokawa that her so-called trust in Aine Chihaya is nothing more than a layer of wishful thinking and emotional filter.

They blindly do what they believe is right, and even try to force the other person to sink into the mire with them.

He realized that he was just like Nagasaki Sosei, who wanted to ask for forgiveness; he was nothing more than a guy who only thought about himself.

"I......"

He opened his mouth as if to offer some explanation, but under Chihaya Aine's clear gray eyes, it seemed that all his excuses were exposed.

Seeing Yuu Toyokawa freeze in shock, Ayane Chihaya smiled helplessly.

He lowered his eyes, a fleeting look of disappointment crossing his gray gaze.

"It seems we have nothing left to talk about. Thank you for contacting me. I'm actually quite happy that you're the first acquaintance I see back in Tokyo."

Chihaya Aine got up and walked to the front desk. A moment later, she returned with a white bouquet in her hand and placed it in front of the silent Toyokawa Yuu.

"Consider this my way of mourning Ms. Xiangzi... Ten years have passed, and you really haven't changed at all, Youyu... You only think about yourself."

As she opened the door to the coffee shop, the sound of the wind chimes on the doorframe brought Yuu Toyokawa back from her dazed state of mind.

Turning my head, I could only see a wisp of pink hair before the door closed again.

Nothing has changed at all...?

Lost in thought, Toyokawa Yuu felt a sense of helplessness for the first time.

He never imagined that the pink sun would refuse his request for help.

Moreover, when she spoke of the past, she looked so tired, as if the sun had already set.

Yuu Toyokawa unconsciously gripped the glass of ice water that Chihaya Aine had ordered for her, her eyes swirling with complex emotions.

Indeed, in this world where things have changed and people are no longer the same, no one can be trusted anymore.