After Xiangzi died, I inherited her harem.

Moreover, judging from his attitude, it seems that he is the kind of person who can't help me no matter what.

Yuu Toyokawa's cold and somewhat distant attitude clearly indicated that she did not intend to involve herself in the matter.

In fact, they didn't even intend to let themselves know.

Don't worry about what that old guy said, I'll figure something out. You just need to focus on the band...

The words that Yuu Toyokawa had said to Shoko Toyokawa before came to mind as Kairin Hachiman.

That old guy...

Just from the way they sounded, they didn't seem like peers that band members would normally interact with. Moreover, it seemed that what they were worried about wasn't something within the band, but rather a private matter that would only affect Toyokawa Shoko and Toyokawa Yuu. Otherwise, they wouldn't have used such ambiguous words in front of others.

Even without knowing the details, Hachiman Kairin could guess that it was probably related to the family of Toyokawa Shoko and Toyokawa Yuu.

TGW Group......

That kind of conglomerate that can be called a chaebol, a super group that even Ave Mujica's agency can hardly match.

Even if you just want to advertise for someone, you'd have to be an award-winning actress like Minami Mori.

Thinking about it carefully, Sammi Nami's daughter, Wakaba Mutsu, is in the band, and Sammi Nami herself had previously visited Ave Mujica's office privately. TGW Group is also prominently listed on Ave Mujica's sponsor list.

From the very beginning, this band has had close ties with TGW Group.

Now, it seems they've had a bit of a disagreement with some people, otherwise Yuu Toyokawa wouldn't have such a worried expression on her face.

Moreover, this pressure should have been applied to both Toyokawa Shoko and Toyokawa Yuu at the same time, but it is not hard to infer from the boy's words that he seems to intend to bear it alone.

"Is it related to the family you and Toyokawa belong to? TGW Group, I think that's the name."

With a hesitant expression, Hachiman Kairin knew she shouldn't interfere in such matters.

The mere thought of being associated with that level of existence is enough to send chills down a high school girl's spine.

In matters like this, knowing nothing is the wise choice, and Toyokawa Yuu's silence and ambiguity are, in a sense, a form of protection for everyone.

but......

Gritting her teeth, Hachiman Kairin continued speaking.

"If you encounter any difficulties, I hope Mr. Youyu will not hide them from me. Even if I cannot help you in any way, please believe that I can at least provide you with some spiritual support."

As soon as the words left her mouth, Hachiman Kairin realized that her words were somewhat ridiculous.

He's already offered such meaningless words as "spiritual support." Given Mr. Youyu's practical nature, even if he doesn't show it outwardly, he'll probably just scoff at it in his heart.

With a complicated expression, Hachiman Kairin lowered her head, not daring to look at Toyokawa Yuu's face, afraid to see the disdain in his eyes.

"Thank you for your concern, Hailing. I know what you're worried about, but things aren't that bad yet, and I'm not so fragile that I can't handle this kind of pressure."

I felt a hand on my shoulder, and a gentle, familiar voice of comfort reached my ears.

However, this time, Hachiman Kairin couldn't quite tell whether the voice was comforting her or the boy standing in front of her was encouraging her.

"Mr. Youyu, have you never thought about giving up?"

For the first time ever, Hachiman Kairin uttered such words.

She knew it was inappropriate and quite rude, and even she herself couldn't tell whether she was trying to dissuade or test him by saying those words.

"For something that seems too difficult to be worthwhile no matter how you look at it, giving up is not a bad option... I can see that Mr. Yuu has been feeling very tired during his time at Ave Mujica. You could have had it much easier. With Mr. Yuu's talent and dedication, you would have shone brightly wherever you went."

He had to coordinate the relationships between the band members, suppress all sorts of restless ideas, satisfy Toyokawa Shoko's capricious demands that might come up at any time, and deal with unexpected situations similar to those on stage last night from time to time.

Even today, they face questions about their abilities and the possibility of power grabs, while also dealing with pressure from outside the band.

Haika Hachiman couldn't see any reason why Yuu Toyokawa needed to stay in the band.

At the beginning, when Toyokawa Shoko announced to everyone that Toyokawa Yuu was actually her fiancé, Yutenji Wakana's teasing, though somewhat offensive, represented Hachiman Kairin's thoughts at the time.

An engaged couple working together on a common project, developing feelings for each other through spending so much time together—that's the kind of romance that only happens in large families...

But now it seems that it was less about romance and more about...

Yuu Toyokawa, have you never considered leaving?

If it were just that she was helplessly unable to escape from Yawata Kairin for some reason, it would be understandable, but even when she said those words to Toyokawa Shoko just now, she did not feel much reluctance from Toyokawa Yuu.

At times like these, she could truly sense that the two of them seemed to be on the same side.

"Even if you're engaged, Mr. Yuu doesn't need to keep accommodating Toyokawa-san. Even if you haven't been kind with your words, you've been almost unconditionally fulfilling her requests. But Toyokawa-san..."

"Let's leave this topic at that, Timoris. I can pretend nothing happened now."

The suggestion was impolite and lacked tact, but it came from the heart and was rejected by the boy without hesitation.

Bathed in a stern gaze she had never felt before, Hachiman Kairin subconsciously took a step back, feeling cold sweat even seeping from her back.

This was the first time Toyokawa Yuu had treated her with such a harsh attitude. Even when she caused a performance accident due to her negligence, the attitude had only deteriorated to a cold level, not this...

Looking into Toyokawa Yuu's eyes, Hachiman Kairin couldn't help but catch her breath.

She couldn't quite understand that look in her eyes; it seemed to be questioning, or perhaps doubting, but either way, it indicated a rejection of her proposal.

Turning around, Toyokawa Yuu turned her back to Hachiman Kairin and closed her eyes.

Since the car accident ten years later, seeing Yawata Kairin's trustworthy attitude now inevitably stirs up emotions in him.

After taking some time to suppress her emotions, Toyokawa Yuu turned around again and looked at Hachiman Kairin, who had been standing there silently, at a loss for what to do.

His tone softened slightly, but carried a stubbornness that was completely unlike that of Toyokawa Shoko.

"Hailin, if there is any relationship in this world that cannot be betrayed, it must be between me and Xiangzi... Perhaps you can't understand, but Xiangzi and I are truly a community of shared destiny."

"Is that so? I will never betray you no matter what..."

Taking a deep breath, Hachiman Kairin tried to process the emotions contained in Toyokawa Yuu's words, feeling a mix of envy and disappointment.

Regardless of the reason, this kind of relationship where one would never give up betraying the other is something that Hachiman Kairin truly envies.

For her, who had been truly betrayed and abandoned once, this kind of relationship was indeed something she longed for but could not obtain.

"I apologize for my rudeness. I made unwarranted comments without knowing anything about your relationship with Toyokawa."

Following Yawata Kairin's apology, silence fell once again on the platform.

Yuu Toyokawa neither rejected nor comforted Hairin Hachiman's apology, but simply remained silent, letting the somber mood spread and brew in the air.

The silence on the platform was broken by the sound of another train arriving at the station.

Yuu Toyokawa glanced up at the train number on the notice board; it led to the vicinity of Umiyo Yawata's residence.

"Your car has arrived. Go home and get some rest tonight. Sleep well and forget about what happened earlier. It would be a real downer if someone looked gloomy at tomorrow's celebration banquet."

"......Yes."

With a slight tremor of her lips, Hachiman Kairin nodded in agreement, somewhat reluctantly.

Having just gone through such a depressing topic, it's not something you can simply forget by sleeping it off.

I have always considered myself a capable person, and as my deputy, apart from that one mistake at the concert, I have always been able to perform my job perfectly.

I thought my talent was reliable enough to help Toyokawa Yuu in every way, and that even Toyokawa Yuu had to rely on me to ensure the band could run smoothly.

In this way, you won't be abandoned or betrayed.

But now it seems that I have never really been able to help Toyokawa Yuu, nor have I ever been truly relied upon by him.

We must...do something.

Otherwise, I would be the one who is not needed, even more easily abandoned than Yutenji Wakami.

With heavy steps, she walked towards the train, but just as she was about to step into the carriage, Hachiman Kairin stopped in her tracks.

“Mr. Yuu, since you’ve already taken on so much for Toyokawa-kun, you probably wouldn’t mind taking on a few more things… Can I ask you for a favor?”

"what?"

Yawata Kairin's words made Toyokawa Yuu frown.

Is it okay to add more pressure just because you're already under enough pressure?

Slightly displeased by this seemingly overbearing behavior, Toyokawa Yuu did not refuse.

Coordinating relationships among team members was also part of the agreement he made with Xiangzi.

"If one day you feel that the pressure is too great to bear... I beg you not to continue to pretend to be calm in front of me. I will not doubt your ability and will because of your momentary dejection."

"Although I can't help, I know that you are under no less pressure than anyone else. In fact, you have protected everyone in the band very well... So, even if my abilities cannot share your burden, please vent your emotions when appropriate."

The train didn't stop at the platform for long, and even though she knew it was about to depart, Yawata Kairin didn't receive a reply from Toyokawa Yuu.

Therefore, she took Toyokawa Yuu's silence as tacit agreement.

"Then it's a deal. You're welcome to indulge in your occasional whims anytime."

Chapters 8 & 9: Hospital or Film Crew, Choose, Xiao Mu (7k5)

In a large apartment in downtown Tokyo, Nagasaki Sase, wrapped in a white nightgown, lay down on the soft bed, not caring whether her still-dry hair would wet the bedding.

In the large bedroom, only a dimly lit table lamp was turned on.

The main light in the bedroom came from the neon lights outside the window and the bright moonlight.

Various rays of light mingled together, just like the girl's thoughts at this moment. They shone into the room through the window frame, and the shadows blocked by the window frame cast a mark on the girl's eyes.

Her deep blue eyes stared blankly at the spotless ceiling. Her phone lay casually to the side, her pale fingertips still resting on the off screen. A melancholy beyond her years lingered between her brows.

No one responded to his messages, neither Xiao Mu nor Xiao Xiang...

Recalling what the teacher in Tsukimori had said that afternoon—that Wakaba Mutsu had disappeared after leaving the school—Nagasaki Sōse couldn't help but feel worried.

Even when they inquired with the teacher at Tsukinomori, the teacher only replied that they had already communicated with Mutsu's parents, and Mutsu's mother said there was no need to worry.

Originally, I thought that since Xiao Xiang and Xiao Mu had such a good relationship, and the latter was even willing to hide the fact that she had transferred to Yuqiu for a whole year, she should know where Xiao Mu was.

However, no, ever since she told Xiao Xiang and Xiao Mu that they were missing in the coffee shop, Xiao Xiang also disappeared after leaving the coffee shop, and has not replied to any of the messages she sent afterward.

According to Ai Yin and Deng, Xiao Xiang also didn't return to school this afternoon. Moreover, according to Ai Yin, the person named Feng Chuan Youyu also disappeared, and even Ai Yin can't contact him.

Lixi said that a friend of hers might know where Toyokawa Yuu is, but the friend refused to tell her...

What... Why won't you tell me anything?

Although they were originally good friends, and even classmates who often chatted with Wakaba Mutsu, Nagasaki Sase found that whenever something happened, she was always excluded and only realized it after being reminded by others.

It's as if... I am not needed.

The cell phone placed to the side suddenly emitted a series of soft rings, and the vibrations caused by the ringing made the soft bed tremble.

Eagerly unlocking his screen, Nagasaki Sase opened the message box, only to find that it wasn't the message he had been waiting for.

Mom: [Soyo, I'm sorry, I suddenly have some work to take care of today, I won't be able to come home until tomorrow.]

Looking at the message from her mother on her phone, Nagasaki Sase's gaze dimmed slightly, but her reply was as considerate as ever.

Soyo: [It's okay, Mom's work is more important. When you come back tomorrow, you'll see the stew I prepared for you.]

Nagasaki Sase's expression was somewhat complicated as he pulled his fingertips away from the screen.

She should be used to her mother working overtime and not coming home; it was common for her to spend a whole week alone in this spacious, somewhat empty house.

She wasn't the type of girl who liked to be capricious or act spoiled. She was understanding of her mother's hard work, and receiving the text message was more of a pleasant surprise for her.

Logically speaking, she should no longer feel saddened by such things.

However, people's moods are bound to fluctuate, and the pressure in one's heart does not arise in an instant, but rather comes from the accumulation of time.

The loneliness she should have grown accustomed to at this moment became another straw that broke the camel's back, making the girl's indifferent temperament even more pronounced.

But girls who are used to pleasing them find it hard to vent to others when they are in a bad mood, especially since there is no one here for them to vent their emotions to.

Slumped to the side, Nagasaki Sase placed the back of his hand on his forehead, breathing with some difficulty.

She didn't know why she was worrying about these things. Toyokawa Yuu was Xiaoxiang's sworn brother, and Xiaomu and Xiaoxiang's relationship was undeniably close.

Logically speaking, even if the two of them disappeared together, nothing should have happened. Even Xiao Mu's parents said there was no need to worry.

However, for some reason, she just couldn't trust the boy named Toyokawa Yuu.

But what right do I have to intervene in their affairs?

The confusion in his heart grew stronger, and then the phone that Nagasaki Sase had tossed aside suddenly vibrated.

Somewhat listlessly, Nagasaki Sase picked up her phone, initially thinking it was a reply from her mother. But upon seeing who had sent the message, the brown-haired girl's spirits lifted.

This time, the profile picture that appeared in the message box was a blooming cucumber flower.