Mygo, you guys seem to be getting a bit heavy-hearted.

"……Ah."

Yanming chuckled softly, and all the illusions vanished instantly.

That's it?

Looking at it now, this incident doesn't seem so terrible anymore.

Mindset can change over time.

Xiangzi waved his hand in front of his eyes, and then a delicate little face came into view: "Yanming-jun, what did you see? Why are you smiling so happily?"

"I'm glad."

"Lucky?"

"I think I know how to answer that question now."

Yanming smiled.

Xiao Xiang asked him what would happen if they didn't meet along the correct path in another world.

This problem was solved when Yanming relived that day through hallucination.

"The answer is—nothing will change, just like how we see each other."

"Nothing will change. I will still be me, and Xiao Xiang will still be Xiao Xiang. At most, there will be some minor changes in other aspects."

“I believe that the destiny we speak of is not something to be taken lightly. Since you say that our relationship is guided by ‘destiny,’ I am willing to believe in it with you.”

"There are some things I haven't been able to decide to tell you yet, but what I can tell you is, Xiao Xiang... Miss Toyokawa Shoko, it is your existence that has illuminated the rest of my life and finally made it have a little bit of meaning."

"This dazed and confused body once bound its owner, until your arrival freed me from it. So even in another timeline, I will go to your side, pull you out of your abyss, and at the same time... find a new home for my own soul."

"No matter what happens, this 'fate' will not change."

If there were to be such a thing as "Yanming," it would only be because such a person as "Yanming" does not exist in that world.

"...Jun Yanming."

"I am listening."

"I think I might actually be falling for you a little bit... just a little bit."

This is something anyone can see, so Xiangzi doesn't really need to emphasize it again.

As for confessing one's feelings.

Do they really need this kind of thing between them?

The weighty relationship of "community of shared destiny" alone is enough to convey more than ten thousand monotonous confessions.

What will this change? Will it change anything?

the answer is negative.

Nothing will change.

"Yeah, me too, and it seems... more than just a little bit."

It seems this fungus also has the effect of opening up one's heart.

Even the toughest tongue can't hold out.

Does it have that effect?

How come it doesn't know?

……

Xiangzi didn't go home today. Instead, he took a shower and went straight to Yanming's bed to sleep. Everything happened so naturally.

As for Yanming himself.

He slept on the floor.

【whispering sound--】

What are you thinking?

A despicable fellow. (Referring to the system)

……

the next day.

Yutenji Wakana walked into the seemingly empty rehearsal room, her eye twitching slightly. She then asked the other two, "Where are Yanming and Oblivionis? Why are they later than me?"

Deng answered softly, "They sent me a Line message saying they ate undercooked mushrooms last night and need to go to the hospital for a check-up and stomach pumping, so they'll be a little late."

"Two people together???"

Deng shook his head, feeling a little aggrieved: "I don't know."

It seems that Xiao Xiang and Mr. Yan Ming have a side of themselves that I don't know about.

I've been isolated (sad).

As for the possibility that both of them just happened to buy mushrooms, neither of which were cooked properly, and both happened to go to the hospital for stomach pumping at the same time...

The lamp is just a bit withdrawn, but it's still a human being with normal thinking and logic, not a real penguin.

"Miss Meow Dream, you say this is a coincidence, right?"

The lamp was still trying to hypnotize itself.

Looking at the lamp's dejected expression, Miaomeng asked uncertainly, "Is...is that right? Is that so?"

I feel like if I accidentally say something wrong, the little penguin will pin me to the ground and beat me up...

"Little Lamp, we're late."

"...!"

Deng suddenly looked up, "Mr. Yanming!"

Yanming walked in through the door, accompanied by Oblivionis, who was wearing lace underwear on her head.

"Deng, what's wrong?"

“I’m fine, Miss Oblivionis.”

The lamp forced a smile.

Isn't it... just fine?

The fact that Xiao Xiang and Mr. Yan Ming's relationship has improved also shows that the connection between the three of them has become closer... right?

"Without further ado, let's begin today's rehearsal."

Yanming put down his guitar bag and greeted everyone.

The lamp responded listlessly, "Okay..."

Lena noticed the unusual light and looked over, saying, "An interesting girl."

During the performance.

Driven by the presence of Deng and Le Nai, today's "Spring Shadows" was exceptionally lively.

It was as if he had something on his mind.

……

Break time.

Le Nai grabbed Yan Ming's clothes, interrupting his debriefing: "Yan Ming, matcha parfait."

"Aren't you afraid that Rinrinko-san will scold you, Rana?"

Yanming put down his guitar pick and bass, and ruffled Le Nai's hair.

"Well……"

Lena narrowed her eyes, thought for a moment, and said, "I'm scared, but I want to eat matcha, and I want a large cup."

"Let's go then. Remember to cooperate with me later, or you'll definitely get scolded."

"Well, that's very kind of you."

+1 friend card from Lena.

"Everyone, I'm taking Lena out for a bit; she wants a parfait."

Yanming explained the situation to his companions and led Le Nai out of the rehearsal room.

lamp:"……"

Oblivionis: "..."

The moment Yanming left, a gravitational field powerful enough to crush an ordinary person into pieces suddenly and silently descended between the two of them, startling Miaomeng so much that she almost spat out the drink she had just taken a sip.

What's wrong with these two?!

That penguin usually looks gloomy, but why does it look even more somber today?

And Oblivionis too, weren't you always a comedic character like Meow Dream? How come you've gotten heavier too?

This place is no longer safe; the aftershocks from the two gravity experts are visibly close to destroying the poor Meow Dream Rat.

"Haha... um, I'm going to find Xiao Le Nai and the others..."

Miao Meng stumbled, then ran towards the door without looking back, her cries extremely pitiful, "Wait for me, Yanming, Boss Le Nai—"

Neither of the two people inside paid any attention to Miao Meng, a complete bystander uninvolved in the situation, and remained silent.

"..."

"..."

After a brief silence, it was Takamatsu Akira who spoke first this time.

“Oblivionis, when did you and Mr. Yanming meet?”

Chapter Sixty-Six: Crychic is dead.

“When Yanming came home one day and told me that he had saved a girl on the bridge and asked me for advice, I guessed that it might be you, Xiaodeng.”

The meaning of Xiangzi's words can actually be summarized in just four words.

"Earlier than me...?"

Furthermore, we met before Crychic disbanded. "I am very grateful to Mr. Yanming. He not only patiently advised me, but also... gave me and Xiaoxiang the opportunity to meet again in this way."

The moment she saw Oblivionis, she recognized him, but she hesitated and dared not admit it, afraid that if she opened her mouth, she would receive a completely unfamiliar answer.

If the sun is no longer the sun, can it still illuminate others?

Fortunately, Xiao Xiang did not change as she had imagined; she was still the gentle and passionate Toyokawa Shoko she knew... only that for some reason she did not know, she had temporarily concealed her brilliance under the mask called "Oblivionis".

This mask cannot conceal her identity; anyone who knows Xiao Xiang can recognize her through it.

The mask represents a resolute attitude.

It means, "You know who I am, and I know you know, but I don't want to acknowledge you right now."

This simple and clear statement is so easy that even a lamp could understand it.

Xiangzi temporarily removed his mask and placed it beside him, then faced his former teammate in his true identity: "Xiaodeng, I've always owed you an apology about Crychic."

"Soyo said that Crychic's disbandment wasn't Xiaoxiang's fault, or anyone else's fault..."

"Little lamp."

Xiangzi raised his voice, interrupting her, "You're not our mouthpiece, what Su Shi says is none of your business... Can you share your own thoughts?"

Her own thoughts...

"...I think it's my fault...I failed to notice Xiaoxiang's unusual behavior at that time, which led to that situation..."

"That's not how it is. Even if Xiaodeng finds out what happened to me, it won't make a difference. In the end, I will still leave."

As was his custom, Xiangzi wanted to take a sip of his black tea during the conversation, only to realize that they were in a rehearsal room. He reluctantly put his hand down and said, "I started this band, and it was also because of me that it could not continue no matter what. In the end, I was the one who ended it."

“I have no regrets about Crychic. The only people I have regrets about are you four, the four people who were once closest to me, the ‘community of shared destiny’ who played music together.”