Aunt Xiangzi, how did you manage to live?

Even a second later, she looked away, somewhat bewildered.

Hehe... I knew it!

Noticing Mu's subtle change in expression, Metis's wicked smile became even more exaggerated.

[As expected—I understand Xiaomu's feelings even better than Xiaomu herself. If Xiaomu is really too shy, would you like me to pass on her message to Xiao? I'd be happy to do that for Xiaomu~]

Chapter Twenty-Seven: The First Kiss

[Didn't Mutsumi say she wanted to confirm her feelings? But I could tell just now that you weren't sure at all. And when you heard that song... Mutsumi was probably really confused, right?]

Metis did not easily let Mu, who had come to her consciousness space to talk, go further and put aside the doll she was holding in her arms, and firmly grasped Mu's wrists with both hands.

[You're clearly afraid that Xiao will be taken away by Chu Hua!]

Like a child who has successfully pulled off a prank, she mischievously exposed Mu's seemingly peaceful facade.

"I didn't do that..."

【Then why did you instinctively want to run back to your room when you saw the lyrics? You even ran to the consciousness space to reunite with me... Xiao Mu, you were clearly scared and running away!】

"I...I'm not..."

[Hehe, it's okay to be scared, okay? Running away may be shameful, but it's also useful, you know? If Xiaomu really doesn't know how to face them... then let me go out! I'll clear the obstacles for Xiaomu!]

Metis chuckled; now she had truly revealed her true intentions.

She was Xiao Mu's only companion, so it was natural that she would stand on Mu's side and mediate with Chu Hua and Xiao—but more so out of her own desire for life and freedom.

【Alright, let me go out! Give me your body, Xiao Mu! If you don't know how to face Xiao, let me do it!】

Metis held Xiao Mu tightly, preventing her from pulling away. His eyes shone as if he had grasped a glimmer of hope, and an unnatural smile crept onto his lips.

Your problem is my problem! I will definitely solve all these problems that are bothering you! Trust me, okay?!

Mu found that she couldn't pull her hand back at all, and she panicked a little when she was firmly imprisoned in place by Metis.

She didn't sense that Metis truly had the ability to help her with things, but she did sense from Metis's almost manic expression her obsession with breaking free from constraints and escaping the space of consciousness.

No way—Metis is a completely unreliable guy.

"Let go... Metis! I'll handle this myself!"

Mu used all his strength and every ounce of power to finally break free from Metis's restraints—

"Mu...Mu?"

Having just escaped directly from the consciousness space, she opened her eyes to find Kazama kneeling before her, his face filled with anxiety and panic.

"Mu, are you alright? You've been... talking to yourself in a very strange way just now..."

"Well……"

Mutsu sat up wearily, still lying on the soft bed. Kazama had appeared in her room at some point and placed his hands on her shoulders with a worried expression.

"Why is Akatsuki here...?"

"I was worried about you, so I came over to talk to you a little longer. But as soon as I entered the room, I saw you lying on the bed talking to yourself, and no matter how much I shook your shoulders, it didn't seem to work... Luckily, you finally came to your senses."

It seems that the scene of her battle with Metis in the realm of consciousness was also depicted in reality in a rather comical way.

"Sorry... I just have a bit of a headache."

She instinctively covered her throbbing head, while the boy, after a brief silence, pointed out the essence of the matter.

Is it Metis?

It seems that he was not frightened by the other personality existing in this body, but rather accepted the existence of Metis very smoothly.

"Well……"

Mu was still a little dazed as she broke free from the space of consciousness. All she could see was the boy's expression, which was pointing at her with concern and care.

Almost subconsciously, Mu recalled Metis's words when he tried to control himself within the space of consciousness.

"...If I hide again like before...would Akatsuki mind?"

She met Kazama's gaze, and this was the first time she had directly voiced her stubbornness and confusion.

Meanwhile, outside the door, the two people in the bedroom were completely unaware.

"Well………"

Shoko Toyokawa, who was in the living room, neither chased after Kazama, who had just left, nor stayed in the same place to wallow in self-pity.

She fiddled with her phone, seemingly engrossed in texting someone, unable to focus on anything else.

"what……"

Finally, upon receiving a certain message, she abruptly stood up as if by conditioned reflex, glanced in the direction of the bedroom out of the corner of her eye, and then tiptoed cautiously to the entrance hall—

With mixed feelings, Toyokawa Shoko quietly opened the door to the Wakaba family home and welcomed someone inside.

"Are you really coming in, Chuhua... By the way, why did you get here so quickly? I just messaged you a few minutes ago..."

The blonde girl standing gracefully at the door lowered the brim of her black hat. She smiled and winked at Xiangzi, then extended her slender finger in a shushing gesture.

"Shhh."

Sigrún has taught at the Iceland University of the Arts as a part-time lecturer since and was Dean of the Department of Fine Art from -. In – she held a research position at Reykjavík Art Museum focusing on the role of women in Icelandic art. She studied fine art at the Icelandic College of Arts and Crafts and at Pratt Institute, New York, and holds BA and MA degrees in art history and philosophy from the University of Iceland. Sigrún lives and works in Iceland.

Sigrún has taught at the Iceland University of the Arts as a part-time lecturer since and was Dean of the Department of Fine Art from -. In – she held a research position at Reykjavík Art Museum focusing on the role of women in Icelandic art. She studied fine art at the Icelandic College of Arts and Crafts and at Pratt Institute, New York, and holds BA and MA degrees in art history and philosophy from the University of Iceland. Sigrún lives and works in Iceland.

"I see... It seems that Metis has been trying to regain control of his body all along."

Inside Mutsumi's room, Kazama plopped down on the edge of the girl's bed, listening intently as Mutsumi recounted the whole story from beginning to end.

However, she still kept some details about the "feelings" hidden.

"Why is she in such a hurry to come out? You two used to be able to get along peacefully, right? Oh, and by the way, she probably won't know we're discussing this now, will she?"

"Yes, I covered her ears so she wouldn't hear."

Mu, sitting next to him, nodded seriously. It was this kind of childish metaphor that sometimes made others find her very cute.

Of course, Xiao was no exception.

"Oh dear... is there such a guy lurking behind Mutsu's body?"

Kazama secretly made up his mind; it seemed he had to find a way to protect his mother from Metis.

However, after hearing this, Mu clearly had a preconceived notion.

"Xiao, do you want my body too?"

"Eh?"

"Because, you just said..."

"No, no, that's not what I meant! Who would want Mu's body!"

"Well, fine. You don't want my body."

Mutsu seemed completely unconcerned about the blunder her question had caused, which had made the boy beside her blush. She only became somewhat dejected after hearing Kazama's unequivocal denial.

When Mutsu groggily awoke from his reverie and was greeted by Akira's face, an idea naturally arose in his mind.

Xiao always stayed by her side when she least expected it, and if she could, she wanted to do something for him that she could.

"Actually, I really want to ask Mu why she suddenly became depressed and even ran back to her bedroom... but if you don't want to talk about it, I won't ask."

He saw through her desire to escape, yet he still chose to smile and protect her freedom.

"Is it because of that song? If Mu doesn't want me to continue creating, I'll tell Chu Hua and withdraw from the production of this song."

They even considered her feelings and were willing to give up the opportunity to collaborate with Chu Hua on a creative project.

but.

Kazama was willing to go to such lengths for Mutsu, yet she herself did not possess what he desired. This made her chest feel tight, and her stomach, as an emotional organ, seemed to be churning uncontrollably.

If you don't know how to face Xiao, then let me do it!!

Suddenly, Metis's shrill voice echoed in his mind again, as if to wrest control of his body from Mu's hands once more.

No...no.

This kind of thing is absolutely unacceptable.

Isn't it just about stopping running away? Isn't it just about confirming your own feelings? What's so difficult about that?

Mu looked up and silently gazed at the boy's profile, which was so close to hers.

A faint smile still lingered on his face, and his eyes revealed unconcealed concern and care.

I want to touch it.

Unlike Metis's voice, this time it was my own voice echoing in my mind.

I want to touch this sentiment with my own hands.

It was as if her body had become light and airy, following her thoughts; Mu instinctively leaned her head close to the unsuspecting boy—

Then she gave him a light, fleeting kiss on the cheek.

“…………………?”

Kazama froze, his smile also freezing on his lips.

Chapter Twenty-Eight: The Secret, Total Collapse!

A kiss on the cheek from Mutsu is not unusual.

"No—I don't want to go to school! I don't want to leave Mu!"

Back when Xiao was still a primary school student who didn't want to get out of bed, his mother, Ruoye Mu, would pull him out of bed and leave a kiss on his little face.

"I just can't do anything with you."

Mu resolved her son's attachment anxiety in such an easy way. The mother in Xiao's memory was such a person who might be called clumsy, but was absolutely devoted to her child.

"If Xiaoguai goes to school, Aunt Su Shi or Aunt Hatsune will give you a kiss when they pick you up from school, okay?"

"Hmm... okay then... can I get Aunt Su Shi and Aunt Hatsune another ice cream?"

"Of course."

The heartwarming memory of mother and son came to an abrupt end at this moment, Xiao's brain had been frozen for a long time because of Mu's actions just now.

The thing that just briefly touched my cheek like a dragonfly skimming the water—was it a kiss?

This kiss can appear as a mother pressing her finger on her son's forehead, as a shy young girl bravely making a move on the boy she likes, or even as a middle-aged couple who have grown tired of each other pinching their noses and lightly touching each other's cheeks.

But it just can't appear on the face of the teenage son, who is a time traveler who has returned to the past, as the young mother gently falls on the face of the boy.

"Mu...?"

Kazama struggled to express his confusion, only then noticing that his voice had become so hoarse without him realizing it.

But the culprit didn't give up—Mu even gently placed his hand on Xiao's face to prevent Xiao from subconsciously moving his cheek away.

"Excuse me, what are you doing...?"

The thought of being unexpectedly kissed on the cheek by the girl he had always regarded as his mother was enough to stir up a strange sense of unease in him, not to mention that Mu's expression was so calm.

"I'm trying."

She was even staring blankly at the boy who was so close to her, and Xiao was a little afraid to meet his gaze for a moment.

"What are you trying to...try?"

"Trying to confirm my own feelings."

"what?"

"It seems to be very effective now."

Mutsu calmly turned the boy's face towards her, following her deepest feelings while brazenly encroaching on Akatsuki's private area like a conquering warrior—

She leaned her whole body against the boy's side, wrapping her arms around his neck as if to prevent him from escaping.