Aunt Xiangzi, how did you manage to live?

But isn't the word "accomplice" a bit too offensive?

Chapter Thirty-Five: Toyokawa Shoko, Never Regretting Her Life

Toyokawa Shoko was by no means a competitive person, but her strong-willed nature made her unwilling to be second to anyone in anything.

So when she realized that she not only failed her savior's good intentions, but was even less insightful than her former teammates, becoming a fool blinded by her own emotions—

"That's right, I'm this guy's accomplice."

"Woo..."

Shiina Tatsuki fearlessly revealed her identity as an "accomplice," while Shoko could only try to hide her embarrassment and guilt.

She not only ignored Xiao's past act of helping her, but also completely disregarded the fundamental reason why he did so. She was even less aware of his behavioral logic and motivation than Li Xi was.

She, who once led everyone forward as the soul of CRYCHIC, can now only feel boundless guilt and fear, watching helplessly as Riki, who used to only watch her from behind, walks to Akatsuki's side before her.

"Lixi...so you already knew about these things."

In contrast, I was so preoccupied with Ave Mujica's situation that I never really thought about their relationship more deeply.

Faced with this stark contrast, Toyokawa Shoko inevitably experienced a sense of loss and uncertainty.

"Ah, actually I was just lucky and stumbled upon the truth by accident. You were all shocked when you first heard the news today, weren't you? I was too when I first found out."

Lixi didn't take Xiangzi's little mood to heart at all. She readily spread her hands, just like a competent team leader, and boosted the mood of the two girls.

"But it's okay, you'll get used to it soon. Anyway, Kazama didn't expect us to treat him like family. Just think of it as a story happening in another parallel universe and let it happen naturally."

"Lixi...a reliable adult!"

Seeing that Li Xi actually said the lines that should have been spoken by her, Xiao was very moved and gave her a thumbs up.

"Hmph, you don't need to say that. I never wanted to be your nanny and clean up your messes."

Li Xi gave a slightly awkward hum, saying no, but her body language betrayed her, and she took on the responsibility of explaining the situation to Kazama.

"Didn't I tell you before? Since you're a guest from the future who doesn't belong to this time and space, I'll do my best to help you adapt here. It's just like being a good host; there's no other reason. Don't overthink it."

"Don't lie, Riki-chan. No matter how hard you try to deny it, it's useless. Even Shoko, who's standing right next to you, can tell how clumsy this excuse is."

"I'll help Xiao wipe her bottom."

However, it was precisely at this moment that Mu raised his hand to continue Li Xi's words and added this comment full of flaws.

"Wait, Mu..."

Kazama couldn't help but cover his face with his hands to show his embarrassment. Ever since Mutsu wanted to take on the responsibility of being a mother, she had always been inexplicably active in this strange area—and what she said always made people nervous.

"Although I know you mean to say that you will take care of this guy, it's easy to misunderstand."

Even Li Xi couldn't help but complain.

"Ahem... Getting back to the point, Xiangzi, what do you have to say?"

Li Xi, decisive and efficient, coughed. Without giving Xiao time to tease her, she quickly turned her attention to Xiangzi, who was still somewhat shocked by their perfect chemistry.

"Please allow me to get a definite answer from you. Now that Kazama has told you everything, if you want to pretend that none of this happened and go back to your old life, we have no objection."

Lixi didn't say anything more. Unlike Su Shi, who had once groveled and begged Xiangzi to return to CRYCHIC, she remained fearless even when facing the lamp and Su Shi's former white moonlight, Toyokawa Xiangzi.

"However, if you choose to accept this experience that was not originally yours, then from now on we are in the same boat."

Li Xi pursed her lips. She never liked to maintain an ambiguous stance on such matters, and she felt the same way about others.

"I……"

Xiangzi lowered her head. Although she had fully realized how arrogant and prejudiced she had been, it did not mean that she had figured everything out in such a short time, or how to make amends for her past mistakes.

"Alright, that's not the most urgent thing right now."

Xiao waved his hand and promptly interjected into their conversation. Although he remained calm on the surface, his subtle attempt to smooth things over still made Xiangzi pause for a moment.

She never imagined that when she was in an awkward situation, it would be Kazama who would offer her a way out.

"Oh, right. Mikasa Hatsuka."

As if suddenly remembering something, Lixi clapped her hands, successfully bringing the topic to a blonde girl who had fled in a hurry without saying goodbye.

"In the end, it was that guy who leaked the secret... No, we have to find her quickly, in case she tells anyone else."

"What... Chu Hua wouldn't do this...!"

"Yes, I agree with Xiangzi on this point. Based on my understanding of her, Chuhua probably acted on impulse and then realized that leaking the secret would break her promise to me, so she escaped from under our noses."

Kazama shrugged, looking somewhat helpless, while Mutsu blinked her eyes and couldn't help but keep her gaze fixed on him.

"Therefore, Xiao was not angry with Chuhua."

"What's there to be angry about? The truth will eventually come out. I should have expected that some people would not be able to keep their promises to me for various reasons. If I'm going to be angry, I can only be angry at myself."

"Hey... Kazama, you're pretty protective of her, aren't you?"

Li Xi chuckled lightly, seemingly just teasing, but there was an unsettling undertone in his voice.

Sensing this subtle hint of jealousy, Kazama turned his gaze to her with a smile.

"If Lixi did that, I would protect you unconditionally too."

"Tch, tch... You know perfectly well I would never leak anything, that's why you said that, right? All you do is make empty promises..."

Lixi's tone suddenly became somewhat aggressive and unnatural. Mu looked left and right, a little confused, while Xiangzi, who was sensitive to the atmosphere between the two, suddenly felt a tightness in her heart.

She certainly noticed Riki's special treatment of Kazama, but that wasn't what made her feel a sense of loss.

If only...

If only I had noticed the boy's strange background back then, and realized that his ulterior motives were all based on good intentions.

Could it be that she, like Li Xi, is now able to coexist peacefully with this guy, and even receive his unconditional kindness?

Thinking of this, Xiangzi felt his throat tighten.

What's done is done; once the mistakes of the past are made, they can never be undone.

But what else could she do to impress the boy—at least to prevent him from feeling that her act of helping him back then was just a waste of her life?

"...I will help you."

After a long silence, Toyokawa Shoko finally made up her mind and said something that made all three people present turn their heads.

"I will help you find a way to resolve Chu Hua's matter."

The girl gently placed her right hand on her chest, meeting the boy's amber eyes, which were identical to her own, with a stern yet resolute attitude.

"I accept what you call fate."

Shoko Toyokawa was unwilling to sit idly by and wait for her fate—she chose to fight back.

Chapter Thirty-Six: The Shape of Mother

If the purpose of saving someone is not pure, is saving someone's life still worthy of unconditional praise?

When Xiao was a child, she would occasionally have this question while watching the popular Kamen Rider series.

No matter how many years have passed, the protagonists of the Kamen Rider series are still heroic figures who punish evil and uphold justice. However, there are often some characters among them who do not save others purely out of good intentions, and their contradictions and choices were something that Xiao Shang, who was only young at the time, could only partially understand.

When he, still confused, asked Mu about this, Mu simply smiled faintly.

“A gentleman judges by actions, not intentions. Even if it’s not out of pure urgency to save others, as long as a life is truly saved because of your actions, then you are a hero in every sense of the word, Xiao.”

—To be honest, when Akatsuki saved Toyokawa Shoko's life from under the wheels of a car, he recalled the words Mutsu had said to him.

He originally thought that lending a helping hand to others must be a product of careful consideration, but when he put it into action, he realized that it was just a conventional thing engraved in his blood.

In the instant he saved the person, he didn't think about getting anything in return; he just felt that this might spare everyone from the tragedy that had already happened.

Naturally, he never intended to use this incident to blackmail Toyokawa Shoko and try to get anything in return.

However, after learning all his secrets, this guy became quite attentive.

"Well then... let's end this farce here."

After everything settled down, a physically and mentally exhausted Toyokawa Shoko walked to the entrance of the Wakaba family's house and turned to look at the other three boys and girls standing at the entrance.

"I think Hatsuka will probably hold a grudge about this. After all, she should know that she shouldn't have told Kazama-kun your secret to me and Mutsuki... Hatsuka will probably keep holding a grudge about this forever."

Changing the subject, Toyokawa Shoko looked up at Xiao Shi again, her gaze unwavering.

"However, I will stand by you, Kazama-kun, and explain the situation to her, so that Hatsuka will stop running away. I promise."

She adopted an attitude similar to "I will become a god who takes responsibility for your lives," which made Kazama chuckle.

"Oh? What does the omnipotent goddess Xiangzi plan to do? If Chuhua hides and refuses to appear, will she go to the places where she might appear and personally drag her back?"

"exactly."

She nodded seriously, her earnest demeanor making Kazama shake his head and smile helplessly.

"Although I completely believe that the two of you are absolutely capable of doing something like one running and the other chasing, it's obvious that the person she's avoiding isn't you, Xiangzi, but me."

"Hmm...it seems that's indeed the case..."

"So, I appreciate your kindness. However, this is a matter between Chu Hua and me, and I will find a way to resolve it myself."

"Since you've said so, Kazama-kun... but..."

Xiangzi reluctantly took off his indoor slippers in the entryway, then met Xiao's eyes again with a serious and earnest gaze.

"I know Chu Hua's personality. Once she feels that she has messed up something, she will keep running away from it endlessly."

"Ah, I know that too."

Despite this, Kazama remained calm and composed when meeting Shoko.

"Don't worry, I have my own plans."

He didn't say anything more, but his words revealed an unmistakable ease and confidence, which left Xiangzi feeling somewhat bewildered.

The boy in front of me had been with Chu Hua and the others for over a decade in another time and space, so of course I didn't need to remind him what kind of person Chu Hua was.

"...In short, if there's anything I can do to help, please send me a message. No matter how busy I am, I'll make time to help."

Toyokawa Shoko adjusted her mindset, nodded very politely to Xiaowei, and then turned and left.

"What happened today... allow me to take another break and digest it."

If it weren't for the fact that she had to go home to cook for her drunken father tonight, she would have liked to stay here a little longer, by Kazama's side.

What kind of person is this boy who can accompany everyone for more than a decade after decades, and whom Lixi and Chuhua can accept so readily? She wants to remove her past prejudices and try to get to know him properly.

Unfortunately, it was already evening, and she had no choice but to return home as the three of them watched her go.

After Xiangzi politely said goodbye and closed the door, Lixi, who had been standing silently behind Xiaohemu, finally spoke slowly.

“I’ve never seen Xiangzi treat you so kindly before.”

Shiina Tatsuki has never been very friendly to her former teammate, firstly because of the past CRYCHIC incident, and secondly because of her sarcastic attitude towards her savior.

"Xiang, I just found out about everything Xiao did for her and everyone else."

Perhaps out of their childhood friendship, Mu unusually spoke up to defend Xiang.

“I know. But Mutsu, you only just found out about this secret, right? Yet you’ve always been so nice to Kazama. In the end, it’s Shoko who’s been hostile to his obvious savior all this time, only regretting it after learning the truth—but the damage has already been done, and it’s too late to make amends, isn’t it?”

Lixi continued her rant against Xiangzi, feeling that she had already been very lenient by not making sarcastic remarks to his face.

"Even if Kazama, the person involved, doesn't think there's anything wrong with it, I still think that Shoko did something wrong."

"Lixi really cares about Xiao."

However, Mu, who was usually silent but had a sharp tongue, still managed to catch and point out her true thoughts beneath her resentful appearance.

"Ha ha?!"

Lixi, who had been indignant, suddenly turned red in the face, while Mu continued to calmly explain his views.

“Before, you seemed to only act like this towards lights.”

"Don't, don't talk nonsense. I just promised Kazama that I would be in this together with him. Of course, I have to take responsibility for my promises—but I don't mean that kind of responsibility! In short, you're overthinking it!"