Aunt Xiangzi, how did you manage to live?

Chapter Two: Su Shi, can she really do everything?

"I'm not trying to be rude, but to say such impolite things to a patient who's still sitting on the bed... isn't this Miss Xiangzi being a bit too presumptuous?"

Banami made such a blunt comment, since she had never had a deep understanding of Shoko before, and she didn't care what kind of person Toyokawa Shoko was in reality.

All she knew was that this haughty young lady seemed proud and confident, as if she had complete confidence that she could handle everything perfectly—but in reality, so far she had been quite self-centered in what she did to Kazama.

Speaking of which, shouldn't one of Toyokawa Shoko's loyal fans stand up for her at this moment?

The blue-haired girl glanced thoughtfully to the side, making sure her gaze landed on the silent, long-haired brown girl beside her.

Su Shi sat motionless at the diagonal angle to the hospital bed, her gaze darting back and forth along the red teacup, but never truly landing on Kazama.

Or rather, they dared not let it fall on Kazama.

"Xiangzi, she..."

They actually said such outrageous things.

"Yes, that's right. There were unspeakable reasons why she wanted to leave CRYCHIC before. During this time, her relationship with the Toyokawa family also became strained, and she chose to support herself and her father alone—if that's what you want to ask, Su Shi."

Xiao responded calmly, as if she had already assumed that Su Shi would only be concerned about things related to Xiangzi.

"Eh?"

On the contrary, Su Shi, who received a response, looked somewhat surprised. She hadn't been thinking about Xiangzi at all; she had only been pondering why Xiangzi's behavior was so inappropriate.

The expression on Kazama's face made her feel somewhat complicated.

As if he had long since given up hope on her, his calm expression made Su Shi gently tug at the hem of his skirt.

"I...I just don't understand...why Xiangzi would say something so outrageous."

"Yes, it's normal for you to be a little confused, Su Shi. After all, she looks very different from the gentle and considerate Toyokawa Shoko you remember, right?"

Kazama ignored the changing expressions on Suze's face and simply waved his hand gently and calmly, expressing his opinion.

"But she's completely different now, in every way. Just meeting her basic material needs is enough to keep her busy, but Xiangzi still believes his excellence can bring her a better life..."

But at this very moment, she was saved by what she thought was her rival.

He stated this objectively, without any personal feelings involved, not to criticize Xiangzi in front of the two girls, but simply to explain to them why Xiangzi's aggression had become so strong.

“Perhaps some people would romanticize the path they never walked in their minds, but Toyokawa Shoko is not like that. She came here to try to reconcile with me, and maybe she even hopes that I won’t take Mutsu and Hatsuka away from her.”

Even Kazama himself couldn't help but chuckle at this point.

"But not only did I not agree, I also rejected her chosen lifestyle. It's perfectly normal for her to be so angry that she just ran away."

"Hmm... She sounds like a very strong-willed girl, but she doesn't have the ability to match that strength."

Banami didn't say anything excessive; she simply expressed her thoughts naturally.

"Although Xiangzi would be even more furious if she heard these words... I guess the truth is just that hard to accept."

Kazama nodded in agreement with Hanami's statement; their views had long since coincided.

Only Su Shi kept her head down, as if pondering a note she hadn't quite understood, one finger unconsciously rubbing her other wrist.

"...So, she didn't come here simply to express her gratitude in the first place."

She spoke very softly, as if talking to herself, or as if confirming something.

"Hmm...that's why I'm a little angry. Just a little."

Kazama held the rim of the teacup with his fingers, his eyes secretly glancing at her expression.

"But it's understandable, I suppose. After this incident, if she still wants to play in a band, the resistance from her family will only increase. In her eyes, I might steal the teammates she worked so hard to recruit... So, Xiangzi wants to get a preemptive answer from me that I won't compete with her for her teammates, so that she can feel a sense of security."

Yes, Toyokawa Shoko has this kind of aggressive personality.

However, she is usually either pampered by her privileged family background and surrounded by sweetness, or influenced by her upbringing, making it difficult for her to show her sharp side to others.

Even a rabbit will bite when cornered. A cat-like girl like Xiangzi, when pushed to the limit, will also use her breath to conquer and satisfy her curiosity.

"Miss Xiangzi, it's a bad cat."

Banami's subconscious sigh made Kazama raise an eyebrow.

This is the umpteenth time this has happened; how often he and this guy are on the same wavelength.

However, what intrigued him even more was the other person's reaction.

When Motoyo Nagasaki realizes that she has poured so much perfect projection into Shoko Toyokawa... can she still accept the human flaws she glimpses in her?

“…Yes.”

Su Shi's breathing became shallower. She withdrew her fingers, her nails lightly pressing against her palm.

"I guess I've always... placed some unwarranted expectations on her."

Nagasaki Motoyo's face was calm, but her eyes held an indescribable sadness.

She had never known Xiangzi's unspeakable secret, nor did she know why Xiangzi and Kazama were so at odds.

Now that she knows the whole truth, she has to admit one fact.

"It seems... CRYCHIC is destined not to return."

Kazama was both amused and exasperated. Had Suze finally decided to face the truth after all this time?

"We're at the hospital now, so we can take Group C to the morgue. But that's where I almost ended up lying, isn't it?"

"Kazama, you're trying to lighten the mood again by making fun of yourself..."

"So, even though I was trying to lighten the mood, you could still tell, Hachiman? I'm so touched..."

Watching Kazama and Banami chat and joke so familiarly, as if they were old friends, Suze felt her feelings were becoming more complicated.

At first, Kazama would only show that kind of expression to himself and Riki.

But from some point onward, the intimacy and tenderness in his eyes gradually disappeared... replaced by a politeness and distance as if he were looking at a stranger.

However, it was Hanami Anna who won his favor.

It shouldn't have been like this—but if one had to blame fate, Su Shi could only bitterly smile and blame herself.

She betrayed the trust that Kazama seemed to have placed in her from birth.

And even if he were to take back that trust and give it to someone else, she would have nothing to complain about.

"...I can do anything."

only.

"I can do anything."

Su Shi was still somewhat unwilling to accept this fact.

"As long as Xiaojun can forgive my previous mistakes and the stupid things I said when I didn't consider your feelings, I will do anything."

Nagasaki Motoyo raised her head, her tone more resolute than ever before.

"I'll do anything to get your forgiveness."

"...?"

Su Shi's expression was solemn and serious, and Kazama and Banami exchanged a knowing glance.

After all, no one expected Su Shi to suddenly say something like that out of the blue.

only……

Kazama noticed the most intriguing part of what Sose had just said, his eyebrows slightly raised, and a meaningful expression appeared on his face.

"Can do everything...really?"

Chapter Three: Soft and Simple World, Cute to Pinch

"You can do everything? Really?"

Kazama narrowed his eyes, seemingly carefully observing the expression on Sose's face when she said those words.

Feeling the scrutinizing gaze of the boy, Su Shi, though sensing his ill intentions, began to feel uneasy, but still nodded reluctantly.

"Well... if you want others to forgive you, you have to show the corresponding sincerity—I understand that."

"Sigh, if Xiangzi had even half of your awareness, Su Shi, I probably wouldn't have let her leave here crying."

Kazama was somewhat moved, but he didn't stop cleverly rolling his eyes.

"But since you've brought this up so sincerely, Su Shi..."

"……Um."

Su Shi swallowed hard, waiting with trepidation for Kazama, who harbored ill intentions, to make a request that might give her a particularly troublesome headache.

Or perhaps... some unreasonable requests that teenagers, especially those in puberty, might make to the opposite sex.

Seemingly worried that Kazama would make such a request, or perhaps concerned that she was overthinking things, Suze nervously and gently gripped the fabric of her clothes at the joint of her left arm with her right hand.

Right, why didn't she think of that when she made that boast?

What should she do if Kazama makes some really inappropriate requests?

The boast has already been made; I guess all we can do now is grit our teeth and accept it.

Just as Nagasaki Motoyo was feeling uneasy about what kind of bizarre request Kazama would make, the boy who had been observing her expression simply smiled slightly.

"—Then try to give up the idea of ​​restoring C Group first, and then apologize to Riki and Aine properly."

"…Eh?"

Su Shi was a little surprised; she never expected Kazama to make such a "request."

"Yes. You've realized it today, haven't you? CRYCHIC won't be coming back, and you can't keep Xiangzi either. Since that's the case, cherish the people around you and put a proper end to the old era."

“I will naturally take care of these things.”

Su Shi's expression was somewhat uncertain, naturally because she still had some doubts about Kazama's request.

"Is this all... enough to make Xiaojun forgive me?"

"Hmm. Or, Su Shi, do you want me to inflict some cruel punishment on you?"

"No, that's not it, it's just..."

However, the person she now hopes to compensate is Kazama, but the latter's request has nothing to do with him at all.

It's almost like...

It's as if he's already extricated himself from their network of relationships.

The sense of crisis in his heart had not dissipated; in fact, Su Shi could feel that the sense of crisis was intensifying.

"Is there anything Xiaojun would like me to do for you?"

Finally, Su Shi forced herself to suppress her unease and frankly expressed her concerns.

However, just as she thought, Kazama had indeed stopped having any expectations of these girls in the band.

He had always been trying to find the shadow of the aunties in these people, but after this incident, he realized that it was just like trying to catch the moon's reflection in the water.

He's been thinking a lot these past few days while lying in his hospital bed.

Perhaps some people and some memories can only be stored in our minds. Don't let seeing the same face lead to unwarranted expectations of them.

So since Su Shi made the request, he just planned to do her a favor and help bring together their soon-to-be-born new band, MYGO.

A lost child... Actually, he's probably the same now.

No longer trying to find reflections of the past in these people, nor finding a way back, one must now begin to plan for one's own future.

With his mind preoccupied with these things, Kazama found it difficult to try and extract anything from them.

It turns out that the opposite of liking and caring is not disgust and resentment, but simply indifference.

"Actually, there's really nothing I want you to do for me anymore."

Kazama shrugged. He knew perfectly well that Sose was regretting and tormenting herself for misunderstanding him earlier.

But Xiangzi's life has been saved, and CRYCHIC can no longer be rebuilt. Whatever happens next, even if he has other considerations, is no longer relevant to Su Shi.