Aunt Xiangzi, how did you manage to live?

"I... I've been a bit busy lately, but nothing important... How about you, Xiao Xiang?"

But right now, she couldn't fully immerse herself in Xiangzi's voice on the other end of the phone.

Standing by the roadside, Chu Hua lowered the brim of her hat, her eyes constantly glancing at the Maybach parked in the distance.

Having been following Kazama closely and keeping track of Akira's schedule, how could she not have noticed that he had gotten into Shoko's car?

What could the patriarch of the Toyokawa family possibly want with him?

Thinking about this, Hatsune felt a little uneasy. But she couldn't rush forward and eavesdrop on their conversation through the car window; she could only watch from afar as she was doing so.

"What's wrong... Chu Hua?"

In addition, I listened to the phone call from Xiangzi.

"Ah, it's nothing, it's nothing. I just spaced out for a moment..."

"Really, is it because you're too tired? If you're overworked, you need to take good care of your health, Chu Hua. Don't push yourself too hard."

"Um... thank you, Xiao Xiang."

Xiangzi's words still warmed Chuhua's heart as always. Even though they rarely met, Xiangzi would always give her unexpected and delicate care, just like now.

However, Chu Hua is now finding it somewhat difficult to reciprocate this care.

She could feel that while Xiao Xiang was treating her gently, her mind was completely occupied by another person.

If it were Xiao, would he say the same things as Xiao Xiang... or would he show concern for him in a different way?

Just thinking about this person makes my heart leap with joy.

But whenever she notices this, she inevitably feels sad.

"...I'm sorry, Xiao Xiang."

I always feel guilty when I'm around Xiangzi.

"Hmm? What has Chu Hua done to wrong me?"

Xiao Xiang's voice on the other end of the phone was still clear and melodious, like a silver bell. She seemed completely unaware of Chu Hua's unusual behavior.

"If you're referring to the time I wanted to invite Chu Hua to join the band, but you haven't given me a definite answer yet, that's perfectly fine."

"Xiao Xiang..."

“I know, Hatsuka has her own considerations. But please listen to my thoughts as well. If you also want to work with me on this project, and you are indeed able to free up your time to join another band... then I'm counting on you.”

Toyokawa Shoko's words weren't particularly sentimental, but Hatsuka could sense the sincerity in them.

Even though he repeatedly evaded the question, Xiangzi didn't complain about her at all. He just patiently waited for the day when Chuhua could give him a satisfactory answer.

Toyokawa Shoko firmly believed that Hatsuka would grant her request.

"..."

The more Chu Hua understood this, the more uncomfortable she felt.

Only when she heard Xiao Xiang's earnest yet gentle voice did she realize that her heart had already drifted elsewhere without Xiangzi noticing.

Is there any chance that she can win me back?

Just as Chu Hua was caught in a dilemma, her phone vibrated again.

This time, the light shining in Chu Hua's eyes was even brighter and more dazzling than before.

"Ah... Xiao Xiang, wait a moment, another call is coming in!"

"Ah, wait—"

She almost immediately pressed the prompt to answer another call, while Toyokawa Shoko on the other end of the line seemed somewhat at a loss.

"Chuhua...?"

Chapter Twenty-Three: Where Hatsune Miku's Heart Leads

I've been feeling that Chu Hua has been acting strange lately.

After being hung up on, Toyokawa Shoko put down her phone and stared at the ground, deep in thought.

In my memory, Chu Hua was shy and timid, but she never hesitated when facing me. It seems that she has been avoiding me lately and has not yet agreed to Xiangzi's request.

"Um... I need to think about the new band for a while. I'm sorry, Xiao Xiang..."

Xiangzi initially thought that Chu Hua was worried about Sumimi. After all, it would be a bit much to ask Chu Hua, who was already a member of a girl band, to take care of another band as well.

but……

Chu Hua's unnatural action of hanging up the phone just now must mean there's some hidden reason or some unexpected situation, right?

Or perhaps... she was still staying by that boy's side, never leaving his side?

I feel that the sun is burning my skin especially hard today.

Xiangzi lowered his head, trying his best not to expose the awkward and complicated expression on his face to the sunlight.

I must be overthinking it.

It must be that she didn't do well enough, or that she wasn't powerful enough to make Chu Hua immediately agree to accept her invitation.

Toyokawa Shoko didn't continue thinking about it, or rather, her reason and pride wouldn't allow her to think about it any further.

She steadied herself and picked up her phone again to search in the browser.

The last thing that appeared on the phone screen was a photo of Yawata Kairin.

We need to speed things up.

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.

For some reason, Chu Hua's voice sounded a little strange when the call was connected.

Kazama slowly disembarked from the Maybach and walked to a shady spot to avoid the scorching sun.

"Chu Hua...were you busy just now?"

"No, no, I was just taking care of some things."

Knowing that Kazama was the type to say things like "If you're busy, I'll hang up now," Hatsuka quickly refuted his guess.

"I... I didn't expect Xiaojun to call me... Is there something you need my help with? Or is it just a casual chat? Either way, I'm happy! Ah, if it's to remind me not to join Xiaoxiang's band for now, I've been keeping that in mind, Xiaojun, don't worry!"

What kind of overwhelming gravitational field is this?

An ordinary person would have been overwhelmed and moved their phone away, but the battle-hardened Kazama felt he could still handle Hatsuka for a few more rounds.

"No, about that matter... I already told you, Chu Hua, that it would be enough to just politely decline Xiangzi's request for the time being."

Looking back now, even without delaying things like that, we could have postponed Toyokawa Shoko's inevitable death as much as possible. However, just to be on the safe side, Akatsuki had no choice but to make this unreasonable request to Hatsuka.

As for now, there's no need for that.

Even if Sadaharu doesn't reach an agreement with him, Kazama has already beaten Shoko to it.

"That request was already unreasonable enough, so... if you really want to form a band with Xiangzi, Chuhua, just follow your heart."

He was sincerely sharing his thoughts with Chu Hua.

Using Chu Hua's trust to achieve his goal of saving Toyokawa Shoko's life is, to put it bluntly, a bit despicable.

To continue making Chu Hua follow his arrangements now would be disrespectful, especially considering his own selfish desires—he also hoped that his Aunt Hatsune Miku could have her wish fulfilled and form a band with Xiao Xiang, whom she had been longing for.

Let this be the last bit of compensation he could offer.

“………Eh?”

But Chu Hua's reaction on the other end of the phone was somewhat unexpected.

"Xiaojun...why all of this so suddenly..."

"Because Chu Hua actually likes Xiang Zi the most, right? I know how difficult it was for you to come to Tokyo alone and work hard. In the beginning, you kept going because you were thinking about seeing her, right?"

Well, Chu Hua never told him these things frankly, but Aunt Hatsune once sadly told him about this "one-year-old's journey of the heart".

"I've already been quite willful and reckless in preventing you from getting what you want, and I know you won't refuse Xiangzi's proposal."

"Well, um..."

It was precisely because Kazama was telling the truth that Hatsuka couldn't think of any words to refute him.

Yes.

She shouldn't have been able to refuse Shoko's proposal; so far, she's just been stalling for time by following Kazama's request.

But why does she feel so lost and confused?

"...Or do you have some other plans, Chu Hua?"

The perceptive Kazama quickly noticed her unease and pointed it out directly.

Of course, she had other plans.

If she were no longer needed by him, she would rather not return to Xiangzi's side.

"what……"

The thought that suddenly popped into her mind startled Chu Hua slightly.

"Ok?"

"No... I'm just... worried about Xiaojun's health..."

She couldn't bring herself to say what she truly felt, and could only feign concern as something insignificant.

"Besides this, there is nothing else..."

How could she have such thoughts?

Even though this is the time when Xiao Xiang needs her help the most, she feels lost because of Xiao Jun.

"I'm fine now. So Chuhua, you don't need to worry about me anymore. Everything that needed to be resolved has been resolved. Just go ahead and do what you want to do."

Why did she feel a little lost when that day came?

Is that all?

After this request was completed... did Kazama no longer make any requests of her?

After managing to say goodbye to Kazama with a forced smile, Hatsuka weakly put down her phone.

She was free to do what she wanted, but she was still completely clueless about what she actually wanted to do. It turned out that being needed by different people could actually affect her mindset.

She knew, of course, that Kazama was giving her the right to choose freely, but sometimes being given freedom is also a way of giving the other person trouble.

"Xiaojun...and Xiaoxiang..."

If they all ask her for help, she will certainly lend a helping hand without hesitation.

But what if it's the other way around?

Yes, Mitsuba Hatsuka had never thought about this question before.

If she is destined to stand only by one person's side, where will her heart lie?

The city in summer is like a scorching iron pot, with the sun pouring mercilessly onto the asphalt road, causing distorted waves of heat to rise from the ground.

Sweat slid between my neck and vest, the fabric clinging to my skin, sticky and uncomfortable. A bus slowly drove past, the friction of its tires against the pavement seeming to carry an air of impatience.

But Sanjiao Chuhua felt as if she had fallen into an ice cave.

So this is what it feels like to not be needed by that boy?

Perhaps at this moment, Misaka Hatsuka finally understood her feelings.

"It's much more painful than I imagined."

Chapter Twenty-Four: You're Too Late, Xiangzi

Yawata Kairin has always lived a very carefree and leisurely life.