People in Mygo are emotional firefighters.

The more genuine his tenderness, the more it resembled a clear mirror, reflecting how inappropriate and wishful thinking her unspeakable and unrealistic desires were.

Therefore, the gentler you are, the more uncomfortable you make her.

She could no longer support her straight back, nor could she maintain any expression.

And so, under Mayu's earnest yet bewildered gaze, Mio gently, as if her last bit of resolve had vanished, pressed her slightly feverish forehead against his warm and firm shoulder, which was so close to hers.

Her soft hair fell down, obscuring her profile and shielding her from his gaze. At that moment, the world seemed to shrink to the small patch of space beside his shoulder, bearing all her unbearable bitterness and impending devastation.

“…Senior has been so good to me,” her muffled voice came from his shoulder, thick with a nasal tone and a barely audible tremor, “I don’t know…what to do.”

“Nothing needs to be done,” Ishikawa Mayu said softly, her voice exceptionally clear and gentle in the quiet rehearsal room. “Just being with you like this, seeing you so full of energy, makes me happy.”

Serizawa Mio unconsciously increased the pressure on Mayu's shoulder, as if she wanted to bury herself deeper into this brief warmth and protection.

“…Hmph.” She let out a very soft hum with a heavy nasal tone, like a wronged kitten that couldn’t help but rely on its owner.

Then, as if she had made a decision, she nuzzled her head against his shoulder in a very small, dependent way. Her soft hair brushed against his neck and chin, bringing a slight tickle and her own faint floral and fruity scent.

As they were about to part, she tried to imbue him with more of her own essence, or rather, to leave a deeper imprint of her senior's warmth and presence in her memory.

At least for this moment, let her enjoy this tenderness that is uniquely hers.

Ishikawa Mayu felt a slight tickle from her rubbing, and his body stiffened slightly, but he neither pulled away nor pushed her away. He simply maintained that somewhat clumsy gesture of patting her back, letting her lean on him.

I don't know how much time passed, maybe a few seconds, maybe just a moment.

Mio took a deep breath, her breath still tinged with a slight sob, but when she lifted her head again and left his shoulder, the almost broken vulnerability and exhaustion on her face had been dispelled, though a soft blush still lingered deep within her smile.

"Alright!" She clapped her hands, her voice becoming cheerful again, as if the girl who had just rested her forehead on his shoulder and choked up was just an illusion. "Break time is over! Shinba-senpai, let's practice!"

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Chapter 177 The Return of Reason

Nagasaki Motoyo sat at her desk in her room, where only a dim desk lamp was on, casting her slender shadow long on the cold wall. The cold light from her phone screen illuminated her pale face, and her fingertips trembled slightly as they hovered over the LINE interface.

That name—Toyokawa Shoko—lies quietly in the contact list. The last conversation was some time ago, a one-sided greeting from her that vanished without a trace.

Ever since Mayu promised to help, she clung to him like a lifeline, forcing herself to stop those futile and annoying questions. She told herself to trust Mayu, that he would handle it, that he would bring Xiaoxiang back... back to her side, back to the warmth of Crychic.

But now?

Masahiro did indeed "deal with" it. He brought Shoko to her in the most direct and cruel way—as an audience member to watch the performance of the "new" band, which she, Nagasaki Motoyo, was involved in but no longer had Toyokawa Shoko in it.

what is this?

My fingernails dug unconsciously into my palm, causing a slight stinging pain, but it was nothing compared to the cold, slowly spreading despair in my heart.

Does she resent Masahiro-kun?

Yes, she resented him. She resented him for not understanding her true desires, and she resented him for inviting Xiangzi...

but……

Su Shi closed her eyes and took a deep breath. When she opened her eyes again, her once gentle, pale blue eyes were now filled with a cold, clear emptiness.

She knows better than anyone.

Shinba-kun did not betray her.

Never.

She clearly remembered that day, when Mayu-kun calmly saw through her lie about "wanting new memories" and said those words:

"A promise made out of the heart, even if not sincere at first, might become a reality over time. I'll wait and see."

Under Mayu's calm gaze, she disguised herself even better, more perfectly. She buried all her anxiety, scheming, and obsession with Crychic deeper into her heart, wrapping them up layer upon layer with an impeccable smile and thoughtfulness.

Her original plan was simple and seemed quite safe: to pretend and blend into the "new band".

Then, at the perfect moment, by taking advantage of Aine's clumsiness and hesitation, the "outsider" will be naturally eliminated. The band will then consist of her, Deng, Lixi, and Zhenyu-kun. And then, wouldn't the only things missing from a complete Crychic band be Xiaoxiang and Xiaomu?

Then we can go find Xiaoxiang again, persuade her to come back, and everything will be fine...

However, things didn't go according to her plan at all.

That pink-haired girl who always laughed carefree and would instinctively look to Mayu when faced with difficulties actually gritted her teeth and persevered. With Mayu's repeated tolerance, encouragement, and even that almost indulgent trust, she was truly improving, truly trying to keep up with everyone, and even... truly beginning to become a part of the band.

This was already enough to upset her. But what was worse was that instead of gradually shifting his focus back to the possibility of "rebuilding Crychic" as she had hoped, Zhenyu-kun was relentlessly rushing towards that "new journey." He even... even took the initiative to contact Xiaoxiang and "invite" her to watch this performance, which, for Su Shi, was tantamount to a public execution of all her humble and extravagant hopes!

How can this be allowed?

How can Xiangzi see her playing that Crychic song in a band without her?

What will make Xiangzi fully realize that the Crychic of the past has been left behind by them?

Just imagining that scene made Su Shi feel a suffocating chill.

The trembling in my fingertips stopped.

Instead, there was an almost numb calm.

She knew she could no longer remain silent.

Before everything is beyond repair... she must try one more time.

For her unattainable wish to retain two sources of warmth at the same time.

Nagasaki Motoyo opened her chat with Toyokawa Shoko. She carefully considered her words, deleting and revising, initially wanting to question, plead, and express her grievances and confusion. But in the end, she suppressed and crushed all her intense emotions, reshaping them into the form she knew best and was most adept at.

Slender fingertips tapped lightly on the screen, and lines of text appeared:

Good evening, Xiao Xiang.

…………

After the message was sent, the cold screen reflected Su Shi's pale face, and there was no further response. That short line of text was like a pebble thrown into a dark pool, not even causing a ripple.

Time ticked by in the deathly silence.

Su Shi slowly put down her phone, a self-deprecating smile tugging at the corners of her lips. How could she forget that Xiangzi had long since stopped responding to her? Those lonely greetings lying in the chat box were like the most merciless mockery of her obsession. That impulse just now was nothing more than another futile struggle in despair.

Should I... really go to Yuqiu to ambush her?

As long as I can see Xiao Xiang and ask her directly, even if it's just... even if it's just to see her one more time...

Just then, my phone vibrated slightly.

She lowered her head, her gaze falling on the few lines of text that Zhenyu had just sent.

[Su Shi, are you asleep?]

Don't overthink it. No matter what happens, I'll always be there for you.

On the screen touched by cold fingertips, there seemed to still linger the clumsy yet certain warmth of the sender as they typed those words, a warmth perhaps never even fully appreciated by the sender themselves.

Su Shi stared at the last sentence for a long, long time, and then a self-deprecating smile suddenly appeared on her lips.

Although... the root of all her troubles and despair at this moment is precisely because Shinba-kun insisted on inviting Shoko to watch this performance, which is like a public execution for her. He personally turned her most feared scene into an impending reality.

but……

Su Shi stared at the last sentence on the screen, "Isn't it still me by your side?", for a very long time.

However, Shinba-kun's gentleness is genuine.

These few simple lines of text barely pulled her back from the brink of madness.

If she really recklessly runs to Yugaoka and pesters Xiangzi at the school gate... let's not even talk about how Xiangzi will react, what if... what if Shinba-kun sees her?

What will he think of her?

Just imagining the look of surprise, confusion, or even disappointment that Shinba might show—even if only for a moment—made Su Shi feel as if her heart was being gripped tightly by an invisible hand, making it almost impossible for her to breathe.

No, no.

She cannot lose Shinba-kun.

Xiangzi is already out of reach, like a cold moon in the sky. If even this warmth, so close and within reach, is lost... then Nagasaki Motoyo will truly have nothing left.

“…Really.” She murmured very softly, almost silently, to the cold phone screen, not knowing who she was talking to.

Chapter 178 It's All Xiao Mu's Fault

"The past we've grasped is completely dead?"

Nagasaki Motoyo gently placed her phone screen-down on the cold table. Only the dim glow of the desk lamp and her own slightly disordered breathing filled the room.

She couldn't think about Zhenyu anymore. She forced herself to temporarily banish that face, filled with concern and helplessness, from her mind. The most urgent thing was Xiangzi.

Direct contact has proven to be a dead end. Blocking her at the entrance of Haneoka School? The risk is too high; if Shin'u-kun sees her, it will likely be a price she cannot afford.

So, who else... could reach Toyokawa Shoko, who had closed herself off layer by layer?

A figure, so quiet it was almost transparent, yet always appearing precisely beside Xiangzi, slowly surfaced in Su Shi's mind.

-----------------

Tuesday morning, May 26th

Nagasaki Motoyo sat on a bench by the flowerbed at Tsukimori Academy. The afternoon sun filtered through the layers of leaves, casting dappled, swaying light on the hem of her beige school uniform skirt. Her hands were quietly folded on her knees, but her fingertips unconsciously and repeatedly fidgeted with each other, leaving faint, fleeting marks on her fair skin from her neatly trimmed nails.

Ruo Yemu stood half a step away from her, her head slightly lowered, her green hair shimmering with an almost transparent luster in the sunlight. Her hands were neatly clasped in front of her, and she was as quiet as another silent plant by the flowerbed. Only her golden eyes, which did not reflect much emotion, would occasionally turn very slightly with the passing butterflies or falling leaves.

“Xiao Mu,” Su Shi said, her voice as gentle as ever, with a hint of intimacy, “This weekend, our band is going to be the opening act for a joint concert.”

She looked up at the quiet girl beside her, a gentle smile playing on her lips, as if they were just having a light, casual chat. "You know what?"

Ruo Yemu's gaze shifted from a swirling, falling leaf to Su Shi's face. Her eyes lingered briefly on Su Shi's unconsciously fiddling fingers before she gently, almost imperceptibly, shook her head.

Her hair swayed slightly with her movements.

“…I see.” Su Shi seemed unsurprised by the answer, her smile deepening, but her eyes remained cold. “Speaking of which, one of the pieces we’re going to play is ‘Spring Shadow.’”

She paused deliberately, observing Mu's reaction. Mu's expression remained unchanged, only his golden eyes were quietly watching her.

“It was Xiaoxiang who wrote the music.” Su Shi’s voice was even softer, with a sense of distant nostalgia. “Makoto specially invited her… Xiaoxiang will be coming to see the performance.”

She leaned forward slightly and asked softly, in a tone that was a mixture of anticipation and inquiry:

"Xiao Mu, do you think... Xiao Xiang's willingness to come and watch us perform 'Spring Shadow' means... that she's actually still reminiscing about the past?"

Her gaze was fixed on Mu, as if trying to find a definite answer in that calm and expressionless face.

"Do we... still have a chance to go back to how things were before?"

The air seemed to freeze for a few seconds.

Ruo Yemu quietly looked back at the light in Su Shi's eyes, a light that was almost overflowing with longing and unease. Then, once again, clearly and slowly, she shook her head.

"That's not how it is." Her voice was soft, but it was like a cold stone, shattering the last hope in Su Shi's eyes.

Su Shi's smile froze instantly, then gradually cooled down.

"Xiao Mu speaks... so bluntly." She exhaled softly, her voice devoid of much emotion, yet somehow sending a chill down one's spine.

She stood up, brushed off non-existent dust from her skirt, her movements still elegant. Then, she turned to face Wakaba Mutsu, a smile returning to her face, but the smile didn't reach her eyes.

"In that case, Xiao Mu, I hope you can do me a favor."

Mu looked at her quietly, waiting for what she would say next.

"Do you know where Xiao Xiang lives?" Su Shi's voice was calm, as if she were asking an ordinary question. "Where does he live now? Can you tell me?"

Ruo Yemu was clearly taken aback. She hadn't expected Su Shi to ask this so directly. For the first time, a clear hint of difficulty and struggle flashed across those usually calm and unwavering golden eyes.

She remembered Xiangzi's cold face as he warned her "Don't be a gossip anymore," and the weary look on his face when he talked about the past.

Xiangzi... doesn't want to see Su Shi.

But this was Su Shi's request...

She pressed her lips together, bewildered, her slender fingers twisting together, her gaze frantically falling to her pressed-toed shoes, as if the answer lay there. She wanted to shake her head, to refuse, but her throat felt blocked, unable to utter a sound, her body frozen in place. In the end, she simply maintained that bowed head posture, offering a silent answer through her silence and evasiveness.

Looking at Mutsumi's flustered, silent, and almost acquiescing demeanor, Nagasaki Motoyo felt a surge of cold resentment mixed with anxiety welling up inside her.

The smile on her face vanished completely.

“Xiao Mu is always like this.” Su Shi’s voice turned cold, like the frost of early winter. “She always says annoying things, and she never does the things she asks you to do properly.”

She took a small step forward, approaching the silent Mu. Her usually gentle and smiling light blue eyes were now sharp as ice picks, piercing straight at him.