People in Mygo are emotional firefighters.

To Chihaya Aine's surprise, her deliberately raised volume did indeed create huge ripples, like a pebble thrown into a calm pond—but the direction of these ripples was completely different from what she had expected.

"band?!"

"Little Lamp, do you want to join a band?"

"I thought you weren't interested in forming a band, but it turns out you do!"

The students, who had been chatting and organizing their notes at their seats, were instantly drawn to Gao Songdeng's desk as if by a magnet. A tidal wave of questions, exclamations of surprise, and curious glances surged toward the still somewhat bewildered Gao Songdeng.

Chihaya Aine, who had been naturally "squeezed" out of the circle by her classmates, stood alone in place, her smile frozen.

She looked at Takamatsu Akari, who was surrounded by everyone and was clearly being treated warmly despite her shyness, and then looked down at her own empty surroundings. A feeling of loss mixed with being ignored and a slight sense of grievance that "I was the one who started it" quietly crept into her heart.

The pink head drooped down, like a flower that had suddenly lost the sunlight.

Just as Chihaya Aine was pursing her lips, feeling a little sore in her nose, and preparing to silently retreat to her seat, a warm hand gently tugged at the hem of her school uniform jacket.

The force was very light, yet carried an undeniable air of authority.

Chihaya Aine paused for a moment, then subconsciously turned her head following the slight force.

Ishikawa Mayu remained seated calmly. He simply turned to the side, hooking the hem of her dress with his fingers, and looked up at her. In those eyes, which always carried a hint of laziness and helplessness, her reflection was now clearly visible.

He didn't speak, but gestured with his eyes to the empty space beside him.

Chihaya Aine looked into his calm eyes, and at the finger that was hooking the hem of her clothes. The cold sense of loss that had just risen in her heart was instantly washed away by a warm current.

She sniffed, and without any hesitation, almost immediately and obediently moved her feet to stand next to Ishikawa Mayu's seat, next to his desk, as if that was the place she was rightfully supposed to be.

Although we were still outside the crowd, his presence made that small space seem less empty and unsettling.

The surrounding noise seemed veiled by a hazy mist, becoming distant and unreal. Only the faint, refreshing scent emanating from the person beside me, and his steady breathing, clearly lingered in my senses.

Although Mayu usually seems to dislike trouble, she's incredibly reliable in situations like this...

Chihaya Aine secretly raised her eyelids and quickly glanced at Ishikawa Mayu.

He maintained his previous posture, slightly turned to the side, one elbow resting on the table, his palm supporting his chin, and the fingers of his other hand loosely hooking the hem of her clothes.

Although his gaze had returned to the open book, he did not let go of it.

This realization made Ai Yin's little bit of pride and satisfaction expand little by little, like an inflated balloon.

She shifted her toes slightly to make herself more comfortable, and then, mimicking him, leaned slightly against the edge of the table, pretending to look at the books on his desk, but actually her eyes were fixed on his clean and sharp profile.

Hmph, at least you still have some conscience.

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

The morning classes passed uneventfully.

When the lunch break bell finally rang, the atmosphere in the classroom became lively again.

Chihaya Aine has also fully recovered her energy and is excitedly discussing something with Mai and Kana, accompanied by her characteristic overly sweet laughter.

It seems that a morning was enough for her to process those little emotions.

Ishikawa Mayu felt somewhat relieved.

So, what's next...?

He took a deep breath and, while everyone in the classroom was busy having lunch or chatting animatedly, quietly slipped out through the back door.

The corridor was much quieter than the classrooms, with only a few footsteps and the sounds of laughter and conversation peeking through the cracks in the classroom doors.

Since the goal is to reconcile with Xiangzi, then no matter what, they should at least meet with her.

although……

Ishikawa Mayu was not prepared at all...

Even if he met Toyokawa Shoko, he probably wouldn't be able to say anything meaningful...

He thought the most likely place to see Xiangzi was probably the activity room of the school band.

Yesterday in the activity room, he witnessed Xiang playing the piano with his own eyes—a state of complete immersion, as if she had temporarily broken free from all shackles, which he had never seen before since he knew her.

The weight of life piled up on her shoulders, and if she needed an outlet to vent her emotions and catch her breath, the piano might be one of her few remaining options.

He stood outside the band activity room, took a deep breath, and tried to calm the inexplicable tension in his heart.

He unconsciously rubbed his fingertips against the seam of his pants, but in the end, he steeled himself and gently pushed open the door.

"Squeak-"

The door hinges made a slight sound, revealing the entire interior.

The setting sun cast warm dappled light through the window onto the floor, while tiny dust particles floated in the air.

The piano stood quietly in the corner, its lid closed, covered with a thin layer of dust that was almost invisible in the light.

There was no blue figure sitting on the piano bench as I had expected, no flowing piano music, only a quiet emptiness where I could almost hear my own heartbeat.

Ishikawa Mayu stood frozen at the doorway.

When he stood outside the door, it was so quiet you could hear a pin drop. How could he have so easily assumed that Xiangzi would be inside...?

It seems I was just too nervous...

Ishikawa Mayu sighed, turned away dejectedly, and prepared to leave the empty activity room.

A figure suddenly entered his field of vision—Toyokawa Shoko was walking briskly toward the activity room with her head down. Her steps were fast, with a habitual haste, and a few strands of blue hair on her forehead swayed slightly with her movements.

When she looked up and her gaze met that of Ishikawa Mayu, who was standing in the doorway and hadn't yet fully turned around, her body visibly stiffened.

Ishikawa Mayu clearly saw a fleeting look of surprise in her amber eyes, which was quickly replaced by a familiar, cold wariness.

The air seemed to freeze for a few seconds.

His throat was a little dry, and he was about to say something, but Xiangzi had already looked away.

She didn't say anything, as if Mayu had never been there at all.

Toyokawa Shoko simply pursed her lips, her jawline taut, as if she had made up her mind.

Then, under the somewhat stunned gaze of Ishikawa Mayu, she took a step forward.

With an extremely natural yet deliberately distant posture, she passed through the gap beside Ishikawa Mayu and walked straight into the activity room.

However, just after she had fully entered the room, the door she had pushed open did not close immediately as Ishikawa Mayu had expected.

It was only partially covered, leaving a small gap.

Ishikawa Mayu suddenly understood.

Not driving them away was the maximum "permission" she could give at that moment.

This door that wasn't closed was a crack beneath her hard exterior, a crack that even she herself was unwilling to acknowledge.

Without further hesitation, he reached out and gently pushed open the door, then went inside.

The door to the music room was ajar.

After a moment of silence, the sound of a piano began to flow out.

It began with a few heavy, hesitant notes, as if trudging through mud. Then, the melody became rapid and chaotic, like a question or a struggle, filled with restlessness and grievances that had nowhere to go.

But this intense emotion did not last. After a few broken chords, the tone suddenly turned somber, carrying a deep weariness and lingering sorrow. Finally, all the sounds slowly quieted down, returning to a near-empty, bewildered tranquility.

Chapter Sixty: Mu's Confusion

In a corner of the flowerbed at Tsukimori Girls' Academy, the afternoon sunlight was filtered softly by the dense foliage.

Ruoye Mu squatted in front of a small patch of carefully tended cucumber seedlings, holding a small watering can, the clear water flowing evenly over the emerald green leaves and tender shoots. Her movements were meticulous, her golden eyes focused intently on each plant, as if performing a sacred ritual.

Despite being surrounded by more beautiful and precious flowers in full bloom, she only guards her own small patch of verdant world.

Because... this is the only thing that belongs solely to her.

Nagasaki Motoyo stood beside Wakaba Mutsu, her hands elegantly folded in front of her, a faint smile on her face.

"Mutsu-chan, I've joined the band."

"..."

Ruoye Mutsu stopped watering the plants.

Slowly raising her head, her usually calm and serene golden eyes now clearly reflected Su Shi's smiling face.

Her eyes widened slightly, and her small lips unconsciously parted into a small arc. Although she still didn't make a loud sound, the subtle change in her expression was quite a clear expression of emotion for Wakaba Mutsu, who usually had few expressions.

"……Really?"

Her voice was soft, like a feather brushing against a leaf, carrying a cautious confirmation and a hint of barely perceptible relief for the other person.

"...Lixi and Xiaodeng are both here, and Zhenyu-kun is also willing to come with me."

As Ruoye Mu listened quietly, a hint of understanding flashed in her golden eyes.

Su Shi seemed to have found a new home, someone to walk alongside, and she felt a sense of relief from the bottom of her heart.

She nodded slightly in response, then turned her attention back to the watering can in her hand, and the water flowed gently onto the emerald green cucumber seedlings once again.

"Later I also found Xiao Xiang."

"..."

The trickle of water suddenly stopped.

Nagasaki Motoyo turned her head slightly, her gaze falling on Wakaba Mutsumi's lowered profile. She carefully observed her expression, not missing a single subtle change. Her tone remained gentle, yet carried an unmistakable undertone:

"So she was in Yuqiu."

Ruo Ye Mu lowered her eyelids, her long eyelashes casting a small shadow under her eyes, concealing the complex emotions that surged within them.

It turns out that Su Shi's band is still clinging to the past, and is trying to pull Xiangzi back into the circle called "Crychic".

and……

How did Su Shi know that Xiangzi was in Yuqiu?

It was because I had suddenly appeared at the entrance of Haneoka that day, and was seen by that boy named Ishikawa, who then called out Xiangzi's name...

Ruoye Mu felt a little guilty.

Did I accidentally reveal Xiangzi's whereabouts?

“I will come looking for you later,” Nagasaki Motoyo’s voice rang out again, gently interrupting Mutsu’s thoughts.

She tilted her head slightly, her face bearing her usual gentle smile that seemed to conceal all sharpness, and spoke as naturally as if discussing afternoon tea pastries, "Wait a little longer~"

Then, as if suddenly remembering something, a very faint, almost imperceptible blush appeared on her cheeks, a rare occurrence that subtly contrasted with her usual poised and confident demeanor. She reached out her slender fingers and somewhat awkwardly twirled the ends of her honey-brown hair, her voice lower than before, tinged with a rare, girlish shyness:

"I hope... you'll like Mayu-kun."

The moment those words left his mouth, even Su Shi himself was slightly taken aback.

Reorganizing Crychic and bringing back past partners is, in her view, a matter of course that everyone should understand and support.

She didn't feel that any explanation or apology was needed.

But... Shinba-kun is different.

He was entirely new, a "variable" that had entered her existing life, someone she insisted on dragging into this complex vortex out of some selfish motive that she herself was not yet fully aware of.

The feeling of bringing a "new man" into the realm that originally belonged to her and her friends, a realm filled with memories and pain, made her feel a rare sense of shyness and trepidation, similar to "introducing an important person."

She hoped that her cherished old friends would accept the new bond she had chosen.

Ruo Yemu kept her head down, her golden eyes flickering slightly.

She clearly sensed the subtle emotional shifts in Su Shi's words, as well as the selfish expectation she held for "Zhen Yu Jun".

This made her even more certain that Su Shi had an unusual fondness for the boy named Ishikawa Mayu.

However, this realization did not bring her any relief; instead, it made her heavy worries even more concrete. At the same time, a deeper, more incomprehensible curiosity, like intertwined vines, quietly wrapped around her heart.

Maya Ishikawa...

She recalled that brief encounter at the entrance of Yugaoka School. He was indeed quite outstanding, with clear features and a clean-cut demeanor; he was the kind of person who would stand out in a crowd.

But apart from that, the feeling he gave her at the time, apart from the obvious panic and embarrassment of wanting to escape when his relationship with Xiangzi was exposed, seemed to be... nothing deeper or more special.

At least on the surface, he was just an ordinary male high school student who was very good-looking.