People in Mygo are emotional firefighters.

It seems that something... interesting happened without his knowledge.

He tactfully refrained from pressing the matter, instead picking up his iced Americano, taking another sip, and turning his gaze to the window, feigning interest in a particular cloud, giving Xiangzi some time to process this "socially savage" thought.

As Ruoye Mu watched Xiangzi's flustered and embarrassed appearance, his golden eyes remained calm. He merely tilted his head slightly, seemingly not quite understanding why Xiangzi was reacting so strongly.

She just...

It's just to confirm the rule changes.

Toyokawa Shoko watched as Masahiro considerately looked away, then glanced at Mutsu, who was completely unaware of the "bomb" she had dropped, and felt like she was suffocating. She withdrew her hand, which had been frozen in mid-air, took a deep breath, and tried to calm her racing heart and flushed face. She forced out a voice through clenched teeth, filled with deep helplessness and resignation:

"...Don't bring up things from the past again!"

This statement was less of a command and more of a lament of shame and indignation.

Looking at Xiangzi's almost steaming head and bright red ears, Ruoye Mu quietly said "Oh," as if she were simply confirming an objective fact.

But she didn't seem entirely satisfied. Her golden eyes blinked, glancing at the mortified Xiangzi, then turning to Ishikawa Mayu, who was struggling to suppress her laughter, and once again posed her second question in her straightforward tone:

"So... have you two reconciled now?" She paused slightly, as if choosing the most accurate word.

Her gaze shifted between the two, finally settling on Ishikawa Mayu, and she added an even more impactful statement:

"Now... can we be considered friends?"

"——!!!"

Toyokawa Shoko felt like she was about to explode!

What's wrong with Xiao Mu today?! Was she doing it on purpose?! Why are her questions getting sharper and sharper, making her feel more and more ashamed?!

Reconciliation? Friendship?

These two words, like barbed hooks, precisely evoked all her previous indifference and rejection towards Zhenyu, as well as those awkward concerns and cares that she herself was unwilling to admit.

All she wanted to do right now was find a crack in the ground to crawl into, or immediately shut up her childhood sweetheart, who was always spouting outrageous things, with a coffee cup!

Ishikawa Mayu also clearly recalled the embarrassing scene at the school gate not long ago—when faced with the same question from the green-haired girl, "Are you her friend?", he could only vaguely say "yes" and then flee in panic.

And now, the same problem is facing us again.

He raised his eyes and met the gaze of the blue-haired girl opposite him, who was looking down as if she wanted to hide herself, but whose tense shoulders and red ears betrayed her nervousness.

He saw her embarrassment, her unease, and also the cautious expectation hidden beneath her hard shell.

Ishikawa Mayu didn't answer immediately. He picked up his iced Americano and drank the last bit of bitter liquid mixed with ice water. The cool sensation calmed his chaotic thoughts.

Then, he put down his cup, his gaze calm and composed as he met Ruoye Mu's golden eyes that were waiting for an answer, a perfectly clear smile curving his lips.

"Ah."

He responded.

Toyokawa Shoko's body trembled violently, and her tense shoulders relaxed almost imperceptibly.

She didn't look up, but the blush on her cheeks, which were almost buried under the table, seemed to deepen. This time, however, there was less shame and indignation in that blush, and more of an indescribable, warm, fluttering feeling. Her fingers, which were tightly gripping the hem of her clothes, finally loosened completely and unconsciously rested on the warm latte cup.

When Ye Mu received this crystal-clear answer, a faint glimmer of satisfaction, akin to "mission accomplished," seemed to flash in his golden eyes.

Seeing her like this, a hint of a smile flashed in Ishikawa Mayu's eyes. He leaned forward slightly, getting closer to the green-haired girl sitting next to Xiangzi, and softened his voice, making it sound somewhat persuasive:

"Wakaba-kun, I just answered one of your questions honestly." He paused, looking at the golden eyes that were looking up at him with a hint of doubt, and asked with a smile, "So, in exchange... can I ask you a question too?"

Ruoye Mutsu blinked gently and nodded.

"Do you think..." Ishikawa Mayu's gaze softened and became serious, "Am I now considered your friend?"

He gazed into those calm, golden eyes, his voice filled with sincere expectation, and then added a more intimate probing:

"And... can I call you 'Xiao Mu' now?"

Ruoye Mu's usually calm and serene golden eyes now rippled with emotion. She seemed surprised that Ishikawa Mayu would ask such a direct question. Compared to her earlier composure when inquiring about Shoko and Mayu's relationship, she was now visibly flustered, her slender fingers unconsciously twisting the hem of her skirt.

She subconsciously turned her head and cast a pleading look at Xiangzi beside her, only to find that Xiangzi was blushing slightly and staring unfocusedly at the latte in front of him, clearly still immersed in the embarrassment from before, and had no time to pay attention to her at all.

Unable to get outside help, she could only turn back to face Ishikawa Mayu's eyes, which held a gentle smile and patiently awaited her answer. There was no coercion in that gaze, only sincere expectation, which eased her tense nerves slightly.

She lowered her head slightly, her thick green hair falling down and obscuring half of her face. After a few seconds of brief silence, she finally responded softly, yet clearly, in an almost inaudible whisper:

"……Um."

Chapter Ninety-Six (Two Chapters Combined) I Won't Let You Go So Easily

The faint "hmm" reached his ears, and the smile in Ishikawa Mayu's eyes deepened, like warm ripples spreading across a lake where a pebble had been thrown in.

He looked at Xiao Mu's lowered profile, flushed with a faint blush, and her slender fingers unconsciously tightening her skirt. He knew that for her, who was used to burying her emotions deep inside, this was a rare moment of honesty.

He didn't press the issue any further, but simply replied gently, "Well, it's settled then, Xiao Mu."

He uttered this affectionate nickname in such a natural tone, as if he had practiced it countless times in his mind.

Ruo Yemu—no, Xiao Mu's body trembled almost imperceptibly, her fingers, which were twisting the hem of her skirt, loosened slightly. She still didn't look up, but the taut lines of her shoulders softened a little.

Sitting next to Wakaba Mutsu, Toyokawa Shoko secretly raised her head to observe the subtle yet real changes in the girl she was with. She also caught a glimpse of Ishikawa Mayu's gentle and tolerant gaze. The remaining heat on her face gradually faded, and her heartbeat calmed down considerably.

She exhaled softly, feeling the lingering unease in her chest caused by past embarrassment seemingly dispelled by the gentle atmosphere.

You can't dwell on the embarrassment you just felt.

She composed herself and tried to refocus on the important matter at hand, which was one of the main reasons she had asked Zhenyu to come out today.

She picked up her slightly cooled latte, took a small sip to gather her thoughts, then looked up at Ishikawa Mayu, her amber eyes regaining their usual clarity and seriousness.

“Speaking of which, regarding the licensing of ‘Spring Shadows’…” she paused, her tone becoming more formal, “haven’t you received Mu’s response yet?”

She already had the answer to this question.

Last night, she specifically asked Wakaba Mutsu to confirm that Masahiro had indeed not contacted her about this matter.

That's why she secretly arranged today's meeting, as a small surprise for the guy who always quietly helps her solve problems, or rather, a small way of repaying him.

She gently tugged at the sleeve of Wakaba Mutsu, who was still looking down at the mango juice and whose brain was clearly overloaded, slightly waking her from her own world.

Then, she turned to Ishikawa Mayu, a slightly smug and mischievous smile spreading across her face, as if she were showing off a carefully prepared gift.

"Look," she said, her gaze shifting between Zhenyu and the still somewhat bewildered Mutsu, her tone light, "I brought the person over to you today. You two...why don't you have a good chat?"

Ishikawa Mayu immediately understood Xiangzi's intention. He looked at the subtle expression on Xiangzi's face that was a mixture of "praise me quickly" and "no need to thank me too much," and then looked at Xiao Mu beside him, who seemed a little flustered after being suddenly called out. A warm feeling instantly struck his heart.

He clearly remembered that just the day before yesterday, the blue-haired girl had a stern face and made it clear that "You have to handle Xiao Mu's situation yourself. Don't expect me to be your advocate."

But now...

Ishikawa Mayu's gaze fell on Shoko's face, which was trying to remain calm but couldn't hide a hint of expectation and a little smugness, and he couldn't help but chuckle to himself.

That smug, hypocritical demeanor... really hasn't changed at all.

An urge to immediately expose her and see her even more flustered surged within me.

But he swallowed the words back down his throat.

After all, Xiangzi's "composure" at this moment was actually quite fragile, as evidenced by the faint light in the depths of his amber eyes and the slightly taut corners of his mouth.

If we were to directly point out that she "clearly said she wouldn't be a lobbyist but still brought people along," this thin-skinned young lady would probably blush immediately, either retorting angrily or dragging Xiao Mu away from the scene, instantly shattering the hard-won atmosphere.

Forget it.

Ishikawa Mayu smiled inwardly, a mixture of helplessness and indulgence, suppressing the urge to tease him.

The fact that she went to this lengths was enough to show her feelings. He appreciated her clumsy, reluctant concern.

As for granting Xiao Mu authorization last night...

It's not that he hadn't considered it.

Making such a request about personal gain at a formal first meeting, or even at a dinner ostensibly to return a gift, seems overly calculating and betrays Xiao Mu's pure intention in growing the cucumbers herself.

He prefers to build trust as "friends" first, rather than letting the relationship be tainted by self-interest from the very beginning.

Now, the opportunity created by Xiangzi seems much more natural.

He suppressed these thoughts, his gaze towards Xiangzi filled with undisguised surprise and gratitude, and the corners of his mouth involuntarily turned up, finally turning into a gentle response that conveyed understanding without pointing it out: "Xiangzi, you... have gone to a lot of trouble."

Toyokawa Shoko's heart skipped a beat at his pointed yet ambiguous response, her cheeks flushed slightly, and she subconsciously turned her face away, picking up her latte and taking another sip as a cover-up, her voice even more indistinct than before: "You... stop flattering yourself!"

Seeing her stubbornness despite being seen through, Ishikawa Mayu's smile deepened, but he wisely refrained from dwelling on the topic.

He dropped his joking expression, turned his gaze to the quiet Xiao Mu beside him, and said in a serious and gentle tone: "Xiao Mu."

Hearing this, Ruoye Mu looked up, her golden eyes gazing at him, still carrying a trace of lingering confusion.

"Su Sei told you before that we were forming a band, right?" Ishikawa Mayu looked into her eyes and said earnestly, "We want to reinterpret 'Spring Shadow' and hope to get your permission."

"Although we may use new methods to perform, we will definitely do so with the utmost respect and sincerity."

Xiao Mu listened quietly, her golden eyes shifting slightly as she glanced at Xiangzi, who, though her face was turned away, was clearly focused on them, before looking back at Ishikawa Maho.

Her fingers curled slightly as she placed her hand on her knee.

After a brief silence, she met Ishikawa Mayu's expectant gaze and nodded gently.

"……Um."

Her voice remained soft, yet carried a clear certainty. There were no unnecessary questions, no hesitation; it was as if in her heart, this was already a natural progression. Perhaps, the answer was already clear when she tacitly accepted the name "Xiao Mu" and felt this selfless kindness.

Seeing her straightforward response, Ishikawa Mayu finally felt a weight lifted from his heart, and was also grateful for his restraint last night. A bright and relieved smile bloomed on his face, and he sincerely said, "Thank you, Mutsu."

After listening to their amicable conversation, Xiangzi breathed a sigh of relief, a look of satisfaction on his face.

Then, as if remembering something, she turned her amber eyes to Ishikawa Mayu, her eyes sparkling with a clear light of expectation.

"So, how's the adaptation of 'Spring Shadow' going?" She leaned forward slightly, her tone impatient as she asked.

Seeing her anxious expression, Ishikawa Mayu felt somewhat helpless and replied with a hint of teasing, "It's only been a few days, Miss. Even if you hire the best producer, it's impossible to conjure up a complete arrangement score so quickly, isn't it? Aren't you being a little too hasty?"

Shoko Toyokawa pursed her lips a little embarrassed by his words, but then crossed her arms confidently and raised her chin slightly: "What's so strange about me taking it seriously? This is my piece! Besides, didn't you promise to treat it well?"

“Yes, yes, of course I remember.” Ishikawa Mayu nodded with a smile, then decided to reveal some progress, “Currently, Riki is in charge of the main adaptation work.”

"Li hope?" Xiangzi's face showed obvious surprise. "She...has started to get into music arrangement?"

In her memory, Shiina Tatsuki had always been a drummer who focused on drum rhythms, had a fiery temper, but solid skills. She never expected that Shiina would take the initiative to step into the field of music arrangement.

"Well, I just mentioned it to everyone a couple of days ago, but I must have some confidence to take on the adaptation task." Ishikawa Mayu thought for a moment, then added, "Besides, you don't need to worry about me not taking it seriously."

"Starting tonight, I'm officially going to 'apprentice' under Li hope and learn music arrangement from her. So, don't worry..."

His gaze met Xiangzi's slightly surprised eyes, and his voice was clear and firm:

“I will be involved in the whole process and witness firsthand how your song ‘Spring Shadow’ gradually transforms, adapts to the new band, and is given new life.”

"But I have to make this clear beforehand: I'm a complete novice, so you can't complain about my skill level when I make it."

Toyokawa Shoko was stunned.

She never expected that Ishikawa Mayu would go to such lengths for her arrangement of this piece. It wasn't just about communication and authorization, or just about verbal promises; it was about genuinely being willing to spend time and effort to learn a complex skill from scratch, just to better "witness" and "participate."

A warm current surged into her heart without warning, dispelling the last trace of estrangement and unease caused by the past. Her amber eyes widened slightly, clearly reflecting Mayu's smiling face, shimmering with an incredulous and deeply moved light.

He actually... did it all for her music...

Toyokawa Shoko opened her mouth, wanting to say something, but found her throat tighten. She suppressed all her surging emotions and transformed them into a bright, watery smile.

She took a deep breath, trying to suppress the stinging sensation in her nose and the warmth welling up in her eyes. She couldn't lose her composure in front of him, absolutely not.

She lowered her head slightly, using the tidying of her not-too-messy hair around her ears to conceal her out-of-control expression. When she raised her head again, she had already tried her best to put on a slightly critical look.

"Hmph, since you've put it that way..." Her voice was slightly lower than usual, with a barely perceptible tremor, but her tone was deliberately forceful. "Then I'll have to supervise you even more strictly! If the final adaptation isn't good enough, I won't let you off easily!"

Upon hearing this, Ishikawa Mayu immediately made an exaggerated, hurt expression, her tone filled with accusations of "unfairness": "Hey, hey, hey! This isn't fair! Why is it only me? Where's Riki? Where's Riki? She's the one mainly in charge of the adaptation!"

Looking at his silly antics, the last vestiges of emotion in Toyokawa Shoko's heart were instantly replaced by amusement. She raised her chin slightly, snorted, and said matter-of-factly, "Lixi never promised me anything."

These words, though spoken in a capricious manner, carried an unreasonable intimacy that could only be shown to close friends and family.

Her slightly reddened eyes and her brighter, star-like eyes revealed the true shock and joy in her heart.

Seeing her like this, Ishikawa Mayu's heart softened instantly, and she could only nod in agreement: "Yes, yes, yes, Miss, you're in charge. I will do my utmost to complete the mission and make sure you can't find any fault with it."

This exaggerated statement finally made Xiangzi unable to hold back, and he burst out laughing.

Then she gave him a gentle glare, but her eyes held no anger, only a gentle, watery tenderness.

"That's more like it." Toyokawa Shoko muttered softly, but couldn't hide the ever-growing smile on her lips.