People in Mygo are emotional firefighters.

However, a hint of worry soon appeared on her brow.

She hesitated for a moment, but couldn't help speaking, her voice much softer than before: "Um... are you sure it's okay if you go to the Shiina family's house later?"

She knew very well Shiina Ritsuki's temper, which could explode at any moment, especially when facing someone like Mayu who sometimes seemed "not very smart".

Upon hearing this, Ishikawa Mayu waved his hand dismissively, his face even showing a hint of "ready to die": "What problem could there be? At worst, I'll just get called an 'idiot' by Riki a couple of times, or get hit on the head with a drumstick when he gets impatient."

He paused, then turned his gaze to Ruoye Mu, a sly smile playing on his lips, and deliberately spoke in an exaggerated, deeply affectionate tone:

"Besides, what is this little bit of hardship compared to Xiangzi's most precious treasure? Don't you agree, Xiao Mu?"

He deliberately emphasized "our Xiangzi" and "the most important treasure," and his eyes darted mischievously toward Toyokawa Xiangzi, who had frozen in place for a moment.

Toyokawa Shoko's smile froze instantly. She felt as if steam was about to rise from the top of her head, and she turned her head sharply.

"Ishikawa, Makoto, Yu! Who, who gave you permission to call me that?! And! Don't you dare talk nonsense in front of Mutsuki!"

Xiao Mu, who was suddenly called out, simply stopped sipping her drink, raised her calm golden eyes, looked at Xiangzi, whose cheeks were flushed red and who was almost jumping up, and then looked at Ishikawa Mayu, who had a mischievous smile on her face.

She tilted her head slightly, seemingly processing this overly complex information about human interaction.

Then, under Xiangzi's tense gaze, she nodded very slightly, almost imperceptibly, in the direction of Ishikawa Mayu.

"……Um."

That soft response was like the last straw that broke the camel's back.

Toyokawa Shoko completely gave up struggling, letting out a soft, almost desperate sob, and burying her burning cheeks deep in her hands.

Looking at the "horrific" scene before him, Ishikawa Mayu finally couldn't help but chuckle softly.

Knowing when to stop, he picked up his violin, stood up, and said, "Alright, alright, that's enough. It's almost time. I should go and face 'Teacher Lixi's' storm."

He waved to Xiangzi, who was hiding his face in his hands and refusing to face reality, and to Xiaomu, who remained calm but seemed to have a very faint smile on his lips.

"Well then, see you next time."

Chapter Ninety-Seven: Shiina's Sister

2:30 PM.

Ishikawa Mayu stood in front of the Shiina house, afternoon sunlight filtering through the leaves and casting dappled patterns at his feet. He glanced at his phone screen—half an hour until their agreed meeting at three o'clock.

Arriving early is better than being late, especially when facing Shiina Tatsuki. He was thinking this and was about to send a message to let him know that he had arrived when his phone vibrated first.

Sender: Shiina Tatsuki.

Haven't you set off yet?

The text conveyed a familiar sense of urgency, and Ishikawa Mayu could almost picture her frowning as she stared at her phone.

How anxious is this guy?

He smiled helplessly, his fingertip hovering over the reply box, about to tell her that he had arrived.

"Who are you?"

A gentle female voice came from behind. Ishikawa Mayu turned around and was slightly taken aback.

The woman standing behind him looked very similar to Li hope, with the same delicate features and a beauty mark under her left eye.

But she was a few points taller than Li hope, with shoulder-length hair neatly tucked behind her ears. She wore a simple beige knit sweater and long skirt, carrying an eco-friendly bag, as if she had just returned from shopping. What was most different about her was her temperament—a faint smile in her eyes, her whole being like warm water soaked in spring sunshine, warm but not scorching.

This sudden encounter caught Ishikawa Mayu somewhat off guard.

His social anxiety instincts were instantly triggered, and he almost subconsciously took a half step back, his gaze drifting uncontrollably before finally focusing.

His mind raced—she looked so much like Li hope, could she be his sister? He hadn't heard Li Xi mention anything about her family, and could only guess based on the limited information he had, his heart filled with uncertainty.

"Uh, hello..." he said somewhat awkwardly, his voice softer than usual, his fingers unconsciously gripping the edge of his phone. "I... I'm called Ishikawa Mayu... I'm here to see Shiina Tatsuki."

His gaze cautiously swept over the other person's gentle face, then quickly fell back down, as if burned by that overly warm aura. This feeling, so different from Li Xi's, made him even more nervous, completely unsure of how to react.

"Looking for Riki?" Shiina Maki was a little surprised. She tilted her head slightly, raised her index finger and lightly touched her lips, repeating Mayu's words.

Like a primary school student being called on by the teacher, Ishikawa Mayu nodded nervously, her movements somewhat stiff.

He felt his cheeks rising in temperature, his gaze involuntarily drifting back to the ground, his voice lower: "...Yes, we agreed to discuss the band's arrangement..."

After receiving Mayu's reply, Shiina Maki seemed to be deep in thought.

Speaking of which, Lixi seemed a bit off yesterday... She locked herself in her room as soon as she got home.

But this morning she suddenly seemed to be in a very good mood...

Could it be... related to this boy?

He made Lixi angry, and then he ran over to coax her.

Looking at Ishikawa Mayu's nervous, almost trembling posture and darting gaze, avoiding eye contact, Shiina Maki felt her guess was increasingly plausible. She clearly looked like someone who had done something wrong and was running to apologize cautiously, afraid of being harassed by her parents!

Shiina Maki's gaze lingered on Ishikawa Mayu for a few more seconds without being noticed.

Hmm... He has a handsome and refined appearance, the kind that easily makes girls like him. He has a tall and straight figure and a clean and pure demeanor. Although he's nervous like a child who's done something wrong, his eyes seem quite sincere.

That kid, Lixi... has pretty good taste.

This thought deepened the smile in Maki's eyes, carrying a sense of relief and curiosity that "her little sister has finally grown up." The more she looked at the boy in front of her, the more she felt that this uneasy boy was the "culprit" that had caused Riki's unusual behavior yesterday and her inexplicable happiness this morning.

Under Maki's scrutinizing and probing gaze, Ishikawa Mayu felt a cold sweat break out on her back.

The scene before him instantly brought back memories of the embarrassing situation he had experienced when he went out to eat with Aunt Nagasaki and Motoyo Nagasaki.

The feeling of being carefully observed by a gentle older sister always easily touched the most sensitive nerve of his social anxiety. What's more, the woman in front of him, who resembled Li hope but was as gentle and warm as if bathed in the spring sunshine, was a complete stranger.

The tension born of the unknown, mixed with an indescribable, subtle feeling of being overwhelmed by that overwhelmingly beautiful aura, made him even more at a loss.

He subconsciously swallowed, feeling even his breathing become somewhat difficult. He could only stand stiffly in place, enduring this unsettling "attention," hoping that the woman would end this suffocating scrutiny soon.

Just then, the phone in my hand vibrated again, the screen lit up, and it was Shiina Tatsuki's LINE again.

Why haven't I received a reply yet?

The impatience conveyed in the text almost overflowed the screen, yet it also acted as a lifeline, temporarily rescuing Ishikawa Mayu from this awkward silence.

As if he had found some legitimate reason, he almost immediately raised his phone, the screen facing Maki. His movements were somewhat clumsy due to his urgency, and his voice carried obvious panic: "Th-that! Riki-san... seems to be urging us..."

He really didn't know how to address Maki, so he could only give a vague answer, his eyes filled with a plea for "please let me go".

Seeing his anxious, almost desperate expression, Shiina Maki finally couldn't help but chuckle softly, her laughter as gentle as a warm breeze. She stopped pressuring the boy, who seemed so nervous he was practically jumping around, and deftly took out her keys, opening the apartment door with practiced ease.

"Come in quickly, don't keep Lixi waiting." Her tone was still gentle, but she finally looked away from the scrutinizing gaze that made Ishikawa Mayu uneasy and walked into the apartment first.

Ishikawa Mayu felt as if he had been granted a pardon and practically slipped inside, hugging the doorframe as if afraid of disturbing something. He stood in the entryway, still somewhat at a loss.

Maki placed the shopping bags on the cabinet beside her, turned around and saw him still standing there, so she pointed to the shoe cabinet: "The guest slippers are over there, please help yourselves." Then she raised her voice slightly towards the room, "Tachi, your friend is here."

As soon as Maki finished speaking, the door to the second-floor room was suddenly pulled open.

Shiina Tatsuki frowned, her face showing obvious annoyance, and poked her head out: "Who is it?"

Her complaints stopped abruptly. When her gaze fell on the familiar figure in the entryway, she was clearly stunned, her brain seemingly shutting down instantly.

Ishikawa Mayu? How come he... arrived so early? And he's standing with her sister?!

Chapter Ninety-Eight: A Step Ahead of My Sister?

Shiina Tatsuki's gaze darted back and forth between Ishikawa Mayu in the entryway and her smiling older sister Maki beside her, her brain seemingly frozen in place.

Why is he standing with his sister? What were they talking about outside the door? And what's with that "I know everything" smile on his sister's face?!

Countless questions and a strange sense of guilt instantly overwhelmed Lixi's thoughts, leaving her frozen in place, even the rebuke she had prepared for Ishikawa Mayu stuck in her throat.

Shiina Maki took in her younger sister's momentary stunned surprise. She smiled slightly, her tone carrying just the right amount of teasing, her gaze shifting between Ritsuki and the obviously more flustered Ishikawa Mayu: "Ritsuki, we have guests coming to the house today. Why didn't you tell your older sister beforehand?"

She paused deliberately, softening her voice, which carried a hint of sadness, but her eyes were full of knowing amusement: "Was it because you were so focused on preparing that you forgot about your sister? Your sister is so sad~"

Shiina Maki's words were like a pebble precisely thrown into a calm lake, instantly stirring up a tidal wave in Riki's heart.

"Too concerned"... "Forgot about her sister"...

My brain went blank, as if fireworks had exploded.

Yesterday, her mind was completely occupied with how to teach this troublesome guy and how to build the adaptation framework for "Spring Shadow" in the shortest amount of time. From an efficiency standpoint, discussing it at home was definitely more convenient. And discussing it at home was indeed the most convenient; she could demonstrate anytime using the equipment, without having to lug her computer around…

I didn't even consider any other direction! Not even for a second!

But now, with her sister's gentle yet teasing tone pointing it out, she belatedly realized—letting a boy come to her house, not to mention having him stay in her room afterward… what does it really mean for a girl to be alone with a boy in a room!

This...this is exactly the kind of situation where...it might be misunderstood!

As for informing my sister...

Lixi's cheeks were so red they looked like they were about to bleed.

When she came back yesterday, she was very agitated by Ishikawa Mayu's mention of "Tachibana-sensei" and the subsequent jumbled thoughts. This morning, she started urgently brainstorming teaching plans, her mind filled with notes, chords, and all sorts of potential technical problems...

She had completely forgotten that she needed to inform her sister that guests were coming to the house!

"I...I didn't...I didn't..."

Lixi tried to explain, but her voice became weak and feeble due to extreme embarrassment and panic, completely losing its usual imposing manner.

She felt like a child caught red-handed, clumsily hiding a secret, all her thoughts laid bare under her sister's gentle yet sharp gaze.

Her voice trailed off, her eyes darting away, unable to meet her sister's smiling gaze, even though Ishikawa Mayu beside her was also keeping her head down, wishing she could disappear into the ground...

Seeing her younger sister's adorable, flustered expression as she tried to cover up her confusion, Shiina Maki finally stopped teasing her and simply smiled gently: "Okay, okay, I won't tease you anymore. Go take your friend to your room, don't let this delay our business."

As she spoke, she turned to Ishikawa Mayu, her tone still friendly: "Ishikawa-kun, don't be shy, make yourself at home. Would you like something to drink?"

Ishikawa Mayu quickly shook her head, her voice barely audible: "N-no need, thank you Shiina... sister..."

All he wanted to do right now was disappear from Shiina's overly warm and insightful gaze.

Shiina Tatsuki felt like he'd been granted a pardon and almost immediately growled at Ishikawa Mayu, his voice still carrying lingering embarrassment and urgency: "What are you waiting for! Come in!"

After saying that, she didn't wait for Ishikawa Mayu's reaction and retreated back into the room, leaving only a crack in the door to signal him to follow.

Ishikawa Mayu bowed hastily to Maki-neechan again before following her with somewhat flustered steps. She gently closed the door to Riki's room, shutting out the heart-pounding "warmth."

The door closed gently, separating the two worlds inside and outside the room.

Shiina Maki stood there, listening to the faint, deliberately lowered but still undeniably embarrassed and annoyed voice coming from inside the door, as well as the indistinct, apologetic response from the boy named Ishikawa. Finally, she couldn't help but shake her head slightly and chuckle softly.

These two children...

One, who usually acts like a fierce little hedgehog, was now so flustered that even the tips of his ears turned red; the other, who looked clean and pretty, stood at the door so nervous that he moved his hands and feet in unison, his eyes darting around like a frightened deer.

This naive and clumsy appearance is just... so funny.

Maki smiled gently and knowingly, but a complex ripple quietly rose in her heart, carrying the comfort of being an older sister and a very faint feeling that even she herself had not delved into.

Unexpectedly, her younger sister, Lixi, who had a fiery temper and was always somewhat impatient with things other than music, had tasted the wonderful feeling of "love" earlier than her older sister.

Seeing how restless she was yesterday, locking herself in her room, and how cheerful she was humming a song this morning... I realized that was the root of the problem.

Maki's gaze fell softly on the closed door, as if she could see through the door and into the two boys and girls inside, who were in a state of chaos because of her "surprise attack".

Youth is wonderful. This feeling of being cautious, anxious, yet filled with boundless sweetness…

She let out a soft breath, suppressing the subtle emotions welling up inside her. As the older sister, all she could do now was silently protect and support her.

but……

Maki suddenly remembered the conversation at the door and frowned slightly.

I think I was so busy observing and teasing him that I forgot to formally introduce myself to that boy named Ishikawa? In the end, he only seemed to call me "Shiina-neechan"...

That would be rather impolite.

She thought to herself, "I'll have to make up for it next time I have the chance."

After all, this was the first "friend" that Lixi brought home.

Thinking of this, Maki's smile deepened. She turned and walked briskly towards the kitchen, happily considering what drinks and snacks to prepare for the two "little friends" in the room.

Orange juice? Black tea? Or… maybe young people prefer carbonated drinks? As for snacks, there seems to be a cheesecake I bought yesterday in the fridge…

Yes, we must treat them well.