People in Mygo are emotional firefighters.

……

"...Therefore, the solution to the chords here cannot be considered only in terms of the melody line of a single instrument; it must be viewed within the context of the entire harmonic progression..."

Shiina Tatsuki pointed to the complex audio track analysis diagram on the screen, but before she could finish speaking, a slight but continuous buzzing sound interrupted her.

It was Ishikawa Mayu's phone, which was on her desk, that was vibrating, and the screen lit up, showing a new LINE message notification.

Ishikawa Mayu seemed oblivious, his gaze still fixed on the audio track on the screen, his fingers even unconsciously mimicking a certain fingering on his knees, clearly still completely immersed in the harmony knowledge that Lixi had just explained, trying to digest and understand it.

Seeing his completely absorbed state, even ignoring external distractions, Shiina Tatsuki's brows, which had instinctively furrowed due to the interruption, immediately relaxed.

Sustained high-intensity study definitely requires rest, and what if it's something important? She's not the kind of person who's heartless.

So she stopped explaining, impatiently tapping the edge of the screen with the mouse cursor, making a soft "tap-tap" sound, forcibly pulling Ishikawa Mayu's attention back from the depths of the music.

“Hello,” she said in a rather curt, businesslike tone, “someone is looking for you. LINE.”

"Huh?" Ishikawa Mayu blinked blankly before looking at her phone in response to the sound.

The screen was lit up, displaying the time—18:07—and a new message from Motoyo Nagasaki.

[Su Shi: Zhenyu-kun, haven't you gone home yet? Is there anything you'd like to eat tonight?]

It's already this late? He was slightly taken aback; his sense of time, immersed in the sea of ​​knowledge, was indeed unreliable.

Although Shiina Riki's gaze remained fixed on the screen, his fingers unconsciously scrolling the wheel, his peripheral vision involuntarily glanced at his phone screen with a hint of barely perceptible curiosity.

However, given her personality, she would never be so shy as to directly ask, "Who is it?"

Ishikawa Mayu noticed her subtle probing and smiled, explaining, "It was Sue who asked what we were doing tonight..."

As he spoke, he subconsciously turned to look out the window. It was a May evening, and the sky had not yet fully sunk into a deep blue; a warm glow still lingered, giving the city skyline a soft edge.

"It is indeed getting late." He pondered, a hint of consideration in his voice.

When Shiina Tatsuki heard the name "Suseo", he pursed his lips almost imperceptibly.

Yes, it's normal for him to eat with Su Shijia upstairs.

"……Oh."

She uttered a monotonous syllable, her gaze returning to the screen, her fingers unconsciously scrolling the mouse wheel.

She understands, of course she understands. That's normal.

But why... do I feel a little tightness in my chest?

She stared at the scrolling audio tracks on the screen; the notes that had been so vibrant just moments before now seemed somewhat blurred. A sense of emptiness, a feeling of "I knew it," accompanied by a disappointment that she herself found utterly pointless and even laughable, quietly spread through her. She and he were, after all, just bandmates, and… a temporary "teacher-student" relationship. Nothing more.

Are you tired? After all, you've been explaining and thinking at a high intensity for so long.

He felt it was time to end today's lessons and let Lixi get some rest. He cleared his throat, about to speak:

"I'm so sorry to have troubled you so much today, Teacher Lixi. I've been looking at the time..."

"—Knock knock knock."

A soft, rhythmic knock sounded again, just in time to interrupt his unfinished words.

Shiina Maki pushed open the door and peeked in with a gentle smile.

"Lixi, Ishikawa-kun, you've worked hard studying~" Her gaze swept between the dimly lit room and the two people standing very close together, and her knowing and teasing look made the air in the room tense up slightly again.

Shiina Riki almost immediately recalled the scene of being teased by her sister at the door that afternoon, making her feel so embarrassed. Her cheeks flushed red again, and she lowered her head abruptly, her fingers unconsciously tightening around the mouse.

Ishikawa Mayu was also somewhat embarrassed by Maki's all-seeing gaze. His social anxiety was triggered again, and he subconsciously looked away, not daring to meet those gentle yet overly sharp eyes. His voice was clearly flustered:

"No, I won't bother you any longer! Shiina-neechan, it's getting late, I... I should go back too!"

As he spoke, he tried to get up, his movements appearing somewhat clumsy due to his eagerness.

Looking at the two teenagers in front of her, who were overreacting and whose guilty consciences were practically written all over their faces, Shiina Maki's smile deepened. She especially noticed that although her younger sister had her head down, her slightly perked-up ears and tense back clearly indicated that she was nervously waiting for the outcome of the "negotiations" on this side.

This girl... definitely doesn't want him to leave.

Maki understood immediately, and spoke in a gentle yet unwavering tone, directly interrupting Ishikawa Mayu's attempt to escape:

“Letting guests leave hungry at mealtime is not the way of hospitality in the Shiina family.” She tilted her head slightly, her smile so warm it was impossible to refuse. “Besides, I specially prepared an extra dinner. If Ishikawa-kun doesn’t stay, how will Tatsuki and I finish it? That would be such a waste!”

She paused, her gaze falling on Ishikawa Mayu's face, which was filled with struggle. Her tone softened, carrying just the right amount of "grievance": "Ishikawa-kun, is it really possible for you to... bear to waste your sister's good intentions?"

Ishikawa Mayu was never good at dealing with a gentle yet incredibly perceptive older sister like Shiina Maki, and under her onslaught, her already fragile defenses crumbled instantly.

“…Then…I’ll have to bother you.” He finally gave in.

The smile on Shiina Maki's face instantly became brighter and more genuine, like a spring breeze sweeping across a sea of ​​flowers.

"That's more like it!" She nodded in satisfaction, her gaze casually sweeping over Lixi beside her, whose tense shoulders had visibly relaxed despite her attempts to appear calm. Her tone was light and cheerful. "Then you two get ready, wash your hands, and get ready to eat!"

After saying that, she considerately closed the door for them, leaving the two people in the room with their own thoughts.

Chapter 104 Good Days

Maki gently closed the door, leaving only the two of them in the room again. The air still seemed to carry the subtle atmosphere of "trying to stay and compromise" from before, as well as a hint of barely perceptible awkwardness.

Shiina Ritsuki stared at the closed door, as if she could see her sister's mischievous smile through the door. She felt a strange mix of emotions, both because of her sister's "meddling" and because of her own pathetic reaction just now, a quiet sense of relief that he had ultimately stayed.

What kind of mess is this?!

She scratched her hair in frustration, and almost unconsciously, with a hint of displaced anger, she muttered a complaint:

"My sister is really something... always making decisions on her own..."

These words were less of a complaint and more of a powerless accusation directed at her older sister, who always seemed to see right through her and push her into even more helpless situations.

No sooner had the words left his mouth than a voice from the side, carrying the same helplessness and slight embarrassment, softly echoed:

"...Yes, Shiina-neechan...is indeed a bit overwhelming."

Ishikawa Mayu touched his still slightly burning ears and sighed sincerely. Maki's gentle yet irresistible advances just now were even more difficult for him to handle than Riki's storm of attacks.

At that moment, the two seemed to stand on the same side for a brief time, facing the pressure brought by the "powerful" older sister together.

This sudden and subtle sense of "alliance" startled Shiina Tatsuki for a moment.

She subconsciously turned to look at Ishikawa Masahiro, meeting his equally helpless and embarrassed gaze.

As their eyes met, a strange feeling, akin to "shared suffering," quietly arose, causing her tense heartstrings to relax for a moment.

However, this feeling lasted for less than two seconds.

Li hope suddenly woke up.

Who, who wants to stand on the same side as him?!

Her cheeks flushed slightly from this brief moment of "wavering stance".

Then, Shiina Tatsuki quickly turned her face away, avoiding Ishikawa Mayu's gaze, and said in an even stiffer tone than before, as if to completely sever ties, "..."

"Stop talking nonsense! Who cares if you can handle it or not!"

She pointed towards the door, almost urging and commanding:

"You! Go wash your hands right now! Stop dawdling!"

After saying that, she seemed to want to escape the unsettling atmosphere, and stood up first, walking hurriedly out of the room, leaving Ishikawa Mayu with a huffy back that seemed to say "Don't touch me."

Seeing her rapid change of expression and almost panicked flight, Ishikawa Mayu stood there, blinking innocently.

Weren't we just complaining together a moment ago?

Why did you get angry again so quickly?

He smiled helplessly, then took out his phone and quickly replied to Nagasaki Motoyo.

[Mayu: Sorry, I was learning music arrangement at Shiina's house today, and we talked a bit late, so I'll be staying for dinner. You don't need to prepare anything for me tonight.]

Only after sending the message did he get up to wash his hands.

When he arrived at the restaurant, Lixi was already sitting at the table, still with a stern face, deliberately avoiding his gaze.

Meanwhile, Shiina-neechan had already placed several exquisite Japanese dishes on the table.

The perfectly grilled fish exudes an enticing aroma, the tender chawanmushi is adorned with orange fish cakes, the vibrant green spinach salad sits beside golden, tempting fried chicken pieces, and the miso soup steams in the bowl. The color coordination and plating clearly show considerable thought; just looking at it makes one's mouth water.

"I didn't know what Ishikawa-kun liked to eat, so I prepared some home-style dishes according to Riki's taste. I hope you like them," Maki explained with a smile, her tone gentle.

"It looks delicious, thank you Shiina-neechan." Ishikawa Mayu sat down and sincerely thanked her, but her eyes swept across the table and she noticed a small problem—there was no rice in sight.

Is it still in the pot?

As he was thinking, Shiina Maki seemed to see through his doubts, and a softer, even mysterious smile appeared on her face.

"Wait a minute, the most important 'protagonist' hasn't appeared yet." She said, turning and walking into the kitchen.

Shiina Tatsuki watched her sister's retreating figure, a vague sense of foreboding rising within her. Knowing her sister as she did, this kind of "mystery" often meant…

Sure enough, a few seconds later, Shiina Maki came out carrying a traditional Japanese wooden bucket filled with bright red, distinct grains of rice, that familiar color and the faint aroma of sweetness...

Is it red bean rice?!

Shiina Tatsuki's pupils contracted sharply, her brain buzzing as if struck by lightning. The color drained from her face instantly, replaced by a mixture of extreme shock, embarrassment, and despair—"I knew it!"

Shiina Maki gently placed the wooden bucket containing red bean rice in the center of the table, clapped her hands, and her face was filled with a smile that was a mixture of relief, blessing and undisguised mischief. Her gaze shifted between Riki, who was frozen in shock, and Ishikawa Mayu, who was still a little confused.

"Here we are! Today is a special day, we must celebrate with red bean rice!"

"Sister, sister—!!!" Li hope seemed to have finally found her voice, and she jumped up from her chair, her cheeks as red as if they were about to bleed. "What nonsense are you talking about?! What kind of good day is today?! It's just... just a normal band practice! What are you doing?!"

She tried to defend herself incoherently, attempting to deny the uniqueness of it all.

Faced with her younger sister's embarrassed and angry questioning, Maki simply maintained her all-encompassing smile and nodded repeatedly in agreement.

"Yes, yes, Lixi is right."

"Yes, it's just regular practice."

"Okay, I understand."

She didn't refute him at all, but gently accepted and defused all of Li hope's sharp words that tried to draw a line with her.

This completely unresponsive attitude left Li hope feeling powerless, as if she were punching cotton.

She had nowhere to vent the anger she was holding in, and seeing her sister's "I understand, I understand" smile only made her feel more ashamed and indignant.

but……

At least her sister didn't say anything more embarrassing, which gave her a slight sense of relief amidst the extreme confusion.

Meanwhile, Ishikawa Mayu looked at the bowl of brightly colored red bean rice in front of him, which he had no idea what it was, then looked at Riki across from him, who was so ashamed and indignant that she was almost hiding under the table, and then felt Maki's overly "kind" gaze. A huge question mark rose in his mind.

This food... its color is a bit unusual, but why is Lixi reacting so strongly? Is it a good day? A celebration?

So, with pure confusion, he carefully, in a tone that tried not to offend anyone, asked softly:

"Um... Shiina-neechan, Ritsuki-kun... is there any... special significance to this red bean rice?"

Chapter 105 (Three-in-One) Wedding Banquet

Shiina Ritsuki abruptly raised her head, her purple eyes, brimming with shame and anger, glaring fiercely at him, her voice sharp and warning, on the verge of collapse:

"No, you're not allowed to ask!!!"

She shouted those three words with almost all her might, and immediately lowered her head again, burying her burning cheeks even deeper, revealing only a blood-red earlobe and slightly trembling shoulders.

Startled by her overreaction, Ishikawa Mayu shrank back and immediately fell silent.

Although he didn't understand why at all, he could clearly sense that "Lixi is very angry, and the consequences will be severe."

He looked at the bowl of red bean rice in front of him that he "couldn't ask," then at Maki, who had a gentle smile but a strong aura, and finally his gaze fell on Riki, who was curled up in a ball and exuding an aura of "keep away."

……never mind.

He silently picked up his chopsticks, deciding to follow the principle that "silence is golden."

Let's eat first... or rather...

This grilled fish looks really good, and the fried chicken nuggets are golden and crispy too...

The meal took place in this strange atmosphere.