People in Mygo are emotional firefighters.

He glanced at Mio instinctively and found her secretly watching him, her eyes filled with a mixture of trepidation and anticipation. Makoto paused, then spoke, his voice much gentler than when he was giving instructions: "...It tastes good. Thank you."

Almost as soon as she finished speaking, Mio Serizawa's eyes, which had been somewhat dim, lit up instantly, like light bulbs being turned on. A bright and slightly smug smile bloomed on her face, and the lingering gloom of grievance from before was completely swept away.

"Really? You like it, Senpai? I think this shop's signature milk tea is amazing! The sweetness is just right!" She took two steps closer excitedly, her voice regaining its usual energy, filled with obvious joy. "If you like it, Senpai, I'll bring you some more next time!"

"Pfft—cough, cough cough..."

Ishikawa Mayu was so startled by these words that he choked, covering his mouth and turning his head to cough, his cheeks turning slightly red. He subconsciously and somewhat guiltily glanced at Mikasa Hatsuka and Kana, who were drinking water not far away, and breathed a slight sigh of relief when he saw that they seemed to be talking in hushed tones and were not paying much attention to them.

He turned back, somewhat annoyed, and said to Mio in a low voice, "You want a next time? Aren't you afraid of getting caught and scolded by the producer again?"

Seeing his slightly disheveled yet concerned appearance, Mio wasn't afraid at all. Instead, she smiled even more slyly, like a little fox who had successfully stolen some oil. She imitated Mayu, lowering her voice and saying with a hint of matter-of-factness, "Hey—it's not like we have to deliver it at the office!"

Ishikawa Mayu was taken aback by his words, not quite understanding for a moment: "...Wait," he blinked, a hint of confusion on his face, "Then where do you still want to deliver it?"

"Of course I'll secretly give it to you outside the agency before rehearsals!" Mio said confidently in a low voice, with a hint of smugness that said, "You didn't even guess that." "The agency doesn't take care of your meals, senpai. But you, senpai," she changed the subject, a sly glint in her brown eyes, deliberately drawing out her words, "what were you thinking just now?"

Zhenyu immediately shook his head decisively, his expression returning to seriousness: "No. Just a simple question." He answered crisply, completely unfazed.

Mio looked at her senior's stubborn and unresponsive attitude and pouted with a hint of boredom.

Seeing that she seemed to have given up on dwelling on the topic, Zhenyu breathed a sigh of relief, then remembered the important matter. He pondered for a moment, then his tone became more serious: "Speaking of which, Serizawa..."

"Hmm?" Mio looked up.

"The dessert I was going to bring you was a thank you gift for introducing the dessert shop." He paused, his brow furrowing slightly, looking somewhat troubled. "But now... instead of giving you the gift, I've accepted your milk tea, and you've even gotten scolded by the producer..."

Mio's heart skipped a beat at this sudden suggestion of "compensation." Her senior... not only didn't find her troublesome, but instead felt indebted to her and was so earnestly trying to make amends?

Looking at Mayu's apologetic yet incredibly earnest expression, she knew that if she refused again, it would only make this overly responsible senior even more resentful.

Mio's cheeks flushed slightly. She lowered her head, twisting her fingers, and murmured softly, "Senpai... you really don't need to worry about it so much..."

But after hesitating for a few seconds, she still raised her eyes and secretly glanced at Zhenyu, her voice barely audible, yet carrying a hint of cautious expectation:

"...Then, then let me...think about it?"

Seeing that Mio did not refuse again but agreed to consider it, Ishikawa Mayu felt a little relieved of the heavy guilt in his heart and couldn't help but breathe a sigh of relief.

His expression softened, and his tone became gentler as he added:

"Hmm, take your time thinking about it, no rush. Besides that... if you have any other ideas about music or encounter any problems you don't understand, feel free to ask me anytime."

"Although I can't guarantee that I can respond immediately every time, I will definitely reply to you as long as I see it."

Mio Serizawa blinked hard, forcing back the slight moisture that had welled up in her eyes, and a smile, even brighter and more genuine than before, bloomed on her face. Her voice was clear and crisp as she replied:

"Okay! I understand! Thank you, Senior Mayu! I will definitely make good use of this privilege!"

……

As time passed, producer Matsushima announced from the control room, "Good job today," officially ending today's rehearsal.

Ishikawa Mayu was still the fastest to act. He neatly put his violin back into its case, turned his back, and nodded slightly to the control room and to Hatsuka and Kana inside. His gaze paused almost imperceptibly for half a second when it swept over Mio, as if to say goodbye, and then he was the first to turn around and leave the rehearsal room.

Kana quickly finished tidying up her bass, glanced at Mio who was slowly organizing the keyboard scores, her eyes darted around, and she leaned closer.

"Hey, Mio." She nudged Mio gently with her elbow.

"Hmm? What's wrong, Kana?" Mio looked up, a thoughtful expression on her face.

Kana lowered her voice, a gossipy and inquisitive smile on her face: "What did you whisper to Shin-senpai during the break? He seemed quite serious."

Mio's face flushed red again. She subconsciously touched her still slightly hot cheeks, her eyes darting around, but her tone carried an undisguised excitement and a little thrill at having her secret shared: "Y-nothing... it's just that my senior said the milk tea was delicious, and thanked me."

"That's it?" Chanel clearly didn't believe it. "Then why did he talk to you about it so earnestly for so long afterward?"

"And also..." Mio's voice trailed off, tinged with a sweet unease, "My senior felt bad that I accepted her milk tea instead of her thank-you gift, and that the producer even scolded me because of it... She said she wanted to make it up to me..."

Chapter 145 Mio Gains a Military Advisor

"Compensation?!" Kana's eyes widened in surprise, her voice unconsciously rising a little. She quickly covered her mouth, leaned closer, and whispered, "How did Ishikawa-kun say he'd compensate you?"

Mio shook her head, a cute expression on her face that was a mixture of expectation and confusion: "Senpai didn't say exactly how to compensate me... He told me to think of it myself, saying that as long as it's something he can do and doesn't violate the agency's rules, I can do it..."

"Isn't this the wishing ticket that Ishikawa gave you?!" Kana exclaimed in surprise, then quickly covered her mouth, her eyes wide with astonishment. Looking at Mio's expectant yet bewildered expression, her mind raced with calculations.

Aine is sitting on the sidelines, completely oblivious to any threat—this won't do! While we can't actually cause any damage, perhaps letting Mio be a little bolder and give that piece of wood a tiny shock could indirectly ease the stalemate over there? Of course, we have to be careful not to scare Ishikawa away.

Kana's eyes darted around, a sly smile spreading across her face. She leaned close to Mio's ear and whispered a secret:

"Mio, this is a great opportunity! Ishikawa-kun said so, you have to seize it!"

Mio was taken aback by Kana's enthusiasm, her face turning even redder. She retorted softly, "What do you mean by 'holding on'... I just wanted to make sure you don't feel like you owe me anything anymore..."

"Idiot—" Kana pointed her index finger and gently poked Mio's forehead with a look of exasperation. "Think about it, Ishikawa-kun told you to 'think for yourself,' which gives you a 'legitimate' and 'reasonable' reason to communicate with him more, doesn't it?"

She counted on her fingers and began her "lesson": "First, you can use the excuse of 'thinking about compensation' to chat with your senior on LINE from time to time, ask about their preferences, and that will naturally bring you closer, right?"

“Secondly,” Kana’s voice lowered, with a hint of encouragement, “the compensation doesn’t necessarily have to be something tangible! You can make some… um… small requests that won’t bother your senior too much, but will require him to spend a little time and attention on you.”

Seeing Mio's somewhat confused look, she gave further examples: "For instance... could you ask Ishikawa to give you some private coaching on a particularly difficult piece? Or, could he arrive a little early at the next rehearsal and listen to your ideas for a particular arrangement? Or... could you pretend you're in a bad mood and ask him to go for a walk with you to cheer you up?"

As Mio listened to Kana's advice, her cheeks grew increasingly hot, and her heart pounded faster. Private instruction… getting to know each other beforehand… even going out together…

"Wouldn't this be too much of a stretch..." Her voice trembled. She felt that Kana's words made sense, but she was also afraid that her senior would find it strange if she really made such a request.

"How could that be!" Kana gave him a "you're too naive" look. "Have you forgotten your 'mission'? It's to play the role of an 'enthusiastic junior who has feelings for a senior'! Making such a little request with a bit of ulterior motive is in line with the character! And look, Ishikawa-kun let you think whatever you want, which means he has this expectation in mind!"

She patted Mio's shoulder forcefully, her tone full of encouragement and a mischievous excitement: "Trust me! As long as your request isn't unreasonable, Ishikawa-kun, with his incredibly strong sense of responsibility, will definitely agree. When Aine finds out, she'll definitely be provoked! We're one step closer to success!"

"I understand!" Serizawa Mio finally made up her mind, and soon she looked suspiciously at her best friend beside her: "Seriously, how many romance comics have you read? How come you're so familiar with them!"

When Kana was caught off guard by Mio's words, a hint of unease flashed across her face. She then pretended to be fierce and reached out to scratch Mio's side.

"Mind your own business! I was just giving you advice for your shipping spree! You ungrateful bastard!"

"Ouch! Stop tickling me! I'm sorry, I'm sorry!" Mio was extremely ticklish, laughing and dodging as she begged for mercy. "Lady Kana is so wise and powerful, she's only reading serious strategic guidance manuals!"

"Hmph, that's more like it." Kana finally stopped, raising her chin triumphantly. Then she took Mio's arm, lowered her voice, and said with lingering laughter, "Anyway, think carefully about where you're going to use the 'Wishing Tickets,' and when the time comes... remember to share your 'success' with me!"

Mio's blush hadn't completely faded when she lightly punched Kana and scolded, "What 'victories'... It's like you're going to war."

"Hehe, almost there!" Kana laughed and pulled her towards the exit. "Let's go for your favorite ship!"

The two laughed and joked as they packed their things and left the office together.

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

Back home, Kana still fulfilled her role as an "insider" by reporting the "wish ticket" incident to Aine. However, Aine's reply remained relaxed and confident, believing it was merely a manifestation of Mayu's sense of responsibility, showing no sense of crisis whatsoever.

Looking at the predictable, smiling text, Xiangna felt a tightness in her chest. She typed and deleted repeatedly, finally throwing her phone aside in frustration.

"No! I can't take it anymore!" she whispered to the pillow. "Chihaya Aine, you blindly optimistic idiot! Since you're so stubborn..."

A thought became clear. She picked up her phone again, her eyes sharpening and resolute.

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

Meanwhile, in Mio Serizawa's room.

She was sitting cross-legged on the bed, hugging a pillow, with a cute notebook open in front of her. She was biting the pen and racking her brains trying to figure out how to use the "wish ticket".

“One-on-one instruction… seems a bit too deliberate…”

"Let's go out together...what reason should we give?"

Kana's words lingered in her mind, making her heart race and filling her with immense inner turmoil. She wanted to get closer to her senior, but she was also afraid of going too far and being disliked.

Just then, her phone screen lit up with a new LINE message notification.

The sender is [Xiang Nai].

Mio clicked on it out of curiosity.

[Xiangnai: (Shared link: "Capture His Heart! A List of 'Small Requests' That Guys Can't Refuse!")]

[Chanel: (Shared link: "Natural and Unpretentious! 10 Tips for Creating Opportunities for Solitude!")]

[Kana: The strategist is in position! Mio, soldier, please begin your performance! (?o?o)??]

Mio stared at the "dating guide" that Kana had sent her on the screen, which was obviously hastily put together. She was stunned for a moment, and then couldn't help but burst out laughing.

Has Chanel "defected" to her side?

Chapter 146 (3k) Li hope: I already told you to call me whatever you want at home!

May 21st, Thursday afternoon.

The school bell rang, signaling the end of the school term, echoing through the corridors of Haneoka Academy.

Takamatsu Akari sat in her seat, waiting for Ishikawa Mayu and Chihaya Aine to pack their bags. As usual, they would then go to the Astronomy Club activity room together for Aine's routine guitar practice.

"I must master that transition today!" Ai Yin confidently waved her little fist, her long pink hair swaying gently with her movements. "I feel like I've got the hang of it!"

Ishikawa Mayu gave a noncommittal "hmm," and just as he was about to put his phone in his pocket, his palm vibrated continuously.

He frowned slightly, took out his phone, and saw a LINE message from the band's group chat displayed on the screen.

[Lixi: @All members, emergency. Assemble at RiNG immediately.]

The message was concise and to the point, carrying Shiina Tatsuki's usual unquestionable style, but the words "emergency situation" still made the three people who saw the message tense up.

Chihaya Aine had just zipped up her backpack when she saw the message and immediately exclaimed in surprise, "Eh?" before quickly typing a reply.

[Aine: Eh?! Right now, Riki-kun? What happened?! I, Akari, and Makoto were just about to go to the Astronomy Club for practice! (°Д°)]

[Lixi: Don't ask anymore, we'll talk when we get here. It's important business.]

[Mayu: Okay, we're coming over now]

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

Ishikawa Mayu's motorcycle was faster than the tram, and he arrived at RiNG first.

Pushing open the familiar coffee shop door, he immediately saw Shiina Tatsuki sitting in her usual spot. A nearly untouched glass of ice water sat before her, her fingers tapping unconsciously on the table, her brow furrowed, clearly preoccupied.

Zhenyu walked over and sat down opposite her, her tone deliberately light and teasing: "Teacher Lixi, what's the matter? Why are you in such a hurry?"

"Huh?! Who, who told you to shout like that outside!" Shiina Riki instantly bristled, her ears turning slightly red as she whispered angrily, while nervously glancing around to make sure no familiar colleagues or guests were paying attention.

Although I've gotten used to being called that by Mayu over the past few weekends, it's still mostly in private!

Ishikawa Mayu knew when to stop; if she were to become completely desensitized to that nickname, it would take away a lot of the fun.

He stopped talking and just looked at her with a grin, as if admiring a cat whose tail had been stepped on.

Lixi felt uncomfortable under his slightly mocking gaze, glared at him irritably, and decided to ignore his inexplicable stare. She took a deep breath, trying to make her tone sound businesslike, and began to explain:

Lixi scratched his head in frustration. "You know about Popipa and Afterglow's joint concert? It's next Sunday."

Zhenyu nodded; he had seen it on RiNG's promotional board.

"Tsk, let's get down to business. Today, while I was working at the store, I was caught by the manager, Ms. Rinrinko." She paused, organizing her thoughts, "It's about the Popipa and Afterglow joint concert. Apparently, one of the opening acts canceled their performance at the last minute, which means that no matter how the concert schedule is adjusted, there will be a gap in the schedule. The person in charge of the band came to Ms. Rinrinko to complain..."

At this point, a complex expression flashed across Li Xi's face, as if he was somewhat helpless and embarrassed by being forced into this situation: "...Then, I happened to be nearby at the time, and I might have accidentally hummed a few lines of the melody of 'Spring Shadow' that we had adapted? Miss Rinrin heard it. She remembered that I was in a band, so she grabbed me and asked us...would you like to help out and fill in for that vacancy?"

She looked up at Zhenyu, her eyes questioning, and her tone softened: "Personally, I'm inclined to agree, after all, it's a rare opportunity. But the band isn't just mine, so..." She gestured with her chin toward the door, "I called everyone here to hear your opinions first."

Ishikawa Mayu gave an "Oh," seemingly lost in thought. This was indeed a sudden and significant piece of news. After a moment of contemplation, he suddenly raised his hand, as if asking a question in class, his face showing a hint of innocent confusion: "Um... Mr. Riki, I have a question."

"What's the problem?" Li hope asked, frowning and sounding annoyed.

“Now that you’ve told me everything,” Zhenyu pointed to herself and then gestured towards the door, “won’t you have to repeat the same thing when they arrive? Why not wait until everyone is here before saying it all at once?”

"Huh?!" Li hope was taken aback by the question, a fleeting hint of panic crossing her face, but it was quickly masked by an even fiercer tone. "I...I'm willing! Is that a problem?! Stop talking nonsense. When they arrive, you'll be responsible for explaining the situation to them! Do you hear me?!"

"Yes, yes, yes, Teacher Lixi instructed, and I will do as you say." Zhenyu nodded readily, still wearing that relaxed smile that made Lixi's teeth itch a little.

Shiina Tatsuki was so annoyed by his lazy demeanor that she turned her face away, picked up the glass of ice water in front of her, and gulped down a large mouthful, trying to suppress the inexplicable anger in her heart. The water droplets that had condensed on the glass slid down her fingers, bringing a touch of coolness.

"Stop with the smooth talk." She put down her cup with a soft "thump," her tone firm. "Let's get down to business. What do you think of this opportunity?"

“I think…” Ishikawa Mayu’s smile faded slightly. She leaned forward a little, rested her elbows on the table, and tapped her fingertips lightly on the table, making a rhythmic tapping sound. “…It sounds good.”

He looked up at Lixi, his gaze serious and thoughtful: "Being able to open for Popipa and Afterglow's joint concert, even if it's just filling in, the exposure and experience gained are incomparable to regular practice. For a band like ours that's just starting out, it's like a windfall."

“However,” Ishikawa Mayu changed the subject, stopping her tapping and frowning slightly, “to be honest, we haven’t even had a single full practice session yet. If we have to go on stage next Sunday, time is… very tight.”

He looked at Lixi and asked the crucial question: "By the way, how long is the gap they left? How many songs do we need to prepare?"

Li Xi hummed in agreement, clearly having already considered these issues: "About ten minutes. That's roughly the time it takes to sing two songs." Her tone softened slightly, carrying a hint of confidence. "With 'Here the World' to back us up, plus 'Spring Shadow' which you and I revised together and is basically ready, there's no problem with the songs; we have enough tracks."

At this point, Li hope's gaze suddenly sharpened as she looked at Ishikawa Mayu with scrutiny: "You're the one overseeing Aine's guitar playing, right? How's her progress? Is she able to keep up?"