After Xiangzi died, I inherited her harem.

Page 40

Perhaps she couldn't understand what others were thinking, but she was never wrong when it came to feeling emotions.

Xiao Mu was definitely forced to do something she didn't want to do, but in this world, who else could force that girl who said "I won't be a mouthpiece" and who kept Xiangzi's transfer a secret for a year to do something she didn't want to do?

Xiao Xiang is the only person who can do something like this.

But more than questioning, Nagasaki Sosei is now concerned about Wakaba Mutsumi's condition.

After such an intense and exaggerated performance, is she really okay? Is she still the same as before, unable to even confide in someone about her feelings, silently bottling up her thoughts and slowly processing them on her own?

Holding his phone, Nagasaki Sase kept sending text messages to his classmate named Wakaba Mutsumi.

Soyo: [Mu, are you okay? We haven't talked in a long time. Can you chat with me?]

Soyo: [I just went to a concert by a band called Ave Mujica, and I saw someone who looked a lot like you, even their guitar looked similar.]

Soyo: [Are you asleep? If you see this message, feel free to reply with anything.]

Soyo: [Did Xiaoxiang ask you to do something annoying? You haven't said much even at school these past few days, and no one has been taking care of the cucumbers.]

Soyo: [Please, just answer me. I'm so worried about you.]

soyo: [...]

More than a dozen text messages were sent, but there was no reply whatsoever. The person on the other end of the line seemed to have fallen into a deathly silence.

Looking up at the gloomy night sky, devoid of any stars, Nagasaki Sase's azure eyes seemed to be veiled with a layer of mist.

Why have friends who were fine not long ago turned out like this?

Finally, I could no longer tolerate it.

Since Xiao Mu is now unable to speak, I'll go ask the other instigator.

A moment later, she took out her phone again and opened the interface of another contact.

Skipping over the somewhat polite probing earlier, Nagasaki Sase, who is always gentle, polite, and accommodating to others, finally spelled out his most direct thoughts at the end.

Soyo: [Oblivionis, I want to see you.]

Holding the phone to his chest, Nagasaki Sase let out a long breath, as if he had made up his mind.

Turning to the other members of the MyGO!!!!! band, the brown-haired girl, who had always been as gentle as a mother, showed no trace of a smile.

"Everyone, I have something to do, so I have to go now."

After a brief greeting, Nagasaki Sase grabbed his bag and walked off in another direction alone.

"What's that guy planning now?"

Watching Nagasaki Sosei's departing figure, Shiina Tatsuki subconsciously frowned.

She always felt that Nagasaki Sase was definitely hiding something from them.

Normally, a girl who is as gentle and tolerant as a mother would never just leave with a casual remark.

Chihaya Aine shared the same thoughts as her.

Based on her understanding of Nagasaki Sase, whenever she puts on that expression, she usually has some ulterior motive, and it's the kind of thing where she's trying to put on a brave face on her own.

After all, she was one of the victims herself.

He just sent so many messages and then turned around and left. It looks like he went to confront someone.

"I'll go after them and see. Please take Akari and Renai home, okay? Tanuki."

Unable to put her mind at ease, Chihaya Aine entrusted the task of escorting her teammates home to Shiina Tatsuki and quietly followed Nagasaki Sase.

"Hey, I'm talking to you guys..."

Seeing that another teammate was about to run away, Shiina Ritsuki subconsciously reached out to grab Chihaya Aine, lest this overly cheerful girl accidentally cause some trouble.

But before she could follow, someone grabbed her sleeve.

"Richie, matcha parfait."

Pointing to a shop next door, the Persian cat girl's heterochromatic eyes slowly glowed, as if she was about to rush in and dine and dash at any moment.

Looking at the enthusiastic Kaname, and then at Takamatsu Akari who was so conflicted that she was almost withdrawn, Shiina Tatsuki truly understood what it meant to be overwhelmed.

"Ugh... that's enough... Deng, let's go get a matcha parfait before we go back."

"hey-hey......"

Seeing Shiina Tatsuki give in to her cuteness, Kaname smiled smugly, her gaze subtly sweeping over the direction where Nagasaki Souse and Chihaya Aine had left.

.................................................. ................

Asukayama, a place that left an extremely deep impression on Shoko Toyokawa.

Even she herself never expected that she would set foot here again one day, and even be invited out by the same person.

However, last time, I was the one who waited for someone else here early in the morning.

This time, however, someone else was waiting for her.

Having shed her glamorous Ave Mujica costume and donned a simple, even somewhat shabby, white dress, Toyokawa Shoko walked through the familiar streets, gazing at the familiar mansion beside the road.

The empty mansion was dark, leaving me shrouded in darkness, exuding a lifeless desolation.

This used to be her home, and perhaps one day she will return here.

But at least, it can't be today.

Looking at the familiar mansion, Toyokawa Shoko let out a soft breath, suppressing the complex emotions in her heart, and forced her gaze to shift from there to the end of the road.

Shoko Toyokawa had been struggling with the decision of whether or not to accept the invitation for a long time.

Since Nagasaki Sase calls herself that, it means she has already guessed her identity.

Whether there is evidence or not is not important. She is the kind of person who is quite persistent and will not easily change her mind once she has made up her mind.

Not to mention, this guess was correct.

In fact, even Toyokawa Shoko herself couldn't figure out why she came.

Since the other party addressed me as Oblivionis, what I should do is not keep the appointment, but remain silent and run away.

Choosing to come here is tantamount to revealing one's identity without being asked, and it also violates the principle that Ave Mujica members set for themselves: "Members of Ave Mujica must hide their identities behind masks."

If Yuu knew about this, she definitely wouldn't agree to let me go to the appointment under these circumstances.

So, do I really want to go?

There's one last stretch of road ahead. After turning the last corner, I'll arrive at the place where I last met Nagasaki Sose.

By then, there won't even be a chance to escape.

Turn around and leave now, pretend you didn't receive those text messages, as if nothing happened; it's not too late.

There is no risk of Ave Mujica members' identities being exposed. Speculation is just speculation, and Soyo is not the kind of person who likes to spread information everywhere.

I can still pretend I know nothing. When Ave Mujica really succeeds, I can openly take off my mask and declare that even if I say goodbye to the past, I can live a good life. It's not too late.

Anyway... we've already kept it from everyone for so long.

But... it really is time to put an end to this.

Everything that happened today, Mu's on-stage breakdown and self-blame backstage, have proven that she has not truly moved on from the past.

Under immense pressure, she blurted out her true thoughts without thinking. As Toyokawa Shoko stood beneath the gazes of the crowd, those slightly strange looks seemed to say...

—So all the pressure I've put on everyone these past few days was just for this little thing.

They keep saying they've broken ties with the past, but they still care so much about what others think.

Even if the other party might not have recognized him before, he still habitually cared and passed that pressure on to the band.

After the concert, she gradually calmed down with the help of cold water and the night breeze. The words He Mu had said to her these past few days were less about helping her adjust her mindset and more about putting pressure on her.

Mu... she's not the type to ignore pressure.

This cannot continue. Holding such selfish thoughts will not win over the public.

For Ave Mujica, for her own pursuit, even if it's just for... Mujica, she must sever ties with the past.

Last time, she came at the invitation of Nagasaki Sase, and said many heartless things in an attempt to make him give up.

This time... she's going to give up on him.

Surrounded by the cool evening breeze, Toyokawa Shoko continued walking along the road.

Under a streetlamp, Toyokawa Shoko found her target, who was also the person who had invited her out.

Her long brown hair looked even softer under the night sky than usual. The girl in the white dress lowered her eyes, her brows furrowed in a rare gesture, and her usually gentle blue eyes were no longer there.

Looking at that familiar figure, Toyokawa Shoko took a deep breath, her feelings complicated.

The past reappeared, and Toyokawa Shoko, who was already in a bad mood, even felt a moment of disorientation. The heartless words she had spoken back then seemed to still echo in her ears.

However, it really should end now.

After calming her complicated emotions, Toyokawa Shoko took another step and walked towards the person.

"Xiao Xiang, I'm so glad you agreed to come see me today."

Upon seeing his friend arrive as scheduled, Nagasaki Sase greeted him first, as always, even using the same words as when they last met here.

The only change was that the tone no longer carried the apology and ingratiation of the last meeting, and even carried a hint of accusation.

“I saw it all from the audience. Why did you make Xiao Mu do that kind of performance? You should know her personality. She doesn’t like doing these kinds of attention-grabbing things at all.”

"Xiao Mu would never do such a thing. What did you do to her?"

attention-seeking...

Upon hearing Nagasaki Sōse's question, Toyokawa Sōko's first thought was the other person's evaluation of the concert.

She clenched her fists instinctively; she couldn't refute that.

If the performance and playing were carried out strictly according to the original script before any modifications, she could still refute it with the arguments of musicality and storytelling.

But today...

The story is illogical, the performance is chaotic, and it has no meaning other than relying on feigned profundity and manipulation of public opinion to amuse the audience.

Just like Nagasaki Sase said, today's concert was nothing but a publicity stunt.

But who would want things to be like this?

If those unexpected events hadn't happened, things wouldn't have been so bad, and Mu wouldn't have had to bear so much pressure alone, ultimately losing control on stage.

I had led everyone in so many rehearsals and made thorough preparations, but one accident after another ruined everything.

Whether it's Ave Mujica's worldview or his unwavering commitment to musicality.

Everything was ruined except for the fact that the outcome was good.

"I don't know what you're talking about, and what you're saying has nothing to do with me."

Instead of standing directly in front of Nagasaki Sase, he took two more steps forward and stood side by side with his friend from a band he used to be in, just like when he took a picture with that band called CRYCHIC back then.

This time, however, they were facing different directions and could no longer see each other's faces or eyes.

“I am not Oblivionis of Ave Mujica. The only person standing here is Toyokawa Shoko, nothing more.”

The first thing he did was deny his own identity.

The secrets hidden behind the doll mask are not something that can be revealed now.

Even if the other party has already guessed and is convinced of it from the bottom of their heart, she cannot admit it.

This is not only about the future plans for Ave Mujica arranged by Yuu Toyokawa, but also about Shoko Toyokawa's last act of disguise and protection.

Even after changing out of her glamorous performance costume, she still wore a mask.

Even the very fact that she would be here tonight makes her words and actions contradictory.

"Is it really okay, or is he just unwilling to admit it...? Xiao Xiang is always like this, he never listens to explanations and doesn't allow others to make amends."

Standing side by side with Toyokawa Shoko, facing in the opposite direction, Nagasaki Sōse did not insist on making the other person look him in the eye.

She understood Toyokawa Shoko's personality; the fact that she was willing to come was already a pretty good result. Going any further might have led her to run away at all costs, just like the MyGO!!!!! live show that ignited the conflict back then.

Since she feels more comfortable chatting like this, let's chat like this then.

Sōsei Nagasaki chose to tolerate and accommodate Sōko Toyokawa's attitude as was his habit.

When it comes to issues related to Xiao Mu, such trivial matters are insignificant.