Miss Heir wasn't very kind to me.

Chapter 225 Epilogue. "The Cry of the Future"

It felt as if all the blood in my body had turned into champagne in an instant.

He gripped the mouse tightly in his right hand, clinging to the only remaining sense of reality he had.

As the video ended, she let out a long sigh of relief.

Her eyes seemed to be filled with extreme emotion, about to burst into tears. It was hard to tell whether the droplets were sweat or tears, but they clung to her long eyelashes, blurring the countless points of light floating on the sea in the video.

Shao Jing lowered her eyelashes quietly, and everyone in the coffee shop remained silent, observing her reaction.

After a long while, she slowly raised her face, and no emotion could be detected in her cold eyes.

Looking at everyone, he slowly opened his mouth:

"I have something I want to say to Haiyue alone."

"..."

Haiyue nodded silently.

Two girls from Wakayama went to the side and whispered to each other.

The remaining four people huddled together and whispered among themselves.

"Hey, Masumi-kun, does this mean I've passed the test?"

“Judging from Miss Kozue’s reaction just now, she must have been moved,” Masumi replied.

Mami nodded, then suddenly thought of another possibility: "What if Kozue is deeply moved by the song and wants to keep Kozuki by her side even more?"

"...At a time like this, she can't possibly take people away by force."

Kurokawa Mio said expressionlessly, "There are four of us on our side, and she is only one person. We have the advantage."

"Hmm, are we going to have a direct confrontation?"

Asami covered her mouth with her hand, swallowed hard, and emphasized in a trembling voice, "Let me make this clear first, although I'm tall, my combat power is not high at all. You can't make me the vanguard."

Mischievous Mami trembled with fear.

"It's alright, Ms. Mami, just use words to attract her attention."

Kurokawa Mio casually made tactical arrangements.

"So I'm the mocking follower?"

Mio nodded: "You could say that."

"Mio was actually serious." Rinne sighed helplessly, rubbing her forehead. "No wonder Mio has that level of piano talent."

"What do you mean?"

Sensing the hidden barb in her words, Kurokawa Mio tensed up.

"It simply proves the principle that 'with every gain, there is a loss' in Mio's case."

It's unclear how Kurokawa Mio interpreted those words, but she stated unequivocally, "No matter what I lose, I will ultimately gain Masumi."

"Hmm, this principle seems more profound now."

What does Masumi think?

Kurokawa Mio suddenly turned her face towards him.

"...I think there's no need for that."

As Kozuki and Kaigetsu walked quietly toward them, Masumi said calmly.

"Miss Kozue..."

"I want to thank everyone, especially Mr. Miyazawa."

After speaking, she pursed her lips, bowed solemnly, and her attitude was very upright, with the ends of her short hair cascading down with the movement.

"And last time... I said some very harsh things to Haiyue and everyone at the coffee shop, I'm sorry."

Shao Qing said it clearly and without hesitation.

"Eh."

Mami, standing to the side, stared in astonishment: Was that video of pork cutlet rice?
(Note: In the infamous "Ji Zhan kidnapping and murder case" in the 1960s, the police bought the criminal a bowl of fried pork cutlet rice during interrogation, and the criminal confessed out of gratitude.)
“I accept your apology, but…” Masumi shook her head and said, “If you’re just thanking us for taking care of Kaigetsu, then you don’t need to, because Kaigetsu is also our friend.”

"Oh."

He responded with a flat, indifferent sound, then suddenly asked:
"May I speak with Mr. Miyazawa alone?"

"--no!"

Kurokawa Mio blatantly revealed her wariness and refused on Masumi's behalf without hesitation.

Masumi Asahi shook her head, reassuring her: "Mio, it's okay."

“It’s related! What if Masumi is accidentally seduced by her?” Kurokawa Mio said bluntly.

"Cough cough cough cough..." Masumi choked on her words, and after catching her breath, she said with a strange expression, "Why would Mio think that?"

"I'm not the only one."

Asami nodded in agreement: "Her hairstyle is fashionable, she's dressed like a Seiji student, and her face is pretty too. Hmm... she's the type that Masumi-kun might like."

"When did I ever reveal my aesthetic standards?"

“‘Beautiful girl’ is enough.” Asami thought for a moment, then added, “Perfectly shaped feet would be a bonus.”

"Isn't it very rude of you to say that to Miss Kozue?" Masumi sighed.

"It's alright, I don't mind such a small thing."

As she said this, she quietly pulled her feet, clad in platform shoes, back under her fishtail skirt.

Masumi pressed her temples and inhaled. "What does Ms. Kozue want to say to me? Let's go over there and talk."

At the same time, he turned back to persuade Kurokawa Mio, "Nothing will happen, Mio, don't worry."

Even when facing a girl she's only met three times, Mio remains wary.

"Um……"

As Masumi stood up, Kurokawa Mio leaned forward and offered her head.

Masumi paused for a moment, gently stroking Mio's soft blonde hair. Mio often showed this cute and clingy puppy-like behavior in front of her.

The other two girls stared at him like assassins, their gazes piercing his hand.

However, when he raised his hand in mid-air, the two of them turned their faces away.

After coaxing Mio, Masumi went to find Kozue, who was standing outside the store. Kozue took out a rectangular gift box from her tote bag and handed it to Masumi.

"A souvenir, truffle chocolates, please enjoy with everyone at the coffee shop."

The box has a smooth texture, and the silk nightgown feels as delicate as a piece of shimmering water. It is transparent black on the outside, giving it an elegant and sophisticated feel.

"Oh, thank you, Ms. Kozue."

After accepting the chocolate, Masumi asked, "What does Ms. Kozue want to say to me?"

"...Then I'll be frank with you. Is Mr. Miyazawa dating Kaizuki?"

"Eh."

The question was too direct. After careful consideration, Masumi replied, "Although we haven't reached that level of relationship yet,... there won't be any relationship other than that in the future."

Or rather, it made no difference to Haiyue; she had already fulfilled her wish to be with him.

"Yeah."

She nodded slightly, seemingly unsurprised, and then asked, "What about the other girls in the coffee shop?"

"..."

“I apologized immediately. This is Mr. Miyazawa’s private matter, and it is not my place to interfere.”

"It's nothing." Masumi shook her head gently, indicating that she didn't mind. "After all, Miss Kozue didn't mean any harm."

As he stared intently at Masumi, he suddenly narrowed his eyes into arcs.

“Mr. Miyazawa is really a good person… no, a gentle person. No wonder Haiyue wants to rely on you so much.”

"To think that Mr. Miyazawa could bring Haiyue to this level, he must be very good at taking care of people. After that incident, I thought Haiyue would never be able to sing again in her life..."

Her eyes gazed at the ground, as if brushing away the dust that covered up past memories, her eyelashes trembling slightly.

"I don't know if Haiyue has told Mr. Miyazawa that she attended a correspondence high school, so for her, the pressure she felt facing the internet was the same as the pressure she felt standing on stage facing a real audience."

"I see."

Masumi nodded in understanding; this explained her performance in the recording studio.

"Is it because Haizuki... received more attentive care at this coffee shop that she's resisting going back to Wakayama with me?" Kozue said, almost to herself.

"..."

There's actually no need to respond to that.

Masumi originally intended to gloss over the conversation and bring the incident to a close, but for some reason, she felt uneasy about Kozue's words.

He spoke firmly:
"...I think what Haiyue needs most is not gentle care that is meticulously taken care of."

"Ok?"

When Kozue turned her face, it was clear from her piercing gaze that she wanted to argue with Masumi.

"Mr. Miyazawa means..."

"I think, from beginning to end, all she wanted was to be discovered, nothing more."

"..."

Her eyes were wide open, and the air in late October, when autumn was in full swing, was filled with the sweet fragrance of unknown flowers.

She smoothed her wind-blown hair with her fingers, her mood gradually clearing as she spoke:
"...Because of my family, I have always considered taking good care of my friends as the most important thing in my life. I want to be someone that people can rely on."

"But seeing that video just now shattered all my previous beliefs."

All that came through the video was music, so Kozue had no choice but to let her memories unfold on her own.

"I first met Haiyue in the fourth grade of elementary school. I was attracted by the vulnerability that Haiyue showed when she was singing in a corner. I thought: This person must need me to take care of her."

"Now that I think about it, was it because I had impure motives for making friends that I couldn't see what Haiyue really needed?" she said with a self-deprecating smile.

Masumi couldn't think of anything to say, so she just held the box of truffle chocolates, while Kozue obviously didn't expect to get her opinion and continued talking.

"Taking care of friends as my responsibility, but is such deliberate behavior considered hypocrisy and selfishness? Perhaps from the beginning, I was just pretending to be gentle."

As she said this, her beautiful face contorted slightly, and she let out a short breath as if she were in pain.

“...The fact that you think this way is already kind and gentle enough,” Masumi said.

After all, only hypocrites would reflect on themselves like this.

She stared at Masumi for a long time without saying a word, then suddenly smiled.

"...I'm sorry, I was too talkative just now. Mr. Miyazawa is indeed very good at listening and giving advice. Sometimes I think people like that are quite scary."

"Have it?"

"Hmm." Without dwelling on the matter too much, she moved on to the point of leaving. "I've bothered your shop long enough this time, so it's time for me to leave as well."

"Mr. Miyazawa." After saying that, she turned her head to face the glass window: "And to Haiyue, and everyone in the coffee shop, please take care of yourselves."

Following her gaze, Masumi noticed Mio, Mami, and Kaigetsu, who were clinging to the glass like geckos, watching them.

And next to her, Rinne was rubbing her temples in distress.

"I have tried to persuade them."

"I couldn't help but watch because I was worried about Masumi-kun," Mami defended herself.

"Are you relieved now?" Masumi asked.

“I can’t put my mind at ease!” Kurokawa Mio interjected at this moment: “The atmosphere between Masumi and that Ms. Kozue looks very unpleasant, they’re chatting and laughing.”

"Mio is overthinking things."

Masumi smiled slightly and held up the box in her hand: "Would you like some chocolate? It's a gift that Ms. Kozue just gave me."

Before Mio could speak, Mami shouted:

"Ah~ Isn't this the high-end chocolate that ladies love? I heard you have to pre-order three months in advance to get it, it's a luxury item."

"Let's eat together."

"Great!"

Back at the table in the store, Mami sat up straight and opened the outer packaging box.

There are twelve chocolates in total, made to bite-sized.

Since my senior, Rugu, is far away on Miyako Island and cannot enjoy this delicacy, we will serve two pieces per person, according to the six-person plan.

Masumi carefully put away Chiai's portion, picked up a chocolate, unwrapped it, and put it in her mouth.

"Ugh~ As expected of a high-end product." Mami groaned, pressing her cheek.

The seemingly solid chocolate surface crumbles instantly with a gentle bite, revealing a juicy filling that melts on the tongue.

“…This taste.” Rinne frowned slightly. “Did they add alcohol to it?”

"Correct answer, score!"

Mami nodded, "These are very famous liqueur-filled chocolates. When I was in high school, I would give these as gifts when guests came to my house. Once you've tasted them, you can't forget them."

"...Your description makes me a little hesitant to continue eating."

Masumi handed the last chocolate she had left to Mami, saying, "I don't really like liqueur-filled chocolates, you can have this one."

"Really? Masumi-kun, you're so kind!"

Mami happily accepted the chocolate.

"...Speaking of which, there's still one thing that hasn't been resolved."

Rinne's gaze remained fixed on the still-lit laptop screen.

"Ok?"

She held the mouse in her right hand and dragged it to the very beginning of the video. Her fingertip was placed on the Vocal: position, but there was still nothing after that.

"Even though she's an anonymous singer, she should still have a name, right?"

"Ah, that's true."

Masumi belatedly realized this, cold sweat beading on her forehead, realizing she had overlooked something so important.

"...I've...made up my mind..."

Unexpectedly, Haiyue suddenly spoke.

"Eh? Little Umizuki?" Mami turned to her curiously, then nodded. "That's right, after all, Little Umizuki is in charge of the songstress part."

"What name did Haiyue think of?" Masumi asked.

"...Haiyue (u mi tsu ki)."

Haiyue said word by word.

The Chinese characters are the same as her name, but the pronunciation is more straightforward.

Moon in the sea.

And so, the name of the girl who would become a songstress in the virtual world was decided.

Vocal: Sea Moon

Lyrics: Kongkongliu Aquarium

Music/Key: Kurokawa

Illust: Ryujinin Michiyo

Movie: Black Cat

"Name, video cover, title, description... that should do it, right?"

In her room alone that night, after confirming everything was correct, Masumi clicked to upload the first video submitted by the anonymous singer's account "Sea Moon".

Press play again. What begins to fill the air is a song of ideals, carrying the warmth of the moon and conveying warmth in the cold reality, like a drifting jellyfish traveling around the world's oceans, finally turning into ripples and returning to the shore of its birth.

—This is how the account channel is described.

More original songs will be uploaded in the future, please subscribe to this channel.

As Masumi closed his laptop, he heard someone calling his name.

Turning his head, he saw the door to the room, and one by one, five faces appeared before him—faces he was used to seeing, but never tired of seeing.

Their voices and songs enveloped Masumi in gentleness.

Let's create memories with this song in Kobe in autumn.

There will surely be many more autumns like this in the future.

Masumi imagined this future, turning her feelings into words and writing them down in her notebook.
-
[Volume 7: Seeing the Moon Over the Sea on a Moonlit Night: The End]

(End of this chapter)