It started with being hated by the girl in the band

Not long after, when Toyokawa Shoko took out her cell phone and was about to send a message to Nakagawa Nobuyuki, as if as agreed, the sound of a key opening the door was heard.

"Ah... I'm finally back..."

As soon as he entered the door, Nakagawa Nobuyuki relaxed instantly and let out a long sigh, feeling so refreshed.

"Xin, welcome back..."

Without any intention of hiding her joy, Toyokawa Shoko looked tenderly at Nakagawa Nobuyuki who had just returned from outside with a thin layer of sweat on his head. Her heart was simply intoxicated by the boundless sense of security.

If it weren't for the last bit of shyness in my heart reminding me, I would have stared at the letter in a daze, which would have been too embarrassing.

It's only been half a day since we last met, but it feels like we haven't seen each other for a long time. I miss you a little.

"...Um, good evening? This feels a bit weird... Good night? It doesn't seem right either..."

However, compared to Xiaoxiang who was quite natural, Nakagawa Shin, who was a little uncomfortable, was now stroking his chin, considering what he should say.

This is really difficult for Nakagawa Nobuyuki. Since moving to Tokyo to live alone, Nakagawa Nobuyuki has never encountered a situation where he needed to say hello when returning home.

“…Isn’t this simple?”

However, Toyokawa Shoko just looked at the somewhat at a loss Nakagawa Nobu in front of her with a somewhat amused look, her face slightly red, but she still naturally took the commuter bag and jacket from Nakagawa Nobu, and said in a soft voice: "Just say [Shoko, I'm back], isn't it enough?"

"Now that you mention it, it is indeed the case..."

Nakagawa Nobuyuki pondered for a moment and nodded in agreement, but Toyokawa Shoko in front of him seemed to have no intention of moving aside, so Nakagawa Nobuyuki could only blink in confusion.

Perhaps she was really dissatisfied with Nakagawa Nobu's slowness, and Toyokawa Shoko couldn't help but blush even more. She stamped her feet lightly and said angrily: "...Speak, speak..."

Looking at the small Toyokawa Shoko in front of him with a slightly puffy face, Nakagawa Nobuyuki, who seemed to be somewhat enlightened, coughed lightly and spoke, following the words of Toyokawa Shoko, whose face was slightly blushing.

"Xiang... I'm back."

As if words were not enough, Nakagawa Nobuyuki suddenly became interested and stretched out his hand to gently pinch Xiangzi's round and soft little face.

"..."

Toyokawa Shoko could not help but turn her pretty face away stiffly, which was flushed red. She complained softly a few words as if she was somewhat dissatisfied, and then she ran away in a panic, even limping a little.

Looking at the blue-haired girl in front of him who took the initiative to block him, surrendered, and then took the initiative to make a strategic change, Nakagawa Nobuyuki smiled and shook his head, thinking she was a little bit cute.

Because the ingredients had been prepared long ago and were waiting for Nakagawa Nobuyuki to come home, it didn't take long before Toyokawa Shoko, wearing heat-insulating plaid gloves, carefully held two porcelain bowls and gently placed the pork chop rice on the small table in front of the old sofa.

Nakagawa Nobu's tonkatsu was simply topped with some chopped seaweed and pepper salt, while Xiaoxiang's was topped with some mayonnaise mixed with a little bit of chopped seaweed.

The golden fried pork chop gave off a wonderful aroma of frying, especially in front of Nakagawa Nobuyuki who hadn't had dinner yet, the temptation of such a dinner of carbohydrates and fried food was self-evident.

There was no routine formal session like "I'm eating". Both of them were tired after a whole day and now they just wanted to sit together and have a satisfying dinner together.

The two of them talked about things related to the band tacitly, and also thought of Ruoye Mu tacitly.

"...Xin, how about we get a band together first?"

Toyokawa Shoko suddenly put down her chopsticks, blinked her golden eyes, and looked at Nakagawa Nobuyuki who was still biting half a piece of fried pork chop in his mouth.

Perhaps because Nakagawa Nobuo was really silly, Toyokawa Shoko's mouth suddenly stiffened and she covered her mouth and laughed.

"Don't talk about such serious topics while eating..."

Knowing that he might be very funny now, Nakagawa Nobuyuki looked helplessly at Toyokawa Shoko who was covering her mouth and laughing in front of him, but he continued to act.

Nakagawa Nobuyuki had no intention of imitating Mr. Ji Dan and spitting out the food. After swallowing it quietly, he looked at Toyokawa Shoko who was slowly controlling her smile in front of him.

"As for the band group, why not pull Mu in first?"

Nakagawa Nobuyuki casually pulled out a piece of toilet paper and wiped the greasy corners of his mouth.

The only thing that can be confirmed now is Mutsuki as the guitarist, and as for the drummer... Nakagawa Shin vaguely remembers that N&U said he wanted to give it a try.

So the remaining ones are the lead singer and the bassist?

Although he really wanted to tell a bass joke, considering that the two bass players he was familiar with were not there and no one was there to pick up the joke, Nakagawa Nobuyuki shook his head regretfully.

Having said that, Nakagawa Nobuyuki suddenly seemed to remember something and frowned seriously.

"…By the way, Xiangzi, we may need to think of some solutions for Mu…"

124

Chapter 124 Only Xiangzi can help me with this matter...

"..."

Ruoye Mu, who was standing on the chair, bit his lips tightly, stood on tiptoes, and stretched out his little hand to the guitar bag on top of the closet.

Got it.

He carefully picked up his dark blue instrument bag, held up the back of the chair beside him, and then Ruo Yemu slowly walked down.

"……haven't seen you for a long time."

Wakaba Mutsu gently stroked the smooth, shiny pink guitar panel and whispered to himself...or maybe he was talking to the guitar.

Mom and Dad...are not at home, so now is just right.

Even if I can only practice climbing the grid and 100 pieces or something, that would be fine.

Xinhe Xiaoxiang even invited me to join the band again, which is great.

...What am I thinking about? Is this some kind of manzai?

...Haha, if Xin was around, he would definitely complain that my thoughts are too neat.

Ruo Ye Mu gently plucked the strings of the guitar in his hand. Just thinking about this situation, the corners of his mouth slowly curled up into an arc of joy.

【ding dong】

The phone on the table suddenly rang.

……

"Okay, Xiaomu has been added to the group."

Because Nakagawa Nobuyuki was still washing dishes and didn't have time to free his hands to pick up his phone, Toyokawa Shoko leaned gently against Nakagawa Nobuyuki and showed her phone to him.

"Just pull it in."

Nakagawa Nobuyuki took a look at the number of people at the end of the group and saw that it had become [3]. Even though he was busy, he couldn't help but smile in a good mood.

Bands are really interesting things. It’s only been a short time, but all the guys I met sooner or later are playing in bands.

...Looking at it this way, I have to work harder to catch up with everyone else.

"Didn't Xiao Mu say anything?"

After putting the washed dishes back into the cupboard, Nakagawa Nobuyuki asked casually.

"Hmm... I haven't posted anything yet..."

But it seemed a bit unfortunate. Just as Toyokawa Shoko finished saying this, a small cucumber flower suddenly popped up in the group chat.

……

This angle is just right.

Ruoye Mu took a photo of himself and his guitar and posted it in the band group which had not yet been named.

I originally wanted to include my face in the photo, but after trying hard, I felt that the smile I was trying to create was too stiff, so I only included my guitar and half of my body.

Soon, Nakagawa Nobuyuki's reply floated out below.

【cute.】

[The seven-string guitar looks impressive.]

[If you swing it and hit someone, it will definitely cause a lot of damage. ]

Ha ha.

Ruoye Mu curled his lips slightly, leaned back on the sofa, and slowly typed a reply.

[It will be painful.]

Although this kind of jokey chat was very enjoyable, it did not last long because the three of them had more important things to do.

"…Oh, that's right, Xin."

Toyokawa Shoko seemed to suddenly remember something, and suddenly coughed softly, straightened up, and looked extremely formal.

"What's wrong... you suddenly look so serious."

Nakagawa Nobuyuki had just taken out the composition book from his bag when he saw Toyokawa Shoko, who suddenly looked serious, and he couldn't help but blink in confusion.

"…Xin, how much do you pay for rent per month?"

As she spoke, Toyokawa Shoko took out her wallet with a serious look on her face.

"...Last month, it was about 50,000 yen. It's an old house after all."

Nakagawa Nobuyuki, who had just paid the rent two days ago, didn't need to recall much and just quoted the price of the rent.

Old, small apartments in this area are generally quite cheap.

However, Nakagawa Nobuyuki also had some concerns of his own, especially now that Toyokawa Shoko looked like she was planning to share the rent, so Nakagawa Nobuyuki had to quickly interrupt Toyokawa Shoko.

"Xiangzi, how can I put it..."

Zhonghe Xin smacked his lips, not knowing how to start speaking, and could only consider how to say such words.

Because he was a little worried that Xiangzi would misunderstand that he wanted to kick her out, Nakagawa Nobuyuki specifically reminded Xiangzi, "No matter what, listen to me before you speak."

Seeing that Toyokawa Shoko had already held a small stack of Mr. Noguchi Hideyo in her hand, Nakagawa Nobuyuki spoke hurriedly.

"Although it's okay to live together for the past few days, we can't always live together like this, right...?"

"Even though I'm fine... but if it's like this every day, it's actually quite inconvenient, right? After all, Xiangzi, you're also a girl of the same age..."

Before Nakagawa Nobuyuki could finish his words, he was glared back at by Toyokawa Shoko's terrifying gaze, which had become somewhat indifferent.

Xiangzi: "...What does [consider it as one] mean?"

Nakagawa Nobuo: "So that's the point?!"

Nakagawa Nobuyuki immediately started to complain about Toyokawa Shoko who didn't understand the point of his words at all.

But to be honest, what Nakagawa Nobuyuki said is not wrong.

Although Nakagawa Nobuyuki, Chihaya Aine and Kodama-san don't know about it yet, gossip has already spread in Haneda that "there is a guy in Class A who is cheating on two girls at the same time."

As for why the three of them don’t know yet, it’s probably because the good kids in Class A know how to avoid people like this.

High school students are naturally very interested in and sensitive to gossip about love. If someone knew that Nakagawa Nobuyuki was living with Toyokawa Shoko by chance one day...

I guess soon, some disgusting things will become popular in school.

Nakagawa Shin didn't know that there was a topic called "Scumbag" in Class A, so naturally he couldn't prevent anything, but since he lived with Xiangzi, he always knew it.

"Let's get back to the point... Xiangzi, you said a few days ago that you wanted to move next door, right?"

Nakagawa Nobuyuki cleared his throat and looked at Toyokawa Shoko in front of him with some seriousness.

Afterwards, Toyokawa Shoko met Nakagawa Nobuyuki, who suddenly became quite long-winded and troublesome based on the arguments that "you're just staying for a few days, there's no need to pay for the room" and "it's normal for friends to help each other."

"So, Xiangzi, it's just between friends..."

"Okay!"

With a slightly red face, Toyokawa Shoko suddenly stood up and raised her voice slightly, interrupting Nakagawa Nobuyuki who was talking fluently.

"...Xin, just like a nagging old woman."

However, despite muttering this, Toyokawa Shoko still obediently put the banknotes in her hand back into her wallet.

"That's right... Xiangzi, I'm not helping you just because I want the money you've given me."

Perhaps seeing that his words were effective, Nakagawa Nobu stopped talking with a smile. Suddenly he raised his eyes and looked at Toyokawa Shoko with a burning gaze.

"…But, there is something I need Xiangzi's help with."

"…Only Xiangzi can help me with this matter."

...Only, only me?

Toyokawa Shoko looked at Nakagawa Nobuyuki who was slowly standing up, and felt his burning gaze, and suddenly became inexplicably nervous.