After their confessions were rejected, they regretted it for the rest of their lives.

"These days are really strange..."

Listening to the old man's sighs, Zuoqiu Hangyu remained silent.

Kurimaki Tsuruo... or...?

Based on the other person's description, this idol fits the description perfectly.

A double suicide pact...?

The word popped into Zuoqiu Hangyu's mind.

Yes, she had the same thought after Lu Ye's death.

However, Zuoqiu Hangyu wasn't alone; she was an only child. If she died...

That would be far too selfish.

The warm sunlight, which had just been shining, now felt cold on the girl…

If Xia Weichan is Xia Weiyu, does he know about the state of Kurijuu Tsuruo?

.........

Inside the office, Kurimaki Tsuruo, who had just returned from the cemetery by taxi, leaned against the doorframe, her delicate face bearing the familiar cold tone of Xia Weiyu:

"Did you call just to get me to come over?"

"No, I just wanted to check on your situation."

Xia Weichan really wanted to complain about the guy in front of her, but she held back and continued:

"You hung up on me right away. If you had come any later, I probably would have gone to your house."

"..."

Kurimaki Tsuruo silently looked at Xia Weichan's face, then looked away, showing no intention of explaining.

"Le Yi is very worried about you, and about those people who were stood up by you."

Xia Weichan didn't know how to comment; this kind of thing had never happened during her last playthrough.

He could only offer this advice:

"When an idol with a schedule suddenly goes missing without any notice, it's easy for people to misunderstand it as being arrogant."

In Xia Weichan's memory, Kurimaki Tsuruo was a very enthusiastic and cooperative girl who participated in rehearsals.

Or perhaps her own death in the previous playthrough had a significant impact on her...?

Xia Weichan learned after investigation that Kurimaki Tsuruo was not cooperating with the company's newly assigned agent in subsequent matters.

He was simply singing, singing the lyrics he left behind from last week's episode.

Looking at the beautiful figure of Kurizuki Tsuruo, Xia Weichan asked:

Where did you go this morning?

"I went to find your brother."

The girl's voice was calm, but it made Xia Weichan feel a sense of oppression.

"Can you tell me why?"

"Do you want to know why?"

Kurimaki Tsuruo stared at him expressionlessly.

There was no intention to hide anything; since Xia Weiyu's sudden death was for her idol career,

Then "Kurimaki Tsuruo" should also accompany him to the cemetery.

"The meaning of my life now is to finish singing his songs."

"?"

"so…"

The girl paused, not saying what she was going to say, but from her lip movements and her lifeless eyes…

"..."

Xia Weichan was stunned for a full three seconds before she realized what the girl really meant.

His thoughts briefly stalled; the feeling of having a fishbone stuck in his throat was no exaggeration.

suicide?!

Although Xia Weichan had long sensed a hint of world-weariness in Kurijuu Tsuruo, her behavior also revealed a tendency towards self-abandonment.

Last week, Tsuruo Kurimaki asked him if he would transfer the money, and about his plan to leave all of his share of the profits to the company…

Everything now has a reasonable explanation.

But for anyone, hearing a girl under twenty years old so easily express such thoughts would be an indescribable shock.

The air seemed to freeze in Xia Weichan's throat as he repeated himself:

"...Why?"

"I know you understand Xia Weiyu better than I do, but... you couldn't possibly like... or depend on him more than I do."

After saying those words, Tsuruo Kurimaki seemed much more relaxed than she had imagined.

Without Xia Weiyu, she might still be living a numb existence in some corner of Shibuya.

But ever since her closed heart began to open to someone, Tsuruo Kurimaki has lost the ability to remain closed off.

She regretted it.

At that time, she should have accepted Xia Weiyu's confession instead of arrogantly demanding to know the reason why he liked her.

So much so that even death was not justified by the term "suicide pact."

"I died before I met him. Xia Weiyu gave me a second life, but now he's gone. That's enough. I don't want to go on anymore."

"Ms. Kurimaki, I think you must be tired. I'll consider giving you a long vacation. You should go..."

"No need to worry about it."

Kurimaki Tsuruo interrupted him.

She turned and opened the door, glanced outside, and made sure no one was listening to their conversation.

"I'm saying these things to you because you're his brother, but... please don't worry about me, and don't call any hospitals or police."

After leaving those words, Tsuruo Kurimaki seemed much more relaxed, and her expression even softened noticeably.

She seemed to have found a way to break free from some kind of oppressive constraint…

She recalled the words Xia Weichan had said to her at the very beginning.

I am a living relic left behind...

Is this Xia Weiyu's hard work...?

"sorry…"

Kurimaki Tsuruo pushed open the door and left.

She knows where she should be as a singer now…

.........

"sorry…"

Xia Weichan didn't even know who Kurimaki Tsuruo was saying this gentle apology to...

It's fair to say that the emotions the girl had just displayed were quite shocking to him.

This even shook Xia Weichan's decision to "swear not to care about previous playthroughs anymore."

This is dangerous.

Even the worst person would be terrified by a young girl's emotions when they hear their ex say something like "suicide pact."

Why is this happening...?

Xia Weichan realized what was happening, got up and left the office, glancing to confirm in the direction Kurimaki Tsuruo had gone.

—This is the rehearsal area.

Fortunately, it wasn't the direction to leave the entertainment company...

Xia Weichan didn't return to her office. Instead, she leaned against the railing of the corridor, taking deep breaths to calm herself.

However, the negative emotions did not dissipate with each breath; instead, they seemed to accumulate and solidify…

Last week, the words that Kurimaki Tsuruo had said, which he had almost forgotten, surged up from the depths of his memory again.

.........

"Tsuruo, you really enjoy singing, don't you...?"

Those were words that Xia Weiyu suddenly said to Kurijuu Tsuruo one day.

The girl simply looked at him with her beautiful brown eyes, pursed her lips as if she had a lot to say, but sighed and shook her head in denial.

"I don't like it."

"Hmm? Then why are you still working so hard?"

"...The only thing I can do for you."

Under Xia Weiyu's questioning gaze, Kurizuki Tsuruo lowered her eyes slightly.

"You gave me a second life... I don't understand, and I don't deserve it..."

"Let's not say things like that between the two of us anymore."

"I've already given you an answer, but you've never given me one..."

In Xia Weichan's memory, Kurimaki Tsuruo seemed to be waiting for his answer.

After a long time, I didn't wait.

"I am not worthy of what you have given me, so I repay you in this way. If I cannot even do this, I do not deserve this rebirth."

Seemingly disappointed by Xia Weiyu's silence, Kurimaki Tsuruo turned and left after saying these words.

Until Xia Weiyu finished this cycle, he never heard Kurimaki Tsuruo ask such a question again...