After dropping out of school, I chose to join a girls' band.

"It's similar to what I remember... but not quite the same." Xiaoyue murmured softly, her fingers gently tracing the wood grain of the tabletop, as if touching a distant memory.

Hearing her words, Momoko Kurosawa smiled slightly, clearly knowing more about the store than Satsuki: "Yes, last year, Mom renovated the entire store."

Momoko spoke with a nonchalant tone, as if it were the most natural thing in the world. In contrast, Hinasaki Tsuki seemed not to have fully accepted this subtle change. She looked up at Momoko, a hint of surprise in her eyes: "Momoko, do you come back every year?"

Peach nodded, a slight smile playing on her lips, her tone tinged with nonchalance: "Yes, I come back every year during the holidays. But this summer I've been so busy preparing for the BangDream competition that I haven't been back yet."

"It seems like it's been three years since I've been back..." Xiaoyue said softly, her tone tinged with self-reproach and helplessness.

Since she entered the entertainment industry, her schedule has become increasingly busy, with a mountain of holiday announcements and work, leaving her with very little time to return to Rishan Mountain. Perhaps that is why she has never seen Momoko.

Side Story: A Trip to the Mountain: Chapter 8 Chi Qun Yin Wo Ling = (Part 3) Miss Peach, whose breath has run dry

"Sorry to keep you waiting." Kurosawa Mika smiled and walked gently to everyone with a tray full of coffee, handing each person a steaming cup of coffee.

The aroma of coffee filled the air with the rising steam, enveloping the entire room in its rich fragrance.

Shiina Riki took the cup, held it with both hands, gently blew on it, then picked up the cup and took a small sip.

Her eyes widened slightly, clearly startled by the familiar scent: "This scent...!"

She took another sip, and after confirming it was the same as the one Xiaoyue makes at home, she exclaimed in surprise, "It's exactly the same as the one Xiaoyue makes at home!"

Upon hearing this, Kurosawa Mika smiled proudly, while Hinasaki explained with a smile, "Of course, after all, both my family's coffee beans and coffee-making techniques were learned from Aunt Mika."

Her words were understated, as if she were describing something utterly ordinary.

However, when these words reached Momoko Kurosawa's ears, they were like a thunderclap.

She was stunned for a moment, then her pupils suddenly contracted, and she sat up abruptly, her face full of disbelief: "Wait, wait!"

Peach looked shocked, her voice tinged with anxiety and surprise: "Lixi...you mean you often go to Xiaoyue's house?"

Finally, she realized a "serious problem" she had never noticed before—it turned out that while she was busy with her work and competition, Shiina Tatsuki, this "sudden appearance," had been frequently visiting the home of her beloved "Xiaoyue"!

As a girl blessed with the ultimate "childhood friend from heaven" buff, Ms. Kurosawa Momoko only now realizes that she seems to have been "stolen" by Riki! And it was a complete "stolen" attack where "even the crystals were destroyed"!

If this were a typical romance novel, then Ms. Momoko Kurosawa would probably have already stepped into the set of the movie next door, where "there are too many female protagonists who are losers," and accept reality with a wry smile.

However, this is Bang Dream, and in this world, mixed pairings are an unavoidable seasoning, and "one-on-many" is a common plot development.

"Lixi only stays at my house occasionally because of the band," Hinasaki explained calmly.

This is a lie!

In fact, during this summer vacation, Shiina Ritsuki stayed at Hinasaki's house far more often than she spent the night at her own home.

According to incomplete statistics, this gap may even be multiples.

"Is that so?" Momoko Kurosawa felt her tension ease temporarily as she listened to Hinasaki's explanation.

She breathed a sigh of relief, a glimmer of hope rekindling in her heart. If it was just an occasional overnight stay due to band matters, then it wasn't a big deal.

She still has a chance to launch a counterattack!

Yes! As long as she starts to fight back, everything will be alright.

Besides, in terms of time, she was the first one to stay overnight at Xiaoyue's house!

She is Kurosawa Momoko, possessing the almost invincible attribute of "a childhood friend falling from the sky" in the world of anime.

Although she only learned these details now, it didn't stop her from using her childhood friend status to regain her home turf.

This is the legendary invincible attribute! She will definitely not lose to Shiina Tatsuki!

absolute!

Just as Momoko Kurosawa was silently cheering herself on, her gaze involuntarily fell on Tatsuki Shiina once again.

At this moment, Lixi seemed to realize something. She suddenly felt Taozi's slightly "battle-inducing" gaze. She looked around in confusion, clearly not understanding what she had done wrong.

To escape this inexplicable pressure, Riki subconsciously moved closer to Hinasaki, trying to get away from Momoko.

This simple action, which may seem like an ordinary behavior to outsiders, was magnified a thousand times in Momoko Kurosawa's eyes.

Her eyes sharpened instantly, and a thought flashed through her mind—was this Shiina Tatsuki asserting his dominance over her?!

"I will never admit defeat!" Momoko Kurosawa thought through gritted teeth.

Even if Riki arrived first, she would definitely overtake her and completely crush Riki Shiina's advantage.

Meanwhile, Shiina Riki, standing to the side, remained completely bewildered, utterly confused as to why Kurosawa Momoko was suddenly looking at her with that kind of gaze.

Hinasaki, who was at the center of the argument, was clearly unaware of the subtle atmosphere between the two.

She was leisurely picking up her coffee cup and taking a small sip, completely unaware that an "invisible war" was quietly unfolding around her.

"It's so good to be young~" Ms. Kurosawa Mika sat behind the counter watching the "open and covert struggles" between the three, a maternal smile on her face.

"Mika-nee? What are you talking about?" Bu Lai Yuri asked after hearing what Kurosawa Mika said.

“I’m just lamenting my lost youth,” Kurosawa Mika replied.

"?" Miss Yuri still looked confused.

----------

The group from Ave Mujica stood in front of Mika Kurosawa's small shop, waving goodbye. The setting sun cast its warm glow upon them, bringing the comfort of the day's end.

"We'll be going now, see you tomorrow!" Sakura Sakura said cheerfully, then led the members to leave.

Sakura Sakura had booked a hotel online long ago, so the group from Ave Mujica planned to settle in at the hotel first and then go out for sightseeing together tomorrow.

However, there was one person who clearly had no intention of leaving—that was Ms. Momoko Kurosawa.

After the other members of Ave Mujica said goodbye, Momoko Kurosawa naturally stayed.

She glanced at Hinasaki and the others, a faint smile playing on her lips, and said in a light tone, "Alright, let's go choose some rooms."

Hinasaki looked at Momoko, a little confused, and frowned slightly: "Can Aunt Mika's house really accommodate so many people?" She looked around and saw that although the place was cozy, the space seemed limited.

Momoko Kurosawa casually explained, "Didn't you know? My mother bought all the houses next door a few years ago, and they're all hers now. She's been using them as guesthouses."

"What?!" Hinasaki was stunned, a series of question marks seemingly popping into her head. Her eyes widened in surprise, her voice filled with disbelief, "Really?"

Seeing her reaction, Peach couldn't help but smile, a hint of smugness flashing in her eyes: "Of course it's true."

Hinasaki was still somewhat taken aback, but quickly another question popped into her head: "Then why did Shoko and the others leave? Since there are so many rooms here, couldn't they all stay together?"

Peach shrugged and explained, "Ah, that's because Sister Ying booked the hotel a long time ago. If she doesn't go to get the invoice, she can't get reimbursed for the expenses. Besides, their luggage was already delivered to the hotel, so she has to go."

"In her words, if you go out without even booking a hotel, it will easily arouse suspicion from the finance department, although I think she has already been suspected by the finance department for a long time."

Side Story: Trip to the Mountain: Chapter Nine So, does this count as staying at my house?

As soon as Mygo stepped into the house next door, they were greeted by a warm, family-like atmosphere. The room lacked the coldness of a hotel; instead, it felt cozy and comfortable, as if it held many warm memories.

"Wow, this feels so homey." Chihaya Aine's eyes widened as she looked around, her tone revealing a hint of surprise and joy.

She walked into the living room, her gaze falling on the photos and decorations on the wall. Several landscape paintings hung on the wall; the frames were not luxurious, but they felt particularly welcoming.

Several small green plants were placed on the coffee table, and there were some handicrafts and ceramic ornaments on the windowsill, making the whole room warm and elegant.

A simple lamp hangs from the living room ceiling, casting a soft light throughout the room. The sofa is a soft fabric sofa, exuding a faint scent of detergent. An old wooden TV cabinet stands against the wall, and the TV is the perfect size, allowing one to sit comfortably on the sofa and watch it directly.

Judging from Yoro Nai, who is already curled up on the sofa, it must be very comfortable.

Nagasaki Motoyo leaned against the doorway, quietly looking around: "This place is really cozy, just like an ordinary family home."

Her gaze lingered on a bookshelf in the corner, filled with all sorts of books, many of which appeared to be about coffee, classical drama, and other lifestyle topics.

Gao Songdeng was already squatting in the small courtyard of the yard, looking at the stones at his feet.

"Is this place usually rented out?" Hinasaki looked around, her gaze falling on some dust in the corner. She frowned slightly, seemingly realizing that the house didn't seem to be frequently occupied, showing no signs of being rented out regularly.

“No…” Momoko Kurosawa shook her head and explained calmly, “This house was actually bought by my mother specifically for me to live in when I come home, so it is basically not rented out.”

"Huh?" Hinasaki's eyes widened, once again shocked by Momoko.

Shiina Riki couldn't help but interject, "So... in reality, we're living at Momo's house right now?"

Seeing the slightly shocked expressions on Hinasaki and Shiina Ritsuki's faces, Momoko Kurosawa's lips curled into a slight smile, a hint of undisguised smugness flashing in her eyes. Her gaze fell on Ritsuki, and she said casually, "This house is usually uninhabited, so it's a bit dusty. However, we can stay here for the next few days."

Peach was secretly delighted, but on the surface she remained calm and composed.

In that case, wouldn't it be practically equivalent to Xiaoyue living in my house? She silently calculated this "emotional debt" in her mind, and the smile in the corner of her eyes deepened.

That's great, the score is finally tied!

Momoko Kurosawa's gaze shifted from Kozuki to Shiina Tatsuki, her heart filled with a secret sense of victory, as if she had firmly grasped something at this moment.

She looked at Lixi calmly, her eyes carrying a hint of provocation.

Now, the situation is back to square one.

But Ms. Shiina Ritsuki clearly didn't fully understand what Momoko meant; she was thinking more about where they were staying: "Momoko-senpai, where are our rooms?"

Upon hearing Shiina Tatsuki's question, Kurosawa Momoko casually replied, "This house has quite a few rooms. Besides my room, there are three guest rooms upstairs."

Ms. Momoko Kurosawa never expected that she would regret her words.

Shiina Tatsuki immediately and naturally turned to look at Hinasaki, saying in her usual calm tone, "Then, Hinasaki, let's share a room."

"Yes, no problem." Hinasaki answered without hesitation, as if it were perfectly normal, just like they usually did at home.

However, this simple sentence was a fatal blow to Momoko Kurosawa!

Her heart seemed to be struck in an instant, and she was so shocked that she almost lost her balance.

"Wait!" Peach hurriedly stepped forward to stop them, her voice filled with urgency, "Why did you two decide to live together so naturally?!"

Shiina Tatsuki remained as calm as ever, tilting her head slightly and saying matter-of-factly, "Because there are three guest rooms here, and there are six of us, we definitely need two people to share a room."

Momoko Kurosawa frowned, a hint of resentment flashing in her eyes. She quickly said, "Then Yue can sleep with me too! Didn't we often do that back in Seisho?"

Hinasaki smiled and shook her head with a hint of helplessness, "No need. This is your home, and I'm already embarrassed enough. It would be too much of a shame to have to squeeze in with you to sleep. You can stay with Riki, it's fine."

Xiaoyue's tone was gentle yet firm, carrying a reason that was hard to refuse.

Upon hearing this, Momoko Kurosawa felt a surge of helplessness.

She opened her mouth, but couldn't find a reason to refute it; all the words she wanted to say were stuck in her throat.