Substitute Toyokawa Shoko, you can become stronger by breathing

.......

After leaving Kitamura's house.

Kujo Renji stood on the slightly cool street in Roppongi late at night, feeling the night breeze brushing against his cheeks, trying to calm his heartbeat which had accelerated due to the thrilling tug-of-war just now.

At this moment, in my mind, Toyokawa Shoko's voice rang out with a hint of strange movement:

"Slurp... slurp... Um... So, Renji, that Kitamura Chiaki from earlier... has she... recognized you?"

There was obvious worry and a hint of worry in Xiangzi's tone, as if he was talking while eating something?

"Then...then we're in danger. What if she tells others about you...hiss—"

Jiujo Renji listened to the intermittent questions in his mind, which were mixed with strange "hissing" sounds, and always felt that something was wrong.

"Xiao Xiang?"

He frowned and asked in his mind:

"What's that noise over there? What are you doing?"

Hearing Kujo Renji's question, Toyokawa Shoko spoke with a smug and slightly proud tone, like a child who had waited a long time to finally have the chance to show off their new toy.

"Hey, this is a unique new ability I recently developed!"

"Do you think you're the only one who can develop my body and figure out things like blocking my senses? I can develop new skills on my own too!"

When Jiujo Liansi heard this, his heart suddenly jumped!

A new ability?! Xiangzi developed it himself?!

Without exception, all the "abilities" he acquired would be unlocked only when the system determined that he had completed certain "key events", obtained enough "points", and his "fitness" with the character of "Toyokawa Shoko" increased.

There seems to be some fixed rules and logic in this.

What about Toyokawa Shoko herself...how did she get her new abilities?

Is it because... the fit has decreased?

So some potential of the original owner of this body has been stimulated?

This thought made Kujo Renji's heart tighten. He subconsciously focused his attention on the virtual panel in the upper right corner of his vision that only he could see, which represented the fit value.

I saw that the value that had been stable at around 90% had now quietly reached... 95%!

Ninety-five percent!

This... this is almost the moment when his fit has reached its highest level since he traveled through time.

Jiujo Renji looked at the number, and the worry that had just risen in his heart gradually dissipated.

Since the fit is increasing, where does Xiangzi's so-called "new ability" come from? Could it be that the fit is too high, leading to some kind of "spillover effect"?

He temporarily suppressed his doubts and asked Xiangzi, who was still making hissing sounds in his mind:

"So...what exactly is this 'new ability' you've developed?"

"Hey, listen carefully!"

Xiangzi's tone was a bit pretentious.

"Slurp... slurp... As for me, I can now... recreate the taste and texture of everything I've ever eaten! And then... taste it all over again in our mental space!"

"How's that?! Isn't that amazing?"

Xiangzi said proudly

"From now on, I don't have to worry about your face when I want to eat anything delicious. I can eat as much as I want and whenever I want!"

Kujo Renji: "..."

He was speechless.

So, that "slurp, slurp" sound just now, could it be that she was drinking ramen soup in her head?

Kujo Renji felt the corner of his mouth twitch uncontrollably.

The two of them stopped dwelling on this topic. Toyokawa Shoko seemed to have finally remembered the important matter and brought the topic back to the topic:

"So! Renji! Answer me! Did that Kitamura Chiaki really recognize you?!"

Kujo Renji sighed and admitted somewhat helplessly: "Well...I guess so."

"Then...if she knows your true identity, won't we be in...more trouble?"

"Don't worry, she won't."

He shook his head and explained:

"I understand Kitamura Chiaki's character. Her words, 'Kujo Renji helped her a lot,' weren't just casual compliments. They also... contained some 'tacit understanding' and 'deal' that only the two of us understood."

"Even if she knew my current 'condition,' she would at most only use this 'secret' as a 'bargaining chip' in our cooperation... to use against me at any time. But she would definitely not be foolish enough to make this secret public or use it as a means of truly threatening me."

"That's why I chose to work with her first." Kujo Renji paused and continued:

"Compared to those other 'old friends' I know, Kitamura Chiaki, although she's only interested in profit, in some ways...she's quite...trustworthy."

At least, as long as there is no fundamental conflict of interest between the two parties and you can continue to demonstrate your "value", she will not easily betray a "useful" ally.

After listening to Kujo Renji's analysis, Toyokawa Shoko's worries were slightly relieved.

However, she also knew that now was not the time for her to hesitate or back down.

Now that I've embarked on this path, I can only...trust Lian Si's judgment.

.....

PS: I am getting sicker and sicker, I feel dizzy and have written 4,000 words but it is ruined. I have to get an injection tomorrow, sorry.

Update later

The update will be a little late, probably around midnight, so don't wait, just get up and read it tomorrow morning.

I took a day off yesterday to get an injection. The next update will be at least 10,000 words.

I feel much better after the injection, but I still feel a little dizzy.

Oh, this month has been full of disasters. The update was completely terrible. Fortunately, there was no bounty.

Red bean paste private Marseille woo woo.

Chapter 106: You still say you are not Jiujo Liansi? (1w5)

confused.

This is often an emotion that arises when you don't know what to do.

Logically speaking, for someone with a clear purpose like Kujo Renji, it would be difficult for him to feel confused.

But now Kujo Renji is really a little confused.

The original idea was to use the identity of Miss Toyokawa to climb to a position that she had never been to, or at least to draw a line between herself and her former self.

But now, it seems that this boundary is getting closer and closer?

This "reunion" with Chiaki Kitamura was like a mirror, clearly reflecting the "past" that he could not let go of no matter what.

Those memories that he thought had been forgotten, those connections that he thought had been severed, seemed to be re-invading his current life in a way he could not have predicted.

The boundary he tried so hard to draw, instead of becoming clearer, became increasingly blurred and closer.

Is he trying to escape the past, or is he repeating it in another way?

"Renji...what are you thinking about? Slurp—"

at this time.

In his mind, Toyokawa Shoko's doubtful voice sounded at an inopportune time, interrupting his thoughts.

The corner of Jiujo Liansi's forehead twitched uncontrollably.

"Miss Xiangzi..."

He said in his mind speechlessly: "Can you... stop eating for now?"

"You have to control what I eat!"

Ms. Toyokawa Shoko's tone was full of righteous dissatisfaction.

"I'm just 'tasting' delicious food in the spiritual realm! I won't actually gain weight! And it won't affect your body functions! Why are you not letting me eat?!"

The two of them argued in their minds for a few more words, and finally ended with Kujo Renji's "surrender".

...

Autumn is deepening, and the Ullambana Festival is approaching.

The streets of Tokyo have also quietly taken on a new look.

For the Japanese, the meaning of Obon Festival is somewhat similar to the combination of China's Qingming Festival and Zhongyuan Festival.

It usually takes place in late summer each year, with the specific date varying from region to region. It is a festival to welcome and honor the souls of deceased ancestors, and it is also an important time for families to reunite and remember the deceased.

There are many theories about the origins of the Ullambana Festival. The most widely circulated one is the story of "Mulian Rescuing His Mother," found in the Buddhist Ullambana Sutra. Legend has it that Maudgalyayana, a disciple of the Buddha, learned through his supernatural powers that his deceased mother had fallen into the realm of hungry ghosts and was suffering. Deeply grief-stricken, Maudgalyayana begged the Buddha for help. The Buddha instructed him to place a hundred delicacies and five fruits in a bowl and offer them to monks from all directions on the fifteenth day of the seventh month. This merit would help his mother's salvation. Maudgalyayana followed this instruction, and his mother was ultimately liberated.

Later generations designated this day as the Ullambana Festival to pray for the souls of the dead and repay their parents for their upbringing.

In Japan, during the Obon Festival, every household will clean the cemetery, offer flowers and sacrifices, and welcome the souls of their ancestors "home".

Many companies and schools will also be closed, and people will return home to reunite with their families.

On the first day of the festival, people light a "welcoming fire" at their doorsteps to guide the return of their ancestors' souls.

On the last day of the festival, the "Soul-Sending Fire" will be lit to respectfully send the souls of the ancestors back to the other side.

Among them, Kyoto's "Five Mountains Sending Fire" is particularly spectacular, attracting countless tourists every year.

In addition to welcoming and seeing off the souls, there are also ceremonies such as "Bon Odori (Bon Odori)" and "releasing river lanterns (Lantern Festival)".

However, for Kujo Renji, Obon Festival, a festival full of family warmth and remembrance of deceased relatives, does not have any special meaning.

In a sense, he was an utterly filial son in his previous life.

As an illegitimate child not recognized by his family, he finally took the position of the chairman of the Canglong Society through a series of bloody and treasonous means that were almost "overthrowing the superiors".

His rise to power was filled with betrayal, murder, and conspiracy, completely alien to the warm and affectionate atmosphere of the Yulan Festival. He had no "ancestors" worth honoring, and even less "relatives" worth remembering.

And now Miss "Toyokawa Shoko"...

Under the "careful teaching" and subtle influence of Kujo Renji, this young lady who was originally a little naive and dependent, seems to be... also rushing towards the direction of being a "filial daughter".

The relationship between her and Toyokawa Sadaharu had already reached a freezing point, and it could even be said that they had completely broken off.

She probably wouldn't have much interest in paying tribute to the "ancestors" of the Toyokawa family.

However, even if you don't actively participate in the Autumn Festival, you can always feel its rich atmosphere everywhere.

Various Obon-related decorations have been gradually hung up on the streets of Tokyo.

——Brightly colored paper lanterns, elf horses of various shapes, and various short booklets with blessing words written on them.

The air also seemed to be filled with a faint aroma of incense and the unique aroma of festival food.

Some shrines and commercial streets have also begun to hold various local autumn festivals, such as lively temple fairs, traditional art performances, and various snack stalls full of festive characteristics.

........

Of course, those who have no need to "worship their ancestors" are not the only ones like Kujo Renji and Toyokawa Shoko, who has long been extremely disappointed with her family.

And there is Wakaba Mutsu.

This girl, who is always immersed in her own world and has extremely complicated family relationships, seems to have a very low opinion of the concept of "ancestor worship".

What's more, she now lives with Kujo Renji, away from the "home" that makes her feel depressed and uncomfortable, so naturally there is no need for her to participate in family sacrificial activities.

However, it's always nice to go out for a walk on days like this.

As night falls, the lights are on.

The banks of the Sumida River were already crowded with people and bustling with activity.

On both sides of the river bank, rows of warm yellow lanterns were hung, illuminating the entire river bank like daylight.

The cool night breeze blew on my face, bringing with it a hint of the moist scent of the river, as well as the faint noise and melodious shakuhachi sounds coming from afar.