Substitute Toyokawa Shoko, you can become stronger by breathing

He answered in his mind, writing fluently on the test paper with the pen in his hand:

"But my ability to learn is definitely my strong point. In certain circumstances, lack of understanding means death, it's that simple."

"Certain circumstances?"

Toyokawa Shoko couldn't help but say

"Besides agents, what other environment is so extreme? Assassins? The yakuza?"

It reminded me of the name "Ishikawa Shunya" that the other party had mentioned earlier.

Toyokawa Shoko had a vague guess in her mind.

This guy, before he came into my body, wasn't he a gangster boss...?

Kujo Renji didn't answer immediately. He was concentrating on finishing his English essay, an 800-word essay on environmental protection that he'd crafted in just ten minutes. The grammar was precise, the vocabulary was well-chosen, and it even incorporated a few authentic English slang terms, making it look nothing like the work of a non-native speaker.

——There is really no need to relearn English.

After all, his English is... pretty good?

At least better than high school students.

I did take the time to learn some of it in the past, after all, it can be used when doing business with some companies.

........

Three days later, the monthly exam ended.

Renji Kujo stood in front of the bulletin board covered with report cards, his eyes fixed on the line that read "Toyokawa Shoko".

Fourth in the class and ninth in the grade.

Compared to Toyokawa Shoko's previous solid position in the top three of his grade, it was indeed a step backward, but compared to the Waterloo he had expected, this result was already quite good.

Kujo Renji's eyes swept over "Chihaya Aine" at the top of the list. The words "third in the grade" were very dazzling in the sunlight.

This surprised him.

The girl who looks sunny, cheerful and a little bit silly actually has such good academic performance.

The classmates around gathered in twos and threes in front of the bulletin board, some cheered, some sighed.

Kujo Renji noticed some eyes cast at him, some of which were mixed with surprise and inquiry.

——Sure enough, even though she only dropped a few places, it still caused some discussion for Toyokawa Shoko, who had always been in the top three.

"Toyokawa-san."

A familiar voice came from behind him. Kujo Renji turned around and saw his homeroom teacher, Mr. Murakami, walking towards him.

The teacher, a kind-looking woman in her early fifties, wore red-framed glasses and had a tired look on her face. She waved, "Can you come over here for a moment?"

Kujo Renji nodded and followed Mr. Murakami to the teacher's office.

The teacher's office was filled with the faint aroma of coffee, and sunlight filtered through the blinds onto a desk piled high with documents. Mr. Murakami gestured for Renji Kujo to take a chair, while he sat opposite him, his hands folded on the table.

"Xiangzi, this monthly exam..."

Mr. Murakami paused, his tone hesitant, "Although it has regressed a bit, it's still good overall."

Her eyes were gentle and concerned, not blaming, but as if confirming something.

"I... have been a little distracted lately." Kujo Renji lowered his head and answered in a way he thought was consistent with Toyokawa Shoko's character.

Mr. Murakami was silent for a moment and pushed his glasses up: "Is it because of family matters?"

Jiujo Renji looked up, a little surprised. He didn't expect the teacher to mention family so directly.

Mr. Murakami sighed:

"I saw you working at a convenience store earlier, and..."

She hesitated, "The school received a call from your father saying that you have moved out."

Kujo Renji was surprised.

Toyokawa Kiyoshi, what are you doing?

Are you using the school to put pressure on me? Or is there some other reason?

"I'm fine, Mr. Murakami."

He collected his thoughts, smiled slightly, and said in a calm voice:

“It just takes a little time to adjust to the new environment.”

Teacher Murakami looked at the stubborn girl in front of him and felt a surge of pity in his heart.

She has been teaching for fifteen years and has seen too many children living with masks on.

From the first day she transferred to Haneda, Shoko Toyokawa has been the type that makes people feel sorry for her - overly independent, refusing to show weakness, and hiding all her edge under a calm appearance.

"Xiangzi."

Mr. Murakami's voice softened:

"You know, if you have any trouble, you can come and talk to me."

She stretched out her hand, as if to pat Jiujo Renji's shoulder, but stopped mid-air, and finally just tapped the table lightly:

"The school also has resources to help you. Whether it's academic tutoring or..."

"I'm really fine, teacher." Kujo Renji raised his head slightly and said, "I can handle it."

Teacher Murakami looked at the student in front of him. Although she was just a teenager, her eyes showed that she had experienced too much hardship.

She sighed and didn't force it any further.

“Okay, but mark my words,” she said finally, “you don’t have to do it all by yourself.”

Kujo Renji nodded, stood up and prepared to leave.

"And, Xiangzi." Mr. Murakami called him again before he turned around:

"Your essay is very well written, especially your unique perspective on social issues. I've recommended it to the school magazine. If you don't mind, it might be published in the next issue..."

Jiujo Renji was stunned for a moment, then nodded and thanked him. This was a development he had not expected.

As I walked out of the office, the afternoon sun streamed into the corridor, casting a warm golden hue on the wooden floor.

"Murakami-sensei has always cared about me." Toyokawa Shoko whispered in her mind, "Ever since I transferred here, she has..."

"What a thoughtful person." Kujo Renji stepped onto the stairs and said softly, "Much better than I thought."

"What do you think the teachers in school are like?" Shoko Toyokawa was a little curious.

Kujo Renji didn't answer immediately. In his memory, authority had always represented indifference, calculation, and control, never this kind of genuine concern.

This unconditional kindness made him feel a little uncomfortable.

"It's just a little surprising..." he finally said, as if to change the subject, "The people around you seem to care about you."

He stopped at the window, looking at the students cleaning the playground in the distance, with a smile in his tone:

"Then who were you trying to impress by acting so helpless before?"

Shoko Toyokawa fell silent in her consciousness.

She saw all those concerned looks and outstretched hands, but always chose to take a step back.

"You wouldn't understand," she finally said, a hint of stubbornness in her voice. "I don't need anyone's sympathy."

"Sympathy?" Kujo Renji sneered, "Concern and sympathy are two different things, young lady. You regard other people's kindness as charity. No wonder you feel lonely."

"At least this way, I won't have to see pity in anyone's eyes anymore."

In a rare move, Toyokawa Shoko didn't refute: "I'd rather they hate me than sympathize with me."

As the atmosphere became increasingly tense, my cell phone suddenly vibrated.

Kujo Renji took out his cell phone from his pocket and a new message appeared on the screen.

"Winwing?" He frowned and clicked on the message.

"Ms. Toyokawa, we need to discuss Ave Mujica's next plans. The company has decided to arrange a three-city tour next month, with one show each in Yokohama, Tokyo, and Osaka. All members, please confirm the schedule as soon as possible, and we will discuss the specific details next Monday. - Nakamura"

A brief schedule was also attached at the end of the message, with all the links arranged in an orderly manner, from rehearsal to dress rehearsal to the final performance.

After reading the message, Kujo Renji felt a headache.

"Tour?!" Toyokawa Shoko's voice suddenly rose, her previous depressed mood swept away. "Quick, tell them we're free!"

"Wait, are you sure?" Kujo Renji frowned and said, "Don't forget that we barely made it through the last rehearsal."

He recalled the rehearsal in the piano room a few days ago. His piano performance was less than satisfactory. Although the drama part held up the scene, the musical flaws were difficult to cover up.

If it weren't for the conflict with Yutenji Wakamugi that diverted his attention, he might have been questioned as unsuitable to continue as a keyboardist.

Toyokawa Shoko insisted, with unquestionable determination in her voice.

“This is Ave Mujica’s first official tour, and we can’t miss it.”

Kujo Renji could sense the persistence in her tone, an almost morbid desire, as if this tour meant far more to her than the performance itself.

"Even if I can't even play a complete song at my current level?"

He calmly pointed out the problem: "You want 'Oblivionis' to embarrass himself on stage?"

Toyokawa Shoko was silent for a moment, then lowered her head, her stubborn tone softening.

"Ave mujica I really can't miss this opportunity... just take this as a plea."

In fact, she was not sure whether Kujo Renji would be able to perform on stage.

After all, no matter how good the other party's management skills are, he is the one who will eventually go on stage.

But just as she said, Ave mujica must seize this opportunity, and she must also place her hopes on Jiujo Renji.

What's more, given the learning ability he has demonstrated before, it is not impossible for him to improve his piano playing to a level where he can perform.

The atmosphere that followed was really unbearable, and the time waiting for a reply made Toyokawa Shoko feel like every second was a year.

Just when she was feeling a little angry and disappointed, Kujo Renji spoke.

"It's too hasty to reply to the company now..." he said, sighing: "Give me some time to think about it."

He could actually understand why Toyokawa Shoko was so excited - Ave mujica was not only a band, but also a stage for her to prove her own worth, and it was one of the few things she could still control despite her family's backwardness.

Different from what Kujo Renji can bring to Toyokawa Shoko...

Ave mujica truly belongs to her, and it is one of the few things she still wants to hold on to after losing control of her body.

Considering that rejecting the other party might lead to a significant decline in fit, he said:

"Okay, I promise you, but before that, I have to deal with the band's internal affairs first..."

After so much time has passed, the rebels in the band are probably starting to stir again.

Toyokawa Shoko's reaction was beyond Kujo Renji's expectations.

There was no lengthy thanks, no excitement of crying with joy. In her consciousness, she was just silent for a moment, then let out a breath softly, as if she had finally put down a huge rock that was hanging on her heart.

The feeling of relief was so strong that Kujo Renji could even feel an almost tangible sense of security from her silence.

"Within the band...you mean Yutenji Wakami?"

"It's not just her."

Jiujo Renji looked at the schedule sent by Winwing on his phone, paused and said, "Wakaba Mu is also an uncertain factor."

When talking about Wakaba Mutsu, Toyokawa Shoko's emotions fluctuated noticeably.

Kujo Renji could feel a complex emotion surging from the depths of his consciousness - concern, guilt, worry, and a hint of indescribable closeness.

"Mu will be fine," Toyokawa Shoko said firmly, but with a hint of hesitation.

After Toyokawa Shoko finished speaking, she fell into silence as if she had thought of something.

Kujo Renji could feel that she was organizing her thoughts and struggling to express something.

"Anyway...thank you."

Finally, she whispered, those two words seemed to have exhausted all her strength.

Kujo Renji did not respond to her thanks.

Verbal politeness was meaningless to him. He was more concerned about the actual benefits - three original sin points would not only stabilize the fit, but also gain a deeper control over this body.