Substitute Toyokawa Shoko, you can become stronger by breathing

Ishikawa Shunya nodded, took out a business card from his pocket, and handed it to Tsuda Seiichi: "This number is only known to me. Report any findings directly to me, without going through anyone else, including my assistant."

Seiichi Tsuda took the business card and carefully put it into his inner pocket.

......

at the same time.

Inside the apartment, the light was dim.

Yutenji Ruomai called the platform's customer service number for the third time, and the same robotic female voice responded: "Thank you for contacting PosTube Customer Service. All customer service staff are currently busy. Please call back later..."

She hung up and slammed her phone onto the sofa. Over the past forty-eight hours, she'd tried almost everything possible—sending appeal emails, contacting friends within the platform, even paying so-called "account unblocking experts." But the result was the same.

[This account has been permanently banned due to multiple serious violations of community guidelines.]

Yutenji Wakamu stood in front of the floor-to-ceiling window, looking at the night view of Tokyo outside. The brilliance was still there, no different from a few days ago, but her world had collapsed.

Now she looks haggard, with dark circles under her eyes and disheveled hair, completely different from the radiant "Meow Mengqin" in the video.

The instant noodles on the table were already cold. This was her only meal of the day.

The expensive eyeshadow palette in the refrigerator that should have been unpacked today now seems like an unnecessary waste. Without a platform and fans, what is the point of all this carefully prepared content?

She curled up on the sofa and opened the last reply email:

After review, we have determined that your account has posted a significant amount of illegal content, including but not limited to: false advertising, unlabeled advertising content, and the use of bots to increase engagement. In accordance with platform rules, we maintain our decision to permanently ban your account.

"asshole!"

Yutenji Wakamu cursed under her breath. She had never done such things. Even when she was promoting products, she always clearly marked them. Even the seemingly exaggerated performances were just the common personality of internet celebrities.

She knew there was only one explanation behind all this.

Toyokawa Shoko.

The name swirled in her mind, carrying a suffocating pressure.

Recalling the other person's eyes in the rehearsal room, that cold sharpness, that undisguised threat... How could she have been so foolish as to think that it was just a bluff?

A complex emotion surged in her heart - hatred, fear, and regret intertwined together, making it difficult for her to breathe.

"Why?" Yutenji Wakami murmured to herself, "Why can she so easily...negate all of a person's efforts?"

Four years, countless nights of staying up late to edit, countless makeup exercises, carefully designed every expression and every line... In the eyes of Toyokawa Shoko, all of this is just a matter of a word.

She picked up her phone and slid her trembling fingers across the address book, where Shoko Toyokawa's name lay quietly.

If she apologizes now, will the other party accept it? If she gives up her demands and completely submits to the rules of Ave mujica, is there any way back?

Just as she was lost in thought, her cell phone suddenly rang. The name flashing on the screen was "Mom".

Yutenji Wakamu took a deep breath, adjusted her expression as if her mother could see her through the phone, and then answered the call.

"Hello, Mom?" She tried to make her voice sound cheerful and lively.

"Maizi, how are you doing lately?" A familiar, gentle voice with Kumamoto dialect came from the other end of the line: "Everything is fine at home, and Dad's back is much better."

"I'm fine too!" Yutenji Wakamu stood up and paced back and forth in the room, pretending to be relaxed. "The weather in Tokyo has been really good lately. I even went to shoot a new video yesterday!"

Lies came out of her mouth. She was used to it - never letting her family know about any of her difficulties.

Ever since she decided to develop in Tokyo in high school, she has been trying to prove to her family that her choice was right.

"Really..." There was a hint of hesitation in the mother's voice. "Then... are you eating well? Have you paid the rent?"

"Of course! I'm an internet celebrity with 400,000 followers!" Another lie: "And the band is about to go on tour, so Mom doesn't have to worry about me at all."

The call continued, with my mother rambling on about trivial matters back home—the neighbor's cat had given birth to kittens, the plum tree in the backyard of our old home was in bloom, and my father had bought new fishing tackle...

Yutenji Wakamugi responded intermittently until his mother suddenly asked:

"Maizi, are you having any trouble?"

This direct question startled Yutenji Wakamugi, and a lump suddenly formed in her throat. She turned around hastily, as if she was afraid her mother would see her tears through the phone.

"How could that be!" she forced a smile. "I'm fine! Just listen to how energetic I sound!"

"But..."

"It's really okay, Mom." Yutenji Ruomai interrupted, "You guys should take good care of yourselves. Tell that old man, Dad, to stop thinking about saving money and go see a doctor if his back hurts!"

She ended the call hastily, promising to call regularly, telling her mother not to worry, and repeating the old saying, "I can do it out there on my own!"

The moment the phone was hung up, Yutenji Wakamu's disguise collapsed.

She threw herself on the sofa, buried her face in the pillow, and finally let herself cry out loud. Tears poured out like a dam bursting, soaking the pillow and her heart.

"Can I really... do this..." she asked herself through sobs.

She remembered her mother's advice at the station when she left Kumamoto: "Tokyo is big, and people's hearts are complicated. If there is anything you can't solve, just go home..."

Family.

The small city that she once couldn't wait to escape from now seems like an unreachable safe haven.

But she couldn't go back, she couldn't just give up.

If that’s the case, what’s the point of all the persistence and struggle over the past few years?

Yutenji Wakamu wiped her tears and sat up straight.

She opened her laptop and began browsing the registration pages of various video platforms—perhaps she could start over, with a new image and new content...

But reason told her that this approach would not work.

Without the support of historical data and fan base, starting from scratch in the current highly competitive environment is almost an impossible task.

Moreover, her funds were almost exhausted. The high-end makeup and recording equipment she had purchased just last month, originally intended to improve the quality of her videos, now seemed like sunk costs.

In desperation, her eyes returned to her phone.

That name.

Toyokawa Shoko.

In any case, Ave mujica is now her only lifeline.

The tour is about to begin, three cities, three shows... This may be her last chance.

She must have capital to turn things around.

Only by turning the tables can she avenge all the grievances and despair she has suffered!

Yutenji Wakamu bit her lower lip, picked up her phone, opened LINE, and hesitated for a long time with her fingers hovering above the keyboard.

Take a deep breath.

type.

[Xiaoxiang...are you free?]

send.

The message displayed as "delivered" in the dialog box, but it did not immediately show "read." Yutenji Wakamu stared at the screen, feeling like his heart was about to jump out of his chest.

Soon, the message showed as read, and then three ellipsis marks appeared, indicating that the other party was typing.

"What's up?"

The reply was brief and concise, as if nothing had happened in the past few days. The tone was eerily calm, as if the ban on Yutenji Wakamu's account had nothing to do with her.

Yutenji Wakamu bit her lip, her fingers lingering on the keyboard for a moment, and finally typed out only a few words:

[Can we meet? I have something I want to talk about in person.]

The other party's reply came unexpectedly quickly:

"Sure. Room 2213, Ginza Royal Hotel, tonight at 9 o'clock."

Yutenji Wakamu stared at the screen, his heartbeat suddenly accelerating.

hotel?

Room number?

Rather than a public place like a cafe or rehearsal room?

A mixture of emotions surged in her chest—a sigh of relief, but at the same time, a hint of uneasiness crept up her spine.

Ginza Royal Hotel is one of the most expensive hotels in Tokyo, and the floor where that room number is located should be a luxury suite.

Why was it chosen there? What exactly did Toyokawa Shoko want to do?

Despite her doubts, Yutenji Wakami replied with a simple "OK".

After all, she no longer had any room for bargaining.

At 8:50 in the evening, Yutenji Wakamugi stood in the elevator of the Ginza Royal Hotel, watching the numbers continue to climb.

She put on exquisite makeup and wore her most decent clothes, as if to arm herself for the upcoming meeting.

The elevator door opened and she walked through the thickly carpeted corridor. Every step she took felt like she was walking on clouds, but also like she was walking on the edge of a knife.

At the end of the corridor, the doorplate of Room 2213 gleams with a low-key metallic luster under the soft wall lamp.

Yutenji Wakamai took a deep breath and raised his hand to knock on the door.

A few seconds later, the door opened.

"welcome."

Standing at the doorway, "Toyokawa Shoko" wore a simple white shirt and black trousers, her blue twintails neatly draped over her shoulders, her amber eyes calm as water. She stepped aside, making room for Yutenji Wakami to enter.

Yutenji Wakamu stepped into the room cautiously and was immediately shocked by the scene before him.

This is not an ordinary hotel room, but a large flat-floor suite that is extremely luxurious.

From the floor-to-ceiling windows, Tokyo's nightscape unfolded like a sea of ​​stars. Ginza was ablaze with lights, and Tokyo Tower shimmered red in the distance. Inside, the suite's minimalist, modern furnishings exuded understated luxury—a pure white leather sofa, a crystal chandelier, and a bottle of champagne and two stemware glasses resting on the marble coffee table.

The space was breathtakingly spacious, much larger than her entire apartment.

"Please take a seat."

Kujo Renji pointed at the sofa, his tone calm but unyielding.

Yutenji Wakamu sat down stiffly, her hands clasped together in her lap, looking extremely embarrassed. Kujo Renji sat elegantly opposite her, filled both glasses, and then pushed one towards her.

"Have a drink and relax." His amber eyes showed no emotion. "You look nervous."

Yutenji Wakamu took the wine glass, but did not drink it, just held it tightly in his hand.

"Don't worry, it's just juice... After all, minors aren't allowed to drink."

"I...I came to apologize." She finally spoke, her voice weaker than she thought.

Kujo Renji tilted his head slightly, his expression puzzled. "Apologize? Why apologize?"

This question left Yutenji Wakami stunned. She looked up at the other person, only to see him frowning slightly, as if he genuinely didn't understand what she was referring to.

"It's...it's what happened during the last rehearsal, and...and..." Yutenji Wakamu's voice became smaller and smaller, and he didn't know how to mention the fact that his account had been banned.

"Oh, that thing."

Kujo Renji took a sip of juice, an expression of sudden enlightenment appeared on his face, and he said with a smile:

"It's just a minor disagreement during rehearsal. There's no need to take it to heart."

Yutenji Wakamu's fingers gripped the cup tightly, his knuckles turning white. This feigned ignorance was more disturbing than a direct admission.

"I...I know I was wrong." She lowered her head, her voice trembling. "Regarding the mask, I was too impatient for quick success."

Kujo Renji put down his wine glass, folded his hands on his knees, leaned forward slightly, tilted his head and waited for her to continue speaking.

Those amber eyes seemed to be able to penetrate the soul and see through all lies.

Yutenji Wakamu felt a chill running up his spine.

She responded almost instinctively, "Ave Mujica's mask concept is correct. I shouldn't have made such a suggestion that would undermine the unity of the team."

The corner of Jiujo Renji's mouth curled up into a faint smile: "So, what are you thinking now?"

"I will completely obey your decision," Yutenji Wakamu said eagerly. "Regarding the arrangements for the tour, the use of the mask, anything... I will follow your arrangements."

Kujo Renji stood up and walked to the French window, her back to Yutenji Wakamu. The night view of Tokyo outlined her figure as a slender silhouette.

"You know..." Her voice was calm and cold, "People will say anything when they are desperate... The question is, how can I be sure of your sincerity?"

Yutenji Wakamai's heart almost stopped. She put down her wine glass, clenched her fists on her knees, lowered her head and said almost pleadingly: