Substitute Toyokawa Shoko, you can become stronger by breathing

The name Toyokawa Shoko is somewhat taboo in the band.

Especially for Gao Songdeng, Xiaoxiang was once her closest partner and also the person who dealt her the heaviest blow.

Ever since Shoko Toyokawa left the Crychic band, Tomo Takamatsu seems to have become even more silent.

And Shiina Riki's attitude towards Toyokawa Shoko is even more direct - she hardly hides her dissatisfaction and resentment.

In her opinion, Shoko Toyokawa's sudden departure was the biggest betrayal of the band.

Chihaya Aine sighed, exited the group chat, and opened the private chat window with Nagasaki Suyo.

Among all the people, Su Shi seemed to be the only one who could still discuss Xiao Xiang calmly.

[Aine]: Soyorin, are you free? I want to talk to you about something.

The reply came quickly:

[Su Shi]: I'm free, what's the matter? I have nothing to do before bed.

Chihaya Aine took a deep breath:

[Aine]: It’s about Xiaoxiang... I saw her again today.

The screen immediately displayed the status of "the other party is typing". This status lasted longer than usual, as if Su Shi was carefully considering his words.

[Su Shi]: What happened?

Chihaya Aine hesitated for a moment, then decided not to mention the strange label.

[Aine]: It wasn't a big deal, I just ran into her by chance and had dinner with her. I feel like she's changed a lot, but I can't quite put my finger on what's different...

[Su Shi]: I understand. Actually, I've been a little worried about her lately.

Chihaya Aine's eyes lit up and she quickly replied:

[Aine]: Really?! Why?

There is another long period of "the other party is typing" status.

[Su Shi]: It's my intuition. I always feel like she's going through some difficulties, but she's unwilling to tell us.

Chihaya Aine sat up straight with excitement, her fingers rapidly tapping the screen:

[Aine]: I feel the same way! Soyorin, are you free tomorrow? We can talk about this in person.

[Su Shi]: About Xiaoxiang? Of course I'm free. Where would you like to meet?

Chihaya Aine was a little surprised by how quickly Nagasaki Suyo responded.

Su Shi was usually the type who would think twice before replying, but now she was acting so eager.

[Aine]: How about the ring? 3pm?

[Su Shi]: Okay, I will be there on time.

After closing the chat interface, Chihaya Aine lay back on the bed and looked up at the ceiling. The strange label still surfaced in her mind.

Yutenji Ruomai... Meow Dream Dear... Master...

The words mingled in her mind.

Outside the window, moonlight filtered through the gap in the curtains, casting a thin silver ray on the floor.

The Tokyo night was still noisy, but Chihaya Aine's room was so quiet that only the sound of her own heartbeat could be heard.

.

The next afternoon, the sun shone through the shadows of the trees, dappling onto the street in front of Yugaoka Girls' College.

"Moonlight Café" opposite the college is a small and exquisitely decorated cafe, famous among students for its unique jazz style and carefully brewed coffee.

The exterior walls of the cafe are painted light blue with some purple patterns, and the window frames are classic white. The large floor-to-ceiling windows allow sunlight to fully shine into the store, making the wooden tables and chairs appear warm and comfortable in the light.

The background music is soft piano music, just loud enough to cover the customers' whispers but not enough to disturb normal conversations.

As Chihaya Aine pushed open the glass door, the wind chimes made a crisp sound.

Her eyes quickly scanned the entire cafe and soon spotted Nagasaki Suyo sitting at a table in the corner.

Su Shi had obviously been waiting for a while. He had already finished half of the black tea in front of him, and there was an open book on the table.

She was wearing the uniform of Tsukinomori High School, her long brown hair fell naturally on her shoulders, and she exuded a quiet and elegant temperament.

Chihaya Aine trotted over and said apologetically, "Sorry, Soyorin, I kept you waiting!"

Nagasaki Suyo closed the book, looked up and smiled, "No, I just arrived early."

Her voice was as gentle as ever, but her eyes flickered with an unconcealable expectation and concern.

Chihaya Aine sat down across from her, tucking her long pink hair behind her ears, looking a little nervous.

The waiter came over and she casually ordered a mint chocolate milkshake, then turned to Su Shi.

The brief silence between the two was broken.

"So..." Su Shi gently stirred the black tea in the cup and lowered his voice: "What exactly did you say about Xiaoxiang yesterday?"

Chihaya Aine took a deep breath and hesitated for a moment:

"Didn't Soyorin say before that my ability might be related to human psychology?"

Her voice was almost inaudible:

"I noticed a new label on Xiaoxiang's head, but I'm not sure what it means, so I wanted to ask you to analyze it together."

Nagasaki Suyo was stunned for a moment, her eyebrows slightly raised, obviously attracted by this answer.

She leaned forward slightly and asked eagerly, "What's the label?"

Suye's reaction made Chihaya Aine more convinced that the other party was indeed worried about Toyokawa Shoko.

She hesitated for a moment, feeling her cheeks warm.

The label was so... strange, she almost didn't know how to begin.

"It's just... uh, how should I put it?"

Chihaya Aine's voice became increasingly quiet, and her fingers twisted together unconsciously.

Nagasaki Suyo frowned: "So what is it?"

Hearing the other party's urging, Chihaya Aine stuttered a little, but finally spoke out with a blushing face:

"That's right, that's right... [The master of Yutenji Wakamu]."

After these words were spoken, a strange silence fell between the two.

Nagasaki Suyo's expression changed from anticipation to confusion, then to surprise, and finally froze in an indescribable state of bewilderment.

Her mouth opened slightly, but no words came out.

The piano music was still playing in the cafe, the voices of the girls at the next table chatting and laughing, the clinking of the waiters' trays, these background sounds that should have created a lively atmosphere now seemed extremely abrupt.

The silence lasted for too long, so long that Chihaya Aine couldn't help but break it: "Say something, Soyorin!"

Her voice was somewhat dissatisfied, but also clearly embarrassed.

Nagasaki Suyo finally came back to her senses, her cheeks flushed slightly and her brows furrowed.

"Aine, are you kidding me?"

"I don't!"

Chihaya Aine immediately retorted, her voice a little higher than usual, causing several customers to turn their heads and look at them. She quickly lowered her voice:

"Why would I joke about something like this?"

Su Shi looked directly at Aine, as if to confirm the truth of her words.

"Yutenji Wakami..." She repeated the name slowly, as if searching her memory: "This name is familiar, but I can't remember where I've heard it before."

Chihaya Aine explained:

"She's an online beauty blogger, her ID is '喵梦亲'. She used to be very famous on PostTube, with hundreds of thousands of followers! But yesterday I went to search for her account, and it was gone. It had disappeared from all social media platforms."

Nagasaki Suyo blinked, pondering the meaning of this message: "Disappeared? Account deactivated?"

"I am not sure as well..."

Chihaya Aine shook her head:

"But something must have happened. But that's not important. Don't you think what I just said is more important? Why does Xiaoxiang have such a label on his head? The word 'master'..."

Having said this, she felt her cheeks getting hot again and stopped talking.

Nagasaki Suyo took a deep breath and was silent for a moment before finally analyzing the meaning of the label:

"The so-called 'master' certainly doesn't mean it in a literal sense, and it's probably not as dirty as you think."

"What's dirty about that!" Chihaya Aine immediately retorted, with obvious shame and annoyance in her voice.

Nagasaki Suyo glanced at her and said, "If not, then why are you blushing?"

"Then you know what I'm thinking. Doesn't that mean your first reaction is also about that?" Chihaya Aine immediately hit back.

The two of them fell silent again, and the atmosphere suddenly became somewhat awkward. The light from the cafe fell on their faces, reflecting a similar blush.

Then Nagasaki Suyo coughed, breaking the awkward atmosphere.

Her expression returned to its usual calmness as she began to analyze the possible meanings of the label.

"I think the word 'master' should have other meanings here..."

Su Shi's voice regained its academic calmness:

"For example, control, mastery, or influence. If Yutenji Wakamu is indeed an internet celebrity with a large number of fans, then there may be some connection between her and Xiaoxiang that we are unaware of."

She paused, then continued her reasoning. "Perhaps Xiaoxiang is somehow influencing or controlling Yutenji Ruomai's career? Or perhaps she possesses some crucial information about this internet celebrity?"

"But that doesn't make sense..."

Chihaya Aine frowned. "If that's the case, then the label should be 'Yutenji Wakami's agent' or 'Yutenji Wakami's friend' or something like that. Why the word 'master'?"

Su Shi pondered for a moment and said softly, "Perhaps... there is some kind of power relationship hidden behind this word."

"Power relations?"

Chihaya Aine tilted her head, her long pink hair swaying gently with her movements.

"That is, Xiaoxiang might have some leverage over Yutenji Ruomai, or she might have to obey Xiaoxiang's orders to some extent." Su Shi explained, her voice gradually lowering: "For example...she owes her money, or she did something she shouldn't have done and Xiaoxiang found out."

Chihaya Aine's eyes widened. "Soyorin, are you saying that Xiaoxiang is coercing that internet celebrity?"

"I didn't say that!" Su Shi quickly denied it, but a hint of uneasiness flashed in his eyes:

"I'm just analyzing the possibilities. Considering those strange labels you saw earlier, it could also be a psychological state. For example... does she want to control Yutenji Wakami?"

Chihaya Aine shook her head vigorously, her long pink hair swirling, and then she hesitated:

"Xiao Xiang is so gentle, how could he, uh, do something like that...?"

Nagasaki Suyo hesitated for a moment and said nothing.

"Or..."

Chihaya Aine suddenly thought of another possibility:

"Is there something wrong with my abilities? After all, these labels are too outrageous."

Nagasaki Suyo nodded thoughtfully:

"That's also a possibility. However, we can try to verify it."

"How to verify?"

"First, we have to find this Yutenji Wakami."

Nagasaki Suyo displayed her astonishing wisdom: "If we can confirm her existence and understand her relationship with Xiaoxiang, or if we see the label on her head, we will know whether the label is accurate."

"But I searched yesterday and couldn't find her account on any platform." Chihaya Aine said a little frustrated.

"Then start from another angle." Su Shi pondered for a moment:

"We can check her previous fan comments to see if anyone knows what happened to her. We can also check news reports or forum discussions about her. If she is really a well-known internet celebrity, then her sudden disappearance will definitely attract some attention."

Chihaya Aine's eyes lit up: "Soyorin is so smart!"

Su Shi smiled slightly, but then became serious again: