My daily life is getting weird because I am caught between being in a band and being an idol.

I have a lingering sense of guilt about deceiving her... Is this even fair?

"Um... let's hurry up and go."

"Ah."

. .

This guy!!! He used these methods to get Tomori to be with him! We have to save her before she gets any deeper involved! We have to expose this man's true colors!

"Wait a minute!!!"

The girl with long, straight black hair rushed out shouting.

Chapter 111 Li Xi's Inferiority Complex

"You stop right there!!!"

As Asahi led Takamatsu Akari toward Haneoka Girls' High School, a loud shout came from behind.

At first, Chaoyang didn't take it seriously, thinking it was just someone arguing or a robbery or something. He was about to turn around to see if he could help when he saw the JK who had been walking behind him rush over.

Chaoyang was stunned for a moment, thinking that they probably weren't here to see him.

But seeing that the girl's hand was already reaching out to him, it was clear that she was coming for him.

"...Tsk."

Chaoyang frowned, his eyes darkening slightly. Just as her hand was about to touch his collar, he quickly raised his hand, grabbed her wrist from below, and held it firmly.

"pain!"

The power of the rising sun is beyond what ordinary people can match; the girl instinctively cried out in pain as it struck. However, she immediately bit her lip and endured it.

But Chaoyang didn't stop. With a slight twist of his hand, he forced the girl's hand behind her back. She groaned in pain, but before she could react, Chaoyang's other hand had already precisely gripped her neck, firmly controlling her upper body.

"what are you doing?!"

Chaoyang asked in a low, calm but wary voice, a hint of doubt in his eyes, but his grip remained firm. The girl's face was slightly contorted with pain from her twisted hands behind her back, yet she still glared at him stubbornly.

"...Ta, Taki-chan?"

The lamp was stunned. After glancing at the girl's face, he immediately called out her name.

"Is this someone I know?"

Chaoyang looked down at the girl who was still struggling and was being restrained by him.

"......Um......"

After nodding, Gao Songdeng became very confused, wondering why Lixi was here and why he was rushing towards Chaoyang. Nevertheless, he still spoke to Chaoyang.

"...Um, could you let her go?"

"It is possible..."

Chaoyang was just afraid that if he let go, this hot-tempered little sister would start fighting with him again.

He looked down at her and said.

"After I let go, calm down and talk things out. If you fight, you definitely can't beat me, and you'll only get hurt."

"tsk"

The girl just clicked her tongue, but her pride prevented her from nodding in agreement. Chaoyang took it as tacit consent.

He let go of his hand.

After feeling the rising sun break free from its confinement.

Lixi immediately jumped back a step, looking warily at the rising sun.

Then he walked toward the lamp, but did not get completely close, always keeping a little distance.

"Tomori!"

Don't be fooled by this guy! I just saw him chatting up other women to play games! I've seen plenty of guys like him in RING, always flirting with girls and juggling multiple relationships. Don't be fooled by his act!

"Uh... ah... that..."

Deng was in a panic. First of all, she didn't understand what Lixi meant.

But you can sense that she's angry, yet you don't know where her anger comes from.

And seeing former teammates brought back painful memories.

"Ha... Tomori doesn't understand what you're saying all of a sudden. Your words just now were just a subtle way of pressuring her. I already know you're doing this for her own good, so I won't hold your attack against her. But if you do this again, I'll contact your school and your parents, understand? If you really want to communicate, at least learn how to communicate first."

Chaoyang actually disliked the girl in front of him a little, and with her meddling, Gaosongdeng might revert to her previous state.

"...You are the one! Get away from Tomori right now!"

"...Tomori, let's go."

Chaoyang didn't want to pay attention to her. After all, the other party was in a state of rage and not rational. Once they were on the street, she probably wouldn't dare to lay a hand on her again.

"Huh! I'm asking you a question!!!"

"!?"

These words made Deng's eyes widen, revealing a look of astonishment, as if the scene from a year ago had reappeared before his eyes.

. .

Practice room on a rainy day a year ago.

"Are we really going to quit?"

Sitting on the floor, with the lamp shining on Xiangzi, who was standing at the entrance of the practice room, soaking wet, he asked cautiously.

Seeing that Xiangzi didn't respond, Lixi, who was sitting behind the drum set, immediately became annoyed and pressed her for an answer.

"The light is asking you a question."

. .

"I'm asking you a question!!!"

Hearing Lixi's angry shouts, Deng felt as if an invisible force had instantly torn her heart apart, and memories flooded back at her like a torrent.

Deng's breathing became rapid, his hands trembled slightly, and his heart felt as heavy as if it were being swallowed by darkness.

"don't want......"

After whispering that sentence to herself, she could no longer bear it, turned around and ran forward as if trying to escape this nightmarish memory.

"Tomori!"

Chaoyang noticed that Deng's mood was off, so he immediately let go of his guard against Lixi and rushed out.

Lixi hesitated for a few seconds, glanced at her watch, and struggled internally. Finally, she stamped her foot, gritted her teeth, and followed the light.

At the entrance of Haneoka Girls' School.

Chaoyang followed the lamp all the way until she ran into the school.

Only then did I feel relieved.

Fortunately, nothing unexpected happened.

At this moment, Li Xi, who was also following behind, stopped behind Chao Yang.

"..."

He looked at the rising sun, panting, but made no sound.

Chaoyang guessed that she followed him simply to prevent him from bothering Deng.

Just as Chaoyang had guessed, she saw the lamp run into the school and immediately turned away, showing no interest in talking to Chaoyang at all.

This time, Chaoyang stopped her instead.

"Let's talk. I have a lot of things I want to ask you."

"Get out of my way, I have no interest in talking to you. The only thing I can say to you is, get away from Tomori!"

Chaoyang smiled and said in a slightly amused tone.

"If you continue to be so hostile, don't blame me for pestering Deng every day~ And, let me give you a little tidbit: Deng's father is very satisfied with me, and even suggested that Deng become my fiancée. Although I refused at first... But, considering how interesting you were today, I might reconsider."

Li Xi's face turned pale instantly. He stared wide-eyed at the rising sun, his eyes filled with shock and anger.

So what is your answer to my invitation now?

. .

30 minute later.

Chaoyang and Lixi were now seated in a quiet coffee shop. Sunlight streamed through the window, illuminating the table, but the atmosphere between them was anything but relaxed; in fact, it was tense. It was during school hours, and Lixi, dressed in a JK uniform, sat upright with her arms crossed and a slight frown on her face. The office workers and business people around them frequently glanced at her, scrutinizing her attire with curiosity.

"What I meant was, let's find some time to talk, I didn't say you have to skip class immediately..."

Chaoyang spoke softly, letting out a sigh tinged with helplessness.

This girl seems to be the most outrageous girl I've ever met... Ah, well, at least Nina dropped out of school, so she's still a bit better compared to that.

"...Speak quickly, and then leave Tomori!"

"That depends on whether you cooperate or not."

"You...you're not planning something weird, are you?"

Her voice was wary, even a little angry. She hugged her arms tighter to her chest and leaned back slightly, as if the rising sun was about to pounce on its prey like a hungry tiger.

"Sorry, you're overthinking it. Putting aside looks, personality is outdated in my eyes."

Let's stop arguing for now... Let's introduce ourselves first... Or should I call you Taki?

My name is Hiraishi Asahi.

"You can call me whatever you want, I don't care to remember your name. Just ask me what you need to know!"

"...What was your relationship with Tomori in the past? Friends? Or something else?"

"...Just a former bandmate..."

"...That's all? I can't tell from your attitude at all. You seem to really like Tomori..."

"You! What nonsense are you spouting!"

"...Heh, so how did your band break up? Since you're a former bandmate, and you seem so concerned about Tomori, it probably has nothing to do with Tomori, right?"

Lixi stared at him coldly, seemingly hesitant to respond. A few seconds later, she finally took a deep breath, lowered her voice slightly, and spoke as if to herself.

"Our band... disbanded for some reason. But it wasn't Tomori's fault. A guy quit without permission... which made Tomori sad and stop practicing, and then everyone lost contact, and naturally, the band disbanded. It's all that guy's fault!"

"I see......"

Chaoyang thoughtfully echoed the sentiment and then began to ponder.

So that's why she ran away earlier... ...Memories of the band's breakup... ...This girl seems to like Tomori a lot, but it's obvious their relationship isn't that close. Otherwise, she wouldn't have cared about Tomori so much yet never contacted her. Even if Tomori didn't reply to her messages, she could have just come to her door. The fact that she didn't do that at least proves their relationship isn't very intimate.

Across the table, Li Xi, who had just finished talking, stared intently at Chao Yang, who was deep in thought about her next move. Chao Yang noticed her gaze and looked up to ask what was wrong, but Li Xi quickly looked away the instant Chao Yang looked up, a slightly unnatural expression flashing across her face. She crossed her arms and casually glanced out the window.

Chaoyang finally realized that this was also a stubborn and arrogant person.

While he may be arrogant to others, he is only affectionate to Tomori.

"I can tell you anything you want to know... like how Tomori and I met..."

. .

To clear up the misunderstanding, Chaoyang recounted how he met Gao Songdeng, naturally emphasizing his gratitude for saving his life.

"..."

After listening, Li Xi remained silent for a long time.

Finally, he stood up and spoke to the rising sun.

"...I'm sorry, I was rude earlier...Thank you so much for saving Tomori...I never expected this to happen..."

Chaoyang was somewhat surprised. He hadn't expected the girl in front of him to apologize on her own initiative. She seemed to know some manners and wasn't the kind of frivolous girl he had imagined.

"Let me reintroduce myself... My name is Shiina Tatsuki, a first-year student at Hanakawa Girls' High School..."

Her attitude has improved considerably; it seems she really likes Tomori... So, completing the task simply requires getting her back closer to Tomori.

"...How about we consider getting back to our old relationship with Tomori?"