After Xiangzi died, I inherited her harem.

How could two birds of a feather hurt each other?

Unfortunately, while they managed to defend against Metis, they couldn't defend against this widow from a prestigious family.

Even if she didn't do it herself, it was still an unforgivable crime in her eyes.

At this time when you feel most helpless, most anxious, and most likely to believe that someone can be your lifeline.

She finally took action, conducting a trial that was ten years overdue.

With a splitting headache and tinnitus, Toyokawa Yuu's vision was blurred, and the images that came to mind seemed to be covered by thick layers of mosaic.

He knew he was going to die again.

But... that's enough...

"Cough...hehe...hehehehe..."

He couldn't help but chuckle softly, even though the excruciating pain from the poison kept interrupting his laughter, he still managed to laugh so calmly.

Even with veins bulging on her forehead and fine beads of sweat dripping down her face, Toyokawa Yuu still managed to force a smile.

He already knew how to avoid being killed by these people.

"Help me... up."

He braced himself against the armrests of the sofa with both hands to prevent his body from collapsing completely.

Yuu Toyokawa stared intently at Sōsei Nagasaki, who was sitting at the table across from her, and spoke in a tone that was almost commanding.

"Tea!"

The smile on his lips vanished, and Nagasaki Sase looked at the man in front of him, feeling a sense of unfamiliarity for a moment.

In her memory, the man who would stop at nothing for his own plans and interests, even at the cost of hurting many people in the band, actually had such a tough side before he died.

Silently standing up, the overly voluptuous female executive of the company used her shoulders to support Toyokawa Yuu's body, helping him sit up straight on the back of the sofa.

This is simply... thanking him for teaching me so much about how to make a profit...

After finding a reason for his compliance in his mind, Nagasaki Sase felt an indescribable complexity after a brief moment of pleasure.

The regret is real, the hatred is real, the wavering before seeing the Ave Mujica revival project was real, and the relatively happy time ten years ago... was also real.

Nagasaki Sase turned around, picked up his own teacup, and presented it, saucer and all, to Toyokawa Yuu.

With trembling hands outstretched, Toyokawa Yuu's vision was completely blurred, and all she could hear were sharp hissing sounds. She could only rely on her sense of touch to bring the teacup to her lips.

Since repeated deaths are inevitable, let's at least allow him to die with enough dignity.

“Nagasaki Sasuke…you won…”

The fingertips holding the teacup lost all strength, and yet another delicate cup shattered on the ground.

Nagasaki Sase's skirt was also stained with water.

"Next time...I won't lose..."

Chapter 32 Cinderella Without Dancing Shoes

Nine years and three hundred and sixty-three days before Toyokawa Shoko's death, at dusk.

................................................

"A good...student..."

My drowsy brain felt like it had been filled with molten iron; even a simple action like frowning would make my nerves scream.

Fortunately, this feeling came and went quickly, and along with the pain, Toyokawa Yuu's long-standing fatigue also faded.

“Mr. Youyu, sleeping in your office chair is not a good habit.”

Yawata Kairin looked at her manager, who was fast asleep in the office, and kindly offered a reminder.

"Even if I don't have time to go home, there's a sofa in the office."

Gently massaging her temples, Toyokawa Yuu didn't reply immediately, nor did she even open her eyes. Instead, she slowly adjusted her breathing.

He needed to calm himself down. Although he had died twice before, the feeling of being poisoned was somewhat different.

More painful than falling to one's death, longer than suffocation, the toxins spreading inside the body torment every nerve, making it more memorable than any external injury.

Not to mention, in that situation, one still had to force oneself to maintain a dignified appearance.

If nothing unexpected happens, he will probably never be able to accept any food that Nagasaki Sose offers him in his lifetime.

"Is there something you need, Timoris?"

Forcibly suppressing the chaotic heartbeat brought on by the shadow of death, Toyokawa Yuu glanced at the time on the computer screen.

It was already dusk, and the time when Ave Mujica had asked us to gather for rehearsal was fast approaching.

The woman in front of me, Hachiman Kairin, had already changed out of the black leather jacket she wore when we last met and was now wearing an Ave Mujica performance outfit.

However, this is Yuu Toyokawa's office, which belongs to Ave Mujica's territory, so there is no need to wear a mask.

“Mr. Yu said this morning that Ave Mujica will be attending a variety of events and programs in the near future. I hope to know the specific number and details in advance to avoid any oversights in the schedule.”

As she handed a box of drinks to Yuu Toyokawa, Kairin Hachiman's lips curled into a slight smile, and she seemed to be in a good mood.

As a legendary mercenary capable of adapting to the styles of more than thirty bands, Yawata Kairin possesses not only exceptional skill but also remarkable keen observation skills, even handling impromptu mishaps on her home turf with ease.

Therefore, she could certainly notice the slight change in how Toyokawa Yuu addressed her.

At least, the "Miss" that represented unfamiliarity and wariness has been omitted.

In her view, this is a sign that trust has been initially established.

"I'm sorry, I can't give you a direct answer right now. Negotiating the schedule involves not only considering the other party's wishes, but also our own schedule."

Looking at the drink that Hachiman Kairin handed her, Toyokawa Yuu hesitated for a moment before reaching out to take it.

He didn't open the box and drink it directly; he simply broke off the straw from the box, adopting an attitude of not being opposed but having important business to attend to.

"At least we need to confirm Sumimi's schedule to avoid Dolores being unable to manage both."

With feigned helplessness, Yuu Toyokawa spread her hands and a smile appeared on her face, slightly easing the serious atmosphere in the office.

"After all, Ms. Junda Mana from Sumimi is currently the most popular idol. She has already made many concessions to comply with Dolores's wish to join Ave Mujica. If she goes any further, it will affect Ave Mujica's reputation in the long run."

"I see. This is indeed something that needs to be treated with caution."

Nodding in agreement, Toyokawa Yuu's explanation did not arouse any suspicion from Yawata Kairin.

Rather, she was greatly pleased that the other party was able to explain the reasons to her instead of refusing to communicate like a riddle teller.

Furthermore, there's no doubt about it. Sumimi is currently at the peak of its popularity, while Ave Mujica is just a rookie band that has just made its debut.

Even if seniority were to be considered, according to unspoken rules, Ave Mujica should be the one to make concessions.

"Did you hear that, Hatsuko? The whole band is in a real mess right now because of you."

A girl's light laughter drifted into the office, carrying a tone that was hard to tell whether it was a complaint or a joke.

The office door was pushed open, and Yutenji Wakana and Misaki Misaki walked in together.

It seemed that Toyokawa Yuu's previous reasoning had worked, because this time Yutenji Wakana wore her mask properly and didn't even take it off after entering the office.

On the contrary, Misaki Miku lowered her head somewhat awkwardly, not daring to look Toyokawa Yuu in the eye, and did not utter a word of rebuttal to Yutenji Wakana's teasing.

In terms of industry standing, as a member of Sumimi, she is undoubtedly number one in the newly formed Ave Mujica.

But at this moment, this big shot, who could have used his status in the industry to suppress the captain's voice if he were to stand up for himself, was bowing his head and meekly refusing to utter a word.

With her left hand instinctively covering her right arm, Misaki looked up at Yuu Toyokawa, but after seeing his calm yet enigmatic gaze, she lowered her head as if trying to escape.

Her humble demeanor was like that of Cinderella in a fairy tale, who failed to get the glass slipper.

"I'm...I'm sorry, Mr. Youyu, it's my fault."

Chapter 33 I feel restless if I don't explode for a day

"Ms. Doloris, and Sumimi's guitarist Hatsuka Sanka, please raise your heads."

The serious tone reached Misaki Miku's ears, as businesslike as ever, making it impossible to tell whether she was angry or not.

Under the somewhat disappointed gaze of Hachiman Kairin, Toyokawa Yuu put down the beverage box with the straw already removed and walked towards Misaki Miku, who was standing timidly at the door.

“It’s not your fault that Ave Mujica’s plans conflicted with Sumimi’s. In terms of employment, Ave Mujica was the newcomer, so you don’t need to feel guilty about it.”

Grabbing Miku's wrist, he pulled her to the sofa and gestured for her to sit down. Toyokawa Yuu then gave Hachiman Kairin a look.

"The conflict between Ave Mujica and Sumimi's schedules can only be the fault of me or Sumimi's manager, but it can never be your fault."

"So, hold your head high. Your abilities and standing in the industry require you to have exceptional self-confidence."

This morning, Toyokawa Yuu had just reminded her to be careful of Yutenji Wakame and not to do anything reckless. Hachiman Kairin naturally understood the message conveyed in the other person's eyes.

Don't worry, you just need to trust me.

After glancing at Toyokawa Yuu, who had taken the blame upon himself, Hachiman Kairin cleared his throat slightly, and the legendary mercenary, who had already spoken with him beforehand, slowly began to speak.

“Miss Yutenji, the activities of an idol group are not something that Misaki can control on her own, and such words should not be spoken within a group.”

As she approached Yutenji Wakane, Hachiman Kairin stared intently into the drummer's eyes.

When it comes to this kind of head-to-head oppression, an internet celebrity is naturally no match for a legendary mercenary who is born confident and has been involved in more than thirty bands.

The level of conflict that could cause a band to fall apart is something Hachiman Kairin has experienced countless times.

Under Hachiman Kairin's gaze, Yutenji Wakanagi, knowing he was somewhat in the wrong, couldn't help but look away.

After all, neither business negotiations nor itinerary arrangements were her responsibilities.

Neither Toyokawa Yuu nor Hachiman Kairin, who should really be concerned about this, said anything, so it wasn't her place to stir up trouble.

However, it is clearly impossible to expect Yutenji Wakanagi, who is strong-willed by nature but somewhat insecure due to her background, and who eventually developed a slightly arrogant personality as a form of self-protection, to apologize timidly.

Moreover, the words Toyokawa Yuu said when comforting Misaki Hatsune, and the fact that the two of them seemed to be subtly biased towards each other, gave Yutenji Wakana a series of incredibly familiar hallucinations.

She is a popular idol right now...

Besides Ave Mujica, she also has Sumimi as a backer...

Her debut performance was on a stage in a newly built commercial building in the center of Tokyo, a stage even grander than Ave Mujica's debut. With no prior experience, she was able to partner with Mana Junda, a five-time winner of the National Singing Contest...

What do you have to compare with others on regarding their background and the resulting workplace status?

Yutenji Wakana, who had already investigated the resumes of all the famous people in the team, bit her lip lightly, her face looking rather unpleasant under the mask.

But... not yet, not now...

Yutenji Wakami, you are wheat; the more you are trampled on, the stronger you become.

So now... lower your head first.

"Yes, yes, I'm so sorry, Ms. Misumi Hatsuka... Is this alright? Since this situation has arisen, shouldn't we have considered this when we formed the band?"

Sitting down on the sofa opposite the Miku triangle, Yutenji Wakana personally poured a cup of tea and pushed it in front of the band's guitarist as a way of expressing his apology.

However, Misaki Misaki's mood did not improve significantly in the face of Yutenji Wakana's perfunctory apology; in fact, her eyes looked even more pitiful.

It wasn't that she was bothered by those few sarcastic remarks and complaints, but rather that Yutenji Wakana's words were clearly not directed at her.

Instead, it was Toyokawa Shoko, the band organizer who invited her to join Ave Mujica.

Misaki Miku wasn't the only one who could grasp this meaning; Yuuki Hachiman also frowned.

In her experience, when a band's initial moves are questioned, it's not far from falling apart.

But when she tried to say something more, she saw Yuu Toyokawa's eyes, which seemed to be telling her to stop.

At this point, it's no longer appropriate for her to step in and smooth things over after their recent confrontation. If she can't handle the situation properly, she might have to take responsibility for causing discord within the team.

She moved her lips, but in the end she didn't speak. Instead, she leaned against Toyokawa Yuu's desk.

He crossed his arms and coldly observed everything before him.

"Ms. Amoris, please use her title or a more affectionate nickname when we are at work."

It took some effort to suppress the urge to smile. Looking at the team that was beginning to show signs of infighting, Toyokawa Yuu was satisfied with the effect of her subtle instigation.

Disharmony within the band, subtle questioning of the core members' integrity... these are all situations he wanted to see.

This could keep Toyokawa Shoko busy, and then make her dull and fragile from the exhaustion brought on by the busyness, eventually causing her to lose the prestige she deserved.

However, we've already achieved enough for today; too much is as bad as too little. Ave Mujica cannot be disbanded yet.

"And... aside from the parts that might conflict with Sumimi's schedule, the rest of the activities have already been planned, and there will be some that you'll be interested in."