After Xiangzi died, I inherited her harem.

Yutenji Wakame suddenly raised his head, as if a flash of inspiration had crossed his mind.

If I had to say who I've offended recently, it would probably be that taking on this side job caused trouble for Yuu Toyokawa and... aroused Shoko Toyokawa's dissatisfaction.

But which one of them is it?

And... is it really necessary?

As Ave Mujica's manager, Yuu Toyokawa could easily have gotten rid of herself by taking control of the team's power structure. The fact that she suspended her recent solo activities as Amoris and put her on hiatus is a clear indication of this.

He didn't need to go to such lengths to ruin himself, using this method to blacklist himself and even crossing over from his agent's profession to contact so many cosmetics manufacturers.

Yutenji Wakame wasn't quite sure what Toyokawa Yuu was really like, but based on the impression left by his previous businesslike attitude, the girl instinctively felt that if Toyokawa Yuu wanted to punish her, he wouldn't need to go to such lengths.

So, could it be Toyokawa Shoko?

Although she had always disliked her captain, Yutenji Wakana didn't think he was the kind of petty person.

Previously in the office, Yuu Toyokawa publicly announced her punishment of being on duty for the week, and she did not object. Even the rehearsals after that went as usual, as if the incident had never happened.

But that young lady always had a cold face and never shared her thoughts with anyone, so who knew what she was thinking?

But that's not right either. Is Toyokawa Shoko really that kind of person?

Ultimately, she's just a high school girl and a once-popular but now declining internet celebrity.

Yutenji Wakana's brain and experience were not enough to help her sort out the current situation in a short time, so she could only keep the two suspicious people going back and forth in her mind.

But she never considered that even if she did guess who did it, what could she do?

Until a familiar voice completely brought her back to her senses.

"Miss Yutenji, you are five minutes late."

"Sorry, I was a bit lost on the way... Oblivionis! What are you doing here?"

Instinctively, he tried to brush off the not-so-serious accusation with a common excuse, but after recognizing the true owner of the voice, Yutenji Wakana's eyes widened immediately.

Shoko Toyokawa, who shouldn't be here, was standing right in front of her, wearing the simple white dress she wore when they first met, looking somewhat out of place in the brightly lit shopping center.

However, her calm and composed expression made it seem as if she were the one who truly belonged there.

Without any need for any embellishment to display her power, it seems that the wealth and status that others tirelessly pursue are simply things that Toyokawa Shoko was born with, which she has long taken for granted and even discarded like worn-out shoes.

"I'm here to guide this performance and ensure it's close to the effect of Ave Mujica's performance. Didn't the person who brought you here tell you that?"

It's possible that the staff forgot, or perhaps they mentioned it but Yutenji Wakana, who was distracted, turned away and forgot. In any case, she didn't have such a memory in her mind.

Moreover, Yutenji Wakami is currently in no mood to care about these things.

With her hands gripping Toyokawa Shoko's shoulders tightly, Yutenji Wakame seemed to instantly find the culprit who had brought her to this predicament.

Shoko Toyokawa was already dissatisfied with her taking on side jobs, and now she's here saying she's acting as an instructor, which shows that she's been controlling her actions all along, and even interfered in her side jobs without her knowledge.

So who did this? Do we even need to guess?

But should I question them? Should I curse them for being insidious and shameless for using such tricks?

Last time I lost a cosmetics advertising deal, what will I lose next time?

"……sorry……"

Time seemed to stand still for a long time before Yutenji Wakana finally managed to squeeze out a few syllables from her mouth.

“I want to apologize to you. I shouldn’t have been so eager for quick success and I shouldn’t have disrupted Ave Mujica’s worldview… Stop targeting me, Oblivionis.”

Unable to move freely, Yutenji Wakanagi released Toyokawa Shoko's shoulders, and his hands slid limply to the ground.

“I don’t understand what you’re talking about. Besides, this isn’t a talent agency, and neither of us is wearing masks. Please just call me by my name, Ms. Yutenji.”

Feeling the force coming from her shoulders, Toyokawa Shoko frowned, but did not choose to push Yutenji Wakana away immediately. She merely reminded him to be mindful of how he addressed her.

Even though she has decided to kill off her soft and cuddly past self and no longer easily empathize with others, Toyokawa Shoko still possesses the ability to read people's expressions and moods.

The girl in front of me looked so desperate she was about to cry.

"Is it meaningful to continue playing dumb at this point? My original escape route as a blogger and cosmetics advertiser has been destroyed."

Toyokawa Shoko's bewilderment was taken as feigning ignorance, and this act of as if nothing concerned her stirred up Yutenji Wakanagi's pride and inferiority complex, which he had tried so hard to put aside.

"Do I have to say it for you to admit it?"

She raised her head and stared intently into Toyokawa Shoko's eyes, but that was all.

She knew that all she could do now was ask Toyokawa Shoko to let her go.

Looking at Yutenji Wakana, who was like a trapped beast in despair, Toyokawa Shoko lowered her eyes and began to think.

She wasn't stupid; the information conveyed in the other person's words was already quite clear.

Yutenji Ruomai's advertisements as a beauty blogger have disappeared, indicating that she has been banned.

However, Toyokawa Shoko knew that unlike the girl in the band who always picked fights over popularity and traffic, this girl in front of him, as an internet celebrity, could be described as adept at navigating both sides for the sake of traffic and popularity.

There is absolutely no possibility of offending brands on a large scale and thus being blacklisted.

The only reason she suffered this setback is because someone was targeting her; she must have offended someone.

Moreover, judging from Yutenji Wakana's apology, she seems to have attributed the origin of her offense to the previous disagreement over masks and side jobs.

—Toyokawa Yuu.

There's nothing to hesitate about. Recently, only I and Yuu might have this kind of conflict with Yutenji Wakami. Since I didn't do it, then it must have been Yuu who did it.

So what is the purpose of doing this...?

Toyokawa Shoko recalled the day when Yutenji Wakame's private job was exposed. Yuu had set up a stage for her to establish her prestige, but she did not choose to stand on it and instead remained silent.

At that moment, she seemed to hear a regretful sigh behind her.

Is this a continuation of the plan to establish authority? Or is it part of a plan by Toyokawa Yuu, who is currently using herself for personal gain?

If it was done in good faith, then I'll take the blame.

If it's for personal gain, then I won't let you have your way so easily either.

Profitability is the basis for mutual exploitation, and Toyokawa Shoko knew very well that she couldn't let Toyokawa Yuu take advantage of her too easily.

Thinking about the possibilities of goodwill and self-interest, Toyokawa Shoko nodded to Yutenji Wakanagi with a calm expression.

"Yes, I did it."

Chapter 47 My Cat Was Hijacked?

Sitting in the same conference room as before, Yuu Toyokawa tapped her fingertips lightly on the table, as if waiting for something.

He had just received news that Yutenji Wakami had arrived at Starlight Plaza, so he poured himself a cup of tea, waiting for the other party to come and question him.

Being blacklisted by all cosmetics partners seems too deliberate, even for an influencer who is gradually fading from popularity.

As long as Yutenji Wakana's mind isn't completely terrified, she'll understand that someone is targeting her.

Based on her social circle, there weren't many people she could suspect, and it was easy to suspect Toyokawa Shoko and herself.

It just so happens that Toyokawa Shoko is currently at Starlight Plaza. If they were to meet face-to-face, a quick check of the accounts would make everything clear.

Yutenji Wakamai was the one who orchestrated the banning of himself, and then came to confront him.

This is one of the reasons why Yuu Toyokawa didn't care whether Minami Mori would use this as leverage, and why Minami Mori didn't take it too seriously, only making a few jokes.

This mine was buried too shallowly; anyone with a brain could see it, and it couldn't be left for later.

This is exactly what Toyokawa Yuu wanted to see. Conflict is also a form of communication, and only through communication can domestication be possible.

For someone like Yutenji Wakana, who is driven by fear of power rather than virtue, who craves fame far away but is always finding fault with the wealthy young lady who is right beside him, this is the most suitable way to manage her.

So, logically speaking, Toyokawa Shoko should be here today, furious, with Yutenji Wakanagi demanding an explanation.

It's impossible that they both have communication difficulties and can't speak properly, so that it would take them so long to reconcile accounts.

Just as I was thinking this, there was a knock on the door.

The door latch was turned, and Toyokawa Shoko walked into the meeting room with a frown. Her blue twin tails brushed against Toyokawa Yuu's shoulders as she sat down opposite him.

Glancing at the conference room door, which had been locked again, there was no further movement. Only Toyokawa Shoko entered.

"You were the one who blacklisted Miss Yutenji, weren't you?"

Picking up the tea that had been prepared long ago and was half-cooled due to the long wait, Toyokawa Shoko spoke frankly.

Now that it's been determined that the two are in a mutually exploitative relationship, there's no need to beat around the bush.

"She came to you to confide in you?"

Upon hearing Toyokawa Shoko's question, Toyokawa Yuu raised an eyebrow, not denying it outright, which in a sense could be considered an admission.

and so……

Yuu Toyokawa glanced at the tightly closed door of the conference room, wondering if there was a cat eavesdropping through the crack in the door.

"Why do you do this?"

As he gripped the teacup slightly tighter, Toyokawa Shoko's brow furrowed even more deeply.

“I don’t see any positive impact doing this on the development of Ave Mujica.”

"Because I'm not doing this to protect Ave Mujica, but to protect Yutenji Wakame."

She picked up the lid from the side and put it on the teacup in front of her. Since the cat she had ordered hadn't come, Toyokawa Yuu didn't intend to force herself to drink tea she didn't like.

However, the words that came out of his mouth made Toyokawa Shoko pause in surprise.

She envisioned two scenarios: either Yuu Toyokawa was acting as an agent for Ave Mujica, or she was simply using something to benefit herself, as she was doing today.

But I never expected to get such an answer from Yuu Toyokawa.

"What do you mean?"

"That's why I said you underestimate the name 'Toyokawa,' Miss, especially the 'Toyokawa' that's attached to your name."

Getting up from the sofa, Toyokawa Yuu walked to the window, turned her back, and looked at the city outside.

“The identities of Ave Mujica members are kept secret from the audience and fans, but for some people, it’s just a matter of a word to find out. Even Yutenji Wakana’s private activities and my punishment of her are all clear at a glance.”

His tone was somewhat melancholy, as if he were genuinely thinking of Yutenji Wakana.

“Anyone with a discerning eye can see that Yutenji Wakame has upset the young lady of the Toyokawa family. If one day Ave Mujica ends badly and you return to the Toyokawa family to inherit the family business, do you want to guess how many people will rush to get rid of any unpleasant factors in order to please you, even if you have never shown such thoughts or uttered such words?”

"Ave Mujica will not disband; it will continue to exist."

Hearing Yuu Toyokawa's rambling, Shoko Toyokawa silently took a sip of the tea, which had mostly cooled down and was now only lukewarm, and softly retorted.

Toyokawa Shoko remained noncommittal regarding her fiancé's other inferences, because the most basic point of those inferences was invalid.

In any case, I will not allow Ave Mujica to disband.

This virtual world, confined to the stage, is one of the few things she truly possesses.

“Stubborn loyalists, sycophantic lackeys... Many people will do unnecessary things just to please the head of the Toyokawa family, even if they don’t intend to get anything directly from you, they just want to show their goodwill and loyalty.”

Ignoring Toyokawa Shoko's stubborn remarks about Ave Mujica, Toyokawa Yuu's voice continued.

"If you can't even unite the hearts of the band members, how can you control the thoughts of every single person?"

Anyway, this is just speculating about people's hearts with malicious prejudice. Since it can't be verified before it happens, it's up to Toyokawa Yuu to do whatever she wants.

Moreover, considering the treatment she received ten years later, Toyokawa Yuu felt that she might actually be being optimistic.

Holding the teacup tightly in both hands, Toyokawa Shoko pondered for a moment.

A girl who can compose music and write scripts naturally has a rich imagination. After being drawn into Toyokawa Yuu's logic, she subconsciously came up with many images that, when her mind is calm, would seem like nothing more than scaring herself.

"So you took it upon yourself to block her before anyone else could act... Why didn't you discuss it with me first?"

If I tell you everything, how can I take advantage of your identity without restraint?

With her back to Xiangzi, Toyokawa Yuu rolled her eyes and tried to keep her tone as calm as possible.

"Because it's unnecessary. You said you would take on the burden of their lives, and we are a community with a shared destiny. So, some things that might make people unhappy don't need to turn from one person's actions into two people's troubles."

"In short, now that things have been done, Yutenji Wakana has nowhere to go except Ave Mujica. All she has to do is say a few kind words, and I can easily lift the ice on her... Even if she has resentment, it's only me she resents, which is good for the band's unity."

The way you're saying that shows you've never considered us a true community with a shared future.

Feeling a surge of emotion, like a child being given a charity education, Shoko Toyokawa watched Yuu Toyokawa's retreating figure, rolled her eyes, and remained noncommittal about the explanation.

"You're wrong. The person Miss Yutenji resents now is me. I've already agreed to her being blacklisted on your behalf."

The unexpected turn of events caused Yuu Toyokawa to freeze in surprise, but fortunately, with his back to Shoko Toyokawa, no one could see his expression.