After Xiangzi died, I inherited her harem.

Anyway, I don't need him to clear all the obstacles. As long as he can help me avoid some pitfalls, that's a bonus.

"Xiangzi left the Toyokawa family for your sake. To protect Xiangzi, I need to understand the darkness of the Toyokawa family... For Xiangzi's sake, help me find anything that might threaten her."

Yuu Toyokawa stared intently into Kiyoshi Toyokawa's eyes, her expression serious.

Hearing Yuu Toyokawa's words, Kiyoko Toyokawa fell silent, but it wasn't out of despondency, but rather out of contemplation.

After a long while, the man, whose fighting spirit had finally been rekindled by intimidation and deception, finally raised his head and seriously examined Toyokawa Yuu in front of him for the first time.

"Were you among those threats, Yuu?"

Having been Toyokawa Sadaharu's son-in-law for so many years, Toyokawa Kiyoko could generally understand his thoughts.

Releasing Toyokawa Yuu ahead of time to make him the manager of Xiangzi's band was actually an attempt to cultivate the relationship between the two.

An alliance of interests without emotional ties is fragile. Two people who have never met since childhood naturally cannot be said to have any deep feelings for each other.

So, is Toyokawa Yuu's current act of thinking about Shoko truly sincere?

After all, as he just said, if Toyokawa Shoko were to die young, he could also become a beneficiary... as long as he could leave behind his child in time.

After his life was ruined by a scam, Toyokawa Kiyotaka gradually began to scrutinize every word he heard.

"If you think I should be on the list, you can include me."

Faced with Toyokawa Kiyoshi's scrutiny, Toyokawa Yuu didn't shy away from it and looked him straight in the eye.

“But believe me, if there is one person in the world who absolutely does not want anything to happen to Xiangzi, then that person will not be that old guy Toyokawa Sadaharu, nor will it be you... it will only be me.”

“As long as Xiangzi wants me to do something, I will do my best to do it, just like what Toyokawa Mizuho once hoped that the man named Kiyoko would do.”

A moment of silence fell, the sour smell of alcohol mingling with the evening breeze as it quietly spread.

The two, nominally adoptive father and son, and theoretically future son-in-law and father-in-law, stared at each other quietly, scrutinizing each other's loyalty to Toyokawa Shoko.

"Tell me, what are you planning to do?"

After a long while, Toyokawa Kiyoko slowly released his grip on Toyokawa Yuu's shoulder and exhaled a breath of alcohol.

"It seems we should have the most basic trust now."

A soft click rang out in the night as another can of liquor was pulled open.

Yuu Toyokawa held up another can of beer in front of Kiyoko Toyokawa, the meaning of which was self-evident.

"Then for Xiangzi's sake, I hope we can get along well in the future, Father-in-law."

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

Inside Akabane's rented room, Toyokawa Shoko knelt before a small table against the wall, with homework laid out in front of her that had been open for a long time but had not seen much new writing.

It was already late at night. According to the sleep schedule of high school students, Toyokawa Shoko should have been asleep by now, otherwise she would not be able to get enough sleep.

But now, let alone falling asleep, Toyokawa Shoko hasn't even finished her homework.

Given Toyokawa Shoko's grades, this amount of homework shouldn't have bothered her for so long; it's just that her mind isn't really on the homework in front of her right now.

Yu Yu has been gone for a long time; she's only bringing someone back from the police station. It shouldn't have taken this long.

Did you encounter any obstacles when picking up the person because their identity didn't match?

Did he have a conflict with his father on the way?

Or did he... escape?

A possibility that seemed impossible flashed through Toyokawa Shoko's mind and has lingered ever since.

Turning her head to look at the bright moon hanging high in the sky outside the window, Toyokawa Shoko took out her phone, hesitating whether to call Toyokawa Yuu to urge her on.

But wouldn't that make me seem like I don't trust him enough?

No, what am I thinking? Birds of a feather flock together and don't need trust. What allows us to entrust our backs without fear of betrayal is not that vague concept of trust.

However, if I'm not worried about being betrayed, why would I go out of my way to ask? Wouldn't that make me seem immature?

Between accomplices who are constantly encroaching on each other's territory and always ready to take advantage, this means showing weakness and making concessions.

Looking down at her phone, Toyokawa Shoko frowned, her expression visibly troubled.

But in the end, she still chose to unlock the screen.

This is not a concern, but an accountability question: why were you so incompetent as an accomplice, dragging things out for so long?

Yes, that's it.

Before Toyokawa Shoko could even press the call button after clicking on the name "Yuyu" in the contact list, she heard a creaking sound from the not-so-flexible door frame.

A man in a suit pushed open the door and entered, carrying a bag of fruit.

In the past, upon hearing this ear-splitting sound, Toyokawa Shoko would have subconsciously frowned slightly.

But now, her slightly furrowed brows have quietly relaxed.

"Youyu, too slow..."

Although he felt a little relieved, Toyokawa Shoko's tone was still unfriendly.

Among accomplices who are birds of a feather, one cannot show weakness; otherwise, what awaits them will not be tender comfort, but rather even more ruthless exploitation, until one side becomes a complete vassal.

However, before Toyokawa Shoko could finish speaking, her voice caught in her throat.

The person who entered was not Toyokawa Yuu, but her father, Toyokawa Kiyoko.

It seemed that he had found a place to wash away the sour smell of alcohol, and even his slovenly appearance, which had lasted for a year, was rectified. He even put on a suit.

"Xiangzi, I'm back."

Looking at her father in a suit and tie, Toyokawa Shoko should have felt a sense of familiarity, since in her memory, her father had always looked like this.

But at this moment, she only felt unfamiliar with the man in front of her.

It wasn't that she had gotten used to her father's slovenly appearance, but rather that Toyokawa Shoko knew in her heart that her father, who had been depressed for a year, would absolutely not be transformed just because he had been to the police station once.

Otherwise, he would have been skinned alive countless times over in the past year.

There is only one possibility for this change to occur.

"Father, where is Youyu?"

Toyokawa Shoko turned her gaze to Toyokawa Kiyoshi behind her; there was no one there.

That guy... did he really run away?

"Youyu dropped me off downstairs and then left."

Seeing that his daughter's first concern was not for him but for Toyokawa Yuu, Toyokawa Kiyoko's face showed a hint of embarrassment.

He had been dejected in front of his daughter for a whole year, so he should have given up on being shameless by now.

But at this moment, Toyokawa Kiyoko did feel a little embarrassed.

Perhaps the person who walked in the other direction downstairs just now was me, not Youyu?

"It seems you and Youyu talked about a lot of things."

Turning her gaze back to the table in front of her, she seemed unusually cold towards her father tonight.

"Hmm...we did talk a lot, Xiangzi, you..."

Kiyotaka Toyokawa, who was beginning to take on the role of father again, looked at his daughter and instinctively wanted to say a few words of advice. However, when he thought that some things were not something a high school girl should have to bear, he immediately shut his mouth.

Xiangzi should be enjoying his youth and his band now.

"Keep up the good work, Xiangzi, at the martial arts gym."

After placing the bag of fruit he was carrying next to Xiangzi, Toyokawa Kiyokazu, unable to find anything to talk about for the moment, awkwardly walked towards the cubicle deep inside the rented room. It wasn't until he passed through the side door that he found a new topic of conversation.

"By the way, Youyu helped me find a new job. Dad will be starting work at Starlight Plaza shopping mall tomorrow."

It wasn't just about going to work; it was about acting as Toyokawa Shoko's agent to seize the first territory that Toyokawa Yuu had acquired using Shoko's name.

The young lady, who has not yet inherited the family business and is working hard outside with the intention of bringing her wealth back home, has built her own power base, which is the only way for Toyokawa Kiyoko to return to the Toyokawa family.

Similarly, as the first cornerstone of the project, such an important position could not be entrusted to an outsider like Honda Yutaka. Only someone like Toyokawa Kiyotaka, who would never betray Shoko for personal gain, could be competent in this role.

As for how Kiyotaka Toyokawa can wrest control of the shopping center from Yutaka Honda, that's not something Yuu Toyokawa should be concerned with.

However, someone who has weathered a storm like the 168 billion yuan saga is unlikely to capsize again on a newly built shopping mall.

But be careful of Minami Mori...

Recalling the advice Toyokawa Yuu gave him before they parted ways tonight, Toyokawa Seigo looked out the window with a complicated expression.

His deceased wife's best friend, who was also a distant relative, seemed to be planning to get involved in his daughter's band...

People drift apart when they're gone; once the person is gone, the relationship naturally cools. Toyokawa Kiyoshi can understand this.

But to think about changing houses now is wishful thinking.

Looking at the bright moon outside the window, Toyokawa Kiyoshi's expression gradually became calm.

"Xiangzi, this time... Dad will really try his best."

"up to you."

His response was his daughter's indifferent voice and the sound of the door being pulled and dragged.

The unusually cold attitude of his usually obedient daughter froze Toyokawa Kiyoko's expression, which had been hardened by his resolute gaze.

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

He pulled the horizontal door shut, separating his father from the space he was in.

Toyokawa Shoko looked at her phone, which she had already opened the contact list on and was about to press the call button. After hesitating for a moment, she turned off the screen.

In the dim light, Toyokawa Shoko's expression gradually became complicated.

Logically speaking, it should be a good thing that the father has regained his strength.

But Toyokawa Shoko knew that everything that was free had already been secretly priced.

In particular, there's Toyokawa Yuu, who always does things with a purpose, someone who wouldn't do anything without a profit motive.

His efforts to comfort his father and help him regain his spirits were definitely not out of kindness or mutual assistance between partners.

It is likely that the price set by Toyokawa Yuu will be so high that it will be unacceptable to most people.

My father changed after I only met him once.

This was something that Toyokawa Shoko had always wanted to do but could never do, but Toyokawa Yuu accomplished it with ease in just half a night.

Yuyu, what exactly do you want my father to do?

What did the words that the father hesitated to say before finally stopping mean?

Yuyu, isn't just using me enough?

You should only use my...

Thinking about the possible game with her accomplices, Toyokawa Shoko closed her eyes, and unconsciously recalled a scene from her childhood when she was still young and naive, where her father was scolded by her grandfather and then encouraged by her mother.

At that time, her curiosity got the better of her, and she asked a question that she couldn't understand at the time, and that still confuses her now.

[Mom, since Grandpa dislikes Dad so much, how did you two get together?]

Of course, it's because we can't live without each other anymore...

Are we absolutely inseparable...?

Looking up at the exquisite red-clad doll, a keepsake left to her by her mother, Toyokawa Shoko felt as if the doll was looking at her.

Thank you, Mother. Please watch over me carefully.

Looking at the homework that wasn't much finished, Toyokawa Shoko hesitated for a moment before putting down her pen and turning off the dim light.

Yu Yu said that he wanted to see a fully recovered Oblivionis the next day.

Chapter 66 The Leadership of the Band, I'm Taking It Now (7k)

Nine years and three hundred and fifty-nine days before Toyokawa Shoko's death, early morning.

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

The morning sunlight streamed down from the sky, filtering through the lush foliage of the roadside trees and leaving faint patches of light on the ground.

The pink-haired girl carried her guitar on her back. Sunlight fell on her hastily styled hair, and a few beads of sweat appeared on her fair skin.

With her legs, which had been responsible for running the last leg since junior high school, Chihaya Aine's gray eyes revealed a hint of panic.