After Xiangzi died, I inherited her harem.

"When it comes to traveling, it's probably best to ask someone familiar with Tokyo..."

Opening a dedicated contact list, Chihaya Aine looked at the background and a complex expression flashed in her eyes.

Five girls, around sixteen or seventeen years old, took the band's first and last group photo on the balcony of a large apartment, under the cover of night and with insufficient lighting.

The only drawback was that, perhaps due to the phone accidentally shaking during the shooting, one of the girls' faces became extremely blurry, with only her long pink hair remaining dazzling.

That's her.

Are you looking for the original band members?

Such a thought flashed through Chihaya Aine's mind, but she quickly rejected it.

No, no, I ran away back then, so there's no need for this anymore...

So...should we look for him?

A familiar figure flashed through her mind, causing Chihaya Aine's fingertips to pause.

Let's forget about it. As for travel destinations, we can just find them in a travel brochure. There's no need to bother someone else.

With that in mind, Chihaya Aine reopened her phone, intending to search for some of the more famous tourist attractions in Tokyo over the years.

But just then, another call came in, and the finger that was typing the number of characters landed squarely on the answer button.

【Youyu】

Chihaya Aine's eyes widened slightly as she looked at the name displayed on the caller ID.

The composed and intellectual female scholar, who always seemed calm and collected, showed a hint of surprise for the first time.

Should I hang up?

Such an option came to mind, but before Chihaya Aine could make a decision, a voice that was still easily recognizable, even after ten years and some changes, came from the phone.

"Aiyin, Xiangzi is dead."

Chapter 69 Aiyin, help me, you're the only one I can trust (8k5)

The afternoon of the day after Toyokawa Shoko's death.

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

【RING】

A LiveHouse that has been around for over ten years.

Logically speaking, it's rare for a livehouse to operate for such a long time. Even though it's near several high schools with band culture, few have stood the test of time like [RING].

It is said that this LiveHouse has experienced several closures. Poor management was not the main reason. Rather, it was during these turmoil that the LiveHouse was in a period of rapid growth.

Rumor has it that it's related to a band from ten years ago.

However, whenever someone is interested in these unfounded urban legends and asks Ms. Shiina Tatsuki, the current manager of [RING], about them, she always brushes the topic off in a very strange manner.

"You're really popular, Manager Shiina."

As another group of girls carrying their instruments left the hall and headed to their reserved practice rooms, they dispersed in front of the bar, revealing the figure with black hair and purple eyes behind the bar.

Although as the store manager, she no longer needs to personally sit at the bar.

But out of nostalgia for the past, the manager of Shiina still likes to sit behind the bar and watch the young girls coming and going, brimming with youthful energy.

The sophisticated urban woman in a suit approached the bar, her emerald green eyes filled with a serious, businesslike demeanor.

In the [RING] community, where the majority of people are high school girls, such a mature and sharp outfit stands out from the crowd.

Many students would cast glances at the newcomer with something like "So handsome," and then rudely look away before the other person noticed.

"A glass of whiskey."

Leaning the bass box slumped against her back against the table, the customer familiarly ordered from Shiina, the current owner of [RING].

"No matter how popular you are, it can't compare to how well you're surrounded by people, President Hachiman. Even the way you order drinks is so practiced."

When Shiina Tatsuki saw a familiar face carrying a bass box walk into the LiveHouse after a long time, his expression wasn't exactly one of surprise, but it certainly wasn't the same as when someone came knocking on his door.

At least, she still had the energy to joke around with this acquaintance she had known since high school.

"Since you took over Starlight Plaza shopping mall with an overwhelming majority stake, haven't you been riding high? You actually have the leisure to visit my little shop today."

A glass filled with orange-yellow liquid was placed in front of Hachiman Kairin, with a few ice cubes at the bottom and fine bubbles rising from the bottom.

Anyone with even a slight understanding of carbonated drinks can imagine the explosive sensation that occurs when these liquids touch the tip of the tongue.

"Also, I've said it many times, we don't sell alcohol in [RING]... Same as always, ginger ale, lethal dose of carbonation."

Yawata Kairin did not object to Shiina Tatsuki's unauthorized changes to the order.

The tacit understanding between old acquaintances goes without saying, and she herself didn't expect Shiina Tatsuki to sell alcohol at [RING].

Gently swirling the cup, Hachiman Kairin's movements didn't resemble drinking ginger ale, but rather savoring a fine wine that had already sobered up.

The smell of carbon dioxide is overwhelming, and the soft rustling of bubbles bursting on the surface of the liquid is enough to deter most people.

But faced with this liquid that could make her senses contort even with just a light touch of her tongue, Hachiman Kairin remained unfazed, pouring the entire glass of ginger ale into her mouth without even using a straw.

"call......"

He let out a light breath, expressionless, as a final respect for the lethal amount of carbonation in the glass.

Yawata Kairin placed the empty cups, except for a few ice cubes, back on the table and continued their previous conversation.

"The head of the Toyokawa family is dead..."

The tone was nonchalant, as if the deceased was just an insignificant person, even though that person had been in the same band as her, and even though her husband had been kind to her.

Even the title used to refer to the head of the Toyokawa family is somewhat ambiguous.

However, Shiina Riki behind the bar was not as calm as her.

My hand, which was about to put the cup away, almost dropped the delicate glass. The ice cubes, which had not yet melted, bounced around inside the cup, making a crisp sound.

"What did you say?"

Shiina Riki looked at the familiar face in front of her, her purple eyes filled with disbelief.

Even though Hachiman Kairin didn't call him by his name, Shiina Tatsuki still knew who she was referring to.

"The funeral was held yesterday, and the body should still be lying in state before burial."

Shiina Riki's reaction was not beyond Yawata Kairin's expectations. She was just as surprised when she first heard the news, but the emotions that arose from that surprise were quite different.

"You didn't go to her funeral? You have a lot of business dealings with her family, and you have a good relationship with that guy."

The sudden departure of an old friend was indeed surprising, but Shiina Tatsuki was not the kind of person who would completely lose her composure because of bad news, not to mention that they had not been in contact for many years.

Rather than being surprised, Shiina Tatsuki quickly noticed the suspicious points in the other person's words.

She and Toyokawa Shoko had indeed not been in contact for a long time, but the acquaintance in front of her had been interacting quite a bit with that guy named Toyokawa Yuu.

"I didn't receive an invitation. I suppose Yuyu has her own reasons. Perhaps she wants me to seize the opportunity to take over Starlight Plaza, just like she did when Toyokawa Kiyotaka passed away, and take advantage of the situation to take over other companies."

When Shiina Tatsuki questions her, Yahata Kairin has nothing to deny.

His words and actions even subtly implied that he had not consulted with Yuu Toyokawa when making this decision.

All the actions were simply based on some kind of "tacit understanding".

"Suit yourself, that's your business, it has nothing to do with me, but don't let Tomorin know about Toyokawa Shoko's death."

Seeing that Hachiman Kairin was so calm, Shiina Tatsuki naturally had no intention of insisting on attending the funeral.

She was no longer a student; after running this LiveHouse for so many years, she had come to understand the nature of business.

Presumably, the place called the Toyokawa family has now become a vortex of power struggles, a place that "friends who formed a band together during their school days" can not set foot in. Shiina Tatsuki has no interest in voluntarily stepping into that place to be scrutinized by a group of snobs.

However, it's best to avoid sharing this news as much as possible...

"I'm sorry, Ms. Takamatsu probably already knows."

Hachiman Kairin turned her head, her emerald green eyes looking towards the entrance of [RING], where a figure holding a notebook and looking somewhat timid stood.

Compared to Shiina Tatsuki and Hachiman Kairin, her already not-so-tall figure stood there somewhat hunched over, even using her hood to cover her unique pinkish-gray short hair, silently concealing her presence.

Even Shiina Tatsuki failed to notice her presence at the beginning.

"tomorin......"

Seeing Takamatsu Akari standing there unnoticed, and seemingly having overheard much of the conversation, Shiina Tatsuki, who usually presented a capable and sharp demeanor in front of shop assistants and customers, suddenly became much more flustered.

It seemed that the somewhat timid figure was the type she was quite bad at dealing with.

However, when she saw the brown-haired figure two steps behind Takamatsu, head down, fiddling with the strands of hair hanging down in front of her, she immediately frowned again.

Why is this guy following the light? Has he not given up yet?

"I already know about Xiangzi's situation... Let's start rehearsing first, there's a live performance in a few days."

Takamatsu walked to the bar, looked at her friend of ten years, and nodded to her.

Seeing her two friends exchanging pleasantries, and Nagasaki Sase who was quietly approaching the bar and trying to interrupt their conversation, Hachiman Kairin tactfully stepped aside.

She was just a mercenary who was called in to fill in, and it was better for her to consciously avoid topics that were closely related to the band.

Even though... this mercenary has been a mercenary for ten years.

"Miss Hachiman, may we talk?"

However, to Hachiman Kairin's surprise, Nagasaki Sosei, who usually tried to get close to Shiina Tatsuki and Takamatsu Akari and join the conversation, actually approached her this time.

The beautiful woman, with a melancholic and aloof air, had misty blue eyes and a heavy, forced smile that perfectly embodied the concept of being pitiful.

However, Hachiman Kairin never liked this state of hers, which made it impossible to see her eyes or guess what she was thinking.

"What is it? Business-related or something else?"

Although Hachiman Kairin disliked Nagasaki Sose, who was leaning closer, she did not refuse to talk to her.

The two women's companies do have some collaborations; they have always been responsible for negotiating these collaborations.

At least in terms of work, Yawata Kairin acknowledges the other party's abilities.

"Other things... you can probably guess, I just came back from Xiao Xiang's funeral."

When Nagasaki Sase noticed that after he made it clear that the topic of conversation was not work, he could clearly see that Hachiman Kairin's emerald-like eyes suddenly became indifferent.

It was as if they had already lost interest in the topic before it even started.

This attitude, suggesting she might abruptly end the conversation and leave at any moment, made Nagasaki Sase's tone become somewhat hurried.

"Just now when I was leaving, I saw that Yu-Yu-Jun seemed to have changed out of the suit she was wearing to officiate at the funeral, as if she was about to go out... I think you need to know this."

The funeral wasn't over yet, and Toyokawa Yuu wasn't staying in the mourning hall; instead, she was planning to go out.

Upon hearing this news, Hachiman Kairin immediately frowned.

She was not completely unaware of the situation in the Toyokawa family. At this critical juncture, Toyokawa Yuu could only guarantee a certain degree of safety in two places.

One is the Toyokawa family mansion, and the other is their own Starlight Plaza shopping center.

Now, Yuu Toyokawa is planning to leave the Toyokawa family without informing me, clearly indicating that she has no intention of going to Starlight Plaza.

At this critical juncture, what is there that needs to be kept from me?

He has no reliable allies left besides himself.

"Thank you for telling me this, Ms. Nagasaki Sosei. I will make concessions for our next collaboration."

After a brief thank you, Hachiman Kairin took out her phone and looked at the name "Toyokawa Yuu" in her contacts, hesitating whether to call her now.

What I want is not concessions...

Hearing Hachiman Kairin's answer, Nagasaki Sase felt a pang of sadness.

She took the initiative to negotiate the cooperation with her own company, Starlight Plaza, and it was never for any commercial benefit.

All she ever wanted to do was have a proper talk with the people in that band.

However, seeing the somewhat conflicted expression on Hachiman Kairin's face, she knew she shouldn't bother her at this time.

Looking at the only name she was paying special attention to in her phone's contacts, Hachiman Kairin ultimately decided against contacting her directly.

Yuu Toyokawa must have her reasons for doing this, but as a collaborator, she really couldn't just sit idly by and watch her leave the few remaining safe zones.

After thinking it over, Hachiman Kairin opened another contact in her address book, whose name was simply a string of numbers. She didn't make a call, but only sent a text message.

I need Yuu Toyokawa's itinerary, price as usual.