After Xiangzi died, I inherited her harem.

Could Toyokawa Shoko have conspired with others in this matter?

But no matter what, we must at least smooth things over.

Regardless of Wakaba Mutsumi's previous statements or Hachiman Kairin's current attitude towards him, Toyokawa Yuu is certain that the relationship between the two is not good.

Toyokawa Yuu didn't want these two women, who could barely be considered as one of her own, to start arguing in the current situation where they were surrounded by foreign enemies.

Of course, Toyokawa Yuu knew that she had another option: to immediately stir things up, ignite the conflict between the two, and then glean useful information from their argument.

Information revealed in heated arguments is often more credible than that from calm, one-on-one questioning.

The only thing to worry about is whether I'll get myself into trouble.

“Ave Mujica has disbanded, there is no possibility of it being reorganized, and she will never come back.”

Before he could decide which side to choose, Ruoye Mu had already stepped forward and ignited the topic for him.

The light, airy words reached Hachiman Kairin's ears, as if delivering a verdict.

Her emerald-like eyes suddenly narrowed, staring intently at Wakaba Mutsu in front of her.

With her lips slightly parted, Hachiman Kairin looked at the beautiful woman with long light green hair in front of her, hesitating to speak several times, clenching her fists, her shoulders heaving.

"What a boastful display..."

Hachiman Kairin repeated her words again, but this time her voice was excessively suppressed.

Even someone who is not good at reading people could tell that Hachiman Kairin's mood was definitely not calm at the moment.

"Is making her disappear something you're so proud of?"

"...This was Metis's choice, and she was prepared for it at the time."

Faced with Hachiman Kairin's questioning, this time Wakaba Mutsumi did not look him in the eye, but simply hugged the guitar in his arms even tighter.

"You were the only one who made the decision to make yourself unable to perform on stage again, and at the same time, you ruined Ave Mujica's possibility of developing horizontally in the field of drama. In the end, Xiangzi even destroyed Ave Mujica with his own hands in order to accommodate you."

It seemed that something that shouldn't have been mentioned had been brutally dug out from the depths of her heart, and Hachiman Kairin's tone became somewhat cold.

However, to Toyokawa Yuu's surprise, Hachiman Kairin, who seemed to be on the verge of exploding, actually managed to stop herself from taking any further extreme actions.

Pressing down her body, which was already leaning slightly forward as if she might grab Wakaba Mutsumi's shoulders at any moment, Hachiman Kairin simply picked up the bass box leaning against the wall and shifted her gaze from Wakaba Mutsumi to Toyokawa Yuu beside her.

Even his tone softened again.

“You are indeed very important to Xiangzi, but isn’t Ave Mujica important to Youyu? If that band hadn’t broken up, how could he have ended up like this?”

Have I fallen so low that I need to use a word like "end" to describe myself?

Seeing Hachiman Kairin suddenly start accusing herself for no apparent reason, Toyokawa Yuu opened her mouth, but then obediently closed it again.

He discovered that Hachiman Kairin's description seemed to be correct, and the argument between the two did indeed reveal a lot of information.

Ave Mujica was disbanded by Toyokawa Shoko to protect Wakaba Mutsumi, who could no longer stand in the spotlight, and... Hachiman Kairin was somewhat concerned about one of Wakaba Mutsumi's personalities.

Judging from Wakaba Mutsu's words, it might refer to Metis, but Toyokawa Yu felt that they might be talking about the personality that caused trouble on stage.

However, that personality has completely disappeared, along with Metis.

This time, faced with Hachiman Kairin's words, Wakaba Mutsu did not utter any rebuttal.

He simply held his guitar, head down, and remained silent.

She wasn't particularly argumentative, but her sensitive nature and her tendency to use inappropriate language always allowed her to break down the other person's defenses first.

Seeing the atmosphere falling into silence, Toyokawa Yuu knew it was time for her to step in.

Given Hachiman Kairin's personality, she wouldn't choose to continue her verbal sparring after Wakaba Mutsu fell silent.

To get her to say more, I'll have to take matters into my own hands.

Even if we take a step back and assume it wasn't for intelligence gathering, as Toyokawa Shoko's husband, he couldn't possibly allow Hachiman Kairin to reprimand his deceased wife at such a time, both morally and logically.

Reaching out to grasp Hachiman Kairin's wrist, Toyokawa Yuu gently patted her back with his other hand, soothing her emotions.

"Alright, Hailing, Xiangzi can't be blamed for Ave Mujica's disbandment. Xiao Mu was indeed no longer able to continue the band's activities at that time... I don't blame her."

Looking at Toyokawa Yuu standing beside her, Hachiman Kairin's gaze gradually softened, and she lowered her eyes to calm the emotions in them.

She had indeed disappeared long ago due to Wakaba Mutsu's strangulation, but at least Toyokawa Yuu was still alive.

There are some things that are destined to be beyond one's control.

But at least for now, Toyokawa Yuu is still by his side.

"I just... feel sorry for you. You gave so much, but it ended so tragically in such a childish way."

“It’s alright, Hailing. As long as Xiangzi needs it, I don’t mind paying the price, even if it’s the destruction of Ave Mujica.”

Seeing that Hachiman Kairin had stopped trembling with anger after being comforted by him, Toyokawa Yuu released his hand that had been in direct contact with her.

"Moreover, I don't think this result is dismal, at least you're still on my side."

Yuu Toyokawa took the key out of her pocket and opened the car door.

"Get in the car first. I was planning to ask you to take me home. I feel more at ease with you here... Xiao Mu, don't take what I said earlier to heart. Hai Ling was just a little excited when she heard a familiar tune."

As she helped Wakaba Mutsu into the car, Toyokawa Yuu pondered that perhaps she should find a suitable time to return to ten years ago.

It has been confirmed that the root of all the anomalies is the disruptive personality on stage, who not only disrupted Ave Mujica's concert but also triggered a series of events afterward.

Wakaba Mutsumi, Metis, Toyokawa Shoko, Hachiman Kairin, Nagasaki Sase... even Chihaya Aine may have been implicated.

I need to go back... and find her.

Watching Yuu Toyokawa's retreating figure, Kairin Hachiman raised her eyelids.

There was a complex emotion in her emerald green eyes.

For Shoko Toyokawa, even if Ave Mujica is destroyed... it doesn't matter, right?

From beginning to end, I genuinely protected that band and everyone in it. Was I the only one who... did I?

Chapter 76 2.5 Rain (8k, edited, please refresh)

“I drove here myself and will follow behind you.”

When invited to get in the car by Toyokawa Yuu, Hachiman Kairin simply turned her body slightly away, seemingly not intending to ride in the same car as Wakaba Mutsu.

The sharp and capable woman in the suit looks almost childlike at this moment.

Faced with Hachiman Kairin's resistant attitude, Wakaba Mutsu lowered his head slightly and tightened his grip on the guitar.

Clearly, even if she regained some of her sensitivity, the girl, who was not good at communicating, was still not good at dealing with this obvious cold treatment.

Seeing the atmosphere seemingly deadlocked again, Toyokawa Yuu was somewhat helpless and could only gently pat Wakaba Mutsu's shoulder, signaling her to get in the car.

"It's okay, Xiao Mu. I'll find a way to make you and Hai Ling reconcile."

Insert the car key into the lock, and as the engine starts, the car body begins to vibrate slightly.

"I will protect everything Xiangzi left behind...including you."

Seeing Wakaba Mutsuna's still somewhat gloomy expression in the rearview mirror above her head, Toyokawa Yuu habitually offered a few words of comfort.

It wasn't until the words were out that Toyokawa Yuu realized that she didn't seem to need to do that.

Even though she had slightly transformed back into a human from a doll, her nearly ten years as a doll had long since caused her to lose control over the Wakaba family.

In other words, having already obtained enough information from her, she is no longer of any value to him.

Perhaps after things settle down, she can use her identity as "Ruoye" to gain some benefits, but that would be a case of "a distant solution cannot solve an immediate problem."

As for Toyokawa Yuu... she didn't think she would survive this time.

Having died several times, he had gained some self-awareness.

The only cards I have left are Nagasaki Sosei's one-time compensation, the not entirely trustworthy Hachiman Kairin, and Hatsune Miku, whom I may not even be able to fully control even that villa.

If Ye Mu has no value in the short term, and Chihaya Aine... she doesn't count.

In short, given the current situation, it seems like the right choice would be to stab myself twice on the spot and go back ten years; there's absolutely no need to go through all that trouble.

However, I said it subconsciously, which is probably what they call going all the way with an act.

Wearing a mask for too long will eventually cause skin rot.

"Thank you... Yuu."

Holding the guitar in her arms, Wakaba Mutsu looked at Toyokawa Yuu sitting in the driver's seat, her golden eyes filled with an increasingly complex expression.

She destroyed the personality that was modeled after him and struggled to survive, turning herself into who she is now, yet she now enjoys his care with a clear conscience.

If you knew that Toyokawa Yuu was actually in a very dangerous situation.

But in his current state, I am of no help to him at all.

“I never felt that you should take care of me.”

I've never deserved this kind of care from you, neither when Ave Mujica was still around, nor now...

Upon hearing Wakaba Mutsu's words, Toyokawa Yuu, who was about to shift gears, paused and looked at the golden-eyed beauty sitting in the back seat through the rearview mirror.

This familiar sentence structure made him somewhat understand that the beautiful woman holding the guitar had become just like she was ten years ago, unable to express herself clearly.

But knowing this doesn't mean that Toyokawa Yuu was completely unmoved by such words.

"From now on, think carefully before you speak. Not everyone can be like Xiangzi, who would be tolerant even if he couldn't understand you."

Taking a deep breath to calm herself down, Toyokawa Yuu started the car and drove away from Chihaya Aine's house.

"Also, I haven't taken care of you, so there's no need to thank me."

Listening to the sound of Toyokawa Yuu's car driving away from behind, Hachiman Kairin finally turned around and watched the car disappear into the distance.

Even without Ave Mujica, it's fine...

Recalling Yuu Toyokawa's words, Kairin Hachiman couldn't help but clutch her chest, feeling her heart pounding.

With each breath, a sense of emptiness seemed to rise there, and what appeared in his eyes was not resentment, but rather a kind of confusion.

She gripped the bass box strap tightly with her fingertips, feeling the weight inside, which was heavier than that of ordinary instruments. It was a gift that Toyokawa Yuu had given her personally, and it was also a promise between the two of them.

But if even you think it doesn't matter to accept this fate, then what has kept me going until now?

How could you... not care about Ave Mujica? That's...

Standing there dumbfounded, holding her bass box, Hachiman Kairin was momentarily at a loss for what to do next.

Should I drive after them and escort Yuu Toyokawa back to the Toyokawa family mansion, or should I just stand here until time buries the confusion in my heart, then pretend I didn't hear what they just said, deceiving myself and continuing that ten-year-long persistence?

She turned around blankly, looking at the courtyard of Chihaya Aine's house beside her, the advice from that night echoing in her ears.

Stop being so self-righteous...

Have I been the only one who's been so self-righteous all along...?

The phone in her pocket vibrated, forcibly calming the somewhat bewildered Hachiman Kairin back to her senses.

Out of sheer professional ethics, the woman in the suit forcibly pulled herself back from her somewhat scattered thoughts and answered the phone.

The voice that came from inside was kind but annoying; it was one of the people who had been accusing her during the conference call the previous night.

【Hachiman, out of our personal working relationship, I think it's necessary to advise you again. You really are capable of...】

The voice carried a hint of compromise, clearly indicating that Hachiman Kairin's threat last night had indeed had some effect.

After all, no one really wants to be dragged into this feast by Hachiman Kairin, adding two decent side dishes to the meal.

Before the voice on the other end of the phone could finish speaking, it was interrupted by Hachiman Kairin's voice.

This time, however, the response was not the usual firm rejection, but a statement tinged with inexplicable emotion.

Looking in the direction where Yuu Toyokawa drove away, Kaisu Hachiman spoke blankly.

"Tell me your terms..."

Hachiman Kairin looked up at the sky. The bright sunshine had turned gloomy, and even the morning breeze had become much colder.

The clouds piled up overhead, gradually turning into a deep gray-black, and the wind whistled past my ears.

It is going to rain.

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

On the way home, the atmosphere inside the car was somewhat somber, and neither Toyokawa Yuu nor Wakaba Mutsu spoke again.

Perhaps because she was feeling a bit down, Toyokawa Yuu drove a little faster this time than when she came to find Aine.