Aunt Xiangzi, how did you manage to live?

"I can't speak for others, but what Chu Hua is looking for in you is probably not the kind of affection you can give her."

That's despicable.

After saying that, Li Xi himself looked away guiltily.

Because her own wish could not be fulfilled, she also exposed Chu Hua, who was in the same situation as her.

She is indeed quite despicable.

Isn't this tantamount to indirectly confessing Chu Hua's feelings?

It's terrible.

But at the same time, she was also hoping.

— Hoping that Kazama would give a negative answer.

"...Can't it be different if they're not the same?"

After a long silence, Kazama finally responded.

The boy no longer avoided the question that he had vaguely sensed was amiss, as he had done before. Instead, he very rarely spoke out about the thoughts that had been bottled up in his heart for a long time.

"It has to be the same feeling for me to continue to treat Chu Hua and Li Xi well, okay?"

"........."

Shiina Riki was a little stunned.

"We can only continue to play together and gather together for music if we share the same feelings... Following Yue*Yi - the first release of the band, shall we continue to play together?"

This seemed to be the first time she remembered Kazama revealing his personal thoughts.

The boy's brows were unusually furrowed, and it was the first time Li Xi had seen a hint of confusion and dejection in his eyes.

“I didn’t say it was impossible, but what she wanted was something more blatant—”

"Isn't my feeling for you love?"

Kazama, who was always gentle, friendly and exceptionally patient with everyone, interrupted Riki before she could even finish speaking.

"........."

His voice was so loud that even Miaomeng and Hailing, who were just cooperating with each other in their performance, turned to look at him with curiosity.

"Am I less invested in this relationship than someone who might be replaced by someone new in just a few months?"

He simply didn't understand.

If he could pretend to be stupid and get away with it before, now that Li Xi has put these words on the table, he can no longer ignore his doubts and confusion.

"Even if things can't go back to the way I know them, it doesn't matter. I'm not asking for anything in return from you—I just want to treat you the way I used to."

Is this something difficult?

How could he not have noticed the heavy emotions hidden in Chu Hua's eyes when she looked at him? But he always tried his best to control himself from thinking in that direction.

The woman who could have been your aunt is now having ulterior motives towards you—it would be hard for anyone to accept that, right?

It was at this moment that Shiina Tatsuki understood what was truly troubling Kazama Akira.

That was the relationship that she and Sanjiao Chuhua had both invested in him, a relationship destined to be misaligned.

Chapter Sixty-Nine: Loyal Dog Lixi, Serving You

If the feelings you hold in your heart are something that others don't need, what should you do with those feelings?

Shiina Riki swallowed hard, only now belatedly beginning to think about this issue.

That's right, to this day she has never truly looked at this issue from Kazama's perspective.

A boy from the future, deeply grateful for the kindness of his adoptive mother and aunts, resolutely helped them form a band, even nearly risking his own life to save one.

However, he not only failed to gain the understanding and kindness of the aunties at the beginning, but he also had to figure out how to deal with the feelings that a few specific young female aunties had for him, feelings that he could not reciprocate at all.

Shiina Riki put herself in Kazama's shoes and thought about it. If she were in that situation, and had to face the feelings of a young person she considered family... she might not be as calm and composed as Kazama.

"...I'm sorry, it was my Yinglingqiba (fourth) Enterprise Private Wu-Lu who didn't consider your feelings."

So, realizing that she was ultimately just a selfish person who only cared about her own feelings, Li Xi lowered her head and obediently admitted her mistake.

"Why should Lixi apologize? ...Besides, no one should apologize for something like this."

Kazama felt that Riki's apology came a bit abruptly, since they were clearly discussing a certain blonde girl with maximum gravity who wasn't even present—

But only Shiina Tatsuki herself knew that she was also sincerely apologizing to Kazama because of her own feelings.

These past few days, Shiina Tatsuki has been using Misaki Hatsuka and even Wildcat Rakuna as her imaginary rivals, using their existence to spur herself on. If she doesn't work hard enough to stand out, her spot as a teammate will probably be taken away by these two.

But now she finally understands that this competition was ultimately just wishful thinking on their part.

This is not the choice that Kazama Akatsuki wanted.

If the true feelings she conveyed could not lift his spirits at all, and might even become a source of trouble for the boy, then Shiina Ritsuki would rather that her feelings had never been conveyed to him.

She looked up and examined the boy standing in front of her, whose face was not exactly handsome.

This guy said there was no need to apologize and it was okay, but Li Xi could sense from his expression that he was actually in a difficult position.

All of this didn't need Kazama to explain; it was a fact that Riki, as a companion, had observed and realized through their tacit understanding over the past few days.

Kazama is a straightforward person, but occasionally he will deliberately avoid topics that might embarrass others in order to consider their feelings.

Given his intelligence, if he were truly willing to reciprocate Chu Hua's feelings, he would surely find ways to get her to confess her shy and adorable girlish secrets to him.

But instead of doing that, this guy seemed to be deliberately imitating the behavior of protagonists in love triangles, clumsily playing the role of a slow-witted and dull protagonist.

Clearly, he was not elated or smug about winning someone's favor; on the contrary, he felt somewhat embarrassed because it was "Auntie's" kind gesture.

Indeed, anyone with a normal moral compass would find that the heavy affection from an aunt is not something to boast about, nor would it make a teenager in the throes of adolescence's heart flutter.

Luckily, I didn't say it out loud.

Shiina Riki secretly rejoiced.

Fortunately, she did not express similar feelings to Chu Hua, otherwise he would probably avoid her in the near future.

Unrequited love is not the most terrible thing. What is most regrettable is that you clearly care about each other and love each other, but your possessiveness and emotional intensity towards each other are pointing in completely opposite directions.

Even if the nephew's admiration and respect for his aunt had almost completely disappeared, it could never transform into a heart-fluttering feeling that was almost like romantic love.

At the same time, Shiina Tatsuki, having realized this, made up his mind.

If overflowing sentiments might hurt someone, then it's better to swallow them whole.

"...I want to practice the drums. Kazama, could you help me get used to the rhythms I can't quite grasp?"

Lixi spoke slowly, and her request pulled the two out of the awkward quagmire.

When Riki raised her head again to meet Kazama's gaze, the awkwardness and tension in her eyes were gone, replaced by a reliable calmness.

"I will try my best to help you solve the problem that is troubling you, so don't worry too much."

Her concise and powerful words contained an unimaginable rationality and warmth, just like when Kazama first met her.

"Um... um."

Kazama was completely baffled as to why Riki's attitude had changed so drastically in such a short time, but even so, he was still flattered and nodded subconsciously.

Well, actually, he didn't mean to blame anyone with what he just said.

Even though he was raised by those amazing aunties from Mujica and MYGO, he was still a superhuman high school student who didn't quite fit into the conventional sense of a normal person—

However, when he vaguely realized that Chu Hua, who could become his aunt, actually had ulterior motives towards him, he still felt somewhat uneasy.

The feeling lingering in his heart was less anger and more fear and helplessness, like, "I treated you all with the utmost respect as aunts, and you actually tried to seduce me."

Regardless, since Chu Hua herself hasn't broken through this barrier, I shouldn't have vented my emotions on Li Xi just now.

He was somewhat bothered by this, but Li Xi himself didn't seem to care much about it.

"Don't mention it. Since you're troubled by this, shouldn't I, as your companion, lend a hand?"

Shiina Tatsuki waved her hand, indicating that there was no need to take it so seriously, and the next second she revealed her plan.

"If it's inconvenient for you to speak up, I can try to persuade Chu Hua on your behalf."

"Lixi...lobbying."

The boy tilted his head with a meaningful expression.

I feel like these two terms don't seem to be connected at all. If Li Xi, who is not good at speaking, tries to persuade Chu Hua, won't it backfire?

"Kazama, didn't you want everything to be the same as before? I'll find a way to fulfill your wish—I'll do anything for you."

Li Xi glanced at Miao Meng and Hai Ling, who were still eyeing them with curiosity. Although the latter hadn't heard the second half of Li Xi's words, the first sentence had still reached their ears completely.

"...Are those two playing some kind of contract game?"

Finally, unable to contain herself any longer, Miaomeng whispered her guesses to Hailing beside her.

"It's not that aboveboard; maybe we're just a pawn in their game."

Despite lacking concrete evidence, Hailing observed the two men's faces, which were clearly concealing something, with an intriguing expression.

To have her proud and aloof best friend, Shiina Tatsuki, say such a thing—she was becoming increasingly curious about how Kazama had managed to win the hearts of so many girls.

Chapter Seventy Li Xi, you with thick eyebrows and big eyes, are you also a womanizer?

Hachiman Kairin wasn't one to meddle in other people's business, so even though she was quite curious about Riki and Kazama's conversation, she dutifully stayed in her original spot, tuning her bass.

Only after Lixi's complexion returned to normal and he followed the boy out of the rest area did Hailing tease him playfully.

"Is your period of depression over? Today, Yutianji and I are both your mentors on assignment. How long are you going to keep brooding like this?"

"I've recovered, please don't go easy on me."

Lixi nodded in response without any hesitation. This sarcastic way of speaking was a common way she and Hailing communicated.

Rather, she could actually understand the underlying worry behind Hailing's seemingly rebellious provocation, so she responded to Hailing's concerns with the same attitude.

Seeing that Li Xi still had the energy to argue with her, Hai Ling smiled slightly.

"What were you two talking about just now?"

"Oh, could it be the kind of secret between the two of you... top-secret information that outsiders like us can't know?"

Miao Meng also put down the drumsticks she had been banging on for a while, her eyes darting between the two of them, clearly harboring some wicked thoughts.

Before Kazama could gracefully brush the matter aside, Riki responded to Meow Dream's teasing with a light hum.

"Ah, just like how your Ave Mujica has its own internal affairs to handle, I also have some private matters with this guy that I don't want others to get involved in."

Li Xi's voice was cold enough that even Miao Meng couldn't help but chuckle.

"Oh dear Lixi, you're even more vengeful than I imagined."

"Really? I was just giving them a taste of their own medicine."

"Haha, that's great enthusiasm! Let's keep this up and improve our drumming skills together!"

"Who wants to be with you..."

Despite still verbally expressing her disgust, Kelixi readily accepted the drumsticks.

Shiina Tatsuki adopted the serious posture she should have when training, and the other three began to understand and help her improve her drumming skills.

"Loosen your wrist a little more. You're hitting too hard. In my experience, that makes the tone less clear."

Miao Meng was no longer the carefree, playful girl she once was. She pointed out Li Xi's shortcomings in a serious tone, and would even stand behind Li Xi to correct her movements personally. She even patiently regulated her breathing rhythm.

"Let's do this section again, starting from four beats into the chorus. I'll match the beat with you."

As always, Hachiman Kairin got straight to the point, not wasting a single word. She steadily played the bass beside her, making sure Riki didn't get lost in the fast tempo.

Kazama would occasionally come over, squat down next to Riki, and gently tap the floor with his drumsticks to give her the correct instructions.

"Don't just play along with the sheet music. Listen to this part and feel the flow."

His voice was gentle and magnetic, with an undeniable calmness, guiding Lixi to adjust her breathing and center of gravity little by little.