Aunt Xiangzi, how did you manage to live?

Lixi would also listen to the three's advice without any hesitation, correcting his bad habits time and time again, and pouring his sweat onto the drumhead.

After an afternoon of practice and rehearsals, the four people, who had never performed together before, unexpectedly developed a certain rapport after pointing out each other's shortcomings in their performances.

Before they knew it, time had flown by, and it was evening when they were supposed to leave the recording studio.

"Phew—thankfully, Mujica and MYGO shouldn't be competitors, otherwise I wouldn't be confident I could beat Lixi's drumbeats."

As she was about to leave, Miaomeng gave Lixi a gentle smile and a wink.

"Looks like I'll have to set aside some time to improve my skills when I get back today."

"...the same to each other."

Lixi simply nodded slightly, and as she stood up from the drum set, she hid her arms, which were almost sore from swinging them, behind her back.

"Not bad, I've finally had my fill of playing today."

Hailing put the bass back in its box with satisfaction, then turned to Lixi and Kazama with a cool smile.

"Maybe we'll actually have the chance to co-star in the future, but until then, we need to maintain our current level of performance."

She waved and turned away with a dashing air. Miao Meng chuckled, following behind Hai Ling while constantly winking at Li Xi, who was still lingering in the recording studio.

"Hmm—I should probably go back and rest too. I hope my uninvited visit today didn't offend Lixi too much~"

"There is some, more or less."

Li Xi frowned and gave a merciless response.

"Hey~ It's okay if it's just a little bit. I hope there won't be so much of this weird tension in the air when we meet next time, okay?"

Miao Meng smiled and turned to leave, but her cheeky remark before leaving was enough to make Li Xi frown.

Once the two girls had willingly returned home, Li Xi finally turned her gaze silently to the boy who had been waiting beside her for a long time.

"I'm starting to wonder if you'll be assimilated into an even more annoying person in Mujica... Why aren't you leaving yet?"

"Hmm. Liu. Doctor (」⑶弍②氿?亻尔〈? Li Xi wants me to go with them? I'd rather stay and keep you company, you know?"

"Why? Who needs you to come with them?"

"Did I misjudge?... Well then, if you want me to go with them, I'll go and call them now."

"Wait—um…I didn't say that." Yueyi⑵溜二二1』衫)灵&芭侕,

His face was full of cold and impatient expression, and his mouth was filled with indifferent words that kept people at a distance.

But she turned her head away and grabbed Kazama's sleeve before he could take a step to catch up with Hailing Miaomeng.

"...I didn't ask you to go with them."

With these awkward yet frankly adorable words, Riki successfully persuaded Kazama, who had only intended to tease her, to stay.

"I know."

Kazama was both amused and exasperated.

"...You know everything."

Li Xi whispered his indignation, then strode forward to stand in front of the boy.

"Come with me to buy a can of coffee, then we can talk about serious business."

...Is this serious business?

Kazama raised an eyebrow out of curiosity, but he suppressed his thirst for knowledge and obediently followed behind Riki, picking up her belongings as well, and accompanied her to the vending machine located deep in the corridor.

Since their shared habit of drinking canned coffee became a common property, this place has also become the unspoken place for them to discuss serious matters.

“I know what you’re thinking. Even if you don’t show it explicitly, I can guess what might make you want to run away.”

Lixi squatted in front of the vending machine. With a crisp click, the brown canned drink was dispensed from the machine and caught steadily in her hand.

"If Chu Hua's kindness is an unwarranted burden to you—"

She stood up and, with her usual expression, handed the first bottle of coffee to Kazama.

"I will help you nip this relationship in the bud."

Shiina Tatsuki revealed her decision after introspection.

Along with her feelings.

Chapter Seventy-One: Xiaowei Corps Captain, Li Xi Steps Forward

"If Chu Hua's feelings are an unnecessary burden to you, I will help you nip them in the bud."

Li Xi's indifferent voice echoed in the narrow corridor, making Feng Jie's movement of passing the canned coffee slow down for a while.

"...I've started to enjoy coffee now."

She gazed at the can in her hand, but without the slightest reluctance, she placed it in the boy's hand.

"Thanks to you."

"I didn't expect you to care so much about my love life, Lixi. But you don't need to worry. If I don't like someone, no one can force me to make a choice. Just trust my own will in this matter, okay?"

Kazama paused for a moment, but immediately accepted the coffee that Riki offered, which could be considered as acknowledging her kindness.

"However, actually, I've come to like drinking coffee thanks to you."

"Ha...you mean my future self influenced your preferences?"

“That’s right. Lixi, don’t you think it’s incredible and romantic that the habits you left on me in the future will actually influence you in the present?”

"Romantic? Hmph, I don't think so."

To be honest, Shiina Tatsuki felt like she had become a pitiful person being played by fate.

"I can't believe I'm letting my child drink this kind of poorly made canned coffee from such a young age. It seems I'm not going to be a very good auntie in the future."

With nowhere to vent her pent-up resentment, she, who never spoke ill of others, turned her anger towards herself once again—this time, of course, towards her future self.

"No, that's not true. Lixi is the aunt I respect most, and also the teacher I admire most. Don't you even trust me this much?"

"Hmph... Indecisive people have no right to talk about trust. I hope you're not that kind of person, Kazama."

Lixi gave a soft snort. Her intention was not to be sarcastic or veiled, but this was the most direct way she could show concern for Kazama.

"Of course, of course, I will definitely not let you down, Lixi."

Fortunately, her remarks, which would only bother others, did not leave Kazama confused. Perhaps because he knew Riki's personality too well, the boy simply smiled and then used his fingers to pry open the can and swallowed the coffee.

Shiina Riki's eyes sparkled, and she could vaguely glimpse how the coffee slowly flowed into the boy's mouth from where his lips met the plastic jar.

For a fleeting moment, she also wished she could become that bitter liquid and seep into his body.

But this terrifying thought had barely taken root in his mind when it was immediately swept away by Shiina Tatsuki himself.

"...Your attitude is a bit perfunctory. I'm not joking; I genuinely want to be your help."

Lixi looked away guiltily, finding it difficult to openly meet Kazama's gaze these days.

"Well... before Chu Hua clearly explains to me that her feelings for me are irreversible, I think I still have time to get our relationship back on track in time."

"What do you mean by 'the right track'? Your relationship as aunt and nephew?"

"Of course not. I wouldn't even dare to dream about having a teenage girl rightfully become my aunt."

Kazama raised his chin, continuing to savor his coffee while looking out the window.

"I just feel that being able to be friends with everyone is enough, and I don't want to ask for anything more."

The early autumn sunlight filtered through the blinds into the corridor, creating bright slits. Dust motes floated slowly in the beams of light, like someone's unresolved worries, silent yet restless.

Shiina Riki gazed at Kazama's profile, his throat tightening slightly.

The boy in front of me was a smooth talker who loved to spout empty words, but he would never deceive me on this kind of matter.

Sure enough, whether it was Chu Hua's feelings or his own emotions, once they were brought to the forefront, they would become a source of trouble for him.

Kazama focused intently on the rim of the jar, completely unaware that a trace of coffee brown had stained the corner of his lips. Riki's gaze followed his every move, yet remained at a safe distance.

"...If someone wants to get more from you, they have to nip that possibility in the bud first."

After a moment of silence, she subtly used this pseudonym to express someone's feelings.

"Oh dear, that's not wrong..."

"So I'm not kidding, if you can't get used to this kind of relationship, I'll help you get out of it."

"Okay, I just think it's hard to prevent things from happening in advance. By the way, Lixi, why are you suddenly so energetic?"

"What reason is needed for this kind of thing?"

Originally, this was just a casual, smiling remark from Kazama, and Riki's tone was quite nonchalant, but her response made Akatsuki lose all interest in teasing her.

"I will do everything I can to make you happy, Kazama."

Gone is the shyness and embarrassment of the past; Lixi can now say such things without batting an eye.

Oh right, Kazama almost forgot that his aunt was actually a brave and fearless straightforward warrior in his memory, but she would be in a Schrödinger's arrogant state before she was fully determined to open her heart.

Standing before him now is Shiina Tatsuki, who has already gone through a period of psychological struggle and has found the meaning that needs to be carried out.

As for what she wants to achieve, it's quite obvious.

"You traveled from decades in the future, and your bright future has turned into a dream... Coming here at the cost of your future, the price you paid is a bit too high."

Lixi bent down slightly and slowly pressed the same button as before, and another can of coffee fell into her hand with a crisp clatter.

"I told you I'd be your companion, right? Then I'll do my best to help you."

Shiina Tatsuki never jokes.

“You have already lost a future, but I will give you a brand new one—a future you yearn for even more.”

Her voice wasn't loud, but it was so resolute that Kazama could faintly hear it echoing in the narrow corridor.

Therefore, it doesn't matter if I kill off my feelings first.

She wants to create a "future" that will satisfy Kazama Akatsuki.

A future he's willing to stay in and never want to look back on.

This is what Shiina Riki thought.

Chapter 72 By the time she realized it, it was already unrequited love.

Shiina Tatsuki promised to give Kazama the future he hoped for.

Okay, let's put aside whether she can actually do it for now. After all, just the fact that Riki has this intention is enough to make Kazama feel flattered.

What he really cared about was what this guy was planning to do.

Li Xi says incredibly cheesy things like, "I will give you the 'future' you expect," and seems determined to help you to the very end... So what will she actually do?

Kazama has been troubled by this matter for the past few days.

Even though the mission to Riki Shiina had been successfully completed, and all he needed to do next was devote himself to the creation of Mujica, he would still occasionally think about what Riki Shiina was planning to do.

"Xiaojun...Xiaojun?"

This naturally attracted the attention of Chu Hua, who had been watching him closely.

"what…"

In another café in the bustling city, Kazama Akatsuki pulled herself out of her chaotic thoughts.

The rich aroma of coffee wafted over him, but what woke him up first, rather than the melodious background music in the café, was the blonde girl sitting directly opposite him.

"Are you alright, Xiaojun? You seem to have been spacing out ever since you started..."

Misaka Hatsuka hung her head, making no attempt to hide the obvious worry and concern in her eyes as she looked at the boy—like a golden retriever concerned about its owner's health, all her emotions were written on her face.

"Xiaojun, have you been working very hard lately? I even called you out specifically to ask you to help me with the lyrics and music... Is this disturbing your rest and recovery? If so, it's okay to postpone it for a while!"

Before Kazama could respond to her concerns, Hatsuka, blinded by concern, launched into a long string of words of empathy and affection. Her overly cautious, almost alarming demeanor was rather amusing.

"It's okay. Now that we're team members, even if I don't go on stage and perform with you, it's only right that I make some contribution within my capacity."