Aunt Xiangzi, how did you manage to live?

“I… when you were so focused on saving Xiangzi’s life, I actually did that to you…”

Rather, it's more accurate to say that Nagasaki Motoyo was completely trapped by her own morality.

Her pupils contracted slightly, her face filled with disbelief, and fine beads of sweat seemed to be dripping from her cheeks onto the ground.

“Under those circumstances, it’s normal that you, Su Shi, don’t trust me and even want to use me to keep Xiangzi.”

Xiao shook his head, of course, this did not mean that he had become so saintly that he could easily forgive Su Shi's past actions.

"But sometimes no amount of apology can help. The damage will never heal. But since we've both agreed to move on, there's no need to bring up this old story again."

If it weren't for the fact that Su Shi was his future aunt, Xiao probably wouldn't have been able to turn a blind eye to many things.

The reason he could say something seemingly nonchalant like "let bygones be bygones" was simply because he didn't want to care about the harm caused by the information gap between the two sides anymore.

They should all look forward in the days to come, because dwelling on the past will never bring happiness to everyone.

—For Nagasaki Motoyo now, Akatsuki's denial of the past is tantamount to denying her happiness.

"Then... what should I do?"

She lowered her head, not letting Xiao see the expression on her face.

Something crystal clear and incredibly hot dripped down her cheeks and onto Su Shi's hand.

She still clung tightly to the boy's clothes, refusing to let go, like a drowning person instinctively grasping at a straw, trying desperately to avoid drowning.

Upon learning the boy's true identity, she presumptuously believed that it was all predestined—and that Kazama would surely resonate with her.

She had once tried at all costs to bring CRYCHIC back, so when she realized that Xiao was also showing great care for everyone out of consideration for their past relationship, she couldn't help but feel overjoyed.

She always felt that he must be the same kind of person as her.

She was lost in memories of the past, and Kazama was also seeking reflections of the past in them.

But why is that?

"Let's make our relationship the way Xiaojun wants—I thought that would make you happy..."

But he wasn't happy about it; instead, he looked puzzled and troubled.

"Why...why didn't you tell me anything before? If I had known that you had your reasons for doing all this, Xiaojun, I definitely wouldn't have—"

"Stop dwelling on the past, Su Shi!"

The brown-haired girl was still deeply troubled by her past misbehavior, repeatedly bringing up her past lapses in behavior.

It wasn't until Kazama spoke up and shouted that Sose, who was indulging in punishing herself in this way, finally stopped speaking.

She looked up, her face already showing faint streaks of tears, a mixture of confusion and bewilderment.

The person who is least willing to let her go is actually herself.

"………well."

Xiao couldn't bear it, so she picked up a tissue from the table and gently began wiping away Su Shi's tears from the corners of her eyes.

"...If I had known you would make these kinds of faces, I would have kept this secret forever."

He shook his head, as if looking through the girl's eyes at a loved one he could never see again.

“Every time you shed a tear, it should be because of happiness… at least I hope it can be because of happiness.”

He spoke his true feelings without any reservations, which indeed touched Su Shi, who was still immersed in her own grief.

To bring happiness to everyone—this was Kazama's only wish when he first traveled to this time and space.

Call it wishful thinking or a case of things not going as planned. Although he didn't know if his decision would truly lead everyone to happiness, his original intention was absolutely beyond reproach.

"So, what is happiness to you, Nagasaki Motoyo?"

He asked this seemingly simple question slowly and deliberately, but Su Shi's eyes widened slightly involuntarily.

Her so-called happiness.

That makes sense. Nagasaki Motoyo had thought about how to keep CRYCHIC, how to persuade Shoko to stay, and how to get Kazama's forgiveness. It seemed that as long as these goals were achieved, everyone could return to their happy life.

But is this really the happiness she wants?

She, who was usually eloquent, opened her mouth, but not a single coherent word came out.

"I……"

She seemed never to have considered such a question.

Whether it's rebuilding CRYCHIC, winning back Toyokawa Shoko, or even using memories from another version of himself in another timeline to keep Kazama Akatsuki—

Is this the happiness she wants?

Nagasaki Suze was speechless, and Kazama did not press further to ask what was going on.

"This is a question for Su Shi alone; you have to find the answer yourself."

He spoke these words slowly, but did not rush to pull his clothes out of Su Shi's hands.

Kazama still scrutinized Su Shi as he handed her the tissue. He used to be the confused little kid in front of Aunt Su Shi who needed someone to answer his questions, but now he was able to comfort the bewildered girl Su Shi.

I'm not going anywhere until you find the answer.

"So you don't need to hold me so tightly anymore."

Looking at Su Shi, who was crying with tears streaming down her face, Kazama pointed to the hem of her clothes that she was clutching tightly in her hand, with a wry smile.

It's truly unbearable to constantly see a girl crying in front of you. What's more, this girl with her gravity field fully activated shares the same face as the aunt who raised you.

Just as Kazama was about to put an end to the conflict, and Suze looked up in confusion, expecting him to continue.

Ding-dong-

The doorbell of the Nagasaki family rang at an inopportune moment.

Chapter Ninety-Six: Chu Hua, the Captain of the Adultery-Catching Squad, Reports for Duty

The untimely doorbell interrupted the standoff between the two people in the room, bringing the situation, which had just begun to take a turn for the better, to a sudden halt, and the sounds in the room came to an abrupt end.

"...?"

Kazama raised an eyebrow in confusion, shifting his gaze from the doorway to Suze, who was still kneeling on the ground beside him, refusing to get up—

The brown-haired girl's face was also full of confusion.

"Did you invite any other guests besides me?"

Xiao raised her hand, but Su Shi remained completely unaware of the situation.

"No, no... I only planned a flawless confession with Xiaojun today—um."

Su Shi, who was still teary-eyed, realized that she had unconsciously spoken the truth and quickly covered her mouth with her hand.

"It seems to be an uninvited guest."

Seeing her slow reaction, Kazama shook his head, both amused and exasperated.

A flawless confession scheme... It seems Su Shi really thought that if she revealed the facts she already knew, she would be genuinely happy for the family reunion.

In a sense, Nagasaki Motoyo is indeed a very pure person.

Then, Kazama turned his attention to the entrance hall.

"Could it be that Su Shi's mother has returned?"

"Use your brain, Xiaojun. If it really were your mother, why would she ring the doorbell? Besides, she hasn't been home in a long time..."

A hint of loneliness flashed in Su Shi's eyes. It seemed that this girl, who was seen by others as easy-going, considerate, and very popular, actually didn't have many friends who could come to visit her home regularly.

It's not so much the case with family members.

Ding-dong-

The doorbell rang rhythmically, neither annoying nor irritating, but just enough to alert the people in the room that a guest had arrived.

"Um...please wait for me a moment."

Su Shi, who had been crying her eyes out, finally stood up shakily. She wiped her still slightly red eyes and her nose, which was almost running with a tissue, straightened her clothes, and tried her best to return to her usual calm and gentle demeanor.

"Um...should I find somewhere to hide?"

Kazama scratched his cheek, his eyes darting around as a multitude of mischievous ideas flashed through his mind.

"Whether it's family or friends from the past, if they find two people of the same age, a man and a woman, alone in a room together... I always feel like it will attract some bad gossip."

"Hmm... what if it's Akari and Taki-chan?"

Su Shi was a little jealous of Kazama's skillful handling of social distance, so much so that she showed a hint of unease on her face.

She didn't intentionally want others to misunderstand their relationship, but Xiao's extreme avoidance of suspicion made Su Shi vaguely concerned.

Even though she herself didn't care, and even invited him to her home for a private meeting... this guy suddenly became bothered by it.

"Actually, Su Shi, you don't usually invite them to your home, do you?"

Xiao smiled cleverly, completely disregarding Su Shi's assumptions.

"If you don't build a good relationship with Ai Yin and truly create a bond between the band, I'm afraid you won't let anyone into your house for the next two or three years—I know that perfectly well, don't you?"

"……Well."

Su Shi frowned slightly, a little annoyed, but what rose in her heart was more of a sense of indulgence and helplessness towards the boy.

He was completely unaware that he was the exception in those words.

"Is this the divine power of someone who traveled from the future and has cheat codes?"

"Hmph, that's right. Besides, even if it's the members of MYGO, it would be hard to explain if they suddenly showed up at your house and found me there. If we get misunderstood, that would be a big problem. So, Suze, you'd better hurry up and open the door to see who's here. I'll hide here obediently."

"Good good."

Watching Kazama begin to move his body quietly, Su Shi smiled and shook her head.

Perhaps she still hoped that their relationship would be misunderstood, even if everyone interrogated them endlessly.

Of course, she wouldn't voice such a thought at that moment.

As Su Shi took a few steps forward, Kazama also rushed into the bathroom and slowly closed the door ajar. He watched as the long-haired brown girl came to the entrance and slightly opened the door—

"Long time no see. My sudden visit might be a little confusing for you, Su Shi."

The person who appeared at their doorstep was someone neither of them had expected.

The girl with medium-length blonde hair gently removed her black baseball cap. As she took off her sunglasses along with it, her amethyst-like pupils were instantly reflected in the eyes of Su Shi at the entrance and Kazama, who was peeking from inside the bathroom.

"...!"

Su Shi's pupils contracted slightly, and Kazama, who was peeking from behind the door, also gasped—for the first time, he was so grateful that he had made such a perfect risk-avoidance move.

Although he didn't know why Chu Hua had come to his door, he knew that if Chu Hua caught him in the act at Su Shi's house, it would definitely lead to an unprecedented battleground.

Just imagining the scene of two extremely masculine women sandwiching him in a heated argument made Kazama swallow hard, and he carefully and cautiously closed the door tightly.

No, we absolutely cannot let Chu Hua find out.

Outside the bathroom door, in front of the entrance hall, Su Shi was only stunned for a moment before she came to her senses and "armed" herself with her usual demeanor again when Chu Hua, the uninvited guest, suddenly appeared.

"It really surprised me... I wonder what brings Chu Hua here so suddenly? If I remember correctly, we don't seem to be in a band together privately."

She gently identified the two men in a casual tone.

The bassist and guitarist, who belong to MYGO and ave mujica respectively, had absolutely no reason to meet in private—let alone one of them showing up at the other's doorstep uninvited.

"Hmm... Su Shi's eyes look red."

To everyone's surprise, Chu Hua did not answer the question. Instead, she pointed out the unusual state of Su Shi with a warm, spring-like smile.

"Is Su Shi arguing with someone? It seems I've arrived at the wrong time."

"No, I was just watching a TV series."

Su Shi remained calm and fearless in the face of danger, easily resisting Chu Hua's probing. There was not even a trace of guilt on her face regarding "keeping a mistress in a golden house".

"Oh, what TV series is it? It's amazing that it moved Su Shi so much. I'm a little curious..."

"...Nothing to be curious about, just a very clichéd family drama."

Kazama, who had been hiding in the bathroom and witnessing everything, smirked.