Aunt Xiangzi, how did you manage to live?

In the limited emotional resonance data file of Wakaba Mutsu, the people she defined as family members did not seem to be able to provide the same level of affection as Akatsuki.

“Minami, it doesn’t seem like that.”

Putting aside others, Ms. Minami, who is the mother of Wakaba Mutsumi, cannot give her the same care and consideration as the boy in front of her.

"Ms. Minami..."

Hearing the name from Mu's mouth for a moment, Xiao was stunned for a moment, and then a somewhat complicated smile appeared on her face.

Indeed, this person, who could be considered his maternal grandmother in the strictest sense, created a very special family environment for Mu.

Even when Mutsumi first brought Akatsuki home, Minami made sarcastic remarks like, "Mutsumi, you're raising a child? Are you sure you're okay with that? Don't let the child develop a mental disorder."

It's true that if it weren't for the help of Su Shi Aine and Hatsuka, Mutsu would have had a tough time raising the child alone, but that's not something a grandmother should say.

"Well, it's not that people who are related by blood can necessarily provide the healthiest and most stable kinship. Moreover, the feelings between people can become the most genuine even without the resonance of blood ties... This is just my personal opinion."

"Mmmm."

The girl with light green hair nodded thoughtfully. She, who usually only paid attention to Xiangzi's words and actions, was now actually pondering Xiao's words.

If Ye Mu couldn't yet define this feeling, she didn't know why she cared so much about Xiao.

All she knew was that the feeling of being held in Xiao's arms like a precious treasure was wonderful, even more so than when Xiangzi's gaze fell upon her.

She didn't hate... no, she even kind of liked being treated this way.

"Then, Xiao... what should we do next?"

When Mu asked Xiao for his opinion, he was still gently tugging at the corner of Xiao's clothes, like a naive child hoping that the adults would take a second look at him.

Although it was an unfounded idea, she always felt that the boy in front of her was reliable.

Perhaps in some ways... he's even more reliable than Xiangzi.

"Next...yes, we can't just sit idly by."

Reminded by Mu, Xiao looked up at the sky thoughtfully. But when he lowered his head again to look at Mu, who was almost a head or two shorter than him, he smiled again.

"However, we will keep this a secret for now."

"?"

Mu blinked, seemingly puzzled.

"Don't worry, if you leave it to me... I won't put Mu in such a difficult position anymore."

The boy's smile remained unchanged, conveying a sense of reassurance to her.

"Xiao... I just hope that I can go back to my original life without interference."

Mu felt relieved and, like the boy in front of her, gave him a reassuring smile.

Wakaba Mutsu would never know what "returning to the original life" meant.

If the price is the life of her childhood sweetheart, would she still be so open about it?

—In any case, Kazama Akatsuki has made her decision.

Next, it's time for MYGO to make his appearance.

Chapter Sixty-Nine: A Loving Family (With Hidden Intentions)

"It would be good if Xiaoneng could go back to his old life."

That night, with a hint of guilt in her eyes, Wakaba Mutsu said those words.

Her true intention was actually very simple—she cherished Toyokawa Shoko, and she also cherished Kazama Akatsuki's existence. If the two of them had any conflicts because of her, or even if Akatsuki's life trajectory was affected, Mutsu would be at a great loss.

But to Xiao, it was hard not to associate this with another meaning.

The original life... that is, the life that should have existed decades from now, the life where "Ruo Yexiao" should have existed.

I wish I could go back.

No, it's more accurate to say that it's still not too late to let his life "go back to the way it was."

The specific steps are quite simple; all you need to do is let Toyokawa Shoko die.

That's right, if everything he dreamed about that day was actually what happened to Toyokawa Shoko in his original timeline...

If we just let all of this happen again, that should be enough, right?

Those who were supposed to die should die in the place where they were supposed to die, and those who should have repented will reflect on their mistakes after this incident. Those who overly depend on others for the meaning of their lives will also rediscover the meaning of life.

No matter how you look at it, allowing history to repeat itself as we remember it would be of considerable benefit to everyone—that is, to everyone except Toyokawa Shoko.

It's a trolley problem that's absolutely not worth agonizing over.

Although they didn't know how the lives of these band girls would have been written if Toyokawa Shoko hadn't suffered this accident, in their memories, although they had lost someone important, they still managed to pull themselves together and regain their confidence and the courage to continue living.

Except for Xiangzi, who died young, everyone else went on to a better future.

If he needs to make a decision that is "in the best interest of the majority," then letting history repeat itself is undoubtedly the best option.

—Moreover, it's not so easy to prevent Shoko Toyokawa's destined death.

If that dream can be seen as a message from the deceased Aunt Xiangzi, then the time and place of her accident are clear, and the cause of her death is also understood. But he couldn't possibly follow Xiangzi around 24 hours a day to prevent any accidents from happening, could he?

No matter how you look at it, letting Xiangzi accept his fate and die might be the best solution for everyone.

With this in mind, Xiao made up her mind.

If Mu knew that after parting ways with the person she trusted, this boy she relied on was plotting how to bring misfortune upon her childhood friend... what a fascinating expression she would have.

The truth was still a bit cruel for her, and Xiao was mentally prepared to keep this secret for the rest of her life.

"...It seems that this is the only way to do it."

After seeing Mu off in the car, Xiao went home, took out her phone, opened a social media app, and then opened a group chat called "A Loving Family".

He rolled his eyes and thought for a moment, then quickly came up with a fitting explanation.

"Hey everyone, we've practiced for so long, wouldn't you like to give a real performance in front of an audience? — [Love Life, Love Harmony]"

When he posted the message in the group chat, he deliberately made his tone sound no different from usual, so Lixi and the others probably wouldn't notice anything unusual.

"Huh? So sudden? I thought you were going to keep up your 'playing dumb to fool others' style all along. By the way, what's with this group chat name? It's disgusting. — [I'm usually busy, please DM me for urgent matters]"

As expected, Li Xi took the bait. It's amazing how you can tell who someone is just by their group nickname even without their name being listed.

"Oh? Xiaojun, do you have some other plans? — [Su Shi]"

Even though they're already on the verge of a complete falling out in private, you still maintain a facade of peace on the surface, while also testing the waters. You're truly something else, Su Shi.

Speaking of which, this group nickname is a bit too plain and unpretentious. It's true that real women who are devoted to men don't show off and look no different from ordinary people.

"No, it's just that after practicing for so long, it's a little frustrating not to perform on stage together. — [Love life, love harmony even more]"

"Eh, a performance? Like a livehouse? Will there be a lot of people watching? I agree, I agree! I want to participate, I want to participate! — [Ultimate Popularity King Trainee]"

Speaking of this group nickname and this attention-seeking tone... Ai Yin is quite recognizable.

"Performing together? It's been a while... If everyone wants to give it a try, I think it would be great. — [A Penguin Colony in Madagascar]"

With Gao Songdeng also expressing his opinion in the group, Xiao knew that this matter could basically be considered settled.

As long as Deng nods in agreement, Lixi and Aiyin will also nod vigorously and follow her lead. Even if Su Shi has doubts about his proposal, he will have no choice but to go along with the crowd and take it one step at a time.

Almost everyone in the "We Are a Loving Family" group was present, except for Lena, who is elusive (and doesn't know how to use a phone). Apart from Su Shi, whose attitude was somewhat ambiguous, the rest of the group supported the performance.

Even if Su Shi knew what he was planning to do, it would probably be too late to stop him now.

Xiao swiped the screen to exit the "We Are a Loving Family" chat group, a complicated smile playing on her lips.

He absolutely did not want to use everyone to achieve his own goals, but now it seems that he really has no other choice.

However, this should be the first and last time.

He locked his phone screen and placed it on the table beside him, then rested his hands on the window, feeling the humid summer night breeze gently caressing his face.

Since arriving in this time and space, he seems to have never focused on himself or the things around him.

I kept circling around those aunties who still looked so young, hoping they would treat me the way they did in the original timeline, but in the end I was just arbitrarily expecting something and arbitrarily being disappointed.

It's time to wake up from this dream.

"……call."

Xiao let out a long breath, took one last look at the boundless sky, and then closed the window.

Long after he closed the window that connected him to the outside world, a lost and dejected figure slowly emerged from an unseen corner.

Exhausted, Misaka Chuka didn't care whether her baseball cap concealed the face of this superstar band idol. She simply stared blankly as she retraced her steps.

She gradually faded into the night.

Chapter Seventy: MYGO without you is not the MYGO I want.

Under Xiao's seemingly unintentional but actually deliberate encouragement, the girls, who were already eager to return to the stage, picked up their instruments again.

Their goal in practicing this time is to shine in a livehouse performance.

Whether this could be considered the beginnings of a new band, the girls weren't sure yet. All they knew was that, thanks to Xiao's matchmaking, they naturally came together and rediscovered music with their new partners.

Of course, this "partner" only refers to Ms. Chihaya Aine for now—Lanna, who is as elusive as a wildcat, rarely practices with the other girls, and she can usually only refresh successfully when Akatsuki appears.

Naturally, Xiao temporarily replaced Le Nai and became the other guitarist in this temporary, nameless band, whose voice shone brightly alongside Ai Yin.

And this is certainly the development he hopes to see.

He will definitely return this position to Lena later, but he will have to let him switch the crown prince for a while.

"I just can't seem to get this note right... What's wrong with me? Please help me, Kazama-sensei—"

After all, during his time with the team, he could feel Aine's undisguised reliance and trust.

"Hmph, if you could just give her half of your skills, Kazama, I guess I wouldn't have to worry about anyone holding us back with their guitar playing."

You can also sense Li Xi's somewhat roundabout approval.

"I feel like... with Kazama-kun joining us, our atmosphere has become slightly different from before. Hmm... would Kazama-kun mind if I wrote lyrics related to you?"

You can also feel the slight influence you have on the shy and timid lamp.

Although he had fantasized as a child about whether he would have had the chance to perform on stage with his mother and aunts, or even become close partners, if he had been born a few decades earlier, in an era when his mother and aunts were still young—

But when his dream actually came true, he still felt a sense of unreality, as if he were in a dream.

What made him realize that this was not a dream but reality was the cold water poured on him by the last member of the team—Nagasaki Motoyo.

"I have something I'd like to discuss with Xiaojun alone... I wonder if I could borrow him from everyone for a while?"

Nagasaki Motoyo, who was the last to arrive at the practice room, didn't rush to join everyone's rehearsal. Instead, she gave Akatsuki, who was in the center of the girls' group, a subtle hint with a beaming smile.

She seemed to have some very important question to ask him.

Well, what's meant to happen will happen.

Xiao put down her guitar and walked up to Su Shi amidst the curious and puzzled gazes of the remaining girls. She then followed Su Shi out of the practice room with Su Shi's gentle and polite expression.

However, the moment Su Shi slammed the door shut, the gentle and considerate look on the girl's face vanished as if by magic, replaced by undisguised suspicion and distrust.

Why should everyone perform on stage together?

She's even stopped using her usual gentle and polite address; it seems Su Shi has completely dropped her pretense.

Xiao showed not the slightest panic or guilt; he simply observed Su Shi's expression calmly, as if he were examining a rare portrait.

He knew what Su Shi was thinking.

If these old-timers of Crychic brought newcomers onto the stage and performed, and if, by sheer coincidence, Xiangzi and Hemu happened to see this performance—

Xiangzi, having been provoked, will certainly not return, and her plan to restore the C Group is now completely hopeless.

Although it's unfair to Su Shi to say this, this kind of development is actually exactly what Xiao wanted.

However, I still can't say this to her directly and bluntly.