Aunt Xiangzi, how did you manage to live?

It's true that he was adopted by Mu because of his eyes, which are so similar to Aunt Xiangzi's. Given the close relationship between Mu and Xiangzi, it's not wrong to call him Xiangzi's family. After all, if she were still alive, Xiao would have to call her godmother.

However, the reasoning process by which Lixi arrived at this conclusion was truly a lucky accident.

"He was about to quit the band, and then he had his family come to the place where his former colleague worked part-time to spend money... I really don't understand what that guy is thinking."

Lixi's gaze grew colder with her irritated tone, but her words also indirectly confirmed that Xiao's guess was indeed correct.

Just as he was trying to clarify that he had no relationship with Toyokawa Shoko.

"Kazama-kun, do you have any family members who play in a band?"

The question posed by Ms. Banami, who had remained silent, made Shiina Riki blink. She looked at Akira with surprise again.

"Kazama...aren't you surnamed Toyokawa?"

"It's definitely not named Toyokawa. Miss Drummer, are you mistaken about something?"

"Ah... I'm so sorry, it seems I made a mistake just now..."

If you told Aunt Lixi that his surname is actually Ruoye, would her expression become even more interesting?

However, Xiao suppressed this wicked thought and felt a strange sense of pleasure as he looked at Li Xi, who was stammering and apologizing to him.

"No, I was just guessing. I didn't expect to be right! You're so honest, Miss Drummer!"

"...A completely unconvincing answer. Are you kidding me?"

It's not convincing at all; it was just an excuse Xiao casually came up with on the spot.

Seeing Lixi's face flush red and then pale, yet unable to get angry at him, Xiao couldn't help but chuckle to herself. Even her once stern mentor had this girlish side—luckily, Aunt Lixi hadn't evolved into her ultimate form yet, so she couldn't impose her seniority on him.

"Mmmmm."

The white-haired girl, who had been quietly eating a strawberry parfait in the corner, raised her head and pointed her beautiful heterochromatic eyes at the three people who were chatting.

To be precise, those seemingly lazy and innocent eyes, like those of a cat, only reflected the figure of the boy with amber eyes.

It's like a wildcat finding an interesting toy, or perhaps prey.

Sigrún has taught at the Iceland University of the Arts as a part-time lecturer since and was Dean of the Department of Fine Art from -. In – she held a research position at Reykjavík Art Museum focusing on the role of women in Icelandic art. She studied fine art at the Icelandic College of Arts and Crafts and at Pratt Institute, New York, and holds BA and MA degrees in art history and philosophy from the University of Iceland. Sigrún lives and works in Iceland.

Sigrún has taught at the Iceland University of the Arts as a part-time lecturer since and was Dean of the Department of Fine Art from -. In – she held a research position at Reykjavík Art Museum focusing on the role of women in Icelandic art. She studied fine art at the Icelandic College of Arts and Crafts and at Pratt Institute, New York, and holds BA and MA degrees in art history and philosophy from the University of Iceland. Sigrún lives and works in Iceland.

Although the conversation with Shiina Tatsuki wasn't exactly heart-to-heart, Akira could already tell from her speech and tone that she was exactly the same as the aunt in her memory.

That resilient drummer who has played music with his partners for more than ten or twenty years was also a strict teacher who never smiled, and a reliable elder who occasionally showed a bit of awkwardness, gentleness and care.

Of course, she hasn't grown up to the age where Xiao can rely on her yet, but for Xiao, being able to see Aunt Lixi in her immature form makes this journey back to the past worthwhile.

But this is not enough.

Putting everything else aside, he also needed to see his mother, Mutsu, and Aunt Ai-yin Su-shi, who were still young, in person before he would be satisfied.

As for where they're most likely to appear... the band Mygo probably hasn't even formed yet, right? Whether Aunt Lixi and Aunt Aine even know each other is still a question, isn't it? Asking Aunt Lixi, whom you've just met, "Do you know a girl named Chihaya Aine?" out of the blue is a bit too absurd...

"So, your band has disbanded? Hey... will you still play your old songs?"

If Ye Xiao's painstaking efforts were no match for Banami's casual question, the girl stopped chewing on the parfait's blood-red... cough, cherry-like mouth and then inexplicably posed this question.

"Ah, I didn't mean anything by it. It's just that I've seen quite a few live performances with my classmates before, and they mentioned that CRYCHIC's performances are very infectious and their acting is fantastic, so I've always wanted to see them... Does this mean I'll never have the chance again?"

Banami inadvertently asked Akatsuki the question that concerned her most.

Wasn't that the case just now? She didn't need to explain Xiao's identity, but she still spoke up to help Xiao out of the predicament...

It seemed like she asked casually and unintentionally, but she actually used this subtle approach to easily resolve Xiao's crisis.

It seems that Anna Hanami's ability to handle social issues is far more adept than he imagined.

"About this... I'm sorry..."

Lixi looked away, feeling somewhat lost.

Anyone who harbors ill intentions can be easily swept out of the social circle by the outwardly strong but inwardly weak Shiina Ritsuki with her cold and hardened heart.

But she didn't sense any aggression or probing in Hanami and Kazama Akatsuki's words; all she felt was the friendliness and care of listeners who loved their music—which was the fundamental reason why she couldn't look them in the eye.

"The songs from before will probably never be played again."

Banai was completely confused, but Akira knew perfectly well which song Riki was referring to.

"Spring Shadow"... Xiao really hadn't heard her mother and the others play this song much at all. In her memory, no one would easily mention this song.

They seemed to only play this song privately at specific times, and Xiao, sitting in the audience, could always catch a glimpse of the sparkle in their eyes under the spotlight on stage.

"It's a bit of a shame, I actually really like that song."

Not knowing what words of comfort to say, Xiao could only convey her regret to Lixi as a listener.

When he was little, he didn't really like this song because his mother and the others would always secretly find a place to wipe away their tears or comfort each other after performing it.

It wasn't until Aunt Lena would come up to Xiao at such times, regardless of the atmosphere, and ask him if he wanted to sneak out for some snacks later. After they had eaten and drunk their fill, she would let him play the guitar without restraint—and that's how she unknowingly taught him how to play "Spring Shadow" on the guitar.

He'd started to like the song; at least when he performed "Spring Shadow," the expressions on Muku and the others' faces when they looked at Xiao weren't sad, but rather gratified and sentimental.

Looking back now, this memory seems as vivid as if it happened yesterday; even Lena's striking heterochromatic eyes seem so close...

and many more.

It's not just as if, it's right before my eyes.

"?!!"

Xiao suddenly stepped back, and a short-haired girl with white hair, who had appeared out of nowhere, suddenly appeared in front of him like a wild cat.

Just now, he thought that what appeared before his eyes in a daze was the girl's pair of yin-yang eyes that were hard to look away from.

"If you're disappointed, then play along with me once."

The girl's bright, cat-like eyes stared intently at Xiao, giving him the illusion that the girl in front of him was indeed his former Aunt Lenai.

"Eh?"

Both Riki and Banami were a little shocked by the girl who suddenly became so prominent; it seemed they hadn't even noticed the child's presence in the store.

"You can do it, right? Play the instrument."

However, the girl, who was like a wildcat, didn't even look at the two of them; her gaze remained fixed on Xiao the entire time.

"Play a duet with me?"

She tilted her head, as if making a request to play a piece together.

"Kazama, you're just like the male protagonist in a romance manga now..."

Originally, because Riki was there, Banami, who hadn't yet shed her "normie" persona, couldn't help but sigh like this. But you can't blame her for making such a comment—after all, no matter how you look at it, it seems like a cliché from a romance novel or manga.

Of course, Akatsuki has no time to observe what Banami is thinking right now.

Like a kitten that ignores the social etiquette of civilized society, Lena barges around recklessly, completely disregarding whether this is somewhat abrupt and reckless towards a boy she is meeting for the first time.

It has to be said that this unconventional and unorthodox style of doing things is exactly the same as Aunt Lena in Xiao's memories.

If he remembers correctly, the first time he met this cat-like aunt was in a similar scene when he was a child.

On the day Mu took Xiao to see the Mygo band's performance, he met Le Nai backstage, who was pouring out her talent on stage but ignoring the cheers from the audience.

Is she lost in her own world, unable to pull herself out, or simply doesn't care what others think? While the rest of the band celebrated the successful end of another show, she remained in a corner, quietly eating snacks to recharge.

It wasn't until Mu led Xiao through the door to the lounge that they finally arrived.

She immediately focused her attention on the young boy.

"Xiao? Would you like to play a duet with me?"

After learning his name from Mu, the aunt unceremoniously handed him the bass.

This is where their fate began, and it was also the first step in the young and naive Xiao being tamed by the wild cat.

Unexpectedly, she said the same thing again when they met for the first time. Perhaps this time the tamer and the tamed will be different.

Just as Banami was watching Kazama being relentlessly pressured by Rakuna, and she was secretly pleased to see it all unfold—

A familiar voice suddenly echoed in her mind.

[Unlocked Character: Shiina Tatsuki's side quest for Rakuna is now available: First Appearance - It's time to show off your real skills!]

...What does that mean? Is she going to urge Kazama to perform something next?

Thinking of this, feeling guilty, Banami quickly swallowed the ice cream on the guava before it melted.

Chapter Twelve: Hanami – The Composure of a Loser (Scratch That) Heroine

Shiina Tatsuki isn't really someone who can get along well with strangers.

Whether it's due to her aloof and reserved personality, or the limitations of her already limited social circle, she simply can't seem to strike up a conversation quickly with someone she's just met.

Today was just an ordinary day after CRYCHIC disbanded. She simply changed into her part-time worker uniform and went about her part-time job at the dessert shop.

But for some reason, after this boy with amber eyes appeared, this sense of normalcy and conformity was instantly swept away.

Putting everything else aside, by the time she realized it, she had already been chatting with someone she was meeting for the first time for almost five minutes.

"I've always felt that you guys put in a lot of effort in your performances, especially the lead singer. You can tell she poured a lot of emotion into it, and she conveyed it to the audience in a very emotionally engaging way. In terms of songwriting and performance skills, she is a very talented person and someone worth learning from."

"Well, that's natural. After all, I really like that Lamp is able to express her thoughts very frankly..."

Shiina Riki noticed something odd about it, but she had to admit that what the boy in front of her said always gave her an urge to continue, as if she were having a casual chat with a long-lost friend.

Besides, this guy was praising the lamp, so I had no choice but to agree with him.

"Of course, I also really like your drumbeats. They have a rhythmic feel that could knock my head off."

"What kind of metaphor is this?"

Lixi's tense nerves gradually relaxed. Although she seemed a little amused on the surface, she secretly liked what he said.

"Yeah, but a drummer needs to bring out that kind of energy that could knock someone's head off to create rhythm in order to infuse the emotion into the song."

Perhaps this young man is not just a former listener, but also an enthusiast with a strong sense of music.

From this perspective, Shiina Tatsuki felt that she might actually be quite compatible with this person.

While the two were chatting happily, Anna Hanami, who hadn't joined the conversation, quietly took another bite of parfait.

She didn't feel neglected or angry; rather, she was quietly conducting her own unique "human observation."

Sure enough... it must have been "that thing" that worked.

Watching the two people still chatting enthusiastically, the words that had popped up on the system panel earlier lingered in her mind.

His innate talents include being charming, sophisticated, and handsome.

At first, Banami didn't believe that this thing really worked, until Kazama, with a smile as gentle as a spring breeze, struck up a conversation with the waitress, and her attitude changed from polite and distant at first to warm and intimate in just a few minutes.

Hana gasped inwardly at Anzu.

She never expected the boost to be so powerful, it was terrifying... Wait, if she were to use something this good, not only her childhood friend Kusabi, but even this handsome young man who fell from the sky, Kazama, might be captivated by her charm... No, she and this guy were just strangers who met by chance, why think so much?

The blue-haired girl, swallowing a mouthful of parfait, couldn't help but pout, feeling a little disdain for herself—her thoughts had wandered a bit too far.

If this thing really does work, then that's probably why Kazama Akatsuki was able to chat more and more happily with this girl who didn't seem very approachable.

Banami buried her head and ate another bite of parfait, clearly a little absent-minded—perhaps because she was the kind of high-energy-consuming creature who couldn't think without eating.

"So, your band has disbanded? Hey... will you still play your old songs?"

Actually, she wasn't very curious about the answer to this question, but seeing that Kazama seemed to care a lot, Banami kindly pretended to be a curious child and asked him the question.

"Ah, I didn't mean anything by it. It's just that I've seen quite a few live performances with my classmates before, and they mentioned that CRYCHIC's performances are very infectious and their acting is fantastic, so I've always wanted to see them... Does this mean I'll never have the chance again?"

Although it was true that she had heard the name CRYCHIC from her classmates, Banami had never thought about going to see a live performance, and her reason for saying this was the same as above, aside from explaining herself.

She just found it amusing that Kazama seemed interested yet pretended to be calm, so she casually asked on his behalf.

However, on the other hand, it is also very easy for handsome boys to get along with girls. Even ignoring the talent given by the system and her help, Xiao should be able to do it easily.

As expected, after Banami seemingly unintentionally started the conversation, Akatsuki and Riki's conversation became increasingly in-depth.

"About this, I'm sorry... the old songs probably won't be played again..."

"It's a bit of a shame, I actually really like that song."

As expected, they were still talking about bands and music, topics that Hanami doesn't have much expertise in.