Aunt Xiangzi, how did you manage to live?

On another note, Kazama is just too good at dealing with girls. Could it be that he really grew up in a land of women...?

No, guys who know girls too well are usually smooth talkers. It seems that maintaining this kind of close but not too distant friendship with him is the best approach.

As Anna silently ate her parfait, she had already mentally labeled Kazama as a "popular and successful person who is well-liked by the opposite sex"—in any case, Kazama was categorized as such in the novels she had recently been reading.

Although she didn't know whether these two seemingly instant friends had some unknown past relationship, or whether Kazama was simply hiding something from her...

But overall, Kazama's system is still in her hands.

If he is the undisputed male protagonist in a romance novel, then I, who holds the system that controls him... am naturally the rightful female protagonist!

Thinking of this, Banami calmly took another bite of parfait, completely ignoring how far the conversation between Riki and Akatsuki had progressed, her mind already feeling a little smug.

Stay calm. Even if you don't know this guy's background or can't quite understand what these two are talking about, it's okay.

As long as the secret of holding the system hasn't been exposed, the opportunity to nurture Kazama is still firmly in her grasp. This time, she absolutely cannot be knocked out by a woman who appears out of nowhere again—no, this example seems a bit forced, at least she doesn't have that kind of feeling or possessiveness towards Kazama yet.

If I had to say something, she finally managed to turn her life around from being a loser to becoming the mastermind behind the scenes, so this time she absolutely had to hold onto the role of the "leading lady."

This is what Anna Hanami is thinking right now.

Should I tell Kazama that his system is on my phone? It'll be a hassle to explain, but... wait! Why give away this chance to raise a handsome young man?! Even if I were to tell him, I should wait and see how things develop for a while!

It was during this moment of inner turmoil that the cat-like creature appeared.

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

—The above describes how the nonchalant Hanami refocused her attention.

Chapter Thirteen: Will I ever form a band again in this lifetime?

In Xiao's memory, Yao Lenai was a strange aunt who had little common sense and whose mind was only about guitars and music.

According to Li Xi and Su Shi, she used to live a more carefree and nonchalant life. As a guitarist in a band, she wouldn't even glance at the sheet music if she didn't like a song. She even had to rely on Su Shi to teach her how to send and receive text messages to contact the band members.

Although Aunt Lena has mastered basic daily life skills after becoming a mature woman in her thirties or forties, she is still full of youthful spirit and self-centeredness that is inconsistent with her age compared to her steady and mature peers.

This made Xiao feel that this aunt was more like a peer with the same hobbies as her than an elder.

"Is Xiao forming a band? Does your band need a guitarist? Can I play with Xiao?"

After all, what aunt would be so eager to volunteer and perform on stage with her nephew as soon as she hears he's forming a band?

However, the days of performing with Rakuna were indeed happy. When she was still Akira's mentor, she would often take Akira out for dessert before practice ended, avoiding Riki's check-up. She would also rush to the school before Hatsune Miku to "kidnap" Akira and play impromptu guitar together in the empty school music room.

"If only Xiao had been born earlier."

On a sluggish afternoon, Aunt Lena looked at Xiao, a junior high school student who was being disciplined by Lixi to practice drums, with her still clear eyes, but her guitar playing became a little sluggish.

"Could it be that you, Lenai, are trying to say something like, 'You were born before I was born, and I was born after you were old'?"

Lixi's吐槽 came at just the right time; at least in the practice room, she was the joint guardian of Lena and Xiao.

"No, it's just a pity."

Lena shook her head, her tone still calm and composed.

However, Lixi could sense that she was reminiscing about something.

"You're already this age and you're still stuck in your youth? You rascal."

She simply shook her head and smiled, letting Lena express her regret and sorrow to her heart's content.

"Alright, I guess I'll just have to keep you two company."

Under Lena's guidance, the boy picked up the guitar, and she picked up the drumsticks again, as if she were reclaiming the youth that had quietly slipped away without her noticing.

"Three, two, one."

The unrestrained guitar riffs shattered the silence, leading the aggressive drumbeats to upside down the tranquil atmosphere of the practice room.

This was their first time playing together as a trio, and it wouldn't be their last.

If Ye Xiao had these two aunts, who were both teachers and friends, throughout his growing up, he would gradually understand why these two aunts, even when they didn't have enough time, would sometimes cancel their work schedules to have him play instruments with them.

They seemed to be just afraid that he was too lonely.

Lonely children may find solace in music, but to form a band, one must have companions who can support and understand each other.

Mu said this was a principle they didn't understand when they first formed the band, and although Lixi, who was stubborn but soft-hearted, never mentioned it, she still accompanied Xiao with her actions.

"Even if you form a band in the future, you must continue to play with me and Lenai, okay, Xiao?"

This was the first thing Aunt Lixi said to him at the celebration party the night before his debut, when she was blushing and still sulking.

Compared to Riki, who acts as a guide, Lena is more like a playmate who accompanied Akira throughout his childhood.

Although she is as elusive and unpredictable as a cat, she is also easy to understand. When she says to someone, "Let's play together," it is a sign that she is interested in that person.

Now that they are finally on equal footing, despite their previously mismatched ages, Lena has once again sent him a request to "become playmates."

Wait a minute, maybe the Wildcats haven't met Aine Sue yet, and haven't formed a band with them yet...?

After breaking free from her memories, Xiao looked at Lena, who was staring intently at her, and felt a little hesitant.

It was at this time that Shiina Tatsuki stepped forward to rebuild his presence.

"Let's leave aside this girl who often shows up at my shop like a stray cat for now. Do you play any instruments? This... Kazama-kun. Uh, my name is Shiina Tatsuki. Of course, I don't mind if you want to continue calling me Drummer Girl."

She gave a brief self-introduction as a polite gesture, then her gaze toward Kazama became somewhat strange.

"...This question might be a bit abrupt, but do you play the piano?"

Shiina Ritsuki seems to have formed a preconceived notion because of Akira's eyes, which are indeed somewhat similar to Toyokawa Shoko's, and still hasn't given up on constructing a resemblance between him and Toyokawa Shoko.

If Xiao were to shake his head and deny it at this moment, and then truthfully confess that he actually knows quite a few other musical instruments, and that they taught him all of them step by step—Aunt Lixi… no, Miss Lixi’s expression would definitely be quite interesting.

Unfortunately, Xiao cannot reveal his origins at this time, at least not now.

"I'm sorry, my teachers have only taught me other instruments before, so I'm not very good at playing the piano."

In fact, when Xiao Nian first started learning musical instruments, Aunt Li Xi would stare at him blankly more than once, muttering things like, "If she were still here, she could teach Xiao the keyboard."

Looking back now, the person Lixi is thinking about now is probably the same person she was reminiscing about back then.

Ms. Shoko Toyokawa, the keyboardist for CRYCHIC.

Sometimes Xiao wonders what kind of personal charm Ms. Toyokawa Shoko possessed that made her aunts still feel so bad for her so many years after her death, or is it that people can leave an indelible mark on the hearts of the living after they die?

Regardless, he still believed that someone remembered by everyone must be a beautiful existence, like a white moonlight. And now that he had traveled back to more than twenty years ago, he could witness firsthand the charm of Toyokawa Shoko.

And who knows, whatever he does now might change history.

But if that's the case, everyone's future in this timeline will go in a completely different direction from what he remembers, right?

As he hesitated, Akira subconsciously met the gaze of Banami sitting opposite him.

She didn't speak, but simply gazed at him quietly.

The usually lively and charming girl was now unusually quiet and focused for some reason, and nodded at him.

What does this mean? Is Banami approving of his acceptance of Rakuna's invitation to play a piece together?

Even though Anna Hanami was just an ordinary girl Akatsuki met after his time travel, for some reason her eyes were able to convey reassuring encouragement and determination to him at this moment.

Even though she knew absolutely nothing about him, she still placed unconditional trust in him.

He had never felt this warm care from anyone other than his mother and aunts, and for a moment he was not quite used to it.

"I am of limited talent and knowledge... is that it?"

The slight light that had been flickering in Shiina Ritsuki's eyes briefly flashed after his earlier excuse, but it eventually faded away.

She did indeed harbor some unrealistic fantasies about this sudden "fan" in front of her—after all, his eyes inevitably reminded her of that gradually fading figure.

The self-proclaimed keyboardist who disbanded CRYCHIC without informing them of the situation beforehand.

If the lamp were here, she would probably be a little dazed when she sees those eyes.

Shiina Tatsuki thought to himself with these thoughts.

"—But I can play the drums, and I can also play the guitar."

Just as she was feeling somewhat dejected, Xiao blurted out something that surprised her even more.

He smiled at Lixi, then turned to look at Le Nai, who was waiting for his reply. The curve of his lips seemed to be full of confidence and composure.

"Since this person..."

"Lena, I want Lena."

The silent white-haired stray cat only responded when the boy looked at her, introducing herself as if she understood his feelings.

"Lanna will do."

"Okay, since this... Lena has put it that way, how about the three of us play together?"

Is it time to show the real skills...?

Although Xiao and Lena nodded to each other in agreement, Lixi was still a little hesitant, and Xiao could guess why.

Putting everything else aside, if she really agrees, she might actually form a band in this lifetime.

The sound of the dessert shop door being pushed open interrupted the three people's discussion.

"Welcome, light—ah."

As a working soldier, Shiina Tatsuki subconsciously greeted the customers who entered the store, but this courtesy came to an abrupt end when she saw who it was.

"Good afternoon, Lixi. Hmm..."

The girl who pushed open the door smiled at her with her head tilted. This girl with long flaxen hair and a middle parting bangs gracefully crossed her hands in front of her lower abdomen after entering the dessert shop, just like an elegant lady visiting a friend's house.

However, the gentle smile on her face froze for a moment when she looked around and saw Xiao.

Of course, it was because of his amber eyes, which were so familiar to me.

Chapter Fourteen: AisuTV Makes a Move (4.5k)

As the elegant young woman gazed at Xiao with a somewhat surprised look, Xiao was also gazing back at her.

Thinking back now, that's how Wakaba Akira and Aunt Nagasaki Motoyo first met.

Not long after Ruoye Mu led him into the house, Su Shi, having heard the news, immediately went to visit and met the child.

She was momentarily stunned when she saw Xiao's eyes, which resembled those of an old friend, and she understood why Mu would adopt the child.

After a long silence, she bent down and hugged the child.

"I will share this responsibility with you... Mutsu. I believe everyone can understand."

Nagasaki Motoyo kept her word and devoted herself wholeheartedly to helping Mutsumi raise the child, while also persuading the rest of the people to accept Akatsuki's existence.

She and Ai Yin would take turns accompanying Mu to Xiao's school for parent-teacher meetings, and they would also brave the wind and rain to pick up and drop off young Xiao from school. Furthermore, after Li Xi finished his grueling training for Xiao, they would take him to a nearby shopping mall for a big meal.

In Xiao's memory, Aunt Su Shi was a gentle, considerate, and kind senior. Although she would occasionally shed her elegant and proper demeanor in front of Aunt Ai Yin, she never mistreated Xiao.

He knew that this was because he had eyes that resembled those of the deceased Toyokawa Shoko.

"Perhaps Lixi and the others have other expectations for you, but if it were me... I would be content as long as I can see Xiao grow up healthy and well."

At the celebration party the night before his debut, Su Shi, who rarely confided in Xiao, still gave him these words of advice after a few rounds of drinks.

Xiao still remembers the elegant and composed Aunt Su Shi, whose eyes, already showing faint crow's feet, were filled with glistening tears.

"...It's you. What do you want?"

Back to reality—Li Xi, who was conscientious and dutiful, remained silent and simply went back to the front desk, buried his head, and completed his duties as an employee.

"Ah... it's the same as always. Please, Lixi."

Nagasaki Motoyo noticed that her gaze, which had been fixed on the boy, was somewhat impolite, and quickly turned her back to Akira and walked to the front desk.

"Who is that over there...?"

Despite lowering her voice, she couldn't tear her attention away from the boy, and her peripheral vision kept lingering in his direction.

"He's not from the Toyokawa family, so he probably has nothing to do with Shoko."