Aunt Xiangzi, how did you manage to live?

"...If Su Shi really wants to kick you out, I will definitely not stand idly by. Don't worry."

Uh… Miss Lixi should be able to tell that this was just a joke, right? What’s with this “I will definitely take responsibility for you” attitude?

Chapter Thirty-Six Conjugated Ascaris

Generally speaking, what steps are needed to make a cat happy?

For Kazama, three steps are enough.

"Hehe, I didn't expect I still hold a place in Lixi's heart. I'm so happy~"

The first step is to smooth the fur.

“I never said anything like that; it’s your own interpretation.”

For the time being, you will receive a seemingly cold but actually somewhat shy and proud response from the cat.

"Whatever, just be prepared to stick to me from now on! Even if this band that we're going to be in for life is on the verge of breaking up, I'll still keep bothering Lixi, okay?"

The second step is to try your best to please the cat with sweet words that it wants to hear.

“What were those words? They were truly heavy to hear…”

The cat might appear to show a hint of disdain, but its mood is indeed soothed by these sweet words.

Only one final step remains.

"If Li Xi really doesn't like to hear this, then I'll shut up and not say anything more from now on."

The final step is to maintain a subtle, almost imperceptible distance from the cat.

"...I never said I didn't like to hear it."

You'll gain a cat named Lixi who's tough on the outside but soft on the inside, silently watching over you, yet unwilling to let you stray too far from her.

These are the cat training steps of Kazama, the cat trainer. I wonder if everyone has learned them?

"What are you doing? Your smile is disgusting."

Riki's voice made Kazama's smile fade slightly, it seemed that Riki, as a tamed cat, had no awareness of this at all.

“If you tame me, we will need each other. To me you will be the only one in the world, and I will become the only one for you…”

"Why did you suddenly start reciting classic quotes from The Little Prince?"

"Hmm—love arises without knowing its origin, and deepens with each passing moment."

Kazama laughed heartily. He didn't intend to tell Riki in front of him that many years later, she would be giving a book called "The Little Prince" to a friend's adopted son as a bedtime story.

"In short, Miss Lixi can finally feel much more at ease now, right?"

He no longer intended to painstakingly search his memories for evidence of their connection.

Because where the future leads is determined by who you are in the present moment.

"Hmph... I hope you won't go back on your word, Kazama."

"No, no, no."

"But then again... if you still want to stay with [us], then what should we do..."

Lixi seemed hesitant to speak, as if she were also considering the current situation from Kazama's perspective.

If he continues his partnership with the girls of mygo—or even becomes an unofficial member of mygo—how can he form a new band with Yahata Umiru?

"Since you're trying to recruit that guy for a long-term collaboration, you probably don't intend for him to become a bassist, right? What are your plans next? Are you going to continue recruiting from other bands?"

"Hmm—no way, because I already have someone in mind. Besides, I never intended to form a band with anyone in the first place."

"...I don't quite understand what you mean."

Frankness in serious matters is the least important of Shiina Tatsuki's many virtues, and she bluntly expressed her incomprehension.

"What I mean is that my goal from the beginning was never to form a band with anyone and debut."

Rather, it's more accurate to say that he didn't debut alongside the "aunties" who raised him.

Kazama remained calm and composed.

"I'm even more confused now."

Lixi frowned. Being so single-minded, she never imagined that leaving this band would mean joining another band instead.

"Well... if I had to say, I don't intend to become someone who can perform on stage with everyone. As for why I do that, you'll understand when Lixi sees me form this band."

Anyway, once he learns of Li Xi's true feelings, he won't leave MYGO easily.

That's enough for Lixi to know.

"...Alright, if keeping it a secret for now is your choice...I will respect that."

Lixi was clearly still puzzled, but since Kazama had no intention of telling her the truth, she wouldn't press him to reveal all his schemes.

"Then, about Su Shi... do you need me to keep it a secret for you as well?"

Hmm? I didn't expect you to be so perceptive, Lixi.

"I was just thinking, since I've pushed you to this point before you're willing to tell me the truth... you probably don't want others to know your plans, right?"

"Lixi..."

Kazama remained silent, simply placing his hands on Riki's shoulders.

"?, ?!"

Such a sudden action could frighten the cat and cause her to blush. Those in the know should definitely not try to imitate or copy this.

"Sure enough, being a tapeworm is a two-way street! You understand me better than any tapeworm I know now!"

"Who, who wants to be a tapeworm for you?!"

"Eh? You don't care? What a pity. I thought Riki, Hatsuka, and that guy Banami were all strong candidates to become my tapeworms..."

"Huh? Banami and that Misaki Hatsuka... You've already stretched your evil tentacles this far?"

"That sounds awful. The bond that connects us is real and tangible! Since Lixi doesn't want it, then let's just give that title to the two of them..."

"Wait--"

The cat-teasing segment has come to an end. Seeing Riki's gritted teeth and obvious deep concern, yet unable to swallow his pride, Kazama is in a great mood.

Oh my, Aunt Lixi has never shown such a cute expression before.

"Okay, but the fewer people who know about this, the better. I'm glad that you can put yourself in my shoes and consider my perspective, Lixi."

Kazama chuckled and patted Riki on the shoulder, then with a perfectly ordinary gesture, he withdrew his hand.

"........."

The moment the sensation disappeared, Lixi felt a strange sense of loss.

"You said you weren't planning to tell anyone your plans for the time being... but actually it's because after what happened last time, your family... you seem to have become a little unsure how to face Su Shi."

However, this did not stop her from speaking out her deductions.

"Hmm—Lixi, you're really perceptive. You could say that, right? After all, not everyone is as consistent as you, Lixi."

Kazama pursed his lips. It seemed that both the young girl Riki and the aunt Riki could easily see through his thoughts.

He does need some time to readjust the social distance he maintains with Su Shi—or he could simply stop interacting altogether.

"That's why you wanted to leave us after that incident, right?"

"As expected of you, Miss Roundworm."

"Tch... whatever, it doesn't matter."

Lixi shook her head, her expression still somewhat displeased, but it seemed she had already accepted the name she had previously labeled as disgusting.

"If you need a reason to stay—just create another one."

Shiina Tatsuki's tone remained calm and reliable, but upon closer examination, one could detect a hint of shyness hidden between the lines.

But she didn't give Kazama time to savor the moment. She awkwardly put her hand on his shoulder, just like he had done before.

"...I could have used that reason myself."

Chapter Thirty-Seven: I Will Always Be Your Partner

From the very beginning, for Shiina Tatsuki, the only truly important person in the band was Takamatsu Akari—and then the rest of the band.

So unlike Su Shi, although she also felt sorry for the passing of CRYCHIC and occasionally missed the past when she thought of Xiangzi, she would never stop moving forward because of it.

This is what makes her so different from Su Shi.

And now, there's one more place that's completely different.

"...If only I were the reason you stayed."

There's one more truly important person in my life now.

It was actually quite difficult for Riki to say these words to Kazama, but Riki also knew that this was a moment when she couldn't convey her true feelings without saying them out loud.

That's why she was a little afraid to look up and observe Kazama's reaction.

If Kazama doesn't respond after all this, she's really going to fly into a rage (a little angry).

Fortunately, the boy in front of her was always good at understanding her thoughts, and this time was no exception.

"Lixi...I love you."

Kazama took a deep breath, then gently placed his hand on Riki's hand, which was resting on his shoulder, and solemnly revealed his true feelings without the slightest pretense.

"Cough, cough! What are you saying?!"

—Of course, this caught Lixi completely off guard.

"As expected, I knew that in the end, only Lixi was truly reliable. I'm going to pour all my energy into you!"

"I don't need that kind of dirty-sounding energy!"

Okay, if the energy from the roundworms is equivalent to trust points here, Shiina Riki feels she can reluctantly accept it.

"Stop joking around, you're never serious... So, is there anything I can help you with? Or is it just about stabilizing the current situation?"

This kind of sweet and heart-pounding scene, reminiscent of a romantic comedy, wasn't an atmosphere that Lixi was good at handling, so she couldn't wait to get to the point.

"...Why do I need Lixi to do anything for me?"

But to everyone's surprise, their conversation in Kazama's place had absolutely no "main topic".

"I just felt happy chatting with Lixi, and I was even happier knowing that Lixi cared about me. That's all."

"...Okay, stop there. Put away your straight-up attacks for now. I know all that. I just feel uncomfortable if I don't do something for you. It doesn't mean anything, understand?"

Li Xi tried to use these words to distance himself from the relationship between emotion and reason, but this was a completely ineffective addition that only made things worse.

"So, to put it simply, Lixi, you feel that you have to give me something in order to accept my company without feeling guilty, right?"

"What are you doing, making all this unauthorized interpretations...!"

However, Riki's rebuttal this time seemed a bit weak, since Kazama's words were quite accurate.

"Forget it... let's just consider it an emotional counteraction. I can't accept other people's kindness for no reason, but if I can do something for them, at least it will make me feel better. So, in the end, I'm just measuring our relationship with an extremely self-centered mindset, nothing more. Do you understand, Kazama?"

It seemed that she didn't want to be at a disadvantage, or perhaps she just didn't want to appear pathetic in front of Kazama.

In short, Shiina Tatsuki's cold and emotionless words echoed in the practice room.

They're really stubborn as a mule.

She just made such an adorable expression and said such cute things, but now she's deliberately putting on a serious face to make up for her behavior...

Well, it seems that Shiina Tatsuki's hedging theory has indeed been steadfastly practiced from beginning to end.

"Then it's fine if you continue to have this self-centered attitude, Lixi."

The atmosphere in the room had clearly become somewhat tense because of Riki's words. However, Kazama seemed completely unaffected, and his reply was remarkably calm and composed.

“If you’re an egocentrist, then I’m a Lich-centrist—so we can be considered like-minded partners, right?”