Aunt Xiangzi, how did you manage to live?

"But when I found out about this and stood at the front door of the Wakaba family, it was Metis, not Mutsu, who opened the door for me."

"what……"

Oh right, I almost forgot about that child.

Just when Xiao Mu was most needed, Metis's appearance interrupted Su Shi's plans.

"That child's personality is completely different from Mu's, and it feels like you can't get any useful information out of her. And although they are two personalities in the same body, Mu herself probably has some little secrets that she hasn't told Metis."

Having deduced things to this point, it was obvious what the two of them would do next.

"...We really need to bring Mu back."

Su Shi nodded knowingly.

"Ah, that's right. After all, if she were here, she could at least explain why Xiaoxiao-kun would use the surname 'Ruoye' for her."

Chu Hua also lowered her head.

"And even if Xiao Mu doesn't know anything, this is still a kind of useful intelligence for us."

"At least we can rule out the possibility that Mu is an insider who has been keeping it from us all along, right? Indeed, it seems unlikely that the child would be able to keep such a big secret."

Through this, the two girls, who had previously been at loggerheads, reached an agreement.

"It seems we should at least bring Xiao Mu back."

"Ah, but how can we get Metis to step back temporarily and awaken Xiao Mu's personality consciousness?"

As they pondered the decision, they felt it was one that wouldn't harm anyone.

"How about we go talk to Metis-chan about it?"

After all, Metis has been inside Wakaba Mutsu's body for so long, so asking her to leave temporarily shouldn't pose any safety risks to the two personalities, right?

Achoo!!!!

But on the other side of the city, Metis, who suddenly sneezed, thought differently.

"What the hell... Is the air conditioning on too high at home?"

The culprit that had turned the once tidy bedroom into a complete mess was hiding on the soft, large bed, sniffing.

"Or is someone talking about me... Xiao Mu! Is that you?"

"not me."

As two personalities simultaneously possessing the same body, as long as Metis is willing to let Xiaomu know her current situation, she can respond in time in the consciousness space.

However, Metis doesn't actually engage in mental conversations unless absolutely necessary.

"Metis... I feel much more at peace lately. When will you switch back with me?"

—Because lately, whenever Mu talks to this guy, he keeps asking Metis when he can let her regain control of her body.

This is not okay.

She hadn't had enough fun yet—no, she hadn't made sure her existence wouldn't be threatened. If she just returned power to Mu, even if she were to be completely obliterated in the consciousness space, no one would probably know.

"Um... Xiao Mu, why don't you rest a little longer? Didn't I promise you I'd take care of your troubles? It's still far from being settled! Just wait a few more days... rest a few more days, and leave everything to me!"

In Wakaba Mutsu's consciousness space, there is also a bedroom reserved for the personality that does not control the body.

This place felt like a hospital room with the curtains drawn, where even the passage of time seemed sluggish. Mu sat on the edge of the bed, holding her old doll.

Her fingers gently stroked the doll's hair, moving very slowly.

"I know, I just..."

"Do you miss Xiangzi? Or Xiao?"

"Well……"

"Actually, I think we both have it~ I know, after all, we're the same person!"

Metis jumped happily to Mu's side and gently hugged the silent Mu from behind.

"Being prepared still requires waiting for the right time, Mu. You know, I... I'll take care of what you're worried about!"

Her voice was soft, as if she were being coquettish or using some naive logic to secretly express her selfish desires.

"...So, please let me stay a little longer, Mutsu."

She spoke softly, trying to coax the other person to rest, but her fingers nervously gripped her sleeve.

She didn't want to die.

Even if it's just to breathe a few more seconds in this world, she wants to continue living, even if it's just as the name "Metis".

"Hmm... alright, since you put it that way, Metis..."

Mu finally softened her tone; in fact, she was a soft-hearted person to begin with.

"But please share things that happen outside with me occasionally."

"Okay! No problem! I'll start informing Xiaomu about some things starting today! Stay tuned!"

Fortunately, Mu was easy to coax, and thankfully, Metis's will to survive wasn't revealed in her all-too-obvious desires.

Chapter Sixty-Two: The Incompetent Husband, Teacher Da Xiang

In a secluded corner, unnoticed by anyone, Toyokawa Shoko slunk home after yet another humiliating defeat.

That home where only I and my incompetent father lived.

"Xiangzi... um."

The alcoholic father wanted to say something to comfort Xiangzi, who seemed to have fallen into a slump, but the words of comfort slipped out of his mouth and were eventually swallowed down along with the beer.

"Don't try to comfort me, Father."

The father and daughter sat together in a room that could hardly be called a home, with breakfast prepared by Xiangzi early that morning laid out on the dining table.

However, only the depressed Xiangzi kept his head down and ate, while the middle-aged man who kept his beer bottle in his hand didn't touch a thing.

"I won't give up like this, don't worry."

While munching on the pretzel bread he bought yesterday from the convenience store downstairs (buy two get one free), Xiangzi mumbled a few unclear words with his head down.

She couldn't help but think about the bet with Kazama, and the scene of her utter defeat in front of him that day.

Chu Hua actually chose someone else right in front of her.

Even though she had expressed her longing and need for Hatsuka so sincerely and frankly, he still sided with Kazama after hesitating and agonizing.

Just thinking about this made Toyokawa Shoko, who couldn't eat, grit her teeth and chew on the soda bread with a dark face. She chewed on this tasteless but not worth-to-discard dry food, imagining that Kazama was being tortured in her mouth.

Perhaps it was because they hadn't seen each other for so long that Chu Hua no longer prioritized their relationship.

But it's okay, people change, especially those who only had contact when they were children, and whose last meeting can be traced back to Chu Hua during the Crychic era.

So from this point of view, Xiangzi doesn't resent Chuhua for choosing Kazama over her—of course, she can't swallow this resentment so easily, otherwise Miss Xiangzi wouldn't have bought all the clearance-sale lye bread last night in a fit of anger.

She really wished that the taste of biting into the pretzel could be transferred to Kazama.

It was certainly not Kazama's fault that Hatsuka chose him, but whenever Shoko thought about how his childhood playmate had ended up playing with this guy, he felt an inexplicable surge of anger.

First, there was CRYCHIC's former companion, and then there was Hatsuka, a childhood sweetheart who appeared out of nowhere in his memories—Shoko always felt that Kazama was stirring up the people around him.

What are his true intentions?

Forget it, no matter how hard Toyokawa Shoko racked her brains, she still couldn't figure it out.

She hadn't forgotten her bet with Kazama, and even though Hatsuka's choice had surprised her and made her somewhat sad—

However, the defeat in the first half does not mean that the second half will also be a series of defeats.

Even if Chu Hua doesn't stand on his side, it's understandable.

The two hadn't seen each other for a whole year, and it's understandable that they might gradually become estranged during the period of no contact, or that someone else might become more important to them.

Since Chu Hua failed in the first half, Xiang Zi had no choice but to shift his attention to the second half – that is, Mu's side.

According to the bet she made with Kazama, they each needed to persuade Hatsuka and Mutsumi to join Ave Mujica. Although Shoko insisted that as the captain, she should use her personal charm to recruit both of them, reality always ruthlessly slapped her in the face.

Neither she nor Kazama had been able to conquer the city; now, only Mutsu was left.

"I'm full, and I have important things to do, so I'll head out now."

Having made up her mind, Toyokawa Shoko turned around and put the remaining half of the pretzel into the refrigerator.

"Ah... Xiangzi?"

The old man, still reeking of alcohol, was left helplessly at the table, clutching his bottle—he was only eating pretzel bread, which wasn't enough to fill his stomach.

"...There are some instant noodles and leftovers in the refrigerator that can be heated up and eaten. I'll have to trouble you to make do with these tonight, Father."

Even though she was exhausted, Xiangzi still gave her father some instructions, as if the person who was truly in charge of the whole family was not this middle-aged man, but she, a teenage girl who was still in high school.

After giving a few simple instructions, Toyokawa Shoko closed the door with a mix of trepidation and exhaustion.

She still doesn't know how to face Mu.

If this bet hadn't insisted on a winner, she might still be thinking of continuing to run away.

Xiangzi walked silently toward Ruoye's house, carrying a bag of fruit and snacks as a token of her sympathy. These were gifts she had bought with money she had set aside from her already meager savings.

The scorching summer heat seemed to devour everything cool; she could feel fine beads of sweat seeping through her skin into her clean white shirt and white stockings.

If this is the torment one has to endure to see Mu, Xiangzi will only feel that this is the retribution he deserves.

"It's not certain whether Mutsu... will even want to see me."

While avoiding the scorching sun, Xiangzi squinted and muttered to himself.

In fact, as childhood sweethearts who grew up together, Mu had never cut off contact with Xiangzi so directly as during this period.

Xiangzi wiped the sweat from her forehead, freeing one hand to pull out her phone. Her peaceful chat had stopped before Kazama's car accident.

After that, their chat window was dominated by Xiangzi's one-sided inquiries.

"Mu...where have you been lately? My injuries aren't serious; I'll be discharged soon."

[Mumu, I might be called home. How are things on your end?]

[Mumu, why are you ignoring me? What happened? Or is Kazama's condition not good? I'll go check on him sometime! Please don't be angry, okay?]

Why aren't you replying to me, Mu?

During this time, Ruoye Mu did not respond to her at all. Not even a punctuation mark, an emoji, or even a thumbs-up to indicate that everything was going well.

Gradually, Xiangzi's feelings toward Mu changed from escapism and guilt to worry.

"Mu... if you're just angry with me, that's okay, as long as nothing else goes wrong..."

This bet conveniently provided her with a perfect excuse to visit Mu in person and see how he was doing.

Unable to afford a taxi, she had to walk all the way to the tram platform. She squeezed into the tram for almost half an hour before finally arriving at Wakaba's house on the hottest summer afternoon.

Toyokawa Shoko cleared her throat and then pressed the electronic doorbell of the Wakaba residence.

If she could have foreseen what would happen next, she would never have chosen to visit today.

Unfortunately, fate has decreed that she will become an "incompetent husband" today.

Chapter Sixty-Three: Best Partner, Riki-chan!

About fifteen minutes ago, the spot where Toyokawa Shoko was standing was taken by another boy.

"It's okay... I'm sure I can handle this."

This person was none other than Kazama Akatsuki, dressed in loose, casual summer clothes and holding his phone to his ear.

He would naturally think of what Xiangzi would think of, and since Toyokawa Xiangzi was going to take a gamble... he had no choice but to get there first.

Kazama came to Wakaba's house with this thought in mind: he just hoped that Miss Shoko wouldn't feel like he was bullying her.

Just as she reached her doorstep, her phone rang, bringing Lixi's greeting.

Yes, the person who called out of the blue was Shiina Tatsuki.