The social phobia substitute will not dream of the band girl

Diaoyue was from the East Country, and she knew this very well, as it was the surname of the lady who was Diaoyue Lin's mother.

In fact, after hearing the surname Chogetsu from Hiranobu, Asuka Matoki had a premonition and conducted some research. After that, she also pieced together the general history of Chogetsu Rion based on her own research.

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It's not that simple, but if I had to put it simply, after an old family was destroyed, Tiao Yue Liyin's mother took her to escape from those family members who wanted to restore the family and came to the East Country.

All the Restoration Party wants is to rely on Tiao Yue Liyin's beauty and talent. As long as they find a large or even medium-sized family to marry into and then gradually hollow them out, sooner or later they will be able to take back everything they have lost.

But in the end, they made their second and final mistake, betraying the mercy of the Lord of Balance and being completely wiped out. Then, the only mother in the family brought her daughter to the East Country to seek refuge with her family.

However, Tiaoyue's mother died of overwork during her escape, and in the end, Isabella, who had not yet inherited the Tiaoyue surname, came to the East Country alone as an illegal resident.

And now the Tiaoyue family she is in is gradually declining and going downhill, even to the point where Liyin has to take the initiative to throw herself into Pingxin's arms to seek revival. It's really stupid.

However, she also had a hand in this. After all, according to the original plan, they would probably wait until Lady Isa...Lion came of age before considering a son-in-law, marriage alliance, or inheritance of the family business.

It's just because my brother's big actions one after another have made all the families feel terrified, and now there is an opportunity to get the upper hand. As long as the elders of the Tiaoyue family know this news, it is impossible for them to turn a blind eye. It is natural that it will turn out like this, right?

Just like my brother always does, he brings the choice (I need) to the target——

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"I'm very sorry about Madam's death. So, what are your plans for the future, Lady Liyin? If you had your mother as a buffer, it would be fine, but now that Madam has passed away, aren't the people in the family just strangers?"

"...So, what about Alice? How did you survive after that? I remember ordering all your soldiers to hold out until the end when your family was annihilated. I gave you free rein, but how on earth could a child survive in such a chaotic situation?"

Seeing that Diao Yue Liyin avoided the topic, Xiaoshi couldn't help but raise the corner of his mouth.

In Liyin's heart, she may still be the fighting weapon who didn't understand people's hearts, but in fact, Xiaoshi is definitely more thoughtful than Liyin thought.

So she interpreted that arc as if it were "recalling a happy memory," and then continued, "It was my brother... Heishin-sama who saved me. I was wandering the streets after my stomach ache, and my first reaction when I saw him was to raise my gun, but he... hehe~

He took off his clothes to show that he had no hostility, then walked over to me naked, held me in his arms, and told me not to be afraid anymore..."

Xiao covered her mouth to hide her somewhat rude smile and to conceal the laughter that might have slipped out. Compared to her survival, perhaps the man's behavior was even more incredible and unpredictable.

"...Is that so? That's good. Now, Alice, your name is...Toki, right?"

"Yes, it's because of this—"

Shi took out the pocket watch that she carried with her every day. Every day she would put it closest to her heart, just like putting someone in the most important place in her heart.

But after seeing this pocket watch, Liyin's eyes opened wide involuntarily, because she recognized that thing -

"Isn't this the pocket watch of that fellow Owen?"

"Yes... When I was leaving the family estate, I encountered that nasty copper smelter and blew his balls, heart, and head with a pistol. Then I took away all the valuables. This was one of them."

She didn't know whether to feel relieved or sad. Alice, speaking these words, was perhaps closer to the image she remembered. Training orphans and the descendants of family vassals to become death warriors, then subjecting them to these words and even more cruel acts day after day, it was no wonder that family was destroyed.

"This pocket watch... because it was valuable, I hid it in my arms. Then my brother found it and thought it was a relic of my family. So he gave me a new surname, a new name, and a new life—"

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"Alice?...That name is so common, isn't it? Even blondes with blue eyes can be called this name, and the name is about a girl with a pocket watch and a pistol. There are so many elements!"

Even though she was wrapped in a blanket and holding a cup of fragrant hot cocoa in her hands, Alice's heart was still cold because she had lost her home, her master, and the meaning of her life.

But she was saved by such a peculiar oriental boy——

"Also...if you're going to live with me as my sister, regardless of appearance, I've already accepted reality and started playing dirty, so at least the name should be similar!

I can’t quite understand the words on the pocket watch, maybe they are ancient characters or something... But the pattern on it looks like a Hippogriff, a phantom horse that doesn’t exist in this world... I understand, from now on you will be Asuka Mashi!

A mysterious girl like Alice who strayed into a magical country is like a species like the Hippogriff, a dreamlike existence!

Dream...me?

Alice, who had just been given a new name, didn't know what her relationship with dreams was, as she had never had one before, but she knew what she should do now.

She placed the mug on the table, took off the blanket and placed it on the sofa, then knelt on one knee, lowered her head and said, "Thank you for the name, Master."

This was the only way she knew to survive, and the attitude she should have towards her adopters—

"Master or something... isn't that necessary? This kind of play is for a superior... ahem, anyway, from now on I'm Asuka Maheishin, and you're Asuka Matoki, my little sister. It's settled!"

Although he felt that his cheap father would beat him up if he knew about his "decision that goes against the ancestors", Pingxin still did it to save the strange girl who would become his sister.

“!…Yes, Onii-sama!”

At that moment, Alice found her home. She was not Alice because she was called Alice, but because of her family, she was Asuka.

Asuka Mashi!

As for the fact that I was so frightened that I almost peed my pants when I saw Ping Xin's father, that's another story.

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"Back then, you and Lady Athena were known as Victoria's two pearls, the only rivals of your generation. ...After you left, I'm sure she must have felt very lonely—"

"...Maybe, but she has her family, and I have my...family...just like you, Shi."

Alice found her home, but what about me?

Where should I go to find my family and my home?

Chapter 4: Why?

"Speaking of which... Why did you want to become an idol, Tooru? From my previous impression, you didn't seem like someone who would do such a thing, or did someone poach you and you became interested?"

One day after school, Hiranobu and Toru were heading to work alone. During the car ride, Hiranobu suddenly remembered a question he had thought of at some point in the past and asked.

After all, putting aside her personality and way of thinking, with her unique aura and outstanding appearance alone, Asakura Toru is definitely more than qualified to be a model. Idol, actor, singer, etc. are just things she can achieve with a little more effort.

"Hmm...why exactly? Perhaps it's to be seen."

By whom?

...Ping Xin would not ask such a stupid question, and he didn't have the time to do so at the moment because he was looking into a pair of beautiful blue eyes.

Unlike Asuna's lively, watery eyes that never stopped looking left and right, Toru's eyes, although the same blue, were always looking at the same thing——

Like family, childhood friends Enka Koito and Hina, and... him.

"Someone told me... that if I became an idol, I would be noticed."

"See... But Toru has been here the whole time, right?"

"But—if you can't see me, isn't that the same as 'not existing'?"

Ping Xin was speechless and could only quietly look away from her, then lean back in his chair.

Yes, because even though humans are the smartest species in the world, the most intelligent of all creatures, their brain capacity and thinking ability have limits.

So we have learned the remarkable skill of forgetting.

But this is not enough, because forgetting is a passive ability that cannot be fully controlled, so we learn to "turn a blind eye." As long as we turn a blind eye, those troubling social problems, family problems and personal problems will magically "disappear."

Just like when Hira Nobu escaped and left this place, Toru and the others didn't really disappear from this world, but they "disappeared" from Hira Nobu's world.

If only things that are seen, heard, and felt can be considered to be recognized and recognized as [existing], then Toru and the others were [non-existent] to Hirinnobu before.

"I'm sorry, because I left without your permission... I won't ask for your forgiveness, but I will do my best to make amends, even if you may not accept it-"

Whether it's Koito, you in front of me, or Enka...

"Do not..."

After making a negative sound, Toru shook his head, then looked at him and said, "You will come back, because (we) agreed before - didn't we?"

"...Yeah, I've never broken a promise in my life, and I have no plans to do so in the future."

Although he was still wearing that ridiculous and confusing black hood, Asakura Toru could imagine his current expression just by looking at the X-shaped pattern on it.

"But it still feels dangerous... What if I sign a contract with a strange company or a shady corporation? Tooru must have just signed without even reading the terms!?"

“…No?”

No, absolutely, right? You just looked away, didn't you!?

"Really... It's a good thing it's my family's company that signed the contract. If it were any other company, there might really be problems... Anyway, next time you encounter something like this, please contact me first, or discuss it with your family and friends. It's precisely because we value each other that I don't want you to do such a stupid thing."

What's more, it's for me. If something really happens, I will feel guilty for the rest of my life... When I think of bad things, I want to replenish some sugar, so Ping Xin took out two bottles of drinks -

"Cheers~!" x2

I don't know what's so good about strawberry milk and green tea, but the main thing is the atmosphere, I guess~

Blinking, Asakura Toru finally didn't betray Xiao. If she hadn't been the one who came to the door, she would probably be staying at home with Higuchi, watching movies, doing homework, eating snacks, and doing the same things as before.

"...Thanks~"

Hey, drinks?

"Okay... Then, let's go together—"

"Yeah, together."

The two people who got off the car high-fived each other and stood side by side.

"But what exactly are we going to do today?"

"..."

So you don’t read the work group messages at all?!

*A small group of two people specifically created to store work-related records, documents, etc.

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"Although I was mainly here for the makeup photos today, I also got the chance to visit the photography studio to learn about it. I'll just use it as a chance to get accustomed to the work atmosphere in advance..."

Also, although the information has been uploaded to the company headquarters a long time ago and noctchill has gained a certain reputation within the company, there are still many "outsiders" who come and go here and don't know them. So, you should greet them more often and leave a good impression on them. Who knows, you might end up working together one day.

"...Okay~"

Although he gave a good answer, Ping Xin paused, remembering his previous failure to pay attention to the work group message, and added, "This is to make Toru 'seen'... Remember the slogan 'We are no longer transparent'?"

"...Understood~"

After a pause, he replied. It seems that he really took it to heart this time, instead of being like a certain transformed kid who "heard but didn't understand". That's great~

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"...So, you don't know any of the people you greeted just now?"

"Eh...I don't know him?"

Seeing Toru Asakura greeting people so effortlessly and naturally, Heishin felt that he was useless.

It's more like I'm being deliberately ignored because of my image as a person wearing a mask. If it weren't for Tou being around, I'd probably have to pull out my ID to get around...

Although "I" am a weirdo, Toru next to me has such an outstanding aura, so it is natural that he is regarded as a model or idol... Although in fact he is.

But in the past, I always relied on my good looks to bring other people’s ordinary letters, and suddenly I felt my own shortcomings——

Wearing a hood can make people ignore me. My purity is far from enough!

"I always feel like being an idol isn't anything special. It's just like being in school... Life is so long—"

"...Hehe, let's make it special together~"