After Xiangzi died, I inherited her harem.

Page 118

"Ding--"

The sound of the microwave oven timer echoed in the small room, and some of the sharp sounds left a lingering echo in the ears.

Sitting on the edge of the bed, Wakaba Mutsu raised her head slightly. The sharp sound of the timing needle gradually brought her seemingly unfocused eyes back to their senses.

Is it hot again...?

The girl with long, light green hair slowly turned her head and looked at the food that had been heated in the microwave.

Logically speaking, it should have been quite a while since the normal lunch time, and for the usually regular and healthy Wakaba Mutsumi, she should have finished lunch long ago.

In fact, lunches placed in microwave ovens these days have indeed been heated more than once.

If I were to go to school, I would already be listening to the first class of the afternoon.

If she is on vacation at home and has nothing else to do, Ruo Yemu usually chooses to take a short nap.

But now, Wakaba Mutsumi, who should be in a state of unprecedented leisure in his life, has broken his usually very regular schedule, which is as precise as a wound-up toy.

It wasn't that this girl named Wakaba Mutsumi had gone wild after being left unsupervised; it was simply that...

I don't have much of an appetite and don't want to eat alone.

This morning, when Ruoye Mu opened her eyes, she did not see Toyokawa Yuu. Even the futon and bedding were already folded and placed on the cabinet, making the already cramped space in the small house as much as possible as a place for the girl to move around.

The only traces of Yuu Toyokawa's actions that could be found were the breakfast that looked like it had been bought and placed on the table, and the computer that had already been turned on and had the password entered.

There was a small note with the computer password under the breakfast. It seemed that Yuu Toyokawa was worried that Mutsuka Wakaba would get bored at home alone, so she specially turned on the computer for her to pass the time.

However, Ruoye Mu didn't touch either the computer that was turned on or the food in the microwave. She simply ate her breakfast, which was still slightly warm at the time.

After that, she sat quietly by the bed, letting the morning sun gradually rise from the window to the roof.

【Xiao Mu, it's not good to skip meals, it's bad for your health.】

Another voice of my own suddenly surfaced in my mind.

In Ruoye Mu's mental space, Metis made an X with his two index fingers in front of him, urging her to eat obediently.

As a supportive personality type for Wakaba Mutsumi, one of my responsibilities is to encourage her to develop healthy lifestyle habits.

If you don't eat your food properly, Mr. Youyu will worry. You don't want him to come home tonight and find you've misbehaved, do you?

As a supportive personality, the fact that she could use such a slightly threatening tone to communicate with Wakaba Mutsu was simply unbelievable for the Metis of the past.

However, Metis only has this privilege when mentioning Toyokawa Yuu; even Toyokawa Shoko doesn't get it.

"I...don't like this taste."

Hearing Metis's advice, Ruoye Mu's golden eyes flickered a few times, and she murmured her reasons.

Actually, she's not a picky eater or a bad kid; what she said earlier was just an excuse.

Although born into a family of entertainers, he doesn't have any spoiled or pampered habits. Even if the food has been stored in the refrigerator overnight and then reheated in the microwave, Ruoye Mu won't object to it.

But eating alone always feels like something's missing.

Even though she should have been used to this kind of thing before.

After all, as the daughter of a family of entertainers, it is not uncommon for her not to see her family for one or two months at a time.

[Because Mr. Yu isn't here, you don't have much of an appetite, right? You even tried to brush me off in front of me. Mumu is such an idiot... If you miss Mr. Yu so much, why don't you just call him?]

Metis neither agreed nor disagreed with the reasons given by Wakaba Mutsu.

Although Metis has far less control over her body than Mutsuka Wakaba, he is at least someone who shares her memories completely.

Ruo Ye Mu knew perfectly well what she was thinking.

【Perfect timing, you can also ask Mr. Youyu if he's eaten properly.】

"But it will bother him..."

five two six six five twenty two five one

After a moment of silence, Ruoye Mu's somewhat timid voice rang out again.

She had considered Metis's suggestion, but Ruoye Mu was also aware that Toyokawa Yuu must be very busy with work right now.

I've already caused him so much trouble; I shouldn't add to his burdens.

Even if there were reasons that no one, including Wakaba Mutsu herself, could find fault with, she didn't want to use this pretext of concern to cause further trouble for Toyokawa Yuu.

Holding the phone that Yuu Toyokawa bought for her, Mukaru Wakaba pursed her lips tightly.

"Youyu is already very busy."

Looking at the screen in her hand that hadn't lit up all day, Ruo Yemu's fingers clenched tightly. She slowly lowered her hand, intending to put it down.

“I shouldn’t take advantage of Youyu’s concern to act recklessly. That’s…that’s something only Xiangcai can do.”

【Ugh, I can't take it anymore! Xiao Mu is such a big idiot!】

After trying to persuade him for so long, this was all he got in return. Dejected, Metis crawled into his sleeping mat in the mental space and rolled around with his stuffed animal in a fit of rage.

She couldn't understand why Wakaba Mutsu always gave in to Toyokawa Shoko in everything.

They were the ones who were cared for by Toyokawa Yuu first, and were also the ones she cared for first, right?

They were the ones who skipped class to hang out with Yuu Toyokawa, they were the ones who moved into Yuu Toyokawa's house first, and they were even the ones who found out first that Yuu Toyokawa could actually play the guitar.

As for Toyokawa Shoko, despite being Mr. Yuu's fiancée, she should be the person who cares about him the most and is closest to him, but she only takes advantage of Mr. Yuu's indulgence and acts willfully.

If that were all, it wouldn't matter. After all, what kind of person she was was none of Metis's business, and what she planned to do was not of much concern to him.

But Ye Mu was different; she knew perfectly well that Toyokawa Shoko's capriciousness towards Mr. Yuu would only hurt her.

【Mr. Youyu is already under immense pressure. At a time like this, we should all show him some concern, even if it's just reminding him to eat properly. Xiaomu is so inconsiderate.】

"But... the people who are causing the most trouble for Youyu right now... are me, and you too."

Ruoye Mu's calm words brought a temporary silence to the conversation between the two personalities.

In the past, Ruoye Mu might not have refused Metis's proposal.

However, now that he is the culprit who has caused Yuu Toyokawa so much trouble, Mutsuka Wakaba doesn't know what right he has to easily express his concern.

If you bother him, it will only affect his work.

After all, it was because of her that Yuu and Minami were at odds, and Yuu even spent a lot of money on each other.

Ultimately, Yuu joined Ave Mujica because of her engagement to Sho, which is why she showed him the kind of care that a manager would show a member.

Metis said that Xiang was acting willfully because of Youyu's favoritism, but wasn't it also because of Youyu's favoritism that he took him in?

Otherwise, they wouldn't even have the basis for understanding.

Xiang has the bond of being engaged to Xiang, so what gives him the right to be his fiancé?

His relationship with Yuyu was not even as good as the friends he met in [RING].

Recalling that passionate pink figure, Ruoye Mu's expression dimmed for a moment, and she quietly lowered her face.

Actually... Youyu has always been annoyed with herself.

He said he was his friend, but never accepted his concern, just like he did with the other members of the band, only offering help.

Whether it was refusing to eat with me last night, or leaving early this morning without even waiting for me, who is used to waking up early, to wake up.

Even when she tried to help, she would be refused. The only way she could express her concern was to secretly slip money into his pocket in the middle of the night.

He wouldn't treat Xiang like that.

Although she would be almost unconditionally biased in her treatment of Xiang, if Youyu wanted to arrange for Xiang to do something, she would never use that gentle and polite tone, as if she were asking for his opinion.

However, Toyokawa Yuu had a completely different attitude towards Chihaya Aine.

Unlike her confrontational attitude towards Xiang, she would obediently accept his concern and even let him help cut the cake.

Are I really friends with Youyu?

I envy... their relationship...

【Xiao Mu...】

After a long time, Metis's voice rang in Wakaba Mutsu's mind again.

As another personality sharing memories, she can not only understand what Wakaba Mutsu says, but also perceive some of her inner thoughts.

When this intricate relationship, so complex that even Memetis's thought process couldn't fully unravel it, was so decisively defined by Wakaba Mutsu... she was very unhappy.

Why should I? Mr. Youyu is indeed Xiangzi's fiancée, but she is also the first friend I made. Can't I care about her too?

Soyo is right, you always manage to say annoying things with such ease.

Faced with Metis's criticism, Ruoye Mu did not refute it, but simply lowered his face even further.

She was actually aware that she would mess things up as soon as she opened her mouth.

But this was the first time she had faced accusations from another version of herself, so much so that she had no idea how to refute them.

Although, she's not the type to argue with others.

"Then lend me your body, I'll call Mr. Youyu. I'm not Xiangzi's other half, I won't cause her any trouble."

Seeing Wakaba Mutsu's attitude of keeping his head down and not listening to anyone's words, Metis felt a surge of anger and even wanted to demand control of his body from his other self.

"No."

With a gentle shake of her head, Ruo Yemu casually rejected Metis's request.

She may not be able to compete with her more cheerful and outgoing self in terms of verbal sparring, but in any case, she is the one who has control over her body.

However, just as Ruoye Mu shook her head, the screen of the phone she was holding in her arms quietly lit up.

Yuu Toyokawa: [Mumu, have you eaten?]

............................................................

Sitting back down at her computer desk, Toyokawa Yuu looked at the gradually improving project proposal, but her thoughts became increasingly unfocused.

This would have been an absolutely impossible situation in the past.

Although we often argue, we also don't shy away from complaining that the other person is always being willful and increasing our workload.

But when it comes to real work, Toyokawa Yuu has never been careless.

Given Ave Mujica's recent affairs, he had to be quite focused to complete those tasks within his already limited time.

Now, having finally gotten rid of his fiancée who had suddenly made him feel somewhat uncomfortable but quickly returned to her familiar state, Toyokawa Yuu finds herself unable to get back into the focused state she used to be in when working.

Is it because of the production teams' evasive tactics that you're finding it hard to adjust to the reduced workload?

But this plan in my hand is something that really needs to be completed as soon as possible, and I shouldn't have any time to overthink things.

Or perhaps you just fainted, which is causing you to feel somewhat lacking in energy...

No, I think my mental state is pretty good.

Rubbing her temples, Toyokawa Yuu tried to find the reason, but she had no clue about her distracted state.

In the end, he could only shift the blame onto Toyokawa Shoko.

It's all that guy's fault. Although I don't know what that young lady did wrong this time, I only had contact with her today, so it's definitely her responsibility.

"call......"

Yuu Toyokawa let out a long breath. He realized that blaming Shoko Toyokawa for his scattered thoughts was useless, and for the time being, he seemed to feel somewhat resistant to the work at hand.

Anyway, as long as it's finished before evening, it should be fine. After it's done, I still need to discuss it with Sumimi's manager. She can't communicate with the production team until tomorrow at the earliest.

My gaze inadvertently swept over the lunchbox placed next to the coffee table. Toyokawa Shoko said she was there to clean the stains on his suit, so the leftover food wasn't cleaned up immediately.

By the way, Xiao Mu, I don't know if she's getting used to her lunch.

Although I bought a mini-fridge specifically to store the food, it was still left overnight, so the taste and texture were not good.

Even if her family background is not as good as Toyokawa Shoko's, Ye Mu is still the eldest daughter of an entertainment family, and she may not be able to get used to that kind of food.

I should ask. If I don't like the food, I'll bring my own food from outside in the future.

This also saves Toyokawa Shoko, the top student, from having nothing better to do that day and skipping class under the pretext of bringing him food.

If this really happens, and it gets known by her former friends or Chihaya Aine, and it reaches Nagasaki Sase's ears...

That already annoying woman might get even worse.

Thinking of this, Toyokawa Yuu took out her phone and sent a message to Wakaba Mutsu.