After Xiangzi died, I inherited her harem.

Page 29

Miku Miku is a loyal follower of Toyokawa Shoko, and even if she is grateful for his kindness now, it's hard to say what her attitude will be in the future.

Right now, the most useful person for Yuu Toyokawa in this band is Kairin Hachiman.

"However, now that Miss Yutenji has settled down, Mr. Yuu's request to me in [RING] should be considered complete, right?"

Not getting the answer she wanted from Yuu Toyokawa, Kairin Hachiman had to change the subject to ease the awkward atmosphere in the office.

"Not yet, Hachiman. It's far from time to relax."

He gently dismissed Hachiman Kairin's sentiments, took out a folder from the drawer, and lightly tapped the girl's lower back with the plastic cover.

"The concert is just around the corner. Besides the staff's schedule, I'm afraid I'll need you to help me with some of the venue setup, Hachiman."

The gentle words reached the girl's ears, causing her emerald-green eyes to widen slightly.

The setup of a concert venue is extremely important. No matter how well you practice in the rehearsal room, if the venue is messed up, all the preparations will be in vain.

When Ave Mujica premiered, the concert setup was entirely handled by Shoko Toyokawa, even though Kairin Hachiman offered to help, she firmly refused.

Unexpectedly, Yuu Toyokawa invited me to do this kind of thing together.

"Is it alright to entrust such an important task to me?"

Turning around, Hachiman Kairin solemnly accepted the folder with both hands, feeling somewhat flattered.

"I told you when I first arrived that some tasks would have to be handed over to you sooner or later, and I believe you won't let me down... Oh, by the way, this is for you."

A small box arced through the air. Hearing the sound, Hachiman Kairin quickly turned around and caught it, only to find that it was the same drink she had given to Toyokawa Yuu before.

Looking at the cute panda pattern on the beverage box, Hachiman Kairin smiled.

"Don't worry, you just need to... trust me as always."

As Yuu Toyokawa watched Hachiman leave the office and the door closed, she secretly breathed a sigh of relief.

It seems that there shouldn't be any problems with Hachiman Kairin's side in the short term.

Chapter 57 Xiao Xiang, you're here, right?

Nine years and three hundred and sixty days before Toyokawa Shoko's death, at dusk.

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

The blinding sunlight was gradually obscured by the twilight, and the city's neon lights became increasingly dazzling in the dim sky.

As the date of Ave Mujica's second concert approached, the performance hall where the concert was to be held was closed long ago under the pretext of "preparations".

However, the closure does not mean that this performance hall is unnoticed.

On the contrary, a considerable number of people had already gathered outside the performance hall, holding admission tickets with the Ave Mujica logo.

Although they only had one debut performance, with the support of various subsequent programs and events, the buzz surrounding the previous imitator band, and the endorsement of actress Minami Mori, Ave Mujica's popularity is far beyond what any emerging band can achieve.

Even many established bands may not have the same level of publicity as them.

In recent days, promotions for Ave Mujica's second concert have been shining brightly on the rooftop screens of various buildings in Tokyo, and the band's promotional posters are everywhere.

Unlike other girl bands that are either sunny and cheerful or youthful and cute, Ave Mujica's poster stands out from the crowd, especially in terms of its background color scheme.

Five girls wearing black masks and dressed in gothic-style clothing stood in the shadows. Their figures, outlined by special lighting, looked sharp and arrogant, which was quite in line with the style of Ave Mujica's music.

But no matter how you look at it, Toyokawa Yuu still felt that this was a bit too childish.

Setting down the poster in her hand, Toyokawa Yuu sat down in her seat, stretched, and took out her phone to check the date.

It's been... three days already.

Three days have passed since he was poisoned to death by Nagasaki Sase ten years later and returned to this era.

It took longer than the previous two backtracking sessions combined.

Yuu Toyokawa himself wasn't sure how this timeframe was defined, but he had a vague feeling that he was getting closer and closer to returning to the point in time ten years in the future.

The feeling that everything would be different if he closed his eyes became stronger and stronger, so he hadn't dared to sleep since yesterday, and hadn't even had a short time to rest with his eyes closed.

...Hopefully, nothing goes wrong at any important time.

He has at least two goals to achieve with this concert, in order to verify what effect his extended stay will have ten years later.

And...whether it will affect the cause and time of Toyokawa Shoko's death.

He had to bring Toyokawa Shoko back to life ten years later, but unfortunately, the first two attempts to rewind his life failed to change the fate of his deceased wife.

While others could easily see initial results with just a little effort, Toyokawa Shoko's death seemed like some kind of anchored truth, leaving Toyokawa Yuu completely unmoved no matter what she did.

"Mr. Yuyu, there are only two hours left before the performance starts. Would you like to come with me for a final check?"

The voice of Hachiman Kairin reached Toyokawa Yuu's ears, bringing him back to his senses.

Looking up, the girl with black hair and emerald eyes was still wearing her usual black leather jacket, her capable and sharp style making her look nothing like a first-year high school student.

Thinking about it carefully, it seems that not only Hachiman Kairin, but also Misumi Hatsune who always shows a confident smile when singing is from Hanasakigawa Academy, and even Shiina Tatsuki is from the same school.

The school uniforms in Hanasakigawa are so good at making people look tough; the students all look more sophisticated than working adults.

"Have all the follow-up inspections been completed? They're even better than I expected."

"Thanks to the help of the staff, they are indeed professional agencies specially arranged by the agency, and their business skills are quite proficient... Of course, I am also grateful for Mr. Youyu's trust, which is why I have this opportunity."

When the topic of setting up the venue came up, a flush of excitement immediately appeared on Hachiman Kairin's face.

Although the main setup of the venue was still done by Yuu Toyokawa, all that was left to me was to do the follow-up checks to ensure that everything was perfect.

But for an agent to entrust such a task to a bassist who should be performing on stage is already a tremendous act of trust.

Therefore, Yawata Kairin conducted an exceptionally thorough inspection, and fortunately, the staff were very cooperative, saving her a lot of trouble as she had little experience.

Looking at the smile on Hachiman Kairin's face, Toyokawa Yuu couldn't help but feel a pang of emotion.

Now, among the band members, only being with her makes things a little easier.

“You’re my deputy, who else can I trust if I don’t trust you… But there are only two hours left before it officially starts, haven’t you gone to put on your makeup yet, Hachiman?”

"There's still some time, no need to rush. Besides, I'm a bassist, and I'm wearing a mask, so my face is still pretty enough. As long as my makeup isn't too perfunctory, it'll be acceptable."

"You just need to know how to schedule it yourself."

Since Yawata Kairin said so, Toyokawa Yuu naturally had nothing to refute.

"However, I'm afraid I can't go with you on the final inspection. Concerts of this scale usually sell VIP tickets at high prices, which allow VIPs to enter the venue early and even have a brief interaction with the performers backstage. You should know that, right?"

"VIP interaction... Oh no, has it already come to this?"

Reminded by Yuu Toyokawa, Kairin Hachiman suddenly remembered that there seemed to be this part.

This was a treatment Ave Mujica didn't receive at their debut, since their management company at the time wasn't entirely sure if this somewhat unconventional band would succeed.

Now that Ave Mujica has become an overnight sensation, her management company naturally wouldn't miss any opportunity to make money and immediately started making arrangements.

However, because she was so engrossed in setting up the venue, the usually time-management expert, she made a rare oversight and forgot about the event.

"Don't worry, there's still time to go to the dressing room. Due to the nature of the Ave Mujica masked band, the so-called backstage interaction will not only be short but also involve some distance. Just go through the motions and say hello. I'll hand out autographs and such."

"Then I'll leave it to you, Mr. Youyu!"

As soon as Yuu Toyokawa finished speaking, Kairin Hachiman rushed out of the room.

Watching the girl's departing figure, Toyokawa Yuu smiled helplessly.

There's a bit too much to do next.

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

"Soyorin, Akari, Tanuki, Rakuna... This way, this way, if we don't go in soon, the VIP entrance will close."

Outside the performance hall, a pink and energetic figure waved to the crowd, making it easier for those who arrived late to find their seats.

Chihaya Aine never imagined that she would have the chance to enter a concert early through the VIP channel.

Although her family was relatively well-off, her parents strictly controlled her allowance due to their strict upbringing.

These VIP early admission tickets, which can only be bought at high prices, were far beyond her means, not to mention that sometimes even if you have the money, you might not be able to buy them.

Feeling the envious gazes of the other people waiting to enter, Chihaya Aine, though she didn't perform on stage, still got to experience being the center of attention.

"Aine, don't run so fast. Lamp isn't used to crowded places... Rakunai, you can't run around like that, okay?"

The brown-haired girl, whose demeanor was nothing like that of a high school student, grabbed the Persian cat girl's wrist and sighed helplessly as she looked at her overly excited companion.

If she were to grow any taller, she would likely appear to be a generation above her peers in the eyes of outsiders.

but……

Nagasaki Sase looked at the brightly decorated performance hall in front of him, his gaze sweeping over the huge poster of Ave Mujica on the wall, and lingering the longest on the silhouette of Oblivionis surrounded by the crowd in the center.

Xiao Xiang, you're actually... right here, aren't you?

Chapter 58: The Go Team Unboxes Their Boxes (9k views, please subscribe!)

In front of a window backstage at the performance hall, Yutenji Wakame looked out at the bustling crowds and glow sticks through a one-way transparent wound, her heart gradually racing.

Tension, anticipation, and a touch of fear—complex emotions surged along with the glow sticks flashing like a tide outside the window.

She had looked out at the crowds like this before, during the premiere of Ave Mujica.

But she only glanced at it briefly, and then sneakily ran up to the stage to film her behind-the-scenes moments, intending to get some "exclusive scoops," without taking these things to heart at all.

So, it turns out that so many people were actually looking forward to me... although to a large extent they were just looking forward to Ave Mujica, and I was just a side project.

Previously, Yutenji Wakana would probably have tried every means to convert this popularity into something belonging to Nyanmu-chan, racking her brains for this purpose.

But now, none of that matters anymore.

After signing Ave Mujica to a contract, Yutenji Wakame even began to sincerely hope that the band could last and become even more successful.

After all, he was now tied to this erratic galactic warship, and if he didn't want to drown, he could only try to get it to the other side.

Speaking of which, compared to the previous premiere, this concert seemed to have added a backstage interaction segment before the official start, which was specifically designed to rake in money with high-priced tickets...

Reaching out to adjust the mask on her face, Yutenji Wakana suddenly felt a little uneasy.

Before this, she had actually hinted quite a few times in her videos that Miaomengqin was Amoris from Ave Mujica.

If I get recognized at this stage, my career as Amoris will probably be over.

She had only recently signed a contract of servitude, and if she were to cause trouble in this kind of situation again, she couldn't imagine what kind of expression Yuu Toyokawa would have on her face.

"Ha, life really is unpredictable."

Her purple eyes became slightly unfocused, and the focus of her gaze shifted. Yutenji Wakana looked at her own reflection in the glass and murmured to herself.

"I used to be thinking about revealing my identity, but now I hope no one can recognize me."

A few days ago, Yutenji Wakana would never have imagined that she would have such thoughts.

But ever since Miaomengqin's account no longer belonged to her, she even felt an unprecedented sense of relief.

That wasn't a matter of giving up on oneself, but rather a matter of having enough time.

No more staying up all night editing videos, no more racking your brains to come up with titles that will attract viewers, and no more trembling with fear over a single negative comment in the comments section.

In Yutenji Wakana's memory, it had been a long time since she had enjoyed a night so leisurely that she could turn on video games.

Is all of this because I chose to give up and sold myself for a decent price?

Some hurried footsteps interrupted Yutenji Wakana's thoughts. The doll named after love turned around and saw Hachiman Kairin holding her tablet and rushing to the dressing room.

"Hey, Hai Zi, you're finally back! Is the backstage setup all done?"

Seeing Hachiman Kairin rushing over, slightly out of breath, with beads of sweat on her forehead, Yutenji Wakanagi greeted his companion quite naturally.

Now that he no longer needed to try to convert Ave Mujica's popularity into his own personal gain, Yutenji Wakana's interactions within the team became much more natural.

At least in terms of attitude, it is no longer filled with that kind of utilitarianism that is hard to hide.

"It wouldn't be a problem to leave this to Mr. Youyu, would it? It'll be difficult for you to do your makeup later if you do it like this."

"We can't leave everything to Mr. Youyu to worry about."

After giving a brief reply, Yawata Kairin pushed open the door and entered the backstage dressing room.

Seeing the anxious look in his eyes, which seemed to be a bit too busy, Yutenji Wakame remembered that the bassist had been missing some training sessions these past few days because he was helping Toyokawa Yuu with the venue setup.

Toyokawa Shoko actually had some reservations about this, but Yawata Kairin's playing technique did indeed allow her to play flawlessly even with compressed rehearsal time.