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Page 214
"This is different from the style of the songs you gave us before. Is this your recent inspiration?" Teacher Da Xiang said excitedly.
Banami glanced at Maki over there subconsciously, then mumbled a reply.
Then, Maki simply smiled and watched the two chat.
"Be careful, or your own Meow Dream might usurp your throne."
"Hmph, there can only be one captain in the Mother Hen Card team, and that's me. Don't worry about that."
"You didn't say that when you were crying because of Metis."
"Hanami, only petty men would bring up old grievances."
Unlike her usual gentle demeanor when interacting with the Shiina sisters, Maki felt her heart tighten slightly as she looked at the lighthearted smile on Hanami's face.
And it confirmed the fact that the two sisters already knew in their hearts.
"By the way, when are you and Lixi going to have your wedding? Do you need my help? It was such a shame last time..."
After saying that, Teacher Daisho seemed to realize that there were other people present, and quickly said with a red face, "Maki-senpai, I'm not blaming you."
Maki remained silent, only shaking her head with a light laugh.
Xiangzi quickly continued, "I have a few ideas in mind. Since we've already had a Western-style wedding, why don't we let Lixi try wearing a white kimono?"
Anyway, you'll definitely like it. As long as you like it, Lixi definitely won't refuse.
The girl said with a hint of bitterness.
Just as Banami was about to speak, Xiangzi's phone rang: "Oh no, I forgot I had an appointment with Hatsuka. Let's talk about this another time. I'm leaving now."
Then the girl with light blue hair hurriedly left in a panic.
It seems she was so engrossed in chatting with Banami that she completely forgot about her appointment with Hatsuka.
"That girl still likes you, I can tell," Maki said softly.
"Don't say such nasty things," Banami said in a low voice.
"I know that in the beginning, the one I liked was neither me nor Lixi, but her."
Maki doesn't seem to intend to let the boy off the hook. In fact, both Maki and Riki already knew this fact in their hearts.
But just as Lixi thought, things are very different now than they were eight years ago, whether it's the relationship between Maki and Banami or his relationship with Toyokawa Shoko.
The next moment, Maki leaned gently on Hanami's shoulder and said, "It's okay, Yu, I don't care about this kind of thing."
After all, she had long since stopped believing in love, something that couldn't be made into something real.
"You want me to go abroad with you?" Banami asked, turning her head.
But Maki simply said, "That was your own choice."
Even though it was something that concerned her, Maki's tone was cold and indifferent.
It's as if she doesn't know what she would have to give up if Banami really went abroad with her.
That is a choice that, as a human being, should absolutely not make.
She paused for a moment, then said, "However, if you really do that, then I will..."
I will dedicate everything I have to you.
Thinking this, Maki gently moved closer to Hanami's cheek, as if she were feeling his warmth.
She looked at the boy with his head down and understood what was tearing him apart.
But seeing him struggle so painfully filled Maki's empty heart with something.
"Sorry, I forgot my handbag..."
Then, each of the two, immersed in their own mental worlds, failed to realize that Toyokawa Shoko had returned.
"What...are you doing?" She looked at the two people getting closer and closer like a couple, her face showing a shocked expression.
Banai looked up in surprise, and immediately, Xiangzi fled as if running away, grabbing his handbag and leaving.
Chapter Seventy-Six: Disgusting
As night fell, Banami pushed Maki's wheelchair to the front door.
Maki couldn't help but whisper, "Hanami, why don't you go after Shoko? Aren't you afraid she'll tell Ritsuki about this?"
But Banami didn't answer. She just stood at the door, looking somewhat afraid, and went inside.
Judging from the light filtering through the door, Lixi had already returned.
Maki continued in a lighthearted tone, "Hanami, you're really cunning. You actually hope that Toyokawa Shoko will tell Tatsuki all of this."
In this way, you don't need to say anything, and you can even hand the choice to Lixi based on her reaction.
For example, Lixi sees you cheating and breaks up with you, or she forgives you but makes you never see me again.
Whatever the answer, you can go with the flow and avoid facing inner torment.
"Shut up," Banami said coldly.
"I really like the way you treat me so coldly," Maki said, her eyes slightly narrowed as if she were enjoying it.
In the end, Hanami opened the door and pushed the wheelchair inside.
Perhaps hearing the noise from the entrance, Lixi, wearing an apron, came out. Judging from the sound of the soup pot boiling, it seemed that Lixi was cooking.
"Why are you two so late? I've almost finished cooking dinner," Li hope said in her usual tone.
“Maki and I went to see Shoko today. We talked about it before, about Shoko asking me to sing a song…” Banami looked into Ritsuki’s eyes, as if trying to read something.
Ke Lixi, however, didn't seem to care and said, "I remember now, that guy Xiangzi, he secretly asked you to sing a song with him, that 'Cat Stealing Fish,' without my permission."
Li hope muttered a curse, leaving Banai unsure whether to feel relieved or disappointed.
It seems that Xiangzi didn't tell Lixi what he saw at all.
Just then, Banami's phone rang; it was Shoko calling.
"Now, let's go to our usual coffee shop right away. I'll be waiting for you."
The girl on the other end of the line spoke coldly and hung up the phone immediately.
Looking at Riki and Maki beside her, Banami said, "Sorry, there seems to be a problem with that song. I have to go out now. You two eat first, don't wait for me."
After saying that, before the two could leave, Banai ran out of the house.
"Hey, Banami..." Riki called out from behind, but couldn't get through to him at all.
"Honestly, that bastard always grants Toyokawa Shoko's every wish," Riki muttered to himself, standing there.
But Maki smiled and said, "That's because he feels guilty towards Xiangzi. Men, the more guilty they feel, the better they will treat the person they feel guilty towards."
Just like with you, Lixi.
But to Lixi, those words sounded incredibly jarring.
***
With a loud slap, a girl with light blue pigtails slapped the man hard across the face.
Her expression was so angry that the slaps were merciless, drawing the attention of the other patrons in the café.
They would naturally mistakenly assume that this is how a girl reacts when faced with a cheating man.
"Yana Miyu, do you even know what you're doing? Do you know your own identity?"
Toyokawa Shoko's questions resonated deeply within Hanami's heart.
"Of course I know. I am the son-in-law of the Shiina family, the husband of Riki, and... your friend."
Hearing Banami's emotionless reply, Xiangzi's anger intensified: "If you knew that, why did you still do that kind of thing with Maki-senpai?"
She's Lixi's older sister. Have you thought about what would happen if Lixi found out?
In terms of reasoning, no one can compare to the girl in front of me, and it has always been that way.
Although she herself often fails to do it.
Banami's face remained expressionless as she said, "If that's the case, why don't you tell Riki about this?"
Tell her that her husband is having an affair with her sister.
Xiangzi wanted to slap his face again, but he held back in the end. He said with some sadness on his face, "Do you think I don't want to? But when I think about how sad Lixi will be, I can't say it."
Banami, I'm giving you one chance. Cut ties with Shiina Maki and it's best if you never see her again.
As a mutual friend of yours and Lixi's, if you can do that, then... I will pretend I didn't see what happened today.
But... if you still want to continue this illicit relationship, I will... tell Lixi everything, and... I will no longer be your friend.
The two were once the closest comrades-in-arms, the best of friends, and the most compatible partners.
But now, their remaining friendship seems to have come to an end.
"Don't blame me for pressuring you, Banami. We're all adults now, and adults must learn to take responsibility for themselves," Xiangzi said seriously.
Yes, there isn't as much romance in the adult world, but even so, there are still inescapable responsibilities.
To his surprise, at this moment, Banami actually... smiled at her.
Then, he gave her an answer that left her feeling utterly hopeless.
"Tell Lixi about this."
***
Even if it was a dish she made herself, Li hope was naturally disappointed that her loved one couldn't taste it, and she was even a little absent-minded.
"What happened today? Why did you look so pale when you came back?"
Lixi gently raised her head and looked at her older sister, who was now able to eat on her own.
Maki slowly chewed the rice in her mouth, then put down her spoon and calmly said to her sister, "It's probably because I told him that I was going abroad."
Thunder on the ground.
Maki's reaction to Riki's reaction at this moment was no less than that of Hanami.
***
A cup of coffee was splashed on Banami's face. That was... Xiangzi's answer.
But for Banami, the scolding and rudeness of others actually lessened his guilt.
"Xiangzi, Maki is determined to go abroad now. She's a woman of her word."
“I always let her down, always made her despair, and then, step by step, pushed her into an even deeper abyss.”
"I have the responsibility of a husband to Riki, the responsibility of a son-in-law to the Shiina family, and the responsibility of a friend to you all."
"I also have a responsibility towards Maki-nee."
"Your responsibility is to fool around with her?" Xiangzi said in a sharp and sarcastic tone.
Banami paused for a moment and said, "I've never slept with her."
Xiangzi was surprised by the guy's answer.
What's wrong with this guy today?
"However, my responsibilities to Riki and you, as well as to Maki, are conflicting."
"I must choose one side, and then abandon my responsibilities to the other," Hanami said in a calm, serene tone.
But beneath the calm surface of the lake, no one knows how much turmoil is churning within.
Xiangzi couldn't help but frown slightly.
Banami paused for a moment, then continued, "I don't know what to choose. No matter what I choose, it will only bring me pain."
But I think it doesn't really matter how I become, as long as Riki and Maki don't end up in the worst possible situation.
"For Lixi, isn't your infidelity the worst thing?" Xiangzi questioned again.
These voices and questions had actually appeared in Banami's ears countless times.
Banami raised her head and said to Shoko, "But even if I'm not here, Riki still has you, Shiina's parents, and his own career by his side."
Maki said she was going abroad and that she had a relative overseas, but I checked and it's not true.
She just wanted to get away from everything she was doing now.
svetikya