Page 515
Page 515
Banai couldn't hold it in for a moment and almost spat out the water in her mouth.
He glanced at Xiaoxiang with a slightly teasing look, making her feel a little uneasy, and then said to Hatsune Miku, "It's okay, I'll go see your live performance tonight."
Eh... isn't Saki-chan going?
Hatsune was immediately overwhelmed with a conflicting mix of regret and excitement.
Ah, who understands the pain of a girl who likes both a boy and a girl at the same time?
Suddenly, as if she had thought of something, Banami leaned closer and said with a mischievous grin, "Speaking of which, if you two girls go for a pregnancy check-up together, won't people have some strange associations? Like... the citrus scent, leaving the child even though the father is gone, or maybe it's lesbian deception or something?"
Upon hearing this, Xiangzi and Hatsune's faces fell. They exchanged a glance and, with perfect understanding, raised their middle fingers at Yanami, saying in unison, "Get lost!"
Ugh, so vulgar! Who taught them this? They've corrupted these kind (probably) and lovely (possibly) girls like Bangbang.
Chapter Three is fate, an unfair fate that brought me here.
The night was as dark as ink, staining the entire LIVE venue.
Under the spotlight, Miku Miku stood in the center of the stage with her guitar on her back. The moment her fingertips swept across the strings, her heroic spirit and charm intertwined, instantly igniting the enthusiasm of the entire audience.
But no one knew that this idol, who shone brightly on stage, was uncontrollably scanning the crowd below, eagerly searching for a certain figure.
The venue was too big, the cheers were too loud, and the dense crowd made her eyes blurry, so she couldn't pinpoint that familiar figure.
A fleeting moment of distraction and disappointment crossed her eyes. Hatsune Miku slightly tightened her grip on the guitar strap, but quickly composed herself. Imitating Hatsune Miku, she put on a bright smile and said loudly into the microphone, "Well then, that concludes SUMIMI's performance tonight. I hope you all have a wonderful evening. Goodbye!"
The gentle yet powerful voice resonated throughout the venue through the speakers, and the fans' enthusiasm not only did not diminish but became even more intense. Shouts of "Encore," "Hatsune Miku," and "SUMIMI" rose and fell, almost lifting the roof off the venue.
Hatsune smiled and waved to the audience. Out of the corner of her eye, she noticed that Mana was standing there somewhat blankly. She gently touched Mana's arm, signaling her to come offstage with her.
Backstage, the noise was shut out by the heavy doors. Mana snapped out of her daze, her eyes sparkling as she looked at Hatsune Miku: "Today's performance was a huge success! Hatsune-chan's guitar solo was so cool!"
Hatsune felt a warmth rise in her heart and was about to reply, "Mana-chan's singing is also great," when her gaze unconsciously drifted towards the backstage corridor, still searching for that figure. Mana seemed to notice her absent-mindedness but didn't think much of it, simply smiling and saying, "Um, I'm going to the restroom first."
"Okay, sure." Hatsune nodded, and after watching Mana's figure disappear around the corner of the passage, she immediately quickened her pace, weaving through the busy staff, her eyes searching anxiously. Just as she was about to be disappointed, someone gently patted her shoulder.
Hatsune suddenly turned around and bumped into Banami's smiling eyes.
"Where did you go? I've been looking for you for ages." Hatsune pouted slightly, her tone slightly reproachful, like a golden retriever who had lost its owner.
Banai smiled, waved her hands behind her back, and the next second, as if by magic, she handed a bright red rose to her, saying in a light tone, "I'll go prepare the magic props for you."
Hatsune's eyes lit up instantly, as if filled with starlight. Forgetting all about being reserved, she eagerly snatched the rose from his hand, her fingertips gently caressing the soft petals.
The slight annoyance I felt earlier vanished instantly, and when I looked at the gentle-smiling boy in front of me—ah, this boy is damnably sweet.
Unable to suppress the flutter in her heart, Hatsune glanced at the backstage passageway, which was bustling with people but not crowded, and grabbed Banami's wrist, her voice carrying a hint of urgency: "Yu-kun, come with me."
"Ouch, what are you doing~" Banai staggered as she was suddenly pulled hard, and was dragged deeper into the backstage area like a kite with a broken string.
A moment later, the two stopped in a secluded corner, where the lights were dim and the outside sounds were almost inaudible. Hatsune's breathing became rapid, her chest heaving slightly with soft "hissing" sounds, clearly indicating that she was not just tired from the strenuous activity on stage.
“Yu-kun.” She looked up at Banami, her eyes watery, as if veiled by a thin mist, filled with undisguised longing and yearning.
Banami hesitated for a moment, then reached out and gently touched her cheek, her tone teasing: "Uh, if I kiss you, you won't faint again, will you?"
Hatsune paused slightly, the light in her eyes dimming for a moment, but she quickly regained her confidence and said with flushed cheeks, "N-It's okay! It's just a kiss, I've overcome it! I didn't faint when I was with you and Hatsune-chan last time."
Isn't that because your sister is there?
Banami silently complained in her heart, but looking at the expectant and stubborn look in her eyes, and recalling how she was fawned over by thousands of fans on stage just now—this radiant idol was only showing such a charming and innocent attitude to her, and was even willing to be pressed down in the dim corner and kissed wantonly by her.
A surge of heat welled up inside him, and Banami raised her hand to brace herself against the wall beside her, trapping her firmly between herself and the wall. He then lowered his head and kissed her.
The moment their lips touched, Hatsune's body tensed up instinctively, but she quickly relaxed and even stood on tiptoe to meet his kiss.
The distinct touch, the warm breath, and the familiar scent of the boy all intertwined and flooded her senses, instantly exciting her. Her hands unconsciously wrapped around Banami's neck, deepening the kiss.
This time, she really didn't faint.
After an unknown amount of time, just as Hatsune was so weak from the kiss that she could barely stand, she suddenly caught a glimpse of a familiar black figure out of the corner of her eye.
Her heart skipped a beat, and she instinctively released her lips, turning her head sharply. When she saw that it was Junda Mana, her face was full of surprise: "Mana-chan? You, how come you're here?"
Mana Junda stood not far away, her face pale, her eyes wide, her lips trembling slightly, her voice filled with disbelief and shock: "Hatsune-chan, you...you actually..."
Seeing this, Hatsune secretly breathed a sigh of relief.
Thankfully, it was Mana, not a staff member of the venue, nor another fan, but just her closest partner.
Being caught by the person she trusted most, she felt a little shy, but also a hint of smugness at having her best friend discover her relationship.
Seeing that Mana was also clearly visible, and noticing the strange and somewhat repulsive expression on her face, Banami said softly to Hatsune, "I'm leaving now, you explain to her."
Hatsune nodded slightly. In this situation, it was indeed difficult to have some private conversations with Banami present.
Watching Banami's figure quickly disappear at the end of the passage, she hurried to Mana's side, her cheeks still flushed, and a secret excitement lurking within her.
Aside from the group of amazing people in her family, Mana is the only companion she can "brag" about having a "boyfriend".
In the future, the three of them might even go on a date. Of course, she and Banami are a couple, while Mana-chan is just hanging out with her.
She took a deep breath, deciding not to hide it anymore. Her face flushed, and she spoke with a hint of excitement, "Um, Mana-chan, actually, he and I..."
But before she could finish speaking, Junda Mana abruptly interrupted her.
Mana stepped forward, grabbed her shoulders, her eyes filled with disbelief, her voice trembling slightly: "Hatsune-chan, Toyokawa Yuuki... isn't he your sister Mizuho's son? How could you..."
Hatsune's smile froze instantly, and she stood there stunned, as if struck by lightning. She blinked, her mind blank, only Mana's words echoing repeatedly in her ears—her sister's son?
And this kind of setting?
Okay, she's completely forgotten.
Hatsune slowly turned her head and met Mana's gaze, which was a mixture of shock, confusion, and an indescribable sense of rejection. The blush on her cheeks instantly faded, replaced by a deathly paleness.
How will I appear in Mana-chan's eyes?
Chapter Four: You Too Possess Amazing Wisdom?
Away from the screams of fans and the scorching heat of the spotlight in the live venue, the cool night breeze blew against her body, allowing Hatsune Miku to completely calm down from her previous excitement.
As she walked back to her dormitory, the image of Junta Mana witnessing that scene kept replaying in her mind, her eyes filled with disbelief. It felt like tiny needles pricking her heart, making her feel increasingly uneasy.
After all, in Mana's eyes, she had now become that kind of perverted and immoral person.
Actually, clearing up this misunderstanding is quite simple. Just tell Mana about Banami's true identity and his special ability, and everything will become clear.
But she refused. Firstly, the secret of Banami was only revealed to "one of their own," which, to put it bluntly, was an exclusive secret of Yuuki's harem.
Mana isn't part of the harem, and she doesn't like Hanami at all. How could I easily tell her such an important secret?
Hatsune Miku rejected the plan because of the sense of superiority she felt as part of a secret clique.
But if I don't tell her, Mana will continue to misunderstand, and my image in Mana's mind will completely collapse.
Now, being single-minded has really backfired, leaving us stuck in two directions.
What pains her most is that Mana is now her only remaining friend with whom she shares the purest and most beautiful friendship.
Hatsune actually knew that ever since she moved into the Toyokawa family's house, in Shoko's eyes, the mysterious person she used to be had become unbearable to look at.
Everyone probably thinks she's a pervert whose mind is filled with Yuuki and Saki-chan, right? (sad)
She didn't want to, she just couldn't control herself.
Mana is different. Her partner still sees her as that gentle, kind, warm, generous, beautiful, and dashing guitarist partner and friend on stage.
Instead of... a big golden retriever that only knows how to whimper.
The current Hatsune Miku absolutely does not want her image in Mana-chan's mind to be ruined.
But unfortunately, her kiss with Xi Jun just now was misunderstood by her.
Pushing open the dormitory door, the two remained silent the whole way, the atmosphere heavy as if a stone were pressing down on them.
They sat facing each other across the table, the light casting long shadows, and neither of them spoke first to break the silence.
Junda Mana pursed her dry lips, her fingertips unconsciously digging into the edge of the table. Finally, she spoke first, her tone carrying a hint of disbelief: "I didn't ask you anything the whole way here. Now, do you have anything to say?"
The tone was as if to say, "Even if you're going to lie to me, you should at least come up with an excuse," both expecting Hatsune Miku to refute it and subtly preparing to accept the truth.
Hatsune immediately tensed up. Seeing that she didn't speak, Mana continued to ask, "I don't believe Hatsune-chan is that kind of person."
Waaah, I'm sorry, that's just who I am.
"Or is it that Hatsune Miku isn't actually Toyokawa Yuuki's aunt?" Mana asked, as if grasping at the last straw, a glimmer of hope flashing in her eyes.
I'm not his aunt, but I can't tell you that reason, Mana-chan.
"Or is it that the Hatsune Miku I knew before was actually a fake, and the one who just kissed Toyokawa-kun was the real you?"
That really was... Hatsune's heart clenched suddenly.
But how could she admit it? Mana-chan was already the only girl in the world who looked at her with adoration. She couldn't lose that admiration, and she couldn't let Mana know her true self.
"Hatsune-chan, say something!" Mana's voice was trembling with tears, which made Hatsune feel sad too.
"I'm sorry, Yu-kun," Hatsune silently repeated in her heart, as if making a firm decision.
She slowly raised her head, all panic gone from her eyes, and said, word by word, "I am indeed Xi Jun's aunt."
"Huh?!" Mana stared at her as if struck by lightning, her eyes widening in disbelief.
Hearing Hatsune Miku admit it herself, her years of positive feelings towards her blonde partner seemed to shatter in an instant.
In the morning, she was secretly fantasizing about being able to form SUMIMI with Hatsune Miku, living in this little dormitory together, singing and living together. How wonderful that would be.
But now, this beautiful dream has been shattered, and my heart feels like it has been pierced by a sharp thorn.
It hurts, it hurts too much.
Hatsune felt incredibly guilty seeing her pained expression, but she could only grit her teeth and continue acting. She lowered her eyes slightly, a blush of shame spreading across her cheeks, and said timidly, "But...but I didn't...willingly."
Mana froze instantly, her eyes widening in confusion: "Not voluntary? What do you mean?"
"You mean, it was Toyokawa who forced you? But... why?" Junta Mana looked doubtful, her tone full of confusion.
After all, her initial impression of that boy was quite good.
How could he possibly lay a hand on his own aunt?
Hatsune's cheeks flushed even redder. This was the first time she had lied so openly, especially to her most trusted partner. Her heart was pounding so hard it felt like it was going to burst out of her chest.
Uh, you mean a fake Hatsune Miku... is that the same thing?
She took a deep breath, adjusted her tone, and forced a look of pity, bitterness, and helplessness onto her face as she slowly spoke: "Yu-kun... do you remember the news about his engagement to Ms. Banami Shoko?"
Mana nodded gently. The engagement scandal had caused quite a stir back then, and it was during that time that Hatsune told her she was going back to the Toyokawa family, and that's when she learned that Hatsune had this other identity.
"Don't you find it strange that Xi Jun would choose a girl from a humble background and insist on marrying her?"
Hatsune Miku countered with a question, deliberately steer the conversation in that direction.
Mana looked clearly puzzled.
When this issue was first exposed in the news, it was a topic of discussion across the internet. After all, it was the position of the mistress of the Toyokawa family, a position that many daughters of prominent families would flock to. However, Yuuki chose to marry Shoko Hachimi, who had no background whatsoever.
She had been curious before, but had always been too shy to ask. Now that Hatsune had brought it up, she hesitated before answering, "Uh, because...love?"
Hatsune forced a bitter smile and shook her head: "What you said isn't entirely wrong. After all, marrying Saki... uh, Ms. Hanami was the result of Yuuki's long-standing stalemate. He even had a long-standing stalemate with Mr. Toyokawa—my biological father—for this until Mr. Toyokawa finally compromised."
Mana was even more confused: "This...isn't this fine? But what...does this have to do with you kissing him?"
A glint flashed in Hatsune's eyes, and her tone grew heavier: "But Mana-chan, do you know that the reason Yu-kun wants to marry Ms. Hanami is because Ms. Hanami looks very much like Yu-kun's mother, Ms. Mizuho?"
After saying that, she immediately picked up her phone, found the photos of Toyokawa Mizuho that she had saved before, and handed them to Mana.
After comparing the photos of Miss Mizuho with those of Shoko Hanami, Junda Watson Mana seemed to have finally discovered her blind spot.
Her pupils constricted, and she exclaimed in surprise, "My God, they look so alike! They're practically mother and daughter!"
Nonsense, they are mother and daughter.
Hatsune silently complained in her heart, but maintained a serious expression on her face and quietly put her phone away.
Mana frowned, her eyes filled with thought. Suddenly, as if realizing something, she looked up sharply at Hatsune, her voice filled with disbelief and speculation: "You mean, Toyokawa-kun married Ms. Hanami, who looks almost exactly like his mother? He... he couldn't possibly be..."
Nice! Mana-chan is so cooperative!
Hatsune was overjoyed inside, almost unable to suppress the smile on her lips, but on the surface she still put on a heartbroken look and added in a heavy tone, "Yu-kun... that child, he loved his mother very much. Because of this, under the blow of Miss Mizuho's death, his personality became cold and ruthless. Later, he met Miss Hanami, who looked a lot like his mother."
Hatsune didn't say much after that, but it was enough for Mana to fill in the blanks herself.
Mana's mind raced: So... so Toyokawa-kun is obsessed with his mother, which is why he is so obsessed with Ms. Hanami, who looks just like his mother, and even risked falling out with his grandfather to marry her.
Although this idea is crazy, it provides a perfectly reasonable explanation for the question that everyone was wondering about: "Why did Toyokawa Yu marry Hanami Shoko?"
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