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When Mana saw him, she hesitated for a long time before biting her lip and asking softly, "Um... Toyokawa-kun, you won't, tonight, barge into my and Hatsune-chan's room, and then with Hatsune-chan..." She couldn't bring herself to say the rest, her cheeks turning bright red.
Mana's worries were not unfounded; it was all because of those damned female-oriented short stories written by that golden retriever.
Banami twitched her lips and said, "No."
Mana's disbelief was evident; she probably saw herself as a loveless mama's boy who couldn't live without Hatsune Miku for even a moment.
Banami thought to himself that this should be reversed; he only hoped that the blond-haired man wouldn't come over to steal his booze at night.
He could only turn the tables on her, raising an eyebrow and saying, "I should be asking you that. You wouldn't be doing anything weird to Hatsune Miku at night, would you?"
"I won't!" Mana's face instantly turned red, as if she had been humiliated. She glared at him angrily and angrily, "Toyokawa-kun, you're so annoying!"
After saying that, she covered her burning cheeks, turned around and rushed into the bedroom, making sure to close the door gently behind her.
Oh, it feels so good to be called "annoying" by Hazuki Sonoda.
A thought struck him, but because he was too embarrassed to look directly at the system, he could only ask for help.
"System, System, if I seduce Junda Mana, does that mean I'm also seduce Soda Hazuki?"
The system seemed to be either ignoring him or crashing because of his question, and it took a while to give him an answer, its tone becoming noticeably colder.
"So, if you've been involved with Gao Songdeng, wouldn't that be considered like being involved with Yang Gongfei?"
Banami choked on her words and said, "Can't you even have a conversation? Can't you even have a conversation?"
This system is really addictive!
***
As night deepened, the chirping of insects outside the window became intermittent, and a cool evening breeze blew in through the gauze curtains, as if it were a cool summer night, allowing one to sleep peacefully without worry.
In the bedroom, Hatsune Miku was wide awake, her eyes sparkling as she recounted her tragic past and heart-wrenching love story to Mana. She spoke of every detail with utmost seriousness, her eyes filled with adoration.
Mana lay on the bed, listening intently, her heart filled with a bittersweet feeling.
Even though she wasn't a secret admirer, but just a close friend, she still sighed upon hearing it.
After hesitating for a long time, Mana finally couldn't help but ask, "Hatsune-chan, does Shoko-san... know about you and Toyokawa-kun being together?"
As soon as she finished speaking, Hatsune's smile froze instantly, and her tone became somewhat unnatural: "I...I won't tell her."
Now that things have come to this, it's impossible for her to admit that Saki-chan agreed to let her marry into the family.
Mana's worries grew stronger. She sat up and looked at Hatsune, her tone urgent: "Putting aside Ms. Shoko, Hatsune-nee, you and Toyokawa-kun are related by blood! This kind of relationship is unacceptable to the world."
If this gets out, do you know what will happen? Not only will you be condemned by the public, your lives will be ruined!
Hatsune gently pursed her lips. Actually, Mana's idea was right. After all, not only Mana, but also in the eyes of others, she was also Hachiman's aunt.
Even though it's fake, this forbidden (pseudo) romance... is just too exciting.
Deeply immersed in the identity and story she had created, when she raised her head, her face was full of determination, like a saint before the pyre: "No matter what happens, I will not give up on Xiaoxi. I will walk with him, even if the whole world opposes it."
“But…but what about public opinion, fans, and SUMIMI’s career…” Mana wanted to persuade her, but Hatsune interrupted her before she could finish.
Hatsune raised her chin slightly, her eyes filled with a sense of sacrificial nobility, and her tone was extremely firm: "If it really doesn't work out, then I will retire and never step onto the stage again. To me, Xiaoxi is the most important person."
Hatsune's words felt like a knife stabbing into Mana's heart.
Although I had a vague feeling that Hatsune Miku was thinking just like that.
But Mana thought to herself, SUMIMI is the most important person to her, and she... absolutely cannot let Hatsune leave.
She had made up her mind!
Chapter Twenty-One: Mana: I'll Be Your Mother
In the quiet of the night, only the faint moonlight filtering through the window illuminated the room, and the only sound was the even snoring of Banami.
Having been relentlessly attacked by the genius SUMIMI all day, he was utterly exhausted and slept soundly and peacefully.
Suddenly, the door was gently pushed open, and a slender figure tiptoed in, moving as lightly as a cat.
The shadowy figure walked to the bedside, hesitated for a few seconds, took a deep breath, and carefully straddled Banami, his warm breath falling on Banami's neck.
Banami's alertness was instantly awakened. She opened her eyes abruptly, her tone full of expected sarcasm: "You big blonde, I knew you wouldn't sleep peacefully. You really did come to raid me at night...?"
Before he could finish speaking, he saw the person's face clearly in the moonlight, and instantly froze. His anger, which had just risen, stopped abruptly, and he almost bit his tongue off.
The girl in front of me had long black hair and delicate features. She was not some blond-haired girl at all. This was Junda Mana!
"You... how did you get here?!" Banai was so shocked she almost jumped up, her voice cracking. She instinctively tried to push her away, but the other woman held her shoulders firmly.
Mana hurriedly reached out and covered his mouth, her fingertips slightly cool, her voice low and flustered: "Toyokawa-kun, you don't want Hatsune to know about this, do you?"
After saying that, Mana felt that her words sounded a little strange.
This Japanese female idol should tone it down.
"I...I have something I want to discuss with you!" Mana said, clenching her fists as if gathering her courage.
No, you want to have a life talk too?
And please, don't sit on me, okay?
Banai rolled her eyes, slapped her hand away forcefully, and barely managed to suppress her shock before asking irritably, "What exactly do you want? If you want to talk, then get off me first!"
Mana took a deep breath, clenched her hands into small fists as if using all her strength, and said bluntly, "Hatsune told me yesterday that Ms. Shoko knows nothing about your relationship, and that if your relationship is discovered, she will retire and never join my group SUMIMI again!"
Upon hearing this, Banai yawned lazily, her eyes full of indifference: "She's just talking nonsense."
That silly girl is now completely absorbed in her own "perfect victim" scenario and has lost all sense of reality.
"No!" Mana shook her head vigorously, her eyes extremely serious and her tone urgent. "Hatsune-chan really thinks that way, I can tell! For you, she really is willing to give up everything."
Banami thought to herself: You've figured out Jill! If you could really see through people's hearts, you wouldn't have had a crush on the golden retriever for so many years, only to have me "steal" him away first.
On the surface, he could only raise an eyebrow at Mana, waiting for her to continue.
"I can't lose Hatsune Miku-chan. She's the only partner I acknowledge. SUMIMI can't live without her! Although I admit your feelings are genuine, your relationship is fundamentally flawed. It's not just about blood ties; your interactions are completely unhealthy."
Hatsune Miku just desperately wanted to be needed, while you were just looking for a substitute for your mother.
These words hit the nail on the head, and Banai was stunned for a moment, then subconsciously asked, "So, what is it?" He suddenly had a bad feeling.
"I...I'll be your mother!"
Mana's voice wasn't loud, but it struck Banami like a thunderclap, leaving him stunned and his mind blank.
As soon as Mana finished speaking, her cheeks flushed red, the blush spreading all the way to her ears. She quickly lowered her head and explained in a voice barely audible, "I... I mean, you just crave motherly companionship, it doesn't necessarily have to be Hatsune Miku. I... will take her place and be your mother!"
In this way, without this distorted emotional yearning, the relationship between Toyokawa-kun and Hatsune-chan, who are related by blood, should gradually return to normal.
They no longer worry that their forbidden relationship will be discovered, leading to their eventual unhappiness.
She raised her head, her eyes filled with a resolute determination, her expression as devout as a saint heading to the stake.
Uh, isn't this metaphor being used a bit too often today?
Banai's lips twitched violently, and it took her a long time to recover before she could speak normally, her tone full of helplessness: "What if I don't agree?"
"I won't give up!" Mana raised her face, her eyes stubborn, like a little grass that refuses to admit defeat. "I will keep trying until you accept me."
Banai raised an eyebrow and deliberately threatened, "Then I'll tell Hatsune what you said, so she'll know you want to take her 'position'."
Mana panicked instantly, her eyes darting around, her fingers tightly twisting the hem of her clothes. But after a few seconds, she took a deep breath, her eyes hardening again: "Then I'll tell Ms. Shoko about you and Hatsune-chan."
Mana's expression immediately changed upon seeing this, as she realized she had hit the boy's weak spot.
After all, Miss Xiangzi was unaware of their affair.
However, at this moment, Banami was thinking, "Damn, if Xiaoxiang finds out, he'll be laughed at by that brat for a whole year."
Mana's move was a case of completely wrong in the process, but she accidentally got the answer right.
Seeing that Banami remained silent, Mana assumed he had agreed. Her cheeks flushed slightly, and she whispered in a tone that was both innocent and eager, "I... I will try my best to be a good mother and I won't let you down."
Banai was overwhelmed; life was getting more and more complicated!
***
The next morning, sunlight streamed into the room through the window, and light, cheerful sounds came from the kitchen.
Banami walked out of the bedroom looking exhausted. She had been kept awake half the night by Mana's suggestion, and her eyes were bloodshot.
Hatsune, wearing an apron, was busy at the stove. Hearing footsteps, she immediately turned around and smiled, "Yu-kun, you're awake! Breakfast will be ready soon." Her tone was light and sweet.
Mana sat at the dining table, holding sheet music in her hand, humming SUMIMI's tune softly. Her profile looked particularly gentle in the sunlight.
But when she saw Banami, her eyes unconsciously darted away, and she secretly glanced at Hatsune who was firing her weapon with her head down. Then she moved closer to Banami and whispered in a voice that only the two of them could hear, "Good morning, Toyokawa-kun."
Before she could finish speaking, Mana reached out and carefully straightened Hachimi's disheveled collar. Her movements were gentle, and her tone carried a deliberate imitation of tenderness. Her cheeks were slightly flushed: "You...you really are something. You don't even care about your appearance when you sleep. Your collar is all crooked."
Seeing that Mana was instantly stunned and frozen in place, he opened his mouth but didn't know what to say. He could only let Mana straighten her collar and silently walk to the dining table to sit down.
After breakfast, Hatsune and Mana went to the agency to practice, and Yana naturally didn't want to go with them.
The two packed their things and walked to the door. Hatsune's cheeks were slightly flushed, and she tilted her head back slightly, her eyes full of anticipation—clearly waiting for a farewell kiss.
Seeing this, Banai leaned over and gently touched her lips.
Hatsune was instantly overjoyed, her cheeks flushed, and she glanced shyly and happily at Mana beside her, as if showing off her happiness, before turning around and running out the door.
Only Hachiman and Mana remained in the entryway. Mana took a few steps forward, and Hachiman instinctively shrank back, asking warily, "You...you want to kiss me too?" He was now filled with fear at any move Mana made.
Mana simply tiptoed slightly, avoiding his lips, and quickly kissed him on the cheek.
It was her first time doing something like this, and she felt so ashamed that her whole body was burning. Her eyes darted away, and her voice was soft, with a hint of deliberate gentleness: "Toyokawa-kun... no, Xiao-Xiao Xi, you have to stay home and wait for Mom to come back, okay?"
After saying that, Mana couldn't hold back any longer. She covered her face, turned around and ran away. In her panic, she almost bumped into the door frame and staggered after Hatsune Miku.
Chapter Twenty-Two: Donut: Only I can be Xi's mom, give up!
The twilight at Haneoka Academy was bathed in warm orange light. The evening breeze, carrying the faint scent of osmanthus, drifted through the windows of the Astronomy Department, stirring the star charts spread out on the corner of the table.
Banami, who usually loves to make a ruckus and join in the fun, was unusually abnormal today. He had asked Su Shi to stay alone in the Astronomy Club, and was now resting his head on Su Shi's lap, staring blankly at the ceiling with a lifeless expression. Even the corners of his mouth were drooping, making him look like a cat that had been wilted by frost.
Su Shi sat on the bench, her fingertips gently resting on the top of the boy's head, her eyes full of doubt.
After hesitating for a long time, Su Shi finally spoke softly, her tone as gentle as the evening breeze: "What's wrong? You look so pale. Did something happen?" Her fingertips gently stroked his forehead, her movements tender and filled with unconscious tolerance.
Banami snuggled closer to her knees, burying her face in the hem of her skirt. Her voice was muffled and tinged with sorrow, but she refused to tell the truth: "Don't ask anymore, Suze-mama. Just let me lie on your knees and heal my wounded heart."
When Lao Ba, who was exhausted from creating MYGO fan art, first thought of Su Shi's mother was that lying on her lap could soothe his overwhelmed nerves.
Upon hearing this, Su Shi's eyes showed even greater confusion, but she did not ask any further questions. She simply quickened the pace of stroking his forehead, treating him with the patience and gentleness one would show to a child throwing a tantrum. Even the tight corners of Banami's mouth relaxed slightly.
The two remained quietly there, the sunset glow falling on them, outlining a gentle silhouette, until the door to the Astronomy Department was gently pushed open, and a slender figure walked in—it was Junta Mana.
She had clearly come here on purpose. Her eyes swept across the room and immediately locked onto the two people on the bench. There was no surprise on her face, but rather a hint of understanding.
Banami froze instantly, then looked up abruptly as if burned, her eyes filled with panic. She scrambled to get up from Su Shi's lap, looking like a rabbit seeing a wolf.
Mana remained unusually calm. She gently closed the door, walked up to the two of them, and with a polite smile on her face, bowed slightly to Su Shi and said softly, "Excuse me, classmate, I came to see Toyokawa-kun. I'm sorry to bother you."
Su Shi stood up, looked at the girl in front of her, and felt that she looked somewhat familiar. After thinking carefully for a moment, she asked uncertainly, "Uh... are you Junda Mana?"
Although she wasn't familiar with the other person, she knew him because he was Hatsune Miku's partner.
Mana shook her head slightly, her eyes not flinching at all. She casually gave a pseudonym she had prepared beforehand, her tone natural: "No, classmate, you've mistaken me for someone else. My name is Hida Hazuki, and I'm a friend of Toyokawa-kun."
After saying that, before Su Shi could react, she reached out and grabbed Banami's wrist. The force was not strong, but it was stubborn and unyielding. She pulled him towards the door.
Su Shi stood there, eyes wide, watching the two figures hurriedly leave. Her lips twitched a few times, and she mentally cursed: You old hag! You always seem so irresponsible, yet you keep sleeping with the people right under your noses, not even sparing Hatsune's partner?
My dear son, I am so disappointed in you!
She clenched her fists, her eyes filled with disappointment and frustration.
***
Mana pulled him all the way out of Haneoka Academy until they turned into a quiet alley, where Mana finally let go of his wrist. Seeing his wrist, which was slightly red from being gripped so tightly, Hachiman was about to complain when Mana's words infuriated him.
Mana puffed out her cheeks, her eyes full of grievance, and her tone was slightly coquettish: "Toyokawa-kun, you really like having someone act as your mother! You treated that girl like your mother too, didn't you?"
Banami rolled his eyes: he was about to retort, but the words caught in his throat for no apparent reason—the image of Su Shi's gentle demeanor suddenly flashed through his mind, and he remembered that he had played Xiangzi's son during the fan creation, and that he had also said that he wanted to be the mother of the two lolis, Cucumber and Xiaodeng...
Huh? You're kidding... Am I really a mama's boy?
Once the thought arose, it entwined his heart like a vine, instantly deflated him, leaving him without even the strength to refute it.
Seeing that he didn't speak, Mana assumed he agreed, and her tone became even more aggrieved: "Toyokawa-kun, you would rather find someone else to be your mother than let me be one! I tried so hard, I'm more suitable to be your mother than her!"
As she spoke, her cheeks flushed slightly, and her coquettish tone was impossible to hide. She had completely lost her previous firmness and solemnity, and instead had a touch of girlish awkwardness.
Before Banai could react, she gently took his hand and led him to a nearby park, where they sat down on a bench.
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