Substitute Toyokawa Shoko, you can become stronger by breathing

He looked up at himself in the mirror, and saw a meaningful smile on the face that belonged to Toyokawa Shoko.

Kujo Renji turned his head, as if he wanted to see Toyokawa Shoko in the consciousness space.

"What do you think?"

Toyokawa Shoko didn't respond immediately, but Kujo Renji could sense a subtle emotional fluctuation, as if she was approaching the edge of a topic that she didn't want to touch.

"I don't want to talk about it."

Toyokawa Shoko finally answered, her voice returning to calm, but that deliberate sense of distance still existed.

"Mu and I...sometimes are like reflections in a mirror, each side of the other. She understands the parts of herself I can't express, and I see the fears she's afraid to face."

"I know what she's thinking, but I can't blame her, and I don't want to blame her."

"So, I don't want to talk about it."

"I know what you're thinking." Toyokawa Shoko's voice was like a feather falling on the sea of ​​consciousness. "You think I'm too emotional about these little things."

The amber liquid swayed gently in the cup, reflecting the slightly raised corner of Kujo Renji's mouth: "Quite the opposite. Your reaction..."

He paused, searching for the right words: "Very vivid."

"Don't give me that." Toyokawa Shoko snorted, and subtle ripples appeared in her consciousness. "You don't understand this at all."

The night wind lifted the curtains, bringing with it the unique hustle and bustle of the city and its silence. Kujo Renji stared at his own reflection in the cup—the face of Toyokawa Shoko, reflected in the liquid, seemed especially soft.

"I understand strategy, Miss Xiangzi." He swirled his glass. "And human emotions are often the most sophisticated tactical arrangements."

Shoko Toyokawa's consciousness suddenly became quiet, like a record player with the pause button pressed.

Kujo Renji could feel her digesting this metaphor, that subtle emotion of being conflicted yet having to admit its rationality, like an ice ball gradually melting in a cup.

"It's like this again... turning everything into your chess game."

She sighed softly

"I feel like you don't understand human emotions at all!"

Jiujo Renji was speechless.

I'm not AI, I don't understand human emotions.

He laughed back.

"I know much more than you, Miss."

"Then tell me, if it wasn't for the plan, what did today mean to you?"

Silence spread across the room. The air from the air conditioner vents gently stirred the sticky notes on the coffee table, making a rustling sound.

He leaned his head back on the sofa, the light and shadow on the ceiling rippled like water. Toyokawa Shoko could feel that Kujo Renji was sorting out his thoughts deep in his consciousness, like he was cleaning up an overturned sewing box.

The neon lights outside the window changed colors, casting flowing colorful spots on the wall.

Jiujo Renji looked at the lights and shadows, and suddenly remembered the real, imperfect smile that Wakaba Mu left.

"mean..."

Jiujo Renji seemed to be choosing his words:

"It means someone has finally torn off that beautiful wrapping paper and let Mu see his true self."

After a pause, he added:

"This means that any future threats that might appear in the plan have been eliminated."

"Plan, plan, plan. I think you're just trying to be cool."

Toyokawa Shoko muttered softly, but the sharpness in her tone was gone.

"Could you, just for once, not act out of a plan?"

Kujo Renji raised an eyebrow, this question was unexpected.

"What do you want me to do?"

"For...the right thing."

Shoko Toyokawa's answer was quite naive.

"Like today. Because it's right, because Mu needs help, that's all."

Hearing this, Kujo Renji, quite rarely, did not refute or sarcastically respond.

If he were the old him, he would obviously laugh at the young lady's naivety without hesitation.

But now, the thought in his mind is

——Maybe sometimes, doing the right thing is the best plan.

In the past, he always believed that power came from confrontation—breaking the rules, taking shortcuts, and doing whatever it takes. But now, he sees a more subtle path.

Do the right thing.

What a naive concept, but what a perfect disguise.

People trust those who appear to be honest. They let down their guard, open up, and even offer help.

And all this, simply because he behaved like they expected, a currency that is more difficult to obtain than money. People began to rely on him, trust him, and be willing to pay for him - and all the cost was just some carefully designed performance.

Real power lies not in fighting the system, but in making the system work for you.

Do the right thing? No. Do what looks right. That's the perfect plan.

And human emotions...if this power is used properly, it will be the sharpest weapon in his hands.

Of course, he was reluctant to reveal his own thoughts, nor was he willing to admit that Toyokawa Shoko was "right."

So, he smiled and changed the subject:

"Then can I do the right thing next time and hide it from Ms. Toyokawa?"

"How dare you!"

Shoko Toyokawa was immediately furious.

But then she realized that Kujo Renji was just teasing her.

He felt a little anxious, but also a little amused, as if he realized that Kujo Renji was deliberately trying to change the subject.

She chuckled again.

"You better not. I don't like being kept in the dark."

Kujo Renji turned and walked towards the sofa, picked up the wine glass on the coffee table, and deliberately "touched" his cheek lightly.

A cool, water-soaked touch came from the contact surface, and he suddenly felt much more conscious.

And the Shoko Toyokawa in his mind seemed to be stimulated.

"what!"

"I'll tell you in advance next time."

Kujo Renji said with a chuckle.

"Really?" Toyokawa Shoko's voice brightened immediately, and she quickly added in a serious tone, "I mean... this is how it should be!"

Jiujo Renji leaned back on the sofa, the crystal chandelier on the ceiling reflecting tiny specks of light into his eyes.

"real."

He closed his eyes, "After all, you are mine..."

“Eh—?”

Shoko Toyokawa's attention was immediately attracted.

Seeing that the other party stopped talking, she couldn't help but be stunned.

"Your what?"

Toyokawa Shoko asked eagerly, then immediately added with regret

"I-I'm just curious about what words you would use!"

Jiujo Renji deliberately paused, feeling the anticipation and nervousness in his consciousness.

"Partner," he said finally, a mischievous smile playing on his face.

"......" Toyokawa Shoko was silent for a few seconds, "That's it?"

"if not?"

Kujo Renji asked back, "What did you think I would say?"

"Nothing!" Her voice suddenly became angry. "We can be partners, so to speak... I'm just a part of your plan..."

Suddenly, a picture unfolded in Kujo Renji's mind—that was the cutest image of Toyokawa Shoko as a child in his memory:

She was eating ice cream secretly and a little cream got on the tip of her nose. When she was discovered, she hurriedly wiped it with the back of her hand, but ended up spreading the cream even further.

"Why, why did you suddenly think of this!" Toyokawa Shoko's voice suddenly became confused.

"It just suddenly occurred to me."

Kujo Renji said innocently.

"Don't even think about it!"

Toyokawa Shoko protested in embarrassment, but Kujo Renji could sense that her mood had noticeably improved.

The two of them "fought" for a while.

Shoko Toyokawa finally calmed down.

The originally complicated emotions and the blocked feeling in my heart were mostly relieved.

She took a deep breath and said casually

"Thank you anyway."

The words were so soft that they were almost inaudible. Kujo Renji seemed to see her blushing as she lowered her head and played with her hair.

"You're welcome, Miss Xiangzi."

He responded gently, "After all, this is for our sake..."

"I know the plan."

Toyokawa Shoko quickly answered with a hint of imperceptible loss in her tone.

"It's just for the band..."

Kujo Renji didn't correct her. He picked up his wine glass and looked out the window at the Tokyo Tower, which suddenly lit up with brilliant lights.

"Have something nice to drink."

Kujo Renji took a sip of the drink, letting the liquid slowly go down his throat, savoring the feeling.

But he was not doing it for himself, but as if he wanted Toyokawa Shoko to experience the same feeling, like comforting a grumpy cat.

"Pah, pah, pah, it doesn't taste good!"

"This is the best-selling drink in Japan." Kujo Renji was speechless.

"It seems like something that weirdos who like to wear strange clothes and harm themselves would drink."

——That’s absolutely true.

Jiujo Renji suddenly didn't know how to refute.

"That's the people's fault, not the drink's fault."

Hearing this, Toyokawa Shoko suddenly felt a little funny.

"Okay, even if you're right."

Her voice suddenly rang out, so soft that it almost blended into the sound of water.

"Thanks for buying me a drink."

Kujo Renji paused as the towel wiped his fingers.

This thank you came suddenly and naturally, like fireworks that suddenly bloomed in the night sky, illuminating some hidden corners.

"You're welcome." He said to the glass that reflected his own shadow, with a rare gentleness in his voice, as if he was responding to what Toyokawa Shoko had just said.