Substitute Toyokawa Shoko, you can become stronger by breathing

Ruoye Mu put down his schoolbag carefully, his movements so light as if he was afraid of disturbing the tranquility.

"What do you want to eat?"

Lian Si flipped through the menu while observing the expression of the person opposite him calmly.

Those amber eyes captured every subtle reaction of Ruoye Mu through the gaps in the menu.

"Anything is fine." Ruoye Mu lowered his head.

Lian Si didn't hesitate and ordered two servings of the signature omelet rice, a bowl of cream of mushroom soup, and a fruit salad.

While waiting for the food to be served, he noticed that Ruo Ye Mu's gaze would always fall on him vaguely, and then quickly look away when their eyes met.

"Xiang, how are you doing lately?"

Ruoye Mu suddenly spoke, his voice so soft that it sounded like he was talking to himself.

They had just met yesterday, but Ruo Yemu asked such an abnormal question.

Of course, this "offline state" is understandable for this taciturn girl.

But Kujo Renji didn't think that the other party was just asking a simple question.

"Not bad?" He smiled. "Thanks to Mu."

Wakaba Mu looked up at the blue-haired girl in front of him, as if he wanted to imprint her appearance in his mind.

"Guest, your meal is here~"

The waiter's words broke the brief silence.

When the omelet rice was served, a cute little bear pattern was painted on the golden egg shell.

Ruoye Mu stared at it for a long time before carefully scooping a small bite with a spoon.

"Is it tasty?"

Wakaba Mu nodded: "Hmm... the same taste as Xiang used to like."

This sentence caused Lian Si to pause slightly.

"It's getting cold..."

Ruoye Mu reminded him.

Kujo Renji came to his senses and scooped a small spoonful of omelet rice with a spoon.

The hot air rises and the fragrance wafts with it.

The sun sets and night falls.

"Thank you for your hospitality—"

After paying, the two walked out of the restaurant.

The neon lights stretched the shadows of the two people very long.

The girl's twin ponytails swayed gently in the wind, as if she was dancing a silent waltz.

When Ye Mu looked at his back, he always felt that the figure was becoming transparent little by little.

"Xiang..." she called softly, but her voice was drowned out by the noise in the restaurant.

Lian Si turned around, his amber eyes flashing in the light: "Huh? What's wrong?"

Wakaba Mu shook his head: "No, nothing..."

The restaurant's glass reflected two figures, one with blue hair and the other with green hair, like two incompatible watercolor paintings.

Wakaba Mu stared at Lian Si's back in the glass.

The familiar "figure" was disappearing little by little, replaced by a stranger she had never known before.

The stranger's shadow gradually became solid and clear.

Overlapping with the girl in front of him.

PS: No prize for guessing, the most girlish character in this book is——

Chapter 27: Killing Mubaquan

Until the end, Ruoye Mu did not show any abnormality.

This made Kujo Renji feel a little strange.

He left right after dinner... Was it really just a simple dinner date?

He was all ready to harvest the points, but nothing happened... a few hours of learning experience wasted.

Well, it’s not a bad deal in exchange for a chance to have a meal with an active female high school student with no qualifications.

Just as Kujo Renji was thinking this, he received another message from Wakaba Mu on his phone.

【Xiang, are you free? 】

He perked up, thinking that the other party was finally going to reveal his true nature again.

Then he agreed to the other party.

Next, repeat yesterday's process.

——After school, go shopping and eat.

This time, Mr. Wakaba Mu also did not show any abnormality.

It's like just a dinner date.

Then the third day.

Kujo Renji once again received a message from Wakaba Mu.

【Xiang, today....】

It is said that things never happen more than three times. Kujo Renji thought that the other party was finally going to reveal his true purpose this time.

After all, knowing that Wakaba Mu is aware that there is something wrong with the current "Toyokawa Shoko", the other party's purpose cannot be simple.

So he went again this time.

The result was unexpected. Miss Ruoye still didn't say anything out of the ordinary.

Over three days, we went to three different places to eat, spending a total of 16,000 yen.

——What on earth does she want to do at the market?

.......

The moonlight outside the window enveloped the room like a veil. Ruo Yemu sat at the desk, his long light green hair glowing softly under the warm light of the desk lamp.

The only sound in the room was the clock, ticking, ticking, as if it was silently counting the hours of the night.

Her room is simply decorated: white walls, paintings on the wall, and... lots of dolls.

The sheets and curtains are all white, as if the least noticeable color was deliberately chosen.

A notebook was spread out on the desk, its pages densely covered with illegible words and "drawings".

The girl's handwriting was neat and small, and at this moment she was concentrating on the contents on the paper.

The image of "Toyokawa Shoko" gradually became clearer in my mind.

Ruoye Mu closed his eyes again, feeling the weightlessness as his consciousness fell into the abyss.

When she opened her eyes, she found herself standing in an empty theater. The scarlet curtain swayed without wind, and the crystal chandelier reflected an eerie light.

"You're so stubborn, Xiao Mu."

A familiar voice came from behind him. Wakaba Mu turned around and saw another "self" sitting at the piano. That self was wearing a black dress, with long light green hair casually draped, and a playful smile on her face.

"Mortis..." Wakaba Mu called out the name softly.

"It's so sad that Xiaomu took so long to find me..." Mortis stood up and complained a little dissatisfied.

Her bare feet made a crisp sound as they stepped on the cold marble floor. "Even if you came today, it's because of that 'fake Xiangzi', right?"

Wakaba Mu didn't say anything, but her slightly clenched fingers revealed her emotions.

"Why are you so persistent?"

Mortis walked up to Wakaba Mu and put his hand on her cheek.

"Isn't 'Xiangzi' very good now? He's gentle and considerate, and he's much closer to you than before."

The lights in the theater flickered, and Ruo Yemu could see fragments of recent memories floating in the air: the smile on Kujo Renji's face when he bought her strawberry milk, the gentle look in his eyes when they ate together, and those subtle concerns.

"You feel it too, right?" Mortis' voice was bewitching. "Isn't this kind of 'Xiao Xiang' what you've been looking forward to?"

"It's not her." Ruo Yemu interrupted softly, his voice was small but extremely firm.

Mortis was stunned for a moment, then curled his lips: "Oh, isn't this better! At least Xiaoxiang now won't..."

"It's not her." Wakaba Mu repeated again, looking up at Mortis: "That person...is not Xiangzi."

Mortis was silent for a moment, then spoke somewhat forcedly:

"Well, since Xiao Mu never listens to me, just do what you want—"

"I'll help you control 'it'."

"But be careful, that 'Xiao Xiang' is not what he seems."

The theater fell into darkness again, with only Ruoye Mu left standing there.

The lights in the consciousness space suddenly dimmed, and a pale beam of light fell from the sky, illuminating the audience finally.

Ruoye Mu looked at the figure slowly emerging in the light.

That was Shoko Toyokawa - or rather, it was the original Shoko's personality that she "profiled".

Her blue twintails seemed lifeless, drooping over her shoulders. She wore her Tsuki no Mori Academy uniform, but it was rumpled, as if it hadn't been fixed in ages. Her skin was pale, almost transparent, like delicate porcelain.

It was by relying on this that Ruoye Mu could tell that something was wrong with Xiaoxiang.

Jiujo Renji might never have imagined that the "smell" that Ye Mu mentioned was referring to a "personality shell" sealed in consciousness.

As a natural performing personality, Ruoye Mu's "acting talent" can be said to be unparalleled.

Talents far beyond the ordinary naturally also bring pain far beyond the ordinary.

Wakaba Mu's acting is actually to profile different personalities, and then "release" this personality when it is needed.

And now...

--clatter

Another light came on.

Next to Toyokawa Shoko, another "Toyokawa Shoko" appeared at some point.

But her form was still a little loose, as if something was missing.

Wakaba Mutsu walked forward and extended his hand...

After spending these few days together, a new image of "Toyokawa Shoko" has formed in her mind.

Just touch her, build her thoroughly.

If Ye Mu could know...who Xiang is now and what kind of person he is.

Looking at the gentle smile on "Toyokawa Shoko"'s face, Wakaba Mu looked a little dazed.

But soon, she put her hand on it.

——No matter who you are, for Xiang, I...

The determination has not yet been fully established.

Her fingertips finally touched Toyokawa Shoko's cheek. The moment they made contact, something seemed to shatter.

The mask of gentleness began to crack and peel off bit by bit.

What kind of expression is that?

The warm glow in those amber eyes gradually faded, replaced by a chilling coldness. It was a look of condescension, an indifference that disdained everything.