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At this moment, she was only vaguely thinking that if she died here, would Banami remember her for the rest of her life?
If that's the case, it seems pretty good.
But soon, Hatsune Miku's self-reproach came flooding back to her mind.
"Just how far do you intend to rely on Banami's concern to cause trouble before you'll stop?"
She died here, and that boy would be heartbroken, he would remember her for the rest of his life, and he would always regret it.
But is this what she wants? Is this all she can give the boy?
Hatsune was absolutely right; her mind was filled with nothing but herself.
But that boy was different. He always did all sorts of things for himself. If it were him, he wouldn't be able to bear to hurt his childhood sweetheart.
At that moment, Xiangzi suddenly realized something.
"I'm such an idiot."
As he said this, Xiangzi tried to stand up shakily.
Love should be about giving, about dedication, and about hoping that the other person can be happy.
It's such a simple truth, so why can't she understand it? In fact, she's pushing the boy further and further away.
Thinking of this, Xiangzi inexplicably mustered a surge of strength.
She absolutely cannot die here; she absolutely cannot let Banami be heartbroken because of her.
She hasn't made amends to him, to make up for all the times she neglected and hurt him from childhood to adulthood.
Toyokawa Shoko wants to live for Hachina Miyu.
Chapter Eleven: Maid Xiao Xiang, Here for You
In fact, when Xiangzi's will to live surged and he really didn't want to die, it was clear that he wouldn't die so easily in the forest of this small island.
She picked up a stick to use as a walking stick, and then quickly noticed the obvious red markings on the branches, guiding the lost person in the right direction.
Although these markings had always been there, Xiangzi hadn't paid close attention to them because he was so immersed in despair.
Even so, she walked for a very long time with her cane before she finally saw a glimmer of streetlights in the woods.
She couldn't help but smile, just as she was walking through the forest when a hurried figure passed by.
Fate, amazing.
When Shoko saw Banami, she felt a deep sense of emotion.
The idea that he would remember her for the rest of his life after he died is a fool's thought. When she saw him, she was clearly so happy and content.
Banami breathed a sigh of relief. He was drenched in sweat after running across half the island, but he didn't care about himself. He walked up to his childhood friend, who looked disheveled, and called out, "You...you wandered into the forest? Are you alright?!"
However, Xiangzi didn't mention that. Instead, he took out an old drawing board and said, "Hey, Banami, I found this in the forest. I remember this was a gift I gave you when we were little."
Banami paused slightly, memories of the past flooding back, and said, "You were angry for a long time because this was missing."
Xiangzi gazed at the other person and said softly, "I found you under a tree. That must be where Hatsune Miku found you."
Banami nodded slightly, but didn't know what to do.
But Xiangzi laughed and said, "Originally, I wanted to wait there for you to come and save me, so that you would be the one to save me."
Because that place holds unique memories for Hatsune Miku and Hanami; it's where they first fell in love.
"But I still came out on my own because I didn't want you to worry, and I didn't want you to be in danger," the girl said in a gentle voice.
Seeing the slightly surprised expression on Banai's face, she felt that there was something different about Xiangzi now.
"Your foot, is it injured?" Banami looked at her right ankle, which was supporting her with the wooden stick. Her shoe had fallen off at some point, and it was now visibly swollen.
"Hmm..." Xiangzi said softly.
"Come on, I'll carry you back. Hatsune is worried about you. We can talk about it when we get back." Banami gently squatted down with her back to the girl.
This time, Xiangzi still didn't refuse. She threw away the wooden stick, hugged the boy's back, and the two of them slowly returned to the island town in the dark night breeze.
"Hey, Xiaoxi..." Xiangzi's voice softened; it was a form of address that Banami hadn't heard in a long time.
"Um....."
"Actually, I didn't really drown today. I was just jealous when I saw you being affectionate with Hatsune Miku, so I pretended to drown so I could kiss you," Xiangzi said calmly.
"Yes, I know." Banami did know, but he couldn't bear to expose his childhood friend's feelings.
Hearing this, Xiangzi wanted to cry again. She held the boy's shoulders tightly with both hands, but finally let go and said softly, "However, this time I am really hurt."
But don't worry, Xiaoxi, this is the last time I'll let you carry me." The girl was so determined.
After a brief silence, Banami said, "No matter how many times, I will help you whenever you need me, Xiaoxiang. I... am your best friend."
"Yes, thank you." Xiangzi gently rested her head on his back.
Clearly, all she wanted was something so simple.
*****
Xiangzi left the island the next day, seemingly in a hurry. Although her foot injury could have been healed for a couple more days, she said she had important things to do back in Tokyo and even asked the Toyokawa family to come to the island to pick her up.
Watching the ferry that had taken Xiangzi away, Hatsune gently put her arm around Banami's back and said, "I'm sorry."
"Why are you apologizing to me?" Banami asked.
"I don't know, that's just what I wanted to say," Hatsune Miku said.
"Then I also need to apologize to you."
"why?"
"I don't know, I just wanted to say that."
After saying this, Banai gently turned his head and kissed his wife's lips.
Hatsune's eyes became somewhat eager, and she pouted slightly as she said, "I really want to give birth as soon as possible. I found out I was pregnant as soon as I got back to the island, and there was no time to do anything."
Banami couldn't help but laugh: "It's okay, we have plenty of time."
"You mean you want to have five? They're not sows, are they?"
"Then, should I go find Xiao Xiangsheng?"
As soon as Banami finished speaking, Hatsune couldn't help but hit him hard on the back.
They are soulmates who understand each other better than anyone else. Therefore, they would never argue over Xiao Xiang's existence, nor would they bother to find out who is the most important person in the other's heart.
Perhaps, after Toyokawa Shoko leaves this time, she will gradually distance herself from their lives, they thought.
And that was indeed the case. The two spent several more months peacefully on the island. Hatsune was even about to give birth, and the two were considering whether to give birth on the island or, for the sake of safety, return to a large hospital on the mainland to give birth.
Hatsune's thought was the former: "The midwife on the island said my pregnancy looks good. My mother was also delivered by the same midwife. I think it's fine to stay on the island. Going to a big hospital is too expensive."
But Banami insisted, "I think it's better to go back to production. In any case, Hatsune's safety is the most important thing."
The two were unusually unable to reach an agreement on this matter, and the situation remained deadlocked.
When the midwife examined Hatsune Miku, she brought some strange news.
"Hatsune-chan, Xiaoxi, I heard that someone is going to build a hospital on the island. Building materials have been continuously being transported from the shore these past two days."
Banami paused slightly and said, "If we build a hospital on our island, will we be able to recoup the money?" After all, the island doesn't have a large population, and a community hospital would be enough. It certainly can't support the operation of a large hospital.
"Who knows? But it's good news for Hatsune. I've heard that the hospital has an obstetrics and gynecology department." The midwife was genuinely happy for the young couple.
This left the couple, Banai and his wife, looking at each other in bewilderment.
Soon, Banami also saw building materials being transported over from the dock. And that wasn't all; in the past two days, Banami had been hearing all sorts of rumors from the old man at the tavern.
"I heard that someone is going to help us renovate the kindergarten and primary school on the island."
“This definitely needs to be renovated, but we only have so many children going to school on our island each year, and we can’t afford it.”
"Who is this kind-hearted person?"
"Who knows, but it's always a good thing. After all, our little island has no resources and is remote, so there's nothing worth being fooled about."
Sure enough, in the days that followed, building materials were continuously delivered to the island. With ample funding, progress was rapid in both the construction of the new hospital and the renovation of the kindergarten and primary school, which even boosted employment and the economy on the island.
The people on the island grew increasingly curious about the mysterious financier. However, both the coordination and oversight were handled by an agent from Tokyo, and no one knew who the real financier was.
As Banami watched the increasingly dazzling changes on the island, she became even more silent, but she breathed a sigh of relief. In any case, the issue of Hatsune's production was finally resolved.
If it really is her, Banami will be very grateful.
However, this is precisely the deep chasm between Banami and her at this moment.
It was this chasm that caused the two to drift apart.
He currently enjoys a very happy and fulfilling life, that's for sure.
In a conventional sense, he was not a wealthy man, and even the production of Hatsune Miku had to take money into account.
Perhaps he will go far enough in the music industry in the future and earn a lot of money, but not now.
Yet, she was able to build a hospital on the island with ease.
This isn't something that can be solved simply by whoever likes whom.
Back then, Xiangzi's father's "advice" about marrying someone of equal social standing left a deep impression on him.
However, when he returned home, he had a very surprised expression on his face.
"Welcome home, Bana. Greet your master. Your wife is already waiting for you inside."
Shoko Toyokawa, dressed in a maid outfit, bowed respectfully and spoke to him.
Chapter Twelve Seeking the Way
"Welcome home, Master Banami. Your wife is already waiting for you inside."
No one could have imagined that the respectful maid in front of them, who seemed to be the mother of Hatsune Miku, Nao, was actually the eldest daughter of the Toyokawa Group, the proud Toyokawa Shoko.
Therefore, when she saw her behavior, Banami was completely dumbfounded.
"You...you...you, Xiao Xiang, you?!" The boy couldn't even speak clearly.
Xiangzi seemed quite satisfied with this, nodded slightly, and said with a smile, "Haha, I really scared you, didn't I, Xi?"
Hearing this, Banami breathed a sigh of relief and said, "You, you were just trying to scare me, weren't you? You came to see Hatsune Miku give birth?"
Ke Xiangzi gently shook her head and said, "No, although you praised me a bit just now, didn't I already say that I am now your personal maid Xiangzi-chan?"
“Uh…” Hearing Xiangzi’s serious tone, Banami was speechless for a moment.
Xiangzi chuckled and said, "Oh, Xi, look, after the baby is born, won't you and Hatsune be participating in activities as a band again? You'll be busy then, after all, Hatsune isn't really a full-time housewife."
You'll definitely need someone to take care of your baby, right? I'll start learning how to be a maid now, and then I'll take care of the baby so you can focus on your careers.
"How about it? Perfect, right?"
Banai couldn't help but twitch her lips and said, "No, I just feel there are too many things to complain about, and I don't know where to start."
Xiangzi seemed to understand and said, "I know this is a huge shock to you, but it's okay, you can digest it slowly."
Seeing that she was not joking, Banai opened her mouth and asked, "But aren't you the heir of the Toyokawa family? In a few years, you'll have to start learning how to inherit the Toyokawa Group, right?"
“Indeed, but what conflict is there between me inheriting the Toyokawa family and becoming your maid?” Xiangzi said matter-of-factly.
There are bound to be many conflicts between a maid and a female CEO, even Banami couldn't help but complain in her heart.
Banami felt that Xiangzi's mind was not quite clear, so she said, "But this is a small island, and the Toyokawa Group is in Tokyo."
Xiangzi replied, "So I will be based here from now on, working remotely. If there is anything important, I will go back to Tokyo from here. I plan to build a private airport here and create a flight route. Then it will only take two hours to get back to Tokyo by private plane, which will be very easy."
Banai was slightly taken aback and said, "You went to the trouble of building a private airport just to make it easier for you to be my maid?"
“Of course, is that not allowed?” Xiangzi nodded matter-of-factly.
Looking at Xiangzi, who hadn't been seen for several months, Banami noticed that she seemed even more energetic than before, as if everything was ready for her... whimsical idea.
"Xiao Xiang, you... don't feel like you owe me anything. I know you funded the construction of the hospital and school on the island, which is more than enough for Hatsune and me. We are both very grateful to you, but you don't have to..."
Xiangzi said earnestly, "But Xi, when you silently made sacrifices for me back then, did you ever think about what I would give back?"
Seeing that she was stumped again, Banai murmured softly, "Well, there are still some..."
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