The girl with short purple hair had a slightly flushed face, her eyes flickering with a tangled expression of hesitation. Her body fidgeted somewhat, her hands unconsciously clasping and rubbing together, flustered by this decision.
Every now and then, she picked up her phone to check the messages, afraid she might miss important information.
Quickly, she put it down again, but her eyes darted back to the phone, as if feeling that a new message had arrived.
"How about, how about... Saturday during the day!"
She felt she wasn't psychologically prepared enough yet. Although she hadn't spent much time with Lin Ye, she actually knew quite a lot about him.
Adversity reveals true feelings. That strange trip to 'Elite High School' made her deeply realize that Lin Ye was a good man worthy of entrusting her life to.
"If I choose the evening, will it be misunderstood!"
Letting her choose between day and night—was this implying something to her?
Ryou Fujibayashi muttered a few sentences, her small head constantly struggling with the dilemma, wanting to make a decision.
"Ahhh!"
She shouted, slapped the table, and immediately took out a coin to toss. "Heads for day, tails for night."
Clatter... The coin lay quietly on the tabletop.
Ryou Fujibayashi took a look, and her slender fingers began editing on her phone. Soon, she tapped send—Tomorrow night! I have time tomorrow night.
After sending it, Ryou Fujibayashi's heart was a mess. "Th-this was the coin's choice, Lin-kun, please don't overthink it."
She waited for Lin Ye's reply but didn't receive one for a long time, so Ryou Fujibayashi went ahead to wash up and take a bath.
When she finished, she found that her sister had returned and was sitting on the sofa resting.
"Sister, how was going out to clear your mind today?"
"It was pretty good. The tonkotsu ramen at that ramen shop Ryou recommended tasted very nice."
The only pity was running into that man.
Kyou Fujibayashi thought silently in her heart.
"Right, right! That's the noodle shop Ren recommended. The ramen is delicious. Let's go together next time, sisters!"
"Okay."
Kyou Fujibayashi naturally wouldn't refuse her sister's invitation. She looked at her sister's wet hair and patted the spot beside her, signaling her sister to sit next to her.
Ryou Fujibayashi was a bit puzzled, but she walked over and sat down. Kyou Fujibayashi could smell the sweet scent of body wash radiating from her sister after her bath.
"Ryou, I plan to go to Tokyo tomorrow to have a look around."
"Eh!"
Ryou Fujibayashi was stunned. "Sister, you're going to Tokyo for..."
"To play. I took a few days of leave to rest, and I feel like staying in Chiba all the time isn't very interesting, so I plan to wander around Tokyo."
She looked at her sister, seemingly wanting to discover something from her sister's reaction. Soon,
"Mm-hm, that sounds pretty good too. Sister, you should go! Definitely have fun, and remember to bring me a small gift."
Kyou Fujibayashi's heart sank; she captured her sister's reaction of joy.
To Ryou Fujibayashi,
If her sister Kyou Fujibayashi went to Tokyo tomorrow, she wouldn't need to find an excuse to go out alone anymore. Even if she stayed out all night tomorrow, her sister wouldn't know.
She was very clear about her sister's hostile attitude towards Lin-kun. If she let her sister know she was going on a date with Lin-kun tomorrow night, her sister would definitely not agree and might even rudely interfere.
But now, her sister was actually going to Tokyo to play. This was simply too coincidental.
Ryou Fujibayashi just felt her luck today was very good.
She didn't even need to find an excuse for the date tomorrow night; she didn't even need to deceive her sister by saying she was 'working overtime at the hospital'.
"Ryou, come with me."
"Ah! I... I have to work tomorrow. Sister, you wouldn't ask me to take leave, would you? Even if I wanted to take leave today, it's too late. The hospital schedule can't be rearranged."
Temporary leave generally wouldn't be approved unless it was a special event.
Ryou Fujibayashi revealed a distressed expression.
"You have the day off the day after tomorrow. We can just set off tomorrow night. Tomorrow evening, I'll wait for you at the hospital entrance when you get off work, and we'll go to Tokyo together."
As the words fell, Ryou Fujibayashi was endlessly astonished inside. She even momentarily suspected whether her sister knew about her date with Lin-kun.
But she hadn't mentioned the date, and it was impossible for Lin-kun to proactively tell Kyou Fujibayashi. Moreover, her sister hated Lin Ye so much that she would be even less likely to contact Lin Ye proactively, so... this must be an accident!
"Sister, how about next time when my shift rotation gives me a break! I want to rest properly this weekend, so I won't travel far to Tokyo to play. Next time, I'll definitely accompany you to explore Tokyo properly. How about you go to Tokyo by yourself this time? I... I'm sorry, Sister."
Ryou Fujibayashi apologized with embarrassment.
She hoped her sister would still go to Tokyo, or at the very least stay in Chiba but not affect her date with Lin-kun tomorrow.
"I understand. I'll go by myself!"
Kyou Fujibayashi already understood her sister's thoughts.
Letting her sister date Lin Ye was absolutely impossible.
But right now, she didn't plan to expose it. Exposing it and demanding her sister to come along would only trigger her sister's rebellious psychology, perhaps even instantly tearing apart their sisterly relationship.
She had a more suitable method.
"Mm-hm, Sister, it's getting late. You should hurry and go take a bath too!"
At Ryou Fujibayashi's suggestion, Kyou Fujibayashi headed to the bathroom.
Splash... The warm water rinsed over her body. Her fair skin began to flush with a slight rosy hue under the slightly high water temperature. Kyou Fujibayashi closed her eyes, letting the warm water wash over her.
The small bathroom was filled with a faint mist, and the glass had already been dyed with a patch of pale white fog.
"Ryou,"
She murmured in a low voice.
On the other side,
Ryou Fujibayashi had opened her wardrobe. Looking at the clothes of various styles inside, she took one out and went to the full-length mirror, looking at herself in the reflection.
"This one seems a bit too plain in color."
"This one is a bit too flashy; Lin-kun probably wouldn't like it!"
...
She chose for a long time, until a knock on the door instantly pulled her thoughts back to reality.
"I'm coming in, Sister."
She stuffed the clothes on the bed into the wardrobe, closed the door, and immediately walked over to reach out and open the bedroom door.
"Is something the matter?"
"I heard sounds from Ryou's room and thought Ryou hadn't rested yet!"
"Uh! Well, I was reading a novel and talking to myself. I was just preparing to sleep."
"I want to sleep with Ryou tonight."
Ryou Fujibayashi smiled and expressed her welcome. "Okay, Sister, come in!"
This wasn't a problem at all. Even now, the two sisters would occasionally sleep together.
However, I'm afraid such opportunities will become fewer and fewer in the future!
Ryou Fujibayashi couldn't help but think.
The lights went out. In the quiet of the deep night, only the faint moonlight outside the window sprinkled down.
"Senpai, the moon is so beautiful!"
Isshiki Iroha gazed up at the bright golden full moon in the pitch-black sky.
April 25th, the 17th of the lunar calendar. The moon was still in a state where it appeared round at a glance.
"If you're going to confess to me, you'd better skip it!"
Isshiki Iroha: ???
She bit her red lip and looked at Lin Ye, huffing twice. "Although people in Japan do use 'the moon is beautiful' to hint at a confession, I really was just marveling at tonight's moon. Senpai hasn't reached the level where I'd actively confess yet. Senpai, don't be too narcissistic."
Isshiki Iroha stomped her feet and gave a thorough explanation.
"Senpai is neither tall nor handsome, nor rich. Most, most, most importantly, you simply don't know how to win a girl's heart. I wouldn't confess to Senpai. Senpai, don't have delusions, and don't think you can pursue me just because we've been in contact for two days."
"Impossible, completely impossible."
She crossed her hands, making a big 'X', her expression beaming with uncontrollable smiles and joy.
Isshiki Iroha had finally found a chance to strike back properly. She finally didn't have to be unilaterally suppressed and made to suffer by Lin Ye anymore.
"Who was it at the club building saying I was tall and handsome? Sure enough, a woman's mouth can't be trusted at all."
"Th-then, Senpai at least doesn't have money! I want to snag a sugar daddy."
"I am a man sitting on a billion."
"A billion?"
Isshiki Iroha paused for a moment, but immediately thought of something, her face turning red. "Senpai, pervert. Saying such dirty jokes to a girl will lower her favorability. My favorability for Senpai has dropped now, plummeted, you know!"
"How about dropping straight to a negative value!"
Lin Ye took a step closer to Isshiki Iroha, scaring her into retreating several steps in a row.
"Senpai, if you act recklessly, I'll call the police. Although I know I'm very cute and a boy of Senpai's righteous, youthful age definitely has ulterior thoughts, but... no means no."
She smiled, feigning a vigilant expression to remind him.
"Of course! If Senpai were to pursue me, it's not like I couldn't consider giving Senpai a chance to pursue me."
However, Isshiki Iroha realized that just after she finished speaking, Lin Ye had already turned and left, leaving her only a back view. "Wah! Senpai, wait for me!"
She immediately trotted to catch up.
Too hateful. How could he be like this!
Half an hour later, Lin Ye escorted Isshiki Iroha to the door of the girl's home.
"Alright, I'll be leaving now."
"Senpai..."
Isshiki Iroha called out to stop Lin Ye.
"What is it?"
"Senpai, are you thinking that I'll invite you inside to sit for a bit!"
At this moment, Isshiki Iroha couldn't hide the smile on the corners of her mouth. "If Senpai asks, I can invite you, you know! My parents aren't home tonight, you know!"
Lin Ye walked up to Isshiki Iroha in a few steps, looking down at this cute junior.
He stared for a few seconds, making Isshiki Iroha's heart hairy; she was starting to get a bit nervous from being watched.
"Isshiki-kohai, as your Senpai, I will teach you a lesson today."
"Wh-what..."
"Being with a man late at night is a very dangerous thing, yet you deliberately seduced and acted ambiguously, and even said your parents aren't home. What do you say will happen next?"
"Eh!"
Isshiki Iroha subconsciously took a step back, but Lin Ye quickly bent down and directly hoisted Isshiki Iroha onto his shoulder.
The girl with flaxen shoulder-length hair struggled, her pink fists pounding on Lin Ye's back. "Senpai, put me down, put me down quickly, my parents are home!"
Lin Ye glanced around; the residential house was empty, with no one inside.
"Doesn't that make it even more exciting?"
"Woo..."
Isshiki Iroha struggled and pushed, but she couldn't break free from the restraint at all. The difference in strength between the two was huge. "Senpai, my dad is very tough. If he really discovers you doing this, he'll beat you. I... I definitely won't be able to protect you."
"I'm very strong. I kill gods if I meet gods, and ghosts if I meet ghosts."
Click...
That was the sound of the door opening.
Isshiki Iroha was startled. When did he get the key?! How did she not feel anything?
Cold sweat began to break out on her forehead, and her back went cold.
"I'm sorry, I was wrong, I apologize to you, I was really wrong. Senpai, let me go!"
The next moment,
Isshiki Iroha only felt herself being thrown. Her slender body traced an arc and landed on the sofa, making a dull thud sound.
She immediately reacted by curling up, her eyes trembling as she looked at Lin Ye, deeply afraid that Lin Ye was going to do it for real.
Her parents really weren't home tonight.
"Where are Uncle and Auntie!"
"..."
"No one's here, right!"
"Um... they probably went out! They'll be back very soon."
"My cute little junior, don't you think the coming time is very suitable for doing certain things?"
Isshiki Iroha shook her head vigorously. She fumbled around and took out a ten-thousand-yen bill. "Senpai, take this. I know where there are girls for compensated dating. Ten thousand yen is enough..."
Lin Ye almost couldn't hold back his laughter.
This little girl was truly frightened, to even propose such a method.
"So Isshiki, you're only worth ten thousand yen?"
"..."
She said mournfully, "I... my pocket money is only this much. Senpai, this is already my entire fortune. There isn't any more."
"I... how about I help you pursue Yukinoshita-senpai? Being a girl, my assists are very fast. Or how about Yui Yuigahama? Yuigahama-senpai has such a good figure, big dumplings, men like that very much. With me helping you, I guarantee you'll catch them easily."
Thump!
Isshiki Iroha only felt her small head get knocked hard. She squatted down holding her head, tears surfacing in her eyes, turning them watery.
"I recorded what you just said."
Isshiki Iroha's eyes widened. Looking at the recording screen displayed on Lin Ye's phone, she felt completely unwell. "Senpai, let me go! I beg you, as long as you delete the recording, I... I'm willing to do anything..."
"You!"
Lin Ye sighed. "You really don't learn."
He knocked her again, making Isshiki Iroha whimper.
"Don't talk saucy anymore in the future."
Under the girl's resentful gaze, Lin Ye left and closed the door behind him on his way out.
It took Isshiki Iroha quite a while to react. "Hmph, Senpai is definitely a virgin."
Dealing with a virgin shouldn't be too simple, although Senpai was still vastly different from ordinary men. If she wasn't careful and used too much force, she might just capsize.
"But I have to make Senpai delete that recording. If by any chance Yukinoshita-senpai or Yuigahama-senpai found out, I might not be able to survive at Sobu High anymore."
Isshiki Iroha didn't think Lin Ye would actively expose it to the two upperclassmen, but what if accidental events occurred! For example, if an upperclassman secretly used Senpai's phone and discovered that recording.
This was... entirely possible.
Especially Yuigahama-senpai. Since she dared to eavesdrop on Senpai's conversation with her, she definitely dared to secretly play with his phone.
Isshiki Iroha did not wish for this scene to appear.
Recalling what happened today, Isshiki Iroha returned to her own room.
Tonight, she had insomnia.
Lin Ye returned to his apartment and placed the small cake he bought on the table.
The next second,
Accompanying his call, Miyuki Kuroshima appeared. she walked with light steps to the table, sat down, and opened the packaging box.
"A newly opened shop. I bought an extra one; taste and see which one is delicious."
"The scent is different."
"Hmm?"
Miyuki Kuroshima's words stunned Lin Ye. Wasn't it normal for different types of cakes to smell different?
"You have the scent of another girl on you."
the corners of Lin Ye's mouth stiffened.
He really wanted to say, 'How did you smell that?'
She was a Strange Occurrence; she couldn't even touch him in reality, so why could she smell? This was simply too unscientific.
Sigh, in these current times where Strange Occurrences and the Strange Game have appeared, perhaps there is no 'science' anymore.
"Don't want to explain?"
"What you said is a fact. I did indeed come into contact with a girl today."
Miyuki Kuroshima's expression remained normal and unchanged.
But just when Lin Ye thought the girl didn't intend to inquire further, another sentence came.
"Kissed?"
"Only you have kissed me."
This made Miyuki Kuroshima surprised, but at the same time, a tiny bit shy. She turned around and continued eating her cake.
And Lin Ye sat beside the girl this time, resting his chin on one hand, smiling as he admired the girl's side profile.
Soon, he noticed the girl's unnaturalness, and his smile became even brighter.
Miyuki Kuroshima didn't turn her head, quietly maintaining her daily posture as she finished eating the two portions of cake.
Finally, she put down the small plastic spoon, her eyes meeting his, and her red lips parted. "I'm leaving."
"Wait."
This stopped Miyuki Kuroshima from returning to the Inner World.
"Do you know where 'Tenmachi Elementary School', which we went to before, is located?"
Miyuki Kuroshima shook her head. "There isn't such an elementary school in the area near 'Yingcai Middle School'. It should be in another district."
"Mm."
"Is something the matter?"
Under her gaze, Lin Ye spoke, "There's a mission that hasn't been completed. The target Strange Occurrence should still be at Tenmachi Elementary School."
Lin Ye's thought was that if Tenmachi Elementary was close to Elite High School, he could complete the mission by first traveling to Elite High School and then going to Tenmachi Elementary to resolve that Strange Occurrence.
But now, not knowing the specific location, rashly entering the Inner World to search would only waste more time and movie ticket stubs.
"I'll help you ask around."
"By the way,"
Lin Ye took out the Strange Coins, totaling one hundred. "Take these with you!"
Strange Coins were hard currency in the Inner World, so Miyuki Kuroshima should be able to use them.
Miyuki Kuroshima shook her head.
"Useless to you?"
"I can't bring things back to reality."
"Next time I use a movie ticket to go to Yingcai Elementary, I'll give them to you then."
Miyuki Kuroshima gave an "Mm."
"Goodbye." This time, she actively bade farewell before leaving.
It made Lin Ye feel the girl had become slightly more cheerful.
A while later, Lin Ye sniffed his clothes for a bit. "Sniff, sniff..."
"It seems, it appears... there really is Isshiki's scent."
"At such a young age, she's already marinated in cosmetics. Sigh!"
"What will become of her in the future."
Lin Ye lamented a couple of sentences.
Having washed up and lying in bed, Lin Ye looked at his phone.
Both Ryou Fujibayashi and Ren Nanase had replied to his messages.
Ren Nanase indicated that Saturday during the day was no problem; she had time. Ryou Fujibayashi indicated that Friday night was okay, but the problem was... her sister Kyou Fujibayashi would prevent Ryou Fujibayashi from keeping the appointment.
"Maybe Ryou can successfully persuade Kyou Fujibayashi."
The probability wasn't high, but it was still possible.
Lin Ye decided to wait for Ryou Fujibayashi's contact.
Faced with the demands of a domineering sister, could the weak-willed sister resist, and resist successfully?
He was actually somewhat curious.
April 26th, Friday.
Lin Ye arrived at the Service Club, only to find an uninvited guest in the club room.
"Hello, Senpai, Senpai."
Isshiki Iroha waved her hand, greeting him enthusiastically.
She was currently sitting in the seat Lin Ye usually took.
Lin Ye walked over and conveniently closed the club room door.
"Senpai, sit here."
Isshiki Iroha held her bento and gave up the seat, returning the spot that originally belonged to Lin Ye back to him.
"What are you doing here?"
"Eating! Eating with the Senpais. Senpai, you wouldn't want to see your cute junior eating lunch all alone and lonely in some corner of the school, right!"
"Sounds pretty good."
"Senpai, you don't cherish your cute junior enough. The two Senpais are very nice and welcomed my arrival. Right! Yuigahama-senpai, Yukinoshita-senpai."
Yukino didn't answer, but Yui Yuigahama expressed a warm welcome. "Of course, we welcome Isshiki-san to come."
"Of course, my most important goal in coming here is to help Senpai pursue Yukinoshita-senpai. I promised Senpai I'd help you."
As soon as the words fell, Isshiki Iroha felt the gazes from the two upperclassmen, especially Yui Yuigahama's gaze, which was filled with eagerness and fully ignited curiosity.
Yukino Yukinoshita glanced over but said nothing.
She wasn't in a hurry to explain because, in the eyes of this junior who had a temperament similar to her sister's, the more she explained, the more Isshiki Iroha would make a fuss.
"Is there such a thing?"
"Of course! The recording, the recording. Senpai, you made a recording, so of course I have to help."
Isshiki Iroha had insomnia all night and felt that using normal methods definitely wouldn't convince Lin Ye to delete the recording. Since that was the case, she would find another way—just make the recording lose its effect.
Lin Ye also perceived Isshiki Iroha's intention and expressed appreciation for this clever junior's idea.
"My memory is a bit bad; let me look for the recording."
Soon, Lin Ye dug out the recording app. The next moment he tapped into it, poised to press the play button with his thumb, Isshiki Iroha, with quick eyes and hands, stuck her hand in. "Senpai, Senpai, don't play it, it's embarrassing."
Her pleading tone rang out.
While smiling, she moved her finger and pressed the delete button.
At this moment, Isshiki Iroha breathed a sigh of relief. The recording was gone; great.
"Why did you delete it?"
"S-sorry, I... I did it accidentally."
But Isshiki Iroha couldn't hide the smile in her heart.
"No problem, I have cloud backup."
Isshiki Iroha: ???
By now, she knew she was being played like a fiddle by Lin Ye.
Senpai was simply too cunning; she seemed completely no match for him!
"Isshiki."
"Senpai, speak..."
"Do I still need you to help me pursue Yukinoshita? You're kidding."
"Eh!" Isshiki Iroha blinked, dazed.
"Yukino."
After Lin Ye finished speaking, Yukino Yukinoshita picked up a bento and pushed it in front of Lin Ye.
Isshiki Iroha watched, dumbstruck, shock rippling through her heart repeatedly.
Yukinoshita-senpai even prepared a lunch bento for Lin Ye. This is dating; they must be dating!
Senpai is too amazing!
Moreover, if she remembered correctly, Lin Ye was going on a date with Ryou Fujibayashi tonight. That meant Lin Ye was currently two-timing.
In an instant, Isshiki Iroha's eyes sparkled with spirit.
She had caught hold of Senpai's leverage.
She wanted to cry, really wanted to cry.
Last night, she was bullied to the point she almost thought she was going to lose her virginity. Now, she finally grabbed a handle she could use to threaten Senpai.
Isshiki Iroha's mind was already running wild. She definitely had to make good use of this leverage; she definitely had to dig out all the secrets in Senpai's heart.
"Isshiki-kohai, Isshiki-kohai."
Under the repeated calls of Yui Yuigahama, who was sitting opposite Isshiki Iroha, Isshiki Iroha finally came back to her senses.
"Yuigahama-senpai, what is it?"
"Don't misunderstand. Yukinon prepared lunch for Lin Ye-kun because Lin Ye-kun helped Yukinon last week. It's just a return favor from Yukinon."
After Yui Yuigahama's explanation, Isshiki Iroha suddenly realized the facts were completely different from what she had imagined.
The leverage she had managed to get her hands on was completely gone.
"So that's how it is!"
Isshiki Iroha suddenly understood. "I almost thought Senpai and Senior were dating. If this got out, who knows how many boys at Sobu High would cry."
"Um, I... I definitely won't talk nonsense. Senpai and Senior, please rest assured, my lips are very sealed. I can definitely keep a secret."
Deeply afraid the three wouldn't believe her, Isshiki Iroha repeatedly made guarantees.
Under the bright midday sunshine, the Service Club was fully illuminated.
The four began to enjoy their lunch bentos in the club room.
Isshiki Iroha saw the rich variety of dishes in Lin Ye's bento, her greedy eyes staring straight at it.
After a good while,
She struck up a conversation in a small voice. "Senpai, Senpai..."
But Lin Ye remained indifferent.
"Senpai, your cute junior is calling you."
"What is it?"
"Can I taste Yukinoshita-senpai's cooking?"
"You should ask Yukinoshita."
She immediately looked at Yukino, but Yukino didn't answer; she neither agreed nor refused.
"Yukinoshita-senpai has tacitly agreed, so Senpai..."
"Pick it yourself!"
"Woo woo, Senpai is indeed the best to me."
Isshiki Iroha acted without politeness. From picking up the food to putting it back, she did it in one go. throughout the whole process, her gaze fell on Yukino Yukinoshita, constantly observing this upperclassman's reaction.
She wanted to know if Sobu High's ice-cold school beauty was moved, if she had affection for the opposite sex.
Unfortunately, she still didn't get the result she wanted.
"Senpai, what arrangements do you have for the weekend?"
"Dating girls."
"..."
Yukino Yukinoshita didn't speak up to refute. The more she explained, the less clear it became. Since Lin Ye didn't name names, she would just pretend not to know.
"Who?"
Lin Ye was very sure Isshiki Iroha was doing this on purpose.
"If you agree, it'll be you."
"Ah, eh, hey hey! Senpai, what do you mean by that? Could it be you want to pursue me? No, no, that won't do. I'm not a girl who's so easily asked out. Even if it's Senpai, you have to ask me out at least twice."
"..."
Truly Isshiki's style.
Lin Ye didn't have any special reaction, but Yui Yuigahama seemed to believe Isshiki Iroha's rhetoric, momentarily wondering if Isshiki Iroha had feelings for Lin Ye.
"There isn't a second time."
Isshiki Iroha's eyelids twitched.
Struck down once again. But it didn't matter; she had experienced 'poisonous beatings' and 'mercilessness' from Senpai more than once.
Lunch break ended.
After returning to the classroom, afternoon classes began.
After school in the afternoon, when only Lin Ye and Yukino Yukinoshita remained in the empty classroom, Lin Ye heard the girl's clear, cold voice. "Don't forget about tomorrow."
"I won't."
After speaking, Yukino Yukinoshita left the classroom.
Today was Friday. Without special notice, the Service Club's club activities were suspended on Fridays.
And Yukino Yukinoshita had to return to the Yukinoshita mansion today, so she also needed to leave Sobu High a bit earlier to return to her apartment and prepare some things.
Lin Ye walked out of the classroom and saw another acquaintance.
Rui Tachibana.
Since Wednesday, the girl hadn't come to find him again, which once made Lin Ye think Rui Tachibana had given up.
But now it seemed that wasn't the case.
"Tachibana-san, is something the matter?"
"Mm, do you have time?"
"What is it? If it's about Tachibana-sensei, I think you don't need to waste any more time."
"Sister wants to invite you to come to our home for dinner."
Lin Ye paused.
"Tonight?"
"Mm, tonight."
Lin Ye noticed Hina Tachibana-sensei smiling not far away.
That works too!
His original arrangements for tonight had been terminated, so going to the teacher's house for dinner wasn't bad.
Buzz, buzz, buzz...
Lin Ye's phone vibrated. He picked it up to check the latest message, and the content stunned him.
It was an inquiry message from Ryou Fujibayashi confirming the time and place.
"She actually persuaded Kyou Fujibayashi."
Impressive!
For the weak-willed sister to persuade the domineering sister, that was truly a rare occurrence.
"Tachibana-san, I'm sorry, I have something to do tonight."
"Mm."
Rui Tachibana gave an "Mm" without any dragging of feet or intention to persuade further, immediately turning and leaving.
After regrouping with her sister Hina Tachibana and informing her of Lin Ye's refusal, Hina Tachibana was also a bit disappointed.
"It's okay, we'll just invite him again next week."
The reason she didn't ask Lin Ye proactively was mostly that she hoped to let her sister interact and contact Lin Ye.
Although Hina Tachibana didn't wish for her sister to chase him aggressively, given Lin Ye's current situation, he had absolutely no intention of actively contacting her sister. This left her, the older sister, with no choice but to think of ways for her sister to be proactive, to display her own charm and attract Lin Ye.
Otherwise, her sister Rui wouldn't have even a sliver of a chance.
"Mm."
Rui Tachibana nodded.
Actually, for the past two days, she had been worried Lin Ye would tell her sister about the 'threat' on Wednesday. But by now, she was certain Lin Ye wasn't the kind of boy who liked to tattle.
Therefore, her favorability towards Lin Ye couldn't help but increase a tiny bit, but only a tiny bit.
"Let's go home. Rui has to prepare a sumptuous dinner tonight. I want to eat a big meal, drinking beer and eating Rui's cooking. Ah, this life is too comfortable."
"No drinking."
"I don't want to."
Hina Tachibana immediately shook her head. "Beer is the best consumable to soothe an adult!"
Unknown when, she had started drinking alcohol too.
The two left the school building.
Chiba City Hospital.
Ryou Fujibayashi finished work early. She had already made a request yesterday to leave work an hour early, and the hospital had granted it.
She quickly packed her things.
"Sister."
Ryou Fujibayashi looked at her sister waiting in the hospital courtyard, endlessly astonished.
"Ryou, I thought about it, and let's go to Tokyo together!"
"Sister, I..."
"You have a date with Lin Ye tonight, right!"
One sentence tore through that faint membrane, and the two faced this reality.
"Sister knew since yesterday, right!"
"I bumped into him at the ramen shop. He was eating ramen with a cute girl."
Did she mind? She minded.
But it seemed she didn't mind that much.
Ryou Fujibayashi had always known there were quite a few girls around Lin Ye. She had even witnessed with her own eyes a beautiful female Strange Occurrence falling for Lin Ye and proactively offering a kiss.
Even so, she had never wanted to leave or stay away from him.
"He's not suitable for you."
"That's not for you to decide, Sister."
In the past, even if her sister retorted, her tone wouldn't be this firm, nor her words this direct.
That man had indeed changed her sister.
She had always hoped her sister would be a bit more extroverted, but now this sudden change caught her off guard, making her unable to adapt.
"How old is Ryou this year?"
Ryou Fujibayashi was confused.
"22 years old."
What was the problem?
"Do you know how old Lin Ye is?"
Could it be... he's very old?
"3... 30? 30 isn't that old either."
Lin-kun looked rather young.
"It's nothing if the man is a bit older; it's quite normal in this society."
regarding age, it wasn't a big problem if the man was older. For fertility, the key point lay with the girl.
She was only 22, very young. Having twins definitely wouldn't be a problem.
Thinking of this, Ryou Fujibayashi's cheeks flushed with a slight blush.
She was considering things so far into the future now.
"Not 30 years old."
"Then... forty? Th-that... impossible, right!"
"17 years old."
Ryou Fujibayashi's expression froze.
"He is a high school student at Sobu High. His age is 17, at most 18. And you are already 22."
"Th-that's... okay, right!"
17 years old, not an adult yet!
Ryou Fujibayashi was shocked! But she had an unexpectedly thrilling feeling, a feeling of fulfilling her desire to date and fall in love during her high school days.
"It's okay now, but what about five years later, ten years later!"
"When you are 32, he'll only be 28. When you are 40, he'll only be 36, a man's golden prime. And right now he's surrounded by beautiful girls; in the future, there will only be more. How will the older you compete with them then?"
This was a fact.
After her sister's explanation, Ryou Fujibayashi also knew this was a fact that truly existed.
"Future matters, consider them in the future."
Kyou Fujibayashi instantly realized that her sister had already completely trapped one foot in, and the other foot was likely already stepping in too.
"What about Ren Nanase! She's your friend, a good friend from nursing school. Once she knows about you and Lin Ye, how will you face her?"
Ryou Fujibayashi lowered her head, the ten fingers of her hands clutching the hem of her clothes tightly.
This matter had been lingering in her heart.
"You wouldn't want to say that since Ren Nanase and Lin Ye aren't lovers, it doesn't matter if you have contact with Lin Ye, right! That excuse might fool me, but don't fool yourself. You know better than I do whether Ren Nanase likes Lin Ye."
When she occasionally chatted with Ren Nanase about Lin Ye at the hospital, she could always sense that joy from the bottom of Ren Nanase's heart, her rising smile filled with happiness.
"I already told him yesterday that I would stop you from going."
"Sister..."
Ryou Fujibayashi suddenly raised her volume, her tone carrying a tinge of anger.
"How could you do that."
Kyou Fujibayashi's heart twitched; this was her sister's complaint, her sister's anger towards her.
"Sister, please don't interfere in my affairs with Lin-kun anymore. No matter what our future holds, it is our choice. Please don't interfere anymore, okay? I beg you."
Ryou Fujibayashi bit her red lip, looking at her sister with trembling eyes.
"I'm sorry, Ryou."
She couldn't do it.
Ryou Fujibayashi didn't want to have a falling out with her sister, didn't want to speak too harshly.
"Sister, you don't understand Lin-kun at all."
"If you don't tell me, how can I understand him?"
Facing her sister's question, Ryou Fujibayashi pursed her lips. "I will talk to Lin-kun about this today. If Lin-kun thinks it's okay, I will tell you."
"I'm not at ease."
"What's there to be uneasy about?"
"I'm worried you'll be tricked by him into staying out overnight."
By now, Kyou Fujibayashi chose to speak directly about things she didn't want to say bluntly.
"I won't."
"You don't even have confidence. When you heard I was going to Tokyo today, what was your reaction, Ryou? What were your thoughts? Do you think I, as your sister, couldn't tell? We are twin sisters."
Ryou Fujibayashi instantly lost the confidence to refute.
They were twin sisters, living together since childhood. They understood each other best.
"You can date him."
Ryou Fujibayashi revealed a look of disbelief. "Sister, you're not lying to me?"
"Look at your excited appearance now. If he proposed spending the night, I don't believe you would refuse."
Ryou Fujibayashi immediately lowered her head, a blush of shame surfacing on her face.
Soon, she retorted, though her confidence wasn't very sufficient. "I would! Sister, I... I haven't reached that step with... Lin-kun yet... Besides, Lin Ye... isn't that kind of impatient man."
"Hehe, you don't even believe those words yourself. Don't you know what high school boys think?"
Ryou Fujibayashi's small head lowered even further.
"I'll go with you."
"Ah!"
That surprised reaction made Kyou Fujibayashi exclaim that a grown girl can't be kept at home; she didn't even want her sister anymore.
"I won't affect you. I'll just follow from a distance. If he plots something improper against you, hehe."
Sorry, Lin-kun.
Ryou Fujibayashi thought silently in her heart.
Subsequently, the two sisters returned to their residence first.
In the distance, a woman in a pink nurse's uniform was watching. She had vaguely heard something.
On the other side,
Lin Ye changed into beige loose casual clothes. After finishing tidying up, he set off.
There was still half an hour before the agreed time. Lin Ye wasn't in a rush.
But a familiar sound came.
It was the 'Strange Game' notification sound.
"Mandatory Mission."
This was the mandatory mission that had to be participated in once a month.
Why at this time of all times?
Lin Ye felt like he was being targeted.
________________________________________
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