Oh no! They all seem a bit off!

Chapter 55: The fountain is blocked again!

After leaving the barbecue restaurant, Shiina Maki looked at Akizuki Makoto, who was walking silently ahead, and asked timidly, "Aki-Akizuki-kun, are you angry?"

"Ah."

After responding, Akizuki Makoto stopped and turned to look at Shiina Maki, whose eyes betrayed her fear and hesitation. He sighed softly, "You need to understand that giving in all the time will only embolden others. If something like this happens again, and I'm not by your side, won't you just keep being bullied?"

He was actually a little angry with Shiina Maki, because she had been putting up with him all along and even tried to stop him from becoming a ninja as well.

Shiina Maki lowered her head, pursed her lips, and said sadly, "I just feel it's unnecessary... I'm okay."

"Unnecessary? What do you mean it's unnecessary?"

Makoto Akizuki frowned, already able to imagine what Maki Shiina would say next.

Most likely, he meant that he didn't need to fall out with his other classmates and leave halfway through the event for her sake, thus ruining their relationship.

"There's no need to argue with others for my sake; it will damage Akizuki-kun's reputation..."

As expected, what Shiina Maki said was exactly what he had predicted.

Akizuki was somewhat disappointed, so he interrupted directly: "Alright, that's enough."

"I……"

"Shiina-kun, let me put it this way, if I were the one being laughed at, what would you do? Like at karaoke, why would you want to stand up and sing? Do you really want to sing?"

Makoto Akizuki interrupted Maki Shiina once again, hoping that Maki Shiina could understand his thoughts.

This sentiment has nothing to do with anything else; it's simply that he can't stand seeing others repeatedly bully the people he cherishes.

Saying things like "it's unnecessary" or "it's okay" sounds too distant and impersonal; it just makes people angry.

"……sorry."

After a moment of silence, Shiina Maki bent down and bowed deeply to Akizuki Makoto in apology.

"You don't need to apologize to me, and you haven't done anything that requires an apology."

After saying that, Akizuki Makoto turned around and continued walking forward, with Shiina Maki keeping her head down and silently following behind.

In the past, she would always move closer to Akizuki Makoto and tug at his clothes like a loyal dog.

But looking at Qiuyue Cheng's straight back, and thinking about what she had just done, she really had no face to do it again.

She was clumsy and her words were always inarticulate, failing to properly convey her feelings to Akizuki Makoto.

She deeply resonated with Akizuki Makoto's words, so she could understand why he was disappointed.

That's to be expected. No one would remain silent if their friend was belittled or ridiculed by others.

Akizuki Makoto stood firmly by her side and spoke up for her, but she advised Akizuki Makoto to calm down and not to argue with others for her sake and ruin the relationship. This was indeed wrong of her, and even a betrayal!
"Why am I so stupid? I always mess things up. This time I even disappointed and angered Akizuki-kun..."

As Shiina Maki thought to herself, a sudden pang of sadness welled up inside her.

Her eyes began to burn, tears welled up, and she couldn't help but sob softly.

Hearing the commotion behind him, Akizuki Makoto stopped again. Seeing Shiina Maki crying with tears streaming down her face, her hands constantly wiping away her tears, his heart softened.

"Don't rub it like that, your eyes will get red and swollen."

He spoke softly, took a clean handkerchief from his bag, cupped Shiina Maki's face, and wiped away her tears.

"Akizuki-kun, I was so stupid, I'm so sorry..."

There's nothing I need to apologize for.

"I'm so sorry to have disappointed you..." "No, it's just that I'm really in a bad mood because of the rainy season."

Akizuki patiently comforted Shiina Maki, realizing that his tone and attitude had indeed been a bit harsh and hasty.

Change takes time; he couldn't expect Shiina Maki to become brave all at once. After all, personality traits take time to correct.

It's amazing that she can make so many changes in just one week.

"Please don't hate me, okay?"

Shiina Maki looked up at Akizuki Makoto with a pitiful expression, making one think of a poor puppy abandoned in the rain.

"I don't dislike you."

After wiping away all of Shiina Maki's tears, Akizuki Makoto raised his hand, placed it on her head, and gently stroked it, saying in a gentle tone, "You're not stupid, and I'm not disappointed in you, or rather, I don't hate you. Don't worry."

"Ok!"

Shiina Maki nodded emphatically, then suddenly threw herself into Akizuki Makoto's arms and hugged him tightly.

"Just for a little while, okay?"

Her almost pleading tone made it impossible for Akizuki Makoto to refuse, even though he hadn't originally intended to.

After hugging for a while, Shiina Maki blushed, let go of Akizuki Makoto, and lowered her head, not daring to look at his face again.

Akizuki Makoto said with a smile, "Let's go eat ramen. This time, I'll try adding extra numbing and spicy flavors."

……

After finishing his ramen, Makoto Akizuki took Maki Shiina to the station and said goodbye to her.

"Today is another eventful day..."

Looking up at the dark sky, Qiu Yuecheng sighed inwardly, thinking that all he wanted to do was go home quickly, take a hot bath, and then lie in bed and do nothing to rest.

He has spent most of his evenings like this for the past week.

He used to read books and play games, but now he's not in the mood for those activities anymore. He goes to bed early, around 10 p.m., to conserve his energy.

Back at my apartment, as I took the elevator to the sixth floor, a familiar scene unfolded as the elevator doors opened.

A semi-transparent figure squatted at his doorstep, hugging his knees, burying his head in his arms, and curling up into a ball.

Upon seeing this, Akizuki Makoto was stunned. His previously relaxed and cheerful mood immediately turned sour.

Fortunately, with 44% resistance now, I don't have to panic like I did last time when I was blocked at the fountain.

His heart only quickened slightly when he saw Ji Yexue, and then returned to normal.

"I really can't make any more promises like this, they've all become so treacherous..."

While silently complaining to himself, Akizuki Makoto stepped out of the elevator and arrived at his front door.

As he exited the elevator and walked to his front door, Ji Yexue did not lift her head from her arms, remaining motionless as if she were a statue.

It wasn't until Akizuki Makoto inserted the key into the lock and pushed the door open that Ji Yexue belatedly moved her body and looked up at Akizuki Makoto beside her.

"...Finally, you're back."

Ji Yexue muttered to herself. She didn't know how long she had been waiting. It seemed like she had been waiting since the afternoon, and she had been waiting and waiting until she got impatient and fell asleep.

(End of this chapter)