Oh no! They all seem a bit off!

Chapter 99 Shiina Maki Wants Time to Stop Permanently
After arriving at the stadium and renting a badminton court, Dongzi sat quietly on a nearby seat, holding her plush rabbit.

Makoto Akizuki and Rei Shimizu began warming up, chatting for a while along the way.

"By the way, how come you ran so fast yesterday? I tried my best but couldn't catch up with you, and you even outpaced me."

"Do you think I've been training for nothing all these years? Badminton also emphasizes running speed, okay? I run ten kilometers every morning."

"Run ten kilometers every day..."

Akizuki Shiro muttered to himself, thinking that running ten kilometers should increase physical strength and endurance, and not so much speed.

There's no such thing as running 10 kilometers every day and your running speed will increase.

However, he didn't ask, and decided to leave it at that, since he didn't understand this kind of thing anyway.

"Alright, warm-up complete!"

Shimizu Rei swung his arm, revealing a confident smile, and said, "Acheng, I'm not the same person I was six months ago. This time, I'm going to shut you out!"

Six months ago, Qiuyue Cheng returned to his hometown, and they even had a fight. As for the result...

Shimizu Rei suffered a complete defeat.

She played seven matches in total and didn't win a single game. This caused Shimizu Rei's Dao Heart to shatter, and she began to question the meaning of life.

She was working hard towards her professional goals, training for five or six hours a day, while Akizuki Makoto only treated it as a hobby and never trained regularly, yet he was able to completely defeat her.

"Okay, then I'll give it my all."

Akizuki smiled indifferently. He actually hoped that Shimizu Rei could shut out him, which would prove that her level had indeed improved a lot, and winning the women's inter-school singles championship should not be a problem.

Besides singles, there is also doubles, but Shimizu Rei doesn't expect to win the doubles title as well; that would be too arrogant.

"Heh heh, A-Cheng, don't be surprised by me..."

Shimizu Rei smiled without saying a word, secretly pleased with herself.

Shimizu Rei's current achievements, including ranking first in Takamatsu City and participating in the inter-school competition, are all due to her own hard work.

and so……

"Adjust it for me!"

With a thought, Shimizu Rei used her superpowers to adjust her nervous system, making her body more sensitive.

She first tried adjusting it to twice the normal speed, thinking that she couldn't be too drastic and had to proceed gradually, otherwise it would be bad if she broke through Akizuki Makoto's defenses directly.

"Shall I serve?"

Feeling lighter, Shimizu Rei greeted everyone and then gently swung her arm to hit the shuttlecock, serving a very standard shot.

At first, the two weren't very aggressive; they were just warming up with their exchanges.

It wasn't until after several rounds of back-and-forth play that they gradually picked up the pace, starting to take corner kicks, spike shots, and steal from each other's backfield.

After a few exchanges, Akizuki Makoto was somewhat surprised to find that Shimizu Rei's badminton skills had really improved a lot.

It can defend flawlessly and attack powerfully.

Previously, Shimizu Rei couldn't even handle his spikes, but now he can easily turn the tide.

After conceding a point and scoring the first goal, Akizuki Makoto remarked, "They've really improved a lot. They can now go toe-to-toe with me."

"I've only just warmed up; now I'm going to unleash my full potential!"

After saying this with a grin, Shimizu Rei adjusted her nervous system to three times its normal size, and her eyesight improved accordingly.

Vision is very important, as it relates to reaction time. By improving her vision, the images she captures can be fed back to her brain more quickly.

When the power level was increased to twice, she could fight back and forth with Akizuki Makoto, but when it was increased to three times, the difference became immediately apparent.

Akizuki Makoto immediately felt the strain, realizing that Shimizu Rei was not only quick in her reactions, but also incredibly fast.

Now he truly realized that Shimizu Rei's running speed last night was indeed much faster than his, easily outpacing him.

As time went by, Shimizu Rei quickly scored 21 points, winning the first game.

As for Akizuki Makoto's score... it was dismal, with only five points.

He couldn't help but question his life, wondering if he had become worse or if Shimizu Rei had indeed improved rapidly.

After only half a year apart, the girl he had broken down was now about to break down his defenses.

Afterwards, Akizuki Makoto, refusing to believe in bad luck, played even harder and more seriously, but this only earned him a few more points, and Shimizu Rei still won.

After two rounds, both players were exhausted. Akizuki Makoto had been too serious and had completely depleted his stamina, while Shimizu Rei had put too much strain on his body.

Since it's a three-fold increase, it means she needs to expend three times the amount of stamina.

After playing two matches, she was exhausted.

The second half of the second game was already very tiring, but I gritted my teeth and persevered through sheer willpower, and then used my superpowers to reduce my senses so that I wouldn't feel so bad.

"Wow, you're amazing! You've completely crushed me. You're definitely going to win!"

Akizuki sat down in the chair, panting, and took the water that Fuyuko handed him, gulping it down to replenish his fluids.

Dongzi stood to the side with a towel, diligently wiping his sweat, carefully cleaning his neck and face.

"Ha...ha...didn't I say...didn't I say...that mere...A-Cheng..."

Shimizu Rei was panting heavily, her chest heaving violently, and her voice was broken and intermittent.

"I'm not playing with you anymore. Your skill level is already so high, you don't need me as your sparring partner anymore. I'm really tired..."

Considering it was a rare day off, Akizuki Makoto didn't want to exhaust himself, so he became the Cowardly Lizard.

If he continues to fight Shimizu Rei, he will definitely go all out.

If she finds out that I'm just giving her the runaround, she'll definitely be angry.

Therefore, it's better to just surrender to avoid being tormented by her further.

"Tch, you're just a nobody."

Shimizu Rei laughed mockingly, but this was exactly what she wanted, as she wouldn't be able to use her triple superpower again for a while.

After resting for a while, and when their strength had recovered to about 70-80%, the three packed up and left the gymnasium.

Makoto Akizuki glanced at the time; it was already time for Maki Shiina to go to work. So he suggested going to the "Hoshimi" cake shop.

Shimizu Rei naturally had no objection; eating sweets after exercise can help with recovery, after all.

Of course, this is on the premise that she didn't know that Akizuki Makoto had gone there specifically to meet a friend who worked there, and that the friend was female.

If she had known, she wouldn't be so happy. She would have thought to herself, "Is Akizuki Makoto a friend of young girls, with female friends everywhere he goes?"

The cake shop where Maki Shiina works isn't far from the stadium; the navigation says it's about one kilometer away, a twelve-minute walk.

From the outside, "Star View" cake shop looks no different from other shops, using transparent glass doors and curtain walls, allowing people to see the cakes displayed in the indoor showcase from the outside.

Upon entering the store, Makoto Akizuki did not see Maki Shiina.

The receptionists were a middle-aged couple, one busy with cashier duties and the other with loading cakes, and they had no time to greet Akizuki Makoto who had just entered.

This shop seems to be doing quite well, so the food must be pretty good.

"It should be in the kitchen, right?"

Akizuki Makoto thought to himself, then said to Touko beside him, "Touko, what do you want to eat? I'll buy it for you."

No matter what, you can't just go directly to the middle-aged couple at the front desk and ask where Shiina Maki is.

Judging from the looks of it, Maki Shiina is busy in the kitchen and doesn't have time to chat with them.

"Thank you brother!"

Dongzi happily ran to the display case and began to select a variety of cakes and breads through the glass.

Shimizu Rei followed beside her, discussing with her which one tasted better.

Akizuki Makoto didn't go over there; he waited at the front desk, where he could see the back of the kitchen, though he could only vaguely make out some details through the window.

Perhaps being urged by the customers again, the middle-aged man at the front desk walked to the window and shouted loudly, "Hey, aren't the cream puffs ready yet? The customers here are getting impatient!"

"Horse, come right away!"

The next second, Makoto Akizuki heard a familiar voice coming from the kitchen, which confirmed to him that Maki Shiina was working in the kitchen.

That makes sense. She's rather socially awkward, so entertaining customers probably wouldn't be an option, but she's very good at handicrafts, perhaps because she's shouldered the responsibility of housework since she was young.

Since she can cook well, baking bread should be no problem for her either. Besides, Shiina Maki is not stupid; she is very smart.

"Brother, I've chosen!"

After waiting for a few minutes, Dongzi returned to Akizuki Makoto's side with a few donuts and tiramisu, happily hugging his arm.

Shimizu Rei also bought two slices of tiramisu, and they stood together at the front desk waiting.

At that moment, Shiina Maki, who was in the kitchen, finished baking the cream puffs and came out of the kitchen carrying the baking tray.

She didn't notice Akizuki Makoto standing at the front desk at first, after all, she was already in a rush and had several cakes to make.

In addition, there were two lines of people ahead of Akizuki Makoto queuing to pay, so he was blocked from view at the back. Fuyuko seemed to sense something, shook Akizuki Makoto's arm, pointed to Shiina Maki, and asked curiously, "Brother, is the sister you mentioned who buys me cakes her?"

She kept thinking about the older sister who would buy her cakes, but she hadn't found her target since she came in.

"Ok?"

Upon hearing this, Shimizu Rei asked in confusion, "Fuyuko, aren't I the older sister who bought you the cake?"

"Not."

Dongzi shook her head and replied, "When my brother left, he said he was going to the cake shop at noon to meet a lady who would buy me a cake."

"One-tenth"

Shimizu Rei's eyes widened instantly as she looked at Akizuki Makoto, and then at the shop assistant who had already placed the cream puffs and was preparing to return to the kitchen to continue making cakes.

She hadn't paid much attention to the employee when she first saw him, since he was just an employee wearing a white chef's uniform, a mask, and a hat, covering himself up completely so that she couldn't tell anything from him.

But upon closer inspection, something seems amiss.

Although we still can't see what it looks like, the development of its chest is just too extraordinary.

Even the loose-fitting chef's uniform was stretched taut and bulging.

"Yes, that's the older sister who buys you cakes."

Akizuki smiled and affirmed, then said, "But she's busy right now, so I'll have my brother buy it for you. Let her treat you next time."

"Acheng, what's going on? You didn't mention that you came here to look for someone!"

Shimizu Rei couldn't help but feel a little jealous. Although she couldn't see the shop assistant's face clearly, she could tell from her figure that she was a beauty in the making.

Do I even need to say that?

Akizuki was a little puzzled, thinking that he came to find someone, but that didn't stop him from buying a cake?
"You—"

Shimizu Rei pouted angrily, stomped her foot, and scolded, "Idiot!"

"...Women's hearts are truly hard to fathom."

Akizuki Makoto muttered to himself, wondering why Shimizu Rei was sulking again.

He didn't pay attention, because the people in front of him had already paid and left with their cakes, and now it was their turn.

While paying the bill, Akizuki Makoto casually asked, "Hello, when do you take a lunch break here?"

Upon hearing this, the middle-aged woman in charge of packing looked up at Qiu Yuecheng but did not reply.

The middle-aged man spoke up, replying, "The one in the kitchen is busy; he doesn't have a lunch break."

"is that so……"

Akizuki Makoto found it a little strange that the middle-aged man could tell at a glance that he was looking for Shiina Maki, but he didn't ask. He thought he would come back again when it was almost time to leave work.

The restaurant is so busy that it's understandable that they don't have time for a lunch break. It seems like only Shiina Maki is in the kitchen; he didn't see anyone else.

"Let's go."

After paying, Akizuki Makoto took Fuyuko's hand and left with the sullen Shimizu Rei.

Just as they turned to leave, Shiina Maki walked out of the kitchen.

"Just now...did you hear Akizuki-kun's voice?"

She wondered to herself, just as she returned to the kitchen, she seemed to hear a very familiar voice, faintly coming from the front desk.

That's why she came out of the kitchen again.

When she looked towards the shop entrance, she happened to see three people with their backs to her, pushing open the door and leaving.

Although Akizuki Makoto had his back to her, how could she not recognize that straight back and that half-revealed profile?
"Akizuki-kun..."

Shiina Maki stared blankly as Akizuki Makoto pushed open the door and disappeared around the corner, unable to utter a word to stop him.

Because what she saw was not just Akizuki Makoto, but also the young girl holding his hand, and the noisy, energetic, dark-skinned, short-haired girl beside him.

They stood on either side of Akizuki Makoto, chatting and laughing together, appearing very affectionate.

"Why did you come out?"

As she stared blankly at the shop entrance, the middle-aged man at the counter frowned and snapped, "Are the croissants ready? The tiramisu should be made too!"

"..."

Shiina Maki remained stunned and did not respond. She just stared at the empty store entrance, feeling utterly lost and dejected.

Although she understood that Akizuki Makoto had come here specifically to find her.

But seeing that Akizuki Makoto had brought other girls, bought a cake, and left without waiting long, she still felt a kind of inexplicable sadness.

She didn't know that Akizuki Makoto came here because the two girls who were with him wanted to eat cake, and he just happened to think of this place, or rather, because it happened to be nearby, and he came here specifically to see her.

"I so wish they came especially to see me..."

Shiina Maki chuckled to herself. If she had come specifically to see her, and not because those two girls wanted cake, she wouldn't have left in such a hurry, would she?
Moreover, she had clearly come out once before, and Akizuki Makoto should have seen her, but he didn't call out to her.

Did you not recognize me?

Or is there something else on their mind?

She couldn't figure it out.

Seeing that Shiina Maki still didn't react, the middle-aged man walked directly up to her and raised his voice, shouting, "I'm talking to you, what are you standing there for!"

"...I'm sorry, manager, I'll go back right away."

Shiina Maki responded softly and turned back to the kitchen.

But the middle-aged man seemed annoyed by Shiina Maki's repeated disregard and continued to yell at her.

"Do you even have any awareness of what it means to be a member of society?"

"What's wrong with young people these days? They have no manners at all!"

"Not only are you clumsy, but you can't even speak properly. If we hadn't taken pity on you and decided to hire you, who would want you?"

"Show me some gratitude! Don't you know how to respect your elders and adults? You brat."

Hearing the stern reprimand, Shiina Maki remained silent, quietly making pastries.

But the grievances in her heart grew stronger and stronger, causing her eyes to sting with tears.

She's quite capable, and although she's the only one in the kitchen, she has to make more than a dozen kinds of pastries. She's incredibly busy every day, and after get off work, she still has to clean the shop all by herself.

The shop manager is also fierce; he's been like that ever since he started teaching her how to make pastries.

If she is even slightly dissatisfied with anything, he will loudly berate her, belittling her from head to toe.

Even so, she endured all the grievances because she really needed to work to earn money.

She didn't have any special skills, so the only places where students could work were restaurants like this, doing kitchen or waiter/waitress work.

However, because she is not good at socializing, she is always politely rejected when she finally musters up the courage to go for an interview because she stutters and speaks too softly.

This was the only cake shop that was willing to let her work there, and she was very happy at the time, even though the salary was only 800 yen an hour.

In the first few days after she started working, she wasted a lot of materials due to improper operation.

Not only was she verbally abused, but all the losses were also attributed to her, leaving her not only without earning a salary but also owing tens of thousands of yen.

She originally didn't want to work anymore because she felt she couldn't do it well, but the store manager said that if she didn't want to work anymore, those few days of work wouldn't count because she hadn't made the cakes well.

Therefore, she could only persevere and work even harder to memorize the recipes and production techniques.

She finally learned how to make cakes, but the kitchen staff only put her in charge, making her make more than a dozen complicated pastries.

She tolerated it because she had finally learned how to make cakes, and it would be such a waste to give it up.

The store manager took advantage of her willingness to be beaten and scolded, ordering her around at will and making her get off work overtime without pay, even after her shift was over.

Shiina Maki could endure these grievances because she wanted to change herself, wanted to receive praise from Akizuki Makoto, and wanted to become worthy of him.

But she found that all this patience and change seemed to be meaningless.

She made the change, and then what?

Then, more and more philanderers set their sights on Akizuki Makoto.

While she was quietly working hard and changing herself, those philandering cats who didn't need to change took the opportunity to steal him away.

Makoto Akizuki is too popular, and he is too gentle. His philandering lovers are all more outstanding than her.

She didn't know what to do.

The dark emotions of not wanting anyone else to get close to Akizuki Makoto, and wanting Akizuki Makoto to belong only to her, were growing wildly in her heart, almost to the point that she couldn't bear it anymore.

"If... I stay in time forever, and even death cannot undo the change, then will Akizuki-kun belong to me alone?"

At one point, this thought popped into Shiina Maki's mind.

(End of this chapter)