Mygo, are you all yanderes?

[Ming-san, why did you suddenly gather everyone together...?]

[Yeah, I wasted my precious face mask time!]

Si [Ming, what are you going to do?]

[Everyone, I have something very important to tell you!]

If it's not something really important, I'd definitely drag you shopping with me.

Is it about the band? If it's not related to the band, I'll be going now. Hailing just called me...

I got a girlfriend!

【…】

【…】

【…】

【…】

【Huh? You're kidding, right?!】

[Ming-san, that joke isn't funny. You'd better take it back now...!!]

[Xiao Ming, it's not April Fool's Day yet! You're joking too early. Haha...]

【bright……】

Of course I'm not lying, I really did make a friend! Although you don't know her, her name is...

"…Ming-san, I like you."

【what? 】

[Su Shi, you... huh?!]

As Kusano Akira's final, seemingly surprised voice rang out, the lens in front of him began to shatter, then reform, forming a new picture.

[Ming, why not?]

I'm proposing to her next month, so of course I need to avoid suspicion. I'm sorry, Deng, I was the one who said yes...

But, if it's just going to the planetarium...!

That won't work either.

Was "forever" a lie? The band promised "forever"... they promised to be by my side forever... what happened?

[...Now it's just you, me, and Lixi left in the band, but I'll find them all again someday, and when that happens, I'll definitely stay by your side for life.]

[...a scammer.]

"I didn't lie to you, Deng. Look, we're together now, aren't we?"

[Scammer! S ...

[Light?! What's wrong, Light? Should we go to the hospital...?]

Ming, I won't let you get away...

You promised me this, you can't go back on your word!

The lens that kept appearing before her eyes shattered once again, turning into tiny specks of light that disappeared before Takamatsu's eyes. She lay helplessly on the floor, her whole body covered in cold sweat.

The images and sounds from just now had vanished from her mind; no matter how hard she tried, she couldn't recall them. Only the lingering hatred and resentment of that moment remained deep within her heart.

The stopwatch on the clock stopped just two marks from her question, and Kusano Akira's words from the other end of the phone echoed in her ears the instant she regained consciousness.

"Of course not, why would you think that?"

"..." Si

Takamatsu's gaze gradually focused. She touched her throat. It had only been a few seconds, but it made her throat keep moving, and she even forgot how to make a sound.

"..."

"Hey?"

Kusano Akira looked at his phone in confusion; it was still showing as a busy call.

"……bright."

Finally remembering how to make a sound using a vocal cord, Takamatsu Akira's hoarse voice came from the telephone speaker.

"I'm here. Are you alright? Do you need any help?"

"...Can I hug you?"

"?"

"We're not even together right now, so even if you wanted to..."

"Tomorrow, the day after tomorrow, and every day after that, may I hug you?"

"People will misunderstand, won't they? Lamp..."

"...Is that not allowed...?"

"..."

"Well, since you've put it that way, I guess I have no choice but to agree..."

Hearing Takamatsu Akira's hurt tone, Kusano Akira couldn't bear it in the end. He abandoned his plan to distance himself from Takamatsu Akira and could only reluctantly agree to her request.

"...Yes, I believe you."

Author's Note: Here's a chapter to start.

Today should be a day of tears (≌泤陆九∽鲮○々捌邻SOo: Only 4k, saving drafts for tomorrow and the day after.)

How come school has started again?

Volume 1: Chapter 66 (Sixty-Fourth Chapter) - Sending Wakaba Mutsu Home (2k)

"Goodbye."

Before Kusano Akira could ask Takamatsu Akira the purpose of her call at this time, Takamatsu Akira quickly hung up the phone after saying this.

"?"

"What did she say?"

Following Kusano Akira's posture, Ruoye Mutsu rested her head on his shoulder. After the call ended, she glanced at Kusano Akira and asked softly.

"I just asked how you ended up here."

Takamatsu Akira's sudden request for a hug was something she definitely couldn't tell Wakaba Mutsuko, so Kusano Akira selectively told Wakaba Mutsuko about it.

"So what did you mean by 'agree' just now?"

"Band thing."

"Oh."

If Ye Mu didn't press further, but instead squinted at Kusano Akira's profile until Kusano Akira became somewhat uncomfortable, he would look away.

She picked up her phone, pointed to the time on it, and said it to Kusano Akira.

"I am going home."

"So early? Don't you have no curfew?"

"No, but if we go back too late, the maid will tell Minami and the others, and that will be a big problem."

"No wonder she's a young lady from a wealthy family. She even has servants at home. This is the first time I've ever heard of such a thing in real life."

Kusano Akira clicked his tongue, once again recognizing the profound heritage of Wakaba Mutsumi.

"I hate it when people talk about my family."

"Oh, I'm sorry."

"But if it's you, it's okay."

"Don't keep saying things like that... Come on, I'll take you home."

Kusano Akira stood up, disconnected the guitar from the amplifier, put away the pick he had just found, patted his clothes, and looked at Wakaba Mutsuki and said.

"You don't need to deliver it."

"Let me see you off. It's not safe for you to go alone, and I happen to be going out soon anyway, so it's on my way."

"it is good."

Wakaba Mutsumi nodded, walked to the living room, picked up the paper bag containing the exorcism tools that Kusano Akira had previously kept, and asked Kusano Akira a question.

Do you still want this?

"No, what do you need this for?"

"To pack things."

After Kusano Akira indicated that he didn't want the paper bag, Wakaba Mutsumi picked up his camera, put everything inside, then slung the paper bag over his arm, placed his schoolbag on the cabinet in front of Kusano Akira's house, and bent down slightly to put on his shoes.

"Okay, let's go... wait a minute."

After putting on his coat and walking to the door, Kusano Akira seemed to remember something and hurriedly went back to his room. Not long after, he returned.

"Why did you go?"

Just as Kusano Akira came out, Wakaba Mutsu was also picking up her shoes. Seeing that Kusano Akira had returned so quickly, she asked him curiously.

"I've gone to save the hair you gave me during the day."

"..."

It took Momoya's brain a couple of seconds to register what Kusano Akira meant by "two hairs."

The excuse she made up during the day to argue with Kusano Akira was just an excuse, so she didn't take it too seriously. After being provoked by what happened afterward, she completely forgot about it.

"You still remember."

"Of course I remember, after all, it can be considered a 'gift'."

Kusano Akira opened the door to his house and walked out before Wakaba Mutsuki. Seeing him go out, Wakaba Mutsuki followed him in small steps.

"You don't need to worry about that. If you want a gift, I can give you something else."

"I've already saved it all, there's no point in talking about it anymore."

Kusano Akira carefully surveyed his surroundings, still worried that Nagasaki Motoyo might suddenly appear in some corner. If he saw her, he would immediately pull Wakaba Mutsu away to hide.

"And based on my experience (which I stole from others), anything seemingly insignificant might have its own purpose. What if that strand of hair of yours comes in handy someday?"

"How could that be? Are you suffering from chuunibyou (middle school syndrome)?"

Ruoye Mutsu retorted expressionlessly.

"I'm not."

Why are you suddenly so agitated?

"Mind your own business, just remember I'm not one of you."

"Okay, okay, you're not."

Only after leaving the residential area did Kusano Akira begin to relax.

While it's possible that Nagasaki Motoyo hasn't returned home yet, the possibility is extremely small. Therefore, Kusano Akira felt that there was a very low probability that he wouldn't run into Nagasaki Motoyo outside the neighborhood.

"You said you had something to do later?"

Ruo Ye Muwen walked quietly along the roadside, carrying her schoolbag, trying to slow her pace as much as possible.

Because he was afraid that she wouldn't be able to keep up, Kusano Akira deliberately controlled his walking speed. He walked as slowly as Ye Mu walked.

Although she had to go home—after all, she couldn't stay overnight at Kusano Akira's house—she was indeed a little reluctant to leave, so she deliberately slowed down, hoping to take this opportunity to spend more time with Kusano Akira.

"Yes, something came up."

Kusano Akira actually shared the same idea as Wakaba Mutsu, so although he saw the purpose behind Wakaba Mutsu's sudden slowing down, he was not annoyed by it.

"What's wrong? Do you want me to come with you?"

Wakaba Mu asked.

"I'm sorry, but there's nothing you can do to help me with this—aren't you cold? Do you want me to give you my coat?"