Tokyo Heart Thief's Daily Life

She instinctively felt that it was her rude words that made this senior want to hit her.

She even prepared herself to be slapped and forced herself not to cry.

But of course Luo Zhen wouldn't hit her.

He simply placed his hands on her head, rubbing it with the technique he had developed on the Yoshizawa sisters and Nina.

"Don't say things like 'it's just a joke.' Whether it's you or Xiao Deng, you've both put in a lot of effort for Crychic, right? That's why you can't get over it, and you can't be a heartless villain."

"I don't want you to torture yourself. If you bottle everything up like this and refuse to expose your weaknesses, no one will be able to forgive you. You'll always be hanging on a string, dangling from guilt, unable to break free."

“…Woo…!”

Xiangzi tried hard to hold back his tears, but he couldn't hide his embarrassing sobs.

She hated her own weakness, unable to control even this little bit of emotion.

......She also hated Luo Zhen.

I hate people who treat me kindly even though I'm doing bad things.

He will make himself weaker... and turn back into the little girl who only relies on others and expects others.

"...As long as everyone walks out of Crychic and that band that no longer exists disappears completely, that'll be all right, right?"

Xiangzi grabbed Luo Zhen's hand and pulled him down.

Her expression was much softer than before, but she was still stubborn.

"I'm sorry, senior. I said the wrong thing just now. I still want to apologize to Xiao Deng and the others, and I will do it."

"But at the same time, I also insist on keeping my privacy. I am a person who left the band for selfish reasons, and that's all people need to know. I don't need understanding or help, I'm just a willful traitor."

Why is this girl so stubborn?

Having said that, Luo Zhen couldn't think of how to make her reconcile.

Xiangzi came up with a solution and continued to say to Luo Zhen:

"Senpai is a pushover who's always willing to help girls in need. But I don't need your help. Just focus on helping Deng and Aine."

"Aine-san is an excellent person. Her cheerfulness and sunshine will definitely help Xiao Deng. Once their new band is on the right track and Xiao Deng can forget Crychic, I will definitely apologize to her in person. I just need to be the bad guy, please understand."

"......I see."

Under Xiangzi's stubborn gaze, Luo Zhen took a step back.

It is impossible to get the girl to tell you her difficulties in person.

The walls of her heart are so thick that she rejects any interference and understanding from outsiders.

If I force my way in again, this girl might even refuse to communicate further, and it would be bad if she escalates from being a deserter to not attending school.

In order not to push this schoolmate to that point, Luo Zhen temporarily agreed with her idea:

"I will help Aine and Xiao Deng. But Xiangzi, this matter has nothing to do with you. I just want to help them."

"Similarly, I don't think you're a bad person. What you did was wrong, but I don't think you left the band out of malice, or simply because you were tired of it. You don't have to give a reason, but I'll unilaterally assume you have your reasons. Is that okay?"

"Senior...you are really..."

Xiangzi opened his mouth speechlessly, but in the end he couldn't say anything.

This kind of kindness that remains stable no matter how much I resist... is really cheating.

For Xiangzi, this is a poison that corrodes his body and mind.

She had to endure the severe physical and mental pain, control her guilt, and continue to appear like a bad person.

“…Whatever you think is your freedom. It’s getting late, please go see your lovely Aine-san.”

Before his facial expression got out of control, Xiangzi tried hard to push Luo Zhen out of the club classroom.

Until she forced the door shut.

In this space where I am alone and no one can see me.

She was finally able to squat down, hugging her legs and curling up into a ball.

"senior......"

She leaned against the door, big tears rolling down her cheeks, but she refused to cry out loud.

"Senior, I like you... I like you, like you, like you..."

She could only murmur the truth that she couldn't say.

Like a poor girl who dares not have any improper thoughts, looking at the glamorous prince and welcoming the equally gorgeous princess.

--------------------------------------

"call......"

After arriving at the coffee shop where I had agreed to meet Aine ahead of time.

While Luo Zhen was drinking the refreshing coffee made by his boss, he was still thinking about the troublesome Xiangzi.

This was the first time Luo Zhen had seen a girl who refused to communicate to such an extent.

Even though they both have the same stubborn temper as a donkey, Rencai, who can express her emotions freely, is much more lovable than Xiangzi.

The girl's rich knowledge and thoughts also made her self-esteem extremely high.

They will sincerely refuse to ask for help from others, and even feel that accepting other people's kindness is a humiliation.

Then what should I do... Luo Zhen muttered to himself:

"Going directly to her shadow to ask questions... that would be a bit rude."

If you really encounter a dangerous situation, there is nothing wrong with doing so.

But if every little thing is dealt with by directly attacking the other person's subconscious, that is too overbearing. It is also a way of giving up communication.

All you can get from Shadow is secrets and exploitation; it's impossible to truly get the other person to open up.

But on a practical level, given the current relationship between seniors and juniors.

Without violating Xiangzi's privacy, Luo Zhen really couldn't do more.

He also didn't want Xiangzi's mental state to deteriorate further.

She is already in a state of mental stress, which is not healthy.

If we continue to force her, whether she will awaken the palace or not is not the point.

It is very likely that he was attracted into another world because of his self-destructive tendencies.

…So indeed.

For now, I should help Aine and Xiao Deng to set up their new band and let her accept the fact that Crychic has disappeared.

After Luo Zhen decided on his future direction, the coffee shop owner just happened to bring him a fruit plate.

He twirled his goatee and looked at Luo Zhen with a relaxed smile:

"Thinking about women, right? The great thief wants to uphold justice while stealing the hearts of girls. His time management skills are a bit like when I was younger. ...Ah, or maybe upholding justice and stealing the hearts of girls are actually the same thing? He's trying to win over girls while working. He's just like James Bond."

Luo Zhen: "Uh... Manager Sakura? What are you talking about?"

Luo Zhen's eyes twitched, and he was a little speechless about this outspoken store manager.

The place where he arranged to meet Aine was Leblanc, which was enthusiastically recommended by Futaba.

In her words, "'You already have a Lou Brown, but you're still going to another coffee shop. That's cheating! No, no, no, no~! (?>﹏

Since Shuangye was hugging his arms and acting coquettishly like this, Luo Zhen had no choice but to go along with her.

After seeing Luo Zhen's subtle expression, Lubron's store manager, Sakura Sojiro, laughed even more arrogantly:

"Don't worry, there are no ears in Loublanc."

"You probably know that Futaba's mother was involved in that kind of research. After escaping from the government-controlled research institute, she used the second-floor attic of the Leblanc as a laboratory to continue her studies. Then she seemed to have developed something like a mind entropy shield. Anyway, it seems that if she stayed in the Leblanc, no one would find her."

"And that high-tech device that Futaba kid got has shielded this shop from all surveillance. But the price he pays is that he's now monitoring the shop himself, and all the customers' privacy is gone... Ah, but this isn't a shady place. I've never profited from my customers' privacy, I promise."

Luo Zhen: "I know. Thank you, Manager Sakura. It is indeed very reassuring to have such a safe base."

After hearing what the store manager said, Luo Zhen felt relieved.

In the past, he had always been a lone criminal, and he had never imagined that there were people like the same mother and daughter who were trying to understand the other world through research.

There is no chance now.

But from now on, the Phantom Thieves should be able to use Leblanc as their base after school. Its safety and reliability are incomparable to other places.

Manager Sakura obviously wanted to have a more in-depth conversation with Luo Zhen, but she was not in a hurry.

Following the sound of wind chimes at the store door, Aine entered the store with Takamatsu Touma, whose shoulders were hunched like a little animal.

Manager Sakura then winked at Luo Zhen and gave him a smile that every man could understand.

Luo Zhen really wanted to explain that he really didn't have that idea.

But forget it, it hurts when a boomerang hits your knee.

Luo Zhen also prepared himself and waved to Aine and Takamatsu Touma:

"Good afternoon, Aine."

"And nice to meet you, Takamatsu Touma-san. I'm a second-year student at Shujin, my name is Luo Zhen."

"...First time meeting...?"

The little animal girl hiding behind Aine peeked at Luo Zhen with a very adorable and timid look in her eyes.

142. A Lifetime of Light Dreams (5k)

......During the past six months, Gao Songdeng has been having the same dream over and over again.

In the dream, I fell into a muddy lake and kept sinking.

A slow feeling of falling surrounded me.

The dead silence of addiction has become a shell, making me feel at ease.

"It would be nice if it could go on like this forever"...I thought to myself.

I just need to go with the flow and indulge in it endlessly.

Close your eyes and don't think.

Just give up the desire.

I don’t have to care about all the hard and sad things.

......But every time, I couldn't sink for too long.

In the midst of confusion, there will always be someone to hold your hand.

The man's hands were big, warm and strong.

Those were a pair of men's hands, a touch that was very unfamiliar to her.

It was just a handshake.

Why can people feel such a big difference and such a burning heat?

Why do people need to confirm their feelings for each other through physical contact...Takamatsu Deng doesn't understand.

After being pulled up by those big hands, her dream became blurry.

She didn't remember what happened, only felt the pain of suffocation.

She was forced into contact with the icy air, like a fish unable to breathe through its gills.

It's so scary outside, and life is so hard...

I don't want to go back...

I want to continue drowning, just let me be drowned forever...

"No." said the man's voice.

It was a calm and gentle voice, with a strong and steady determination.