The social phobia substitute will not dream of the band girl

"!......" Ping Xin remained silent.

Yes, how could he not know? How could he let himself not know?

"Besides, you probably asked me out just to kill time, or maybe it was a coincidence or a whim. In any case, you must have had some 'purpose' in mind from the beginning."

"..."

indeed.

Hirayuko had initially intended to use this as an opportunity to overcome his weakness towards women before making contact. After all, Yamada Ryo was a cool, individualistic girl, so being rejected by such a person wouldn't be too hurt.

"Whatever it was at first, after a while, your purpose in coming to me became, uh... looking for a trash can?"

“!…Is this a showdown?”

His eyes grew hard, and whether he considered this girl, who had done nothing wrong, as an enemy depended on the following conversation.

"Actually, I knew it from the beginning. After all, we're both 'weird'... Yeah~" After realizing that his cuteness didn't soften Hirashin's expression, Yamada Ryo continued, "So at first, I was just trying to get free food and drinks with a sucker, but gradually, I... fell in love with you."

"Heh—" A cold laugh interrupted her rudely, "I thought you were going to say something, but I didn't expect it to be this... You're not going to say something like, 'You're the only one who sees the real me, so I should date you,' right?"

You're a bit too confident, Ms. Yamada.

"When eating, he would help me eat the things I didn't like and the leftovers. He shared food and drinks like this, and I don't know how many times he kissed me indirectly, which made my heart tremble. Maybe I would mind it at first, but now I feel nothing at all."

"They know each other's eating habits and can even automatically take orders and pass knives, forks, and seasonings, so there's no worry about conflicts arising from such trivial matters. However, we still have arguments due to differences in some concepts. Both sides make concessions but never give up their own "bottom line". We just tacitly avoid these places from now on."

"..."

Ignoring Hira Nobu's reaction, Yamada Ryo continued speaking, describing the facts in her eyes—

"We don't hold hands on purpose when we go out together, but we always walk side by side, and our hands are always connected unconsciously. We will give each other things we like or things we think the other person will like, and the other person will also think the same and bring gifts."

"We don't see each other every day, but we do see each other once in a while. We both share our experiences with each other in the most plain and unadorned words. Even a reason like "It's raining today and my head itches" can be used to ask each other out. Perhaps there's no need for a reason to meet anymore."

"......What do you want to say?" Ping Xin couldn't stand it anymore and finally interrupted.

Yamada Ryo just looked at him, lowered his head and thought for a moment before speaking: "With a relationship like ours, with this way of getting along, we've already been de facto lovers, right? But why don't you accept me?"

"..."

I'm speechless. This probably refers to the current situation, right?

Chapter 86: Crazy? Who? Me?

"So you like bigger breasts? I think if I try hard, I can grow some breasts. Otherwise, I'll just be a loli. Your taste is so extreme, you're really a pervert~"

"No, I'm just sticking to my 'bottom line'!...Yes, I just don't want to cheat, is there anything wrong with that!?" Even he himself didn't know why he reacted so violently, and before he could think about it as usual, the words were already out of his mouth.

"Well...but dating four people at the same time is no longer a 'bottom line' issue, right?"

"...I, I was 'forced'! If not, what else can I do? Do you want me to give up on them and ignore one or more of them!?"

"You're always like this, needing a 'reason' for everything you do... You're such a boring guy, I don't like people like that—"

“In that case…!”

This is probably the only good news that can make Pingxin feel "surprised" after talking for so long, but... is it really good news?

He didn't know, he just wanted to end this conversation quickly.

No matter what the ending is or what the result is.

But the result...will it really be as "beautiful" as he imagined?

We already know the answer to this...

......

...

..

In the middle of a deserted living room after the birthday party, a man and a woman stared at each other. The man, now completely unlike his usual calm, wise, alert, and intelligent self, looked more like a schoolboy whose defenses had been broken by an online argument.

The short-haired woman standing opposite him smiled with interest. "Has your shell become a little more fragile?" Although it was not her intention to make the people she loved angry, sad, and painful, Yamada Ryo would do what she had to do, what she believed was right.

But she still needed a little more than the right timing, and a bit of luck. After all, she no longer had any "chances" after this, and an "outsider" who could seize this opportunity had to appear.

It takes a suitable person to do what neither Ichinose Asuna, Kadodate Karin, Murokasa Akane, Miganelu, Asuka Batoki, nor Yamada Ryo herself can do.

"If you want a 'reason', I'll give you one—"

"...ha!?"

"You... indirectly ruined my band, right? Even though you told me not to mind, you definitely mind it much more than I do, so as compensation, I want you."

"...is that 'just'?"

If she just wanted to be his woman, Ping Xin "should" not refuse.

After all, this person is very easy to persuade. As long as you treat him gently and slowly, he will take the initiative to come to you to discuss this matter within a few months, and he will handle everything properly and beautifully.

But this is not what Yamada Ryo wants. What he wants is——

"I've always been a strange person... I think it's good, but maybe in the eyes of people other than Hong Xia and you, I'm 'pitiable'—"

"..."

Yamada Ryo is speaking his true feelings, but isn't it the wrong time to play the victim now?

"But you truly love and appreciate me for who I am. You are different from everyone else. Among all the special people to me, you are also the most special, the most unique, and the one I love the most."

Although their motives were somewhat impure at the beginning, the tacit understanding and love they developed for each other could not be faked.

Hirashin is not a casual person, and Yamada Ryoya is certainly not either.

If he/she is not a "special person", why would he/she do "those" actions?

If someone really thinks they are casual people, they probably won't have a second chance to speak in this life.

"I don't want to give up music or studying, but my own abilities are limited...so I need you."

Obvious lies, high-sounding words.

Whether it was Hirayuki, who was standing opposite him, or Xiaoshi, Asuna, and the other three who were eavesdropping in the dark, they could all tell. This was an excuse, but also a way out for Hirayuki.

The rhythm of the entire conversation from beginning to end was under the control of Yamada Ryo, which was absolutely unreasonable from the perspective of common sense or simply from the comparison of the two people's abilities.

But this "weak defeating the strong" move actually truly demonstrated that Yamada Ryo understood Hirashin better than anyone else at the moment, understanding his thinking habits, speaking rhythm, and behavior patterns.

Just as she knew that Ping Xin was actually a person who was very stingy to others but extremely doting to others, but who didn't want to lose face or be at a disadvantage to anyone, she gave her own "response".

What would Pingxin do then?

The answer is obvious——

He will agree, and if you give him a cause called "reason" (excuse), he will produce the corresponding result. Ping Xin's life so far is more like a bionic man or a wish-making machine than a human being.

But, was Yamada Ryo's long preparation "just" for this? Ping Xin still had doubts in his heart, just like the people outside the scene.

But he would agree no matter what.

He wouldn't allow it if he cheated, but he thought it was okay if they were just "teacher and student." Ping Xin's bottom line was always so flexible. If he was just a law-abiding person, how could he have gotten to where he is today?

Even living a second life is not possible——

......

...

..

Just as Pingxin was about to speak after a brief thought, Yamada Ryo spoke again.

"But I won't force you to love me, to be my lover. So until you 'fall in love with me,' let's keep our distance as ordinary friends. I'll leave my wish to get into the University of Tokyo to you, Sensei."

Yamada Ryo bowed, and Ping Xin opened his mouth but ultimately said nothing. He felt a gap between them, something called a sense of distance.

It was even heavier than when they first met, weighing him down so hard he couldn't breathe. But wasn't this what he "should" have wanted? He should have been happy to have achieved his goal of remaining friends with Yamada Ryo and not cheating on him, but why was he feeling...

It's incomprehensible. Are we all crazy and have no common sense at all?

If "just" [common sense] isn't enough, then what about the [promise] he wants to make to bring happiness to Asuna and the others?

It’s inexplicable. This is the biggest feeling in Pingxin’s heart. It refers to others and also to himself.

"...Maybe I want it."

I want you to pursue me, I want you to give me a reason so that I "have to" accept you.

But in the end, it seems that I don't know you well enough, Liang...

I am sorry.

"Sure—" Ping Xin gave his answer.

"But...I have one more request."

But Yamada Ryo still doesn't want to let him go, why?

"Show me the 'real' you, Ping Xin."

Don't bore me.

"......What did you say?"

Pingxin was angry.

Yamada Ryo touched Hirayuko's absolute weak spot.

Something that he cannot tolerate, does not understand at all, and dares not touch, but exists nonetheless.

Chapter 87 Who am I?

"What do you mean by that, Ms. Yamada?"

"I need a teacher who is 'interesting', not the boring 'you' you are now."

"..."

"Let me see the real you."

"baffling......"

There would be absolutely no good outcome if that were the case, because—

"It doesn't matter, because I know the real you, and I accept you no matter who you are."

"...Don't act like you know me so well, Ms. Yamada."

"Well, then come back to me when you feel you're ready. I know you value integrity and hate breaking promises, right?"

"..."

"I know you can do it, because that's who you are... and I heard you want to meet 'him' too, right?"

"...I don't know what you're talking about, you strange woman. Maybe we'll never meet again."

......

...

..

What happened next? Ah, I remember she seemed to answer me like this -

"It doesn't matter. As long as we still love each other, we are together no matter where we are."

...?

What a powerful woman! This seems to be the first time I’ve been humiliated since I came to this world. What should I do next? Speaking of which, when Yamada Ryo left, she also said, “She will be prepared for me during this time.” What exactly did she prepare?

"...I don't know, I don't know——" Lying on the top of the climbing frame in the old park, Ping Xin said to himself.

Three days and three nights had passed since that incident. After Yamada Ryo left, Hirayuko took the excuse of taking a walk. He had seemingly disappeared from the world, but in reality, he had been lying here, basking in the sun and moon, and thinking, aimlessly.

This is a must-see place for those who know him or those who don’t.

And he has not been found until today, not only because he warned when he left that no one and nothing could disturb him, but also because his strength has surpassed everyone else on this planet. Even the most advanced satellite of this era cannot find him lying there.