I, who tortured the readers, was knocked to the ground by them!

It's actually quite normal that her bed smells like Wakaba, right?

After all, Wakaba often helps clean his room, so it's normal for them to use the same perfume to remove the smell.

It's normal to have her hair on the pillow. When I first came to his room, there was her hair on it too.
It's been several years, and the two of them are still the same.
There are two pillows because this is a double bed, and when you buy sheets and duvet covers, a set is usually included as a gift, so having two is normal.

Well, that's it.

Hasegawa Shion immediately came up with an excuse.

Ah Shu must be in love with me, and he must be my soulmate.

He wanted to become a model couple in the industry, like Togashi and Naoko.

He promised himself that he would always be her illustrator, and he promised that he would make her fried rice whenever she wanted to eat.

That won't happen.
His sudden coldness towards me was definitely not because there had been any major changes in his relationship with her, and therefore he wanted to keep his distance from me.

I was just scaring myself.

Lying on Sakurai Itsuki's bed, Hasegawa Shion kept comforting herself.

My thoughts were a jumbled mess of various things.

Before I knew it, the fatigue from staying up all night came over me.

As I pondered, I unconsciously closed my eyes.

When I opened my eyes again, the room was already bathed in the colors of the setting sun.

After a slight pause, Hasegawa Shion suddenly sat up in bed.

She actually fell asleep in Sakurai Itsuki's bed.
I quickly looked around at the surroundings, and it seemed that nothing had changed from before.

Fortunately, he hadn't come back yet, otherwise it would have been too embarrassing to see him sleeping in his bed inexplicably wearing black pantyhose.

She patted her chest slightly and took a couple of breaths, but then suddenly heard what sounded like noises coming from downstairs.

He is back?

Hasegawa Shion quickly got out of bed, tidied up Sakurai Itsuki's bedding, and then, like a little thief, quietly went to the stairwell.

Then it cautiously poked its head out, pricked up its ears, and carefully investigated.

Although she was very "confident", she was still quite concerned about the current state of their relationship.

"What! Are you going to cook?"

A familiar voice reached Hase Shion's ears; it was indeed them returning.
From this angle, it's a bit hard to see what they're doing.
Actually, I'm not that hungry right now.

Hanase Shion will never forget that voice; she can recognize his tone immediately!
Then came Sato Wakaba's voice: "You're so annoying! I knew I shouldn't have let you buy this! You're such a nuisance! Can't I just be hungry?"

Hanase Shion listened to the conversation and narrowed her eyes slightly.

What did he do this time to make Ruoye complain about him?
I was just overthinking it. Their relationship is still the same, and they haven't become any closer.

Sakurai Itsuki said, "Let's eat later. Didn't I buy you a cake? You're the assistant, what's wrong with accommodating your employer?"

Sato Wakaba rebuked, "You're such a selfish person! You only think about yourself and your own comfort! I've been putting up with you all this time! Idiot! Selfish!"

Upon hearing Sato Wakaba's condemnation, Hasegawa Shion immediately furrowed her brows.

Wait, what if they start arguing over this? Wouldn't my appearance make things really awkward?

Or should I do what Shanks did and go out to mediate the fight, so they'll give me some face?
Just as Hase Shion was thinking of trying to mediate the fight...

But then Sato Wakaba continued to complain, "I'm really fed up with you! The food isn't even in the kitchen yet, couldn't you have waited until tonight?"

Hasegawa Shion tilted her head. What? Weren't they discussing cooking?
Sakurai Itsuki said, "You pinched me really hard today, so I have to get my revenge!"

Hmm, are they about to fight? But the tone of their voices doesn't seem like it.

Unable to contain her curiosity any longer, Hasegawa Shion took two steps downstairs.

But then she saw Sato Wakaba sitting on Sakurai Itsuki's lap, blushing and pouting, complaining, "At least let me take a shower first! You idiot."

Sakurai Itsuki was holding Sato Wakaba's waist, seemingly ignoring her complaints, and just kept getting his face closer and closer.

"what?"

Looking at the scene before her, Hasegawa Shion's thoughts seemed to go blank for a moment, and she couldn't help but speak.

Upon hearing the noise, Sato Wakaba immediately raised her head.

Then I saw Shion Hase standing barefoot in the stairwell, her eyes wide open like copper bells, her face blank.

Sato Wakaba quickly pushed Sakurai Itsuki aside and stood up: "Shion, when did you arrive?"

Sakurai Itsuki then turned around and found Hase Shion standing there blankly, as if she had been struck dumb by a bolt from the blue.

Hasegawa Shion stammered, "Um, um, I reinstalled the system on my apartment computer, and the drawing board settings weren't saved. I, I, it's too much trouble to adjust the settings slowly, so I came here to copy the settings."

Before witnessing all of this, she had originally planned to tell Ruoye frankly for the first time that she had come to see him, without any particular reason.

Because of Sakurai Itsuki's unfamiliarity with the situation, she was also a little anxious to confirm her ownership.

Can.
Fortunately, she quickly found a reason that sounded quite reasonable.

However, when she gave this reason, her lips trembled slightly, and she stuttered involuntarily.

Sakurai Itsuki also stood up somewhat awkwardly: "Oh, I see. Is the copy done?"

Hasegawa Shion nodded: "Ah, it's all done now. Um, I'm sorry, I think I came at the wrong time. I'll be going now."

After being caught doing something embarrassing, she said with her ears turning red, "No, you've come at just the right time. I was just about to cook, so please stay for dinner."

"Um, I'm on a diet. Bye, I need to get back to painting."

With her head down, Hasegawa Shion quickened her pace and rushed straight out the door.

Sakurai Itsuki stood up, took only half a step before stopping, and turned to look at Sato Wakaba.

Sato Wakaba remained silent, simply staring at Sakurai Itsuki.

Sakurai Itsuki hesitated for a moment, then turned around and saw Hase Shion open the shoe cabinet, grab her shoes, and run out without even bothering to put them on.

Sato Wakaba took a deep breath and said, "Go after her."

Sakurai Itsuki turned around and said, "I'm just worried about her safety."

After saying that, he followed her out.

Sato Wakaba watched Sakurai Itsuki's departing figure and said, "Yeah, I know."

After watching him leave, Sato Wakaba sighed and looked up at the ceiling.

These past two days I've been so absorbed in happiness and sweetness that I almost forgot about this matter, which I now have to face.

Sakurai Itsuki went out, but fortunately, Hase Shion had been staying at home drawing all day since she ran away from home, and her physical strength had declined significantly.

Sakurai Itsuki quickly caught up with her and grabbed Hase Shion's wrist.

Before Sakurai Itsuki could speak, Hasegawa Shion shook off his wrist, trying her best to appear calm: "Why are you chasing me?"

Sakurai Itsuki pointed to his already worn-out black pantyhose: "Put your shoes on first."

Hasegawa Shion snapped, "None of your business! Who do you think you are?"

After saying that, he turned around and prepared to leave.

Sakurai Itsuki grabbed her wrist again, and this time, no matter how hard Hase Shion tried to shake it off, she couldn't.

In the end, Shion Hasegawa couldn't resist him and could only bite her lip and whisper, "Let go, I'll put on my shoes. You're just bullying me."

Hasegawa Shion finally put her leather shoes on obediently and then slowly walked towards her apartment.

Sakurai Itsuki silently followed beside her.

The two remained silent for a long while.

Sakurai Itsuki finally spoke when they were almost at her apartment: "Aren't you curious about what happened earlier?" Hase Shion replied: "Why would I be curious about your affairs? Don't flatter yourself."

Sakurai Itsuki asked, "Can't you just temporarily drop your tsundere persona?"

Hasegawa Shion paused for a moment and said, "Weren't you just playing around normally? You and Wakaba often do this, like putting your hands on each other's hips, flicking each other's foreheads, poking each other's cheeks and stuff. I'm used to it. It's nothing."

Hasegawa Shion summarized what she had just seen and heard into the kind of playful fighting that Sato Wakaba and Sakurai Itsuki often did.

But her reaction just now has completely revealed what she was thinking.

She's always like that; she never lies.

Sakurai Itsuki: "Actually."

Hasegawa Shion said, "Stop talking, I don't want to hear it. I'm fine, you don't need to worry."

After saying that, she opened the door: "Don't come in. I'm going to paint now. Don't bother me. I'll go to the events later, and I'll continue painting. Don't worry. Just know that for me, nothing is more important than painting. That's all."

She left behind this long explanation and then slammed the door shut.

Sakurai Itsuki wanted to knock on the door and say something more, but then stopped.

Her reaction said it all.

She actually knows everything, but she's not planning to face it yet.

Sakurai Itsuki returned home and pushed open the door.

The aroma of food wafted from inside the house, and Sato Wakaba was busy in the kitchen, wearing an apron as usual.

Hearing Sakurai Itsuki's voice, Sato Wakaba breathed a slight sigh of relief: "You're back?"

Sakurai Itsuki said, "What else can I do if I don't come back? My home is here."

Sato Wakaba tilted her head, looking at Sakurai Itsuki, who was the only one there, and felt a mix of emotions.

The words "peace of mind" and "unease" should be completely opposite antonyms, yet they now linger in Sato Wakaba's heart.

She had a slight hope that Sakurai Itsuki could bring Shion back to her.

The meals she prepares now are even for three people.

Sato Wakaba said, "I was just wondering if you'd stay at Shion's house tonight."

Sakurai Itsuki: "I was turned away."

Sato Wakaba: "But if you want to get in, just hold on a little longer, and she'll definitely soften up. Her heart is always softer than a French cake."

Sakurai Itsuki sighed helplessly: "Ms. Sato Wakaba, I'm your boyfriend. Aren't you worried that I'll cheat on you if you let me stay at someone else's house at night?"

Sato Wakaba said, "But, given Shion's personality, she'll definitely burst into tears by herself."

Sakurai Itsuki said, "I called her sister, and her sister will be here soon."

"That's it"

Sato Wakaba walked out of the kitchen carrying a dish that had just come out of the pot.

After putting down her plate, she suddenly said out of the blue, "If you cheat on me, at least come back after you're done, okay? Don't abandon me."

Sakurai Itsuki was startled and asked in surprise, "Why are you suddenly saying something like that?"

Sato Wakaba said, "I'm testing you! After all, you look like a bad jerk!"

Sakurai Itsuki: "Don't worry, even if I were the worst kind of beast, I would never abandon you. I couldn't bear to lose such a good woman like you."

Sato Wakaba smiled and said, "You're just making witty remarks. Let's eat."

But in his heart he couldn't help but think, I believe you can't bear to part with me, but can you bear to part with other good women? You've always been a greedy bastard.

7 month 20 day.

Almost all schools in Japan are on summer vacation.

This period also marks the golden season for the cultural and entertainment industry.

Many game, movie, and animation companies are preparing to capitalize on the students' free time to carve out their own niche.

And the final chapter of the game "White Album: The Final Chapter," which shocked the visual novel world, has also been released.

However, compared to the previously heated debate between Setsuna and Touma, this is a different story.

There are now various other discussions.

First, there was the discussion about Sakurai Itsuki plagiarizing Sakura Fujii's leaves, and then there was the discussion about Sakurai Itsuki claiming that Sakura Fujii's leaves were from the same person.

Later, discussions arose that suspected both sides were deliberately hyping up the issue.

In short, even before the official announcement, discussions about this work had already reached fever pitch.

Most notably, this sales event also included a joint promotion with the short film "Hotarubi no Mori e" (Into the Forest of Fireflies' Light).

It is said that the cherry blossom leaves, which have never been seen before, will also make their first appearance again.

Haruki Nagayama, who has been a bit eccentric lately, will also be participating in the event.

The three legendary beasts of the new era, who have been famous in the martial arts world for a long time, are about to gather together, which has made this event generate a huge buzz without any deliberate promotion.

"Well, whether I'll be proven wrong today depends on this moment."

An hour before the event was scheduled to begin, crowds had already started gathering outside the venue.

A person who recently started live streaming as a self-media creator raised their camera and began their live stream.

His livestream title was: "Justice Will Prevail! Please Ban Cheater Sakurai Itsuki."

"My sign is ready, so let's get started dancing."

As he spoke, Natsuto Mura pulled out a card that read "Plagiarism Dog" and showed it to the viewers in the live stream.

"What if Sakurai Itsuki and Sakura Fujie's leaves are actually the same person? Should I just blow them up?"

Natsuto Murakami scoffed, “How could that be? I’m in the same class as him, and I know his situation better than anyone. He’s always cuddling with his girlfriend in class! How could he have time to play games and draw comics at the same time? You’re kidding me! Why don’t you say that Haruki Nagayama is also Itsuki Sakurai? He’s got it all covered by himself.”

"I've said it so many times, if they really are one person, I'll castrate myself live on stream! Anyone dare to bet?!"

Compared to his classmates who were no longer willing to talk to him, there were countless people online watching the spectacle and giving him feedback.

With the event generating tremendous buzz, the number of people paying attention to him is constantly increasing.

Natsuto Murakami, who was always isolated by the school community, had his longing for attention greatly satisfied at this moment.

Meanwhile, inside the conference room...

"This guy looks like he's here to cause trouble. Should we kick him out?"

The venue staff asked Sakurai Itsuki, who had already arrived at the dressing room inside the venue.

Sakurai Itsuki waved his hand: "He's just a clown, let him be. There's still time. I need to talk to Sakura Utaha-sensei first."

The staff member nodded and then tactfully left the dressing room, saying, "Understood."

Sakurai Itsuki then slowly walked up to the beautiful manga artist who used the pen name Sakura Utaha.

She sat quietly in the corner, no longer wearing a bright, inexpensive dress, nor the black stockings she used to wear in the summer just to please him.

She exposed her fair and beautiful thighs and skin to the air, accentuated by the expensive-looking pure black dress.

She's like a cold, aloof young lady who doesn't seem to care about the mundane world.

Seeing Sakurai Itsuki, whom she hadn't seen for some time, walking towards her, she lowered her eyes slightly and didn't show much expression.

It was as if Sakurai Itsuki had returned to the time when he first met her, indifferent and aloof.

That adorable creature who would just occasionally snuggle up to you and giggle with contentment, that lovable creature who would always haughtily resist your care, has turned back into a distant, unattainable beauty.

Sakurai Itsuki asked curiously, "Does this mean my affection level has been reset to zero?" (End of Chapter)