I love time travel the most!

"But most importantly...!"

"What is it?"

"When invited to a reflection meeting, absolutely do not say things like, 'Can I go too?' or 'If I get in your way, please let me know!' It's too heavy a tone!"

"But... but it's also possible that it's just social politeness!"

Youyou's eyes were filled with tears.

Looking so wronged, could it be that I pushed him too hard? Was it my fault?

Although there has been growth, such hard work has yielded only so little result; things will likely be much harder in the future...

"Waaah... what should I do..."

Youyou looked like a helpless young girl.

call--

"Just keep going like this. At first, you're just acquaintances, but later you might become friends. Just take it one step at a time, and I think your efforts won't be in vain."

"Should we start with people we already know? But if we do that, when will we ever become friends..."

Clearly, Xiaolin's motivational speech didn't work.

Why does it work perfectly with those problem children, but not with Youyou?

Is it because she is a normal person?

But how am I supposed to make friends then? Am I destined to be alone forever? Or should I just give up and wallow in despair?

"Mr. Xiaolin..."

"In the end, do we really need friends that much? Perhaps those who don't have friends are more likely to survive."

"Maybe you're right, but I still really want friends..."

indeed.

If it weren't for that, Youyou wouldn't have agreed to Xiaolin's request.

Forget it.

Kobayashi comforted her, saying, "Don't be so discouraged. Don't rush, just wait for your opportunity."

Even if she can't become good friends with other people, the problem kids in the group are still happy to be friends with her, not to mention she has a good best friend.

"But if that happens, I might never make any friends in my entire life... Waaah..."

Why are you crying?

In Youyou's opinion, Xiaolin had completely given up on her.

therefore--

Yu-Yu clung to Kobayashi, hugging his waist and sobbing, "Please! I can only rely on Mr. Kobayashi now! Or is it because I can't do it that you're disgusted with me? We've both tried so hard to do it!"

"Hey! I just want to make friends! Saying it like that will only cause unnecessary misunderstandings!"

Xiaolin was so frightened that he broke out in a cold sweat.

The other members of the guild were already watching them. The men were all entertaining themselves, treating their farce as fodder for gossip. The woman, on the other hand, glared at him with disgust and hostility, seemingly regarding him as a heartless scumbag who had taken advantage of her.

Wait, it's clearly a misunderstanding!

Just as Xiaolin was at a loss and didn't know what to do, he heard a voice in his ear to rescue him.

"Haa... I can't stand it anymore."

"Hui-Hui-Hui?!"

Upon seeing the familiar little girl's voice, Youyou was completely stunned.

Huihui said with a hint of helplessness, "Really, crying and making a scene in front of everyone, how can you call yourself my opponent?"

"Huh? Huh? Why is Megumin here?"

"It was Kobayashi who asked me to come. He told me everything about you."

"All, everything...from where to where?"

"From Youyou feeling lonely and wanting friends, to how much useless effort she put into it, all of this told me."

"Mr. Kobayashi! Why did you tell Megumin?!"

Youyou was so anxious that she started crying, her cheeks flushed an unnatural red. It's normal for her to react this way after being seen in such an embarrassing state by her best friend.

"Wait, Huihui. I didn't say it was a useless effort."

"Is this the problem?!"

Youyou cried even louder.

In response, Kobayashi could only awkwardly explain, "When Sato-kun came to me about this yesterday, Megumin happened to be passing by, so... I'm sorry!"

Pointing out someone else's sore spot, even if unintentional, still makes Youyou feel embarrassed, and the fault still lies with Xiaolin.

"Haa..."

Huihui sighed deeply, her tone filled with disappointment, and said, "The person who claims to be my rival actually needs to rely on others to make friends, and in such an infuriating way at that... It's infuriating. Yes, infuriating."

There was humiliation, and there was also mockery.

Anyway, the little girl's voice was quite sarcastic, as if she was deliberately bullying Youyou.

But in reality, not everyone is as socially anxious as her. To be honest, Xiaolin hopes she can learn from Youyou in this regard.

Not having made any friends, Youyou huffed, "Don't say it three times!"

Huihui continued sarcastically, "I'll punish this infuriating self-proclaimed rival, Youyou!"

You said it four times!

Youyou hugged Xiaolin's arms even tighter.

Is this torture?

In the realm of social interaction, Huihui, standing at the top, verbally tortures Youyou, who is at the bottom. Even though she is short, she can look down on Youyou, whom she cannot reach, and she must feel a strange sense of pleasure.

The weak, pitiful, and helpless Youyou could only hug Xiaolin even tighter.

and many more!

This softness...

Yoyo, I hereby declare that you have already won against Huihui, and by a huge margin. It's just not in social situations, but in other areas.

Huihui, as if bestowing charity upon the poor by the wealthy, said, "Hmph, are you not satisfied? If you are, I'll have a match with you."

"Huh? A competition?"

"Yes, it's a match. Should we play? Or not?"

"Of course we'll compete! I'm going to make you admit defeat today!"

Upon hearing this word, Youyou immediately perked up.

Seeing that Youyou had recovered her spirits, Huihui's expression was a little bad, because she didn't mean it that way; she only said it to further discourage Youyou.

It's good to recover one's spirits.

but……

"Yoyo, where's the big friend-building campaign?"

"I'm sorry, but you're forcing me to go first here!"

She chose her best friend.

Youyou looked at Huihui excitedly and asked, "Then what will we use for the competition?"

"Tongue twisters will do, right? You're practicing too, aren't you?"

Huihui suggested a strange competition event. What was the tongue twister? Was it something like "Red Carp, Green Carp, and Donkey"?

"Then I'll go first!"

The little girl struck a strange pose, as if preparing to launch an attack, and said to Youyou, "Red toilet paper, blue toilet paper, yellow toilet paper!"

It really is this!

She finished speaking at lightning speed, then tossed a stray hair from her forehead and said proudly, "Hmph, perfect."

"I...I won't lose either!"

Youyou clenched her fist. Like Huihui, she had a strange competitive spirit.

Then--

"Red toilet paper, blue toilet paper, yellow shrimp! Waaaaaahh ...

Youyou bit her tongue.

It looks like Huihui has won.

Well, they seem pretty happy... Let's leave it at that for now.

As Kobayashi helplessly watched the two women locked in combat, another scoundrel in Axel, as infamous as Kazuma Sato, the true hidden mastermind Dust, staggered over. But this stench... just how much alcohol had he been drinking?

"Dust, it's still daytime."

"Hiccup~ What does it matter?"

"You can't drink like that."

Kobayashi, pinching her nose, took a step back and glared at him with a look of disgust.

Even if he's a petty thug and a scumbag, he can't be drunk all the time. He should at least work and earn some money to support his wife!

"Let's not talk about this yet."

Duster waved his hand, then put his arm around Kobayashi's shoulder and said, "I didn't expect you to be such a master at picking up girls, Kobayashi. You've managed to win over two girls who were fighting over you."

"what are you saying?"

"The two girls are jealous of each other."

"Because of whom?"