In music anime, band girls won't be alone.

Shirakawa Sawa's eyes were serious.

"It's true."

Nagasaki Motoyo knew what the other party's purpose was in bringing this up.

It was to tell herself that her efforts had not been in vain, and that the others were not as distant as they seemed.

Shirakawa Sawa deliberately sighed.

"I was thinking, if it weren't for me, Touka and Shiina might have come looking for you last night. Sigh~"

A hint of a smile appeared in Nagasaki Motoyo's eyes.

"None of this would have happened if it weren't for you."

"We may still be as distant as before."

Shirakawa Ze laughed.

"Could it be that I'm a hero?"

Nagasaki Motoyo gently shook her head.

"No, you are my benefactor."

The two looked at each other and smiled.

Motoyo Nagasaki discovered that having a casual chat with the other person was actually quite comfortable.

He can read your emotions and understand the unspoken implications in your words.

"If only we could be friends..."

For the first time, Nagasaki Motoyo genuinely felt this hope.

Volume 1: Chapter 46 How cunning!

Nagasaki Motoyo felt much better. She picked up her teacup, took a sip, and then looked at Shirakawa Sawa across from her.

"Ze-jun?"

May I call you that?

Shirakawa Sawa nodded with a smile.

"of course can."

Nagasaki Motoyo put down her teacup and slowly opened her mouth.

"I just heard Ze-kun mention... the school festival?"

"I'm curious about how your school organizes its activities..."

Gathering information is something she excels at.

Hearing that the three of them were at the cafe because of the school festival meant that there must be a problem that needed to be solved.

So I steered the conversation to this point to see if I could be of any help.

Shirakawa Ze replied,

"Each class has to operate with a theme. Our class's theme is a maid café."

Nagasaki Motoyo's mind conjured up the image of Takamatsu Akari in a maid outfit, and she immediately became interested.

"Oh? Is it the kind that wears a maid outfit?"

The young man nodded.

A look of anticipation appeared in the girl's eyes.

"So, does that mean Deng-chan wears it too?"

Shirakawa Sawa laughed.

"Does Nagasaki-san want to see it?"

Nagasaki Motoyo tilted her head slightly, a playful look appearing on her face.

"Of course I want to see it."

"However, since I'm calling you Ze-kun, you should at least call me by my name, right?"

"That's only fair."

Shirakawa was startled, blinked quickly, and steadied himself.

These unconscious little expressions are like when two people are arguing in lane and suddenly someone jumps out of the bushes and uses charm on you face to face.

It's really hard to guard against.

So you guys all like to launch sneak attacks, huh?

Shirakawa took a sip of tea and looked at the girl opposite him.

"Su Shi, do you know who was the last person who wanted to see Deng Jiang in a maid outfit?"

Nagasaki Motoyo did not hesitate at all.

"Lixi."

Shirakawa Ze nodded and continued.

"She's our helper now, responsible for things like making coffee for us."

"As an outside helper, she also needs to wear a maid outfit at the school festival."

"Each class can invite a maximum of two outside helpers, and there is still one spot left."

He didn't really mean to ask her to be his helper; he just wanted to tease her and see some interesting reactions.

Upon hearing this, Nagasaki Motoyo shifted her gaze slightly, then looked back at the other person with a hint of a smile in her eyes.

"Ze-jun is really cunning."

"If I remember correctly, Xiuhua's school festival is semi-open; high school students can enter by filling out an application."

"If I want to see it, I can simply wait until your school festival starts and go there as a visitor."

"Since you're open for business, you shouldn't be preventing people from going in and making purchases, right?"

After saying that, Nagasaki Motoyo took out her phone.

"I need to send Lixi a message to tell her not to fall for Zejun's tricks."

Shirakawa Ze didn't expect to be outmaneuvered, but it also showed that her emotions had recovered, so he looked at her with a smile, feeling relaxed.

As Nagasaki Motoyo spoke, she made a gesture as if she was about to send a message, but she didn't hear the other person stop her.

Looking up, I saw the other person looking at me with a smile in their eyes. I couldn't help but feel curious, but I didn't say anything.

"Ze Jun looks like a cunning old fox; he must be up to no good again."

She put away her phone, picked up the teacup in front of her, and at the same time heard the other person's voice.

"I never expected Su Shi to be so cute."

Nagasaki Motoyo stopped what she was doing, a strange feeling creeping into her heart.

"Eh?"

"cute?"

She was always the one praising other people her age for being cute; she never expected to be praised by someone her age one day.

Of course, she wasn't rejecting the adjective, but rather felt that it didn't seem to apply much to her.

She was a little unsure how to respond to that, her eyes darting around, and she prepared to change the subject.

Seeing the sky outside gradually darkening with night, she put down her cup and looked at the boy opposite her.

"Zejun, it's getting late. Why don't you stay for dinner?"

"Since we met, I've always been troubling you, and I feel a little guilty about it. How about you try my cooking today?"

A thoughtful look appeared in Shirakawa's eyes.

"Su Shi has been so hospitable, yet I, as a guest, haven't brought any gifts..."

"I also felt a little guilty..."

Upon hearing this, Nagasaki Motoyo assumed the other party was going to refuse, and a hint of urgency appeared in her eyes as she wanted to say something to dispel their concerns.

“Ze-jun, I…”

Before she could finish speaking, she heard the other person speak again.

"Then I'll help Su Shi with cooking, it'll make me feel a little better."

Nagasaki Motoyo's expression softened, and a hint of a smile appeared in her eyes.

"Ze-kun, you're so cunning..."

When Shirakawa Sawa saw Nagasaki Motoyo cooking up close, he thought to himself, "She truly is a shining example of maternal love. Her movements are skillful and efficient. Apart from professional chefs, few ordinary people her age can cook so well."

After the food was prepared, the two went to the restaurant to eat.

After eating for a while, Shirakawa Sawa sensed that Nagasaki Motoyo was acting strangely, as if she were somewhat uneasy. He couldn't help but look at the girl with curiosity in his eyes.

"Su Shi, why do you seem a little uneasy? It's like you're the one visiting my home..."

Nagasaki Motoyo smiled and gently shook her head.

"No."

"It just feels like it's been a long time since the two of us ate together."

“My mother is very busy with work and rarely comes home.”

“I rarely came back home, but I was in a bad mood and couldn’t have a proper meal with my mother.”