Whose youth romance story begins with a witch's trial?!

A voice like that of a demon from an infernal hell came from behind the two of them.

"Huh, Nikaido-kun? What are you doing here—no, wait, this isn't Nikaido…!!"

Chang Rong was startled. He quickly pulled his injured finger out of the pink-haired girl's mouth, not even having time to wipe away the glistening threads that had been pulled from his fingertip.

He wanted to laugh it off and brush off the awkward situation, which was actually alright but not awkward at all. However, the moment Chang Rong and Xi Luo locked eyes, he realized from the other's eyes that the girl in front of him was not Nikaido Xi Luo, but the 'incarnation of the sardines'.

"Nikaido's gone mad! Sakuraha-san, run! I'll hold her off here. Come on, Nikaido—Gwaa!"

The hymn to humanity is the hymn to courage! Chang Rong not only did not run away, but instead faced Hiro head-on.

Then I was assigned to a military post and it was done casually.

"Sakura Emma... what are you doing?"

The moment Baosheng Mag was executed, this guy ran into her bedroom. Was he looking for some 'other weapon' that Mag had left behind but never used?

And her behavior just now... that... that... that... that... that behavior... was indecent, incorrect, unreasonable, nonsensical...!

If a friend does something wrong, you must correct her mistake. Even though Emma Sakura is no longer your friend, her dirty and evil deeds still need to be corrected.

This naturally wicked pink-haired girl, I'll take care of her...

Based on past experience, when faced with Hiro's forceful torture and reprimands, Sakura Emma would only make meaningless humming and groaning sounds, obediently bow her head and admit her mistakes. After the reprimand, she would rub the back of her head and giggle to herself.

However, this time—

"...I'm the one who wants to ask Hiro-chan what you're doing."

The pink-haired girl, whom Chang Rong had labeled as 'soft and cute' at first glance, now glared back at Hiro with a serious expression.

"Varied……?"

Such a powerful and unfamiliar Emma Sakura was something he had never seen before in his memory, which made Hero pause for a moment.

"It's one thing for Hiro-chan to hate me, reject me, ignore me, and even be mean to me all the time... But why are you so harsh on Changrong-kun too? He could have easily stayed out of our witch trial, but he still chose to help you, even though it made him seem more suspicious to everyone—and even so, Hiro-chan, you haven't thanked Changrong-kun at all!"

"And what do you know—"

"At least I know that it's absolutely 'wrong' to ignore or deaf to the kindness of others!"

"Gurgle...!"

Sakura... Emma! How dare you use my magic against me!?

At this moment, Heero was as surprised as if she had suddenly been bitten by her dog's plush toy, but Heero was, after all, a strong person who could say in court that "the criminal committed CCB against me" in a serious manner, so she immediately gritted her teeth and kept a straight face.

"Alright, then I'll show you what's right, Emma Sakura."

Hiro hurled a vicious threat at Sakura Emma, ​​then looked at the white-haired boy beside him.

"Chang Rong, regarding the previous court hearing, you..."

Hiro looked at Chang Rong and opened his mouth as if to say something, but his lips, which were slightly parted beneath his delicate face, failed him to utter a single word.

After a brief silence, Hiro looked away.

“Your perjury was very well done—anyway, come out with me, and your accommodation problem will be solved.”

After saying this bland remark, Hiro left the prison, like a pathetic lone wolf who had failed in his territorial struggle and was forced to retreat in disappointment.

Chang Rong stared wide-eyed at the sight of Hiro running away with a look of utter disbelief, then slowly looked at Sakura Emma, ​​her eyes filled with the reverence of a god descending to earth.

"Sakuraba-kun, are you actually a hidden deity in the human world, in charge of the life and death of all things? You defeated Nikaido with just one sentence."

"Hey, there's no need to exaggerate like that, Chang Rongjun!"

Chang Rong's exaggerated reaction made Emma blush.

"Um, I hope Chang Rong-jun won't be too angry with Xi Luo-chan... Actually, Xi Luo-chan knows better than anyone what's right and what's wrong! It's just that because Xi Luo-chan is usually always the 'right' one, she rarely encounters situations where she needs to thank others, especially in this kind of... life-threatening situation."

Emma Sakura smiled and explained to Chang Rong the origin of Hirona's awkward personality.

"In any case, Changrong-kun, please take good care of Hiro-chan from now on!"

—As long as you don't suddenly turn evil and use gravity factors again, I'm fine with anything.

Chang Rong looked at the pink-haired girl who looked as cute and gentle as an angel and muttered to herself.

However, putting aside Emma's occasional flashes of a dark side, this child is so gentle that you just want to give her a good rub.

“Nikaido-san isn’t so fragile that she needs someone to take care of her, but of course I’ll try my best to keep an eye on her. Also, although I don’t know anything about what’s going on between you and Nikaido, if there’s anything I can do to help, just let me know. Friends should share their happy moments and troubles, right?”

"Eh? Friends...?" Upon hearing this unexpected word, Emma Sakura's eyes widened.

"Although it is indeed naive to talk about friendship in such an extreme environment, I still hope to become friends with everyone."

"Of course, no problem! Chang Rongjun, hehe, friend..."

Upon receiving Chang Rong's affirmative reply, a genuine smile appeared on Sakura Emma's face.

"Since we're friends, then... can Chang Rongjun continue to act like before...?"

"Before?"

Chang Rong didn't understand Ming Yingyu Liu Ai Shima's words, but the pink-haired Shao Qi girl in front of her didn't explain further. She just looked away and lowered her head slightly towards Chang Rong, her light white hair swaying as if she were seducing her.

—Huh, that's strange. Why did my hand suddenly lift up uncontrollably? I've petted your fur many times before, but this is the first time it's happened like this, it just sticks to me on its own!

As if possessed by its own will, the arm reached out to Emma Sakura's hair.

Rub her! Rub her! Rub her! Rub—

"What are you still babbling about? Get out here."

Just before Chang Rong could pet Sakura Emma, ​​Nikaido Hiro returned and, without saying a word, dragged Chang Rong away from the prison.

"Waaah..."

Unable to enjoy the same level of service from Chang Rong again, Sakura Emma momentarily showed a disappointed expression, but she quickly raised her head thoughtfully, her eyes fixed on the direction where Chang Rong and Nikaido Hiro had left.

"Hiro-chan... Hiro-chan won't forgive me, why did she steal my friend again... This won't do, I have to do something..."

Emma Sakura continued to stare in the direction the two had left, muttering to herself until her eyes lost their focus and luster.

Volume 1: Chapter 22. Locksmith Service at Your Door

On the way to the main entrance hall on the first floor—

"Don't get too close to that Sakura Emma guy."

Nikaido Hiro led Chang Rong through the castle, speaking in a forceful tone.

"What exactly happened between you and Sakura-chan? You're not even trying to hide your malice towards her."

Although Chang Rong didn't want to interfere too much in other people's love and hate entanglements, the problem between Heero and Emma seemed much more serious than the minor squabbles between classmates that she had imagined. This made Chang Rong worry that Heero might suddenly turn into a witch and do something irreversible to Emma one day.

"...I don't have much to say. You just need to know one thing: Emma Sakuraba isn't what she seems on the surface."

"Yes, I can definitely feel that." Chang Rong nodded in agreement.

Even setting aside the occasional sudden, overwhelming gravity that Emma experiences, she herself is still somewhat peculiar.

—She sucks on other people's fingers and entices them to pat her head after only meeting a few times... Considering her ambiguous relationship with this Destruction Mushroom in front of her—could Sakura Emma be a Charm Mushroom?

Looking at the walking Destruction Mushroom in front of him, Chang Rong seemed to be deep in thought.

"Ah, Xiao hope, are you still patrolling so late?"

As Lu Yin passed through the reception room, he sat down in front of the living room. The blonde peacemaker Milia, who liked to call herself "Uncle Big Dove," noticed Hero and took the initiative to greet him.

"No, I'll take this guy to his dorm room."

“Xiao Rong? Oh… that makes sense, after all, Xiao Rong is somewhat different from us.” Milia nodded with a smile.

"Also, remember to get back to your dorms early. Curfew is approaching."

"Haha... He said he wasn't on patrol, but Uncle still got scolded by Xiaoxi..."

Milia rubbed her hair and gave a slightly embarrassed wry smile, while Hiro didn't linger and continued forward with Chang Rong.

After Hiro and Changrong left the living room, Kurobe Nanoha, who had been leaning against the bookshelf, quietly walked to the door of the reception room and half-peeked out to try to observe the two's actions.

"What's wrong, Xiao Nai?"

"--!?……fine"

Kurobe Nanoka was startled by Milia's greeting behind her, but she immediately shook her head and pretended nothing had happened, while silently memorizing the direction Chang Rong and the other person had gone.

Meanwhile, Chang Rong, completely unaware that she was being pleasured by Miles's Ghost Mask, was still chatting casually with Hiro.

"Nikaido-kun, what did you mean by 'patrol' just now?"

“It’s nothing. I regularly check everyone’s attendance at the dorm every day and also correct any ignorant or reckless behavior that might anger the guards—like rushing in during the execution process like you did.”

"Uh-oh, sorry..." This was the only point Chang Rong had no confidence to refute.

My actions at the time, which felt like I was being "possessed," almost led to irreversible and serious consequences.

"But is it even necessary to conduct inspections in this situation? There are no teachers or disciplinary committee members here."

“It is precisely because we are in such an extreme environment that it is all the more necessary for us to abide by the correct rules. The consequences of an individual’s incorrect behavior will be amplified infinitely by the extreme environment, and the resulting cost will ultimately affect everyone,” Nikaido Hiro replied matter-of-factly.

"what……"

"how?"

"So, Nikaido-kun, you really are thinking about everyone's needs seriously," Chang Rong said with some emotion.

What kind of person did you originally think I was?

"A bloodthirsty criminal who points fingers, acts superior, has the air of a spoiled princess, is arrogant and unreasonable, and pretends to be a good person—"

"Death to evil!!!"

"Yes, yes, that's exactly how it feels... Ah!?"

Chang Rong fell down, emitting the sound effect of being hit, which would be criticized by Renmi Rieya as "too trivial and affecting the viewing experience".

After a brief period of fooling around, the two arrived at their destination. It was a room next to the first-floor reception room, with relatively simple decorations.

The room was about the same size as the girls' cell, except it had a desk and bookshelves. The space where the double bed used to be had been replaced by a sofa.

"here it is?"

"The dormitory the warden assigned you is probably an abandoned study, so stop complaining. If possible, I'd like to switch rooms with you."