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

"This is just an underground cold storage, nothing much to say." Hiro waved his hand, trying to forcefully interrupt the topic.

"But those ice cubes—"

"They're just ingredients for making shaved ice in the summer, don't worry about it."

"Huh? Those things are clearly witch remnants, waaaaaah!!??"

Zedu Coco was suddenly silenced and pulled aside by Hiro, who violently gagged her. Chang Rong tilted her head at the sight, having grown somewhat accustomed to the two's strange behavior.

"What's wrong with you, you perjurer! Didn't you agree to pretend to be a good friend? Why did you suddenly relapse!"

After being pulled aside, Coco bristled and asked Hiro what trouble this crazy woman was up to now. However, this time Hiro didn't yawn; instead, her expression was quite serious.

"Although I don't know how long his amnesia will last, I hope that at least during this regression, I can provide Chang Rong with a relatively stable living environment. He already has enough on his shoulders, even if it's just a short rest, I don't want him to bear too much this time."

The boy carried not only the beliefs and will of everyone, but also the fates of the girls in the previous witch trials. These cruel experiences were far too heavy for Chang Rong, making it difficult for him to breathe, and he didn't even dare to break down and cry like the others.

That's why, if possible, Hiro doesn't want Chang Rong to get involved in these things anymore. She wants to give Chang Rong a truly stable life. The silly rabbit only needs to be her honest partner, while she has many ways to play around.

"Hmm... You can say something normal sometimes, that's right. Onii-chan deserves a better life, instead of being disturbed by a bunch of gods and witches." After listening to Hiro's words, Zetsu Coco thought for a moment and finally nodded.

"Have you completely immersed yourself in your fabricated identity...? You're such a liar."

Sure enough, Ze Du Ke Ke is a guy who never gives up his wicked intentions!

Although the two remained wary of each other and breathed on each other, they at least reluctantly agreed on the common belief that "Chang Rong hopes to have an ordinary, happy life."

"Um... Coco-chan, Hiro-chan? Is something wrong now? Is there anything I can help with—Achoo!"

Chang Rong leaned towards the two of them with some concern, and at the same time sneezed.

"It's nothing, it's nothing. Let's get out of here first. We can talk about other things later—and here's a little tidbit: in cold weather, the best way to survive is for two people to hug each other nose to nose."

"Really? But why bring this up, Hiro...?" Chang Rong tilted her head, somewhat puzzled by Hiro's abrupt little lesson.

"...I just wanted to tell you how to keep warm." It seems that even the hidden version of Chang Rong hasn't changed much when it comes to 'playing dumb,' or perhaps his true nature is actually somewhat naturally dull?

"I'm actually fine. Look, I still have this scarf—wait?"

Chang Rong wanted to tell Xi Luo that he wasn't actually that cold. He instinctively reached out to touch his neck, but he didn't feel any scarf, as if he were hallucinating.

"..."

Seeing Chang Rong's unusual behavior, Hiro frowned slightly. The boy in front of him definitely still retained some memories and experiences from the past, but he just couldn't recall them yet.

Is what I'm doing really okay? Shouldn't I try to restore Chang Rong's memories first? I clearly promised him that even if I went back to the past, those 'facts' that happened would be remembered, that they truly existed, and that they were not illusory miracles.

"Hiro, you seem troubled. Since we're a couple, is there anything I can do to help?"

Hiro frowned in thought, and when Chang Rong noticed something was wrong again and rubbed her hair with a smile to ask if she was alright, Hiro realized that some rabbits can't be caged after all, and those buried memories will eventually resurface.

That being the case...

“We really did cross the line, Chang Rong. I even pinned you down on the sofa back then and listened to you begging for mercy.”

"Huh?!?!"

Chang Rong was once again taken aback by Xi Luo's realization and the way he presented it, that "his past bond experiences were not fake."

"Stop making up history on your own, you idiot...!!" Coco had to defend against Hiro again, to prevent this increasingly chaotic character from losing control and starting a game with Chang Rong on the spot.

Hiro and Coco's initial goal was to get Chang Rong out of the old freezer as soon as possible. Now that the mission is complete, and with each other holding each other back, they can't further advance their physical and emotional relationship. It's not good to leave him frozen like this, so the two decided to go up first.

The alarm didn't go off when they got on the elevator, which suggests that Chang Rong is still somewhere between life and death, between humanity and wreckage.

Previously, he had resisted getting closer to others because he felt like a corpse. If he found the so-called "ritual" this time and truly summoned the Great Witch, could she lift Chang Rong's condition? But... the prospective witch could return to being an ordinary human after eliminating her witch factor, but what about Chang Rong? If he also lost his witch factor, would he become an ordinary person again? Or perhaps...

Nikaido Hiro stopped speculating; at least for now, such things were neither meaningful nor valuable to think about.

She glanced at Chang Rong beside her and noticed that Coco, the thief, had secretly stuck to Chang Rong's side at some point. Not to be outdone, Xi Luo cursed Coco for sneaking off and then followed suit, sticking right up to Chang Rong.

"Ugh..."

So, the word "sandwiched" in "about my love triangle with my childhood friend and sister" really refers to a physical "sandwich"...?

Chang Rong, caught in the middle by Coco Xiluo and taking a barrage of damage from Lei Li's hot blades, muttered to himself.

But in the end... whether it's Hiro or Coco, their overly enthusiastic 'affection' still feels somewhat unreal to Chang Rong right now.

"Um, sorry... my mind is still a mess, I can only vaguely remember some general things. For example, this seems to be a prison, and we're trainee 'witches' locked up here to kill each other—"

"We will not fight amongst ourselves. This time, absolutely not, never again."

Just as Chang Rong slightly triggered his taboo by the word 'witch,' Nikaido Hiro suddenly interrupted him with a forceful voice.

"Don't worry, Chang Rong, this time I will prevent all tragedies from happening, because this is a promise you made to me and to everyone." Hiro looked at Chang Rong with serious eyes, each word spoken as if declaring an inevitable fact.

"This time I'll communicate with everyone properly and try to get to know each other better... But if anyone dares to target Onii-chan, I'll definitely still ruthlessly put them all on the market!" Sawatari Coco initially waved her hand awkwardly, indicating that she wouldn't target the wrong person this time. Then she clenched her fist, put on a cunning, devilish expression, and made a threatening statement.

"...Thank you, Coco-chan, Hiro. But...sorry, I still can't remember why you were so kind to me?"

Without any real-life experience or memory to support her feelings, Chang Rong was moved by Xi Luo and Ke Ke's actions, but she couldn't accept their kindness with a clear conscience.

"Because... you idiot, of course it's because of Onii-chan—because you, my 'favorite,' used to treat me like this too... no, I should say you took care of me even more gently, more attentively, and with even more effort than that..."

Zedu Coco's cheeks flushed as she recalled those moments: Chang Rong's efforts to help her better integrate into the group, Chang Rong's clever ideas to help her live a good life, Chang Rong's risky actions to help her thwart the execution, and the words Chang Rong whispered to her to remember 'Zedu Coco'.

Hakimi's cheeks grew increasingly hot. She gently tiptoed and pressed her lips to the boy who was right beside her, a boy she had never met before, yet whose soul was already intertwined with hers.

Everything happened so fast, so naturally, so smoothly, that even Xiluo, who was right next to Chang Rong, didn't have time to react.

When she came to her senses, she realized that Chang Rong's precious 'first kiss kill' in Season 3 had been stolen right under her nose by Ze Du Ke Ke.

Although the numbers have inflated to the point where holding hands has become commonplace, from nibbling on the lips to poking each other's backs, and the next step might be fast-forwarding to the first birth—even so, a young girl's feelings are always poetic, and the 'first kiss' is still an incredibly memorable achievement.

And then, having already been delivered right to his lips, the achievement of something so easy to say was stolen by Hakimi.

"Onii-chan, you have to be even more handsome, reliable, and gentle than any other handsome, reliable, or gentle person you can imagine in your mind...!"

Zedu Coco happily licked her lips, her smile incredibly radiant.

Is the progress in Galakrond really that fast...? Just how terrifyingly skilled was I before I lost my memory...?

Looking at the adorable Hakimi girl's smiling face, Chang Rong's admiration for the 'pre-amnesia Chang Rong' deepened even more. How did she manage to make such a cute and beautiful girl like her so much?

"Mmm-okay—okay, if you kiss me, I'll kiss you too…!"

Before Chang Rong could process her feelings towards Ze Du Ke Ke, Xi Luo quickly chimed in, forcefully turning Chang Rong's head and pressing her lips against the spot Ze Du Ke Ke had marked, seemingly trying to assert that the true ownership of Chang Rong's lips belonged to Xi Luo.

"Pfft—"

If Hakimi's kiss still carried the unique awkwardness, confusion, and nervousness of a young girl, it was like the tart and stimulating taste of a green apple.

So Hiro's kiss is like dark coffee and dark chocolate. She doesn't care whether you can accept the taste or not. She just shows her own unique flavor.

Is this really Heero's personality? Why does it feel so different from his appearance...? But I also have this strange sense of reassurance that says, "This is the real Heero, this is how Heero should be, this is the only way Heero can be!"

"You idiot! Since that's the case, then I'll stamp it again—" "Too naive. Let's see what's behind you then!" "Let's see what's behind you then!"

"Waaaaahh ...

The younger sister and her childhood sweetheart inexplicably began a fierce territorial battle on Chang Rong's lips, the bloodshed and brutality of which was even more terrifying than the gate of the unknown desert town.

Although Chang Rong felt dizzy from lack of oxygen after being kissed by Hao Mao and Yamato Nadeshiko in turn, he still chose to accept the two girls' actions.

Although I still haven't been able to find any memories of myself, I really can't think of any reason to refuse such wonderful girls who like me. If it makes them happy, that's enough, isn't it?

Although, although I feel like I'm going to suffocate if this continues...!

Chang Rong didn't want to reject the girls' feelings, but he still vaguely felt that they were a bit too strong. Considering that his childhood friend, Hiro, was a terrifying being who could send invitations from inside the cold storage, he didn't know... he didn't know if he could withstand the pressure from other witches in the future...

Wait, why did I say 'other witches'? Aren't Hiro and Coco enough? Being too greedy will only bring retribution.

Chang Rong shook his head vigorously, warning himself not to consider such unrealistic things. No matter how skilled he was at fighting, it was impossible for him to be surrounded by 13 girls; that was the most ridiculous fantasy he would even find unrealistic in his dreams.

I Qiu Qi Ba Si Ni} Wu 6 Ding~!

The elevator doors opened, and Shiro and Coco, panting, looked at each other. They tied for first place in the 'Elevator Kissing Game' with 13 attempts each.

"Hmph...not bad, not bad at all." Hiro licked his lips, showing a bit of respect for Zedo Coco.

“You too, same to you.” Ze Du Coco revealed her cute shark teeth as she took a photo with Chang Rong, whose upper body was already incredibly messy, while her tone towards Xi Luo carried a hint of admiration.

It seems that cooperation and mutual benefit are the right approach. If the two early adopters really try to hinder each other's progress, they'll likely end up losing more than they gain. It's better to join forces and share the spoils, eliminating all the others trying to get on the track. However, who will ultimately get the first bite... we'll probably have to wait and see for a while longer to figure that out.

Although he couldn't reunite with Chang Rong immediately and was even intercepted and defended by Hakimi halfway, overall, this was still a pretty good sneak run.

I have already become the most intimate and special person in Chang Rong's heart, and it is a foregone conclusion that I will win and eat meat next!

Hiro thought this with absolute confidence and certainty.

"So what do we need to do now, Hiro, Coco-chan?"

After leaving the underground freezer, Chang Rong felt her previously heavy chest lighten, and even her breathing became much easier—though she didn't know if it was because the two of them had been kissing her so vigorously that had caused the chest tightness…

"Hmm... well..."

Hiro was somewhat stumped by Chang Rong's question. She could now simply hand Chang Rong the photos that had been hidden in the library and have him recall his memories of 'Great Witch Xue'.

However... as Hiro# mentioned before, she hoped to give Chang Rong a quiet, carefree, and unburdened daily life for the time being.

At least until the 'Witch's Tome' that was not destroyed at this point in time is translated, Hiro hopes that Chang Rong can live a peaceful life.

When it comes to 'daily life', there is one person we absolutely cannot ignore—the mastermind behind it all, Meluru Ice.

She would order the warden and guards to impose strict control on the prospective witches, deliberately bring out food that tasted like dog excrement, and whisper devilish words in their ears to incite the prospective witches to kill each other.

Clearly, Meru on Ice is the biggest threat so far. She's an insurmountable obstacle on Chang Rong's path to a happy and fulfilling life. If left unchecked, everything will inevitably lead to destruction, and everyone will once again fight each other.

Thinking of this, Hiro secretly glanced at the transparent liquid with the number [13] printed on it that he had casually put into his pocket earlier—the Witch Slayer Potion.

Hiro glanced at Zedo Coco beside him and was surprised to find that this Hakimi also had a bottle of the exact same potion as the one in his pocket.

"Is it what I think, Hiro?" "Heh, no need to ask when you already know the answer." The two looked at each other and smiled.

Meruru, your father is coming to kill you.

Hiroko brought Chang Rong back to the castle and headed towards the infirmary. Although they bumped into the guard with the hairband who was cleaning the entrance hall, the guard did nothing. He just gave Chang Rong a meaningful look and then pretended not to see her before letting her leave.

Witch Island isn't all about fighting and killing; it's about human relationships and social interactions. If you have zero income for a month, why are you risking your life? You might as well wait for the invitation to the developer conference and go eat rabbit.

And so, the three of them arrived at the infirmary with an air of nonchalance. Although a few prospective witches occasionally stared at the two runaways and the boy sandwiched in the middle with wide eyes and puzzled expressions, Hiro and Coco paid no attention to these gazes and just kept walking forward.

Sigh, I don't talk to people who can't steal trophies/get ahead of the game; it's a waste of time, you know?

Sure enough, in the infirmary, there sat the blonde girl, Meru, dressed in a nun's habit, with tiny pearls always clinging to the corners of her eyes as if they might fall at any moment. She sat obediently in a chair, fiddling with various medicine bottles and liquids, carefully categorizing and sticking handwritten labels on them one by one, and thoughtfully hiding the bottles with more severe side effects deep inside the cabinet.

When Meruru sorted through a pile of mysterious blue pills, her cheeks instantly flushed red. She hurriedly stuffed the unpleasant pills into the deepest part of the cabinet, muttering things like, "I shouldn't import any medicines I've never heard of before..."