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

Natsume Anan was beaming with pride, her smile barely contained as she scribbled on the paper. But she eventually snapped out of it and immediately questioned Hosho Mag about what he was up to.

"What for? The motive should be easy to deduce, of course it's to... get rid of those troublesome guys and then enjoy some alone time with Chang Rong~ That's what he wanted too, right? After all, Chang Rong kept thanking me with a grateful look on his face, hehe..."

"Hey!?"

"Ugh... How could you do this? Noah won't agree to this...!"

"【!?】"

Baosheng Mag approached Chang Rong with a wicked grin, mimicking a seductive smile as he responded. The other three were all startled upon hearing this.

"Rongrong, Rongrong, you...you're not allowed to do this or that in Noah's studio, absolutely not...it's a desecration of art, that's right! Noah's really going to yell at you—ssssssss!!"

"Wait, wait a minute, I never thought of that!?" Chang Rong originally wanted to try to explain, but Noah Shirosaki, who was already furious and had turned into a round-headed balloon, wouldn't listen to any explanations. He directly took out a spray paint can and sprayed Chang Rong's face with an incomprehensible white liquid.

"You you you...you perverted monster, you sadistic monster, you color-field monster! I, I knew you had no good intentions...you must be trying to use the same trick again! You are the most despicable creature, death penalty, hanging, die, you perverted monster...! Traitor, villain!"

"I told you I didn't expect that—ouch! Didn't you say you wouldn't poke people with sharp edges?—ouch!"

Natsume An'an was equally furious, poking Chang Rong repeatedly with the edge of her sketchbook. Judging from her panting, this homebody writer had already met or even exceeded her exercise targets for the entire year.

"They look so loving and affectionate~" Baosheng Mag watched the chaotic scene with a smile, then coughed lightly twice to clear his throat.

While it was indeed hilarious to see Chang Rong being tortured by two kids like that, especially his innocent expression, everything should be done in moderation.

If Chang Rong gets ruined by Noah and An An, what will I play with next?

"Noah's words don't quite make sense, do they? After all, Teacher Noah, you yourself wanted to use Chang Rong as a human model to create some strange 'artwork' in this studio, didn't you?"

"No, no, no...!? That, that's not the same... Noah is only dedicating himself to the field of art, no, it doesn't count...!" Noah Kinosaki was caught red-handed by Mag, and he instantly turned into a red balloon, stammering and trying to explain.

"As for Teacher An'an, it's really strange. Why would you use the phrase 'the same old trick'? And you even put on an air of 'I knew it would be like this,' as if you had experienced it firsthand. Could it be that you and Brother Chang Rong have actually already... done that before?"

"Ugh!? No, don't talk nonsense... I... I... I didn't...! Who would be with such a perverted monster..." Natsume An'an's secretly hidden 'dark history' was also keenly noticed, which made the eunuch writer instantly furious. She raised the sketchbook in her hand to cover her head, using this as a way of showing defense.

"Whew... Well, I'm saved. It's all thanks to you, Marge. I'm so grateful... No, wait, isn't this mess all your fault, Marge?"

Chang Rong wiped the white, sticky liquid from her face, her face filled with gratitude for Mag's act of single-handedly killing two children and saving her from dire straits.

But he immediately realized that the water and fire seemed to have come to him because of Baosheng Mag...

"Oh dear, if you pay too much attention to details, you'll become an idiot, you know?" Baosheng Mag responded with a smile, and Chang Rong could only be fooled like this.

—Seriously, you're so easy to fool, Chang Rong. If you keep doing this, aren't you...?

Looking at the white-haired boy in front of him, rubbing his head and reflecting on his actions, Baosheng Mag couldn't stop smiling.

Wouldn't that mean... it's really easy for someone else to inexplicably make you stronger?

Baosheng Mag stopped laughing. He was just there for fun, and even if he got caught, he wouldn't admit it. But the others didn't seem to have the same attitude towards Chang Rong. It seemed that quite a few people had initially intended to kill him...?

Oh dear, I feel for you, Chang Rong.

"Ugh... It's not even noon yet, but I feel so tired from all this... Anyway, now that I've found and cleaned up the art studio, and An'an is all set, then my task is complete. I'll go back and continue working on installing a lock on the confessional."

"Rongrong can't leave...!" [Come here (buffalo bubble sound)]

Just as Chang Rong was preparing to retire and return to her hometown, she was once again grabbed by the hem of her clothes by Noah Shirosaki. This time, even An An, who was standing next to her, came over and froze her, not allowing her to leave.

"Hmm? Is there anything else, Noah, An'an?" Chang Rong tilted her head, wondering what else these two problem-makers wanted to say.

"Um... um... right! The restaurant's out of food at this hour. Rongrong, if you leave... what will we eat?"

Noah pulled Chang Rong along, trying to make things up, and finally came up with a reason that sounded quite reasonable.

"【That's right, that's right, what should we eat?】" Natsume Anan quickly chimed in from the side.

"The cafeteria? Hmm... It's not lunchtime yet, but it's been quite a while since breakfast, so there probably isn't much left. But the kitchen is always open. Noah and An'an, you guys—"

Chang Rong glanced at the brand-new cell phone clock that came with a jellyfish tear sticker, then looked at Noah Kinosaki and Anan Natsume.

"Don't you know how to cook?" That's a completely unnecessary question to ask...

Looking at those two big, innocent, and adorable eyes that hadn't yet been tainted by the mundane details of daily life, Chang Rong sighed, knowing that she would have to continue cosplaying as a chef.

"However, while Noah and An'an don't seem like the type to do housework, what about Marge?"

Chang Rong then looked at Bao Shengmage, who was smiling broadly to the side, and asked her with some curiosity.

If we only consider appearance, it is obvious that the off-shoulder kimono worn by Hosho Mag is more in line with most people's standard impression of a 'Yamato Nadeshiko'.

Since she's a classically gentle and virtuous young woman, cooking shouldn't be a problem for her either—

"Oh dear, I'm afraid this will disappoint Brother Changrong. I'm a die-hard restaurant enthusiast or a takeout addict. Although my mother occasionally tries to cook for me, it's still a bit difficult for me to sit at the table with a smile and finish it all, hehe... To be honest, for a long time I was the type who ate instant noodles for all three meals."

Baosheng Mag crossed one arm over his chest and rested the other on his cheek, smiling as he spoke to Chang Rong.

"【Yes, I understand you! During the time I was grinding through games, instant noodles were my only source of comfort!】" Natsume Anan suddenly nodded emphatically, clearly the type who often bragged about takeout and instant noodles.

"Is she the same type of Stand user as Coco-chan...? But it seems that An-an's otaku power has already surpassed Coco-chan's." Chang Rong sighed helplessly.

When Coco and her grandfather were living together, even though she stayed home a lot, Coco would still spend a considerable amount of time walking and chatting with him. This was far from the kind of fanatical NEET behavior that An An exhibited.

It seems the champion of Witch Island's first annual "Stay-at-Home Contest" has been crowned! That's right! She is...

Meruru on Ice!!!

Haha, can someone like An'an, a nobody, handle the power of 500 years of reclusive illiteracy?

Unexpectedly, the three sisters couldn't even scrape together a spatula. With no other option, Chang Rong led everyone to the cafeteria to prepare meals for the two sisters who had finally agreed to eat breakfast, which was now completely unrelated to breakfast.

"That... Rongrong...?"

As they passed the infirmary, Noah Kinosaki suddenly spoke softly. For some reason, her tone was somewhat timid and cautious, and even her rainbow-colored eyes avoided looking at the white-haired boy.

"What's wrong, Noah?"

Noah has something he wants to ask Rongrong, it's...it's a very serious matter—does Rongrong think Noah is a very strange child? Does Rongrong...dislike or despise Noah?

Noah Kinosaki lowered his head, fiddling with the nozzle of the spray paint can with his fingertips, as if he was afraid of hearing words from the boy that he couldn't accept, so he could only try to distract himself like this.

“Hmm… Noah does have some strange aspects—” “Noah…!?” The little balloon suddenly made a popping sound.

"However, I have never disliked Noah. In fact... well, although An'an might criticize me for saying this as 'too cliché,' when I saw Noah, I was really... very moved."

"...Touched?" Noah raised his head, finally having the courage to look at Chang Rong.

"Hmm... I can't quite put my finger on this feeling, but I'm really touched. I feel like... it's so wonderful to see you like this now, Noah."

Chang Rong responded with a smile, and casually ruffled Xiao Qiong's hair—just like when the two first met in the meeting room in the previous game.

"Noah is so happy and excited too... Although Noah also doesn't know what this feeling of being even happier and more exhilarating than spray painting is all about..."

Noah Shirosaki revealed the innocent, silly smile that was typical of his age, tilting his head slightly to enjoy the best angle of being stroked while responding to Chang Rong.

"Ahem, so what about us—"

While I was stroking the balloon, the pigeon spirit next to me seemed to be throwing a tantrum.

"I was really excited and moved when I saw An'an, it's true!" Chang Rong, afraid of being poked in the back by the corner of the sketchbook again, quickly shared her feelings.

"Hmph...a perverted monster who only knows how to talk nice things..." Natsume Anan pouted and complained softly, but that was all she did.

As the saying goes, it's not scarcity that's the problem, but inequality. He was stroking two children with both hands at the same time, which at first glance looked like a DJ standing in front of the dance floor, violently kneading them.

"Hehe, so what about me, Brother Chang Rong~?"

Of course, Baosheng Mag was involved in this kind of fun-loving activity. She joined the conversation at the right time with her playful voice, waiting with great interest for the white-haired boy in front of her to respond.

"Of course, I was also... well, saying I was 'touched' would be a bit of an exaggeration, but... I'm very 'happy' to see Marg again."

"Happy?" Baosheng Mag raised an eyebrow; Chang Rong's response was not what she had expected.

"Yes, I'm very happy because this time I finally have the opportunity to get to know Marge properly. What kind of person are you? What do you like? What do you hate? What are you pursuing? Just thinking about having the opportunity to slowly understand these mysteries of Marge makes me feel very 'happy'."

Chang Rong stated his true thoughts in a serious manner. He and Baosheng Mag had no regrets about their past, but Baosheng Mag had indeed left Chang Rong with a 'mystery' that troubled him until the very end, like a prank.

"...Oh dear, isn't this a lie? That's quite an interesting answer."

Baosheng Mag blinked. She had thought Chang Rong would follow the atmosphere and use the ambiguous word 'moved' to describe it, but he deliberately chose a word that better reflected his true feelings.

There isn't any deep connection or shared experience between us that would move us deeply, but you're standing right in front of me right now, and I have a greater chance to get to know you better. Just realizing that makes me incredibly happy.

—What a foolish, naive, and thankless answer... Brother Chang Rong.

“Rongrong doesn’t hate Noah… Hehehe, well, in that case, Noah understands too!” Upon hearing Chang Rong’s response, Noah clenched his fists and, as if he had made some kind of realization, immediately ran away from the group.

"Noah? Where are you going—" "I'll be right back!"

Noah Kinosaki responded immediately, while avoiding everyone's gaze, and went to the infirmary. He went straight to the table with various medicines and grabbed a bottle of light blue solution, which was the so-called 'powerful sleeping pill'.

This was a medicine that Noah had tried when he first arrived on Witch Island. Because it smelled nice and tasted sweet, Noah quickly remembered the sleeping pills, though he treated them as a 'wonderful little drink that would make you sleepy'.

But when Noah saw the white-haired boy with drooping temples, Noah Kinosaki instinctively grasped another use for sleeping pills: to induce a carefree sleep as cool as a summer's day.

Every witch has her own underlying code. Noah's code is probably just `if Rongrong printf` feeding the mysterious blue sweet water!

—Since Rongrong said she doesn't dislike Noah, then Noah must reciprocate Rongrong's feelings!

Noah Kinosaki gripped the blue potion bottle, her eyes gleaming with unwavering determination. This was her way of showing filial piety; as for how she showed it, don't ask.

Meanwhile, after seeing Noah Kinosaki suddenly ask her a rather serious question and then suddenly run away, Chang Rong also began to think about the [Affection] value.

Arisa at level 80, Noah at level 70, and An An at level 50—it's true that everyone has a different way of interacting with themselves. But rather than a "heart-fluttering value"... Chang Rong suspects this thing is more like a "survival progress bar"? The more people survive to the later stages of the previous playthrough, the longer their progress bars become. For example, Meruru, who died first, has the lowest progress bar, followed by Mag and An An.

This theory seems plausible at first glance, but considering that Coco left the stage after An An, yet still managed to get a high score of 99, it is easily refuted.

"Noah's back...!" "[Where have you been?]"

Noah's panting voice interrupted Chang Rong's thoughts. The colorful little balloon floated back, but his forehead was covered in sweat, and his chest was rising and falling noticeably with his breathing.

Natsume Anan asked, somewhat confused, but Noah simply shook his head and said, "I can't tell you."

The group arrived at the cafeteria and found that, as expected, there was no food left, and no other prospective witches could be seen.

"Ha... Let's make this clear, this is only once, okay? Next time, you guys better eat on time, understand?"

Chang Rong reluctantly and skillfully picked up the apron and tied it around her body, warning the children that this was a limited-time perk, and that she could not simultaneously be their human model, canvas, hypnotized pet, perverted monster, and chef.

"Okay, Noah knows." "[How long-winded!]"

Noah Kinosaki nodded happily in agreement, seemingly in a particularly good mood after sneaking away and returning. Meanwhile, An'an Natsume remained somewhat cunning and sharp-tongued.

"So what would you like to eat? Although there's no fresh meat or freshly picked fruits and vegetables, Hiro said the warehouse seems to have a fairly complete stock of ingredients."

"Because our batch of death row inmates just arrived at Witch Island, that's why the supplies are relatively plentiful, right?" Baosheng Mag analyzed with a smile. The supplies on such an isolated island couldn't be calculated in 'days'; it could take at least weeks or even months.

"He's not a death row inmate, just an innocent passerby temporarily trapped here—Noah?"