My deskmate is actually my yandere reader.

After listening, Shiraishi Chiren rested her chin on her hand and pondered, "So, now we need to confirm whether the basketball club captain is promiscuous or not, right?"

"Yes, that's right." Kurose Izumi nodded, a wry smile on her face. "But how do we confirm it? We can't exactly follow them, can we?"

If we're talking about tracking, then it would be more appropriate for Hirasawa Shinbu to be the one to do it, right?

They belong to the same club, which makes it easier to follow them after club activities.

However, with Hirasawa Mabu's muscle-bound brain, let alone tracking him, he might just jump out and question Kurosaki Tetsuya at the slightest sign of trouble!

“If you want to follow us, that’s fine too.” Shiraishi Chiren did not object. “Our club activities end at 5:30, and sports activities end at 6:00, so we have plenty of time.”

"Uh...are you serious?" Kurose Izumi asked, as if confirming, after a moment of surprise.

"Of course, didn't I say? If you care about this too, I'll help."

"Thank you, Shiraishi. But this isn't urgent, let's take care of our own business first."

"okay……"

While chatting, the two arrived at the cafeteria, where Inari Yuki was waiting for them just like yesterday.

The three people who had gathered each bought their own set meals, found an empty seat, and sat down in the same spot they had sat in yesterday.

Kurose Izumi picked up a piece of fried chicken, took a crunchy bite, and said, "Speaking of which, how about we start making bento boxes tomorrow and then eat them in the clubroom?"

"Eh~~~ Making bento boxes?" Inari Yuki asked, her voice trailing off, her delicate brows furrowed slightly, looking somewhat troubled.

Kurose Izumi turned to look at her and asked, "What's wrong, Inari? Is something bothering you?"

"I... I can't cook, and I'm too embarrassed to ask my mother to cook for me. It would make me sound like a little kid," Inari Yuki said softly.

"I see, then there's nothing we can do." Kurose Izumi nodded and didn't pursue the topic any further.

He casually mentioned that if Inari Snow was inconvenient, then it would have to be canceled.

According to Shiraishi Chiren, Inari Yuki came to Tokyo from Kyoto with her parents.

Having just transferred to Mingsheng High School, she was somewhat timid and shy, which prevented her from making any friends.

Therefore, Shiraishi Chiren suggested that Inari Yuki be brought along for lunch to look after her, since they were both from the same club.

At that time, Izumi Kurose sincerely felt that Chire Shiraishi was truly gentle.

"I'm sorry, I made Kurose-senpai unhappy." Inari Yuki lowered her head and apologized softly. "Don't worry about me, Kurose-senpai can bring their lunches to the clubroom with Shiraishi-senpai."

"Huh? What are you apologizing for?" Kurose Izumi looked at Inari Yuki with a strange expression.

"Oh no……"

Upon hearing this, Inari Yuki hurriedly tried to explain, but was interrupted by Kurose Izumi: "Aren't we in the same club? If there's nothing special going on during lunch break, we'll definitely stay together."

"Since we're going to be together, we'll definitely have lunch together. Or perhaps you don't want to eat with us?"

Inari Yuki shook her head vigorously and hurriedly retorted, "No, no, no! That's not what I meant. I just didn't want to cause trouble for the two seniors!"

"Shiraishi, has Inari caused us any trouble?" Kurose Izumi turned her head and looked at Shiraishi Chiren with a smile.

"No."

Shiraishi Chiren shook her head slightly and continued, "Alright, Kurose, stop teasing Inari like that. That's not what she meant at all."

"Haha, sorry, sorry..." Seeing that he had been exposed, Kurose Izumi scratched his head and laughed.

"So... Kurose-senpai was just teasing me?" Inari Yuki said, stunned.

But why do I feel happy even though I'm being teased?

'Kurose-senpai is a good person...'

She lowered her head, gently pursed her cherry lips, and a faint smile appeared on her delicate, porcelain-doll-like face.

-

The demo version of the dubbed audio has been released. Are you all satisfied with it?

Because it's Chinese New Year and the voice actors are busy, the full version will take some time, probably within this week. Please wait a little longer.

P.S.: The audio previews and subsequent versions are only available on Qidian. If readers on other websites want to listen, please download Qidian and go to the two bonus chapters after chapter 71 to listen to the previews.

73

School ends at 4:15 PM.

In the Animal Research Department, the three sat at a birchwood table by the window, each with a cup of fragrant black tea in front of them.

Holding a drawing tablet, Izumi Kurose exclaimed in amazement, "This is what you drew? You're really amazing!"

On the drawing board, there is a portrait with exquisite and beautiful style, which can be described as perfect in both lines and colors.

This is a recent drawing by Inari Yuki; according to her, it depicts a character from one of her favorite works.

"N-no, it's not that amazing!" Inari Yuki smiled sheepishly, her tone barely concealing her happiness.

Kurose Izumi put down the drawing board, looked up at Inari Yuki who was beaming with joy, and said with a smile, "It's really good, I don't mean to flatter you."

After saying that, he paused, then changed the subject, saying, "However, if we're going to make a visual novel, the illustrations and character designs might have to be handled by you alone. Is that alright?"

Keep in mind that even for a short, single-route visual novel, there should be around a dozen or so character CGs!

This doesn't even include the fine-tuning data for the basic scenes, character illustrations, and facial expressions.

If you include that, the workload is considerable and it really tests the artist's skills.

After all, this is an original work, which requires conceptualization, drawing a base map, and continuous experimentation.

"no problem!"

Inari Yuki stood up from the chair, puffed out her rather thin chest, and patted it forcefully.

"It's alright. We can take our time with making a visual novel. There's no need to rush."

As she spoke, Shiraishi Chiren lightly traced the control board with her finger, looking at Inari Yuki's other works.

No matter how you look at it, the skill level is very high, and it can be said that they are fully capable of working as an artist!

This was all thanks to her previous investigation into whether there were any people in the school who could draw.

The process of Rai Inari joining the Animal Research Institute was also very simple.

He took the poster and wandered around the first-grade bulletin board, creating a chance encounter with Inari Yuki, and then casually invited her out.

She is rather timid and introverted, so all Shiraishi Chiren needs to do is patiently invite her and say something like she needs her.

As for Inari Yuki's question about how she knew he could draw...

There are many reasons, such as others telling her, her investigating, or her researching.

Inari Yuki displayed extraordinary drawing skills during art class, and I had previously visited the art club to learn more about it.

But the art club at Mingsheng High School is strange; it only has one person, and that person doesn't recruit members from outside, not even someone with a solid foundation like Inari Yuki.

Shiraishi Chiren knew all of this—she had spent half a day specifically investigating it.

If she wants to know something, she can find out by simply putting in a little effort!

"Hehe, okay. I will definitely try my best to draw a painting that will satisfy my seniors!" Inari Yuki chuckled and sat down again.

Because she was short and excited, her legs, clad in white over-the-knee stockings, swayed off the ground under her pleated skirt.

"Ok?"

Feeling the table vibrate, Kurose Izumi looked down and saw Inari Yuki kicking her legs, so she remained silent.

Shiraishi Chiren didn't pay any attention to it. She simply picked up the handle of her teacup, took a sip of black tea, and said softly, "Then let's do our best together."

"Yeah, let's cheer each other on!"

The other two nodded in unison, their hearts filled with anticipation for the future.

Since the laptop wouldn't arrive until tomorrow, the three of them spent some leisure time enjoying tea and reading.

At 5:30 p.m., as the sky turned into a gentle twilight, the club activity came to an end.

After changing into indoor shoes, Shiraishi Chiren asked, "Should we follow the basketball club captain?"

"Let's leave it at that for now and let Zhenwu handle it. It's best if we don't interfere too much."

Kurose Izumi felt that Hirasawa Mabuchi should also want to gather evidence himself, so that he could be convinced that Kurosaki Tetsuya was also involved, and would also want to take Tsuda Yoshimi away.

As for Kurose Izumi, all he needs to do is wait quietly for his good news.

If it comes to the point where he absolutely has to intervene, then it's not too late for him to help.

"Okay, let's go home then."

"Yes, I'm home."

Thus, the two left the school and, as dusk fell on the horizon, strolled towards home as if taking a walk.

Kurose Izumi always enjoyed the time she spent going to and from school—because it was with Shiraishi Chire.

Every time we walk side by side, the feeling of excitement I feel when my hand, which is placed under my body, occasionally brushes against the back of the other person's hand is indescribable.

Halfway there, the two had already left the school, and the people around them had changed from those wearing Mingsheng High School uniforms to those in casual clothes and from other schools.

After their hands touched, the throbbing and itching in Kurose Izumi's heart reached its peak.

He looked ahead, pretending to be calm, and reached out to gently grasp Shiraishi Chiren's slightly cold, soft, boneless little hand.

He was able to take the plunge because he was certain that the other person liked him.

As for Kurose Izumi's actions, Shiraishi Chiren remained unmoved and calmly accepted them.

They walked hand in hand through Omotesando in Shinjuku, past the bustling traffic and crowds.

The traffic lights on the road change their numbers every second.

On the sidewalk, there were other people waiting with them.

As the green light turned on, Kurose Izumi smiled slightly and took Shiraishi Chire's hand as they stepped onto the zebra crossing.

The hustle and bustle along the way, the noise of vehicles, and the classical music playing on the street corner were irrelevant to him.

At this moment, in his world, there was only the girl he was holding in his hand, the one who filled his heart with tenderness and affection.