I really don't want to be reborn.

Chapter Thirty-Three: I'm in a hurry, but fate isn't; that's fate's temperament.

After going down to the first floor, we entered the venue through the entrance marked "East 4".

In such an open environment, no matter how intense the sun is, it's actually quite cool to stay in the shade.

However, if this huge space is filled with people, then it's a different story.

Too many people.

In today's era of population explosion, it's probably impossible to experience the leisurely life that our parents' generation once enjoyed. Although material conditions were scarce back then, people's mental outlook was much healthier than it is today, and there were fewer twists and turns in relationships between people.

Most importantly, there weren't as many people back then as there are now.

This generation is large and has a tough life. The toughest part is that we've come to take hardship for granted.

"I'm so thirsty, so hot, so nauseous..."

Kyosuke Kosaka listened expressionlessly to his sister's final breaths and murmurs, which sounded like those of a dead fish, as she tugged at his clothes. He thought to himself that if he only listened to her voice, he might mistake her for making some kind of forced arousal film.

"Seriously, I might as well just die..."

From the beginning, Kirino had been looking weak and unable to bear it. Under Kasumigaoka Utaha's deep gaze, she grabbed her brother's clothes for help, her face flushed as if it were over 50 degrees Celsius, and her breathing was rapid like a fish about to die from the sun.

This was indeed not something she was faking. The temperature was very high today, it had been hot since morning, and with this giant steamer that was being baked by carbon dioxide and body heat, even Kousaka Kyosuke was feeling a bit uncomfortable.

He didn't notice the exchange of glances between Kasumigaoka Utaha and her sister, and was still worried that Kirino might have heatstroke. He kept stroking her back and said, "Are you still feeling unwell? If you really can't, I'll help you out right now."

Kirino snuggled in his arms like a child for a while, then immediately pulled away, patting her chest: "I've reached my limit, I need to rest! I need to rest now! Quickly think of something."

Kyosuke looked around and said with a wry smile, "There's nowhere to rest here. I can't exactly bend over and become a stool for you to sit on, can I?"

Kirino's eyes lit up.

Kyosuke Kosaka's eyes turned cold: "I think you're tired of living."

My younger sister pouted sullenly. The fatigue, irritability, and discomfort between her brows were indeed quite serious. She was clearly an athletic girl, so how did she suddenly become so delicate?

Kasumigaoka Utaha silently handed him the fan: "Fan her for a while. Anyway, let's go out through the roller shutter door over there to rest. I'm a little tired too."

She walked to Kirino's other side, supporting her other arm, her actions and attitude suggesting that she was completely unaware of the irreconcilable conflict between them, and that she had long forgotten the shocking scene in the hospital ward.

Kirino Kousaka whispered a thank you to her, her eyes filled with not only sadness and undisguised jealousy, but also a rekindled fighting spirit.

There were no complaints, no harsh words, and no sarcastic remarks.

Kirino had thought it through clearly. It was her own business not to keep her brother by her side. She could hide under the covers and reminisce as she pleased, or shed tears of regret as she pleased.

But in public and in private, she would still pretend that nothing had happened.

This is possible.

We can all do it, because that's how people survive.

Kasumigaoka Utaha raised an eyebrow. She didn't know what kind of realization Kousaka Kirino had come up with to give her such courage, but she figured it was probably just a kind of blind feeling.

Because blind faith can easily increase a person's courage.

Stepping outside through the roller shutter, a gentle, cool breeze caressed them, instantly calming their restless hearts.

"Phew... it's much cooler outside."

"I can't believe it, I'm already dizzy after just a short while..."

"Let's come in winter, summer is too unbearable."

He wiped Kirino's sweat and gently flicked her forehead: "You're not bad. Yesterday and the day before, I spent two whole days here with Kuroneko. We couldn't move around freely there, unlike you who can just leave whenever you want."

The black cat gave Kirino a mocking look: "Mere mortal..."

Just before his sister lost her temper, Kyosuke took the bottle of herbal tea that Saori handed him.

"These are for everyone, let's replenish our fluids first—Kasumigaoka-senpai, don't you want some?"

"I have some juice here, Kousaka-kun?"

"Thank you."

He preferred the department head's juice to the herbal tea Saori offered, while the herbal tea was naturally served to his sister.

"So, what do you all think, Xia Comic?"

This tall junior high school girl, who was also reportedly participating for the first time, asked them like a reporter, "Don't you find it interesting?"

"So boring, hot, disgusting, I want to go back."

"Xiaotongtong's answer was as expected. Kyosuke, what do you think? You've been here for three days, and you've not only bought doujinshi but also sold them with Kuroneko. What are your thoughts?"

Kyosuke Kosaka paused for a moment, then smiled and said, "To be honest, the environment is absolutely terrible. The utilization rate of resources and time is incredibly low."

Saori laughed heartily: "That's true, the environment here is really terrible, but everyone seems to be having a great time."

In this group, apart from Kuroneko and Saori, the Kousaka siblings, needless to say, couldn't get into this activity, and even Kasumigaoka Utaha, who was interested in various doujinshi, couldn't stand the baking heat and high temperature here.

Oh, and there's one more...

Eriri Sawamura jogged over, her festive hat unable to completely conceal her beautiful twin tails, which bounced and tumbled with her running, like dice bobbing up and down in a large bowl.

The girl was carrying a large stack of things over, including doujinshi and some handmade figurines. However, judging from her careful demeanor as she jogged, one would think she was carrying a pile of antiques that had just been unearthed.

"Ah, I'm so satisfied... What are you guys talking about? Hey, Kousaka, I think I have the same book that your sister bought."

Eriri's eyes widened: "You like this author?"

Kirino's face lit up with a look of "I've been waiting for this question for so long," but just as she was about to show her joy, she immediately tensed up again: "Y-yes... Tsukimi Gamma's Meruru doujinshi is amazing! And also, that illustration book, it's by the same person who did the manga adaptation of Meruru!"

When she talks about things she likes, she completely changes her demeanor, appearing neither gloomy nor arrogant—that little bit of arrogance is submerged in her enthusiasm and liveliness, which is as warm and lively as the weather today.

Kyosuke thought to himself, then turned to Kasumigaoka Utaha and chuckled softly, "See? This guy is just a kid."

The girl, who had been silent all along, nodded slightly: "Yes, she's a child who wants everything."

He sensed something unusual in her voice and asked curiously, "What's wrong? Are you tired?"

"I'm a little tired."

Kyosuke Kousaka patted his shoulder: "Then let's rest here for a bit with this Kousaka-brand body pillow."

Kasumigaoka Utaha smiled, leaned against him, and closed her eyes.

Closing your eyes allows you to avoid speaking, and to keep the most difficult words to express in silence.

She was always thinking about this and that, always worrying about gains and losses. Gradually, she became somewhat unrecognizable to herself. Love often drains a person's energy, leaving behind an empty shell before leaving.

Whether it's the anxiety and anticipation before falling in love, or the pain and sweetness after falling in love, it all consumes a person's energy and spirit.

Therefore, wise people are always wary of love, so they simply don't think about it, sleep soundly, and feel great.

Therefore, it's not wise of her to think things through too much.

He's an idiot.

------

I wasn't in a hurry, but Ai Ben was eager to explain to me that it was because of a power outage. Oh dear, I was so touched that I couldn't eat.

I'll be taking a two-day break due to circuit maintenance, so my update frequency will be so-so during that time, just enough to maintain perfect attendance. I hope you'll understand.

Sigh, internet cafes are nowhere near as comfortable as home, right?

I need some comfort...

Chapter Thirty-Four: Whether you admit it or not, pornography is a mainstream element.

Ignoring the sweet display of affection between the two high school students, Saori said something that excited Kirino even more: "Actually, all the doujinshi I gave to Kirino the other day were drawn by someone I know."

"Hey, is that true?"

"It's absolutely true. I was thinking of going to say hello to them later—if possible, would Little Tongtong want to come along?"

"I want to go! I want to go!"

"Then, if possible, would you like to bring Kuroneko-san and Kyosuke-san together?"

"I don't need it. I suddenly remembered that there's another type of notebook I forgot to buy."

Kousaka Kyosuke's words left the group looking at each other in bewilderment, all thinking to themselves, "With such a beautiful girl as your girlfriend, what need do you have for doujinshi?"

He calmly added, "It's a Meruru tentacle doujinshi."

"..."

Kirino immediately exploded on the spot, like a chestnut roasting over a fire: "Aaaaaah—I'm going to kill you!"

"Calm down, Tongtong. Your brother is just joking."

Kasumigaoka Utaha glanced at him: "I'm not going either. I have no interest in meeting an author I don't know..."

"let's go!"

She was playfully slapped on the back by Eriri Sawamura: "Speaking of which, I've often heard people mention those two authors. Anyway, there's a rumor that they're actually the same person using different pseudonyms..."

Saori smiled without saying a word.

Kyosuke patted his sister's head: "Then go with them, but don't run around or make a scene. It's embarrassing, you know?"

Kirino, her face stern, grabbed his clothes: "You promised to come play with me, so take responsibility! You even wanted to buy Meruru's erotic comics... I really want to apologize to the whole world for being a perverted lolicon."

"My sister, when it comes to eroticism, who here can compare to you? Ladies and gentlemen, who is more erotic, my sister or I?"

After the siblings bickered, Saori clapped her hands and announced loudly, "Alright! Let's split up here for now! Um... if Kyosuke's business is finished, please wait around here. If you can't find everyone, then meet at noon in front of the restroom over there!"

The meeting point was a bit ill-considered; meeting there at noon is like having a feast with flies... However, the restroom is probably the easiest sign to find.

As Kyosuke Kosaka walked through the crowd, watching the people brush past him on both sides, he had a sense of déjà vu, like he was at the Benten High School Cultural Festival.

He had even seen strange costumes at Benzhan High School's cultural festival, and even scenes of boys being forced to dress as women and shyly posing provocatively on stage.

But it wasn't interesting to him.

Because it's always the same.

If he doesn't get involved, it's almost always the same shows, every four years, and he's long since stopped finding them interesting. But this is the first time he's seen a comic show.

"That handsome guy over there!"