I just hope to live a leisurely life in the world of anime.

Because I'm getting tired of that feeling of being surrounded.

But things weren't as simple as they seemed.

For some reason, almost every class has a common scapegoat.

In my class, the spot for the punching bag was clearly reserved for me, who seemed too sociable.

I never thought of that!

But it seems to be taken for granted.

Haha, after all, I'm the only one studying in the whole class, all alone, and it seems like I don't fit in at all.

As a result, I, who was initially strong-willed, had several conflicts with them.

Then came the constant harassment, both during and after class, which caused my grades to drop.

My parents, who have always paid attention to my grades, have also noticed this.

Fortunately, there are no melodramatic plots like those in TV dramas, such as parents punishing their children for not listening to their reasons.

My parents also asked me if I had encountered any problems at school, but since the direct conflicts with those people in my first year were not that intense, I chose to keep it a secret.

Just apologize and make a promise.

But then things spiraled out of control.

My parents have passed away.

Then I was hit hard, and those people went even further, I don't want to talk about it anymore.

I don't want to talk about the embarrassing side of it all. Up to now, I've developed mild depression.

I once thought about simply relying on the inheritance left by my parents and living happily ever after without having to go to school and suffer any more grievances. But my parents' expectations for me are still there, and I know I can't give up.

I don't know if it was due to these various factors, but I, who was originally quite cheerful, started to become sensitive.

I gradually became gloomy, my mood was always gloomy, I was unwilling to contact strangers, and I didn't even dare to greet the neighbors who occasionally helped take care of me.

This problem has been going on for a long time, but I only recently discovered it.

I started facing the mirror and practicing conversations with my reflection, trying to adjust myself, but it had little effect; my words always lacked a certain confidence.

I knew things wouldn't change if I continued like this, so I decided to take the first step and visit my neighbors who had just moved in last week.

###Chapter 278 "The Dark Forces" Make Their Debut###

(January 8th, Friday, cloudy.)

I bought some fruit today, and then did nothing else. I just stared at the fruit basket on the table for a long time in the afternoon, thinking about past experiences.

I wanted to cry, but I knew I had to be strong.

……

In the morning, I thought about it for a long time. I felt that I should try to meet some strangers. My intuition told me that only in this way could I return to my previous state.

I've thought that way, but I'm still a little scared.

What if that new neighbor is like one of those classmates from school?

I don't know when it started, but I always tend to assume malice in others, which is the root of my fear of interacting with strangers.

I've decided to start making some preparations.

At noon, I first bought some fruit as a gift for our first meeting. Although it wasn't very valuable, it would express my feelings clearly.

This is the method I found online.

But I've already bought the gift, yet I'm still hesitant.

This scene felt familiar; I had once bought gifts to please those people, but the result was that the gifts I bought were thrown into the trash, and my dignity was trampled on once again.

I was terrified because the pain from the wound on my foot was still nagging at me.

So I decided to postpone it and go tomorrow, so I could be mentally prepared.

The girl was gently rubbed against by the maid in Anshu's house, and suddenly she remembered the diary she had written the previous evening.

"I'm sorry, Ms. Karuizawa..."

Caught off guard by the sudden conversation, the girl stammered, "Rem, Rem just calls me...Megumi..."

…………

Ugh, Rem is so stupid! So stupid!

Knowing their master's character perfectly well, how could they possibly disregard them and do such a thing!

How could you even doubt this!

The girl's crying just now brought me to my senses!

Yes! Our master is always very principled about these kinds of things, how could he possibly do such a thing!

I was really blinded by greed. Sure enough, if my master says I'm stupid in the future, I won't argue back!

But I felt guilty later, because the girl's crying caught me off guard.

I rushed over, wanting to comfort her, but I didn't know what to do.

She looks beautiful even when she cries. Tears slide down the corners of her eyes, and some mischievous ones even stick to her long eyelashes. Her brows are furrowed, and she bites her lip gently, looking so weak and cute!

Cute as it may be, we can't let it go unchecked!

Having no better options, I resorted to the same methods my owner and sister used to use to coax me.

I sat down next to her, gently wrapped my arms around her neck, pulled her head to my chest, and gently stroked her hair, saying things like, "Don't cry, don't cry, sweetie~".

She struggled a little at first, but not violently. After I started to comfort her, she gradually stopped resisting and wrapped her arms around my waist.

It worked! Her crying gradually subsided. I suddenly felt very happy!

I don't know why, but seeing her cry reminded me of that silly, crybaby girl I used to know, and I felt a strange pang of sadness.

I gently coaxed her, who looked to be about my age, just like my older sister used to do for me!

I acted like a big sister for once! In front of others!

My feelings are very complicated!

Because I was originally the youngest in the family, but now I'm experiencing what it's like to be an older sister!

Hmm~ Not bad at all!

I know it's too much to be happy when others are sad! But I just can't help being happy to be the older sister for once!

There was joy, subtle emotions, and heartache; my feelings were complex, perhaps truly a mixture of all flavors.

I don't understand myself anymore.

Thankfully, the girl in my arms finally stopped crying!

She stared blankly ahead, occasionally gasping for breath, but only held me tighter.

I didn't stop her or interrupt her thoughts. I just stroked her hair, then put my hand down and gently rubbed my cheek against hers to express my goodwill.

I think this action is the best and most intuitive! Because I really like it when my owner and Miori rub against me like this.

As for her older sister and An Tong, they wouldn't do that; they'd just pinch Rem's face, um...

She remained like that for quite a while before her body trembled and she came to her senses.

I understood that this was the best time to apologize, so I spoke.

"I'm sorry, Ms. Karuizawa..."

"Rem, just call me...Megumi..."

Her voice was soft, but at least there was some sound!

I was prepared for her to be angry and ignore me, but she doesn't seem angry at all!

Ah!

I started to organize my thoughts, but I've always been bad with words, otherwise I wouldn't be teased by Miori-nee-san every day until I blush, so I couldn't think of anything to say.

Just as I was fretting over this, a familiar voice came from the stairwell again.

"Hey! I heard Brother Anshu has brought back another pretty girl! Where is she? Where is she?"

"Miori-nee-nee hasn't brushed her teeth yet!"

"Brushing your teeth and so on is fine too! Hey! It's Rem, Hitomi-chan, look!"

###Chapter 279 The Girl's Heart (Part 1)###

I never expected that I would run into the neighbor I was planning to visit tomorrow, and that I would even visit his house in a different way.

I originally planned to go to the lake behind the mountain in the evening to sit and relax.

It's very quiet there!

In winter, there are no birdsong or insect chirps. The cold wind occasionally blows through the trees, bringing a leaf or two to the lake and causing ripples on the calm surface.

I've loved going there ever since my parents passed away.

It's located halfway up the mountain, and at that time of evening, few people would be as idle as I am and go there to play.

So even though I hadn't eaten and my foot was injured, I still went.

Then the accident happened, then I fell into the water, then my leg cramped and I was drowning, and then Brother Anshu saved me...

Everything happened so fast that I suddenly didn't know what to do; it's hard to explain in words.

I inexplicably encountered danger, and inexplicably was rescued...

At first, I thought Brother Anshu was a girl.

Perhaps it was that fleeting glimpse in the water that gave me the preconceived notion, but even now, I still can't believe that he is a boy.

I cannot describe his beauty.

Because I'm at a loss for words.