Let's do it again, Yukino.

"It's simply the ideal paradise on earth..."

Sitting next to him, the teacher, who was also not wearing a swimsuit, uttered a praise that Haruhi dared not utter.

"Little Mei, do you want to come out and play with me tonight's test of courage?"

Suddenly remembering the test of courage before the bonfire party, Kasuga decided to invite Rumi to join him because it sounded very interesting.

What to play?

"Of course we should go out and scare people with all our might! How boring would it be to be scared? Our Kasuga family always takes the initiative in everything. Do you really want to be played with by a group of seniors who are only five or six years older than you?"

Hikigaya: "..."

"But the teacher said that everyone has to participate..."

After being persuaded by Chunri, Liu Mei showed a hint of interest...

"It's alright. I'll ask Hiratsuka Shizuka for permission. You can stay by my side until the test of courage ends."

Looking at Rumi, who was still worried about something, Chunri took the little girl's hand. Their cold fingers touched, and the boy smiled at her comfortingly, like the sun shining brightly in the sky.

"Don't worry, I will change everything that happens around you, Xiaoliu Mei, at least until I leave tomorrow."

This is the vow that the boy in spring made to Rumi.

Since you, Xiaoliumei, hate that the people around you are so resistant to you...

Since the young Chinese girl didn't want to continue living such a miserable life...

Then I'll give you a push.

To make you someone who won't be bullied by anyone.

It allows you to be free from being bound by anyone or anything.

Therefore, the real answer had already been established in Chunri's heart.

"You wouldn't happen to be a lolicon, would you?"

Hikigaya, who witnessed this scene from the side, frowned slightly.

For a little girl he was meeting for the first time, Haruhi's behavior was far beyond what an ordinary senior should do.

"If I were a lolicon, your sister Hachiman would be the first to suffer!!"

Looking at Rumi, who is just a miniature version of Yukino, and considering the connection they had built up in their past lives, how could Kasuga not extend a helping hand to this little girl?

……

…………

The so-called beauties from all directions

Many people subconsciously associate this term with a woman who is perfect in every way.

However, sometimes this word can also mean someone who is charming and pleasing to all sides, and it doesn't necessarily mean a beautiful woman, or even a woman.

Yui Yuigahama is considered a beauty from all directions.

Snowfall under snow does not count.

Miura Yuko is considered a beauty from all over the world,

Kawasaki Saki does not count;

Totsuka Ayaka is considered a beauty from all over the world.

However, Tsurumi Rumi is not included.

However, if you ask anyone at Soubu High School,

Is Chunri Qing considered a beauty from all directions?

No one dares to tell you the answer to this question.

……

As evening fell, the sun hung high between the mountains, its orange-red rays painting the entire sunset crimson.

The "Test of Courage" event was a special activity organized by the forest school for these elementary school students.

The event venue was set up in this natural forest.

Everyone started together and walked to the finish line. After confirming that there were no abnormalities along the way, they all began their preparations for cosplay.

Although most of the participants were "volunteers" from Soubu High School, they didn't receive overly professional makeup, so they all played the roles in the ghost stories according to their own preferences.

Koyuki played the Yuki-onna (snow woman), Komachi played the Nekomata (cat demon), Yui played the succubus, Ebina played the shrine maiden, and even Saika the boy wore a witch's outfit.

Seriously, are these girls planning to scare people, or are they trying to seduce elementary school kids?!

Since Rumi had been staying by Kasuga's side ever since she gained Hiratsuka-sensei's approval, Hayama, who had originally planned to do something for the little girl one last time, remained silent, with a complex expression of wanting to speak but not daring to.

……

"So, what are you planning to do, you idiot?"

Ten minutes before the test of courage began, Xiaoxue pulled Chunri to a secluded corner and asked her a question.

The woods at night, without the moon's reflection, seemed somewhat eerie, but the two of them standing there would not be disturbed by anyone for the time being.

"I can't tell you yet, Xiaoxue."

Springtime maintains an unwavering and secretive demeanor.

"You can't even tell me? Or are you going to use the same method you used to handle the Aizawa incident?"

"Xiaoxue, stop trying to trick me. I won't tell you a single word, because if I do, you might not let me leave."

Spring shook her head fiercely.

"Aren't you afraid I'll take you down right now?"

Wearing a blue and white kimono, Yukino, dressed as a snow woman, exuded the icy aura that a snow woman yokai should have.

"This is a promise I made to Rumi, as a man!!"

The boy had a righteous and awe-inspiring appearance.

"Let me make this clear first: if you're still going to try to help others by hurting yourself, then don't come see me again starting tonight."

"I don't like overly gentle guys like Hayama or even Hachiman, because they treat everyone around them with the same gentleness. That kind of equal gentleness disgusts me. If you become that kind of person, you should know the consequences..."

Perhaps it was said in anger, but the seriousness in Xiaoxue's eyes...

Because Yukino Yukinoshita didn't want to see either of them injured.

In her past life, Xiaoxue still harbors resentment towards the theory of not getting hurt, which Da Laoshi pursued through self-destruction. She doesn't want Chunri to be influenced by bad influences and learn bad things instead of good ones.

"No, Xiaoxue, I am not Teacher Da, and Teacher Da can never become me."

Spring calmly shook her head.

His voice echoed through the silent forest.

"If Hachiman is pursuing a world where no one gets hurt, then I, Kasuga, am pursuing an absolutely selfish world..."

Since this world makes me feel uncomfortable and uneasy,

I want those people to share this feeling with me on an equal footing...

Chapter Twenty-Four: I'll Bury It!

To create an atmosphere before the test of courage event

At the starting point, Hubu and his men lit a bonfire.

The dry firewood crackled and popped when it touched the flames, and red sparks danced in the air.

"Please go to the shrine deep in the forest and retrieve the talismans placed inside. Be careful of the people you encounter on the way."

Just as Yuihama Komachi had finished jokingly dropping off the first batch of elementary school students, she suddenly noticed a familiar figure emerging from the shadows of the nearby woods.

"Brother Qing, aren't you wearing the clothes they gave you?"

Looking at Haruhi, who was still wearing that cool summer outfit, Komachi tilted her head and asked.

"Those clothes are practically an invitation to commit crimes, Komachi-chan, do you think I would wear them?"

In the shadows, Chunri gave a sarcastic, cold laugh.

At that moment, Komachi noticed the shovel that Kasuga was holding, which was almost half the height of a person. She then realized that the latter looked like he had just emerged from the water, and his wet hair aroused a sense of curiosity in the girl.

"Brother Qing, did you just go swimming?"

"That's it."

I was just swimming underwater, and I almost got held underwater by the female ghost and couldn't get out...

Spring wrung out the water droplets from the corner of his clothes and stepped out of the shadows, only to see that Komachi was leading the remaining elementary school students in groups, while the boys and girls from Soubu High School were nowhere to be seen.

"Have Hayama's group already set off?"

"Five minutes before the first group of elementary school students set off, my brother and Sister Yui were already waiting at the pre-arranged location."

Everyone had their own assigned area, and Kasuga was responsible for the last section in front of the ancestral hall.

"If we take a detour now, we can still make it. However, a villain like me, who is utterly wicked, must be the last to appear in order to better demonstrate my importance."

"By the way, Komachi, if Yukinoshita comes to you later asking about my whereabouts, give her this and tell her that if she's this wasteful again, I might turn on her."

Haruhi slung the long shovel over his back without saying a word, then pulled out a pair of clean wooden clogs from his pocket and handed them to Nekomata Komachi. The boy then hurriedly disappeared back into the darkness of the nearby woods.

"Huh? Giving this to Yukino-neechan? Hmm? And what's with that suspiciously wasteful spending? What does that mean?"

Komachi, holding a megaphone in one hand and a pair of wooden clogs in the other, had a head full of question marks of all sizes.

……

…………

Not long after,

Just as spring had predicted,