I, who advocate giving up, feel like a disqualified person

"I still prefer the older brother who has a gloomy personality as well as a gloomy appearance... Although the current older brother isn't annoying either."

"...Heh." I couldn't help but smile, "You're really good at talking... Well, it's nice chatting with you."

"Hmm...it's still useful to reminisce after a long time. No wonder novels and comics love to play with nostalgia."

"Ha...yes."

"Well, I'm hanging up now."

"Hmm..." Suddenly, I remembered something, "Wait, there's one last thing."

"Um?"

"I...seem to have had a childhood sweetheart when I was little. What do you remember?"

If it was Ye Jin, he would probably remember it.

"...What are you talking about?" Ye Jin seemed a little confused. "Who else have you played with since childhood besides me?"

............

I always find it incredible... Why... would I encounter such an incredible thing, and encounter such extreme statements... This feeling... is like a reasoning game, with clues leading one after another... Well.

I scratched my head.

"Then..." As long as it is confirmed that it is noon, then it will be easy, because the doubts in the mind can be solved with just one proof.

I looked at the fork in the road. If I ran from here, I would reach Ye Jin's house in no time, and that's where I needed to look for evidence... no, I should say verify it.

By this time, she should be almost done with school, and I only need a short time to confirm my guess.

So, I prepared to turn around and go to that path.

Just as I ran to the intersection, someone suddenly patted my shoulder.

"Hey, where are you going?"

A male voice came, and it sounded familiar.

"..."

I turned around feeling a little guilty and found that this guy... I knew him.

"Ah...hello." I greeted him.

This person is a member of the student union. I've met him before... when I was investigating the Cooperation Society...

"Hmm, long time no see... I think it's Shaji-kun?" He smiled and pushed up his glasses. "Even though we know each other, running away mid-way is not an option."

The habit of determining the answer

"Escape midway... How could I possibly escape?"

I explained hurriedly.

"Oh... Then why are you running this way?" He pointed at the intersection I was facing. "This isn't the direction you should run in."

"..."

Ah... This guy's in trouble... He probably won't accept my excuses, as he seems like a serious person... But it's not worth telling the truth about such a small matter...

"Yeah..." I nodded, "I know..."

"Now that you know this, please complete this activity well and don't think about slacking off."

He pointed to the original road and said, "Now, run quickly, there's still a long way to go."

"...Um..."

Now it seems... I should give up the investigation for now... So I turned back to the path I was originally going to take, ready to leave.

"Come to think of it..." He seemed to recall something, "that time you asked about that Helping People Club...how did the investigation go?"

It seems that he still cares about that matter a little.

"Oh...ah..." I was a little surprised that he would ask this question, so I stopped for a moment.

"Well, luckily... I successfully found the club and resolved my doubts... but I didn't handle the aftermath properly."

After that, I didn't visit Luo Qinuo and that unmotivated guy anymore...but I guess these are not things I should continue to care about.

"Well... the rest sounded quite good... I guess."

When I said this to him, I always felt embarrassed... Maybe it was because I felt that such behavior was a bit shameful...

"I see..." He seemed quite happy after hearing this. "It's really nice to be able to help... Anyway, after confirming this, I have more motivation to work."

...Oh my... Could this be the legendary...helping others? It seems that the great man named Lei is right next to us...

"Ah... ahaha... then I wish you a happy work..."

Since he has stopped me...I'd better wait until the next chance to verify it.

"Hmm..." He nodded, but suddenly froze for a moment, as if remembering something, and asked me, "By the way, excuse me for asking one more question...you just wanted to run a different route, could it be that you were also investigating something?"

Chapter 16: The Habit of Determining the Answer

I don't know when helping others became a virtue... Actually, I think this practice depends entirely on personal judgment, because not everyone is worthy of helping.

However, if we label "helping others", then when we face anyone who needs help, there should only be the word "help", right?

However, help is not as simple as two words. There are many ways to help a person. Sometimes, ignoring someone may be the greatest help. But nowadays, people seem to understand the so-called "help" as support in terms of manpower or material resources.

To be honest... I'm quite willing to offer spiritual help... Well... Anyway, this person in front of me... is probably someone who is very good at helping others, that's why he joined the student union and is happy to help whoever he can.

If he knew this... he might let me go to Ye Jin's house...

“...Yeah.” I nodded.

"...is this to help a classmate again?" He touched his chin with his hand, as if thinking. "If possible, could you explain it to me in detail? I'll consider it... well... what do you think?"

"...Aren't you afraid that I'm lying?"

I asked this.

"...I don't think you are that kind of person." He responded to me with a smile.

"Well..." I scratched my cheek...probably feeling a little embarrassed.

"...I can't go into too much detail, and this isn't about anyone else... I just feel like I've run into a problem that's been bothering me for a long time, and I've been searching for the answer for a few days... Maybe it's because of some good luck, but now that problem is almost solved, and the most crucial step is to walk over here and meet someone."

"...Is that so...Is this a very important question?" He confirmed with me again.

"Well, if I don't figure it out, it'll probably bother me for a long time..." I thought for a moment, "Although it might not be a big deal if I don't go now, I still want to figure it out sooner rather than later."

"..."

He looked at me, not knowing what he was thinking.

"Well...if that's the case...there's no need for me to stop you...if it doesn't take too long."

"Well, it won't take long..."

"Then do as you wish... just remember to finish the race properly."

He said, turning his head.

"I didn't see anything... Just be careful not to be discovered by others."

"..."

I used to think... this guy was as serious about his work as Rin Hanekawa. Well, it's true that he is very serious... but he also knows how to adapt.

"Oh! I'm leaving."

In that case...I must figure it out...I must clarify the doubts in my heart.

................

"Is this all right?"

I suddenly heard such a question... Just as I stepped onto the path leading to Ye Jin's house, such a question suddenly came from my ears... no, maybe in my mind.

"That's it... okay?"

The faster I walked, the louder the sound became, as if trying to stop me... or shake my determination to move forward.

Come to think of it, this voice is really familiar...because it's my voice.

This... is the voice of my subconscious mind.

"call..."

I breathed a sigh of relief and couldn't help laughing.

Senior Bai Qiong was right... I did know the answer, but... I didn't realize it because I didn't have the courage, or I was too slow, or I simply didn't want to admit the answer I had already come up with.

"So far..."

I repeated the word...but I still couldn't do it.

Because... didn't I already promise Ye Hui? I need to think about that matter again, so this isn't about me, but about... her... I need to give her a decent answer.

No, no...I really want to know the answer myself.

Because...I'm a selfish guy.

. . . . . . . . . . . . .

Maybe because I unconsciously increased my running speed, I felt my heart beating very fast when I faced Ye Jin's door.

...Although it was a little delayed, she should be home...after all, it's noon...

With an inexplicable sense of nervousness, I knocked on Ye Jin's door.

"Here I come..." Ye Jin's voice came from inside, followed by the sound of the door opening.

"Ah... Stupid brother..."

Ye Jin appeared in front of me holding instant noodles.

"Can't you just...put down the instant noodles and open the door?"

...................

"So? I remember your school held some long-distance running event, right? Is it over yet?" As she spoke, she lay leisurely on the sofa.

"...Well, it's probably still going on."

I also sat on the sofa.

"Then why are you here? Have you finished running?" She looked confused.

"No... Strictly speaking, I'm still running..."

"Huh? So you left the team without permission? You're really brave... When did you become so courageous, bro?"

...So this is what you call courage... eh?

"Um, Ye Jin, let me ask you something."

I hesitated for a moment, but decided to be direct.

"What's the matter? Is it about your past stuff again?" She looked disapproving.

"Well... to be precise... do you remember I once gave you a painting? It seemed to be from an anime."

. . . . . . . . . . .

"This...is this really the gift I gave you?"

I took the painting that I had created several years ago from Ye Jin.

"I thought you'd lost it or something... To be honest, I was already prepared, but I didn't expect you to have kept it so well..."

"Yeah... Even though the drawing isn't that great, it's still... well, I still have to collect it. Just in case you really become a cartoonist, bro."

"Well... forget about being a cartoonist." I gave a wry smile. "I don't think I can do anything well."

"...Well." She shook her head helplessly. "After all, he's just an idiot... So... why did you suddenly think of this painting?"

she asked me.