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

Answer without hesitation.

"Haha, then eat more."

"..." A bad feeling.

"Well, after you finish eating, please help me buy the ingredients."

"..."

Is this all it takes for the show to show its true colors after just a few small steps? It seems his skills still need to be refined... But for me, there's no need for such explanations.

"Well... I could," I thought, "but why am I the only one?"

"Because I have a lot of things to prepare~"

"..." I couldn't refuse. I couldn't refuse any of her requests, so...

"Isn't there a bigger market around here..." I looked at the items on the list with dissatisfaction. "Pork, shrimp, mushrooms, bean sprouts, scallions... But you can't buy them here. You have to go to the mall."

Even though I complained, I didn't really resent it... I was just running errands for her. If she could just take my words as more than a joke, I'd be more motivated.

Unfortunately... As long as that guy is around, I will definitely not get what I want.

“If only everything could go as planned…”

As I was praying like this, I realized that the bus I was riding had arrived at the station, so I followed the person in front of me to get off.

Following in someone else's footsteps? No...it just happened that someone else took my path. If they didn't block my way, that would be fine. But if they did,

"Kaji."

The empty can that had been kicked countless times under my feet was crushed by me, and then I picked it up and threw it into the recycling bin.

Just eradicate it.

"Hey..."

I felt inexplicably happy, perhaps because I had done a good thing.

"There are so many people here...Um, can I hold on to you? It's just your sleeve." A girl's voice suddenly came from behind, and it seemed like she was talking to someone. Generally speaking, it is what people say when they are acting coquettishly to their boyfriend.

But what's with this dialogue? It feels like they learned it from somewhere, and the shyness in their tone is pure... Aren't couples nowadays so shameless? How can such pure love still exist?

With this question in mind, I looked behind me.

"Whatever..."

A slightly indifferent tone came from the boy who accompanied her... But what was the matter with such a scumbag reaction? What was there to like about such a boy?

Then I saw clearly the two people talking.

It was then that I realized that I knew the person who responded to her.

He was the one whom Li Yinghui liked, never hated, and whom she regarded as a prince.

Now, I am walking on the street with a girl with a tall figure, beautiful long hair and charming face, and we are chatting affectionately.

“…Oh no.”

For some reason, the joy I had just felt suddenly increased.

The problem that had been bothering me for a long time finally tilted towards one end at this moment.

I won't regret it.

There will be no conflict.

No hesitation.

I have decided that on that day and at that moment, I will personally implement what I have in mind.

"It seems that going out today was not a mistake after all."

Humming the melody circling in my head, I slowly walked towards the door of the mall where I was supposed to go.

"Hmm~Hmm~Hmm la la... la la..."

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

[Easter egg?]

"I've tried so many things, so hard, just to realize the dream in my heart... if you can even call it a dream. To share the story I've imagined... the story I've always conceived, my own story, my own emotions... the images I've imagined and understood in my mind, without reservation, without reservation, with others."

"Those stories contain my own hopes, my understanding of people, things, and even the world. They should be great, and I'd feel a little more gratified if others saw them... But my abilities are limited, too limited. Even after I understood them, I couldn't actually write them down, let alone express them in comics."

"So, I'm a mortal... That's how mortals think. Naturally, they give up on things they can't achieve... But fate just likes to rub salt in the wounds. It's such a bad taste, but isn't that how it always is? I was almost forgetting all that shit... and then those two showed up, a duo who were both good at making up stories and drawing. Honestly, when I heard they were drawing comics, I really hoped they were just... just people acting on impulse, just mortals like me, with nothing but hot blood and beautiful fantasies that can't actually accomplish anything great. Now it seems... maybe I'm just a selfish and narrow-minded person."

"All I can do now... seems to be complaining. Complaining about what I can't do... and then being jealous of others' achievements. What I say is completely meaningless."

"That's why I have to say thank you... After hearing me complain so much, seeing them act so... either boastful or modest even though they know everything, it really hits me."

"It's troublesome, isn't it, for a guy like me."

[How should I put it...I think so.]

I like you more than them.

If the gap can be redeemed

"I think... you just underestimated your abilities." For some reason, after hearing what he said, Tongyou felt much better. She always felt that... she understood him a little bit.

"Underestimate? Don't try to comfort me. Don't you realize how capable I am?" He smiled faintly. "I'm saying this because you're familiar with me. If you didn't know me, after seeing our work, you'd definitely think I'm nothing compared to her... them."

True.

When Li Moya and Jiumuting were not around, he once tried to draw something, but Tongyou saw the result and found that both the image and the painting skills were indeed much worse.

"Yes, that's true."

Tongyou didn't deny it. There was no way she could consider lying to comfort him, given a fact they both agreed on. Forcing herself to offer such comfort would only increase his frustration.

After hearing his words, Xiao Yu's face revealed a look of disappointment, "Is that so...?" It was obvious that even though he accepted the fact verbally, he still felt a little unwilling in his heart.

He's obviously a boy, yet he still has this foul expression. His melancholy eyes and suddenly deep words really make me worried about him.

"It's just... don't we know each other?" Tongyou took two quick steps forward, as if not wanting Xiaoyu to see his expression. "Whether it's accidental or inevitable... you could even say it's fate. Since it likes to play pranks, I'll just say something you like to hear."

"..."

Tongyou quickly climbed the stairs to the subway station entrance, then turned to look at Xiaoyu who looked confused, and couldn't help but smile.

"Although putting aside your status, you are indeed an ordinary boy who is not worth paying attention to. But as the president, I still can't do without members like you."

Chapter 29 If the gap can be redeemed

"Yesterday it was Yun Zi, is it you today..."

When I opened the door, my senior's reaction to seeing me was just a mumbling... he looked a little tired. I couldn't tell what he was saying, but judging by his personality, I thought he was probably just reciting some text.

"Although I wanted to inform you in advance, I forgot because of something." I said to him apologetically, "I met Senior Li Yinghui the day before yesterday..."

"..."

I thought the senior in front of me would react after I mentioned her, but he didn't interrupt me as I expected.

"Then, I chatted with her for a few minutes... She said she would have time to see you today and hoped you could have a good talk. Of course, I also hope you can reconcile..."

"Oh, I see...Thanks." He patted my shoulder. "Thank you for your hard work."

"It's nothing, actually."

After all, we just met by chance, and I also want my senior to reconcile with my senior as soon as possible.

"Then let's go."

"...Ah, yeah."

It seems that there is less resistance.

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

"Sheji, what do you think happiness is?"

As we were getting closer to our destination, the senior suddenly asked this question.

"..."

I seemed to have never thought about this question before. I seemed to have something in mind, but I didn’t know what to say, so I fell silent and just responded by shaking my head.

"Is that so? I'm not sure... So, after reconciling with someone I've cared about for so long, will there really be no regrets? Even now, I still don't know what I want to say."

"..."

Unprepared, facing Xiaohui like this...

"If you say that there will always be a way out when you reach the mountain, you're definitely deceiving yourself. But whether it's true or not doesn't matter... So no matter what the outcome, I'll accept it."

"..."

This doesn't seem to be what I expected.

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

"...It feels like a familiar scene."

Reluctantly brought up the topic.

"Hate it~ Doesn't this mean we're destined to be together?"

The response was enthusiastic.

After deliberately letting the senior and the senior talk alone, senior Ming Xinxi and I were forced to get together again.

"Speaking of which, how is Senior Yinghui feeling today?"

I'm still a little worried about the safety of my seniors.

"Xiaohui? She seems quite excited. The closer it gets to the appointed time, the more excited she becomes, yet a little timid, like she's going on a date."

"...Is that so..."

It seems that senior Li Yinghui is not as heartless as imagined...so there is still some hope.

"Now, what fairy tales have you read?"

I don't know what her mentality was, but Senior Xiao Qian in front of me suddenly asked a question that had nothing to do with the previous topic.

"...very basic, like the swan who found she couldn't fit in with the ducks and found happiness, or the mermaid who was bad at communication and died in the light..."

"Well..."

“…” Judging from her reaction, there seemed to be nothing wrong with my explanation.

"So, what do you think the relationship between a prince and a princess should be? They should get married, right?"

"Ah... because it's the happiest ending... normally."

Readers can accept the idea that the couple are well-matched, talented and beautiful, and love each other...it has almost been taken for granted as the truth of the world.

"...Will I really be happy?"

"...have no idea."

Stories are just stories, and no one can tell what real life is like.

“And our lives are not stories.”

"..."

At that moment, I suddenly understood why I had felt an inexplicable sense of familiarity with Senior Sister Xiao Qian.

I didn't want to accept the established facts. Even though I knew my chances were slim, I still wanted to express my feelings. I was wavering, trying to find reasons to convince myself...

Isn't she the one who left an indelible regret in my heart?

So that's how it is... I understand.

"Hey, Akane-senpai."

"Huh? What's wrong?" She might have sensed something was wrong with my sudden serious tone.

"You really do like Senpai, don't you?"