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

"Don't you want to be discovered by others..."

However, that creature had already disappeared into the bushes. It looked a bit like a stray cat, but it didn't seem quite the same... Well, forget it, it was time to go eat.

It was at this moment that I realized that the places on my school uniform where the cat had just been were not only covered with cat hair, but also with some earth-colored marks and claw marks.

"Wow..."

I can't go to a restaurant like this...

That thing, after all, is a stray cat. Perhaps someone is feeding it, which is why it's so close to people... Speculating this, I started looking for a sink where I could wash my school uniform temporarily.

There are things that are not done just because you like them.

"There's a big wet spot on the front of your clothes."

Liu Yan, who had saved a seat for me as usual, noticed this as soon as I approached him.

"Ah...it's because I wiped my hands with my school uniform after washing them," I responded.

"It sounds like something a child would do... Besides, don't people usually wipe on both sides of the waist? Why do you have to use the obvious front of the clothes?" He raised his question again.

"...It's none of your business."

I put the plate on the table and sat down quickly.

"Hmm... I'm just a little curious." Seeing this, he had no choice but to give up and change the subject, "Speaking of which, Master, you seem to be very busy lately."

"Well... only relatively speaking. Anyway, I feel like I've done everything, but haven't achieved anything obvious or practical."

"It seems a bit difficult to understand." Liu Yan showed a distressed expression again.

"Giving examples is the easiest," I said, stuffing some fried rice into my mouth, chewing it a few times, and then swallowing it. "Take you as an example. Didn't you share your work with me a while ago?"

"Uh-huh!"

When I mentioned this, his reaction was unexpectedly strong. It seemed to me like a child in kindergarten who longed for praise. He had the nerve to say that...

"Although this may be the first step for you...how much impact will it have on your future career? If you don't pursue music later, then all these things will seem like a complete waste of time to you in the future."

"...Well..."

"Well, of course, this is just my personal opinion. Please don't take it personally... I'm just thinking about the meaning of what I'm doing now."

There are many things, such as mood, that are difficult to describe in words.

"Well... I don't know how to refute you, Master." He stared blankly at the chopsticks in his hand and said, "But I know that time will pass no matter what you do... And since time is going to slip away anyway, why not do something you enjoy."

"...That being said." I suddenly had doubts about this, not just about Liu Yan in front of me, but also a question to myself.

"...But what is it that you like?"

Chapter 2: Things that are not done just because you like something do exist

"I'm tired today as usual~"

After sitting on a hard bench all day, I can finally relax my body on the soft sofa in the club.

"Oh, is daydreaming and dozing off also a physical activity?" Rinquanchuan questioned it without losing any opportunity.

"That was only in the morning. I was clearly listening very attentively after noon."

"Really... How much of what the teacher taught you did you remember?"

"Well... half." I thought about it and responded.

In fact, not even half.

"...I'm starting to doubt your purpose in coming to school. I'm also curious about how you managed to get in."

"Of course I got in based on my own abilities." But if you ask me the purpose, I actually don't know.

"Oh no, I really underestimated you. I originally thought you were assigned here because of the area you live in."

"...Then wouldn't the entrance exam from junior high school to high school be meaningless?"

"...Well, anyway. I still think you should develop good living habits."

"Hmm..." I didn't expect that she would say such words to express her concern.

"However, I still think that this habit of staying indoors during the day and coming out at night is really not suitable for you."

"So staying up late is a prerequisite... So, what kind of person am I in your eyes..."

"Hmm...it's hard to describe." She frowned and thought for a moment, "Something like a Jabberwock..."

"Gabo...what the hell?"

For the first time, I felt that I couldn't keep up with her train of thought.

"Sorry, sorry, I'm a little late." When I was wondering, Ye Hui finally pushed the door open and came to the activity room. "Xiao Lin insisted on taking me to visit her club..."

"Visit? Visit what?" I really couldn't think of anything worth seeing in that kind of club.

"Ah... If I have to say, it's just to watch the fighting moves or something." Ye Hui said with a helpless smile.

"Hmm... If you put it that way, it can indeed be used as material..."

But will Ye Hui really draw a fighting comic?

"Speaking of which, it's time for us to consider the club's activities."

As he spoke, a steaming cup of tea was placed in front of me.

"...I'm surprised to hear you talk about club activities...Ahahaha."

I clearly refused it last year.

"Why, any comments?"

With a slightly unhappy remark, the cup I had just placed was taken away from me. My hand remained motionless on the table.

"Well... I'm just a little curious. After all, it seems like there's nothing else we can do. Besides... it's probably still several months away."

The most crucial point is that the guy named Rin Hanekawa hasn't said anything yet. I don't want to persuade Rin Hanekawa to change his mind because of that guy.

"Wouldn't it be better if we could bring in guys from other clubs?"

"If I use the same old trick again, the effect will be reduced..."

"Well, since we still have so much time, why don't we use our free time to think about it together?"

As expected of Yehui, his suggestions always serve as a buffer. Otherwise, if Rinquanchuan and I continued talking like this, we might end up arguing.

"...But I'm still curious why you were the one who suggested getting involved in this school-organized event."

"Of course... it's because I don't want to be controlled by that guy."

"...Are you referring to Rin Hanekawa?"

"It's best not to mention this name in this club." His face darkened upon hearing this name...

"..."

As a result, the relationship between the two has not improved until now. What was the point of all the efforts before?

"...Well... Well, speaking of which... well, it seems like there's a really cute cat at school."

Seeing this, Ye Hui tried to change the subject again. But...isn't this really too casual?

"As for animals, we already have one here. His name is Jabberwock."

"..."

How long will this newly-thought-out name last?

"Huh? What Walker?"

Ye Hui's reaction was surprisingly consistent with mine.

"Nothing." Lin Quanchuan said and sat in his seat, "By the way, what time do you guys go to bed?"

"You speak first."

I lost no time in putting forward my request.

"Hmph... Just say it. I go to bed around nine o'clock."

"...Wow, you don't even need to review?"

"You don't seem to have any right to say that?" Rinquanchuan retorted with disdain.

"What about you, Yehui?" I turned my gaze to Yehui who was holding the sketchbook. "What time do you usually go to bed?"

"Hey... I'm going to be a little late. Basically around ten o'clock... After all, I want to draw or something after homework."

"I see..."

"Well, it's your turn then." "Yeah, I'm also curious about what time Sheji goes to bed."

“…Hmm.”

It feels a bit difficult to ask this question.

"...roughly...probably."

"Probably?" "Hmm..."

"Probably... three or four in the morning."

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

"Yehui, you like painting, right?"

On the way home, I suddenly thought of something, so I asked Ye Hui beside me.

"Yeah...of course I do."

"Well."

I always feel like there is nothing I can say the word "like" to without hesitation when asked by others.

"what happened?"

"No, it's nothing."

Maybe it was just because Liu Yan said that he still likes playing guitar and composing music, so he was still a little shocked.

"Hmm... Speaking of which, Sheji, can't you try to rest earlier? I really find it incredible when I hear you say you stayed up until three o'clock in the morning."

For some reason, Ye Hui was obviously more concerned about my sleep time than the previous topic.

"...ah..."

It's hard to predict human potential. Perhaps, depending on my level of cultivation, I might eventually be able to go without sleep... They seem to call this "cultivation."

"So do you think sleep is necessary? You only have so much time, yet you still have to spend so much of it on meaningless sleep."

If I didn't have to sleep, I would have more time to do what I want.

"You can't really say it's meaningful, right? After all, everyone needs to rest. How can something as ordinary as eating be unnecessary?"

"..."

After hearing what she said...it seems to make sense.

"What if someone hates sleeping?" This thought suddenly popped into my mind.

"...Hate? That's unlikely, right?"

"But there are people in the world who hate eating. It's called anorexia."

But I don’t know the specific cause.

"Well, this is indeed true..." Ye Hui nodded.

"Then maybe there's also 'narcolepsy'."

"...Are you referring to yourself as having this condition?"

"That's not the case..." After all, I only stay up so late because of external temptations, such as games and anime... But I can't say I hate it at all.

"If that's not the case, then for your own health, please control your gaming time."

It eventually evolved into this topic.