I am the emotional sustenance of your deceased

　"Is it Sui Sui? It's me, Aine!"

　The sobbing sounds from inside the door suddenly stopped, as if no one other than Aine had ever appeared here.

　Keaiyin knew that there was someone inside the door.

　"Don't pretend you weren't there. I heard you crying!"

　"Go away! Don't... disturb me."

　Like a kitten with its fur standing on end, it panted and drove away the enemies that broke into its territory.

　But unfortunately, Aine has already learned how to deal with Chitose.

　"So I'm really leaving?"

　“Don’t… don’t go…”

　Haha, it’s really easy to deal with.

　Aine waited for the other party to speak, but the other party's words surprised her.

　"Do you have... Vitamin C or wet wipes? The kind with alcohol..."

　"Eh? What's wrong with you?"

　Aine turned the door lock in confusion, but it wasn't locked.

　She curiously put her head forward, but the scene inside scared her.

　The ground was covered with red water or red-stained paper.

　Chitose Noshiro was leaning against the wall in a mess, constantly wiping her long silver-white hair with a wet napkin.

　[No, that can no longer be called long silver-white hair.]

　It's pink.

　Some places have different shades of red. In short, it looks like Chitose has dyed her hair.

　There were tears in her eyes, and her anxious look was cute and attractive.

　Even the Band-Aids and wound dressings were stained.

　"I... accidentally spilled some red ink... If you find it troublesome, you don't have to worry about me."

　Aine discovered that Chitose couldn't hide what was on her mind.

　The grievance on her face was clearly pouring out, but she just held it in and didn't say it.

　[She's so cute. Even though she's hiding something, it doesn't matter.]

　"If you need anything, just tell me. I made you a lunchbox... go out and eat. I'll go find some vitamin C and wet wipes, so don't run around."

　"Thank you."

　Chitose grabbed the hem of Aine's skirt and whispered in a voice as thin as a mosquito's.

　There was even a hint of crying in his voice.

　This time, Aine didn't tease Chitose by saying "I didn't hear you clearly".

　She smiled and rubbed the other person's head, and her hands were covered with red ink.

　The red ink between the fingers is a symbol of the undercurrents surging beneath the peaceful atmosphere.

　……

　"Don't move."

　"It's Chihaya who's moving around."

　"Huh? What did you call me?"

　"Ai…Ai, Aine."

　Perhaps it was because she felt guilty about eating someone's food, Chitose actually obediently called herself Aine.

　Chihaya Aine was happy because of the sense of accomplishment that was constantly filling her heart.

　She had seen other people play some visual game of conquering characters while surfing the Internet.

　If I remember correctly, it was called galgame.

　Aine felt this way right now.

　[Using my extraordinary strategy skills to take down the dark, cute, and friendless little wild cat in the class? That would be so fun.]

　Chitose was eating rice in small bites while Aine was helping her with her hair from behind.

　That beautiful silver-white color finally miraculously revived thanks to Aine's efforts.

　"Phew...be more careful next time, really."

　"Ah."

　"Why are there more scars on your face?"

　"I fell down."

　"You're trying to trick kindergarten kids."

　“…” Silence replaced the rare lively atmosphere between them for a moment.

　In the end, it was Aine who broke the damn silence.

　"Forget it, I surrender. I won't ask you any more questions... But be careful next time and don't get hurt again, okay?"

　"I didn't want to either... but, never mind, it has nothing to do with you. Thank you for helping me with my hair... and for bringing me food. I won't forget your kindness."

　Chitose held Aine's hand shyly but seriously, but soon became deflated and didn't know what to say.

　"But... I can't repay you. Consider it my debt. But you're still too good to me. I suggest you stay away from me."

　"Why? Really, why do you always have to keep me away from you?"

　Aine thought Chitose would answer her question quickly, but he didn't.

　Chitose stared at Aine's gray pupils for a long time before finally uttering a few words from his throat: "Because you will be unlucky, and I will be unlucky too. So, let me go."

　The words "Let me go" carried an emotion that Aine couldn't quite place. But now, Aine felt that it was the other person's helplessness, the result of not being able to adapt to her passion.

　"No! We are good friends."

　In this campus full of laughter and joy, their friendship will surely take root and sprout.

　"But…"

　There was a gray light flickering in Chitose's only exposed eye.

　"I've never seen anyone have trouble making friends! What a worrying person! Why do you look so worried?"

　"Ugh."

　As she sighed, Aine also sighed along with her.

　"well.

　Sui Sui, I've thought of a way for you to repay your debt to me! Do you want to hear it?"

　"What... If it's too much, I will refuse."

　"Can I rub your head? Your hair is so nice, I really want to rub it."

　Aine was eager to try without waiting for Chitose's reaction.

　In the end, Qiansui could only bite the disposable chopsticks and mutter: "Whatever."

　……

　"This feeling is awful."

　Chitose was furious, physically speaking.

　Aine rubbed a little adobo hair on her head, but it wasn't cute at all.

　"Do you really hate it or do you pretend to hate it?"

　"I do not know."

　Chitose blew upwards towards her bangs, blowing away the cherry blossom petals that had fallen into her hair.

　That seemed to blow away her pain, too, that was the way it was.

　Ch277. I am the president of the student union.

　"You're back."

　"Ah."

　Chitose returned to her convenience store.

　She went around the back door to the staff lounge, where her mother—the system—was waiting for her.

　She had agreed with the system that in the future, unless there was a special need, she would directly enter the role, so that the simulation effect could be best achieved.

　Qiansui took a look at the plump lady in front of him and couldn't help but sigh:

　[She's really good at being a vicious stepmother. She even learned some temperament.]

　【With a mother like you, who needs enemies?】

　"Go and deliver this batch of goods to the storage room," Ms. Noshiro lowered her head, and finally slowly raised her head to look at Chitose.

　But her face turned gloomy in an instant.

　"What's up with that school uniform you're wearing?"

　"I... don't remember either."

　"What's that tone of yours?"

　Ms. Noshiro pushed her chair aside and walked towards Chitose. As she got closer and closer to Chitose, the shadow she cast on her seemed to cover the entire world.

　"I'm… sorry, Mom."

　"Do you know how much I spent on your school uniform? Our family doesn't have much money to begin with, so why did you bother me like this?"

　The more Ms. Noshiro looked at Chitose's red-stained school uniform, the angrier she became. She then grabbed Chitose's long hair and slammed her head against the wall.

　"Woo…Mom."

　Half of his face was pressed against the wall, and the scars on this side that were about to heal broke open again, and blood seeped out through the medical bandages that bandaged them.

　This was followed by the mother's punches and kicks.

　Just like that, more new wounds appeared on Chitose Noshiro's body.

　Although they cannot speak, their appearance is not accidental.

　While being beaten by her mother, Chitose Noshiro had such a picture in her mind.

　She heard Aine's speech against school bullying, and all she could see was the pink poster stained with red ink.

　[It's a bit... ironic.]

　But system, you... you are really cruel when you beat people.

　"He's really beating me to death."

　Whether it was yesterday afternoon, this morning or now.

　Every time the system swings its punch, it feels like there's some personal grudge involved.

　[Isn't it just asking you to take on a few more part-time jobs? How despicable.]

　……

　【The girl hasn't shown up yet today. 】

　As she got to know Chitose better, Chihaya Aine started coming to school earlier and earlier.

　Classes didn't start until eight o'clock, but she entered the school gate before seven o'clock.

　She was waiting for someone, she didn't know why she was waiting for Chitose, she was curious why no one else gave Aine the same feeling——

　How to describe it?

　When she thought of Noshiro Chitose, Chihaya Aine had a lot of strange thoughts in her mind. Well, a lot of thoughts that she had never thought of in other people.