All the people who like me are other people’s girlfriends! ?

Sensing the solemn atmosphere, Qingye's expression also grew serious. Something was amiss. Was someone dead and they were planning a collective memorial service? It looked like someone at least at the level of a consul or store manager, right?

But the next second he realized that he was overthinking.

"Youngsters actually brought us cold drinks! That's great!" The older sisters couldn't wait to divide the plastic bag in his hand, and there was laughter everywhere.

"Alas, Kiyono-kun has already moved on to a new life, and I also want to do a happier job!"

Ono-san pulled the tab of the can, and bubbles began to rise:

“What is the meaning of work…”

"Money." Someone answered immediately.

It's rare for everyone to agree.

Qingye picked up the last bottle of drink, handed it to Xiaoju in the gap, and then sat down to chat.

We talked from work to life, from life to society, and from society to "how to spend a hundred million". Human beings are creatures that like to think divergently!

Xiaoju eavesdropped quietly.

Qingye glanced at the cabinet.

*

The older sisters went to work, leaving only two people waiting for their shift in the lounge.

With a rustling sound, Qingye turned the page of the book in his hand.

He thought silently for a moment, and finally said to himself:

"From now on...it will be difficult to work with you like before."

"Uh, yeah." Xiaoju clenched the phone and made a low response.

"Speaking of which, Ono-senpai just mentioned why you have to work, right? I've always wanted to know one question, Xiaoju, why did you choose to work here?"

Qingye stroked the pages of the book with his fingers and asked curiously.

"Of course it's money!" Xiaoju said without hesitation.

"Besides money, there must be other reasons, right?"

"B-By the way, I want to train my courage to talk to others."

The girl paused, a hint of hesitation flashing across her pretty face. She had never told anyone her true thoughts, not even the minister, but perhaps it was the 'last time spent with Qingye' that touched her, or perhaps it was because she temporarily regarded Qingye as Teacher Dongyue, and her closed heart quietly softened a little.

"because……"

"I don't like myself now." She buried her face in her knees, her voice muffled.

Dark, mean, with a bad personality, she is always a marginal character wherever she is. She always likes to speculate about others with malice, is good at lying, and has no outstanding advantages... She hates herself now.

The air was silent for a moment, and the dark clouds outside the window were still gloomy.

Qingye was stunned for a moment. The girl's words inexplicably reminded him of a certain reader. Could it be that... ?

In fact, at the beginning, his impression of Xiaoju was the same as most people's stereotype, at most he labeled her a loser, but as he got to know her over time, he gradually got to know the other side of this dark girl——

She has a more delicate and gentle mind than the average girl. She is very sensitive to the people and things around her. She will secretly help from behind and even deliberately prevent others from knowing that she did it.

After a few seconds, Qingye's voice rang out.

"Really? But I feel that Xiaoju is a very brave and gentle girl." This sentence is also what I want to say to that reader. Being willing to face your own weaknesses and take the initiative to change is already very impressive.

Eh?

Xiaoju suddenly poked his little head out from the gap.

The boy in sight was as enthusiastic and straightforward as ever, with clear eyes.

Those bright eyes seemed to be able to see through me.

"Of course, it's difficult to talk to you, but that's just introversion. I can't say you have a bad personality. Quite the opposite. I think you're very gentle!"

"Because last time, didn't you secretly buy me the snacks I liked?"

It wasn't just that time. The girl's gentleness could be seen in many details. It was a unique gentleness that only considered others and put herself in the dust.

He said this with a bright smile:

"I think Xiaoju is doing well now."

Like the sun peeking out from behind dark clouds.

The world, which was always covered in dust, suddenly became bright under the beam of light.

Boom, boom, boom! The girl's heart was violently shocked.

Apart from the minister, this was the first time a boy praised her and affirmed her... and even the minister only praised her for some trivial things. Only Qingye touched her deepest heart.

You, are you stupid? There is no benefit in trying to please me like this... The girl blushed and instantly shrank back into the gap.

"And as for courage, it's an attribute point that can be trained later in life!"

The voice became heated.

"Okay, it's decided! Just consider this as your last act of help before we part. Follow me!"

The sound of a chair being pulled out was heard, and Qingye appeared in front of her and pulled her out. Xiaoju was different from the other two losers. Her attitude had to be tougher, and it would be best to catch them on the spot.

"Let me go..." Xiaoju resisted symbolically.

Outside the door, Banaijian was listening quietly to the conversation between the two, leaning against the wall with his hands behind his back, a smile between resentment and relief slowly forming at the corner of his lips.

"Really, that's the only thing you can't do with Kiyono-kun..."

"However, Xiaoju's situation is rather special, and I'm a little worried. I'll forgive you this time."

*

"You, what you said you were going to do is..."

Xiaoju, who was dragged to the front door, covered her face with her hands in fear, as if she were a vampire who would die if exposed to sunlight.

Qingye gave a thumbs up and smiled brightly:

"Join me in welcoming guests! Just smile and say welcome, easy right?"

There was a brief pause in the scene.

Then Xiaoju ran back quickly like a rabbit, hid herself in the gap, and covered her head with a cardboard box.

"No, no, no! I absolutely can't do this, even if you kill me, I can't do it!"

"...You are too weak, Xiaoju. What level of training can you accept now?" Qingye, who was leaning against the door, scolded.

"Smile."

"Okay, let's start with a smile!"

Whether she can greet guests or not is not important; what is important is to help her build up the most basic self-confidence.

Xiaoju took off the cardboard box and slightly poked her head out, feeling that something was wrong.

*

Thus, the special training of the loser group began.

Two days later——

"I smile." The girl smiled at the mirror.

"That's a creepy laugh like a female ghost. This isn't a haunted house. Let's do it again! Let the guests feel your hospitality!" Qingye commented.

"I laugh." The girl laughed again.

"It's a silly smile, the kind that will be made into an emoticon." Qingye commented sharply.

Xiaoju covered half of her face with her hands, sneering and chanting majestically: "Bastard, bastard, be consumed by the flames of darkness!"

"You have a Chuunibyou!"

"You, you're so annoying..."

The girl complained dissatisfiedly, she thought for a moment, and suddenly turned around to face him. She stretched out two white fingers and placed them on both sides of her cherry lips, gently pulling them up, and the dimples on both sides were faintly visible.

Seeing this classic expression, Qingye was stunned.

Take a closer look, this girl is really cute...

He coughed, resisting the urge to take a photo, and turned his face away: "Next, you can practice on your own. Anyway, don't be too stiff, just a normal smile will be fine."

"I, I was planning to practice on my own, but you insisted on giving me instructions..."

The gloomy girl snorted twice. How could her smile be natural when there were other people watching her?

No, but...this was the first time she had experienced talking and playing with others naturally.

She had never had such an experience even with the minister. After all, she would get extremely nervous when she saw someone she liked.

*

"Your waist needs to sink another five degrees." Qingye turned into a strict instructor.

"is teacher!"

"Very good, now it's time for a real combat drill!" Qingye cleared his throat, straightened his back, and his voice became mature and deep. "Now imagine me as a single father with a child."

"Welcome..."

Xiaoju got stuck for a moment, like a rusty robot, with stiff arms and a tense back. Qingye couldn't stand it anymore and was ready to go up and slap her to wake her up and demonstrate the posture to her.

But just before his hand was about to touch Xiaoju, the door was suddenly opened, and the blue-haired girl jumped out as if she was shining all over.

"I heard you're in trouble?"

"Eight, eight see?"

Xiaoju stood up straight with some embarrassment. She was not used to doing this kind of behavior in front of Banai.

Banaijian leaned against the door, his tone and posture full of the confidence of a strong man:

"Although the man over there is an all-round player, I'm more professional when it comes to how to adjust my smile and how to make customers who just walked in feel warm and comfortable! So, Xiaoju, let me teach you!"

"I have no objection." Qingye felt relieved.

“…” Xiaoju shyly fiddled with her bangs.

Next, Mr. Hanami personally guided her posture and smile until—

*

The breeze blew the curtains, and the bright red light of the setting sun filtered through the window, filling the lounge. The shadows of the three people were stretched and cast on the wall.

The two stood.

One person bowed.

"Welcome!" A steady voice and just the right smile.

Qingye and Yanaijian applauded vigorously at the same time.

"At this point, the ultimate secrets of the Kiyono family have all been passed on to you." Yanaijian smiled.

"Go ahead." Qingye encouraged gently.

"Very……"

"Thank you very much for the guidance, Masters! I'm off!"

Under the gentle gaze of their mentor, Xiaoju felt her eyes getting hot, and the various special trainings of the past few days kept flashing through her mind. It seemed as if infinite power was flowing through her body.

Yes, yes.

Now I can definitely do anything.

This power is called bond! And bond brings infinite courage!

Xiaoju Zhihua, rise up!

She walked into the battlefield with her head held high... This scene was so familiar! She had even complained about it herself!

Qingye walked up to her calmly.

However, when she really stood here, all the unnecessary thoughts disappeared. She couldn't help but clench her hands, and her knuckles turned white. Normally, she was fully capable of saying "Welcome" and smiling, but the failure when she first came to the restaurant had cast such a huge shadow on her that she became nervous.

At this moment, she heard the boy's voice like a stream.