You call this a love game?

But she couldn't care less about that now; she just had to run away.

I'm sorry, Bai Yu, I really can't help you with this.

With the only 'outsider' gone, Mami Tomoe finally stopped hiding her true feelings, gently stroking Shiraha's chin with her fingers and giving Homura Akemi a provocative glance.

"Um, Mami-nee." He tried to explain with a forced laugh, but Homura Akemi grabbed his sleeve.

"Didn't Bai Yujun promise to tutor me in math?" she asked, her big, innocent eyes wide. "Let's hurry, it'll get dark soon."

Wait, when did this girl learn this trick?!

Before Bai Yu could react, Akemi Homura dragged him in the opposite direction.

Before leaving, he glanced back and saw that Mami Tomoe was still standing there, but the smile on her face was so beautiful it was chilling.

"We're doomed!" he wailed. "Mami-nee is definitely angry."

"Mami... Sister?" After leaving the school building, Homura Akemi slowed down and tilted her head to look at him. "What's the relationship between Shiraha-kun and Mami-senpai?"

"Uh......"

Faced with this thought-provoking question, Bai Yu just wanted to shut Homura Akemi's mouth and stop her from asking any more questions.

"We were childhood sweethearts, I guess."

Homura Akemi suddenly stopped in her tracks. Her glasses gleamed eerily at this angle, making it impossible to see her expression.

"Just...childhood sweethearts?"

Bai Yu felt a chill run down his spine, and inexplicably had the feeling of being watched by a wild beast.

Even though he hadn't revealed anything or said anything, he still felt as if Homura Akemi had seen right through him.

Women always seem to have an exceptional talent for this kind of thing; they can detect something amiss with just the slightest clue.

"Of course! Just like me and Xiaoyuan and the others..."

“Is that so…” Homura Akemi said softly, suddenly reaching out to straighten his crooked bow tie. “Then why did Shiraha-kun go to the third year to find him? And I remember, Shiraha-kun wasn’t very familiar with Mami-senpai last time, right?”

Her fingers inadvertently brushed against his Adam's apple, and Bai Yu froze on the spot.

Shiraha's Adam's apple bobbed involuntarily. Akemi Homura's fingertips were like tiny, electrified spiders, sending shivers down his spine. He chuckled dryly and took a half-step back, only to bump his back against the wall, finding himself with nowhere to retreat.

"Well..." Bai Yu's gaze drifted to the sky, as if the answer to his life was written there, "Mami-nee's black tea is especially delicious, I go there every day after school to get a cup."

As he spoke, he glanced at Homura Akemi out of the corner of his eye; the girl's long, smooth hair shimmered with a faint purple glow in the setting sun.

Homura Akemi suddenly stood on tiptoe, her nose almost touching his chin, "But why would Mami-senpai do that to Shiraha-kun..."

Her breath carried the sweet scent of strawberry toothpaste, and her eyelashes fluttered behind her glasses like the wings of a startled butterfly.

Bai Yu's heart skipped a beat.

It's over.

He never imagined that there was such a bug-level ability as time loop, especially since it happened to coincide with his simulation. This problem was even harder to solve than the witch's barrier.

In a moment of inspiration, he suddenly pointed to a dark space on the other side of the corridor, "Xiao Yan, look! It looks like a witch's barrier!"

"Ah? Where?"

Taking advantage of the moment when Homura Akemi turned her head, Shiraha slipped out of her arms like an eel and ran towards the school gate.

The screeching sound of sneakers scraping against the corridor floor tiles startled the sparrows under the eaves.

"Shiraha-kun!" Homura Akemi's shout, mixed with the jingling of her backpack buckles, chased after her.

Bai Yu didn't dare to turn around. He could imagine the girl with her cheeks puffed out; she must be very angry.

It's better to make everyone angry than to make one person angry; that way, things will be balanced.

Although it's not really useful.

Unable to think of a good solution for the time being, he could only choose to avoid it for now. He would go back home that night and explain things to Mami Tomoe properly. If she could understand, they would tell Homura Akemi about it together the next day.

After all, the two people have completely different levels of resilience. Homura Akemi's mood is still unstable right now, and if she knew the truth, she might be devastated and unable to recover.

As Bai Yu turned past the cherry blossom trees at the school gate, he suddenly braked and stopped.

Mami Tomoe was leaning against a pillar by the school gate. Her golden spiral twin ponytails were blowing in an elegant arc in the evening breeze. She slowly unbuttoned her collar, and the ribbons hung down from her chest, winding into dangerous arcs in the air.

"You run really fast." Mami Tomoe waved the ribbon lightly, and the ribbon made a 'snap' sound in the air, which made Shiraha's scalp tingle.

"It seems that Bai Yu-jun has a lot to explain to me..."

Chapter 78 "Among three people walking together, there must be one who can teach me."

A layer of cold sweat instantly seeped out on the back of Bai Yu's neck.

The ribbon wrapped around Mami's fingertips shimmered like honey in the setting sun, but it reminded him of the ropes on the gallows.

"Sister Mami, let me explain—"

"I'm listening~" Mami Tomoe twirled the end of her hair with her fingers, her smile so sweet it seemed to drip honey. "For example, why would the new transfer student say you're the most important person to her? Could you please explain that to me properly, Shiraha-kun?"

Bai Yu's Adam's apple bobbed, and fine beads of sweat began to appear on his forehead.

Damn it, how am I supposed to answer this kind of question?

Because she's my girlfriend... I'd probably be silenced the moment I said that!

"that is......"

"Explain what?" Homura Akemi's voice came from behind.

The girl jogged to the school gate, her glasses slightly askew. She straightened them and looked at Bai Yu with a hint of displeasure. "Why did you run away, Bai Yu-kun?"

Would he be a fool not to run?

However, now there are dead ends both in front and behind.

"Little White Feather~ You haven't answered my question yet!"

As she spoke, Mami Tomoe forcefully swung the ribbon in her hand.

The ribbon, which was so soft it couldn't be softer, wielded with the force of a whip, as if it would tear the skin apart the moment it touched it.

"Please, please don't bully Shiraha-kun!" Seeing Mami Tomoe's aggressive actions, Homura Akemi immediately spread her arms like a protective fledgling to shield Shiraha.

Tomoe raised her eyebrows slightly and stepped forward slowly, her little leather shoes making a crisp sound on the ground. With each step, Homura Akemi's shoulders tightened a little, but even so, she still resolutely stood in front of Shiraha.

She really made me cry to death.

"Bullying?" Mami tilted her head, her golden eyes narrowing into a dangerous arc. "Akimi-kun, have you misunderstood something? As a senior, I'm just concerned about my junior's love life. Besides, I'm Shiroha's childhood friend and older sister. Shouldn't I punish my younger brother a little when he does something bad?"

"Or is Xiaomei trying to get involved in our 'family affairs'?"

When talking about family matters, Mami Tomoe emphasized the words, and her implication was very clear: she was saying that Mami was just an outsider and had no right to judge her behavior.

Homura Akemi gripped her skirt tightly, her knuckles turning white, her lips trembling slightly, clearly angered by Mami Tomoe's words.

But she couldn't refute it, since what the other person said was the truth, and as an 'outsider,' what right did she have to interfere in other people's family affairs...

No, she's clearly Bai Yujun's girlfriend! She's not an outsider at all!

Almost getting caught up in Mami Tomoe's trap, Homura Akemi shook her slightly dizzy head. Facing Mami's confident yet dangerous smile, she stubbornly raised her face, "I...I and Shiraha-kun are..."

"What is it?" Mami Tomoe suddenly leaned closer, so close that she could count Homura Akemi's eyelashes.

The latter took a half step back in fear and bumped into Bai Yu's arms.

The pressure from Mami Tomoe was still too great, whether it was her strength as a magical girl or her confidence and pride, which were things that Mami Tomoe could not match at all.

Bai Yu could almost feel Homura Akemi trembling. She was terrified, yet she still dared to stand up.

"That's enough, Mami-nee." Shiraha pressed down on Homura Akemi's shoulder. "Homura just transferred here, you can't—"

"You two just transferred schools and you've already become the most important people?" Mami Tomoe interrupted him, her smile growing even brighter, but her eyes were already icy. "Or is it..."

Her gaze swept back and forth between the two of them. "You two have known each other for a long time?"

The air suddenly froze, Homura Akemi's breathing became rapid, and tears welled up in her eyes behind her red-rimmed glasses.

"I..." Homura Akemi opened her mouth, her voice barely audible.

Mami suddenly reached out and lifted her chin, the force gentle but not firm, "When you speak, you should look the other person in the eye, Akemi-kun."

Homura Akemi trembled, tears welling up in her eyes.

Bai Yu couldn't stand it anymore and slapped Mami Tomoe's hand away. "Don't do this."

"Heh." Mami withdrew her hand, slowly adjusting the ribbon. "So now you have a new love and have fallen out with your sister?"

"No!" Bai Yu scratched his head frantically, "Can you guys calm down first—"

“I’m very calm.” Mami Tomoe interrupted him, her voice turning cold. “But shouldn’t you, Shiraha-kun, explain what’s going on with this most important person?”

Suddenly, Homura Akemi grabbed Shiraha's sleeve and mustered her courage to speak: "I... I like Shiraha-kun! Shiraha-kun likes me too, so is there a problem?!"

boom!

Homura Akemi's words struck Shiraha's heart like a bolt from the blue.

It's completely over!

As you can see, Mami Tomoe's face has turned completely dark, and she can no longer maintain her smile.

She lowered her head, her body emanating black mist as she muttered to herself.

I'll kill you, I'll kill you, I'll kill you...

For some reason, Bai Yu suddenly felt a terrifying aura emanating from Mami Tomoe locking onto him, and he spoke up uncertainly.

"Um... Mami-nee?"

"Kill you."

Mami Tomoe raised her eyes and, with the calmest expression, uttered the most terrifying words.

"......"

"Um... just a reminder," Homura Akemi stepped forward again, speaking in a weak voice, "We should still be a society governed by law, right? Murder is illegal, you know."

→_→

Although her threat failed, Mami Tomoe's gaze towards him became even more malevolent, as if she were looking at some kind of perverted insect.

A lot came to mind in that instant.

Brainwashing, hypnosis, psychological manipulation, threats...

Mami Tomoe couldn't believe that Shiraha would find another woman right under her nose, after knowing her for so long, and that their relationship would develop to this extent.

So you're probably saying you met them recently?

So, to make the other person so devoted to him, he must have used some special ability!

Using magic in this kind of place is just too outrageous!

Unforgivable! Mr. Shiraha!

"So what?" Mami Tomoe ignored whether there were any passersby nearby, transformed into a magical girl, and a ribbon instantly wrapped around his waist. "I'll give you three minutes to explain!"

"three--"

"Wait! Isn't this supposed to be three seconds?"

"two--"

"People must keep their promises!"

"one."

"I admit it, I admit it all!"

Feeling the increasingly tight discomfort around his waist, and the ribbon that had secretly slipped through his waistband and wrapped around his penis, he had no choice but to give in.

People have to bow their heads under the roof.

Although he knew that even if Mami Tomoe was angry, she probably wouldn't do anything to him, he was only putting on this act for Homura Akemi's benefit, not wanting to put himself in a disadvantageous position.

Even if Mami Tomoe doesn't mind, he still has to make things clear.

The original plan was to give them more time to think things through, but now it seems we have to make things clear immediately, or things will really explode.

There is no doubt that both girls love him deeply, otherwise they wouldn't have gone to such lengths for him.