Mygo, you guys seem to be getting a bit heavy-hearted.

Today, Deng didn't wear her usual blue and white hoodie and shorts. Instead, she changed into a white dress that showed her armpits. Her hair had grown quite a bit longer than it had been two months ago, but instead of letting it fall loosely over her shoulders, she tied it into two playful braids with a plain-colored hair tie, which then obediently rested on the back of her neck.

Even Yanming was stunned by this unique outfit, subconsciously rubbing his eyes and speaking uncertainly:

"It's Little Lamp...right?"

He now suspected that the person in front of him might be the lamp's twin sister or something.

"Hmm? It's me, Mr. Yanming... What's wrong?"

Upon hearing Yanming's words, Deng nervously gripped the fabric of her skirt.

Mom said that since it was rare for her to invite friends out, she wanted to dress herself up nicely, and she even dug out a little dress she had always treasured for herself...

"...Is it inappropriate?"

"Undoubtedly, very cute."

Yanming spoke the truth while giving a thumbs up.

He's not good at sweet talk to girls, and that's the highest praise he could give.

"If only Xiao Xiang were half as well-behaved and shy as Xiao Deng at home... ugh—"

"Next time you're talking badly about someone, remember to avoid talking about the person in question, Mr. Yanming."

Xiangzi said irritably, loosening his grip on his fingers.

Yanming rubbed his thigh and argued, "It's not really a bad thing... I'm just telling the truth."

"Really?"

Just then, another voice broke in.

"Toyokawa Shoko, who else is missing?"

A black-haired girl wearing a panda T-shirt greeted Xiangzi without any politeness, carrying a sturdy canvas bag on her back that was only slightly smaller than Yanming's.

Xiangzi ignored the abruptness in Lixi's words and immediately turned around without any hesitation, saying, "Oh, it's classmate Lixi. Right now, only classmate Sushi hasn't arrived yet."

"That rascal."

Li Xi clicked her tongue. "Given her personality, she was probably too excited about going out today and ended up staying up all night. She really is just like a child."

Xiangzi: "..."

←A child who stayed up all night because they were so excited.

"Su-Shi-chan...would she do that?"

The lamp asked hesitantly.

"Of course she will!"

Li Xi spoke with certainty, then looked toward the source of the sound, which was the direction of the light.

...Then she stopped moving, frozen in place as if in a dream, with only her eyes trembling violently.

"Light...light light light light light?!!"

This girl is definitely a lamp, right?

That's right!!

Lamp didn't understand what was wrong with her: "Lixi-chan?"

"I am fine."

Shiina Ritsuki gripped her philtrum tightly, pretending to calmly look away.

Seeing this, Yanming took out a stainless steel water bottle from the right side of his backpack and handed it to her.

"Herbal tea, have some to cool down."

"Thanks, um..."

"No need to say it, I understand."

He had already experienced firsthand just how lethal the carefully crafted lamp was.

The two looked at each other and said nothing.

"cheers."

If we visualize the data, and the maximum value for human attributes is 9, then the current lamp undoubtedly has 10 points in the charm category.

She's practically a succubus.

"……Eh?"

The lamp was still confused about what had happened, looking at the two who had suddenly started drinking herbal tea for health.

Not far away, a girl with flaxen hair jogged over.

"Sorry everyone! I'm late, I've kept you waiting!"

Nagasaki Motoyo stopped, panting, and spoke.

She stayed up too late reading the chat history in the group last night and couldn't fall asleep. As a result, she almost couldn't get out of bed when it was almost time to sleep the next day. Since she was alone at home, there was no one to remind her.

Xiangzi stepped forward and gently patted Su Shi's back to help her catch her breath. Then he said softly, "It's okay, we didn't wait long, Su Shi."

It's Xiao Xiang from when Crychic was still around! Ahhhhhh!

With her memories successfully awakened, Nagasaki Motoyo felt her heart skip a beat.

Although there are still some subtle differences, the tone is almost the same.

"That, that..."

Nagasaki Motoyo blushed as she took her phone out of her pocket and started recording. "Xiao Xiang... could you... could you do it again?"

"...?"

Xiangzi realized what was happening, and his face instantly fell. "Nagasaki-kun, please have some self-respect."

He could treat everyone else as before, but he couldn't treat Su Shi, who wanted to restore the previous dynasty, the same way.

Only when she truly lets go of Crychic's disbandment will I no longer have to maintain this cold facade in front of her.

“Nagasaki… classmate? Sho…”

"Yes, we were just teammates who played in the same band before, nothing more. So please don't bother me like you did before, or it will bother me."

Xiangzi turned away coldly, not glancing at Nagasaki Motoyo, who had become completely distraught.

Yanming leaned close to her ear: "Xiaoxiang, wasn't that a bit too harsh? You two are friends, right?"

"Precisely because we are friends, we should do this even more. Sigh... You'll understand when you reach my age, Yanming."

"..."

A # symbol slowly appeared on Yanming's forehead.

Then Xiangzi realized something was wrong and felt a sense of foreboding, but it was too late to escape.

How do you run a game starting at 0 frames?

"Snapped!"

"it hurts!"

"Toyokawa Kosho, go apologize to them! If they ask, just say I forced you! Right now!"

"I see……"

(┯_┯)

At such a young age, instead of learning good things, he tries to be a riddle teller like others.

Why can't we just talk things out?

Yanming stood aside with his arms crossed, watching her honestly apologize to Nagasaki Sose before letting it go.

Toyokawa Shoko's Voluntary Apology

Chapter 103 Astounding Wisdom in Full Bloom.

As Nagasaki Motoyo listened to Shoko's apology, which was filled with despair, her gaze secretly fell on the young man to the side.

Although it's unclear why he did this, Xiao Xiang seems to listen to him a lot.

The bassist named Yanming, what he said in the rehearsal room that day, although logically sound and he did have the motive to do so, even presented his reason in a straightforward manner: "to maliciously retaliate against me for his band that was about to disband because of Crychic." That's what the bassist said, but... Nagasaki Motoyo did not fully believe his words.

Lies can't fool her.

The truth is not necessarily the absolute truth.

Using flawed truths to mislead others into thinking in the wrong direction is also one of Nagasaki Motoyo's specialties.

The most important point that deepened her suspicions...

Yanming displayed considerable disgust and disdain in the rehearsal room that day.

But once that conversation was over, the dislike vanished without a trace.

Even now, aside from not taking the initiative to talk to me, I treat her like a friend of my daughter.

...This is very strange.

Even if it's explained as him not wanting to ruin the good image he'd built up in front of Deng and Xiaoxiang, it doesn't completely make sense.

At the very least... he shouldn't act like he cares so much about the relationship between Xiao Xiang and himself.

Logically speaking, shouldn't a worse relationship between myself and Xiao Xiang be more beneficial to him?

Why stand up for yourself? It's like you're worried... that you've been wronged?

Seemingly noticing her undisguised gaze, the young man also looked in her direction.

Their eyes... met!

The next second, Nagasaki Motoyo's pupils contracted slightly, and she froze in shock.

This person... gave himself an apologetic smile!

Su Shi wouldn't be mistaken; her control over her demeanor was comparable to that of ordinary people, so she could naturally understand the meaning behind that smile.

More importantly... that smile didn't seem fake.

What does this mean? What is he trying to do?

Nagasaki Motoyo felt as if she had fallen into some kind of chain of suspicion. No matter how she thought about it, the moment she saw that smile, she couldn't help but wonder if there was a deeper explanation behind it.

She took two steps back, looking at Yanming warily.

This man is terrifying!

"...?"

Yanming watched Nagasaki Motoyo's vivid but not expressive performance.

What is this kid doing?

That's weird... Could it be that they're looking for an opportunity to cast a spell on themselves?

He certainly couldn't have imagined that Ms. Nagasaki, a comedian with an extraordinary imagination, would conjure up a manipulative devil in his mind based on various non-existent elements.

"How long are you going to dawdle there?"

Shiina Tatsuki's rebuke inadvertently relieved Motoyo, who had just started brainstorming.

She immediately reverted to her usual gentle demeanor and said, "That's right. Let's go buy the tickets first. Staying at the entrance might disturb others."

……

Ten minutes later, the group of six finally entered the zoo.

Xiangzi patted Deng's arm: "Little Deng, Little Deng, which animal do you want to see first?"

"I... I'll go with Mr. Yanming... This is my first time visiting this zoo too..."

Deng seemed indecisive, but that was more of her usual behavior.

"By the way, are there pandas in this zoo?"