What a twist! The loser heroine!

These two girls, who are childhood sweethearts, really have different ways of approaching relationships...

Then, Kazuhiko Wenshui spoke up.

Even if it's not easy, it's still worth a try.

When Banana saw Anja, she immediately stopped in her tracks.

"Wen Shui, you seem to have a lot of insights into love..." she said softly without turning around.

"I'm sorry, I didn't ask you to make any decisions on my own."

Wen Shui realized that her previous statement was somewhat arbitrary, and quickly added, "I just felt that if we don't try, wouldn't we just be living in unrequited love forever?"

Banami's breath hitched slightly.

"There are quite a few light novel characters who have won over childhood friends who suddenly appear out of nowhere—huh?"

As Wen Shui said this, her gaze was suddenly drawn to a familiar figure in front of the counter.

Originally, Banami was hoping to hear some of Wenshui's unique insights, but she immediately turned around.

"What's wrong, Wen Shui?"

"Nothing, I saw someone I know."

Following Wenshui's gaze, Banami saw a tall, handsome white-haired man standing in front of the supermarket counter. He was selecting items, looking somewhat troubled.

"Ah, it's that handsome guy who came to our class to borrow books from you before. I think she's Shaoyan's childhood friend."

Wen Shui frowned.

"Didn't he make plans to see a movie with Lemon today? Is he picking out a gift?" he muttered to himself.

Upon hearing this, Banami immediately showed a look of great anticipation.

She sat down again, a gossipy smile on her face, and poked the warm water with her finger.

"So they've gotten to this point! Wen Shui, you seem to know something about it?"

[She was just acting all confused about her feelings a moment ago, how did she suddenly change like this? Girls are really amazing.]

Unable to bear the scrutinizing look in Banami's eyes, Wenshui had no choice but to tell Banami about how she had secretly given Lemon movie tickets to Chihaya Asagi during her tutoring session.

Unexpectedly, after he finished speaking, Anna Hanami seemed to be stressed, her eyes lost their luster, and she murmured Asahi's name softly.

"Ah, Asagum Chihaya... Asagum Chihaya..."

"She's a woman other than my childhood sweetheart."

"Is she a philanderer? She's definitely a philanderer..."

When Wen Shui looked at Banami, who was already caught up in some unknown obsession, he couldn't help but shiver.

"Um...Hanami-kun?"

"Ah! Wen Shui, I understand!"

Suddenly, Banami's eyes brightened.

"Huh? You know...you know what?"

"Since you chose to help Shao Yan, then, Wen Shui, you're definitely a childhood friend, right?"

"I've never heard of such a party."

Bana stood up with a smile, her eyes looking at Wen Shui with a hint of expectation.

"But then again, it seems we've forgotten something." She pondered, as if she had indeed forgotten something important.

"Yes, it looks like you've forgotten something."

Wen Shui looked at the list in her hand, then glanced at the message on her phone from Nonomura: "I've finished purchasing."

He gasped.

"I think it's best to set off sooner rather than later, Banami-kun." His expression hardened.

"After all, we haven't bought anything yet."

~Thirty-second defeat~ Invitation

"Hmm, speaking of which, where exactly are the sticky notes..."

In the school supplies section of the supermarket, Wen Shui held a list that was already full of checkmarks and turned her gaze to the last column.

There's nowhere to put my stationery.

He looked up and carefully searched the shelves for sticky notes.

While Wen Shui was concentrating intently, he suddenly caught a glimpse of a shadow out of the corner of his eye. He quickly moved closer to the shelf to make room for passersby.

"It's me, Wen Shui. What a coincidence! I didn't expect to run into you here on a Saturday."

Wen Shui turned around at the sound and saw Ayano Mitsuki, whom she and Banami had just been discussing, standing beside her.

With his ever-present handsome smile, Ayano looked curiously at the list in Wen Shui's hand.

"Huh? Are you going to buy some things for the family?"

Wen Shui shook his head.

"No, I participated in a student council activity," Wen Shui explained. "Because there was a problem with the materials, I was assigned to buy them."

“I see.” Ayano nodded in understanding. “It was the event that was announced on the bulletin board before, right? I didn’t expect Nukumi-san to participate.”

"The student council specifically requested that all members of the Literature Club attend, so there's nothing I can do about it," Wen Shui said helplessly. "But what brings Ayano here today?"

Ayano scratched her head, looking a little embarrassed.

"You gave me that movie ticket a few days ago, right? I was planning to go to the appointment at 5:30."

"But, isn't it impolite to go to see a girl empty-handed?"

Ayano looked at Wen Shui, seemingly waiting for his reply.

"Huh?" Wen Shui glanced at the empty space beside her, then pointed to herself: "Are you asking me?"

“Of course,” Ayano said with a smile.

"I've never given a gift to a girl before."

"Really? When you said those things to me last time, I thought you were a dating expert, Wen Shui."

What kind of misunderstanding is this?

Wen Shui thought for a moment with a sigh, "Should I give this to Shao Yan?"

"Ah...yes." Ayano seemed a little shy.

"Since Shaoyan exercises frequently, let's give him something he often uses during exercise that won't break easily," Wenshui suggested. "For example, a towel or a sweat-absorbing wristband?"

"Is that so? I was originally planning to buy some stationery for Lemon..."

What on earth is this guy thinking?

"Uh, don't you know how good Shao Yan's grades are... You won't find a suitable gift even if you wander around the school supplies section for a long time," Wen Shui said helplessly.

"And remember to save some surprises." Wen Shui recalled a scene that often appeared in those romantic comedy light novels: "Although Shao Shio is usually very easygoing, she should be very happy if you give her a surprise."

Ayano pondered for a moment, then her eyes lit up.

"It was definitely the right decision to come and ask about Wen Shui. Thank you so much." He said with a smile, "The sporting goods section isn't far from here. I'll go buy a gift there later."

"Why not go now?" Wen Shui was taken aback.

“Because, it seems like Wen Shui is also a bit unclear.” Ayano pointed to the list in Wen Shui’s hand: “Do you need my help? Consider it an equal exchange.”

"Oh, right, does Ayano-san know where I can buy sticky notes?" Wen Shui asked. "I can't find any in the school supplies section."

Upon hearing this, Ayano immediately revealed a mysterious smile. He pushed up his glasses and said, "Warm water, this is a very common labeling trap. In fact, you should go to the household goods section for sticky notes."

"Huh? Why?"

“Because compared to students, housewives probably use sticky notes more often.” Ayano gave a wry smile. “This is something I only recently discovered.”

"I've gained some pretty little useful knowledge..." Wen Shui picked up the plastic bag containing the curtains and pointed her thumb to the household goods section: "Then I'll go buy some things first."

"Ah."

After taking two steps, Wen Shui suddenly turned around.

"By the way, I hope you and Shaoyan have a great time today."

Ayano paused for a moment, then smiled and nodded: "Thank you, Wen Shui."

After saying that, the two parted ways. Shortly after they left, Anna emerged from the shadows of the shelf. She watched the retreating figure of Onami, her eyes revealing an ambiguous emotion.

"A dating expert...?"

She murmured quietly.

"Perhaps it really is possible—"

She gripped the shopping list tightly in her hand, then turned and left.

Out of the corner of her eye, she seemed to catch a glimpse of a petite figure flashing by in the corner of the shelf, but Banami didn't pay any attention to it.

◇

Although the conversation with Banami took quite a while, when Wenshui returned to the school's small auditorium with the materials, no one blamed him for the time spent, which relieved him.

In the words of that senior from the craft club, the logistics team's procurement efficiency was already fast enough. If the members of the craft club were to procure the materials, they probably wouldn't see them until next Saturday.

As her preconceived notions about the various clubs in Shilu deepened, Wen Shui actively participated in the afternoon's preparations.

Time flew by in the midst of their busy work. Various props and decorations were made by the students and then carefully placed into wooden boxes for storage. Amidst the cheers of Karen Himegami and the prop team, a black curtain adorned with cute stickers and decorations was finally completed.

"The last one is finally finished." The senior from the craft club wiped the sweat from his forehead and said with a smile, "It really took a lot of effort."

"It looks pretty good." Hibari Aratahara, the student council president who had appeared in the small auditorium at some point, carefully examined the curtains on the table.

She smiled with satisfaction and said loudly, "The preparations are almost finished. Thank you all for your support. I will have the school add the results of this event to your personal files, which I believe will be helpful to you all."

The members of the Yangjiao group immediately cheered. Amid the enthusiastic atmosphere, the president raised his hand to signal everyone to calm down.

"Tomorrow morning at seven o'clock, please wear your school uniforms and gather at the entrance of the Toyohashi Art Museum. The autograph session will start at eight o'clock." The president made arrangements in an orderly manner: "I have rented a van. Please have the students in the decoration team come with me to the site and arrange these decorations according to the original plan."

"The rest of you can go home and rest now."

Various sounds suddenly filled the small auditorium as members of different groups shared their day's events. The extraordinary social atmosphere spontaneously created by the Yangjiao members kept Wen Shui in her seat, clutching her phone and not daring to move.

"By the way, Himegami-san, how about we go to karaoke this afternoon? Let's celebrate the successful completion of the preparations."

A conversation could be heard from not far away; a girl from the props team extended an invitation to Himegami.

Wen Shui unconsciously gripped her phone tighter.

"Haha, sorry, I have other things to do today."

Princess Hime smiled and politely declined the request.

"Oh, okay? Let's make it another time then."

"Okay."

The warm water relaxed his tense body. He turned on his phone and set his alarm for tomorrow.

Sitting next to him, Anna stretched out a big yawn: "Finally finished."

She looked at Wen Shui and said with a smile, "You must have had a hard day, Wen Shui. See you tomorrow."

Wen Shui looked away from the 4 PM time displayed on his phone and looked up at Banami, who seemed to have regained her liveliness and cheerfulness.

"Huh? Oh, see you tomorrow, Bana-kun."

Banai smiled, waved her hand, and left.

Wen Shui lowered her head, tidying up the scraps and trash she had left behind. Although Chairman Fang Huyuan had said he would send someone to clean up, Wen Shui generally preferred to clean up herself.

Just as he was about to get up and throw the trash he had collected into the bin, a new message notification popped up on his still-lit phone screen.

"Raise your head."

The sender is "姫の爱".

Wen Shuihe slowly raised his head.