People in Mygo are emotional firefighters.

"Xiangzi had her reasons for choosing to leave. I don't think her way of handling things was necessarily right, but I respect her choice because it's her life."

“You have no right to force her to live according to your script. Your pursuit will only push her further away and trap you in the same place.”

These merciless words plunged Su Shi into an icy abyss. But the tense shoulders of Toyokawa Shoko, who was standing behind him, relaxed almost imperceptibly after the initial stiffness.

Nagasaki Motoyo was struck by his series of strong and blunt words.

The color drained from her face, her lips trembled slightly, and her eyes, which were always filled with gentleness, were now filled with the embarrassment of having her thoughts exposed, the shame of being rejected so directly, and even more so, the deep resentment of being excluded.

Looking at Ishikawa Mayu's indifferent expression, and then looking over his shoulder at Toyokawa Shoko, who still stood with her back straight and refused to turn around, a huge sense of powerlessness and bitterness instantly overwhelmed her.

Standing behind Ishikawa Mayu, Toyokawa Shoko clearly heard every word he said. There was no presumptuous sympathy, no condescending judgment, but simply the return of the power of choice and the due respect to her.

This protection based on equality, like a gentle warm current, quietly melted some of the ice in her heart. Although she still harbored resentment towards him for leaving without saying goodbye, her gratitude at this moment was real and clear.

She turned her head slightly and spoke in a low voice, barely audible to Ishikawa Mayu beside her.

"...I'm leaving now."

After saying that, she didn't linger, nor did she glance at Nagasaki Motoyo. She turned around and quickly disappeared into the deepening twilight, her figure less burdened by the solitary struggle she had shown before.

Ishikawa Mayu did not turn around to look at Xiangzi's departing figure; his gaze remained fixed on Nagasaki Motoyo, who was pale and swaying before him.

Students leaving school cast curious glances at him, but he quietly took a half-step, using his slightly broader shoulders and back to create a small, relatively isolated space for her.

Nagasaki Motoyo seemed unable to bear the suffocating atmosphere and the subtle stares from those around her any longer. She suddenly turned around, wanting to escape this place and escape from the stranger and chilling figure in front of her, Ishikawa Maho.

However, as soon as she took a step, her wrist was tightly gripped by a warm hand.

The force wasn't strong, and it didn't hurt her, but it carried an undeniable firmness, preventing her from escaping.

"Let me go!" Su Shi struggled, her voice trembling with tears, and she looked up at him, her red eyes filled with grievance. "What else do you want?!"

Ishikawa Mayu did not let go despite her agitation. Looking at the girl in front of him who seemed like she could shatter at any moment, all the calmness and toughness he had shown in front of Xiangzi turned into a helpless sigh.

"How could I bear to let you leave alone when you look so lost and distraught?"

These words were like a tiny needle, gently piercing the thorny shell she had been building up. Inside, it was filled with untold grievances and fear. Her struggles weakened instantly; she simply turned her face away, refusing to look at him, but tears uncontrollably streamed down her face again.

Ishikawa Mayu didn't say anything more, but simply held her wrist firmly, subtly adjusting the direction and leading her slowly towards the train station.

He didn't force himself to walk alongside her, but instead walked slightly ahead of her, maintaining that subtly protective posture, shielding her from the crowd and hiding her tearful face that she didn't want anyone to see.

Nagasaki Motoyo stopped struggling and simply let him lead her, her head bowed, letting her tears flow silently.

The two walked in silence for a while, the only sounds being their footsteps and the distant hustle and bustle of the city. Finally, Nagasaki Motoyo couldn't hold back any longer, and asked in a muffled voice, her tone heavy with nasal congestion, her voice almost dissipating in the wind:

"...Why didn't you help me just now?"

Ishikawa Mayu did not answer immediately, but slowed down her pace slightly so that the two walked side by side.

He turned his head, looked at her downcast face, still streaked with tears, and asked in return:

"Su Shi, you're so smart, couldn't you really tell from Xiangzi's attitude just now? Did he want to have a proper talk with you, or did he just want to escape immediately?"

Su Shi's eyelashes trembled, and she bit her lower lip.

"Do you really think you'll get the answer you want by pressing me so aggressively and blocking the school gate?" His voice was calm, but it struck her heart like a hammer blow. "What good will it do besides making her more afraid of you and making you even more upset?"

"Do you expect me to help you drive Xiangzi to the brink? That will only make her resent me, and she might even transfer schools, leaving us unable to contact each other. Is that the outcome you want?"

“I…I just want…” Su Shi raised her tear-filled eyes, which were filled with disbelief, struggle, and pain, “I want her to come back…I want everyone to go back to how we were before…we were all so happy before…”

Seeing her fragile yet stubborn appearance, Ishikawa Mayu felt a pang of tenderness and subconsciously raised her other free hand, wanting to wipe away the tears on her cheeks.

However, Su Shi suddenly turned her head away from his touch, her eyes still filled with a trace of resentment.

Ishikawa Mayu's hand froze in mid-air. After a moment, he helplessly lowered his hand and sighed softly.

“I understand,” he continued, his tone softening. “It’s pretty much what you thought. Xiangzi did have her reasons for leaving you back then. I… I have a pretty good idea of ​​what it was.”

"Then tell me!" Su Shi immediately raised her head and asked anxiously, as if she had grasped the only piece of driftwood.

“Not yet.” Ishikawa Mayu stopped and turned around, looking intently into her eyes with a sincere and firm gaze. “While I personally believe that Xiangzi should be honest with you, Su Shi, I hope you can give Xiangzi some respect, give her some space and time, and let her make her own choice and decide when to speak.”

He paused, a hint of earnestness in his voice: "At the same time, I also hope... you can give me some trust. I will help you, at the right time, in a gentler way, to persuade Xiangzi to face all of this honestly. Okay?"

Nagasaki Motoyo stared at him blankly. The seriousness in his eyes seemed genuine, and his words, "I will help you," were the promise she most longed to hear at that moment.

At this moment, her grievances, anger, and unease seemed to have found a temporary haven.

"...Really?" she asked softly, with a last shred of uncertainty.

"Yes." Ishikawa Mayu nodded solemnly.

Hearing the affirmative response from Mayu, Nagasaki Motoyo felt as if she had finally unloaded a huge burden, and also as if she wanted to hold on to this hard-won promise.

She lowered her head, hesitated for a moment, and then carefully extended her right hand, raising her fair little finger, and presented it to him.

"Then... pinky promise."

This childlike action formed a strange contrast with her earlier breakdown and her current red-rimmed eyes.

Ishikawa Mayu looked at the slightly trembling little finger, not laughing at her childishness, but his gaze softened. He also extended his little finger and solemnly hooked it around hers.

"Pinky promise, a hundred years from now."

A cool touch came from my fingertips, accompanied by this ancient vow, as if an invisible force truly bound our promise together.

The moment her fingers loosened, Nagasaki Motoyo felt as if her last bit of strength had been drained away, or rather, the emotions that had been suppressed for so long finally broke free.

She took a step forward, gently pressing her forehead against Ishikawa Mayu's chest, her hands instinctively grabbing the lapel of his school uniform jacket.

Ishikawa Mayu suddenly stiffened, her arms hanging awkwardly in mid-air.

He could clearly feel the girl in his arms trembling slightly, and the warm, damp touch of the fabric against his shoulder.

After hesitating for a moment, he finally put his arm around the fragile girl in front of him.

He raised his hand and, somewhat clumsily and gently, placed it on her slightly trembling back, stroking it awkwardly, as if soothing a frightened cat.

Nagasaki Motoyo remained silent, burying his face even deeper, letting his tears silently soak his clothes, as if he wanted to vent all his grievances, resentment, and the faint hope he had just gained in this brief, quiet moment of reliance.

Chapter Forty-Nine: I hope you can come.

The metallic scraping of the tram gradually faded into the distance, eventually disappearing into the hustle and bustle of the city at dusk.

Ishikawa Mayu stood there until the carriage carrying Nagasaki Motoyo completely disappeared into the twilight at the end of the tracks, then slowly let out a breath, turned around and went back to Haneoka to retrieve the car.

To be honest, it's even more tiring than editing videos for ten hours straight.

He twitched the corners of his mouth, revealing a hint of helplessness.

Walking back to school, the cool evening breeze calmed him down a little.

He had already vaguely guessed the reason when he heard his classmates talking about it at the school gate and saw Su Shi wearing the Moon Forest school uniform.

If Ye Mu and Su Shi were from the same school and were former teammates, it would be perfectly normal for them to keep in touch privately.

It's likely that Su Shi mentioned herself to Mu at some point, and Mu then relayed it to Xiangzi.

But... why would Su Shi, who has nothing better to do, specifically bring up himself in front of Mu?

The thought swirled in his weary mind, bringing a subtle, indescribable flutter, which was then suppressed by heavier thoughts.

Fortunately, he managed to stabilize the chaotic situation that had just occurred.

If he hadn't been there and had let Su Shi rush in recklessly, and Xiangzi had responded coldly, the situation would have become unbearable and the damage to both of them would have been even greater.

Just then, my phone in my pocket started vibrating slightly.

He took out his phone, and the screen lit up. Almost simultaneously, there were LINE messages from Xiangzi and Su Shi.

He clicked on Xiangzi's first.

The content was brief, consistent with her usual style.

Thank you for what you just said.

After a few seconds of pause, the next one followed.

I'm going to work now.

As Ishikawa Mayu looked at the message, she seemed to see herself in her customer service uniform, sitting in a small cubicle, trying her best to make her voice sound sweet and professional into the microphone.

He wasn't surprised; he knew she had been doing this job.

"Hmm." He replied with a single word, his finger hovering over the screen for a moment before adding, "Take care and get some rest."

The message was marked as read, but there was no further reply.

He exited the chat window and opened Su Shi's.

In stark contrast to Xiangzi's simplicity, Su Shi's message carried the unique, cautious tenderness that came with her calmed emotions.

【Shinba-kun, I'm sorry... I lost my composure just now.】

Also, thank you... for not leaving me alone.

That promise... I will remember it.

Looking at these words, Ishikawa Mayu seemed to see her again, her eyes filled with tears, hooking her little finger around his.

With a light tap of my fingertip on the screen, I returned to the past.

No need to apologize. It's perfectly normal to have an emotional breakdown.

I'll keep our promise in mind. And remember to get plenty of rest.

After successfully sending the message, he put away his phone and rubbed his throbbing temples.

The cool breeze of the evening could not dispel the heavy weariness in his heart and... a faint sense of unease.

I originally thought that after moving, I would become like a stranger to Xiangzi, each running on parallel tracks, not disturbing each other. Perhaps this was the best ending for both of us.

But from today onwards, that line has become blurred.

He inevitably found himself once again caught in the vortex of "Toyokawa Shoko," and this time, "Nagasaki Motoyo" was also implicated.

He was like standing on a taut tightrope, with the complex and unsolvable abyss of their emotions beneath his feet. Any misstep could hurt them even more and cause him to fall into it as well.

A heavy feeling, a mixture of powerlessness and self-doubt, washed over him like a cold tide, leaving him feeling mentally exhausted and even with a slight headache.

He genuinely wanted them to resolve their inner conflicts, yet he couldn't help but doubt whether he truly had the ability to fulfill his promise to Su Shi and balance this fragile love triangle.

But now that things have come to this, it seems there is no other way but to continue down the path I have chosen.

Just as he was feeling heartbroken about this, his brow furrowing unconsciously—

"beep."

The phone in my pocket emitted that familiar LINE notification sound again.

Ishikawa Mayu felt a sudden tightness in her chest almost reflexively, thinking with a numb helplessness: Could it be that Su Shi's emotions are fluctuating again, or... has something happened to Xiangzi again?

He reluctantly and slowly turned the screen back on, his gaze falling on the latest message preview—

The sender's profile picture was that lotus flower that he had seen before, which someone claimed was "very tasteful" but actually looked rather old-fashioned.

It's Chihaya Aine.

Before even opening the chat window, and without knowing what surprising words or silly pictures that guy had sent, just seeing that profile picture made Ishikawa Mayu's tense lips unconsciously relax.

A gentle smile, which he himself didn't immediately notice, quietly crept onto the corners of his mouth.

He unlocked his phone again and was taken to that screen.

【Mayu-kun! Have you finished dealing with your troublesome matter over there? (；'д｀)ゞ】

Upon seeing this message, Ishikawa Mayu could almost picture the subtle expression on her face when she sent it—a mixture of concern, a touch of gossip, and a hint of "come praise me for being considerate and not bothering you."

[Okay, that's all for now.]

Almost the instant the message was marked as read, Ai-yin's next message followed, her tone instantly becoming excited:

【Great! Let me report! I've made some major progress! (★ω★)】

Xiaodeng gave me penguin band-aids today! She gave them to me willingly!

Ishikawa Mayu looked at the screen and raised an eyebrow slightly.

He remembered the advice given to the lamp at the Astronomical Department yesterday, and he understood the small but important signal that the band-aid represented—the lamp opening its heart.

It seems that Aine's efforts were not in vain.

She has fully appreciated your efforts.