People in Mygo are emotional firefighters.

"..."

Ishikawa Mayu was caught off guard by her overly direct teasing and the sudden shortening of the distance between them. The drawn-out "Mayu-kun" with its subtle shift in tone made his ears burn, and he almost instinctively turned his face away, avoiding her overly bright and playful gaze.

That's too unfair! This is no match for someone of my level! I feel like I'm about to be annihilated by her dazzling light!

Seeing his clearly speechless and choked-up expression, Chihaya Aine raised her chin smugly, a triumphant smile playing on her lips. She turned around with a cheerful air and walked briskly towards the rooftop entrance, her pink hair dancing in the sunlight.

"Let's go, Makoto-san~" she called back, her voice full of bright laughter, "If we don't go down soon, lunch break will be over, okay?"

Ishikawa Mayu watched her disappear at the rooftop entrance before letting out a long sigh of relief and touching his burning ears.

"Seriously... there's just no way to deal with her..."

Where are my teammates in Chapter 5? Please save them!

Ishikawa Mayu stood outside the back door of the classroom, taking a deep, tragic breath, as if she were about to step into some kind of dragon's den or tiger's lair, not a classroom.

He tried his best to keep a low profile, hunching his back slightly, like a mouse trying to sneak back to its den when the cat wasn't looking. He tiptoed open the door, praying that he could return to his corner without disturbing anyone.

However, the more lofty the ideal, the more skeletal the reality. He clearly underestimated his classmates' enthusiasm for gossip and their investigative abilities.

The moment he pushed open the door, countless sharp eyes in the classroom were fixed on him.

He sighed inwardly, his throat felt dry, and he swallowed unconsciously.

Trying to appear nonchalant, as if "nothing happened and I know nothing," I walked straight to my window seat without looking to the side.

The short distance of just a few steps felt as long as a public execution.

Finally managing to snag a seat, he was almost impatient to squeeze himself into this relatively familiar corner, as if the table and chairs could form a fragile barrier.

However, the light dimmed the moment he sat down.

It wasn't that the sky darkened, but rather that several figures quickly surrounded him, completely blocking the afternoon sunlight streaming through the window and casting an oppressive shadow around his desk.

Several male classmates, whom he usually only nods to, now leaned down with overly enthusiastic smiles, placing their hands on his desk to form a semi-encirclement.

"Hey, Ishikawa, you're back?"

"You're something else, kid! You've got some big stuff going on quietly!"

"Tell me quickly, what's going on with the new transfer student? Tell me the truth!"

Laughter and questions descended from above, carrying the boundless curiosity characteristic of adolescence regarding ambiguous relationships.

Ishikawa Mayu felt like a rare animal being stared at, and the hairs on the back of her neck were standing on end.

Where are my teammates? Help!

He struggled to lift his head, his gaze passing through the gaps between the shoulders blocking his way, and desperately turned to Chihaya Aine.

The atmosphere was completely different for Chihaya Aine.

"Chihaya-kun, may I call you that? By the way... what exactly is your relationship with Ishikawa-kun?" The red-haired girl named Mai couldn't contain her curiosity and asked with sparkling eyes.

Eri and Kana, who were standing nearby, immediately cast equally inquisitive glances their way.

Chihaya Aine immediately flashed a flawless, friendly smile. "Just call me Aine!"

She explained casually, "Actually, there's nothing special about us. We just happened to go to the same school in junior high. I just suddenly had something urgent to ask him, and in my haste, I didn't pay attention to how I asked him..."

Clearly, this flimsy explanation was completely insufficient to satisfy everyone's burning gossip spirit. The girls exchanged knowing glances, obviously not entirely convinced.

However, compared to the lack of boundaries among boys, girls are more tactful. In addition, Aine showed friendliness, so she just smiled kindly and didn't press the matter further.

"Oh~ I see—" Mai drawled, winking with a smile, her tone teasing in a friendly way, but she quickly and considerately changed the subject, "But Aine, seeing how hurriedly you grabbed Ishikawa and ran off, you probably haven't had lunch yet, right? Do you want to come with us?"

Thank you so much!

Chihaya Aine, of course, couldn't refuse such an invitation that would allow her to quickly integrate into the group. She immediately returned to her seat with cheerful steps, taking her lunchbox and dragging her chair over with her.

As for Ishikawa Mayu?

Chihaya Aine had actually noticed his pitiful, pleading look long ago, but given Mayu's current predicament, even she couldn't handle it. Rushing over would only attract more attention.

So, I'm sorry, Mayu-kun.

She silently mouthed an apology, and when no one was paying attention, she winked her right eye quickly and playfully with a hint of regret, conveying the message, "I can't help you either, take care of yourself." Then, without hesitation, she blended into the group of girls as if nothing had happened.

What's with that wink? What happened to being an accomplice?

"Ishikawa-kun, stop looking, your eyes are practically glued to Chihaya-san."

The boys surrounding him grinned mischievously and waved their hands in front of his face.

…………

Ishikawa Mayu slumped listlessly on the table, almost melting into a puddle of liquid, silently flowing down the table legs to the floor, then seeping into the cracks in the floorboards, disappearing completely from this world, or at least from this classroom.

In just one hour of lunch break, his classmates talked to him more than they had in the entire month of school, and his social energy was seriously depleted.

Fortunately, high school students' interests always come and go quickly.

In addition, the teacher's boring afternoon lessons successfully wore down most people's will and excess energy.

That's how it should be. It seems there isn't enough homework or enough tests, which is why these guys have so much free time to gossip about other people.

He even mentally commented on it in the tone of a condescending educator.

It must be that the workload is insufficient, which allows these young people to have excess energy scattered on unimportant things. If the curriculum were more intensive, the knowledge density greater, and there were more regular quizzes... wouldn't that better unleash everyone's potential and allow them to focus entirely on their studies?

That's right, it's all for everyone's benefit, and it's definitely not about taking out one's anger on others.

but……

Out of the corner of her eye, Ishikawa Mayu glanced at the girl beside her, who was still intently taking notes, and a subtle sense of frustration welled up inside her.

In terms of exam results alone, Ishikawa Mayu was actually no less capable, and could even be said to have handled them with ease.

But what makes Chihaya Aine different is that she seems to have no weaknesses, whether in interpersonal communication or learning ability.

Such people are destined to become shining pillars of society, standing in the center of the crowd to receive applause.

really...

He clicked his tongue inwardly, unable to pinpoint the source of his irritation.

He knew she was a dazzling girl back in junior high, but after that brief, somewhat inappropriate encounter during lunch break, facing her flawless excellence again, he felt a subtle sense of defeat.

It was as if a brief moment of closeness had been invisibly pushed back to an even more distant position.

Some people are born to be in the spotlight, while others are more accustomed to the quiet of the corner. He had never cared about this before, but now he inexplicably felt that the gap between the two might be more difficult to bridge than he had imagined.

Chapter Six Agreement

The school bell seemed to break a seal, instantly making the classroom atmosphere relaxed and lively. Students stood up one after another, and the sounds of laughter, desks and chairs being moved, and backpacks zipping together mingled together.

Ishikawa Mayu also lazily got up and casually glanced around.

Gao Songdeng stood blankly in front of the blackboard, seemingly looking at something.

Ai-yin is busy integrating into the group of girls and probably doesn't have time to pay attention to him, but that's only natural.

Influenced by the school atmosphere, the students in the class all formed bands.

A cheerful and outgoing girl like Aine, even if she doesn't know anything, can still serve as a face.

Once she joins a band, stands in the spotlight, and becomes an even more dazzling presence, she'll probably have even less chance of interacting with a gloomy creature like him.

He suppressed the inexplicable, chaotic thoughts that popped into his mind, deliberately avoided looking at her, zipped up his backpack, slung it over one shoulder, and prepared to leave the classroom with his head down.

Just as he passed the podium and was about to walk out the front door, he caught a glimpse of Gao Songdeng, still standing in front of the blackboard, out of the corner of his eye.

The magnetic stickers that were originally scattered haphazardly on the blackboard were all moved one by one to the far left by Gao Songdeng, and arranged in a neat row.

Even if you stand on tiptoe, it's difficult to reach the very top few stones.

Ishikawa Mayu paused for a moment.

Unexplained obsessive-compulsive disorder...

He was speechless for a moment, but looking at Deng's serious yet somewhat strained expression, he finally sighed and silently walked to the blackboard.

With a simple reach, the tall magnetic patches were straightened, perfectly aligning with the neat row of patches below.

Takamatsu Akari seemed startled, turning her head sharply. When she saw it was Ishikawa Mayu, a hint of surprise flashed in her light brown eyes. She then lowered her head and said in a voice barely audible, "...Thank you."

Looking at her timid appearance, Ishikawa Mayu remembered the stone that hadn't been returned at noon.

"Here you go."

The words circled on his lips, but inexplicably he swallowed them back.

He paused, glanced to the side, and added in a flat, somewhat nonsensical tone.

"...That stone is quite beautiful."

"Mayu-kun!"

This sudden shout, far louder than her usual volume, startled Ishikawa Mayu, who was about to leave, and she instinctively took two steps back.

Could it be because the stone wasn't returned? Are you that concerned about that stone?

Gao Songdeng seemed to realize he had been too loud, his cheeks flushing bright red. He immediately pulled back, his voice instantly becoming barely audible, tinged with obvious embarrassment: "I-I'm sorry... I was too loud..."

She lowered her head, her fingers nervously twisting together, but the desire to share ultimately overcame her shyness.

"Um... I've collected so many of these little stones in the Astronomy Club... and even prettier ones... would you like to come and take a look, Mayu-kun?"

Her voice grew softer as she spoke, but the anticipation in her eyes remained undiminished, as if she were holding up her most precious treasure, carefully and hopefully waiting for a response.

Ishikawa Mayu was both amused and exasperated. He realized that whenever Takamatsu Akari's "stone domain" was involved, her emotional fluctuations would become exceptionally intense.

However, the suggestion to go to the Astronomy Department to look at the rocks...

The suggestion itself wasn't a problem, but right now... he glanced out the window; the sun was already beginning to set.

In a few days, it will be my one-year anniversary on a certain pink app. I've been working non-stop after school these past few days to make videos, and I just can't find the time.

"I'm afraid not now, I'm quite busy right now..."

Before he could finish speaking, the light that had ignited in Takamatsu's eyes from finding a like-minded person dimmed rapidly at a speed visible to the naked eye.

She opened her mouth slightly, as if she wanted to say something, but in the end she just lowered her head further, her fingers nervously clutching the hem of her clothes, and murmured softly, "...I see."

Her voice was so soft it almost seemed to dissipate in the wind, carrying obvious disappointment, and even a hint of barely perceptible sadness that she had been rejected again.

"Let people finish speaking. I am indeed very busy after school."

Seeing that she looked like she had been abandoned again, Ishikawa Mayu said irritably, "I'm pretty free at school. It's okay if I come to see you during club activities tomorrow, right?"

"Ming, is there a club activity tomorrow?" she whispered, her eyes gradually brightening. "Is it really okay?"

"I don't know the way to the Astronomy Department, so you'll have to show me the way."

Ishikawa Mayu turned her head away, offering no direct response.

"Alright! I'll lead the way for Zhenyu!"

Gao Songdeng's face was practically overflowing with joy, and even his speech was much more fluent than usual.

"I have quite a few stones at home; I'll bring them over tomorrow."

"That won't be necessary..."

Before he could even utter a word of excuse, Gao Songdeng had already excitedly run out of the classroom with his schoolbag in his arms, probably eager to go home and unearth his strange collection.

"This kid is way too impatient," Ishikawa Mayu thought to himself.

However, being able to make the class darling Gao Songdeng smile like that, I can say that I've done a great job in the class.

At this time, apart from a few students on duty, there was no one left in the classroom. Chihaya Aine had also left with a few classmates. He carried his already packed schoolbag and strolled out of the teaching building at a leisurely pace.

Compared to other students who had to commute by tram, his journey home was much easier—during the holiday before school started, he not only obtained a motorcycle license but also bought a black motorcycle for transportation.

As he walked to the familiar parking spot outside the school gate and took out his helmet, his phone vibrated in his pocket.

It's a message notification from Line.

From: Chihaya Aine

Upon seeing that familiar name, Ishikawa Mayu's lips unconsciously curved into a slight smile, but she quickly suppressed it.

Although I was quite exhausted by this young lady today, I couldn't help but feel a little relieved when I received the news.