People in Mygo are emotional firefighters.

Takamatsu Akari was also a little stunned, and couldn't help but turn around to look at Mayu, who was standing there in a daze, but in the end she chose to obediently follow behind Shiina Tatsuki.

Could it be...?

Was the previous comment "Teacher Li hope" really that damaging?

Ishikawa Mayu shook her head helplessly, not wanting to argue with Riki, who wasn't being honest, and turned her attention back to the delicious food in front of her.

……

"This one is good...that one is good too..."

Just as he was concentrating on selecting food, a green figure unexpectedly bumped into him.

"Well!"

"what……"

A soft thud and two low gasps rang out almost simultaneously.

Ishikawa Mayu felt her side bump against something cool and soft, and the other person's body swayed slightly.

"Sorry, I wasn't paying attention..."

He subconsciously apologized, but when he looked up, he found Ruoye Mu quietly watching him, her golden eyes calm and indifferent, as if he hadn't been the one who had just been bumped into.

Looking at Wakaba Mutsu's appearance, Ishikawa Mayu felt that the loneliness emanating from her was about to overflow, which was completely out of place with the lively atmosphere of the restaurant.

just……

Even when she's seated, Wakaba is the same way, not getting any attention from anyone...

He suddenly remembered that tonight's dinner was ostensibly to thank Mu for the cucumbers and to celebrate their first formal meeting.

Throughout the entire ordeal, it seemed no one truly engaged with her or paid her any attention. Su Shi and Aine were mostly focused on themselves, while Li Xi was completely absorbed in Deng, who herself wasn't the proactive type…

This quiet, doll-like girl was thus marginalized invisibly.

"Um..." Ishikawa Mayu's gaze softened slightly as she looked at Wakaba Mutsu, a hint of pity in her eyes. "Is this Wakaba-san's first time at a buffet?"

Ruoye Mu looked around at her surroundings and nodded slightly; she did indeed feel somewhat lost.

"Well, if you don't mind, let me recommend some good food for you."

Mayu Ishikawa tried to guide this clumsy child.

“No need…” Ruoye Mu’s voice was weak, and his golden eyes were slightly lowered, hiding a trace of sadness.

Are you sure you don't need it anymore?

Ishikawa Mayu still caught the unfinished meaning in her words and the subtle change in her emotions; she probably felt that she wasn't worth troubling others...

Looking at the quiet girl before him, almost blending into the background, his heart softened, but his tone was more firm and gentle than before:

"It's already a happy thing that Ruoye could come to the gathering. Besides, I haven't properly thanked you for the cucumber you gave me yet."

He looked into the girl's slightly trembling golden eyes and continued, his tone guiding and patient: "So, let me do my duty as a host and show you around, okay?"

Wakaba Muku stared blankly at Ishikawa Masahiro, looking at the pure earnestness and kindness in his eyes.

Her small lips parted slightly, as if she wanted to say something, but in the end she only nodded almost imperceptibly.

This subtle response brought a refreshing and reassuring smile to Ishikawa Mayu's face. He turned to the side, making a guiding gesture, his tone light and cheerful.

"Then, please follow me."

Chapter Ninety: Starting Over

Ishikawa Mayu walked ahead, slowing her pace to ensure that Wakaba Mutsu could easily keep up.

He first led her to the refrigerator displaying all kinds of exquisite cakes and desserts.

"The matcha mousse here has a good reputation; it's moderately sweet and has a very authentic matcha flavor."

He pointed to one of the bright green desserts decorated with gold foil.

Ruoye Mu watched quietly, then nodded gently, picked up the tongs, and carefully placed a portion into the plate.

"If you don't like a strong tea flavor, this cheesecake is also very popular; it has a very delicate texture." He then pointed to a simply designed cheesecake next to it.

She nodded again and picked up a small piece as well.

Ishikawa Mayu led her to the hot food section and continued to recommend: "The tempura shrimp is fried to perfection, crispy on the outside and tender on the inside."

She did as she was told.

"And the roast beef over there is cooked to perfection."

She quietly picked up two more slices.

At first, Ishikawa Mayu didn't find anything unusual, simply assuming that she trusted his recommendation.

But soon, a subtle sense of unease quietly emerged—she was too compliant, almost mechanically following his every word, putting every food he mentioned onto her plate without any preference or hesitation.

This doesn't seem like the reaction a curious young girl would have when she first arrives at a buffet.

It's more like a kind of... thoughtfulness that doesn't want to disappoint others' good intentions or let their enthusiasm go to waste, an almost instinctive, suppressive understanding of one's own preferences.

As Ishikawa Mayu watched the variety of food piling up on her plate, though not all of it might suit her taste, her heart softened. She found her clumsy attempt at "supporting" somewhat endearing, yet also felt a pang of indescribable heartache.

Is it that Ruoye is... used to putting her own thoughts second? Used to not expressing what she "wants"?

At least today, at this dinner party that is ostensibly to celebrate her, Wakaba shouldn't be acting like this.

He stopped, turned around, and bent down slightly so that his gaze was level with that of Wakaba Mutsu, whose eyes were lowered. His voice was extremely soft:

“Wakaba-san,” he gazed earnestly into her calm, golden eyes, “the things I recommended earlier were all things I thought were good. But… what about you? Is there anything you particularly want to try? Even just a little bit would be fine.”

Just as Ye Mu was about to reach for the next dish with her tongs, she froze in mid-air.

She seemed to have never been asked such a question before.

A rare hint of bewilderment flickered in those usually calm and undisturbed golden eyes.

She slightly opened her mouth, her gaze unconsciously sweeping over the dazzling array of food around her before quickly lowering it to the plate in her hand, which was already laden with "recommended dishes."

After a brief silence, she shook her head gently, almost inaudibly, her voice as faint as a sigh:

"...My thoughts...are not important."

She said this very naturally, without the slightest grievance or complaint, as if she were simply stating a very ordinary fact, such as "the sky is blue."

Ishikawa Mayu's heart felt like it had been gently squeezed by something.

Looking at Wakaba Mutsu's lowered eyelashes and his self-righteous attitude that his thoughts were unimportant, the image of Nagasaki Motoyo flashed through his mind.

Su Shi also wears a mask of gentleness and obedience, but it is a protective coloring she uses to maintain relationships because she is afraid of not being needed. Beneath the mask lies a struggle to be seen as her true self.

But Ye Mu... seems different.

There was no hidden longing or unease in her eyes, only an almost ethereal calm.

Could it be that she truly believes deep down that her own preferences and desires are unimportant?

Ishikawa Mayu's gaze fell on the plate full of food in her hand—all of which were his recommendations, none of which were her own choices.

He suddenly reached out and gently took the heavy plate from her hand.

Ruo Yemu looked up somewhat blankly, a hint of confusion flashing in her golden eyes.

Ishikawa Mayu placed the plate filled with "others' choices" on the counter to the side, then picked up a brand new, empty plate and solemnly handed it to her.

"Wakaba-kun," his voice was gentle yet firm, "none of what happened before counts. Now, let's start over, okay?"

He leaned forward slightly, bringing his gaze level with hers.

"You can put only what you really want to eat on this plate. Even if it's just one thing..." He paused, his tone becoming even gentler, "Your thoughts are very important."

Wakaba Mutsu stared blankly at the empty plate in front of her, then looked at Ishikawa Mayu's earnest eyes. The sudden loss of weight in her hands and the new choice before her left her momentarily at a loss.

Her slender fingers gently traced the cool rim of the plate, and a barely perceptible ripple appeared in her golden eyes.

Ruoye Mu's fingertips lingered for a long time on the edge of the clean, empty porcelain plate. The cool touch was completely different from the previous plate, which was filled with various foods and was heavy.

Empty plate...

Only pack what you want to eat...

Her thoughts are very important...

These thoughts, like pebbles thrown into a deep pool, stirred subtle yet real ripples in her nearly frozen heart. She felt a strange, tiny stirring, like a seed forgotten in a corner finally receiving a ray of light.

She raised her eyes and looked once more at the dazzling array of food available for purchase. This time, her gaze was no longer passively following Ishikawa Mayu's directions, but rather carrying a hint of cautious scrutiny that she herself was unaware of.

Ishikawa Mayu stood quietly to the side, not urging him, but patiently waiting. He could sense that the dormant aura around the girl was undergoing an extremely subtle change.

Finally, Wakaba Mutsu moved. Carrying the empty plate, she walked towards the salad area and stopped in front of a bowl of cucumber salad that looked very fresh. She picked up the tongs, her movements still gentle, but with more certainty than before, and took some into her plate.

Then, she turned to a plate of neatly arranged cold mashed potatoes and took a small spoonful.

After making those two choices, she seemed to have used up all her courage. She stopped moving, lowered her head slightly, as if waiting for judgment.

"A great choice, it looks refreshing and delicious."

Ishikawa Mayu laughed because he saw a faint smile flash across Wakaba Mutsu's lips after she finished speaking.

His heart was instantly filled with a strange sense of satisfaction, a feeling... somewhat like the feeling of finally successfully feeding a shy, timid little animal that always seemed to hide, and seeing it finally tentatively accepting his kindness. Warm and tender.

"Shall we go get some drinks?" he suggested cheerfully, naturally leading her towards the beverage area. "The buffet has quite a few drink options."

As Ishikawa Mayu spoke, her gaze quickly swept over the dazzling array of options in the beverage section.

He remembered that Ai-yin had specifically asked for juice, and Su-shi... although she didn't mention it, he knew she preferred black tea.

She deftly took a clean glass, filled it with orange juice for Ai-yin, and then carefully selected a cup of fragrant Earl Grey tea.

When he turned around with two drinks in his hands, he saw that Wakaba Mutsu was standing behind him, holding two glasses of mango juice.

Ishikawa Mayu looked at her with some surprise.

Ruo Ye Mu lowered her head slightly, not looking directly into his eyes, and simply handed one of the mango juices forward a little.

"...Here, take this."

She paused, seemingly trying to organize her thoughts and express herself clearly.

"...It tastes good."

"..."

Ishikawa Mayu remained silent for a moment, her expression softening further.

"Ah."

Mu.jpg

Chapter Ninety-One: The Sweetness of Being Slightly Drunk

Dinner concluded in a warm and cozy atmosphere.

When Nagasaki Motoyo returned home, the motion-sensor light in the entryway turned on silently, dispelling the darkness of the porch and illuminating the usual coldness inside the house.

Ms. Nagasaki is still on a business trip today and has not yet returned home.

However, in contrast to this coolness, Nagasaki Motoyo felt an almost overflowing, tipsy sweetness and satisfaction in her heart.

The silence outside did not make her feel lonely; on the contrary, it acted as a curtain, highlighting the burning joy she savored alone.

Nagasaki Motoyo gently closed the door and leaned against it for a moment.

She bent down, her fingers gracefully hooking the heels of her uniform shoes, and neatly placed them in the shoe cabinet.

Then, she carefully removed the white socks, revealing a pair of delicate bare feet.

Under the light, the instep was so white it was almost transparent, and the pale blue veins were faintly visible.

She gently moved her toes, the rounded tips glowing a healthy pink, as delicate as newly blossoming flower buds.

Stepping barefoot onto the cool, smooth, wood-look floor, the slight chill made her toes shiver slightly, yet strangely, it made the feeling even more real and closer to the throbbing in her heart at that moment.

Like a cat finally returning to its nest and shedding all pretense, she tiptoed into the spacious living room with a light, almost bouncy, silent dance.

Without turning on the main lights, she sat on the sofa, the distant neon lights outside the window seeping in and casting blurry colors on her.