Uneasy daily life

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The cats in the cat café are elegant and composed. They can easily find a spot to lie down and attract customers to pet them. Their fur is exceptionally soft and fluffy, making it difficult to tell whether each cat is fat or thin. Cats that seem fat will fall right off their fur when you reach out, while cats that seem thin will feel plump and chubby when you touch them.

The cats in the park are alert and wary. Although they aren't afraid of people, they will always crouch at a distance and watch for a while, only approaching tentatively and slowly when they are sure the person is not hostile. If you reach out to touch them at this point, they will stop in their tracks, ready to run away at any moment. To touch a park cat, you have to offer it food and wait respectfully for it to eat before you have a chance to pet it.

Yukino Yukinoshita crouched on the ground, a small handful of cat food in front of her. Her eyes sparkled with anticipation as she watched the cat stealthily approach. Not far away, Shoko Makinohara and Sakuta Azusagawa were in the same position.

"Too long to read, look, this is like kneeling to pet a cat."

The white figure was pointing and gesturing from a great distance.

Angelina muttered softly, "Sir, I want to pet the cat too..."

"No ambition," Bai Ying scolded, then lowered her voice, "Too long to read aloud. Did you sense something was wrong just now?"

"Something's wrong?"

Angelina tilted her head in confusion: "What's wrong?"

Bai Ying gave an example: "For instance, a superpower suddenly goes out of control and makes someone fall into the sky."

“Of course not.” Angelina was taken aback and exclaimed in surprise, “Sir, your Stand has gone out of control again? It touched Yukino’s hand?!”

"No, but I don't know the specific reason."

Bai Ying couldn't help but ponder again. If we're talking about extraordinary things, besides the Scarlet Mentalist Troupe, only Azusagawa Sakuta had encountered some. But Azusagawa Sakuta seemed more like an extraordinary victim, with nothing particularly unusual about him. Makinohara Shoko did indeed have a coincidental resemblance to that 'Makinohara Shoko,' but she didn't see anything particularly unusual about her either.

Without finding an access point, the conventional reasoning logic chain is broken, and the whole situation is completely incomprehensible.

Coming to her senses, Bai Ying suddenly noticed that Angelina looked very nervous: "What are you doing?"

"Hmm... I'll protect the commander from becoming a criminal?" Angelina said firmly. "If the commander goes crazy, I will definitely control him!"

"It's just a ghost with a hand fetish; it won't go crazy."

As the two chatted, Makinohara Shoko, who had finished feeding the cats in the distance, stood up and waved in their direction: "Goodbye, older brothers and sisters, I'm going home!"

Shoko Makinohara, carrying her schoolbag, walked towards a residential building.

"Follow elementary school students, get to know elementary school students, feed cats..."

Yukino Yukinoshita recounted what she had done that afternoon: "Shiro-kun, did you skip club activities today just to do these weird things?"

"Please exclude feeding the cat; that's an intrusion."

It seems like I wasted an afternoon... but I also have a feeling of being lost and confused.

Yukino Yukinoshita stared silently at the white figure.

"Next, I have something to do, and the hero will be the main force in this matter." Bai Ying took out her phone and said while pressing the buttons, "It's too long to read, and the hero can take a look. I've already sent you the pictures."

Sakuta Azusagawa didn't pay attention. He didn't have a smartphone and was still pondering the possibilities involving Shoko Makinohara, but he couldn't come up with any clues.

"ah!"

Angelina gasped in surprise.

"what is this?"

Yukino Yukinoshita glanced subconsciously at the white shadow's chest.

"Stop looking, it's not my erotic picture." The white figure bumped into Sakuta Azusagawa next to him like a roly-poly toy. "It's this guy's erotic picture."

Sakuta Azusagawa was taken aback and asked, "You didn't show any nipples, did you?"

"Not only did it not expose your scars, it also perfectly encompassed them."

"Then it won't be called erotic art anymore, thank goodness."

Yukino and Angelina looked quite surprised... The injury in the photo, from the left chest to below the right rib, was three neat scars, as if three earthworms had been sewn under the skin, each at least twenty centimeters long.

Sakuta Azusagawa understood perfectly, and shrugged, saying, "Don't be so surprised. I'm also surprised that I didn't die."

"Hero, how about it? Let's see who completes this quest first."

Bai Ying smiled and asked, "As for the content of the commission—find out how these three scars were formed."

"..." Sakuta Azusagawa understood somewhat and nodded, "I am the client."

The task is to... find out how the three scars formed.

Yukino Yukinoshita glanced at the photo again: "It looks like the claw marks of some kind of animal."

Angelina retorted, "Azusagawa, don't you even know how you got injured?"

"Unfortunately, I lost consciousness at that time."

"What happened before you lost consciousness?" Yukino Yukinoshita asked. "There must have been some signs that you were injured, right?"

Sakuta Azusagawa glanced at the white figure, who shrugged and spoke on his behalf: "Unfortunately, no. Isn't this request interesting? It's full of unknown mystery."

Are you sure you don't have the correct answer and are just setting a trap for me, trying to get a free commission victory?

Yukino Yukinoshita pondered it for a moment, then felt it didn't quite seem right.

"Okay, I'll take this commission."

As dusk deepened, Yukino and Angelina boarded the train back to Chiba.

Angelina sat up straight, feeling a little guilty—her superior must have done it on purpose, giving her a problem that no normal person could solve… Yukinoshita, the private Marseille, I cannot reveal information.

Yukino Yukinoshita looked at the scar diagram again, but still couldn't make it out.

When it comes to examining wounds, you should consult a doctor with specialized skills, but there are many different types of doctors.

Certified or uncertified, doctors who treat feet, doctors who treat brains, doctors who study the heart, liver, spleen, lungs, and kidneys, doctors who study the eyes, ears, mouth, nose, and tongue... Should this wound be treated by a surgeon? Try searching online.

[The doctor most skilled at identifying the type of injury.]

Yukino Yukinoshita clicked on the search bar.

[Forensic pathologist.]

So, forensic doctors don't just treat the dead?

Yukino Yukinoshita expanded her knowledge and her mood wasn't too bad.

Bai-kun is only here to see Azusagawa Sakuta, not to see...

……

……

"Whoosh! A free victory! The brave will inevitably try to solve the problem using common sense, but can she solve this kind of superpower problem? No!"

On the way back, Bai Ying affirmed her strategy, saying, "It's a pity that the elementary school student was a real elementary school student, not the famous detective Makinohara Shoko who looks like an elementary school student but has extraordinary wisdom after taking ATPX4869."

Sakuta Azusagawa countered, "Are you sure, Shiro?"

“Of course I’m sure. I was all lovey-dovey with you, and she didn’t waver, which means she really doesn’t know you—or maybe it’s because you weren’t wavering enough.” Bai Ying described, “You have to show that emotion, struggle, entanglement, and indulgence. A love triangle is the most intense kind of relationship, it’s really painful.”

Sakuta Azusagawa asked with certainty, "Does Shiro want to experience what it feels like to be stabbed to death?"

Bai Ying said with interest, "Your sister might be pricking my scarecrow."

"It's okay, you can stab me."

"Tsk tsk tsk, hopeless siscon."

……

……

Early in the morning, Mayu Sakurajima arrived at the train station, dragging her suitcase.

Feng Bin and Hua lowered their heads and followed silently beside each other.

"Alright, that's enough." Mai Sakurajima chuckled helplessly, pulling out a few bills from her wallet. "Here's some money for you. Take a taxi back later."

Feng Bin and Hua opened their mouths and mumbled, "Sister..."

“Work hard, and don’t worry about what your aunt said about me. If you care too much about what others say, even your parents, you might miss a lot of time.” Mai Sakurajima patted her younger sister and fan on the shoulder. “Pursuing dreams is hard, and liking something is hard too… Keep going, maybe one day I’ll be your fan.”

"Sister, you've had it tough too..."

Feng Bin and Hua sighed and complained, "If we're talking about someone who doesn't care about others, it's probably that jerk."

"Haha, it really is just the hater now..."

Before Mai Sakurajima could say anything more, the train had already pulled into the station. She stuffed the money into Kazuha Toyohama's hand and waved goodbye.

Kazuha Toyohama watched her sister being swallowed by the train, her heart heavy with sorrow.

Following my mother's wishes and inquiries, I chose to debut in the entertainment industry. At first, I was very happy because I would be living and striving in the same circle as my idol, and I was full of enthusiasm. Later, I was unhappy because my mother only ever demanded that I work harder and surpass Mai Sakurajima, and I never received any recognition. Then, I was happy again because I was Mai Sakurajima's most special fan.

Now I'm unhappy again... The stage lights are on, but the person I admired has already left.

"Ugh……"

Mai Sakurajima's smile faded. She leaned against the car window, her forehead against the glass, and sighed softly.

The scorching summer heat is unforgiving; the glass refuses to hold even the slightest trace of a sigh.

I know I'm not feeling well... Now that I've made this choice, I should pull myself together and get back to student life, studying, preparing for final exams, and trying to adapt to being truly independent. It would be ridiculous to shrink back from leaving my mother and becoming an adult.

Mai Sakurajima took out her phone and unbanned a certain administrator who had been banned from speaking.

After waiting a few minutes, the hater remained silent.

Mai Sakurajima put away her phone, crossed her arms, and closed her eyes.

Before I get back on my feet, let me indulge myself a little.

I don't need to, and don't want anyone to know. I tell myself all my weariness, contradictions, worries, and frustrations, and then use ideals, responsibilities, life, and hope to prop myself up.

This is what it feels like to grow up.

Chapter 6 Azusagawa Kaede: You're a devil! (5k words updated today)

As dawn broke, it was time to make a living.

Azusagawa Kaede opened her eyes, rolled around on the bed a little uncomfortably, then groggily picked up her pillow, opened the door, and floated out.

Hehe, where is my brother?

Passing through the living room and arriving at the other bedroom, Azusagawa Kaede habitually opened the door and tiptoed in, keeping a low voice. The room, with the curtains drawn, was slightly dim, every corner familiar to him. Azusagawa Sakuta was covered with a thin blanket, his breathing even. A blanket was spread beside the bed, and a pair of eyes gleamed in the dim light, their presence as strong as searchlights.

A guest has come to stay at our house!

Azusagawa Kaede belatedly realized what was happening and suddenly snapped out of her half-awake daze. She was hesitant to go in, yet unwilling to retreat, and stood stiffly at the doorway.

The white figure blinked and grinned at Azusagawa Kaede.

An intruder broke into my and my brother's house!

Azusagawa Kaede hesitated for a moment, clutching her pillow, but decided to go back to her room for some more sleep. Interacting with strangers other than her brother would be too difficult without him around, and besides, waiting for her brother to wake her up wouldn't be a bad thing...

Having successfully convinced himself, Azusagawa Kaede had just stepped one foot back towards the door when he couldn't retract the other. His eyes widened like saucers—that white figure, he climbed into his brother's bed!

The white figure lifted the corner of the blanket, revealing a silky smooth tunnel, and in the blink of an eye, she was already squeezed into the blanket.

"Well……"

Sakuta Azusagawa made a muffled sound, subconsciously shifting his body towards the wall to make more space on the bed, muttering in his sleep, "Kaede...?"

"Hey hey hey..."

The white figure squeezed in a little, letting out a laugh like Azusagawa Kaede's coquettish manner.

Azusagawa Kaede stood frozen in place, dumbfounded, the pillow she was holding falling to the floor. She touched her throat; could she have just spoken?!

"Um……"

Sakuta Azusagawa was pulled back to sleepiness.

A hand emerged from under the blanket, making a peace sign, and the white figure wore a triumphant, defiant expression.

They're the enemies who want to steal my brother away!!

Kaede Azusagawa couldn't stand it any longer. She stepped over the pillow on the floor and stormed to the bedside. Looking up, she saw Sakuta Azusagawa sleeping soundly. She quickly swallowed back most of her voice and said in a low, menacing tone, "You bad guy—get off your brother's bed right now..."

Bai Ying solemnly said, "In my opinion, based on common sense, it is definitely more ethical for me to sleep in the same bed as your brother than for you to sleep in the same bed as your brother."