Uneasy daily life

The first day of the cultural festival came to a close. Outsiders gradually left, students summarized and calculated the day's activities, and the executive committee handled the extra work that followed. After the hustle and bustle, only a few undulating echoes remained.

The sun, weary, stretched lazily, casting a perfunctory sunset glow across the campus.

"Aren't you going back with Hua?"

"I'll stay at my sister's place for one night, and I'll take the tram home early tomorrow."

"Okay, be careful, and remember to call..."

Toyohama's mother nodded and left with Sakurajima's mother. You could still vaguely hear her talking about the situation at Soubu High School.

"The cultural festival here is quite good, and the college entrance rate is also good. How difficult is it to transfer here?"

“Mai has a special status, and she handled the transfer procedures herself, but with Kazuka’s grades, it shouldn’t be difficult for her to transfer here.”

The two mothers left while chatting about their children.

Feng Bin and Hua breathed a sigh of relief, finally managing to deal with their mother. Then, her gaze sharpened: "Sister, do you know where that bastard ran off to? He just disappeared after that play!"

"It seems she went to see Yukino's parents."

Mai Sakurajima pursed her lips, raised her hand to rub her temples, and sighed, "I really underestimated the destructive power of Black Fan and Shiro Eika together. Who would act like that on stage... To the audience, it's just an ordinary play, but to us and some people who are interested, it's a completely different feeling—you agree, right, Kazuha?"

"Uh……"

Feng Bin and Hua were somewhat embarrassed, and couldn't hide their thoughts. They angrily pouted and said, "What do you mean by reckless and thoughtless feelings! He just wanted to confide and express his feelings! I think that bastard is just asking for a beating—how dare he say that! And that Bai Yinghua, no wonder he can lie to people everywhere, it turns out he's the traitor!"

gas!

Feng Bin and Hua clenched their fists, as if flames were leaping above their heads, wishing they could immediately grab a white shadow and offer it as a sacrifice to the heavens.

"Did Bai Yinghua deceive He Hua, or did Bai Yinghua and the anti-fan conspire to deceive He Hua...?"

Mai Sakurajima asked with a smile, "Or is Kazuha lying to herself?"

"..."

Feng Bin and Hua's gaze wandered, a little guilty: "Uh... what does my sister think?"

"The hater really knows how to write stories. He turned the original story of seeking to marry Princess Kaguya into a romance drama with fantasy elements... I'm not sure if Hana's mother noticed it, but my mother probably noticed something. Although she didn't say anything in the end, she probably left it to me to judge and consider for myself."

Sakurajima Mai said, slightly lost in thought, "I do want to find someone I truly love, to be sincere and unwavering, to treat them carefully, and to maintain our feelings and relationship. It's enough to like someone once in a lifetime; the rest is just about figuring out how to like them. Perhaps that's a bit obsessive and stubborn."

“No, that’s not true!” Feng Binhehua immediately said, “Isn’t this a good thing? My sister did nothing wrong, it’s all the bastard’s fault!”

Mai Sakurajima asked, "What did he do wrong?"

"To speak condescendingly to others, saying things like 'the bright moon is still there,' isn't that just standing there watching and pointing fingers?"

As Feng Bin and Hua talked, Feng Bin couldn't help but mutter angrily, "Hmph! It's as if other people's love isn't as lasting and sincere as his!"

“I do feel that way,” Mai Sakurajima nodded in agreement, then changed the subject, “However, accepting and acknowledging all kinds of love still makes people happy, doesn’t it? Even if you don’t understand your own feelings, it’s good that the other person can understand and acknowledge them, instead of being indifferent…”

"That's true, so just kick him a couple of times and it'll be fine."

Feng Bin and Hua responded subconsciously, then paused in surprise as they realized what she meant.

Huh? Is my sister trying to trick me into telling me something?

She felt a little awkward when she saw Mai Sakurajima's smiling face.

"Yo!"

Suddenly, a cheerful shout came from behind. Feng Bin and Hua shuddered, startled, and almost jumped up when a strong bear hug wrapped around their bodies from behind, the familiar yet infuriating soft touch against their backs.

"What fun things are you guys talking about? Tell me so I can have a laugh too!"

Yukinoshita Haruno peeked out from beside Toyohama and Hana.

"Get up!" Toyohama Kazuka twisted her neck, trying to push Yukinoshita Haruno's face away with the back of her head, struggling, "Damn it! Let go! Ugh—hey—ha ya ya!!"

The struggle failed.

"What else could be fun? Of course, it's the trouble caused by the haters." Sakurajima Mai asked doubtfully, "Don't you need to be happy? You're pretty happy right now. What happened?"

Yukino Yukinoshita laughed and said, "Oh dear~ I was causing trouble for Yukino-chan in the meeting room, who was trying to suppress the chaos and work hard to distract herself, and she kicked me out."

Feng Bin and Hua rolled their eyes: "What kind of fun is this? Let go of me! I'm going to step on your toes!"

"confusion?"

Mai Sakurajima frowned and asked probingly, "Is this related to your parents?"

“Correct answer.” Yukino Yukinoshita said with a grin, “We’ve already met each other’s parents, made plans for our future together, and we’ll never be apart again.”

Feng Bin and Hana, who were struggling, froze and exclaimed in surprise, "Huh?"

That bastard got married... Ugh! That bastard found a girlfriend in the snow?!

Feng Bin and Hua subconsciously said, "Who are you trying to fool?"

Mai Sakurajima shook her head and said, "You didn't come all this way just to talk about something like this, did you?"

"Huh? You don't believe me? It's true." Yukinoshita Haruno hugged Toyohama Kazuka, swaying her from side to side like a giant doll, and said with great interest, "In terms of relationship, that jerk is now my boyfriend, and we've met each other's parents, we're in a relationship that they approve of..."

Feng Binhua immediately retorted sarcastically, "Yes, yes, your boyfriend likes me... sister."

"?" Yukinoshita Haruno's hands immediately moved to pinch Toyohama Kazuka's cheeks and tug at them. "Hmm? Kazuka-chan, how can you say such cold and vicious things with such a cute little mouth?"

"Get up and relax!"

Toyohama and Hana stepped on Yukino's toes, and the two immediately began to wriggle and twist.

"Hmm..." Sakurajima Mai crossed her arms. "What did the hater do?"

"He didn't do anything, he just said in front of my parents that he wanted to date their two daughters." Yukino Yukinoshita dropped a bombshell, and then caught the stunned Toyohama Kazuka. "I agreed on the spot, but Yukino-chan was a little confused."

Feng Bin and Hua stared wide-eyed: "Huh?"

"Ha...Is it more like unexpected than anticipated?"

Mai Sakurajima raised her hand to rub her temples, lost in thought.

Yukinoshita snorted, "So you've already been kicked away by Yukino. Next up is the story of a washed-up heroine, occasionally making a cameo appearance and reminiscing about the past. You should part ways with the jerks of the past."

"Get up!" Feng Bin and Hua wrinkled their noses and glared back defiantly. "That bastard said he'd be my moon so you wouldn't steal him away! Besides, if anyone's going to kick someone, it's not you kicking me, it's me kicking that bastard away!"

"Tsk tsk tsk, I never expected that Kazuha-chan would have such a strong potential to be a mistress. It's terrifying. We can't stay here for long!"

"Gurgle—! You think I won't bite you?!"

Mai Sakurajima paused for a moment, then smiled helplessly, "I haven't thought this through with Hana yet, so what did you say to your parents, Black Fan, to get them to agree to something so absurd? Is it some kind of special condition or agreement?"

“There are no special conditions or agreements,” Yukinoshita Haruno said, feigning seriousness. “The main issue is the prohibition of sexual activity during the student period.”

Feng Bin and Hua were stunned. What was that behavior?

Mai Sakurajima couldn't help but twitch her eye and said quietly, "Your parents are quite special too... Kazuha, let's go home."

"Ugh?"

Don't you idiots need to stake out the spot?

A question mark appeared on Fengbin and Hana's heads, and then Yukinoshita Haruno suddenly pulled her towards the school gate. She quickly pressed her heels firmly against the ground, trying to put up a fight.

"Hey—ouch! My shoe, I lost my shoe!"

"Princess Kaga, let Haruno put your shoes on for you..."

"You're definitely trying to tickle my feet!"

Amidst the noisy atmosphere, Mai Sakurajima stood still and glanced back at the campus.

Since Yang Nai tipped me off, I'll give you the time today.

That being said... haters, it's hard for me to be happy.

Mai Sakurajima took out her phone, tapped on someone's chat profile picture, and felt a mix of emotions.

She tapped the screen, typed out some words, then felt something was off, deleted and retyped, taking a minute or two to send a short message.

[Sakurajima Mai: What kind of relationship do we have?]

Have read.

Mai Sakurajima stared at the screen: "..."

Hmm? Read but not replied? What kind of answer is this? Or do you need this much time to think? I want your love, but is your love too much, or too indifferent?

Mai Sakurajima had a series of guesses and questions.

【Sakurajima Mai-san, let's fall in love!】

A loud and powerful voice suddenly rang out from the usually quiet campus loudspeaker.

Mai Sakurajima: "?!"

Yukinoshita and Toyohama Kazuka, who were being pulled apart, exclaimed, "?!"

The students scattered around the school gate instinctively stopped in their tracks, their curiosity piqued—what was going on? Which hero was confessing his love over the school's public address system?!

[Evening drums and morning bells, the dawn breeze and sparse moon, their sounds ceaseless. I turn the pages of new books to old ones, my pen nib worn smooth, ancient and modern reflections etched across the school building. I vaguely understand the scriptures, the years slip by in a daze, and wearily gaze at the cold window as autumn returns. I sigh softly, how can such sentiments not understand, adding to my sorrow?]

A chance encounter, like a hook, brings back memories of our first meeting, and I feel a pang of shame. A subtle fragrance wafts through the air, bees buzz around the flowers, the warm sun melts the snow, and fallen petals drift away. I hesitate, unable to bear the thought of food and lodging, half-concealing the spring's beauty, unwilling to share it. Am I ill? Is it longing that fills my eyes, and wrinkles my heart?

As the lyrics sang in a undulating pattern, Mai Sakurajima paused for a moment. Was she talking about herself or me? What did she mean by "unable to understand my feelings, adding to my sorrows"? What did she mean by "remembering our first meeting, suddenly feeling ashamed of the past"? What did she mean by "longing for you fills my eyes, stirring my heart"? No matter how you look at it, it seems like she was talking about herself.

A normal confession of love, even if it's meant to be a little poetic, should at least describe the feelings of the person confessing, right? Really...

[Sakurajima Mai, I love what you like!]

The broadcast was loud and clear.

Mai Sakurajima sighed, raised her hand to smooth her bangs, dispelling the slight heat rising within her. If she were in the broadcasting room, she would have captured him on the spot. Now that she was at the school gate, she was in a dilemma, wanting to hide but unable to, able to hide but not wanting to.

This man is really...

So please step on me hard!

The campus seemed to fall into a deathly silence at that moment.

This man deserves to die!

Mai Sakurajima: "#!"

The shoe gently stepped down, growing heavier with each step, drawing ever closer.

Your eyes and brows, though slightly troubled, are more beautiful than polite.

I teased you about your mature and composed smile, and wanted to gently tickle the soles of your feet with my toes through the soles of my shoes.

So please step on me hard!

The loudspeaker boomed: "[The harder you press, the closer we get, the narrower the gap between the sole and the toe! I'll wiggle my toes, secretly observing your face, the glances we exchange hiding secrets no one else can know! It's definitely not that I enjoy being stepped on, but if possible, please step harder... Holy crap! What are you trying to do? How can you go back on your word? I haven't finished speaking...]"

Amidst a commotion, the broadcast suddenly cut off.

Mai Sakurajima decisively turned around, slung her backpack over her shoulder, and left the school gate with her head down, instinctively using her strange ability to conceal her identity, as if afraid of being recognized by other students. She didn't even bother to say goodbye to Yukinoshita Haruno and Toyohama Kazuka, and hurried away quickly.

Only after getting far away from the school gate did she exhale, her head bowed, and shake her head uncontrollably, causing the rabbit hair clip on her head to sway.

After calming herself down a bit, Mai Sakurajima looked at her phone again, pressing hard on someone's profile picture with her fingertip, wishing the pressure could turn into a stream of information and poke that person's head from afar!

[Sakurajima Mai: I'll think about it!]

There was still no reply or read confirmation from the other end; they were probably still having a conversation with the students at the radio station.

What does it mean to like what I like...?

Sakurajima Mai glanced at the chat interface again before putting her phone away. The hater-kun was ultimately different from him, wasn't he? He didn't understand her mother, but the hater-kun might understand Sakurajima Mai better than she did. Besides, if it was a romantic relationship… No, her mind was too chaotic. She needed to go home, rest, and calm down before thinking about it!

Considering that Yukinoshita Haruno would inevitably tease her about what had just happened, Sakurajima Mai hesitated for three seconds, then abandoned her sister who was in Haruno's hands and headed straight home, her mind wandering through various thoughts, when suddenly a thought popped into her head...

Yukino seems to be at school too, right?

……

……

Ding ding dong——!

The last bell rang on campus, urging the day students who were still at school to go home.

Work is still a bit lacking; various things are in disarray, affecting my work efficiency... Fortunately, it's all work that can be done on a computer.

Ugh, Yukino, this won't do. No matter what the problem is, you have to calm down and do what you're supposed to do.

Yukino Yukinoshita snapped out of her daze, rubbed her temples, and put the notebook into her bag.