Uneasy daily life

There doesn't seem to be anything to think about.

Angelina sighed for 0.1 seconds, then turned to think about the romantic graduation season traditions she had seen online.

In Japan, there's a tradition, or rather a romantic gesture, at high school graduation: girls ask their crush for the second button on their uniform. Because the second button is located near the heart, it carries a subtle romantic meaning of expressing affection. If the boy also has feelings for the girl, he'll give her the button...

Anyway, so-called romance is just subtly replacing "I like you" with things like "The moon is beautiful," "I want the second button," or "Giving chocolates on Valentine's Day." As long as I'm serious, these things are easy to do. It used to seem unromantic, mainly because of my superiors' style, which made me too easy to criticize!

Angelina had already planned it out in her mind: first, find an opportunity to corner the white figure in public, and then directly demand the second button.

Romantic, absolutely romantic!

What do you mean I have no romantic soul, only fantasy symptoms? Isn't that a brilliant idea? Anyway, today is the last day at school, so even if Bai Ying suddenly acts up and gives me another nickname, it won't matter.

If I can't hear you, then you're not calling me!

That's right!

"Hum hum……"

"An'an, what are you planning? You look like you're lost in thought."

"Ahem! Heavenly secrets cannot be revealed!"

Angelina snapped out of her daze, waved her little hand, and looked inscrutable.

"Is it related to Bai Ying?"

shock!

Who is it? Is Bai Ying up to her old tricks again, using mind-reading and voice-spoofing for a complete scam?!

Angelina stared at her friend who had made a sound with a rather strange look. Her friend, who had been making a joke, suddenly felt inexplicably uneasy under her gaze: "...Uh, isn't that right?"

Is it possible that this isn't my friend, but rather a white hibiscus?

Angelina was lost in thought.

"Ahem..." The friend coughed twice, reached out and patted the other's shoulder, sighed, "An'an, first love is like chocolate, it has a hint of bitterness, but no matter how you taste it, it's sweet, until the taste is gone, leaving only a chubby self..."

Angelina: "Huh? What are you talking about?"

My friend blinked, hesitated, and finally shook her head: "Haku is indeed very charming, but it seems like he and Yukinoshita are already a couple, right? Even Sakurajima-senpai couldn't win and had to graduate sadly. Now it's the last day, you don't think he has a chance at all..."

Angelina was a little confused: "Huh?"

"However, compared to ending without a trace, finishing without a record, or perishing without completion, bravely facing failure is not necessarily a bad thing..."

A friend comforted and encouraged me, saying, "Keep going!"

Angelina: "???"

Wait a minute! I have a ton of questions! Why do I suddenly not recognize Japanese anymore?!

What do you mean Sakurajima-senpai didn't even win? Is that even true? Yukino was just being a little sarcastic in the chat group the other day; Sakurajima-senpai probably used some adult methods, right? Where did this "graduating in despair" come from? And why do I have to bravely face failure? Where did I fail?!

Angelina was bewildered by the storm of questions, feeling like she was being sidelined by a trending topic!

Before she could even begin to interrogate her friend, the other person patted her on the shoulder, gave her a knowing look, and turned to chat with someone else, seemingly leaving her alone to grieve and reminisce...

Am I... a loser in everyone's eyes who has a one-sided love that ends in failure?

Angelina's eyes twitched. She looked around for a moment, then glanced at the white figure sitting at the other end of the classroom, who was flipping through a pile of printed papers with something written on them.

Okay, let's keep in touch by phone. We'll give Bai Ying a surprise when we need the buttons!

[Angelina Anxinyuan: Sir! Sir! Are you aware of the dating rumors circulating at school?]

Bai Ying took out her phone, temporarily putting aside her review of the materials.

[White Shadow Scholar: You mean the love triangle between Hachiman Hikigaya, Yui Yuigahama, and the mysterious rich girl from another school? What kind of love story will unfold between this dead-eyed, unpopular boy, this down-to-earth, optimistic girl, and this mysterious heiress? Stay tuned!]

[Angelina Anxinyuan: You mean what Bai Yinghua did? Tell me more.]

[White Shadow Scholar: Essentially, it's about the popular and outgoing Hachiman Hikigaya, who resolutely rejects the mysterious rich girl and chooses the ordinary girl Yui Hama. The main message is that love may need material support to sustain it, but love cannot begin with material possessions.]

[Angelina Anxinyuan: Tsk tsk tsk, this is clearly a scam by con artists.]

[Angelina Anxinyuan: No, no! That's not it! I meant other rumors!]

[Bai Ying Xuefu: Are you referring to "A single-minded girl in love, a seemingly sunny but actually gloomy boy. A female-perspective romance drama where the queen kicks aside the princess to marry the prince!", or "Childhood sweethearts, their laughter echoing with joy. The wind subsides, all sounds return to the white snow; only when the heart is moved do we realize how rare such a love is. If it's not stunning enough, even the longest story is perfunctory; if it's not moving enough, even the loudest laughter is quiet! A childhood sweetheart's tragic love comedy where he's reduced to a loser after a girl falls from the sky!"?]

[Angelina Anxinyuan: Huh?]

[Bai Ying Xuefu: Neither? Then which one are you talking about? Could it be some outdated dating topic that only circulates in small circles?]

[Angelina Anxinyuan: Wait! Are you spreading rumors?!]

[Bai Ying Xuefu: Can artistic embellishment be considered spreading rumors? I was simply concerned about the children's mental well-being and casually posted some short essays as practice. I gained practice, and everyone got a topic to discuss—a win-win situation.]

Oh my god! No wonder he looked at me with such a comforting expression! No wonder I didn't know about this at all! Am I some kind of heartbroken childhood sweetheart who lost out in unrequited love?!

Angelina held her phone, grinning, and logically deduced...

[Angelina Anshinin: Was Sakurajima-senpai just a rumor from the previous version?]

[White Shadow Scholar: A love triangle story between a popular star, a top student, and a genius screenwriter. The ending, where the star graduates, expresses the unparalleled power of pure love. It suggests that while reason and wisdom may maintain a relationship, they cannot initiate one. Because it's somewhat obscure for students, involving conflicts between work, society, and love, its popularity fades quickly.]

[Angelina Anxinyuan: Hehe.]

Wait a minute! Wait a minute!

Angelina realized something was wrong; why was she habitually making sarcastic remarks again? If it were Yukinoshita... well, she would probably express dissatisfaction with the rumors and stories spread by Hakukage, or subtly say, "You're smart enough to know your place?" Or perhaps she would righteously criticize his despicable act of spreading rumors?

No, no! There's nothing romantic about it; it's all the white shadow's fault!

Forget it! As long as we carry out the second button operation, that's fine!

Angelina had a slight headache, but decided to ignore it.

but……

[Angelina Anshinin: Toyohama?]

[Bai Ying Xuefu: It won't spread due to insufficient popularity.]

[Angelina Anxinyuan: Huh?]

[White Shadow Scholar: Which is more interesting, the love triangle of the Brave Plus or the love triangle of the Stick Figures?]

[Angelina Anxinyuan: Understood.]

Toyohama is very outgoing and often talks about Sakurajima-senpai. Unless she comes to a classroom to beat up a scumbag or beat up a mistress, to outsiders, topics about love seem to have nothing to do with her, who is very straightforward... But why is the rumor that I am a childhood friend who lost in love still well-known?

[Bai Ying's father: That's too long to say. During the graduation ceremony, remember to cooperate as much as possible from the audience.]

[Angelina Anxinyuan: ?]

What should we coordinate with?

Angelina's mind raced, memories flooding back...

[Angelina Anxinyuan: A Shill?]

[White Shadow Scholar: What is a shill? This is called loyalty! Remember to show the professionalism of a member of the Scarlet Theatre Troupe!]

……

As the entire school gathered in the auditorium for the graduation ceremony, Bai Ying, dressed in a student uniform, stood on the stage holding a microphone. Student council members solemnly prepared graduation certificates, student photo albums, and other items. In previous years, the awarding of graduation certificates and photo albums was usually done separately for each class, with all graduates gathering together to listen to speeches and messages. This year was clearly different; it seemed that everyone went up to receive their certificates one by one.

Bai Ying didn't think it was a big problem, since it wasn't a high school in China.

"Class A student Shimizu Eishin, class monitor, I've done a lot for you over the past three years. You don't need to thank me, it's what I deserve."

Bai Ying, holding the microphone, jokingly said in a casual tone, "I lost to you in the election back then, it must have been because of some shady dealings."

The class monitor pushed up his glasses: "I think it's hard for everyone to accept a class monitor who confesses to everyone as soon as they meet."

"Lin Jianze from Class C, are you planning to confess? Don't think that just because it's a holiday, you don't need to rush. Liking someone is a fleeting feeling."

The somewhat reserved student chuckled awkwardly, unable to utter a reply, and quickly slipped away after taking his things. Amidst the murmurs and whispers from below the stage, one could vaguely hear the jeers and whispers.

"Congratulations to Izumi Tadami from Class J on getting into your family's dream university. Remember to treat your friends to a meal; you and your friends need to celebrate."

The somewhat gloomy boy paused for a moment, and as he walked off the stage with his things, he couldn't help but look back twice. He didn't think he had any interaction with the famous people in this school.

"Totsuka Saika from Class F—Don't be shy. If you're shy, the boys won't dare to be friends with you, and the girls will be eager to tease you. That's why you don't have many boyfriends."

"Huh? So that's how it is?!"

Bai Ying continued calling out names one by one on the stage, neither according to student ID nor class, seemingly using a unique sorting method, which made the students below the stage start to feel apprehensive, having no idea when they would be called.

"...President Bai knows everyone in the entire grade?"

"After all, it's a white shadow."

"I suspect he knows everyone in the school and can throw out a few embarrassing stories about other people anytime, anywhere!"

"After all, it's a white shadow."

"Oh my god! When will it be my turn? Why aren't they distributing them all at once like in previous years? Distributing them one by one is so inefficient!"

"After all, it's a white shadow."

The murmurs were sparse, and seeing that the teachers didn't stop them, the discussion gradually grew louder, but even so, it couldn't drown out Bai Ying's voice, and the graduation ceremony continued smoothly.

Yukino Yukinoshita let out a soft sigh in her seat, unusually without any competitive spirit. Let alone the whole grade, even getting to know all the classmates and understanding their personalities and thoughts was much easier than organizing a large-scale event by herself... Hmm, no wonder Shiro-kun said before that she couldn't get on stage.

"The adorable Yukino Yukinoshita from Class J..."

His fist hardened suddenly.

Yukino Yukinoshita stood up silently with a stern face, exuding a chilling killing intent. Under the sudden gazes that gathered around her, she walked step by step onto the stage.

Trembling with fear, Iroha quickly handed over the certificate and photo album.

The white figure suddenly reached out casually, patted Yukino Yukinoshita's head, and laughed, "Go ahead."

"?!"

Yukino Yukinoshita, holding her things, subconsciously took a half step back, then stopped. She raised her eyes and glared at the white figure. She recognized her unlucky boyfriend and belatedly realized that he had touched her head in public. Her anger, which had just begun to rise, couldn't keep up with her embarrassment and shyness, so she quickly turned around, took a couple of quick steps, and then hurried away at a steady pace.

Isshiki Iroha: "Tsk."

Bai Ying continued without changing his expression: "Miyako Miura of Class F, you have achieved success in both your studies and love life. Congratulations on walking this long road for three years and still being able to look to the future. However, being too proactive may make the other person too accustomed to it. Now it is time to turn the tables and give them the reins."

Yumiko Miura went on stage with a numb expression that suggested she had adapted to the situation to the fullest extent, took the items, and quickly left the stage.

"Feng Bin and Hua from Class B..."

Feng Bin and Hua rushed onto the stage at the speed of the cafeteria opening, took the certificates and photo albums at the speed of a robbery, and left the stage at the speed of escaping from prison. As long as they were fast enough, the bastard's provocations could not catch up with them!

Mai Sakurajima, who had just popped out from the edge of the stage, intending to surprise her younger sister: "..."

"You're really impatient. As a lucky student, you should have had Sakurajima Mai, an outstanding graduate of our school, present you with a certificate and send you the subject."

Feng Binhe and Hua had already slipped into their seats, their eyes twitching, their fingers tightly gripping their graduation certificates and photo albums. If they weren't so shameless, they would have already gone up on stage and kicked Bai Ying away! How dare she deceive her sister and even fool her along with her!

Is it too late for him to take office now?

It was too late; Bai Ying had already called out to the next person: "Angelina from Class A."

Angelina stood up and glanced at Bai Ying speechlessly—the officer had underestimated the fame she had built up over the past three years of causing trouble; in this situation, why would she need to act as a shill?

"Speaking of which, we're quite destined to be together. We were classmates for six years in elementary school and three years in high school—a full nine years, yet it feels so natural. It's not some heavy vow, nor is it something lightly discussed in a few words." Bai Ying held the microphone. "Three years as classmates—that's just how the relationship is, neither too heavy nor too light, neither too big nor too small, neither too thick nor too thin. That's just fate. I can't know the joys and sorrows of every classmate, and you can't know the joys and sorrows of the other classmates, but that's not a big deal. If there were some happy times, some lively moments, and some memorable things in those three years, then this bond is worthwhile..."

Bai Ying then remarked to Angelina, "Just as I clearly remember the time you called yourself the 'big sister' and made your classmates offer you spicy snacks, it turns out that time can't change some things, such as your gluttonous habit..."

"Wait! You're clearly doing this on purpose—"

Angelina was stunned, her eyes widened, and she suddenly realized, "So this is what a shill is!"

When the straight man and the comedian reminisce about their embarrassing pasts, they're trying to be sentimental in the context of a graduation ceremony, right?!

Oh dear! Who wants to chat about this stuff?!

Angelina's mind raced; she had to change the subject! The simplest way was to cover up the current topic with a different one—

And to gain control of the discourse!

"Among countless others, amidst the vast expanse of the mortal world, how many people can one truly remember? To speak of deep affection and loyalty would be too sentimental and hypocritical, while to say one is completely indifferent would seem cold and callous. So let me say that if I could bring you more laughter, then the few times we met would not have been in vain..."

Snapped!

In a flash, Angelina reached out and snatched the microphone from the white figure's hand.

Bai Ying was taken aback, and immediately retorted, "I was just trying to get the atmosphere going! What are you trying to do by reading this long and rambling thing?!"

Angelina, holding the microphone, was momentarily speechless, but upon hearing the white figure pointing and whispering, she suddenly perked up again.