The goal of life is to break up all couples

"..."

Miura Yumiko couldn't help but roll her eyes and raised her middle finger, saying, "Who's telling you a riddle? Tsk... never mind. Let me put it this way... Hime is the complete opposite of Yui. She cooperates with everyone by deliberately ignoring the occasion."

"She deliberately behaves in a way that makes people around her accept her personality and maintains an appropriate distance, thus integrating into and maintaining her group. She is not really a weirdo, but is treated as one by everyone."

That kind of behavior is actually very dangerous. Ebina was able to reach his current position because he is smart enough.

But, did Miura Yumiko actually know this? Matsueda Azusa had thought she was completely clueless, but now it seemed she wasn't. But if she knew all this, why did she use the Ebina incident to challenge him?

Matsueda Azusa bluntly asked, "So, what's the point of bringing this up to me now? It won't affect our duel."

"That's not important."

Unexpectedly, Miura Yumiko shook her head without hesitation and said, "That was just... an excuse for me to get you involved in this matter. Although I am indeed very dissatisfied with your actions of betraying the Supervisory Department, I would not deliberately involve my other friends for such a thing. In fact, I just want to..."

She turned her head away in frustration, her face slightly red. "I just want you to help... I can't do this alone."

There was actually a day when Miura Yumiko asked him for help? The sun really rose from the west.

There was really nothing he could do about her. She was still a member of his club, after all, and he couldn't just ignore her.

Songzhi Zi held his forehead with his hand: "So after all, what is going on?"

"After all, if Hime is quiet, she's quite popular with boys. Many boys have asked me to introduce them to her. However, every time I encounter this situation, she refuses with various excuses. At first, I thought she was just shy, so I tried to persuade her actively, but the result was..."

Miura Yumiko sighed and began again: "She acted as if it had nothing to do with her, smiled, and told me: 'If you bring up this kind of thing again, we'll end our friendship.' I still remember the way she said that... Her voice, smile, and eyes were all icy cold. She wouldn't let anyone get even a little bit close."

Matsueda Azusa was a little surprised when she heard this. She didn't expect that Ebina would say such words to Miura so bluntly.

Someone who would say something like this to a friend would never deliberately sacrifice himself for the group, as he just said when chatting with Matsueda Azusa...

As expected, even when chatting with Matsueda Azusa just now, Ebina was wearing a mask, pretending to be different from Matsueda Azusa in order to keep the conversation going, while trying to dissuade Matsueda Azusa from continuing to explore.

It always feels a bit scary.

222

Chapter 222 Miura Yumiko's desire.

If we infer from what Miura Yumiko said now...

Perhaps Ebina thought that rather than losing something, it was better to destroy it first; if a lot of sacrifices had to be made to protect something, he might as well just give it all up.

If Hu Bu's courtship behavior makes her feel unbearable and she can no longer stay in this small group, she will probably cruelly abandon even her current friendship.

But this is just the result of speculation based on her one-sided words and actions. No one knows whether Ebina was also wearing a mask when she said this.

Miura Yumiko shook her head and gave a wry smile, somewhat self-deprecatingly. "If it were me in the past, I'd probably be afraid of the relationship ending and not want to get involved. I'd pretend I knew nothing, and for the sake of the happiness I feel now, I'd just pretend like everyone else that nothing had happened and that there weren't any problems."

"After all, Hayato has always done this, and I don't think maintaining the status quo would be worse than letting a momentary impulse ruin this relationship. But..."

Miura Yumiko clenched her fists and looked up into Matsueda Azusa's eyes. "But even though I'm afraid... now I long for sincerity more than ever."

"Really? Maybe you've led me astray... I'm happy enough right now, but I can't stand being friends with the mask that Hime wears... I want to be friends with the real her."

"I don't want a fake, embellished friendship. I want genuine friendship—even if it means we're arbitrarily making things difficult for each other and slandering each other, just like when we're together. This actually makes me feel more relaxed."

Matsueda Azusa looked at Miura Yumiko with interest: "You are really greedy. You ask for so many things."

Miura Yumiko scratched her hair in annoyance. "Haha, you've led me astray! It would be nice if I could just stay like before and not ask for these things, but once I have this thought, it's impossible to stop, right?"

That's not wrong.

It's so strange, how come humans, as creatures, sometimes need to rely on disguises and lies to build relationships, but also crave sincerity in order to make these fake relationships go further? They are obviously two completely opposite things.

Even Matsueda Azusa couldn't figure out the answer to this question.

"Although I think so, I don't know what to do."

Miura Yumiko sighed: "That's why I wanted to ask you for help... The Ministry of Revenue's affairs are actually not important at all."

"Wow, you're so hypocritical, Miura. Tobe's life is also a life!"

Matsueda Azusa couldn't help but complain.

Miura Yumiko glared at Matsueda Azusa angrily: "Don't change the subject!"

"Even if you say so..."

Songzhi Zi scratched his cheek with a guilty look on his face. "Why do you think I can be of any help in this regard? Haven't you noticed that friends like the ones you mentioned, who are familiar with each other and don't act out of place, don't need to pretend to be themselves when they get along..."

"After all, besides Hikigaya, who is undoubtedly my best friend, it seems that you are the only one I can barely consider. Even Onmizu is a bit distant on a daily basis, but for him to be able to do that is already quite good."

Songzhi Zi spread his hands and complained, "So, you're asking someone who has almost no friends to help you make friends... What are you thinking?"

"...?"

Miura Yumiko was stunned for a moment, and for some reason she suddenly became a little at a loss.

She had been crossing her arms across her chest, but now she couldn't help but loosen them. She felt awkward putting them in her pockets, and uncomfortable holding them behind her back. She felt like she had nowhere to go. Finally, she could only turn her face away awkwardly, her fingers tangling in her hair: "What...what? You're talking like I'm your only friend! Even if you said that, I wouldn't be very moved!"

Songzhi Zi rolled his eyes speechlessly: "I'm not saying this to impress you, I'm just telling the truth."

Miura Yumiko's face turned even redder, and for a moment she forgot her previous request. She stammered and babbled, "Then, what about your other friends? They'll definitely be sad to hear that! For example, your former bandmates? I see you're still in touch!"

"...Are you serious?"

Matsueda Azusa looked at Miura Yumiko as if she were an idiot. "They've messed up the band like that. I'm really grateful that I treat them as just friends now. If I were to be completely honest with them, I'd be yelling at them, using profanity every three sentences."

Miura Yumiko continued to give examples: "Then...what about Hiratsuka-sensei?"

"……Are you OK?"

Songzhi Zi held his forehead with his hand. "Didn't you also say that she was a teacher? If I have to say it, I think of her more as... uh, a mother... Hey! Don't tell anyone this! Got it?"

"..."

Hearing this, Miura Yumiko paused for a moment, but quickly continued with an example: "Then, what about those people who performed on stage with you during the school anniversary? They must be your very good friends, right?"

"Hmm? No."

Matsueda Azusa answered as a matter of course.

Ijichi Nikka and Kita Ikuyo weren't particularly close, just casual friends at best. As for Yamada Ryo and Goto Ichiri, they'd previously said they wanted to be family, and since they were family, they weren't just friends anymore.

"Eh?"

Miura Yumiko was stunned. Because Matsueda Azusa's answer was so self-righteous and logical that she even forgot to ask the reason.

"So... so, besides Hikigaya, your only good friend is..."

Miura Yumiko lowered her head, put her hands behind her back, entangled her fingers, and unconsciously kicked the small stones on the ground with her toes: "So, I am the only one left, right?"

Songzhi Zi nodded speechlessly: "Yeah? That's what I said just now. So, you want me to help you get along with your friends sincerely, something I can't do myself..."

Miura Yumiko turned her face away for some reason and kept fanning herself with her hands, as if it was too hot. She sounded a little flustered: "Well... well, then! Since that's the case, I'll think of a solution myself... But you have to help me, right?"

"Anyway, if I need your help, you have to show up quickly!"

Miura Yumiko didn't give Matsueda Azusa a chance to answer. She turned around in a hurry and even tripped accidentally. She staggered and almost fell to the ground. Fortunately, she was quick to steady herself.

"It's a deal! No regrets!"

After she said that, she ran away in a hurry, looking like she was fleeing in panic.

Azusa Matsueda looked at Miura Yumiko's back in confusion, wondering what kind of hysteria this girl was having.

Could it be that he is allergic to his friend?

Oh, no, are you shy?

Matsueda Azusa suddenly understood and clapped her hands as if she had suddenly realized something. Although Miura Yumiko usually treats her friends like a mother, it seems that she has no resistance to the true feelings of her friends!

Are you shy just like that? This Miura is such a wimp! He's totally obsessed with friends.

223

Chapter 223: Matsueda Azusa is a devil.

The first day of the school trip passed quickly.

At night, in the hotel lobby.

Songzhi Zi was tinkering with the vending machine, preparing to get some drinks.

Just as he bent down to pick up the can of drink, a dark shadow suddenly covered his head.

Suddenly feeling a chill on his back, Songzhi Zi subconsciously straightened up and turned around.

But the person who came over was Hayato Hayama.

Songzhi Zi held the drink can and stared at him warily: "The king of the real life, the campus idol, visiting you late at night, what can you do for me?"

This guy suddenly appeared behind him without a sound, and no one knew what he was going to do! Songzhi Zi felt her chrysanthemum tighten, and she quickly pressed her back against the wall.

What Hayato Hayama wanted to say was choked in his throat by Matsueda Azusa's reaction. He gave a helpless smile, fiddled with the vending machine, and bought himself a can of barley tea: "I just wanted to find a chance to talk to you."

"Wow? What a rare visitor."

Songzhi Zi raised an eyebrow, looking a little surprised. "Your friends didn't pester you to play with them tonight? You actually have precious free time? That's strange. I thought it was a privilege for a lone ranger like me."

Upon hearing this, Hayato Hayama couldn't help but complain in his heart: How can you be considered a lone ranger... There are so many people around you.

But he didn't show it, just shook his head: "No, you're right. It's true. I just made an excuse to come down to buy some drinks, so I could find some time to talk to you."

"That's not surprising. Hayama-san is really a busy man."

Matsueda Azusa had an expression that said, "I knew it would be like this," and curled her lips. "That's certainly your style. So what exactly is going on? Is it related to Miura?"

Hayato Hayama shook his head: "It's related to Ebina."

"Oh my god, you're interested in her?"

Matsueda Azusa sighed: "Poor Tobu, he has absolutely no chance now. He has no idea who he is competing with."

Upon hearing this, Hayato Hayama's face darkened and he said, "That's not the case!"

He sighed. As expected, he still couldn't communicate well with Matsueda Azusa. He didn't know whether this guy really misunderstood him or said that on purpose to stir up his emotions.

"Well, it doesn't matter whether it is or not. It doesn't matter if it is or not."

The corners of Matsueda Azusa's mouth curled up slightly, and she waved her phone at Hayama Hayato. She pressed a button, and a clear voice came out of it. Matsueda Azusa asked: "Is it related to Miura?" Hayama Hayato replied: "It's related to Ebina."

Hayato Hayama's expression changed.

This guy... actually turned on the recording on his phone from the very beginning! He must have been planning this since he met Hayato Hayama...

Matsueda Azusa put his phone back in his pocket. "Thank you very much. This way, I think the Ministry of Revenue guy will give up. Isn't this a good solution for everyone?"

Hayato Hayama frowned, a rare occurrence: "I don't think so..."

"why?"

Matsueda Azusa spread his hands and said, "I don't want Tobe to confess his feelings to Ebina—this isn't just Ebina who thinks so. I bet you think so too, right? The absolute defender of the clique, Hayama-san."

Hayato Hayama was silent for a moment, then heaved a sigh of relief: "I do think so, but I don't agree with your approach. Doing so will also make everyone..."

"It will not happen."

Matsueda Azusa tilted his head: "Why do you think doing this will cause a rift in your small group? Is it because I proposed it? That's too stereotypical. It's rare that I took the trouble to think of a method that is very much in your style."?

Hayato Hayama looked bewildered: "Our... style?"

What on earth is this guy talking about? Hayato Hayama can't remember when their group's style changed to secretly recording and editing and then spreading rumors. This is simply like studying journalism.

"As soon as there's even the slightest possibility of a crisis, you retreat, burying your own feelings and the feelings of others, pretending nothing has happened, and maintaining a normal relationship on the surface. Isn't that what you do?"

Matsueda Azusa tapped her lips with her right index finger and blinked innocently. "As long as I let that Tobe guy 'accidentally' discover this audio, he'll start to think about it himself, right? - Huh? So Hayama is also interested in Ebina? Should I compete with him? Who is more likely to succeed, him or me? What will be the consequences if I compete with him? What happens if I succeed? What happens if I fail? Can I bear the consequences?"

"Even the brainless Tobe-san would probably think about these questions, right? Precisely because he's a member of your weird group, I think he'd probably do nothing, right? He's afraid of becoming an enemy of Ye Shan, afraid of being left with nowhere to go if he fails, or even worse, even if he succeeds..."

Matsueda Azusa's words were as alluring as a demon's whisper: "Doesn't this situation perfectly align with your expectations? While the problem hasn't been solved, the time it breaks out will be delayed indefinitely. As long as you, Hayato Hayama, remain silent on this matter, then the Ministry of Finance will also be afraid to express its stance."

"Besides, even if he was blinded by love and came to you directly to ask about this matter... you can always deny it. He has no evidence anyway, and there's no way he could check my phone, so the so-called 'recording incident' doesn't exist at all. The worst-case scenario is just like now, with no loss at all, right?"

"Gurgh..."

Hayato Hayama subconsciously took a step back and couldn't help swallowing.

This guy, Matsueda Azusa, was like a devil holding a sheepskin contract in his hand and smiling at him with his mouth wide open to his ears.

It had to be said that after Matsueda Azusa had elaborated on this method, it surprisingly suited his needs. There would be no cost, no negative consequences even if it failed, and success wouldn't cause any problems for the group's survival...

In this world, there are always some things that make people regret, and some words that people wish they had never said.