I've already said this isn't a life simulator!

Page 25

Finally, she sighed, as if she had made up her mind.

"In fact..."

Then, her attitude became somewhat awkward, as if she was shy.

"Oh my? Oh my oh my?"

Alicia's eyes curved into crescents as she leaned close to Sakura's ear and whispered something.

"It really comes down to Wang, doesn't it~?"

"……Um."

Sakura nodded gently, then took out a small bag full of candy from the backpack beside her.

It was a small pink bag that matched the cherry blossoms perfectly. It had some cherry blossom patterns on it and a unique design, but it looked a bit rough. It didn't seem to be a mass-produced product. It looked more like a handmade item, and the work of some inexperienced novice.

...Hmm? Handmade? Not skilled? Beginner?

Giving something you made yourself to someone you love... Ah, how romantic!

Alicia felt like she could jump for joy.

Alicia had thought that her reunion with her would create a rift in the relationship between Xiwang and Ying, but after talking with Ying, she realized that this problem did not exist at all. Instead, the most important issue was how to get the two of them to take that step.

But now... Sakura actually launched the first attack? Nozomi, really, making the girl take the initiative is so unfair! But don't let Sakura's feelings go to waste!

"So, what do you need my help with, Sakura?"

"...I hope you can help me send it over."

Sakura slightly averted her gaze.

"But wouldn't it be better to hand over something like this to the other person in person?"

"........."

Sakura didn't say anything, but simply turned her head away and handed the small bag in her hand towards Alicia.

"Hehe~ As expected, Sakura is very cute~?"

Seeing Sakura's appearance, Alicia stopped pursuing her, took the small bag from Sakura's hand, and carefully put it away.

"Thank you."

Sakura spoke in a weak voice.

"Then, Sakura, could you grant me a small request?"

"Please say."

"Sakura should go and have a good talk with Nozomi afterwards~"

"……Can."

"Also, I'd like to hear what songs Sakura usually listens to."

"Aren't these two requests?"

"Please, I'm really curious!"

Alicia shook Sakura's arm, and then quickly grabbed Sakura's other hand that was trying to switch songs.

"Don't change the song! Sakura always secretly changes the song, and Detective Airi always catches her!"

"……All right."

"Yay!"

Sakura stopped what she was doing, and Alicia celebrated her small victory.

Then, Alicia slowly approached Sakura, tilted her head slightly, and put her ear to Sakura's neck, listening carefully to the song that Sakura had subconsciously turned down.

"........."

Although Sakura really wanted to remind Alicia that the distance was far too close, she didn't say it in the end and just waited silently.

"Mmm~ I heard it~ The song inside, hmm... hmm?"

Alicia sensed that something was off about the melody that was reaching her ears.

I'm not sure, let me listen more carefully.

"........."

With her eyelids slightly lowered, Alicia gazed intently for five seconds... well, less than five seconds, her expression turned somewhat strange. She quickly straightened up, stood up from beside Sakura, and took a slight half-step back as if she had been startled.

"So...it's this kind of music?"

"Any questions?"

Sakura asked, puzzled.

"Ah... um... of course not, everyone has their own preferences, it's just that I think... um... you might not get along with one of my friends... I... I'll go now~ Go deliver your gift~"

Alicia looked unusually embarrassed, then quickly turned around and left.

"........."

Sakura watched her departing figure silently, a hint of disappointment flashing in her eyes.

She subconsciously raised her hand and gently touched the cherry blossom pendant hidden under her clothes, remaining silent.

In the end, she simply put her headphones back on and played her favorite music.

There probably won't be anyone willing to accept it anymore.

A figure flashed through Sakura's mind, her body gradually swayed, and finally she leaned against the side, closed her eyes, and immersed herself in her own world.

………………On the other side………………

"Bang bang~ Wang, I've come to play with you~"

Alicia imitated the sound of knocking on the door and called out outside Xiwang's room. After speaking, she took out the small bag that Sakura had given her and looked through it in her hand.

Hmm... what will Sakura give me? If it's just candy, don't they exchange candy all the time? Or is there something else hidden inside? Hmm... like a confession note or something? After all, that's probably the only thing that could make Sakura too shy to come over.

Alicia thought to herself, but although she was very curious, she didn't open the bag to look inside. After all, this was their little secret—she couldn't let her see it first!

"……see?"

But after waiting for a while, Xi Wang didn't come to open the door. Uncertainly, she called out again and knocked on the door once more.

But still no one responded.

That's not right. He should be in his room right now. I didn't see him when I passed by the training room, and he wasn't with Sakura either... Could he have secretly gone to that place?

As Alicia was thinking this, she quietly pressed her ear against the door, as if trying to hear if there were any sounds inside and to confirm if anyone was inside.

Then, Alicia heard faint sounds of struggle and Xiwang's painful gasps.

"see?!"

At first, Alicia was a little unsure, but after listening carefully, she realized that it was indeed Xiwang's voice. This made Alicia a little anxious. She grabbed the doorknob, twisted and turned it hard, breaking the lock and breaking into the house.

"...Alicia?"

Xi Wang raised her head slightly, her vision blurred as she looked at the person who had barged in, and asked in a somewhat weak voice.

"I'm sorry I made you look so embarrassed."

"........."

Alicia stared blankly at Xi Wang, who had locked himself in a corner, completely exhausted and somewhat mentally unstable.

"you……"

"Excuse me... could... could you please get that for me?"

Xi Wang interrupted Alicia's words, and pointed to the candy box on the table in the distance, causing the chains binding his hands to clang.

Only then did Alicia notice that the direction he was facing, the direction he had been trying to move but was bound by chains, was the candy box placed in the distance.

"........."

Alicia silently placed the candy box in front of him, and Xiwang, with trembling arms, slowly took it.

Clearly, he was trying hard to control his manic and impatient behavior in front of Alicia, but after getting the candy box, he couldn't help but become anxious again. He quickly rolled a handful of candies out of the box, without even counting how many there were, and just stuffed them into his mouth. He chewed them casually and swallowed them, and only then did he show a slightly relaxed mood.

"…………"x2

Silence permeated between the two.

"……what is that?"

"sugar."

"Just sugar?"

"It's just sugar."

Xi Wang responded softly, casually placing the candy box aside, and then fumbled for the key in the corner to unlock the chains binding her.

"...I'm sorry, Alicia, I can't go out with you today."

After putting the chains away and remaining silent for a while, Xi Wang spoke while easing her wrists.

"Huh? Ah... no, rather I should be the one apologizing, since I barged in and broke your door... I'll make it up to you~ so please forgive me~"

Alicia seemed to have recovered slightly, and her tone and expression returned to their original lighthearted manner.

"Okay, I forgive you."