As the savior, I only want to play single-player games.

Even if your physical body is destroyed, your incarnation can bring you back to life.

Your avatar can disregard the rules of the world to a certain extent.

You can now start the next node task.

The Best of Times, The Worst of Times: Chapter One: Nightmare

When Hiratsuka Shizuka arrived at the Endo residence, she looked at the familiar house with a somewhat helpless expression. She absentmindedly brushed her hair aside, but the movement was rather hurried, revealing the anxiety and restlessness in her heart.

As Ye Zi's best friend, the two had an extremely close relationship since their school days, and she is one of the few people she can still keep in touch with.

There's no other reason than that I no longer have anything in common with other people.

Once there is an insurmountable generation gap between the two parties, no matter how good they were in the past, the relationship will gradually fade if they stop contacting each other.

As Ye Zi's best friend, she also cherished this one of her few friends. They knew each other well and hoped that this friendship could last forever.

However, Shizuka Hiratsuka has been navigating the social world for many years, experiencing setbacks and moments of confusion. Now approaching thirty, she is mature enough to be considered an adult at that age. She knows her abilities are limited and that the world is not always as she wishes.

She is open-minded and knows what she wants. Knowing that she is looking for someone similar to herself provides some comfort, at least she knows she is not an oddball—after all, there are really not many people who are still unmarried at this age, especially for a woman, it would be too much of a failure to have never even been in a relationship.

At least Ye Zi was much better than her. She had a secret crush on someone buried deep in her heart, but she entrusted her feelings to the wrong person, and that inappropriate relationship ended without a trace.

Hiratsuka Shizuka was also quite wary of her future, worried that if things continued this way, she would become a rigid and serious single old woman with an eccentric temper, unlikable, and a miserable old age.

I want to get married...

She had always thought this way, but had no clue how. She could call herself an elite teacher, with no problem in any aspect, but she still couldn't find a satisfactory person. Hiratsuka Shizuka admitted that she was too picky and unwilling to settle.

The more you see of the wickedness in people's hearts, the more numb you become. The hearts of teenagers are still purer, free from the entanglements of self-interest.

Hiratsuka Shizuya is happy to mingle with her students and guide them in her own way, teaching them how to move towards a brighter future. This is also her way of reminiscing about her youth that she couldn't quite grasp.

After graduating and leaving school, all sorts of people flooded into society, each going their own way. Ye Zi was very capable and hardworking. As soon as her internship ended, she was noticed by her superiors and quickly promoted to foreman. After three years, she became a supervisor, and now no one knows what position she has been promoted to.

She couldn't handle it; she didn't have the energy to engage in power struggles with those people, so she ultimately chose to work at the school.

Later, Yezi came to Chiba to find her and said that she didn't want to go back and planned to buy a house as a place to stay.

In fact, it was I who helped her find the current Endo residence.

She stayed here with Yezi for a while to avoid her family's pressure to get married.

Hiratsuka Shizuka stood at the door, thought for a moment, and instead of ringing the doorbell, took out a bunch of keys from her pocket and opened the door with practiced ease.

She pushed open the door and entered the foyer. She picked up a pair of guest shoes from the shoe rack and then went into the living room.

The layout here is the same as before, the furnishings are as they were, nothing has been changed. Ye Zi is away from home all year round, so this is just a place to stay, which is understandable. But what's wrong with that kid Tendou Kagura? He's been here for so long and hasn't moved a single table or chair.

However, the hygiene here is quite good. The floors are bright, the furniture is tidy, and the kitchen is also very clean. You can tell that the people who live here have very meticulous living habits.

Hiratsuka Shizuka casually glanced at the scenery—it wasn't this clean when they lived here. The two older single women, while not as degenerate as middle-aged men picking their toes and littering cigarette butts and bottles, were far from clean and hygienic.

"Who are you……"

Just as she was looking around, a timid voice came from behind her.

Suzuka Ise, hiding in the hallway leading to the bedroom, poked her head out and sized up the mature woman who had suddenly appeared.

She was originally curled up on the sofa, but when she heard the door open, she jumped up instinctively. Her first reaction was extreme fear, and she immediately hid.

This person wore a white shirt with a black uniform, straight suit trousers, and a beige trench coat. He looked around as if he were at home, exuding a generous air and possessing a good appearance with regular features, bright eyes, and pink lips. However, he showed no trace of the awkwardness of a stranger.

She had never met this person before, but felt that he had a similar temperament to Ye Zi, with a free and unrestrained air, and didn't seem like a bad person.

Suzuka Ise silently put the art knife back into the plastic handle.

However, she did not let her guard down, gripping the corner of the wall with both hands and staring intently at Hiratsuka Shizuka.

Hiratsuka Shizuka also met Ise Suzuka. By looking at the clothes on her exposed shoulders, she recognized them as sailor uniforms. The little girl was petite, with a pale complexion, a youthful and innocent appearance, and some freckles on her face, making her seem quite ordinary.

"You must be Suzuka Ise." Hiratsuka Shizuka gave Suzuka a kind smile, displaying the good manners of a teacher, realizing that her direct opening of the door might have frightened the little girl.

But it's not her fault. She was using a surprise attack tactic and never expected that there was a little girl in the house whom she had never met before.

This is the younger sister that Kagura Tendo mentioned. Yoko seems to have mentioned this as well, but she didn't pay attention to it at the time.

She should be said to be the daughter of Tendo Kagura's mother's husband.

"It's me." Suzuka said weakly, hiding in the corridor, very wary, and unwilling to show herself.

"Yoko mentioned you to me." Hiratsuka Shizuka's voice was gentle, but she was starting to have a headache.

"Aunt Yezi..." Upon hearing this name, Suzuka Ise's expression softened slightly, and she quietly stepped forward a little, but she was still very nervous, as if she saw enemies everywhere.

"May I ask what brings you here?" she asked politely, her eyes darting around as she glanced at Hiratsuka Shizuka out of the corner of her eye. She clutched her heart, forcing herself to regain her composure amidst her anxiety.

She read the note.

Suzuka thought the uninvited woman might be her brother's teacher, since she was clearly wearing a teacher's uniform.

Now that Kagura's fate is unknown, she is filled with anxiety and dares not contact anyone. She is also unable to continue her studies without a care in the world. She has been sitting on the sofa for hours without eating and really doesn't know what to do. She is extremely exhausted.

Hiratsuka Shizuka smiled slightly, approached, and instead of answering Suzuka's question, said, "It should be class time at this hour."

She pointed to the digital clock hanging in the living room, which showed 10 a.m. This girl was clearly a middle school student and shouldn't be home at this time.

Suzuka Ise was startled: "I...I'm not feeling well today, I took the day off."

"Is that so?" Hiratsuka Shizuka said meaningfully. Seeing Suzuka's evasive eyes, she seemed to have a broken shoe sole and spoke without confidence.

Could it be that he skipped class?

But looking at Suzuka's pale face and panicked eyes, she sighed slightly, feeling a bit of a headache. She didn't expose the lie; after all, this child was a problem student.

Sailor uniforms don't easily cover body parts, and seeing that the girl had no obvious injuries, she figured she hadn't suffered any physical abuse. Her concern was for other things...

Sometimes, the consequences of passive-aggressive behavior are more serious than physical violence.

The child was restless and looked terrified; how could a normal child be like this?

Ye Zi, you bastard, are you just going to leave it like this?!

Hiratsuka Shizuka felt utterly powerless. She understood that Yoko was a workaholic, and since burying her own feelings, she had no more joy or sorrow in this life.

She could understand Yoko, but was it really okay to just put Tendo Kagura and Ise Suzuka together like that? There wasn't even a guardian they could find.

They even said that Kagura Tendo would take care of Suzuka Ise, but can he really do that?

Without that ability, that kid can't even handle himself. He's like a hanged ghost all day long, nobody pays attention to him at school, he's a complete loser. He should at least understand the meaning of the word "take care" first, okay?

"I've come to find Kagura Tendo." She had been observing for a long time and found that the house was very quiet with no other sounds coming from inside.

Is Suzuka Ise the only one home? Where's Kagura Tendo?

"Brother, he went out very early today," Suzuka said, her head down and her voice weak.

Hiratsuka Shizuka nodded slightly: "Is that so?"

Her words were ambiguous, and then she stopped talking, instead looking at Suzuka Ise as if to say, "Go on."

"I...I don't know where he went..." Suzuka Ise stammered, unable to bear the pressure.

Hiratsuka Shizuka suddenly interrupted her, staring at her: "Tendou Kagura is still a high school student. Since he went out so early, don't you think he should be going to school?"

"Why do you say you don't know where he went?"

Hiratsuka asked, restraining her tone and trying not to sound too sharp.

"Ah! Ah, yes, yes, my brother went to school..." Suzuka was extremely flustered. Her original intention was to coax this person out first, so she said this. According to the development on TV, shouldn't this person be obediently tricked out by her?

Why did you expose her so directly? Her acting skills are quite good.

“Tendou Kagura is my student. I came here specifically because he didn’t go to school today. I hope you can tell me the truth,” Hiratsuka Shizuka said softly, trying to suppress her anxiety.

"I...I'm not lying, my brother really went out," Suzuka Ise said, pointing outside, insisting firmly.

"Tendou Kagura might be in great danger right now, you know? If we continue to hide it, it might be too late. Please tell me the truth."

Suzuka Ise turned completely pale, her pupils contracted, her shoulders trembled slightly, and her legs shook—it was an instinctive reaction.

Hiratsuka Shizuka watched this unfold, took a slight breath, turned her head, and unintentionally found a note on the table. She immediately walked over to it.

Suzuka Ise was shocked and ran over quickly with her short legs, but the distance was not far to begin with, and with the advantage of Hiratsuka Shizuka's long legs, Suzuka was unable to stop her and watched helplessly as Hiratsuka Shizuka took the note in her hand.

She immediately panicked, grabbed Hiratsuka Shizuka's leg and shook it wildly, extremely anxious.

"Don't look! That's mine! Give it back to me!" She jumped up and down, trying to snatch it back.

But seeing her intense reaction, Hiratsuka Shizuka became even more certain of her guess. Holding up the note, she quickly read it, and upon receiving the information, her heart sank, and a bad premonition arose.

"Tendou Kagura has been in the bedroom the whole time!!"

Hiratsuka Shizuka felt her lips trembling. She reached out and pushed Ise Suzuka aside, shaking off her entanglement, ignoring her fall to the ground. Moving with lightning speed, she quickly reached the corridor, her fists pounding on the door like drums.

"Tendou Kagura, you come out here!"

But no one answered from inside.

Enraged, Hiratsuka Shizuka took a step back and, without even having time to unlock the door, kicked it open with a bang.

"Don't..."

Suzuka Ise got up from the ground, but couldn't stop the violent teacher from running rampant and brazenly intruding into someone else's home.

The door was kicked open with force, but after hitting the wall, it bounced back due to the reaction force. Hiratsuka Shizuka only glanced at it before everything went black.

It was a scene straight out of hell. Blood dripped from the walls, and there were bits of flesh everywhere, mixed with white bone fragments. The bed was a mess. There was a mangled head, with empty eye sockets and brain matter gushing out. Blood soaked into the black hair, tangling it together, making it look extremely gruesome.

boom!

A sound came from the side, and Hiratsuka Shizuka subconsciously looked over. She saw that Ise Suzuka, who had rushed over, seemed to have also witnessed what had just happened. She couldn't accept this fact, and then she just collapsed.

The Best of Times, The Worst of Times: Chapter Two: I Asked for Leave

Hiratsuka Shizuka was in a state of utter confusion, her vision blurred, everything that had suddenly happened was too stimulating, but she knew she couldn't panic now.

Those who are alive are more important.

She shakily straightened Suzuka's body and found that the child's face was as pale as paper and her expression was extremely painful. Her lips kept opening and closing, as if she wanted to breathe fresh air, but she could not do so. In her confusion, Hiratsuka Shizuka tried to check the child's breathing and found that the child's breathing was extremely weak and she could die at any moment.

She took out her phone, ready to call for emergency help, but was suddenly grabbed by Suzuka Ise. Her fingers were thin and looked somewhat malnourished, but she was gripping her wrist very tightly, almost causing Shizuka Hiratsuka to feel pain.

"Don't hit her, don't hit her..." she murmured. Having watched TV dramas in the countryside, she knew what Hiratsuka Shizuka was doing and immediately stopped her.