In crossover anime, who isn't a childhood friend?

However... it shouldn't be too late.

Some problems are much easier to solve once you understand them.

It's very simple: make her realize that she is not a perfect being, that she needs her, and that she depends on her.

Tonight's conversation is just the beginning. In the future, he will use various practical actions to rebuild Shihua's self-confidence and make her understand that her value is not as cheap as she thinks, but rather an indispensable presence for herself and for this family.

Gen Chiya sat down by the bed, his gaze subtly shifting from a god-like perspective to the ceiling of Toka's room.

After returning to her room, Shi Hua quietly stared blankly, her cheeks flushed red. Then, in an extremely cute manner, she rolled around on the bed, hugging her pillow. Finally, she took the necklace he had given her and examined it closely, her eyes turning into pools of spring water, revealing an exquisite smile.

There are some things I still couldn't say tonight, but at least now I can be sure that she has feelings for me, just like I do for her, and that our relationship goes beyond just that of sworn siblings. There's no doubt about it!

After taking one last look, Yuan Qianye returned to his God-like perspective.

At the last moment in sight, Shihua took off her pajama bottoms.

Although she didn't understand whether she was planning to go to sleep or was uncomfortable in her pajama pants and wanted to change into a looser pair, Yuan Qianye decided not to watch any longer.

He didn't want to be a submissive man, partly to avoid feeling stifled and uncomfortable.

However, in the course of discussing serious matters, they also inadvertently revealed some of their innermost thoughts, and then, without restraint, engaged in a few intimate actions.

So, as expected, I had insomnia tonight.

Sigrún has taught at the Iceland University of the Arts as a part-time lecturer since and was Dean of the Department of Fine Art from -. In – she held a research position at Reykjavík Art Museum focusing on the role of women in Icelandic art. She studied fine art at the Icelandic College of Arts and Crafts and at Pratt Institute, New York, and holds BA and MA degrees in art history and philosophy from the University of Iceland. Sigrún lives and works in Iceland.

It was late at night, and Hayasaka, who had been working hard all day, was finally able to finish arranging all her work.

I returned to my room, massaging my shoulders and neck.

The moment I sat down on the bed, my phone buzzed with a notification.

She felt nauseous and deliberately delayed picking up her phone to take a look.

Then, after unlocking the phone and seeing the contents of the screen, her gloomy and disgusted expression quickly turned bright.

These were not work-related orders or instructions sent from her own family.

It was a casual greeting from a new friend she had recently made with her mother's help.

Hayasaka, what do you usually do when you have insomnia?

Late at night, unable to fall asleep, Yuan Qianye took out her phone and leaned against the headboard.

Most people on the contact list are not suitable to be disturbed at this time, except for Hayasaka Ai.

After exchanging contact information at that banquet, the two chatted a few times afterward and learned about each other's situations.

Online communication via text eliminates the need to consider body language or facial expressions, allowing for more time to think and deliberate.

For reasons like these, Chiya always felt that Hayasaka Ai was more talkative and proactive than she appeared in real life.

[Hayasaka Ai: What's wrong? Are you having trouble sleeping, or is someone next to you having trouble sleeping?]

[Yuan Qianye: Just finished work?]

[Hayasaka Ai: Hmm.]

[Yuan Qianye: You've worked hard.]

When Hayasaka Ai saw the cat patting her head encouragingly emoji sent along with the text, her eyes softened. The simple chat content alone gave her a comforting and healing feeling.

Having worked for the Shinomiya family for so many years, the heavy workload meant that most of her time was not her own.

Even at school, she has to put on a different face to deal with her classmates. How could the friends she makes under such circumstances possibly have a true connection with her?

Everyone happily joined the Young Pioneers in pairs at school, but in the end, they were just friends on the surface.

But Minamoto Chiya was different. Like Kaguya, he knew about her crybaby nature, and the two had met when they were very young.

Although it wasn't a long time, so many years have passed, and the two of them have met again by fate. The process was quite dramatic, and the repeated coincidences laid the foundation for their current relationship.

With no vested interest, she didn't need to worry about hiding anything from Yuan Qianye, since he already knew her true self.

Being able to take off the mask and be your most authentic self naturally makes you feel more relaxed.

[Hayasaka Ai: I'm used to it now, I'll talk about you.]

[Yuan Qianye: Oh, it's nothing really. It's just that I can't sleep tonight, which is strange. I wanted to ask you how you deal with insomnia.]

[Hayasaka Ai: I really envy you; it's amazing that you have such worries.]

[Yuan Qianye: ?]

[Hayasaka Ai: After all, I almost always fall asleep the moment my head hits the pillow.]

[Minamoto Chiya: That's some enviable sleep quality! So, how do you manage to do that?]

[Hayasaka Ai: ...I wasn't bragging to you.]

[Yuan Qianye retracted a message]

[Minamoto Chiya: I just sent this to the wrong person. Please take care of yourself, Hayasaka-kun.]

See if I believe you or not.

Hayasaka Ai stared at the line of text, speechless for a moment, but then chuckled.

She walked into the bathroom with her phone in hand, and the moment she submerged herself in the bathtub, she couldn't help but let out a soft moan.

After a long day, taking a bath is a really relaxing thing.

Add to that the pleasure of chatting with friends who you can relax with without any worries and who allow you to freely express yourself to relieve stress—is there anything more enjoyable in the world?

If Chiya Minamoto, who was far away on the other side of the city, knew about Ai Hayasaka's inner thoughts, he would probably feel heartbroken for her.

She could feel content with just this kind of thing, and it also gave us a glimpse into the hard life she led on a daily basis.

[Hayasaka Ai: Getting back to the point, how about trying a bath? The right water temperature can improve blood circulation, relieve stress and anxiety, and promote metabolism. I personally take a bath every night before bed, and after that I sleep soundly until morning without waking up.]

Gen Chiya looked troubled upon seeing this suggestion.

He even took a bath, and one of the reasons he's so excited right now is because of taking a bath.

[Yuan Qianye: I've already soaked it, but it doesn't seem to have much effect.]

[Hayasaka Ai: Oh, well, I guess there's nothing I can do about it.]

[Yuan Qianye: ...]

[Hayasaka Ai: What did you do today?]

[Yuan Qianye: Trying to pry into my privacy?]

[Hayasaka Ai: (fist bumping a dog's head.jpg) I'm trying to find out why you can't sleep.]

How could I possibly reveal my sister complex to you?

However, it's true that you can talk about some trivial things.

So, Yuan Qianye gave her a general account of her trip to the amusement park that day.

In fact, it's not just one-sided that Chiya Minamoto holds a unique place in Ai Hayasaka's heart.

Conversely, Hayasaka Ai also plays a special role in Minamoto Chiya's side.

They didn't have much interaction on a daily basis and rarely contacted each other, but their compatible personalities made them have a good impression of each other.

This delicate relationship, coupled with Hayasaka's rather sensible personality, made Minamoto Chiya quite enjoy talking to her about topics that were difficult to discuss with those around him.

You can hear her thoughts without worrying about any problems afterwards.

After all, their social circles are completely different.

That's true, at least for now.

[Hayasaka Ai: ...Eh, an amusement park? That sounds like fun. Are you so excited that you can't sleep because you had so much fun today?]

[Yuan Qianye: Where did you get this brat from? You think I'd get excited over something as trivial as this?]

[Hayasaka Ai: Be brave and admit it. I won't laugh at you.]

[Minamoto Chiya: That's completely untrue; it's definitely not the main reason.]

[Hayasaka Ai: Judging from what you said, you're definitely still hiding something.]

[Yuan Qianye retracted a message.]

Hayasaka Ai poked you.

[Yuan Qianye: Your guilty conscience is too obvious.]

[Yuan Qianye: I really shouldn't keep playing on my phone when I have insomnia. I need to close my eyes, lie down, and try to fall asleep.]

[Hayasaka Ai: She took the liberty of teasing someone, only to leave immediately after satisfying herself, without caring about anything else?]

[Yuan Qianye: ?]

Why are you all all rosy-cheeked?

[Minamoto Chiya: The internet is not a lawless place, Hayasaka-kun, please watch your words.]

[Hayasaka Ai: Hang in there a little longer, I'm almost there too.]

[Minamoto Chiya: Getting excited, huh?]

Hayasaka Ai smiled gently in the bathroom, completely devoid of the fatigue and numbness she had felt when she first returned to her room; her bright eyes were now brimming with life.

She got out of the bathtub and used her fair hands to take a towel and dry herself off.

She put on her top, and her pure white panties slid between her fingers and clung to her buttocks with a snap.

[Hayasaka Ai shared a website link.]

[Minamoto Chiya: What is this?]

[Hayasaka Ai: Don't worry, it's a legitimate website.]

[Yuan Qianye: Who reads the serious stuff anyway?]

Even so, Yuan Qianye still clicked on the link.

[A collection of hydraulic press compactors! Silky smooth decompression of everything!]

[Hayasaka Ai: I usually watch these kinds of videos when I'm stressed or can't concentrate, and they're very effective. You can try it too. If that doesn't work, go to the kitchen and pour yourself a glass of milk; it has a calming effect and can also promote physical development.]

Yuan Qianye watched as all sorts of things were crushed and dismembered under the hydraulic press, various sticky, thick, flat, and broken pieces scattered haphazardly on the clean white workbench.