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

Saeko didn't notice Utaha's nervous reaction.

With an expression of absolute admiration, she continued to slowly lower her gaze, seemingly oblivious to her surroundings.

"Speaking of which, Shiyu, after you started school, you weren't wearing the knee-high socks or over-the-knee socks that most girls would choose, but black pantyhose instead. This kind of mature style might not be able to pull off for other girls, but it suits you perfectly. After all, your legs are quite beautiful, just like a heroine who stepped out of a comic book."

"Saeko, please...please stop praising me like that..."

I'm a little scared...

Kasumigaoka Utaha slowly took half a step back.

If Shiyu was only slightly uneasy before, now it had turned into genuine horror.

Saeko's words and her admiring gaze made Shiho's hair stand on end.

I didn't even feel like eating lunch.

The novelist's sensitive and quick-witted mind led Shiyu to even consider what the chances were of successfully escaping from the rooftop if Saeko were to attempt something against her.

The sad conclusion was that someone as weak as himself had no chance of fighting or escaping Saeko.

Shiwa took a deep breath and mustered her courage: "Saeko... what exactly do you want to say?"

Saeko met her gaze and smiled, "It doesn't mean anything special. I just think there's definitely a good reason why Shiho is so popular with the boys."

Shiyu: "..."

In this situation, even if she is praised, it is difficult for her to be happy.

“I have a suggestion,” Saeko said, raising her index finger.

Shi Yu's heart jumped into her throat.

Please, please, please don't let it be the one I'm worried about...!

"Shiyu, since you're annoyed by those persistent suitors, why don't you think of a way to give them a realistic reason that will make them give up on those unrealistic ideas and be done with it?"

Utaha: "...!"

So you want to take the initiative to suggest that we become a couple in order to create the illusion that you are not interested in men?

But in reality, was he using a feint to achieve his true intentions, a tactic of feigning one thing while secretly doing another?

I've seen far too many of these clichéd scripts...

Shiyu remained silent and wary, offering no response.

But Saeko didn't seem to care and continued, "Why don't you ask Chiya to offer to help?"

"I refuse... Huh?" Shi Yu's fearless expression instantly turned into one of utter bewilderment.

Saeko nodded emphatically and repeated, "Yes, let Chiya help. Even though he's a celebrity now and it's not convenient for him to get involved in this kind of thing, he can still come to pick you up from school wearing a mask, and deliberately act intimately to create the illusion that you have a boyfriend. That should be enough to deter your suitors."

Shiyu: "..."

She stood still, staring intently at Saeko.

This time, it was Saeko who seemed a little uncomfortable: "Shiyu, what's wrong? Is there something wrong with what I said?"

Shiyu slowly shook her head, then placed her lunchbox on the ground, and went straight over to hug Saeko.

Saeko was very surprised.

Shiyu apologized at this moment, for her dark thoughts: "I'm sorry, Saeko, I was overthinking things."

Saeko was even more confused: "Too much internal monologue...what does that mean?"

Shiyu had no intention of explaining further, as that would be too embarrassing. She simply hugged her best friend's arms even tighter and said, "It's nothing. I just feel that it's great to have met Saeko and become friends with you."

"Hehe, me too."

"We made a promise that no matter what happens to us in the future, we will be best friends for life."

"Okay, sure."

Shiyu slowly released her grip, a smile on her face, her mood lightening again: "Saeko, your suggestion is great. I'll go talk to Chiya about this this weekend and see if he has time to help."

Saeko took her phone out of her pocket: "There's no need to wait until the weekend, we can just ask Chiya now."

As she spoke, she sent the message in front of Shiyu.

Then, very quickly, Yuan Qianye replied.

I don't have time after school today because I have to shoot a magazine cover, but I'm free tomorrow and the day after. Is there anything I can help you with?

Saeko handed the reply to Utaha.

"Should I explain the situation to him directly now, or should you do it yourself?" Saeko asked.

Shiyu glanced at Saeko's phone screen, then looked at Saeko again.

Having wandered half my life, I have yet to meet a true friend. If you will not abandon me...

She hugged him again.

"Even if we are separated by distance due to work, life or other reasons in the future, we must get together at least once a month."

"Ah...hehe, okay."

Although Shiwa's reaction was strange, Saeko's plan was progressing quite smoothly.

…………

Chapter 174: Shi Yu: How about we make this a real show?

Friday afternoon at 3:30 pm.

Gen Chiya declined Kudo Miyoko's offer to pick him up, telling her that she didn't need to follow him around all the time today, and that she should just take a long-awaited vacation and rest at home. He then went to Soubu High School alone.

He made a point of setting aside time after school today because he had agreed to Kasumigaoka Utaha's request.

It seems to be because her personal charm is so outstanding that she is more likely to attract the attention of the opposite sex.

Since arriving at her new school, she has been plagued by relentless advances.

High school students are significantly more enthusiastic about finding a partner than they are in junior high school.

According to information that Chiya Minamoto obtained from Utaha herself and Saeko, this distress has even affected her normal studies and life on campus.

This, in turn, caused her to become lethargic and lose her appetite, affecting her rest and creating an even more vicious cycle.

Listening to them say this on the phone, it seemed that the situation had reached a critical point and could not be ignored.

But Yuan Qianye still felt that what the two said must have contained some exaggeration.

Zongwu Higher School has high academic standards for its students, unlike ordinary vocational schools that accept anyone who pays tuition.

Therefore, the school's atmosphere and the overall quality of its students should be guaranteed; it's unlikely to be this exaggerated.

Despite this, Gen Chiya still chose to come and help.

Saeko's strange requests need no further explanation.

As for Shiyu, Gen Chiya actually had a different kind of affection for her that wasn't just simple.

This feeling of goodwill became increasingly apparent after he confirmed certain thoughts in his mind.

It took more than half an hour to get there.

Gen Chiya arrived at Soubu High School.

To solve the problems that Shiyu is currently facing, simply picking her up from school is not enough, so we still have to do what she said.

The two had already discussed the specific details the night before.

The security guard at the school gate stopped Yuan Qianye because he was wearing a mask and not the school uniform.

In the security room, he explained that he had come to visit the school with a friend, showed his student ID and signed it, and then successfully obtained the badge for visitors. After pinning it to his chest, he was able to enter the school smoothly.

It was shortly after school let out in the afternoon, and the campus was bustling with activity.

The most significant difference between high school and junior high school is the substantial change in students' height and physique.

But as Yuan Qianye walked along, ignoring his incongruous school uniform, he didn't seem out of place at all; in fact, he blended in quite well.

Despite wearing a mask that somewhat concealed his good looks, his charisma is undeniable.

To say he strides with the air of a dragon and the gait of a tiger would be a bit of an exaggeration, but his height, long legs, and well-proportioned figure, coupled with his inherent confidence, do give him a dashing and imposing air when he stands tall and holds his head high.

Yuan Qianye stepped into the shoe-changing area at the entrance of the teaching building.

Sure enough, no matter which school it is, you can always smell that unique scent of shoes when you walk into this place...

There are cotton slippers for visitors at the shoe changing area; the white lining of the slippers has started to turn black.

Yuan Qianye had anticipated this. Instead of using the visitor slippers, he took out clean shoe covers that he had prepared in advance from his bag, put them on, and then continued walking inside.

Shiyu said that her class was on the second floor, the first room on the right after going upstairs...

Thinking about all this, Yuan Qianye continued walking up to the second floor, enduring increasingly dense scrutinizing gazes.

So far, everything is proceeding smoothly according to plan.

According to Shiyu herself, the operation of pretending to be her boyfriend to discourage the boys in school who had feelings for her was naturally to be as flamboyant as possible and to make it known to everyone in the school.

Therefore, the fact that Yuan Qianye is taking the initiative to come to her class to pick her up is an extremely important and necessary step.

"Isn't this a bit too much?" Yuan Qianye asked when making the plan.

"It's no exaggeration. Shiyu's popularity at school is far higher than you imagine, Chiyo. If she didn't flaunt it so obviously, she probably wouldn't be able to deter her fervent admirers." In the small group chat the three of them had temporarily formed, Shiyu didn't speak, but Saeko answered on her behalf.

Then Saeko continued, "Actually, according to our original plan, we were thinking that you, Chiyo, should go all out and buy a bouquet of flowers and give it to Shiho in public, but considering that it's a school, that would be a bit inappropriate, so we decided against it."

"Qianye, all you need to do is show up normally at school, pick Shiyu up outside her classroom, and act a little intimate with her. It might be a little troublesome, but it's for Shiyu's sake, and it will save you from wasting any more of your time later."

"It's not troublesome at all. I understand. Let's do it as you say."

In the small group chat that night, Shiyu didn't say much, mostly sending cute cartoon doll kissing and hugging emojis.

It's unclear whether it's targeting any other person in the group, or perhaps both.

Yuan Qianye silently recalled the events and arrived at the second floor. Before he even reached the classroom door that Shiyu had mentioned, he saw Shiyu herself directly.

She was standing in the corridor outside the classroom, in front of her a mature woman with a helpless expression and a headache, saying something.

It looks familiar...