Tokyo Soft Rice King.

"The result was that they gave out apples... That guy must have thought there were too many people to give them to, so he just gave out apples to everyone to avoid the hassle."

"Yes, and it's also very economical, just like the style of a wise ruler, haha."

Future couldn't hide her disappointment. Although she took out her apple, she had no interest in even unpacking it. She just complained to Anri Hitomi, who was still smiling.

"Xiaotong, why are you still smiling like that... By the way, you and Ming went to buy these apples together, right? You knew he wanted them as a Christmas present, why didn't you stop him or say something to him? It's so stingy..."

Upon hearing this statement from the future, the others also turned their gazes to Anri Hitomi, wondering why the usually shrewd Anri Hitomi had failed to control Kuroba Akira this time. They all felt that this was a 'mistake' for Anri Hitomi.

However, Anri Hitomi was not hurt or unhappy by their complaints and dissatisfaction. Instead, she smiled with understanding and a touch of pride as she explained.

"I quite like this gift, because the fact that he gave us apples probably means that he's willing to share his deepest secrets with you."

Now everyone understood that Anri Hitomi's smugness came from the idea that "only I understand him best."

Shiori, who was best at language arts, keenly interpreted another layer of meaning and asked Hitomi Anri a question in return.

"Not including you, Tong? Does that mean you knew Master... Mingjun's secret from the very beginning?"

"Yes... Shiori, you and Akira share the same pen name, but you don't know the 'true meaning' of that pen name, do you?"

It's just a difference of one word, but it makes a world of difference in the relationship.

Hitomi Anri is using this to declare her supreme position in the social network.

None of you know... only I do.

Bai Yuming, that was his real name, and also proof that he came from another world.

Chapter 343 You can escape for a while, but you can't escape winter.

"Well……!"

Shiori Shirai bit her lower lip, gripped her arm with one hand, and turned her head away, revealing an embarrassed expression.

But Anri Hitomi didn't say those things to humiliate her, nor did she think that this gap would continue in the future.

"Shiori, you don't need to feel embarrassed. That's a nickname my grandma gave him, and the only people who probably know the origin of that nickname are those who live with him."

At this moment, Akiko, who had been working as a nanny at Kobayashi's house for some time, suddenly remembered the nickname thing and covered her mouth in surprise.

"Ah... In that case, it's true that Granny Kobayashi, Mr. Hijikata, Ms. Kurenai, and Shion-chan also occasionally call their beloved Shirako... um, Kuroba-kun."

When everyone heard that Akiko Takanashi had also mentioned this, they became even more curious about the true meaning of the nickname "Shiroko"—was it related to Akira Kuroba's hometown?

Anyway, Anri Hitomi definitely knows, but even if they really want to know, hearing it from Anri Hitomi herself would hurt their pride.

If this is something very important, I really want to be told to me by Kuroba Akira himself.

This is proof that I've been considered an 'important person' by him and have entered his heart.

Even if you fall behind others, you don't want to be pulled up by those who are ahead... Everyone feels the same way as Shion Murasaki in this regard.

However, these are all the fantasies of a young girl in love. For Akiko Takanashi, a married woman who has already identified herself as a wife, her curiosity about her husband's secrets outweighs her desire for recognition.

Akiko Takanashi held her cheek, looking somewhat troubled, and said...

"How should I put it... Although Kuroba-kun said he was just a tenant staying at a homestay, he got along very well with the other residents, and it felt like... like they were 'real family'..."

It was only after making a comparison that Akiko was able to clearly feel where the 'gap' lay.

Although the Takanashi family can provide entertainment and pleasure for Akira Kuroba, it cannot bring him that sense of warmth and relaxation.

It's like the difference between a wife's family home and her husband's family home. A husband might prefer to stay at his family home, but a wife might still feel more comfortable staying at her family home.

After hearing her mother's words, Wei Lai slumped her shoulders and said with a disappointed look.

"Mom, do you mean... Mingjun hasn't really considered us family yet...?"

"Well……"

After her daughter said that, Akiko also became depressed.

The others also felt that Kuroba Akira hadn't really integrated into their group, and their faces showed disappointment.

After all, Kuroba Akira was the only man at this Christmas party, and he was the backbone of the group. Once he left, the group naturally fell apart.

Entering a state of lethargy, the future lay listlessly on the table, unable to help but let out a long sigh.

"Hey……"

Hehe~

The sound of Hitomi Anri's laughter coincided with her sigh. Mirai turned her head and saw that Hitomi Anri was still smiling, and it wasn't a scary smile, but a genuinely happy smile as she enjoyed the cake.

So, you actually have the mood to eat cake? And why not eat the apple first? Are you reluctant to eat it?

In short... incomprehensible.

Sometimes she really didn't understand what Hitomi was thinking; Makoto was much easier to understand than her.

"Why do you seem happier, Xiaotong, even though Ming's gone?"

"Hmm... because I originally thought that Mingjun had changed, but actually he hasn't changed at all."

"what?"

Her words drew the attention of others, so Anri Hitomi continued.

"Today is the last day of the second semester. Winter break has already started, and I just happened to meet Mingjun on the last day of summer break, before the second semester started, and then I..."

"Soga... Ah!"

Upon hearing this, Future suddenly remembered that she wouldn't have to go to school starting tomorrow, and could legitimately stay at home.

"Oh right! Winter break starts today! No school tomorrow! So shouldn't everyone be staying at my house today?!"

If I had thought of that sooner, I could have stopped Kuroba Akira! Mirai was extremely annoyed by this.

Anyway, there's plenty of time, so it's okay to go home a little later, etc... Maybe Kuroba Akira will soften his heart and stay!

The others assumed that she hoped everyone would live in her house in the future, and they all expressed their opinions.

Makoto: "I can stay overnight. My mom still remembers you from the future. If I say I'll stay at your house, she'll agree."

Moe: "I might have to ask my family first..."

Akiko: "If needed, I can help contact your parents."

Moe: "Thank you... Well, then I'll leave it to you!"

Having a guardian present at this time would be very convenient, Shiori said with a smile.

"Besides, if they're all girls, Mengmeng, your mom will definitely feel at ease, and there's nothing wrong with my family either."

Finally, everyone looked at Tong, the only one who hadn't said anything, and she smiled and nodded.

"Hehe, since everyone else is staying here, I'll naturally stay too."

Hearing that everyone would be staying at her house, Mirai's mood improved somewhat, and she continued to urge Anri Hitomi to finish what she had just interrupted her about.

"Okay~ Xiaotong, you can continue. Sorry for interrupting you earlier."

"It's okay. What I'm about to say is that before I officially met Mingjun, I observed him for a whole summer."

Takanashi Mirai: (Isn't this just like Stalker?! Hitomi, how did you become like this?!)

Hikawa Makoto: (She's actually become a stalker... She's really fallen from grace, Hitomi.)

The two childhood friends were once again shocked by Hitomi Anri's change and made some internal monologues. On the other hand, Shiori Shirai and Moe Aizono were not very surprised, thinking that this was something Hitomi Anri was capable of doing, and that they had known about it for a long time.

Before Anri Hitomi officially met the two of them in junior high school, she had observed them for a long time.

However, Shirai Shiori still felt a little regretful, because she was the librarian, and Kuroba Akira often came to the library, so she had noticed the boy who loved to read.

If I had mustered just a little more courage back then, I might have been the first person to meet Akira... Shiori Shirai regrets missing out on what should have been her first time.

However, after thinking about it more carefully, she realized that even if she had met Kuroba Akira first, she probably wouldn't have thought of inviting him to join the literature club, because she wouldn't want a man to come into contact with the innocent and cute girl.

So at most, they'll talk about the book's content and exchange their thoughts on reading it, but in the end, they'll probably just become casual acquaintances.

It was precisely because Kuroba Akira was brought by Hitomi, and that he met Momo, that he came up with the idea of ​​writing a light novel. This led to the subsequent light novel showdown, and his utter defeat forced him to 'reveal' his entire self in front of him...

Although it was a somewhat shameful failure, and she even had suicidal thoughts at the time, Shiori Shirai feels that it is precisely because she has gone through these experiences that she can now take writing novels more seriously.

Thinking of this, Shiori couldn't help but smile, and she could better understand Hitomi Anri's feelings.

Ah, is that so? I'm happy about my own changes, and I'm also happy about meeting and encountering him. Thinking about these things makes my lips involuntarily curl into a smile... Perhaps this is a sense of happiness that comes from within.

Upon noticing that Shiori had also smiled, he turned his attention to making sarcastic remarks.

"Why is even Shiori smiling? Is Hitomi's smile contagious? Or did something happen between you two during summer vacation?"

Shiori shook her head to indicate that this was not the case, and then explained.

"Hehe, well, it's probably because it's almost the end of the year and I'm feeling a bit sentimental... I used to think I was the kind of person who wouldn't change for a long time, but now it seems I've changed a lot under someone's influence..."

Menghui hugged her from behind and rubbed her cheek against her best friend's.

"Yes, Shiori could never have made a gentle smile before, could she?"

Shiori puffed out her cheeks and pushed her face back, while poking Moe's other cheek with her index finger.

"Mo~ Mengmeng, aren't you the same? You're giggling more often now, it feels like you're about to stick your tongue out in front of him."

During her rebuttal, Aizen Moe became less confident because she thought of Kuroba Akira's face in her mind, and then she really wanted to look up at the other person's face and open her mouth... Her tongue might actually stick out unconsciously.

Watching the two of them playfully bickering, Mirai suddenly realized that she might have been too disheartened by Kuroba Akira's departure.

Even though Kuroba Akira is gone, it's still quite a rare sight to see so many people gathered at his house.

Although there's no chance for H anymore, playing with a group of people will definitely be much more fun than playing alone before, right?

"Okay...! Let's play King's Game after we finish our cake! Now that the only man is gone, we girls can play freely! Let's play something big!"

The quiet atmosphere became lively again. Akiko secretly wiped away the tears that had welled up in her eyes. She could feel that her daughter had grown up a little more.

However, before starting the game, Mirai wanted to hear what Hitomi hadn't finished saying earlier, so she continued to ask.

"But Xiaotong, what did you mean when you said that Ming has changed, but in reality he hasn't? You suddenly brought up when you met him, but you didn't finish your sentence."

"Well, actually, when I first met Mingjun, he was a complete egoist."

"Huh? That guy... is an egoist? It sounds like you're talking about a completely different person."

Makoto Toga raised an eyebrow. The Kuroba Akira she knew had no selfish motives whatsoever. Perhaps he had a goal to achieve, but even that goal was for the benefit of others. He was just a pushover.