mygo, but Cthulhu

"Little Love……"

Deng hesitated and wanted to comfort her, but he didn't know what to say. Soon the teacher walked into the classroom, and Aine silently raised her head and listened to the class listlessly.

Deng had no intention of listening to the teacher's teaching. Although she felt sorry for it, she couldn't help but pay attention to Xiao Ai's situation. After she finally got through this agonizing class, Deng couldn't wait to stand up and ask Ai Yin, but Ai Yin had already anticipated her reaction and stood up quickly without turning back.

"Sorry, tomorin, I'm a little tired now. Can you let me find a place to be alone first?"

"Alone...? But Xiao Ai looks very sad right now. Although I may not be able to do anything, if my company can make Xiao Ai feel more at ease..."

"I'm sorry, tomorin, but I really just want to be alone right now."

She interrupted the cautious sound of the lamp with a soft voice, and at the same time felt sad, and could not help but laugh at her own despicableness in her heart.

What have I been doing? Tomorin clearly cares about me, but I treat her like this... As expected, I am not a human being.

When she thought of this, she felt as if her heart was aching. She covered her chest tightly, gritted her teeth and staggered out of the classroom. The light hesitated for only a moment before her figure disappeared.

Aiyin's head was dizzy. She avoided other classmates and came to the dark corner of the stairs. She huddled inside without caring about the dust, trying to curl up and absorb that pitiful sense of security.

Cheer up, Chihaya Aine, it's just a small setback, isn't it just... you might turn into a monster and never be able to form a band with Tomorin and the others for the rest of your life? You should at least...

She tried her best to cheer herself up, but the more she tried, the more

The more pain she felt, the more her vision was obscured by mist, forcing her to lower her head and cry.

Why, why is this happening? This has to be fake, right? Maybe Aya made a mistake? How could there be such a thing as a murloc?

In despair, she kept repeating her last lucky gamble, but then, for some reason, she felt her body getting heavier and heavier, and there seemed to be a suppressed sound of liquid flowing in her ears.

The light around her disappeared, but her senses were not completely blocked. She felt as if she was slowly sinking into an unfathomable abyss. The huge body of water under the deep sea enveloped her, but she was not killed by the terrible water pressure. Instead, she felt a strange tranquility.

She seemed to be sinking into a warm embrace, which even gave her a sense of security as if she was in the amniotic fluid of the womb. Her new life seemed to be about to begin, completely swallowing up everything in her past.

...completely swallowed?

Aine suddenly opened her eyes in fear, but what she saw around her was not the pitch-black deep sea, but a dusty corner. She touched her face quickly and tremblingly, and only breathed a sigh of relief after confirming that she still had smooth human skin and normal facial features.

"Did I... fall asleep?"

After realizing her abnormality, Aine quickly took out her cell phone to check, but she was surprised to find that only a few minutes had passed. Although class was about to start, she should still have time.

In the incomprehensible chaos, Aine could only helplessly lower her head, trying hard to swallow the pain and fear. She didn't stand up until she was about to be late and walked back to the classroom.

After entering the classroom, Deng, with a worried look on her face, subconsciously wanted to speak, but she couldn't help but be stunned when she saw that Aine had obviously been crying. At the same time, Aine walked past her without stopping, and continued to force herself to attend the class tiredly.

Deng couldn't talk to her during class, and Ain simply lay on the table after class. Deng couldn't say anything to Ain the whole day. In response to the questions from other classmates who were worried about Ain, she could only shake her head and helplessly hope in her heart that school would be over soon.

When the bell rang, Aine quickly stood up and tried to leave, but the next moment her hand was firmly grasped by the lamp, and a familiar voice full of powerlessness and worry came from behind.

"Xiao Ai... don't go, okay? Even if you don't want to be with me now, I still want to know what happened to you. What happened? Is it my fault? Because I did something wrong, Xiao Ai hates me..."

"…No, this is definitely not your fault, tomorin."

After a moment of silence, Aine managed to squeeze out a word, and Deng quickly and anxiously asked,

"So, what's the reason? Xiao Ai, we made a promise together that we will be together for life, so no matter what problems you encounter, you can talk to us and we will definitely help you."

"I know,"

Aiyin sighed slowly, and after a long silence, she shook her head slightly.

"But please give me some time, tomorin, I can't say it now, but maybe I can speak later."

"Well, Xiao Ai, if you have made up your mind, you can tell me at any time."

Although she still didn't know the reason, Deng felt relieved by Aine's words. She nodded, and then suddenly remembered something.

"Oh, Xiao Ai, today seems to be the last day of band rehearsal. After that, we will have to double our shooting practice... Since Xiao Ai is feeling uncomfortable today, let's just forget about it, how about it?"

"No, I think I can still hold on for a while, and this is the last rehearsal for a while."

Aine shook her head, but fatigue was still evident in her grey eyes.

"Let's go, tomorin."

Chapter 66 Pain

"I'm ten minutes late. I sent a message but no one replied. What's that Aine up to now?"

Li Xi glanced at the clock irritably, and after seeing the time clearly, he couldn't help but sigh.

"Today is our last rehearsal for a while. After this, we won't have the energy to focus on the band anymore. That guy still isn't serious...it's frustrating."

"Don't worry too much. Aine and Deng must have encountered something."

Su Shi pursed her lips and whispered a soothing word, while subconsciously glancing out the window.

Fortunately, it didn’t rain today.

"...Don't think too much, that pink-haired guy is just late."

Noticing her actions, Li Xi was silent and then reminded her softly, and Su Shi also silently looked away.

Then, she suddenly saw the door open, and she breathed a sigh of relief and hurried forward.

"What happened? Riki is getting impatient. If you can't come up with a good reason, Aine, she'll..."

"Sorry, I'm late because of my problem. I'm sorry."

The next moment, Aiyin's words made Su Shi and Li Xi stunned. Li Xi, who was about to speak, forgot what he was going to say and blinked blankly.

“Aine…what’s wrong with you?”

"What's wrong? What does Rikki want to say?"

Aine forced a smile, but everyone could see that something was wrong with her. Just as Deng was about to say something, Aine clapped her hands gently, interrupting her.

"Okay, let's start practicing. It's all because of me that we wasted ten minutes. So, we need to get started right away."

“…Aine, did anything happen to you today?”

Hearing her say that, Su Shi could not help but be stunned for a moment. She tried to speak cautiously, but Aine just smiled calmly and completely different from her usual smile.

"It's nothing, soyorin, you don't have to worry."

"But even if you say so..."

Su Shi pursed her lips, but at the same time Deng suddenly pulled her sleeve gently. She turned her head and saw Deng shaking his head at her with a complicated expression. After hesitating, she did not continue to ask.

The rehearsal began in this stagnant atmosphere. What was even more surprising to them was that Aine played the music perfectly. She didn't make any of the mistakes she often made in the past. Apart from the lingering mechanical and painful feeling in the melody, her technique was completely on par with the others.

However, Deng and the others were so worried that they could not play stably. After another mistake, Li Xi was the first to stop the drumsticks and sighed helplessly.

"Stop... Aine, please tell us what happened first. If you don't tell us, no one will be able to concentrate on practicing."

"…I'm sorry, I can't say it right now."

Aine was silent and shook her head. Riki also frowned slightly.

"Why is that? Because we knew there would be danger? Or is it for some other reason?"

"It's because of my own reasons. I can't tell you. I'm sorry."

The pink-haired girl stood there silently with her head down. Her usual lively aura was completely gone, giving people an extremely depressed feeling. Li Xi opened her mouth to say something, but didn't know how to start. In the end, she could only put the drumsticks aside in annoyance.

"Today... Xiao Ai was like this when she came to school. She looked very painful... but I couldn't help her."

Deng explained in a low voice with disappointment, and Su Shi couldn't help but rub her nails at this time. She thought for a moment and spoke to Ai Yin tentatively,

"So, why can't you tell me?

We have already decided to face those dangers together, haven't we? Aiyin, no matter what you encounter, we will do our best to help you, we will always be by your side..."

"I'm sorry, Sushi, I just can't say it,"

Aiyin interrupted her softly, and Sushi was stunned for a moment after hearing her address. She subconsciously used force to leave a white mark on her nails.

"Is that so? We understand. Aine, why don't you go out and get something to eat first? Didn't you say yesterday that you wanted to try some new snacks? We can try them now."

She forced a smile, clasped her hands together and suggested in a gentle voice, but her silver-grey eyes, which used to be filled with tender emotions, were now dim. Aine looked away and shook her head slightly.

"I'm sorry, I'm not interested right now... I know my behavior has caused you a lot of trouble, but I don't know what else to do except apologize. I'm really sorry."

"If you think I'm unworthy of staying here, I completely agree. Just tell me and I'll leave..."

"Don't talk to yourself, Chihaya Aine."

Li Xi gritted his teeth and interrupted her coldly, then quickly stood up and walked to her, staring fiercely into her eyes.

"When did we ever think you were unqualified? Don't make assumptions about our thoughts. Even if you don't want to say it, don't make an expression that would irritate others!"

"The Aine I know wouldn't be as dejected as you. Even if she suffers a setback, she'll recover quickly. Even if she chooses to escape for a moment, she'll eventually muster the courage to face the difficulties head-on... You don't look like her at all now, so get serious!"

"...Is that so? Am I even a little bit inferior to the past Chihaya Aine?"

After a moment of silence, Aine suddenly smiled, then nodded calmly.

"In that case, Li Xi, just treat me and her as two different people. I can no longer be like her. I am no longer Chihaya Aine."

"Huh? What the hell are you talking about?!"

Li Xi angrily wanted to grab her collar, but before others could stop her, Ai Yin grabbed Li Xi's hand first. Her extremely fast reaction speed made everyone stunned.

"If you don't understand, I can repeat myself. I am no longer the person I used to be. I am no longer able to do that, and I can no longer see clearly ahead of me."

"If you expect me to be the same as before, I can only apologize to you. Beyond that, I have nothing to offer you."

She responded softly, and Li Xi's anger grew with her words. She gritted her teeth and tried to shake off Aine's hand, but unexpectedly found that her strength was even greater than hers. Aine's palm held her hand tightly like an iron clamp, and even gradually made Li Xi feel pain.

"You... what are you talking about? Are you going to deny everything we've experienced together in the past? Are you going to deny the lifetime we promised each other?!"

Li Xi couldn't help but roar, and Aine was also stunned for a moment. She turned back to look at Deng who was standing there at a loss, and gave a complicated and bitter smile.

"I don't know...but I think I should break the contract. My life with you will probably just be a lie to me in the end."

"you……"

Riki's eyes widened, but before she could continue questioning, Aine shook her hand off first, and the force that could not be ignored almost made her fall to the ground.

"Xiao Ai... don't you want to continue getting lost with us?"

The lamp began to tremble at this moment. She stared at Aine blankly, but the latter did not dare to meet her gaze. She closed her eyes and spoke softly after a long while.

"I'm sorry, Deng, I no longer have the ability to accompany you... Or rather, my future has already been predetermined, but I just discovered it today."

"Let me go home and think for a few days. If I can find even a glimmer of hope, I will come back... I hope I can do that."

She sighed, and just as she was about to take a step forward, Lenai suddenly stopped in front of her, with a rare serious expression on her face.

"Funny girl...you're scared, why?"

"Because I know one thing, I can't help but be afraid."

"Why don't you tell me?"

"I can't do it,"

"...You are also part of this place. If you leave, this place will be incomplete. Stay."

After a moment of silence, Lenai raised her head and looked at her seriously, but Aine just shook her head and walked past her silently, while easily pushing away Lenai's hand that was trying to stop her.

...She also wanted to confess, but how should she start? How should she tell them that she was not the human Chihaya Aine from the beginning, but a lowly and hateful bastard?

How could she do this? How could she continue to walk with them without any psychological burden even though she might become a monster?

She can't do it.

Aiyin gave a tired and bitter smile. She didn't dare look back, fearing that their painful looks would make her collapse. She just raised her hand to open the door and stumbled out.

If only this were just a nightmare.

Chapter 67: Deep Diver

Chihaya Aine walked on the street, but she could not determine her location. The pain made her unable to think, and guilt and self-blame made her consciousness blurred.

She just persisted in the exhausted thought of not stopping, repeating her steps over and over again, completely unaware of what she was doing.

"drop!"

Suddenly, a shrill horn sounded beside her ears. Before Aine could react, a hand suddenly pulled her over and the speeding car brushed past her.

"Are you okay, Aine?"

A familiar voice made Aiyin look up blankly. When she saw who saved her, her eyes widened in surprise.

"Aiya...you're here so soon?"

"I was worried that you would be harmed by those monsters, and now it seems that my anxiety was necessary."