They are still close to me today despite their negative feelings

"finished?"

The tasks that can be accumulated are all rather tedious and cannot be dealt with immediately... Are they finished?

"For the details of the cosplay event, I retrieved the relevant details of anime conventions in major cities, compared the plans drafted by the anime clubs with those, and revised some data and points to note."

"I didn't change the location of the exhibition, but I created a recommended route connecting it to the food stalls, so that you'll see it along the way if you go to the food stalls."

"As for the mascot, it's obvious that the school leaders are interfering without knowing anything. I had AI run more than a dozen similar documents, and then finally sent out a few original color-changing documents. Sure enough, the higher-ups thought the first draft was fine."

Wu Yuehua was speechless.

She knew her junior wasn't an ordinary person; she'd vaguely sensed it last semester when they were at a karaoke bar. But this exaggerated work efficiency, while surprising, also left her feeling somewhat disheartened.

Compared to him, I'm probably just a bookworm who only knows how to use stupid methods, right?

"Ah, but don't let my casual tone fool you, all of this, including the other specific operations, was thanks to Chen Di'an and the others." As if he could read people's minds, the boy's words offered Wu Yuehua some comfort. "I couldn't do so many tedious tasks myself—it's more accurate to say that you guys are really amazing."

"Comfort at times like these can be even more devastating."

Wu Yuehua said with a wry smile, but she did feel a little comforted.

"Hmm, I was originally going to discuss the drama club, but it seems—"

The boy glanced at the thick stack of documents in Wu Yuehua's hand.

"...Yes, I'm sorry, I probably won't be able to go there for the time being." Wu Yuehua smiled somewhat apologetically.

She took on a lot of work, which meant she had to deal with various problems most of the time. Although she believed that she hadn't neglected memorizing her lines and thinking about the debate topics in her spare time, there were always huge hidden dangers in her cooperation with others.

"If you push yourself this hard, you might collapse."

The boy uttered something that sounded like a piece of advice, which was unusual for him, but then quickly shook his head.

"Senior Sister Chu Guyin thinks so too, right?"

"?"

Chu Guyin, who had been quietly listening to the two talking without making a sound, was suddenly called upon. She glanced at Ning Ruoyu and nodded slightly.

“…………I will be careful.”

Wu Yuehua said with a smile, but it seemed like she was just giving a perfunctory answer.

"Actually, I didn't come to see you, President, for today's rehearsal. We're planning to have an emergency rehearsal at Chen Di's house this weekend, so if you have time, President."

"...I'm sorry, I have regional selections for the debate competition this Sunday, and a mock competition will probably be held on Saturday."

Wu Yuehua had declined the amusement park invitation last weekend, and this time she didn't want to spoil the fun for her juniors. But coincidentally, her competition was on the very day Ning Ruoyu had mentioned.

"Oh, I see. That's a headache. It feels like..."

Although the boy said that, he didn't seem to be really troubled by it.

He glanced at Chu Guyin beside him, tilted his head, and smiled.

"How about we have Senior Sister Guyin take the place of the student council president at our rehearsal?"

In an instant, Wu Yuehua suddenly felt that something was wrong.

Given Ning Ruoyu's personality, would she really not know the time of her match?

Or perhaps, he proactively helped with his own work, and then encountered himself and Chu Guyin in this place.

—Is it really just a coincidence?

Looking at the young man who seemed to have just casually offered the invitation, Wu Yuehua felt a little flustered.

[Next chapter preview: "Then don't leave Xiaoyin's sight."]

"Isn't this a bit of an overreaction?"

"...I think it looks quite similar."

Are you resting?

"It's a very special kind!"

Chapter 101: To my shame, I'm getting married.

"Hello, Brother Ning!"

In the spacious entryway, before I even took off my shoes, I heard a very energetic greeting.

"Wow, Xiaoyin, long time no see! You've gotten even cuter!"

I smiled and greeted the little girl in front of me.

"Brother Ning is still the same as ever, he seems to know how to please girls."

The little girl with the red ribbon in her hair was Chen Di's younger sister, who was about to graduate from elementary school. She was probably imitating her brother, as she was more mature and serious than other children her age. But because of the contrast with her childish appearance, she seemed to be acting like an adult.

"Xiaoyin is here to help her brother, so she won't fall for Ning-gege's tricks." The little radish head said to me seriously, "Brother has never entertained classmates before, let alone so many girls—as your brother's rival, Ning-gege, please don't leave Xiaoyin's sight."

Chen Di, who was standing to the side, frowned slightly but did not say anything.

"I see, I see, I completely understand now. Don't worry, Xiaoyin and I are on the same side—I'm also curious to know what kind of person this guy likes~"

I raised my hand and gave Little Carrot Head a high five. Xiao Yin hesitated for a moment, glanced at Chen Di who was smiling beside her, walked up to me, and clapped her little hand.

"Then don't leave Xiaoyin's sight."

"completely fine!"

I continued to coax the little girl.

Chen Di, who was standing to the side, shook his head.

"What's wrong? Seeing me so close to your sister, is your sister-complex soul burning brightly again?"

I joked.

"I'm not you. I just didn't expect that you would be outsmarted by my sister."

"Plan?"

I felt a little lost.

"Xiaoyin was so excited and excited last night when she heard you were coming. She even went through all sorts of toys and said she wanted you to play with her today."

As the older brother, Chen Di instantly exposed his sister's secret, causing Xiao Yin to blush and run over to protest.

"Brother, brother! I didn't expect anything, and I didn't cause any trouble! I... I only did it because you've never hosted any other classmates before!"

"Then you can't bother Ning-gege to play with toys when your older brothers and sisters have to do things later. You have to go and do your homework obediently."

Wow, that's too harsh! Are you the father in Lu Xun's writings who insisted on making his child recite texts before watching a play?

"Why, why is this..."

Xiaoyin immediately pouted, looking like she was about to cry.

"Wow, you scare your sister like this at home?" I looked at Chen Di with a helpless expression. I came to Chen Di's house for rehearsal because Chen Yin also got a role in this play, and his behavior was too abnormal.

"I'm not trying to scare him. I just can't let this child use others as an excuse to push the things he wants to do onto others. That's a bad habit."

Chen Di squatted down and patted Xiao Yin's head.

"Look, isn't it unpleasant to be forced to not do something or to do something?"

"Um……"

"So, Xiaoyin too. I can't pretend I didn't hear what you just said. Maybe Xiaoyin thought it was funny, and Brother Ning is willing to play along with Xiaoyin's antics, but if the older sisters who come later are 'screened' by you like this, even if they don't say anything, won't they feel a little uncomfortable like Xiaoyin is now?"

"What about the older sisters? They all have people they truly like and care about. If Xiaoyin keeps pressing them for answers like this, it's one thing for the older brother, but wouldn't the older sisters feel a little uncomfortable?"

"……Correct."

Chen Yin tugged at Chen Di's sleeve.

"I'm sorry, brother. I was wrong. I shouldn't have acted recklessly."

"It's not just nonsense. I know Xiaoyin is happy that the house is so lively, but when playing with everyone, the most important thing is not to make others feel uncomfortable. You should be a good host and entertain your guests, okay?"

"Ok!"

I also went over and patted Xiaoyin's head.

"Isn't this a bit of an overreaction?" I mouthed. I don't care about the others, but Chen Di should understand.

"I didn't want to spoil my sister's fun... but some things are more important than being happy."

Chen Di's expression showed a rare mix of conflict and reluctance. "I don't want Xiao Yin to grow up to be a withdrawn, eccentric, and self-righteous girl. If I don't correct her now, I feel it will be difficult for her to realize the problem and what she did wrong after this is over."

"So please spend a little more time with her later. She's really looking forward to playing with you today. She even tidied up her toy box and arranged all the toys she wants to play with in order."

It was quite unusual to see Chen Di speaking to me in such a low voice.

Still saying you're not a sister-complex!

I wiped away the little girl's tears before they could fall, and then told her a few funny stories from the road (made up). Soon the child stopped crying and started laughing again, becoming very energetic.

Shortly after, the doorbell rang.

……

The attic of Chen Di's house.

"It feels so amazing."

After finishing the first rehearsal, An Yu looked somewhat surprised. After she and her senior finished a scene together, she immediately went over to her senior and started chatting.

"Hmm, as expected of a senior." "Although she stumbled over her lines, it doesn't seem to be a problem."

Ge Lanlan and Hu Dan, who also played supporting roles, surrounded their senior.

"How strange, she's clearly following the character design written by the president. And she can't even speak clearly."

Qiu Luxi, standing to the side, looked somewhat puzzled.

I tapped her on the head.

"Not polite."

"...Are you trying to create an opportunity for the president and senior Chu Guyin to reconcile?"

Chen Di stood by, arms crossed, watching.

"It's not entirely because of that, after all, none of the senior students came, right? But when I was reading the script, I felt that Senior Chu Guyin and the president are actually quite similar." I yawned. I've been busy with some troublesome things lately, and I always feel like I'm not getting enough sleep.

"And even if I'm very confident, I still need to spend some time observing my senior's usual preferences. Since the Light Music Club disbanded, this has become quite difficult."

Although I could ask Chu Qingya for information at the coffee shop, it was ultimately a "fair and just" bet. Taking a shortcut by asking for information felt a bit like cheating. I didn't want to give Chu Qingya anything to say about it.

"Does the student council president look a lot like this senior?"

"Wasn't this a topic from a few minutes ago?" I looked helplessly at the cat that was doing things its own way.

But Qiu Luxi didn't seem to think there was anything wrong with what she said, and looked at me with a curious expression.

"...I think it looks quite similar."

The Queen in Qiu Luxi's script is a serious, even somewhat rigid, woman who appears stern and cold but is actually awkward and doesn't know how to express her feelings.

"Is that so?"

Because of their appearances and backgrounds, the two were always compared at school, but this was actually the first time they had a formal encounter in real life. Qiu Luxi glanced at Chu Guyin, her eyes narrowing like a kitten's.

"I feel all alone."

She abruptly dropped those words, and I didn't respond.

Perhaps this is Chu Guyin's greatest characteristic—even surrounded by crowds, her loneliness is not diminished in the slightest.

It's like a beautiful character illustration. From afar, everyone praises it, but up close, it always seems out of place with everything else.

What I said to Chu Qingya back then wasn't a joke or just modesty. I wasn't actually very confident about that bet. Because, ultimately, I'm not someone who believes in miracles.

"..."

Perhaps noticing my gaze, Chu Guyin, standing in the crowd, looked in my direction from a distance, her eyes unabashedly fixed on my face.

I gently waved to her, giving her a small greeting.

She nodded, as if trying to express something, and finally raised both hands, making a slight upward gesture with her fingertips at the corners of her mouth.

...Who taught me this gesture of smiling? I suspect it was the boss's wife.