They are still close to me today despite their negative feelings

"However, you didn't take it from him before."

"Ah."

"Then beat him up and take him back!"

"Eh?!"

"If someone does something bad to you, and you haven't done the same thing to them, then you haven't done anything wrong. Do you understand?"

"Is this... really that simple?" The little girl looked incredulous.

"Yes, it's that simple!" Captain Bearded Cat said confidently.

"So think about it, have you ever abandoned your mother?"

"No..." The little girl's eyes dimmed again when the topic came up.

"Then you haven't done anything wrong! The one who's wrong is someone else, and you're not allowed to apologize!"

"But she is my mother."

"I'm still Captain Mustache Cat! The captain is the boss on the ship, so you have to listen to him now! If you don't believe me, go ask the older sister and brother next to you!"

"...Really, Brother Ning?"

The little girl looked at the boy.

"Ah, I think there's such a saying." The boy pondered for a moment, then leaned closer to the small pendant and said.

"But Captain Cat, Qiqi is very sad right now. Could you please be a little more polite?"

"Don't mention it! Captain, I'm just that kind of cat!"

Captain Bearded Cat's voice was menacing.

"Sailor Su Qiqi!"

"Ok?"

"Shout out 'Here!' Then let's go again!"

"Oh……"

"Sailor Su Qiqi!"

"arrive!!"

Captain Bearded Cat's voice seemed to carry a gentle smile.

"You are my excellent and obedient subordinate. From now on, you are not allowed to doubt yourself or apologize for mistakes you did not make!"

"……Um."

"And who said you're unwanted? This captain, cough cough, and the navigator, doctor, cook, security guard... we all need you. From now on, we'll all be with you!"

"Ning Ruoyu, Sailor; Qiu Luxi, Sailor! You two too! Even if you can't always be together, you must still spend quality time with Sailor Su Qiqi!!"

Su Qiqi raised her head slightly, looking at the boy and girl expectantly.

"Yes. Even when I'm not by her side, I will always be thinking of Qiqi," Qiu Luxi said softly, rubbing the little girl's head.

"Well, after all, I've gotten on a pirate ship." Ning Ruoyu chuckled, and Qiu Luxi, who was next to him, glanced at him and slightly curved the corners of her mouth.

"That's right, that's right, we're comrades!!!"

"……Um!"

Perhaps it was a carefully planned timing, or perhaps it was just a coincidence. Just as Captain Whisker Cat's final shout received a response from Su Qiqi, the distant castle once again erupted in a final burst of fireworks.

"Wow--"

Su Qiqi sat between the two people, holding the pendant as if she had put down a heavy burden. Following the burst of fireworks that bloomed all over the sky like bouquets of flowers under the starry sky, she slightly opened her mouth and let out a joyful exclamation.

……

"Hey, Ning Ruoyu."

The girl gently nudged the boy next to her, tilted her head up, and whispered something.

"what?"

"Fireworks viewed from the side..."

“It’s round. Every side is round. It’s a sphere,” the boy blurted out. “Please spare me this classic question; I’ve been playing brain teasers all day. Oh, and it’s not a perfectly round sphere, you could say it’s irregular.”

"...What a boring man."

The girl muttered unhappily.

The boy smiled and continued watching the fireworks in the sky. Qiu Luxi suddenly realized that, from the side, the boy's eyes always seemed to hide some incomprehensible emotions.

It seems like a faint nostalgia, or a gentle sadness.

"Just like fireworks. Whether on the phone or in reality, Ning Ruoyu is Ning Ruoyu."

"what?"

The boy turned his head when the girl spoke softly.

"...Didn't I say I'd let you off the hook? Don't pay attention to me when I'm talking to myself."

The girl's eyebrows curved like a crescent moon in the sky, and her usually indifferent expression blossomed into a mischievous smile.

"Right, my online 'senior'?"

[Next chapter preview: "I want it! It's what I deserve!"]

"So, why does adding me make it 99?"

"If you weren't Ning Ruoyu, I would definitely break off all ties with you!!"

"Why did I have to be so impulsive?"

"My principle is to never use magic tricks to amuse boys!"

Chapter 71: Chen Di! You tricked me!!

"Haha, so it seems you already knew. Sorry, sorry~"

"...Can something like this be resolved with just an apology?!"

In the rest area in front of the gift shop, I stared at Chen Di, who was laughing heartily. It was truly rare to see him so happy.

As a friend, I'm very pleased—provided that his happiness wasn't due to him making fun of me!

"~"

Meanwhile, Qiu Luxi, who seemed to be in a good mood, was picking out gifts in a gift shop.

Despite being a popular idol, she looks no different from an ordinary high school girl when choosing theme park merchandise.

"Haha, as compensation, I can treat you to a limited-edition ginger ale~"

"Not everything can be elevated in value by adding the word 'limited edition' to it; it's just ginger cola!"

"Just say whether you want it or not."

"Yes! I deserve it!"

I said irritably.

Why bother with the limited-edition ginger ale? It's a limited edition, you know.

Chen Di bought two bottles of ginger cola while smiling.

"...Is it that funny that you're still laughing?"

"Haha, it's rare to see you make that kind of expression, it's quite amusing."

Who could have predicted this? I had already suspected that the junior recommended by the student council president was Qiu Luxi, but that very night she sent a message "admitting" that she was the student council president.

"But you immediately realized it was me and Qiu Luxi working together. You're quick-witted, aren't you?"

"Who else but you could have such a perverse sense of humor and be so cunning at the same time? An Yu?"

I rolled my eyes. "You have 100 cunning minds, and with An Yu added, that makes 99."

"...Why 99?"

The sound behind me startled me.

"Ah, An Yu, you're back too?"

Chen Di smiled and greeted the girls behind him.

"Brother, would you like some candied apple?"

"And banana boats!"

Ning Ruoxin and Ling Chuqing placed a lot of snacks in front of me.

"I... okay."

Seeing the expectant looks in the two girls' eyes, I couldn't refuse in the end. I took the candied apple and scooped out a spoonful of banana split as well.

"stare--"

Seeing the two girls' gazes, I decided to stuff the snacks into my mouth at the same time.

Ning Ruoxin and Ling Chuqing looked at each other with some regret, then exchanged a glance and smiled with relief.

"So, why does adding me make it 99?"

An Yu was still pondering with doubt.

"This candied apple is delicious."

I commented.

An Yu's eyes lit up, and Ning Ruoxin, who was next to her, saw her expression and smiled as she handed her one as well.

"Mmm, so delicious!" An Yu took a small bite, revealing a smile that even onlookers could feel. "Ah, but, that 99..."

"This banana split is amazing!"

I highly approve.

An Yu immediately turned her attention to the banana boat. Ling Chuqing also handed her a spoon.

"Hehe, thank you, thank you. I bought a lot of fruit, takoyaki, and fried noodles. Let's all eat together~" An Yu put the snacks in her hand on the table, and then couldn't wait to take a bite of the banana split.

"!!!"

Good, she has completely forgotten about her scheming nature.

"Has Qiqi already been taken away?"

Hu Dan's words dampened the relaxed atmosphere of the space.

Although he wasn't a bad person, from a certain perspective, Hu Dan could be considered a master of language.

"Qiqi, she..."

Even An Yu put down her spoon and looked at me with some sadness.

At that time, they were scattered in other places. The staff suddenly found me and Qiu Luxi and told us that the people from the orphanage had arrived. In order not to keep them waiting, Qiu Luxi and I simply went to the park gate to say goodbye to Su Qiqi, so An Yu and the others did not have time to send the child off.

“It’s okay, at least when she left, she greeted me and Qiu Luxi with great enthusiasm.” I took a bite of the apple candy. “That child is much stronger than we thought. And Qiu Luxi also made a promise to see her as soon as she has time—she’s there now picking out a gift for the child.”

"Then I'll go too!"

After hearing this, An Yu put down her spoon, which made me, Chen Di, and Hu Dan look at her in disbelief.

"...Why do I feel that your gazes are rude? Even Hu Dan, you are!"

An Yu asked, somewhat displeased, and the three of us quickly looked away.

As Hu Dan and I moved away, our eyes met, and we exchanged a wry smile.

I felt like we understood each other a little in an instant. It was almost like we reconciled with a smile.

“Then let’s go with our senior!” Ling Chuqing hugged Ning Ruoxin’s arm.

"The men can take care of the snacks and luggage, right?" Hu Dan said to Chen Di and me.

"Make sure you keep it safe! Especially the chocolate from my croquette!"