Aunt Xiangzi, how did you manage to live?

Fortunately, she would never show this spineless and dejected side to others.

Only in her own bedroom, this small corner of the world, can she truly let down her guard and pride to embrace her most vulnerable yet most authentic self.

However, Li Xi didn't have much time to feel ashamed of herself, because a few minutes later, her phone, which had been on the table, started vibrating slightly.

"?"

Lixi, who was standing by the window gazing into the distance, turned her head and caught a glimpse of a message notification popping up on her phone screen.

Could that be...

Having finally calmed down, Li Xi's heart suddenly leaped into her throat. She took light, quick steps to the table, picked up her phone, and began to check—

The next second, a blush like a sunset filled her entire face, and the mental preparation she had just made instantly crumbled.

This is a message from Kazama.

Chapter 43 I can't give up on you, and I can't give up on them either.

On the other hand, the curly-haired boy who sent the message was actually a little nervous after clicking send.

Even though Shiina Ritsuki had shown him such an unapproachable side at RiNG's beverage shop during the day, he still felt he should try to find out why Ritsuki harbored such resentment towards him.

So around 9 p.m., a time when he had just eaten dinner but wasn't yet too early to go to sleep, he sent a cautious text message to Lixi.

Rather than calling it a text message, it's more accurate to describe it as a message of reconciliation that he had come up with ingeniously on how to make Lixi happy.

[Your friend Kazama Group/Teasing Questions qwi Tumor Umbrella Two K Wine Two Xiao recommended a video: How to make up with a friend who is angry?]

"...Pfft."

While Kazama was internally pounding and unable to make up his mind, Riki, who was also experiencing similar anxiety on the other end of the phone, saw the message and burst out laughing.

"What kind of show is this?"

Shiina Tatsuki, who had been a little nervous, calmed down considerably because of this message. In a great mood, she picked up her phone and walked slowly to the bedside. As she typed her reply on the screen, a faint smile played on her lips.

So, where's the video?

Lixi's reply still seemed cold and distant, completely different from her current secretly smiling appearance—but in any case, her behavior of replying immediately upon receiving the message and even continuing the conversation from Kazama's words betrayed her seemingly cold and rigid demeanor.

There is no doubt that Shiina Tatsuki is awkward.

Anyone unfamiliar with her personality who received such a text message would likely assume she was still brooding over what happened during the day, hence the somewhat awkward words she uttered.

Fortunately, Kazama was raised by a strange monster, a gravity monster, a vain monster, and a taciturn monster.

[Do you want to see it? If you do, I'll record it right now. But it will feature me on camera.]

He immediately caught the hint of arrogance in Li Xi's awkward reply and further enlivened the somewhat awkward atmosphere between the two with his still witty words.

He's not the kind of person who can say "It's all my fault" or "It's all your fault" without any guilt when he argues with a friend. I believe that everyone has difficulty expressing their true thoughts in daily interactions for various reasons.

The quality of humor in human nature is the most effective and golden aid in every conflict and misunderstanding.

Who wants to watch your videos?

Lixi's answer still seemed cold, but Kazama could sense that this was just a prelude to her stubbornness and soft heart.

When one party in a conversation is not frank enough, humor finds an opportunity to shine.

Xiao could also sense that Li Xi actually liked this approach of launching Yueyi's first product.

Okay, I'll do anything to get Lixi to talk to me again.

Based on his extensive understanding of Aunt Riki over the years, and his feelings about spending time with the young Riki, Kazama lowered his stance and showed a sweet and charming side.

Although it was said with a hint of joking, this was still a side of Kazama that he rarely showed to others.

"If Xiao wants to win back someone who is truly important to her, she shouldn't worry about losing face or dignity by lowering her stance—because what she values ​​is not face in the moment, but how to win the other person back."

He still kept Hatsune Miku's earnest teachings in mind, and this trick was clearly very effective for Riki.

Why exaggerate like that? I'm not that ruthless.

After a brief silence, Lixi sent this message.

On one hand, she didn't want to lose the armor built from indifference and aloofness, but on the other hand, she worried that her words might be too unapproachable and hurt Kazama on the other end of the phone—which is why she gave such an awkward, roundabout, and not entirely honest answer.

However, in Xiao's view, this at least symbolizes that Lixi has a tendency to open up to him.

Is that so? Then why were you so mean to me during the day? Did I do something bad to Lixi?

After typing this line, Kazama also slyly sent a cute, pitiful puppy emoji.

After doing all this, he picked up his phone and slowly walked to the window to look at the night view below.

When dealing with someone like Li Xi, who is stubborn but soft-hearted and seemingly unapproachable, knowing how to show weakness is an essential skill that must be mastered when communicating with her.

Xiao Yin vaguely remembered the words of wisdom that Aunt Hatsune Miku had shared with him when he was a naive teenager.

"Although dealing with girls is a bit troublesome for Ah Xiao, it is indeed a necessary part of learning. Just like I said before, the prettier the girl, the more likely she is to lie—but that's okay, as long as Ah Xiao also learns the language of girls, she can apply it flexibly and draw inferences from one instance."

Girls are cunning creatures, and he needs to learn to deal with them like an adult.

Basically, there are only three patterns: becoming a cat, becoming a tiger, or becoming a dog that gets soaked in the rain.

Hatsune Miku's earnest teachings still resonate in my ears today, and Kazama, who has thoroughly memorized the teachings of his aunts, naturally applies these theories flexibly to his life.

Just like this moment.

"...You didn't do anything bad to me."

Lixi's tone had softened considerably when she replied, clearly showing that she had felt pity for Xiao's show of weakness—it seems that Aunt Hatsune's theory can at least be perfectly applied to an awkward person like Lixi.

[I just feel... what you did to the stray cat and Misaka Hatsuka was inappropriate.]

In any case, Riki still expressed her views on the relationship between the three of them in a relatively tactful way, which was already a big step forward for her.

If the present-day Miss Misaka knew that her future self's well-intentioned advice for her nephew had inadvertently hindered her pursuit of love, what would she think?

Not appropriate enough... Why is it not appropriate enough?

Kazama, leaning against the window and staring blankly at his phone screen, was somewhat puzzled.

No, do these women who were once young all assume that they can only have one aunt in their lives?

Completely unaware that Riki had overheard his conversation with Hatsuhana Rana—and that she had only heard the crucial "confession"—Kazama was utterly bewildered.

…Perhaps Lixi, like the possessive Chuhua, simply felt lost and awkward because she had gained another relative.

Thinking of this, the boy tapped his finger and typed another line of text.

However, my feelings for you, Lixi, are the same as those two.

These words almost made Lixi lose her grip on the phone, and it nearly slipped from the second floor onto the main street below.

"What—what is this guy saying?!"

Chapter 44 Aunt Lixi's Loving Training

On the other end of the phone, Kazama didn't think there was anything wrong with what he said.

Misaki Hatsuka and Stray Cat Girl Rakuna started arguing for no apparent reason, because they both wanted to exclusively have the title of "Auntie." In his eyes, Hatsuka, Rakuna, and even Riki were all very important aunties.

Why must three people of equal status have to decide who came first and who came last?

However, he still held a sliver of hope that Lixi hadn't overheard their argument about their aunt.

The number of people who know the truth and secrets has expanded from just Chu Hua. Now, Le Nai is also telling him everything about his secrets. If Li Xi finds out about his secret as a time traveler because of this, it will really give him a huge headache.

He had managed to keep it a secret for so long, even risking his life—if he still couldn't keep it, that would be a real headache.

However, Riki could not possibly know Kazama's little schemes.

Seeing the message he sent on the screen, "But my feelings for you, Lixi, are the same as those two people's," Lixi's right hand, which was holding the phone, trembled violently, and she twitched her lips. The phone almost fell into the bushes outside the window.

What the heck is he saying?!

Escaping was Shiina Tatsuki's first thought.

Is this a confession? Is this a confession? Is it the same kind of confession as what he said during the day, "I like both of you"?

This answer was somewhat unexpected, and Li Xi knew very well that he was not prepared to receive his answer at all.

But wait, according to his logic... perhaps my subtle thoughts aren't just wishful thinking or unrequited love.

Thinking of this, Li Xi, who hadn't dared to turn the screen back on to check the replies, finally calmed down.

I mustn't lose my composure, and I absolutely cannot let the guy on the other end of the phone notice me like this.

After calming herself down, Li Xi put on a serious face again and typed another text message, seemingly cold and distant but actually nervous and pounding inside, as she tested the waters.

[Really? Let me be clear from the start, I know all about your dirty deeds, Kazama.]

Even so... does he still insist that his feelings for himself are the same as his feelings for Chu Hua and Le Nai?

Despite feeling guilty, Li Xi straightened her back and typed out the strong text. Then, she hesitated for a long time before placing her fingertips on the send button.

Finally, she took a deep breath, clicked "send," then quickly pressed the lock screen button, put her phone back in her pocket, and looked up to glance at the scenery outside the window.

She didn't know what kind of answer she wanted, or how to react to Kazama's reply.

Should I be happy if he nods in agreement? Should I feel disappointed if he firmly denies it?

Shiina Tatsuki was also a little unsure of where her heart truly lay.

She clearly desires feelings that go beyond friendship, yet she's unwilling to share them with someone else. She also lacks the courage to snatch them away and possess them—so she can only run away like this now.

"Ugh………"

Lixi, who was always strong-willed, buried her head in her arms and sighed heavily.

If she could have been more decisive and straightforward in dealing with Kazama's answer, perhaps she could have become a more carefree person, instead of getting caught up in a Schrödinger's answer for so long.

buzz-

The vibration from her phone interrupted her self-consciousness. Lixi hurriedly took her phone out of her pocket again, turned on the screen, and hesitated once more after seeing the message "You have a new message, please check it."

Even though she wasn't the one to bravely confess her feelings, she couldn't help but secretly have second thoughts when she saw the new message notification.

Without a doubt, she couldn't accept Kazama saying "I like both of you" to two girls—it was such a fickle statement. If he felt the same way about her, she would simply think he was incredibly fickle and unreasonable.

But if she received a reply like, "I only see Lixi as a reliable companion and friend," which was tantamount to being friend-zoned, she knew she would feel inexplicably disappointed.

They really aren't up to par.

Forget it—even if I'm going to die, I should at least die knowing why.

Shiina Tatsuki is actually very good at looking at problems from a pessimistic perspective, so when she swiped the screen lock and entered the chat box, she had already made the worst-case scenario plan in her mind.

At worst, it'll just be a simple "You're a good person," it's nothing.

However, Kazama's reply left her speechless, her round eyes widening in astonishment, and she was momentarily unable to recover.

"...Although I don't know what I did to make you dislike me so much, Lixi, the feelings are the same. The real thing can't be faked."

Oh no, Kazama gave her the reply that gave her the most troublesome headache.

"...No way."

It would be a lie to say she wasn't happy. Li Xi never imagined that her obscure and incomprehensible emotions could be responded to—but while she felt vaguely excited and overjoyed, she was also somewhat bothered that this feeling wasn't unique to her.

I wish this response were something only I could have.

【Kazama, are you... are you sure?】

Li Xi typed this line with mixed feelings.

She didn't even know what she was shirking her responsibilities for. Given her proud nature, her thought should have been, "If everyone else has this, then I don't want it either."

But more than that answer, she was afraid that she had never had the chance to compete with others.

Meanwhile, Kazama had absolutely no idea why Riki would hold such a grudge about something like this.

Since she claims to know all of Kazama's sordid deeds—let's just consider recognizing the aunts as the sordid deeds she's talking about—why is Riki so concerned about whether there are other people besides himself who can become his aunts?

[What's there to be unsure about? Lixi, you, Chuhua, and Lena are all indispensable to me.]

Kazama rolled his eyes, a little troubled. Could it be that in this timeline, Ryuna, Hatsuka, and even Riki had all become super-gravity women who wanted to monopolize even the relationship between their aunt and nephew?