Aunt Xiangzi, how did you manage to live?

Therefore, Chu Hua simply stated the truth in a plain and unadorned manner.

“I mustered up the courage to say it, which dissolved the rift, and Xiaojun smiled happily… that’s all.”

There is nothing else.

However, if Su Shi's understanding differs from what she wants to express, then that's a problem that Su Shi herself needs to deal with.

"........."

Su Shi's breathing rhythm changed slightly.

Her gaze was still gentle, but the color under her eyes had darkened slightly, like a shadow on a lake in early spring that might break the ice at any moment.

Every word that Chu Hua said could precisely strike her most sensitive nerve.

Chu Hua crossed the line perfectly, leaving it ambiguous enough without explicitly stating it, letting Su Shi fill in the blanks in her mind, which was also letting Su Shi torture herself.

Yes, they may not have done anything out of line... but if they become an unshakeable ally in spirit, that would truly make Su Shi feel powerless.

If only at that time...

If she hadn't said such hurtful things to him before things were even settled, if she had placed more trust in their alliance, if she hadn't had that almost pathological obsession with Xiangzi—

The person who should be standing in Chu Hua's position now and saying these words is her, right?

She thought she was mentally prepared. But when these words came out of Chu Hua's mouth, they were like a thin hook, sharply ripping out a string of warm emotions from her heart.

Ah, for some reason, a bittersweet feeling welled up in my heart.

Is this feeling regret, remorse, or both?

Su Shi smiled bitterly and lowered her face.

If what Chu Hua said is true, then her previous actions have indeed led to her utter defeat.

It's just like those characters in some youth romance dramas, the losers who miss out on the protagonist's true love and can only regret it for the rest of their lives.

"...In the end, it was all failure."

However, Nagasaki Motoyo keeps the most important spirit of the "loser" in mind.

That is, to fight and lose repeatedly, but to fight again despite repeated defeats.

Chapter Sixty: Kazama Akatsuki, the traitor who has served three masters!

Nagasaki Motoyo doesn't believe that being one step behind others means being forever behind.

After all, even with Chu Hua, Xiao must still have a very important secret that he hasn't told her.

As long as there is hope, she will use all her strength to reach the position of her "ally" that originally belonged to her.

We cannot lose.

Even if my heart feels like it's being squeezed by iron clamps, I can't admit defeat in front of Chu Hua first.

This time, she will take back everything that originally belonged to her.

With this do-or-die mentality, Su Shi calmed her somewhat disordered breathing.

"It seems like you two have a very good relationship."

However, even in her heartfelt expression, she couldn't quite conceal the uncontrollable sourness that crept into her words with impeccable social etiquette.

"Ah."

Chu Hua remained unfazed, calmly accepting Su Shi's sarcastic remark with a light smile.

“I’m not an easy person to get along with, but Xiaojun… always manages to pinpoint exactly what surprises me, yet also makes me feel most at ease, and just stays by my side like that.”

Ugh, that overflowing happiness in that tone is so nauseating!

That was enough to make Su Shi secretly pinch her nose and express her displeasure.

"It's more like we not only share similar interests, but the most important period of getting to know each other as friends seems to have never even happened."

When talking about things related to teenagers, Chu Hua's face was filled with an obvious blush of happiness.

The appearance of the boy named Kazama Akatsuki still feels like a beautiful dream she has never experienced.

Imagine a person of the opposite sex who, from the moment you meet, shares your hobbies and interests, respects your boundaries, understands your struggles, sympathizes with your anxieties, and values ​​the people you value.

"It's just like..."

"It's almost like a sign from the heavens—that's what Miss Hatsuka would say, wouldn't you say?"

Chu Hua's longing was abruptly interrupted by Su Shi's still sweet yet somewhat cold tone.

"Fate...you're right. If such a thing exists, then he really has a rather twisted sense of humor. Umbrella IV [Rinzaki Natsumi (II) <Tsukasa's Father ④? He actually dragged us all into this..."

"[The few of us]..."

Chu Hua did not continue to indulge in her own thoughts, but instead woke up because she keenly grasped the unspoken meaning in Su Shi's words.

She was clearly implying that this "we" was not just the two of them.

"What does this mean, Su Shi...?"

If it were just the existence of that photo, Chu Hua could still convince herself that it was just a little trick Su Shi used to gain a sense of existence—although it was ridiculously unsophisticated.

But it's clear that this guy came prepared.

"Judging from your reaction, it seems that I am indeed the only one who knows about this."

Su Shi lowered her head and took a sip of tea. When she raised her head again, her face still held an impeccable gentle smile.

"Or perhaps, I wasn't the only one who knew; another person involved also knew what was going on—but he didn't tell his most important partner for some reason? Hmm, that makes sense too."

"What...is it about?"

The pieces are already on the board; checkmate will be achieved in the next round.

Su Shi abruptly changed the subject, her eyes suddenly becoming sharper.

"There is actually additional information regarding that photo."

Chu Hua's expression grew increasingly serious as Su Shi took out the photo again and played with it in her hand.

"Chuhua, you must be just like me, assuming that the child in the picture is Xiaojun, right?"

Su Shi slowly pushed the photo to the center of the wooden table so that Chu Hua could see the faces of the two people in the photo more clearly.

"But that's not how it works."

At the very least, when a memory that "did not belong to oneself" flooded into one's mind, the boy in the photo was signed "Wakaba" instead of "Kazama".

"...If I told you that this child's real surname is actually [Ruoye], would you think I'm just making things up?"

Chu Hua's heart skipped a beat upon hearing this.

"Ruoye...?"

What Su Shi means is that this child, who looks like a miniature version of Xiao Jun no matter how you look at him... is actually surnamed Ruo Ye?

"Sure enough, you also showed the same confused expression as me."

Seeing Chu Hua's tightly furrowed brows, Su Shi finally put the plastic bag containing the photos back into her handbag with satisfaction.

"Where did Su Shi get this photo from?"

Chu Hua abruptly changed the subject, her beautiful purple eyes revealing a rare sharpness.

“From one of Xiaojun’s friends—didn’t he introduce you to her? Hanami Anna. If I had to say, they’re more like an unbreakable alliance.”

At this point, Su Shi couldn't help but wryly laugh at himself.

"After all, even without the interpersonal issues that band members have to deal with, the two of them can still get along well."

"Hanami... classmate..."

Chu Hua then vaguely realized what was going on.

Now that you mention it, it seems like Kazama has never properly introduced her to his friend.

why?

Why doesn't he take the initiative to introduce his friends to him?

Chu Hua remained silent, trapped in her own logical fallacy, while Su Shi, who had been silently observing her, finally smiled with satisfaction.

This is not over yet.

"Hana's identity isn't important, because this photo was something she obtained by chance. As for why I know this little boy's surname is [Wakaba]..."

Su Shi pointed to her head and honestly revealed her source of information.

"Because the whole process of taking this photo was replayed for me here."

“………Eh?”

As expected, Chu Hua wore an expression of utter bewilderment.

"Su Shi, how about we go to the hospital and get an X-ray..."

"I'm not crazy, Chu Hua. I'm not lying to you—what good would it do me to make up such a bizarre and absurd story? Besides, reality is far more absurd than we imagine, isn't it?"

"Well……"

Her self-defense was rather unconvincing, but Chu Hua still intended to let Su Shi continue before sending her to a mental hospital.

"As for why this little boy signed himself as 'Wakaba' instead of 'Kazama,' I don't know the reason, and I haven't figured it out."

Su Shi smiled and her words formed a logical loop.

"Like I said, I'm not good at reasoning."

"...So, this is actually an invitation to collaborate?"

Chu Hua tried her best to calm herself down and continued the conversation that Su Shi had left for her.

Fighting your opponent to the death is a mindset only low-level losers would have.

"If you like."

The long-haired brown girl smiled and affirmed.

And she, Nagasaki Motoyo, is destined to become a legendary loser.

Chapter Sixty-One: Rivals (?) Join Forces!

Having equally matched opponents is not scary.

What's frightening is that you will never understand that you can have other identities besides being competitors, thus turning hostility into friendship.

Nagasaki Motoyo isn't the kind of person who's so single-minded as to blindly destroy their enemies like Riki. Once she calms down, she's also able to assess the situation, temporarily back down, and unite the forces that can be united.

For example, Hatsuka Mitsumi, who is currently extremely puzzled by the existence of that photo.

“Miss Chu Hua has good reasoning skills. If we can temporarily stop fighting over this matter and find out the truth behind it, I believe it will not be a loss for either of us.”

Having fully accepted the end of CRYCHIC and Xiangzi's departure, Su Shi has become much more open-minded and will no longer be as petty as before.

“I see… Indeed, if what you said is true, then things are becoming more and more confusing.”

Chu Hua wasn't the type to get bogged down in petty romances when faced with important issues, so she started to think seriously, rubbing her chin.

Looking back now, Kazama Akatsuki really has many unresolved mysteries surrounding him.

Despite having eyes that look exactly like Xiangzi's, she took a photo with a woman resembling Nagasaki Motoyo when she was a child, and even put the name "Wakaba" on the back of the photo.

It's almost like...

"It's almost as if our lives are inextricably linked to him."

Chu Hua murmured to herself.

"Then, since Su Shi knew this information, why didn't she try to find out more? For example, she could have asked Xiao Mu if there was anyone in her family who was similar to Xiao Jun..."

"Of course I've tried it too."

Su Shi waved his hand.