I won't be a loser.

Kiyoura Setsuna might not be at home.

"......"

He turned around and went back to his apartment, opened a book casually, and began to read quietly.

"Today is Christmas. Are you planning to stay here overnight?"

Sekai Saionji sat in the living room, looking at Setsuna Kiyoura who was hugging her knees beside her. The two of them had been almost together since the beginning of the vacation, moving together every day and sleeping together at night.

Either Sekai Saionji sleeps in Sekai Kiyoura's room, or Sekai Kiyoura comes to Sekai Saionji's house and sleeps with her.

The two had been in this relationship for a long time, but after Kiyoura Setsuna started dating Kento, they gradually reduced the time they spent together.

"Well, I haven't received any texts from Xianren. I guess he hasn't returned to Tokyo. There's nothing much for him to do if he goes back."

"Is it okay? I've always felt that your relationship is a little strange. It started a few months ago."

"The wise man seems to have lost interest in me."

"ha......."

Saionji Sekai suddenly became alert, but on the surface he was still very calm. However, deep down he was paying attention, as it seemed to be quite interesting information.

"Although he still actively contacted me, and we were obviously close and could easily meet up, he never came to see me."

"What about you? Aren't you going to take the initiative to meet him?"

"......"

Kiyoura Setsuna fell silent and glanced at Saionji Sekai beside him.

"There have been a few times, but each time he wasn't home, or someone else was there."

"other people?"

"Like that Ogiwara."

“She…”

Considering that I understand Ogiwara Sayu and know why she came to the Saionji World in Tokyo, I couldn't help but purse my lips.

"She's probably not Xianren's type, right?"

"Xianren may not have any special feelings for her, but she has special thoughts about Xianren."

"She might not be the only one who has special feelings about sages."

Although given Saionji Sekai's own identity and position, he shouldn't say such a thing, but after hearing Kiyoura Setsuna's answer, he couldn't help but remind her.

Kiyoura Setsuna hugged her knees tightly, resting her chin on them, and looked at Saionji Sekai with her side profile.

"I see."

She had known about this kind of thing for a long time, but even if she knew it, there was no way to change the situation. She didn't know what to do.

- - - -

Thanks to Magical Girl Meili-chan, Don't Like Mushrooms, Bored in Life, Somareze, White-Haired Sage Meteora, and Aliang Benliang for their monthly tickets and blades! Thank you all for your recommendation votes!

When the summer cicadas chirp: 292. ohhhhh~

"Have you ever thought about your future with him?"

She couldn't help feeling a little embarrassed in her heart. With her identity, it was not convenient for her to talk about such a topic. But seeing Qingpu Shanna getting deeper and deeper into it, she still felt that it would be better to let the other party react sooner.

Too impulsive.

At that time, she and Qingpu Setsuna only saw one side of him and made an impulsive choice.

"The time he agreed with you was after you graduated from high school, right?"

"Ah."

"But next year, he will be old enough to get married, right? You're old enough to get married too. You can get married in a few days, so why do you have to wait until you graduate from high school?"

From Kiyoura Setsuna's perspective, Saionji Sekai still considered it seriously for her and felt that the promise of high school graduation was meaningless.

"You two are not in the same school, so even if you are married, no one will know, right?"

"But... Xianren plans to prepare a home for us all to live together when he graduates from high school, and then... with me..."

That promise is still remembered in Qingpu Setsuna's heart. Thinking back to that night when they talked about the future in her room, Qingpu Setsuna couldn't help but feel depressed.

At that time, Xianren still had at least a glimmer of light in his eyes when he saw her, but now every time he met her, she felt that he was avoiding her.

His eyes would always wander away, avoiding her sight. Even when there was a topic of conversation, he would not look into her eyes, but would instead look away. When she approached him, he would always unconsciously raise his hand, trying to push her away and keep a distance.

"Maybe he doesn't like me anymore."

The girl made her own judgment in her heart, and when Saionji Sekai heard her conclusion, she opened her mouth, wanting to comfort the other party, but she couldn't find the right words.

What does it mean to like someone?

Looking at the blank document in front of him, Xianren began to recall the first time he met the girl. At that time, she was still a very cute girl in his eyes.

However, as time passed and the relationship between the two became more familiar, Xianren discovered that his and the girl's personalities did not seem to be that different.

He likes quietness, and she is always very quiet.

He originally thought that the two people's personalities should be very compatible, with many similarities, and should get along very well in life. However, after the tempering of time, he discovered that he and she were actually not the same type.

How long have you known each other?

Half a year's time.

Not counting the time he was in a coma, the total time he knew her was only half a year.

What was your mentality when you asked the girl about your relationship with the purpose of marriage?

Looking at the computer in front of him, Xianren felt a little pale in his heart.

After finishing the day's work early, Qingpu Mai rushed straight home from the company. Knowing that Kento had returned to Tokyo, coupled with the phone call in the morning, Qingpu Mai was distracted from time to time while working, thinking about things related to Kento.

"Feel sorry."

After squeezing out of the crowded subway, he quickly rushed back to his home, but found that no one was there.

"Not at home?"

Thinking that they should be at Xianren's house, Qingpu Mai was not in a hurry and quietly began to prepare dinner.

When dinner was almost ready, Qingpu Mai sent a message to Xianren.

About ten minutes later, the doorbell rang. Qingpu Mai came to the door, opened it, and saw Xianren alone.

"Just you?"

"Setsuna isn't home?"

Looking at the person in front of them, they both found that there seemed to be a small misunderstanding.

"I thought Setsuna was with you, so...wait a moment, I'll contact her."

Qingpu Wu returned to the house, called her daughter and asked her where she was.

"At home in the world, what's wrong?"

"Aren't you going home?"

"I plan to stay at Shijie's home tonight. I'll probably be back tomorrow morning or afternoon. What's going on?"

"that......."

The wise man standing before her shook his head slightly.

Qing Pu Wu, who was about to say something, fell silent. After looking at the boy in front of her for a while, she pursed her lips and nodded helplessly.

"Nothing, remember to tell me in advance next time."

"Ah."

After hanging up the phone, Qingpu Mai was a little confused. She didn't know why Kento didn't let her tell Setsuna that he had returned to Tokyo, and she also didn't know why Kento didn't tell Setsuna himself.

"I thought you had already told Setsuna that you were back."

"I originally thought so, but then I didn't tell her because I wanted to prepare a surprise."

“What happened just now…”

"Knowing that I've returned to Tokyo, she'll definitely come back. But since she's with Sekai, there's no need to bother her. Seeing her tomorrow will be the same. It won't make any difference."

It seemed to be true, and Qingpu Wu let go of the little worry in her heart.

"So it seems like it's just you and me tonight?"

"Ah."

"Let's eat first. If we wait any longer, the dinner will get cold."

At the Saionji family's house, Kiyoura Setsuna hung up the phone call from her mother, looked at the Saionji world in front of her, and the two of them had dinner quietly.

"My mom won't be back until around nine o'clock. We don't need to wait for her. We can rest early."

"Ah."

Although she didn't know why, she had a bad feeling in her heart, but after hearing what Saionji Sekai said, she nodded.

"Wise man..."

Suddenly thinking of her boyfriend, Qingpu Shuna looked at Saionji Sekai in front of her, and put aside the thoughts in her heart. She had dinner quietly with Saionji Sekai, and then they went into the bathroom together and lay down in Saionji Sekai's room.

"World, have you ever thought about the future?"

"Of course I've thought about it. As for the future, I want a perfect boyfriend, and then live a relaxed and happy life, a leisurely life every day. I remember that you also have dreams, right? I think you talked to me about it before. Where are you planning to go?"

dream.

The next morning, Xianren woke up and looked at Qingura Mai who was still sleeping. He put on his clothes, left the room, sat in the living room, poured himself a glass of water, and walked to the refrigerator to look at the remaining ingredients inside.

After preparing breakfast, he returned to the bedroom and woke up Qingpu Mai who was still sleeping.

"It's morning already, time to get up."

"Ok?"

Opening her sleepy eyes, Qingpu Wu looked at Xianren standing on the edge of her bed, slowly stood up, stretched her body, and the soft quilt slid off her body. The large area of white did not attract Xianren's attention. After two nights of fierce fighting, he was temporarily tired.

Picking up her clothes on the bed, Qingpu Mai looked at Xianren who was about to turn around and leave the room, but didn't say anything.

Similar to the tired sage, Qingpu Mai was also a little tired. Her age no longer allowed her to be too crazy. Even last night, she didn't last too long and couldn't help but lie down to rest.

"I have to go to work today. Tomorrow is Saturday. On Sundays, we have one day off. Saturday is obviously a day off."

"Why don't you find a new job with two days off a week?"

"That way, there won't be enough income. Taking care of Setsuna while she goes to college is no easy task. The scholarship isn't bad, but it's still too much of a burden for Setsuna's future."

Going to university requires very expensive tuition fees, which is difficult for ordinary families in this society to afford. Therefore, in order to consider those students from poor families, universities and educational institutions have proposed a "scholarship" system.

Although it is called a "scholarship", it is just an alternative loan, similar to other countries.

It's not that there aren't completely free scholarships for outstanding students, scholarships that don't need to be repaid as long as they complete their studies, but there are only a very small number of them, and the application requirements are very strict.

There are more and simpler scholarships, all with low interest or no interest.

It cannot be denied that these scholarships have indeed played a considerable role in helping some students, but for more students, it is extremely difficult to repay the amount of around 4 million yen within ten years after graduation.

Perhaps 4 million yen doesn't sound like a much higher amount, but in this society where there is a shortage of young and middle-aged labor, working a few more part-time jobs a month can earn you more than 200,000 yen.

However, college students who have just entered the workforce cannot become full-time employees immediately. First, they have to go through the awkward period of being a "dispatched employee," plus monthly rent, utility bills, meals, and other expenses.

In Tokyo, the cost of renting a house alone is at least 50,000 yen per month. In addition to the new house, you also have to pay a thank-you fee and a deposit, etc.

Anyway, it is very difficult, almost impossible, for a student who has just graduated from school to repay the school scholarship on his own without the help of his parents.

"Um...college?"

"Setsuna also talked to me about studying abroad before."

"before?"

After walking into the living room, the two sat down around the dining table. Suddenly, they learned from Qingpu Mai that Setsuna had wanted to study abroad. Her face showed some surprise and astonishment.

"He talked to me about this a long time ago, probably in middle school, but he didn't talk to me about it again this year."

“Where are you going to study abroad?”