I'm in a real religion, why are all the people who confess to me girls?

"The most important thing is the coupon! The coupon!"

"But I still want to know where you got it from? Hui, aren't you wearing a skirt today?"

After being reminded by Amane, Matsushita looked at Karuizawa with some curiosity.

She did see Karuizawa reach into his pocket and pull out a coupon. She hadn't thought much of it at first, but under Amane's persistent questioning, she gradually realized something was wrong.

"Why are you all looking at me like that? I already said I took it out of my pocket!"

Karuizawa couldn't help but move her knees and take a few steps back under the subtle gazes of the two people, until her entire back was pressed against the wall of the room before she stopped.

"I also want to rummage through your pockets, hehehe..."

Amane grinned mischievously as she slowly approached Karuizawa.

With nowhere else to retreat, Karuizawa looked to Matsushita for help.

"Actually... I'm quite curious too, so please, Karuizawa-san, show us."

"Damn! How could this be displayed here! Wait! Amane! No, don't touch it!! Hey! Stop it! Matsushita, think of something... Hey! Why are you taking out your phone? Don't take pictures!"

After some fumbling around, Tianyin showed a disappointed expression.

"Amane, did you find Karuizawa-san's 'katana'?"

In an instant, Amane's joy turned into a listless and dejected look. Just from such a huge change in expression, Matsushita could guess that Amane had obviously found the place where Karuizawa hid the coupons.

However, this place is not quite what Tianyin imagined.

"Found it...but..."

Tianyin first let out a long sigh, then puffed out her cheeks in displeasure.

"I thought... Hmph, who would have thought that Hui would be wearing such warm clothes in the dead of winter... Waaaaah!"

Before Amane could finish speaking, Karuizawa covered her mouth. However, from Amane's few words, Matsushita could roughly guess the cause and effect. Even though Karuizawa interrupted Amane, it was to no avail.

Karuizawa, who was busy 'silencing' the witnesses, felt a burning sting on his face when he saw Matsushita's knowing look.

Would it be better to die now?

Chapter Sixty-Two: I transform! I transform! I transform!

After a minor hiccup, Karuizawa and Amane finally sat back down in their original seats.

Karuizawa picked up the teacup with a mournful expression, only to find that the tea inside had gone cold. So she pushed the teacup toward Amane, signaling Amane to refill it for her. Amane picked up the teacup and drank all the tea in one gulp.

The two people standing to the side were completely dumbfounded.

"It tastes alright, but it's a bit cold. Adding some water will fix it... Hui, your expression is a little strange. How's your digestion lately?"

As she spoke, Amane filled Karuizawa's cup with black tea.

Looking at the steaming hot black tea in front of her, Karuizawa had absolutely no desire to drink it.

"So... is it possible that I just want you to add tea?"

Karuizawa complained irritably.

Amane blinked and then realized that Karuizawa hadn't asked her to try it because he thought there was something wrong with the taste.

"Just say you want more tea. You kept blinking and I thought you were checking if there was anything wrong with the tea."

"..."

Karuizawa collapsed speechlessly onto the table.

Matsushita, who was standing nearby, also ruffled Karuizawa's hair.

"It's clear that Karuizawa-san has had a tough time, but... in a way, Horikita-san is really impressive for being able to stay mentally sound after spending so much time with you, Amane."

Matsushita had heard long ago that Amane was someone who was easy to befriend but difficult to get along with.

At first, Matsushita thought that Amane was arrogant because of her talent. After all, most talented people are a little arrogant. No matter how well they can hide it, they cannot deny the arrogance that comes from their absolute confidence in their own strengths.

Later, Matsushita gradually discovered that it wasn't like that at all. On the contrary, Matsushita rarely sensed arrogance in Amane. Instead, Amane often did things that went against common sense or broke the unspoken agreements between people, causing situations that were completely unacceptable to others. This was what made Amane difficult to get along with, because you never knew what Amane would do next.

She never tries to read your mood when you chat; she says whatever comes to mind. Plus, with that little brain of hers that might have been a world champion in the long jump in her past life, her thoughts jump around so fast and so wide that it's practically impossible for an average person to stay on the same wavelength as her.

Even those famous geniuses probably couldn't have guessed what kind of 'absurd' thing Tianyin would do next.

Intelligent, lacking common sense, quick-thinking, temperamental, and unpredictable behavior.

In particular, Amane's behavior was almost incomprehensible to Matsushita.

She once read a saying in a book that described changes in people's behavior and temperament: "A great man changes like a tiger, a petty man changes his face, and a gentleman changes like a leopard."

Matsushita vaguely remembered many interpretations of this statement, but the one that impressed her the most was that adults, or those in positions of power, must be as fierce as tigers when their temperament or behavior changes. They must be swift and decisive, unpredictable and elusive, and use their power and means to subdue others to demonstrate their authority. This will make people feel that they "cannot understand the other party's temperament" and "cannot resist them," and in the end, they will naturally feel awe and submit to them.

The term "petty person changing faces" refers to those who lack the power to change their circumstances and will constantly change their persona to please and deal with those around them. Over time, such people will forget their true nature, but this is also an essential means of survival.

The "leopard's transformation" refers to the transformation of a wise or virtuous person, which is like that of a leopard, from the ugly and wretched state of childhood to the dashing and heroic appearance of adulthood. In other words, a wise person undergoes a complete transformation, like a metamorphosis, as if becoming a completely different person. The leopard's transformation removes one's shortcomings and flaws, making one more perfect. If someone could continuously undergo leopard-like transformations, it would probably be a terrifying thing.

Of course, the original meaning of this sentence seems to be related to change and divination, but Matsushita didn't understand these things very well, from her perspective.

This statement is both fitting and extremely incongruous when applied to Tianyin.

First, there's the change in behavior. Although Amane doesn't seem to get involved in class affairs, Matsushita, who's on Amane's side, knows that there's nothing Amane doesn't know about in the class.

Even if Tianyin is sleeping in the dormitory, she can still firmly control the class's every move. The reason is that Tianyin has never lost a battle and has an unparalleled absolute violence.

These are both the means to protect the class and the sharp blades hanging over everyone's heads. This is why Tianyin doesn't need to consider interpersonal relationships or whether the other party agrees when doing anything, even though Tianyin knows that people might not be so willing to do things under the threat of violence, and there might be some unsightly little actions behind the scenes.

But rather than making friends one by one like Kushida, Amane admires Ryuen's style of governance more: it doesn't matter if someone is incompetent, as long as they are obedient.

The change from happy conversation to sudden rage was instantaneous. Matsushita had witnessed Amane's rage firsthand. It wasn't just like facing a lion; it was a chilling, death-inducing fear. The mere pressure from her gaze was enough to trigger a stress response. This was Amane's greatest strength: absolute violence combined with her unpredictable and elusive movements, leaving no room for resistance. Because... there was simply no way to defeat Amane.

Matsushita felt that Amane fit the description of a great man transforming into a tiger, but what surprised Matsushita was that people who usually agreed with the description of a great man transforming into a tiger would not care about the transformation of a petty person or the transformation of a gentleman, since power itself is a weapon that can be used to survive, and with power, weaknesses can be covered up.

However, Tianyin usually has no air of authority, giving people the impression of being approachable while also being somewhat simple-minded and dull.

Sometimes Matsushita even felt that Amane had lived in a secluded place before, which was why she lacked understanding of 'common sense'. If that were all, it wouldn't be enough to use the word "revolutionary". What made Amane different was that even though she possessed absolute martial power, she was often bullied and cried pitifully. She would also roll around and beg for mercy without any dignity when it came to minor fights. She didn't seem like someone who could inspire a sense of authority.

The place in the school that she felt most dignified about was Longyuan.

What would happen if Longyuan possessed the strength of Tianyin?

Matsushita couldn't help but shiver.

That must be a terrifying thing, right?

Chapter 63: The Parasite Named Hui

If the first two transformations of the Heavenly Sound perfectly embody the characteristics of "tiger transformation" and "reform," then the final transformation of the gentleman into a leopard is the most fitting description of the Heavenly Sound.

Only through Amane could Matsushita truly understand what transformation meant, as if Amane possessed two completely different faces. When Amane faced her friends, she gave off a feeling of warmth and sunshine. In everyone's eyes, Amane's gentleness, cuteness, and inherent adorable naiveté were in no way inferior to Ichinose, who was known for her gentleness. That side of Amane was also the easiest to get along with.

On the other hand, when Amane is thinking or about to fight a powerful enemy, she is like a completely different person. She transforms from a soft and cute high school girl into someone with an aura that keeps strangers at bay. Moreover, you can't detect any emotion in her eyes and tone. She is like a cold and powerful person who is like a machine.

Amane's serious expression left Matsushita feeling both incredulous and captivated no matter how many times she saw it. It was the first time she had ever seen a human being in reality who was completely devoid of emotion, a trait usually reserved for literature. While her instincts evoked fear in her, she was also deeply captivated by the power Amane displayed.

No one would not want to have great power.

Many people pursue power until their own destruction. Moths know that flying into the flame will turn them into ashes, yet they still rush towards the flame one after another, ultimately becoming nourishment for the flame.

This 'self-destruction' was not because they were stupid, but because they were used to darkness and this was the first time they had seen such a bright and intense light, full of the power to destroy everything.

Instinct drove them to pursue that unparalleled power, and they did indeed achieve it, albeit at a heavy price.

Sometimes people are like this: they know that easily coming into contact with powerful forces will bring trouble upon themselves, but they can't control their pounding hearts. In the end, they resolutely touch the powerful forces and... they also fall into destruction.

According to Matsushita's observation, Amane's "transformation" may have happened more than once. During the sports festival, Matsushita had the opportunity to see Amane again in that state that gave people a feeling that was both familiar and unfamiliar. The biggest difference from the first time he saw her was that even when she got serious during the sports festival, you could still see the emotions on her face.

Is this the result of continuous transformation?

Matsushita didn't know what this change meant for Amane, but to her, someone who could read another person's emotions from their face was definitely much easier to get along with than a blank machine.

But... is it really possible for someone to simultaneously possess so many different forms of transformation, such as an adult, a petty person, and a gentleman?

The image of Tenon kept changing in Matsushita's eyes, dazzling him. No matter how hard he tried to concentrate, he could never see which of those masks was Tenon's true face.

"Qianqiu? Qianqiu, what's wrong?"

Amane waved her hand curiously in front of Matsushita's eyes.

Hearing Amane's call, Matsushita suddenly snapped out of his reverie, realizing he had been daydreaming...

"I'm so sorry, I was thinking about something and my mind wandered a bit."

Matsushita hurriedly picked up the tea to try and cover up his embarrassment, but the moment his lips touched the tea, the icy touch made his hand tremble, and some tea accidentally spilled onto the table.

Karuizawa glanced at Matsushita, who seemed a little out of sorts, with a strange look. Seeing Matsushita's pale face, Karuizawa wisely refrained from asking any further questions.

In general, this situation usually indicates that someone has thought of something terrible or sad. Although her reaction is sometimes a bit slow, her ability to read people's expressions is still as accurate as ever. In situations like this, she is less likely to go up and touch someone's forehead.

However, it's hard to say about Tianyin...

After carefully wiping up the spilled tea on the table with a tissue, Tianyin took the Panasonic teacup and replaced it with a fresh cup of tea.

"You didn't even notice the tea got cold. Were you thinking about something that was bothering you?"

I asked it out loud!!

Karuizawa suddenly felt an urge to cover her face.

Why would Amane approach Matsushita when his expression was clearly off?

Only someone from the Heavenly Sound Sect would do something like this; if it were someone else, they would at least be criticized for being tactless.

"I……"

Matsushita hesitated for a moment, not because it was something that couldn't be said, but because she didn't know how to share what she had just thought of with Amane.

Did he start by explaining to Tianyin that he wanted to understand her better, and then his mind was filled with thoughts of her, causing him to drift off into a daze?

No matter how you look at it, it sounds like a confession, right?

Matsushita's wavering expression and troubled look made him appear as if he had something difficult to say.

If it were someone else chatting with Panasonic right now, even Horikita, he would have stopped there and wouldn't have pursued the matter further.

But the person in front of her was Tianyin, and given Tianyin's inquisitive nature, it was impossible for her not to get to the bottom of things.

"It's okay, you can speak freely with me. If you encounter any difficulties, I might even be able to come up with some good ideas for you~"

Tianyin's tone was so cheerful and relaxed, it seemed like she was just casually saying words of encouragement to someone.

However, Matsushita, who was familiar with Amane, noticed that Amane seemed to be sitting up straighter, which meant that Amane was indeed seriously planning to help her solve her problems.

Unfortunately... she didn't encounter any difficulties, she just couldn't bring herself to say it.

"I'm fine. I was just a little distracted. I'll ask you for help if I need anything."

"Are you really okay? Ouch, Hui, why did you kick me?"

Just as Amane was about to press for more information, Karuizawa kicked her under the kotatsu.

Upon being exposed, Karuizawa's face immediately turned bright red. Realizing that he had to strike first, Karuizawa immediately put on a fierce expression.

"Didn't you see that Matsushita didn't want to talk to you? Why do you keep pressing him for details? Everyone has their own difficulties... Never mind, you probably wouldn't understand anyway."

Karuizawa let out a heavy sigh.

A powerful person like Tianyin would hardly have any unspeakable secrets. Whether she is doing things or talking, she rarely cares about other people's opinions or feelings, and does everything as she pleases.

Undeniably, Karuizawa greatly envies Amane, who doesn't have to be like her, carefully observing other people's expressions when communicating, pretending to be self-centered while constantly considering the potential consequences of every word she says. Such social interactions are simply too exhausting.

Socializing is supposed to make you happy, but now it feels like a torture device.

She suffered from insomnia and vomiting at irregular intervals, only feeling a little better after vomiting up bile.

People might not believe it if I told them.

She is actually quite grateful to Sato for taking away the right of girls to speak from her. Seeing that there are fewer and fewer people around her, Karuizawa, who complains every day, is actually smiling more often in private.

There are no complicated relationships, no troublesome guys, and no backstabbing or sarcastic individuals.

For the first time, Karuizawa's surroundings fell silent.

She was thoroughly enjoying this rare moment of peace and quiet, to the point that she almost hoped Sato wouldn't fail and would just take everything away from her.

In any case, prestige and the right to speak are nothing more than a cocoon woven by this pitiful worm to protect her cowardly and timid nature.

Even if someone takes away her cocoon, she can simply hide in another one. With Amane's protection, Karuizawa increasingly hopes to finish her remaining two years of schooling as an ordinary high school girl.

As for whether Tianyin will abandon her because she lost her position as the leader of the girl group...

Karuizawa had also thought about this matter seriously, and the conclusion she came to was... Amane probably didn't care at all whether she was the leader of a girl group or whether she had any so-called right to speak.