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

Therefore, the closer it gets to this crucial moment, the less the classes participating in the special exam dare to relax. In particular, Class B believes that if they can defeat Class D this time, they can become Class A. Everyone is determined to fight to the death against Class D for a better future.

On the contrary, Koenji and Amane became more relaxed, even though they were nominally the commander and the general in charge of the battle.

However, since both of them were rather lazy in their attitude towards Class D, Horikita and Hirata were in charge of the preparations for the battle against Class D, and Matsushita was also assisting them. It seemed like they wouldn't mess up, and Amane could also find a legitimate excuse to slack off.

In such a tense atmosphere, everyone seemed less enthusiastic about celebrating White Valentine's Day. Although there were rumors circulating in the class that someone was going to confess their feelings, it was unlikely that any girl would want to show off under these circumstances.

So this year's White Valentine's Day became a day for discreetly reciprocating gifts.

However, this holiday, which ordinary students would not think they need to worry about, stumped Tianyin.

It's not that the gifts are difficult to prepare, but rather that there are just too many recipients.

White Valentine's Day is a day to reciprocate the gifts given to girls on Valentine's Day.

How many gifts did Tianyin receive back then?

For example, the chocolates that Tianyin received are still not finished.

If we were to return the favor...

"Anyone who didn't know better would think I was going to rob a store, right?"

Since most of the customers are usually the same, the supermarket cannot usually prepare a large quantity of a certain type of gift.

Even on White Valentine's Day, the number of gifts available in convenience stores and supermarkets is pitifully small, and even the store owners don't expect a large number of people to buy gifts in return.

There's a custom associated with returning gifts. For example, on Valentine's Day, if you like a girl or boy, you might give them chocolates as a way of indicating that you're open to getting to know each other. The person who receives the gift will understand the other person's feelings, and then over the next month, they'll increase their interactions to see if the other person is a good match.

If you think the other person is suitable, you will reciprocate with a gift on White Valentine's Day to show that you 'agree'.

Oh, right, besides this kind of chocolate, there's also a very common "friendship chocolate," which is a cheap chocolate that some girls spontaneously buy to give to single guys. It's something you can easily buy in supermarkets. This kind of chocolate is mainly for comfort. If a fool who receives a friendship chocolate chooses to reciprocate on White Valentine's Day, he might suffer a fatal blow to his heart while being bombarded with displays of affection. I don't recommend trying it!

Why do I always feel like someone is talking badly about me?

Kiryuin Fuka was hesitating between a vegetarian bento and a hamburger when she suddenly sneezed twice in a row. Kiryuin Fuka, who was already used to such sudden attacks, immediately suspected a certain idiot.

Given the large number of gifts that need to be prepared, and the fact that they should all have some sentimental value, things that can be bought easily are obviously not an option. So, if Tianyin wants to avoid being surrounded by people demanding explanations after White Valentine's Day, she has no choice but to make plans early.

As soon as school was over, Amane rushed to the bakery without even explaining her whereabouts to Horikita, because it was White Valentine's Day and she had to hurry to prepare her little gift.

I previously added the contact information of the shop owner, Kiryuin, and asked her to prepare the materials for me. Now all I need to do is have her make it.

"Miss Kiryuin!!!"

From afar, Tenon saw the manager of the Guilongyuan bakery standing outside and greeted him loudly before he even arrived.

After shouting, Tenon realized that her behavior was somewhat impolite. Although the shopkeeper of Kiryuin knew Kiryuin Kaede, Tenon and the shopkeeper of Kiryuin did not have a good relationship. Her actions seemed a bit abrupt.

Normally, Amane considers herself to have quite good self-control, and she shouldn't make such a basic mistake. But as soon as she sees Manager Kiryuin, she can't help but let down her guard and reveal her true self.

That's a strange thing.

"Tianyin, you're here! I was wondering why you weren't here yet. I thought you had club activities and wouldn't have time until tonight. If that was the case, you wouldn't have time to make gifts for everyone~"

Three days ago, the shop manager of Kiryuin received a message from Amane. Upon hearing that Amane needed to prepare a gift for her friend, the shop manager happily asked Principal Fujiwara, who was too busy with work to leave, to help her purchase the gift.

Because of the agreement that she could not contact Amane, if she went out to purchase items, she would definitely be discovered to have come to the school. In that case, she would probably only be able to return to that lonely courtyard. That's why she had no choice but to ask Principal Fujiwara to make the trip.

Principal Fujiwara, who hated work and aspired to become the world's best pastry chef, happily abandoned her school duties and went out to prepare ingredients. Whether she would be scolded by the chairman upon her return was another story.

In short, the shopkeeper, Kiryuin, easily obtained the ingredients that Amane needed, the most important of which was sake.

Since White Day is essentially a traditional holiday, Amane decided that giving chocolates would be better. However, since she gave chocolates last time, she knew that Arisu and Suzune would dislike it if she gave them again this time. As for Karuizawa and Ichinose, they probably wouldn't mind. But Amane still wanted to do something different with the chocolates.

She planned to make an upgraded version of liqueur-filled chocolates, the kind that would make you lose your mind after eating just one. Cough cough, Amane is a proper girl and would never have any ideas about developing new tricks while Sakayanagi and Horikita are drunk.

Absolutely not!

However, alcohol is something that students absolutely cannot buy through normal means. Most of them who want to satisfy their cravings usually buy 'drinks' at places like Longyuan, but the karaoke server 'accidentally' serves alcohol instead.

What? How did Tianyin know?

Ahem, let's leave that topic aside for now. Anyway, she didn't pretend to invite a bunch of girls to karaoke with the intention of doing something, only to have the waiter insist on serving her tomato juice instead of alcohol. (Hayasaka Miyabi: With so many people, Ms. Miyako's health can't handle it. Let's just replace them all with... tomato juice. I remember she really likes tomato juice. Ms. Miyako will be very happy to know how thoughtful we are, right?)

Therefore, when asking Manager Kiryuin for help, the most important item on the purchase list was alcohol.

Fortunately, the manager of the Guilongyuan store didn't mind why a girl would need alcohol and readily agreed. Otherwise, Amane would have had to find a way to excuse herself.

"I didn't participate in those boring club activities. If I had to say, I'm a staunch member of the 'Go Home Club'!"

Tianyin proudly puffed out her chest.

The manager of the Kiryuin store, however, looked slightly gloomy.

"Is it because you don't have any hobbies or interests, Tianyin? Or have you not made any friends in the past year?"

Although the shopkeeper Kiryuin had secretly met Amane a few times before, most of the information about Amane came from Kiryuin Fuuka. Since Kiryuin Fuuka often stayed in her dormitory by herself, she was not particularly clear about Amane's information.

It's probably that kind of...

"Oh, Tianyin, she's probably still alive, right?"

This level of confusion naturally left the shopkeeper, Kiryuin, completely baffled about Amane's situation at school. Hearing Amane say this, he mistakenly assumed that Amane had become a member of the Going Home Club because she had no friends or hobbies, and he was somewhat worried about Amane's growth.

"No, that's not it. I have quite a few friends... well, I should say quite a few. As for hobbies, those childish games just don't interest me and I can't fit in with them at all."

The two chatted as they went to the kitchen, where Manager Kiryuin immediately put up a sign that the restaurant was closed.

After all, compared to Tianyin, things like bakeries are completely insignificant.

"That would be really distressing."

The shopkeeper, Guilongyuan, nodded in agreement. She had once been one of the most prominent figures in the school, so she naturally knew that people with exceptional abilities could never blend into the crowd in a low-key manner. Their behavior and demeanor were simply impossible to change or hide in a short period of time.

Therefore, anyone with a discerning eye can spot the hidden talents in the crowd at a glance. Once their excellence is discovered, others either flatter them or become jealous. Even relationships that were painstakingly built up will collapse the moment their abilities are exposed.

Because... ordinary people often like to associate with those weaker than themselves, as this makes them feel psychologically and mentally comfortable, and in the eyes of the weak, they are the strong.

People with goals disdain associating with the weak. In order to achieve their own goals, they often follow in the footsteps of the strong and gather around them, even if they know that this is an extremely dangerous moth-to-a-flame behavior. They are still willing to follow one after another.

However, those who hold powerful positions yearn for the freedom and happiness of ordinary people at all times.

Even if their imagined life as an ordinary person is very different from reality.

Humans are such complex creatures.

"So I'll just go straight to the dorm after school. Even if there are no club activities, I can still do some fun things."

"Something more fun?"

"Ahem, by the way, Miss Kiryuin, didn't you prepare a White Day gift this year? I remember Maple was... uh, I think I even forgot to give her a Valentine's Day gift, but it doesn't seem like a big deal."

Upon hearing the name Kiryuin Kaede, the shopkeeper was taken aback for a moment. It took him a while to recall that there was such a person. Kiryuin Kaede, who was usually out of contact, had been forgotten by the shopkeeper over time, since there were other people here who were more worthy of her attention.

But shouldn't we also pay attention to maple flowers during the holidays?

After thinking for a moment, the shopkeeper, Kiryuin, decided to bring her some bread as a gift.

suddenly!

The shopkeeper, Guilongyuan, widened her eyes. She had just realized the meaning behind Tianyin's words; it seemed that this gift was prepared for White Valentine's Day.

If that's the case...

"Tianyin, are you planning to give someone the homemade liqueur-filled chocolates you made yourself?"

Store Manager Guilongyuan immediately connected all of Amane's actions.

"Yes, that's correct. Is there a problem?"

As if noticing the sudden surge of enthusiasm from the shopkeeper, Kiryuin, Amane asked hesitantly.

Seeing the something called the Eight Trigrams Soul burning in the eyes of the shopkeeper, Kiryuin, Amane felt somewhat uneasy.

"So, Tianyin, do you have a guy you like? Is he tall? Is he handsome? Does he have abs? When can you bring him back so I can meet him?"

The shopkeeper, Kiryuin, grabbed Amane's shoulders and bombarded her with a barrage of questions at lightning speed, leaving Amane completely stunned.

"Wait, Manager Kiryuin, please calm down!!"

Amane felt that the shopkeeper, Kiryuin, was being overly enthusiastic towards her, and even considered running away. However, after glancing at the prepared ingredients, Amane decided to wait a little longer. If the other party really wanted to eat her up, it wouldn't be too late to run away then.

"Oh! Sorry, sorry, I really... I can't take it anymore!!! How can I resist? Tianyin, just tell me about the guy you like, just to satisfy my curiosity!! Tell me, please tell me~"

Even Tianyin finds it hard to resist being pampered by a mature woman in her early thirties, but the problem is... she doesn't have a boyfriend!

"Does that... count if it's the same sex?"

Chapter 201: You're at least a D!

homosexual?

Upon hearing this word, the shopkeeper of Guilongyuan couldn't help but pause for a moment. In her mind, the kind of boy that Amane liked should be tall, handsome, and almost an all-rounder who was both literate and martial.

And only a boy like that is worthy of Tianyin.

In her mind, Tianyin's excellence was self-evident, so she felt that such a request was not excessive. However, to her surprise, Tianyin said that she liked people of the same gender.

This greatly surprised the shopkeeper, Kiryuin.

Although she heard from Kiryuin Kaeda that Amane had a good relationship with the girl from the Sakayanagi family, she didn't think of them as lovers.

It seems that Tianyin was more interested in people of the same gender a long time ago.

Even if Kiryuin Marina is a great analyst, she could never have known that the person who turned her daughter into what she is now was none other than the kind, lovely, and very polite girl, Sakayanagi Arisu, whom she remembered as gentle, cute, and very polite.

Now, the manager of the Kiryuin store is in a dilemma. She is hesitant about whether to try to correct Amane's sexual orientation. Having grown up with a more traditional education, she feels that only normal love can bring happiness.

But she suddenly stopped abruptly after she opened her mouth.

What right does Kiryuin Marina have to correct Amane? Doesn't her experience perfectly illustrate that even normal men and women who are engaged are not guaranteed to be happy?

Whenever she recalls the night she celebrated her classmate's birthday, she still often wakes up from nightmares. The handsome boy used sweet talk to keep pouring her drinks, and then…

The shopkeeper, Guilongyuan, turned his gaze to Tianyin.

Perhaps this was her fate; while bestowing upon her talent and ability, God deprived her of the right to happiness as a woman.

Equivalent exchange is such a cruel thing.

She was deprived of her right to be a goddess from the moment she was born. After learning about Miyako Masatomi's crazy plan, she left the Miyako family in a fit of anger and ended her engagement with that guy, which lasted only eight months.

At the time, she had just come of age and had no idea what consequences her actions would have on Tianyin, nor did she know that the responsibility of being a mother was so heavy.

When she regretted her decision and wanted to see Tenon again, the new Lady Miyako said that Tenon had probably died somewhere.

From that moment on, her entire spirit completely collapsed. Kiryuin Marina couldn't even remember how she survived those ten years of mental breakdown.

Until that day, Fujiwara Rin invited her to visit a school in the mountains.

Even though she had never met Tianyin before, she recognized the figure at a glance as almost identical to her when she was young.

She smiled happily.

That was enough for Marina Kiryuin.

At that moment, she fully woke up. She didn't want to live in a daze anymore. Even if she could never recognize Tianyin in this lifetime, it would be enough for her to watch Tianyin grow up, get married, and have a partner who loved her.

If only we could have one more child...

Marina Kiryuin had no idea how happy this would be.

But Tianyin's words just now made her realize the truth.

Although the old man liked Tianyin very much, what will happen after the old man passes away? Will that bastard Jiang Chen and his new lover really treat Tianyin well? No matter how smart or capable she is, she seems so insignificant under the pressure of power.

Back then, Kuninori Miyako dared to break into the main residence of the Kiryuin family with only one female attendant, causing hundreds of people to spontaneously kneel outside the door and beg her to agree to marry Kiryuin Masatomi.

In order to prevent the surname Kiryuin from disappearing completely from history.

Power is truly terrifying.

Kiryuin Marina also heard that Masatomi had another son, which made it difficult to guarantee that Amane could successfully inherit the old man's business.

If Jiang Chen were to do something underhanded... she couldn't imagine what Tianyin's future would be like. She'd probably be sold off for a good price by that bastard.

But this... was a situation that Kiryuin Marina, as a mother, could not accept at all.

"If someone of the same sex likes a girl... it's not entirely impossible, but then you'll have to face strange looks from everyone~"

Marina Kiryuin gently stroked Amane's hair.

Let Tianyin like whatever she wants. Even if she is disappointed that she doesn't have children, she can accept it because the thought of that bastard's bloodline being cut off by half makes it more acceptable.

"Huh? Store Manager Kiryuin, you actually accepted this... I knew I didn't misjudge you! Store Manager Kiryuin is a good person!!"

Amane enjoyed the caresses. Even though Horikita and Sakayanagi often did this, none of them had the same special feeling as the caresses from Kiryuin Marina.