The social phobia substitute will not dream of the band girl

It was like a family-like feeling, and even though it was just a small, declining shopping street, it was enough to make people feel warm. Even without specifically activating the ripple to feel the emotion, ordinary people could sense it.

"Our Shengxiang Middle School Student Council...would like to invite Hayase Yuuka to serve as accountant. This position will empower her to manage all expenses and be second only to the president."

"This is really... great!"

"Really? I told you before that Yuuka is different from Takeru, she has a lot of potential!"

"Yeah, yeah! That...student union, they really have good taste!"

"Yeah, Yuuka-chan is much stronger than my old bones. Her mental arithmetic is faster than my calculator!"

Even though they couldn't imagine how much power the Secretary of the Shengxiang Middle School Student Union could wield, they were still happy for Hayase Yuka... genuinely happy. Just like any loving parent or elder, praising their child was far more effective than praising the child themselves.

However, while Ping Xin used clever words to make everyone in the shopping street stunned, almost arm in arm with each other and being treated as "one of their own", there was also someone who was able to calmly question him -

"...If it's really that good, why are you looking for Yuuka now? Now isn't the time for the student council to reorganize, is it? Besides...I've heard before that your school's student council is full of filth, filled with little bastards who are even filthier than the scum of society."

As soon as these words were spoken, the excited crowd immediately quieted down and thought motionlessly. They no longer looked at Ping Xin as intimately as before, but with a bit of scrutiny and suspicion. If it weren't for the fact that Yuuka's female classmates (Asuina and the other four) were present, they might have arrested him and asked him questions.

In this environment where you could hear a pin drop, only Asuna was still sipping her drink carelessly, competing with the fruit pulp that was slightly larger than the diameter of the straw. The sound of her blowing, like a failed whistle, kept echoing in the cafeteria, making the atmosphere unclear whether it was serious, awkward or funny.

"...The previous student council did have problems, and it has now been disbanded. To correct past mistakes and prevent them from happening again, Yuuka-san's power is needed. Is this enough for everyone?"

After the facts were revealed, the atmosphere improved somewhat, but the person who had spoken earlier pressed the issue again, "So, you want to involve Yuuka-chan in the student council's problems?!"

Amidst the crowd, a man, noticeably younger and taller than the others, stepped out. He looked to be in his late twenties or early thirties. His sleeves were rolled up and tied for ease of work, and his muscular arms were bulging with veins. He wore a short, slightly stained white apron. He reeked of blood and seawater, and a knife was tucked behind his back. Ping Xin guessed he was a fishmonger.

"We watched Yuuka grow up... Now she calls me uncle, and as an uncle, I can't just sit back and watch you lead her into this hell!"

"...May I ask who you are?" Ping Xin asked back.

"I'll keep my name and surname! ...The fishmonger, Ah Qiang!"

"..."

Ping Xin remained silent, his expression unchanged. No one could guess what he was thinking. Was he frightened by the powerful man he had heard of? Or was he amused by his "overestimation of his own abilities"? Or was he simply lost in thought?

No, neither, he was just—

Suppressing laughter.

...Yes, hold back your laughter.

Because today is the damn modified version of DIO fighting against the wild fishmongering guy that appears on the roadside!

* Refers to the third generation JOJO Jotaro Kujo, who got his nickname because of beating up the "invincible" DIO and liking marine life. That's about it.

"...puff--!"

How could he not laugh in such an interesting situation?

If it weren't for this scene, he would definitely laugh out loud, but if he laughed here, the recruitment mission would be over... Oh, let's just use a more shocking scene to fool people! (Wise General)

Ping Xin's meaningless smile just now made this "fishmonger" feel belittled and insulted. How could he not be furious when a man who wanted to "harm" his precious niece did such a thing? However, Ping Xin was like a professional actor, adjusting his emotions, expressions, and movements faster and better than him.

"Because I'm...better than you."

Plain words tell the reality, but this world cannot easily make people accept it.

"What did you say!?"

The fishmonger (gun version) is angry!

"Being a member of Shengxiang Middle School's student council comes with all sorts of benefits...opportunities to improve your abilities, scholarships, letters of recommendation, countless connections, and so on. I believe these are definitely far greater than the so-called 'risks'...and the 'risks' you're talking about don't exist at all, because I won't allow them to exist."

"What!?"

"Absolute power gives me absolute confidence. Add to that wisdom, power, and wealth... I have the confidence to protect her from all difficulties, protect Hayase Yuuka!" Ping Xin stood up from his seat, his whole demeanor changed, and he no longer looked like the intimate young man just now.

Incomparable madness, incomparable dominance and... incomparable——

powerful!

"The opposite of justice is a different kind of justice, and when the same justice (belief) of wanting to be good to Yuka and wanting her to be good collides with each other, then today we should decide who is superior..."

Pingxin walked through the crowd and out of the door of Hayase Restaurant. It seems that what he said was true!

"Come on, boy...let me see the depth of your feelings for Yuuka!"

"Hehe... instead of running away, you're walking towards me—"

It’s a pity that now that his IQ is high, he didn’t listen to what the other party said at all.

But there is one person who is thinking seriously...

It's Asuna!

But...what is she thinking about?

At this moment, a person happened to walk out of the cafeteria's kitchen.

"Your orders are ready... huh?"

Chapter 24: Hayase Yuka's Wish

While Hayase Shokudo has the word "shokudo" in its name, it's not what we typically associate with it. Like "XX-ya" or "XX-jia," it's a common naming convention for restaurants in Eastern Japan. The term "shokudo" here refers to a place that serves quick, affordable, and generous portions of food, typically catering to office workers and students in a rush during lunch.

The food is delicious, the prices are affordable, and the wait times are short, making it a popular restaurant in the area. It has many repeat customers and is frequented by nearby residents. While the profit isn't huge, thanks to its reputation and quality, it's enough to support a family and save a considerable amount, which will allow Yuuka to go to college when she retires.

Originally, Hayase Shokudo should have continued to operate smoothly until the Hayases could no longer work and Yuka took over, or it should have ended in the hands of this generation. However, for some reason, this "end" seemed to be coming sooner than expected.

"...You mean to say that the shopping street not far away (the one in front of Hirashin's house) is so popular that it's taking away all the customers, so now not only Hayase Shokudo but all the shops on this street are doing worse and worse?"

"Yeah, yeah... Gulu—"

After a sip of wine, the fishmonger, A Qiang, began to complain to Heping Xin. Although he looked tall and strong, he was actually one of the few "high-achieving students" in the shopping street who had attended university. He was extremely thoughtful and had a daughter studying at Shengxiang, which was why he was able to point out the previous problem.

But how could the two people who were about to fight just now be so close that they could sit together and drink with their arms around each other?

It turned out that Hayase Yuuka, who had just been carrying dishes for Hiranobu and the others, had just come out of the kitchen. Being a gentle and kind person, she certainly wouldn't stand by and watch two good friends fight over her, even though the fight was entirely their own fault in the end...

Unable to stop it, Yuka suggests that if they want to fight, they should go to the dance studio (crossed out)... and arm wrestle!

So Pingxin and the fishmonger Ah Qiang started arm wrestling to decide the winner——

For the first time, Ping Xin defeated the fishmonger with some difficulty.

The second time, Ping Xin defeated the fishmonger with great difficulty and won narrowly.

And the third, fourth, fifth time...

When the fishmonger Aqiang finally realized that Pingxin was toying with him, he was completely impressed by his strength. After all, Pingxin had wanted to give him some face and leave him some room to defeat him, but he had been too carried away and ignored it, still insisting on deciding the already decided winner.

It was only when he "came to his senses" that he repented, because Ping Xin was showing him the strength to protect Yuka better than him, but he was pursuing his own desire to win. So his attitude changed drastically afterwards, and he acted like a friend regardless of age, treating him as his closest nephew and nephew, whose status he could ignore.

You must know that there are class barriers everywhere in the East Country, and age and seniority can become reasons to suppress you.

Hei Xin didn't want to embarrass this person who was simply concerned about his child. Moreover, he had already satisfied his playful mood and it was time to get down to business. So he took the initiative to treat the fishmonger Aqiang to a meal and drinks. I'm sure even DIO himself would be relieved by this reconciliation (laughs)

"Brother, you've really made a fortune... Not only did you forgive me, a small fishmonger who took the initiative to offend, but you also let me drink the best wine in Hayase Restaurant... Haha!"

"Never mind!... The fishmonger doesn't steal or rob, doesn't do anything against morality or the law, and earns his own living. Anyone who can earn their living like this deserves respect. How could I look down on you?"

"...Haha! Just talking to you makes me so happy—it's a pity that even though the wine I drank today was the best at Hayase Restaurant, it wasn't the best at the Hayase family!...But it doesn't matter, maybe I'll be able to drink it soon, and drink to my heart's content!"

Ping Xin looked over curiously, but the fishmonger Qiang just smiled and said nothing, looking very mysterious. Ping Xin couldn't understand how the world had become like this, that even fishmongers had to tell riddles!?

As they chatted over their wine, the fishmonger, Ah Qiang, was in a good mood. After all, the Hayase family's precious daughter was much cherished by everyone. If his family hadn't given birth to a daughter, they would have earned her at least. But now that he had this new, cheap little brother, he could be considered to have finally gotten his beautiful daughter.

"Uncle Qiang, you've drunk too much! And how are you going to set up your stall this afternoon if you're like this?" She gently blamed him, but Hayase Yuuka was still pouring wine for him. After all, how could she really be angry with this uncle who treated her as his own daughter?

"It's okay. I think Uncle Qiang must know what's going on, right?"

"Yeah... Anyway, it's usually just some regular customers who live nearby, or they're just old friends in the shopping street. Even if I'm really drunk, they can still do it themselves... burp——"

"Really? You're saying depressing things again..."

A man of high education, a man in his prime, always keeping up with the latest trends. The more he sees it, the harder it is to accept the harsh reality of the decline of this shopping street and his own inability to change it.

This is also what Hayase Yuuka is worried about, and the reason why she rejected the student council's invitation before.

This was also what Pingxin and the fishmonger Aqiang talked about at the beginning. After lunch, a few drinks, and complaining, uncle Aqiang patted Pingxin on the shoulder and left. No matter what, people always have to struggle ugly until the last moment, because this is survival, this is...humanity.

"...You really don't want to join the student council?"

"...Sorry, I'd rather help out at home right now."

Home...but this home doesn't seem to be the Hayase family, but the "big family" in the shopping street with countless relatives who are not related by blood. Through the conversation with the fishmonger Qiang and Yuka's reaction just now, Pingxin has sorted out the clues, and the second invitation just now was just a symbolic invitation.

After all, if the problem here is not solved, Hayase Yuuka will not be able to focus her energy on "outsiders"——

"It's great that you're so sentimental, Hayase Yuuka. I like it."

"Hi, hi, like it!?"

For some reason, Hayase Yuuka, who is always rational and calm, cannot disguise her lovely girlish nature in front of Hirashin. A natural closeness makes them look at each other very favorably. However, when the two of them are in favor of each other, the "others" watching may not be so "favorable" -

"Hey~..it seems like there's something fishy going on over there, is that okay?"

"It should be okay... I guess."

Nel, a straw dangling from her lips, asked with a hint of boredom. The four of them had played a board game while waiting, but with Asuna around, the outcome was easy to predict. In the end, they just watched a funny video together. However, Karin, sitting off to the side, felt a bit unsure about what to say, as she wasn't the one who'd stepped up to lead the group.

"It's okay~ Isn't that what Pingxin always says?"

"Well—indeed!"

After a brief thought, Karin, Akane, and Nel all agreed with Asuna and began to watch again.

"Are you really not coming? Now I can grant you a special wish."

"A wish...?"

The first thing that came to Hayase Yuka's mind was not her own wishes, but the shopping street, which is everyone's home.

"I--"

Chapter 2.0 Shopping Street Revitalization Plan

The third invitation was also rejected, so Ping Xin was very gentlemanly and did not continue to pester her. Instead, he took Asuna, Karin, Akane and Nel to play together to make up for them who had been ignored for dozens of minutes.

Even though there was a chance to "make a wish", Hayase Yuuka did not get carried away and rejected it very decisively. Most people might wonder what she was thinking, but Heishin could feel it.

"You have to fulfill your own wishes and protect everyone's shopping street by yourself... stupid."

Yes, stupid, this is Ping Xin’s most calm and objective evaluation.

Because with their own limited power and restricted vision, it is impossible for them to compete with the shopping streets at their doorsteps that have been transformed by Pingxin, and it is absolutely impossible for them to make the shopping streets great again.

This is the ironclad fact.

Even if Hayase Yuuka might come to Hiraishi when the decline of the shopping district became unstoppable, that was not the scene he wanted to see. Firstly, he couldn't wait too long, and secondly... he didn't know why he was full of kindness towards Yuuka when they first met.

Even if he normally helped someone who needed "help," he would do so easily, but not as easily as he did today. He was so patient and attentive, so consumed with her concerns, and... so compelled to express himself. This style was completely different from his usual reserved demeanor.

Is it... is it that he is really an unsatisfied man. Having just "succeeded" in getting four beautiful girlfriends, he immediately wants to fall in love with someone else?

At this moment, Ping Xin was doubting himself, doubting his infidelity, doubting his dissatisfaction, doubting—

"...What are you thinking, you idiot? If you don't leave now, I'll leave you behind~"

The speaker was Meganilu, one of Pingxin's official girlfriends, and someone with whom he shared a perfect rapport. Even though she couldn't fully understand Pingxin's thoughts, she could sense his guilt, regret, and... his apology for them.

But this kind of relationship is not what she likes or wants. What Nilu wants is not a relationship of "who owes whom", but real love, real family, real-

Stay together for life.

Nilu's eyes and tone sobered Pingxin up. He had always been prone to overthinking, easily slipping from one extreme to another. Even though his parents, who had once guided him, were no longer with him, he still had someone around him who could warn him.

"...What's wrong? Are you feeling unwell?"

"Master... Ping Xin, do you need a little encouragement?"

"Chirp—"

Acting faster than anyone else, relying solely on her intuition to achieve the best results—that was Ichinose Asuna's power in this world. And now, this power made Hirashin blush and his heart beat!

Although they had already done everything a couple should do in the past few days, kissing on the street in front of countless strangers...this was the first time!

Moreover, it’s the first time in two lifetimes!!!