The social phobia substitute will not dream of the band girl

"Ha... I only knew that summer would make people so hot that they would get heatstroke and their brains would become weird. I didn't expect there would be such a time difference between us, Mr. Southern Hemisphere person." Higuchi Enka replied with some anger but also a smile.

This guy was definitely teasing her again. After all, just from the letters they'd exchanged before, it was clear he was a malicious person, not to mention his actions just now. So now he was definitely teasing her again...

Right?

In the end, during this brief, silent standoff, Enka turned away first, trying to pull her hand away but unable to do so. The second time, she was simply released. Reclaiming her bare hand, she wiped it on her clothes, unsure if it was the nonexistent sweat or the lingering warmth of the man before her.

"I thought you would be a more stable person."

"Haha, I was just pretending... I could do it if I wanted to though."

Ping Xin shrugged and spread his hands like a classic little bear.

"So, what's the matter with you this time? I'm fine with you complaining, but do me a favor first."

I see. Just brushing off what happened just now as "complaining"... It seems she thought I was just joking, Higuchi-san. But it's not a bad thing. There's something special about finding yourself drawn into the story while you're playing. If I give in too quickly, I'll be troubled.

And now, she is clutching her left arm with her right hand, clearly showing a defensive posture of insecurity. It seems that the goodwill accumulated through letters before is not enough. But really, no one would fall in love so easily, after all, this is not a bishoujo game, right?

This actually sounds very "real".

Very good, this is the feeling I want!

"Well, that's no problem on my end. Then please exchange contact information with me first. Although letters have their own flavor, it's better to use a means of communication that can keep in touch in time, right?" He shook his cell phone, and Enka sighed and took out her cell phone from her pocket.

"As you like..."

Does she like or dislike his proactive behavior... I don't know. Higuchi Enka has never thought about such a question, nor has she ever encountered such a situation. This is a completely unknown area for her.

"So you're looking for me because of this child?" Pingxin pointed at the frozen cat on the swing. Its body shimmered in the sunlight, but he immediately asked again, "If that's the case, you definitely don't have to be so anxious. There must be another reason. What is it..."

"Who knows? Maybe I was just careless and fell... More importantly, what should we do with this child? During our 'conversation', you mentioned that you knew someone at the shelter, right? So, there should be a way to deal with this situation, right?"

While there was a certain level of understanding and trust, it was ultimately one-sided. Just like how Toru Asakura had suddenly become an idol for no apparent reason, in order to discover the reason and see the company in person, she would often make unpleasant assumptions, much like her current wariness of Hirayukobu.

Although others may think this defense is a bit like the Maginot Line...

"Of course you can. It's only a few minutes' walk from here. Do you want to go with me?"

"No, I have an appointment." Higuchi Enka refused.

"I see... Well, thank you."

Even though their hands had separated, Enka, who was wary for some reason, made no attempt to distance herself, simply standing there. At that distance, Hirashin took a step forward and pulled her into a warm, strong embrace.

"...If you keep doing that I'm going to yell."

"Hey, hey, I get hurt easily...Would you mind listening to my explanation first?"

Higuchi Enka didn't respond verbally or physically, but she didn't cry for help either, as she'd said. The two simply hugged each other, but that was all they did. Fortunately, this inexplicable situation didn't last long for her. Before she lost her temper, Hiranobu finally spoke.

"Thank you. That's what 'the child' wants to say, and it's also what I want to say."

"...The child?"

"Well, when you brought her here, she felt the warmth, even though she can't feel it anymore."

"..."

Are you trying to say that ghosts exist in this world, Mr. New Type?

As if he knew what she was thinking, Ping Xin replied at the right moment, "Yes, ghosts do exist... But as for this child, it's only because he died recently that he hasn't had time to reincarnate yet. If he had waited until spring or even summer, it might have been a little more serious. So, I should thank you even more."

"...strange words."

weirdo.

"Haha, this is probably a compliment to me now. After all, being weird is, in a sense, the same as having personality... In the past, I might have tried hard to act like an ordinary person, but now—

Whatever is fine."

"......Who can understand what you are saying?"

"Yeah, since we just met, there's nothing we can do about it."

Anyone who hugs someone right after meeting them is either a very yang-oriented "socially anxious" person or a pervert. Which side are you on, Mr. Perverted Gentleman?

"You know, I used to love cats because I envied them... There was even a time when I wanted to become a cat."

"...Why?" Without the usual sarcasm and irony, Higuchi Enka just asked the question normally.

It was a strange feeling. She didn't know where in her heart she wanted him to continue talking, wanted to keep listening. Perhaps it was because the person on the other side wasn't just joking around this time, but was talking seriously, so she wanted to listen carefully too.

"Well... cats are very free, aren't they? They eat when they want to eat and sleep when they want to sleep. Most of the time, humans have no idea what they are thinking, and they don't need to know what humans are thinking. They just have to play by themselves.

And no matter where I go, people like me. As long as I act cute, I'll get food, shelter, and playmates. I can come and go as I please, and it's not surprising if I suddenly disappear and reappear one day..."

There was a strange sense of familiarity. I felt as if I had heard this sentence somewhere before, or met such a person... Oh, maybe this person is somewhat similar to Toru, Enka thought to herself.

"But the older I get, the less I want to be a cat. After all, being free and unrestrained means being homeless, and I might even end up like that child." Hirashin paused, then continued, "But now I think this isn't so bad. If I were a cat, even if I died, you, Miss Higuchi, would still care about me. So maybe being a cat isn't so bad after all."

What? You talk like an idiot. Is death a good thing?

"So if I were a cat, would you love me, Ms. Higuchi... meow~"

"...Heh...so stupid——"

Like an idiot~

Chapter 93: Things Only You Can Do

"Ah~~~~ I've been rejected. My heart aches... After all, it's better to be a human. After all, Ms. Higuchi doesn't look like she would fall in love with a cat~"

"...How long are you going to hold me?"

"Sorry, sorry, that last sentence... Thank you for your concern. I just hope you'll pay more attention to the road next time. After all, I'm much stronger than you and in great shape~"

After Ping Xin finished speaking in her ear, he immediately distanced himself from her and struck a bodybuilding pose. On the surface, it looked like he was showing off... but in fact, he was just used to being beaten after saying dirty words, so he subconsciously started to hide.

Oh, the younger brother of the family.

Mei Zhulan will definitely receive the letter in seconds!

"It's nothing. I didn't come here because of you, so you don't have to thank me at all. It's okay—"

Really? Then why did you look so relieved when you saw me?

"Haha, then let's just treat it like that... Just consider it as me saying thank you to all those who care about me and love me."

Ah, it seems like I haven’t been home for several days. What time is it now?

Ping Xin looked up at the sun and tried to observe the celestial phenomena, but found that he didn't seem to have this skill point. His phone was out of battery when he came out. Now he can only wait for some cute JK to pick him up and take him home.

"...What are you looking at?"

"No, it's nothing."

But right now, my favorability level isn't high enough to get into CG, so I'll have to wait until next time.

"...Speaking of which, did you pile the snow up there? You really have the leisure to do that."

In the end, aren't you still concerned? It feels so good to be a tsundere, Higuchi~

"Yeah, it's so comfortable sleeping on it. It feels like being back in my mother's womb... Haha, if I were a cat, I would probably die halfway through the pile. It's better to be a human, right?"

"...?"

What is this guy talking about? Is he saying that the pile of snow at the top of the climbing frame was formed when it snowed and fell on him?

"Ah, look. Even though there's a hole in it after I crawled out, it kind of looks like an igloo, doesn't it? No... maybe it's a swaddling blanket made of snow. After all, I just said it gives me the same feeling as my mother~"

"..."

Wanting to speak but not knowing what to say, Higuchi Enka could only watch the man in front of her mutter to himself. Is he crazy?

Maybe not, but there's definitely something strange going on in my brain.

If she were to follow her usual rational and negative way of thinking, the best thing she should do now is to stay away from this place and never come back, and never meet again. But how could she just ignore an "acquaintance" she knew? Moreover, the words he said before always felt a little similar, a little like through but not completely. However, they were both equally fragile, like bubbles on a summer night, and there was no telling when they would dissipate.

If he disappears, who will be next, Toru?

Thinking of this, Higuchi Enka finally made a decision, a decision that was neither rational nor smart, and she herself was not even clear about what she was doing.

"...I promised you, but this is my first time, so let's start as friends... If you come up to me out of the blue like you did before, then our relationship will be over, okay?"

She gripped her left arm even tighter. Nervousness, fear, anticipation, bewilderment? She didn't know. So many emotions were mingled together that even ordinary letters couldn't "smell" her presence.

But one thing is clear, there is no love in it, no real thing he is looking for -

But this is better, isn't it?

He finally achieved a true breakthrough from -1 to 0, and if he could continue from 0 to 1, that would be great...

No, this is the only way!

If you want to learn how to be loved, you just need to find someone who loves you. But if you want to learn how to love, there is nothing better than someone you like but who doesn't love you, so this is fine. And whether it's in terms of personality or appearance, he likes her very much, likes her to the extreme~

This time I will stick to what I like and love and carry it through to the end!

"...Speaking of which, do you often come here to play? And this climbing frame... When it was built, they said it was a miniature Tokyo Tower, but aside from being located in Tokyo and being incredibly tall, it doesn't have any of the elements of a tower at all—"

"But it's quite convenient as a landmark for gatherings, isn't it? Whether it's children or adults, just seeing this 'tower' will give them a destination in mind. I think it's quite useful."

"...But what's the point of a climbing frame that can't be climbed? Is anyone really going to climb it besides you and...?"

It's a reasonable idea. After all, this thing is about three stories high and nearly 10 meters high. It should not appear in a park where children are the main group of people. Anyone with "common sense" would not climb it.

I'm a little curious as to why this was created in the first place...

"That's true. If a child wants to climb this, he will definitely be scolded badly..." After all, he still remembers that when he climbed this for the first time, he couldn't get down. It was his father who climbed up and then took him and...the two of them down. After that, he was severely scolded by his mother.

Ping Xin chuckled, then said, "But isn't this a good idea?"

Okay, where?

"When you're a child, the peaks seem unreachable, but when you become an adult, you have the strength and wisdom to try. All you need to achieve your 'goal' is a little courage and a heart that hasn't forgotten.

Things that I couldn't do before, things I didn't dare to do, can now be done. Isn't that the meaning of growth? "

"...Thinking like a fool, Mr. Climber."

"Haha, that's a good name. I like it. So... do you want to try it?"

"...Huh? Why would I do something like that... Never mind, it's freezing cold, and what's the point of doing something like that anyway—"

After all, no matter what meaning I assigned to it, it was ultimately just climbing a special climbing frame in a "children's" park. It had no meaning or value. If Toru had done something with someone in kindergarten, surely I could do it too...

Of course I can do it, it’s just a matter of climbing up, but I just don’t want to do it now.

"Is that so... It seems you are not ready yet. Then I will go back and wait for your good news. See you after the New Year—"

"What do you mean after the Chinese New Year...isn't today December 12st, the last day of 31?"

"Eh! Really?... Yeah, I'll have to apologize when I get back."

I slept for three days and three days, and when I opened my eyes, it was almost New Year’s Day!

"...The days after Chinese New Year will be very busy, and I can't guarantee I'll be available."

"Well, it's okay, I'll wait for you--"

"...Why me and not Asakura?"

Obviously, you and Toru have a better relationship, and the two of you have a special tacit understanding, and... you also have sensibilities and talents that are different from ordinary people. No matter how you look at it, if you have to choose a girlfriend, she is the better one, right?

"Ah, Asakura... No, because this is something only you, Ms. Higuchi, can do. It's not that you can't do it—"

just me......

Something that Asakura can't do, something that only I can do...?

......

...

..

"...Never mind, just consider it as a volunteer—"

Chapter 94 I'm back, and...