The social phobia substitute will not dream of the band girl

"Thank you, Miss Yumei. I'll have one then...but you're not allowed to eat it, brother."

Hey, why?! Even zoo animals shouldn't be deprived of their food for no reason! Is today's hour planning to use the traditional Eastern art of "underdog"? Hirayobu encounters an early midlife crisis: his daughter's dislike. It's truly heartbreaking. Incidentally, this is Kitazawa Ikumi, the daughter of the Kitazawa butcher shop owner. Hirayobu still can't figure out how a simple croquette can be so delicious.

"Good morning, Heishin, Xiaoxiao. It's really rare, a brother and sister going to school together."

Finally someone remembered me! Thank you, Grandma Ichigaya Manmi from Meteor Garden, you are so kind!

"Even Hiranobu, who's in poor health, has returned to school. How about trying to change things when you're in high school, Arisaki?"

The girl with blonde twintails, called Arisaki by Wan Shi's grandmother, was lazily lying on the table of the pawn shop Ryuseidō. She had been frowning slightly as if she was fighting against the big devil called "spring sleepiness", but after hearing these words, she immediately glared at the guy who was treated as "someone else's child".

But why was I the one getting hurt? I got used to it after getting hurt, and surprisingly, there were quite a few people who looked at Hirayuki with that kind of look. After building up a resistance over the years, I didn't react much anymore. Reliving that surprise today was a little bit fun. Ignoring Ichigaya Yusaki, who mouthed the word "traitor" at him, the brother and sister set out again—

"...But I didn't expect that."

"what?"

"So they help out in the store before going out in the morning. I didn't know that before—"

"...That's natural, after all, my brother used to be a complete shut-in."

Stop scolding, stop scolding. If you continue scolding, your brother will become stupid!

"But...it's really nice like this now..."

"......yes."

"Then let's go to school together every day from now on!" Asuka Mashi struck while the iron was hot.

"...Absolutely not!...It's okay if we go every few days...right?"

When Ping Xin lowered his head and hesitated, at an angle that he could never see, his sister Xiao Xiao showed a mysterious smile - probably the same expression that an old hunter would show when watching his prey step into a trap.

"Then today, brother, please start with the most basic greetings, just like now."

"...Shi? Wait, where are you going?"

"This is the gate to the high school and I'm supposed to be going to the junior high school. See you after school, brother~~"

Ah, so that's how it is... Watching her sister Asuka Matoki leave, Hirayoshi felt a strong sense of reluctance. Normally, she didn't feel it when she was out running errands. Could this be the kind of pain that only arises when you're aware of it? This isn't some funny comic that won't fall to the ground unless you read the following...

Wait, did she say "from now on"? Before Ping Xin could even turn around, a spiral armor-piercing bullet like a large golden retriever slammed into his back. Fortunately, Ping Xin, who had unlocked the ripple detection function, turned around and spun her around a few times, neutralizing the impact. Otherwise, he would have experienced the real meaning of "face braking"...

"Yeah~! Hirayuki-san actually came to school today, that's rare~"

"......Good morning."

Hirayukobu looked reluctant to say hello. After all, the final boss intercepted you on the way to the Novice Village. Reality is such a kuso (bad) game! And your way of saying hello is so "unique," isn't it? I wonder if Kakudate Hana Rin and Murokasa Akane can handle it, or... do you only hit me like that? Hirayukobu didn't know whether to be flattered or throw his controller and hit the screen—after all, he was no longer a tyrant anymore!!!

Asuna was a bit surprised to see Hirayūnobu greet her. After all, Hirayūnobu had just run away the other day and hadn't been to school for several days. If he hadn't scolded her when they ran into each other at the game center, Asuna would have thought she was disliked. Surely Hirayūnobu wanted to be friends with everyone, right?

"Good morning~"

"..."

Ichinose Asuna gave him a big hug and rubbed his cheek. As she swayed her body, the incredibly thick "cushion" on her chest deformed and rubbed, and then Hirashin's face became even worse than before. Although the little head below told him that it was very good, the head above told him that it was very bad now!

What happened? Is your stomach upset?

Thinking this, Asuna leaned her head over Hiranobu's abdomen like a doctor examining him... But what kind of doctor would give such a diagnosis? Am I in the obstetrics and gynecology department? Hmm... Hiranobu, despite his improved physique, actually experienced stomach pain again, a pain he hadn't felt in years. Is this the true value of Asuna?

Asuna, you are so strong!

But please, great immortal, please put away your magical powers, bang bang bang!

And everyone over there has already seen it!

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"...What are those men and women over there doing?"

I haven't done anything!

"...it must be that boy who forced the girl."

I am the one who is being bullied!

"...Shh, he's looking over here, let's go."

"...The first grade now is really——"

Two seniors, who were either second or third years, passed by, whispering to each other. Since they were near the school gate, many high school and even middle school students looked over, further exacerbating Hiraishin's already poor reputation. But what could he say? After all, Asuna was just a little more familiar and lively, and she was concerned about Hiraishin's health.

"...Asuina, I'm fine."

In every sense!

There are pictures here, which can be viewed after the updated version

Chapter 36: Smart people always need reasons to do things, but they trust their hearts more

"...Are you really okay?"

"......real"

Fake!!!!!!!!!

"But you still look terrible. How about we treat you for a while longer?"

You call this treatment? Are you sure it's not some torture session? While it's certainly big, soft, and fragrant, if you ask Ping Xin if he wants to be "treated" privately, then of course... cough cough cough!

"...Go to the cafeteria, I'll treat you to something to eat. Now, go!"

"Ping Xin...I don't know why, but it's good!"

"Asuna and... Hiranobu?"

Karin, who had just arrived at the school gate, saw this scene—Hirin holding Asuna's hand and walking forward while her friend smiled happily. The fact that Hirin, who was not good at communication, could do such a thing meant that—

"..."

Kadotate Karin didn't want to admit it, but the facts she had witnessed couldn't be false. This was fine. If such a person could be with Asuna, he would surely be able to accompany, care for, and protect Asuna better than she could. Perhaps the content of her "repayment" could be changed, such as bringing them together... No—

That would be too blunt, and it would be too suspicious if he wasn't there, so it turns out there were only three of them...

It was April, a spring breeze in full bloom, but Kadodate Karin felt no sign of life. A gentle breeze blew the cherry blossoms from the branches, scattering them and scattering them into a shower of blossoms that drew countless pedestrians to admire. Tokyo's cherry blossoms always bloom at the start of school, a blessing to the young men and women of their youth. But the young woman, blessed by the blessing, remained frozen in place, unable to appreciate the beauty of the scene. Her eyes were fixed on the young man and woman who had just emerged from the cafeteria.

Yin and Yang, male and female, stillness and movement, introversion and liveliness, he and she, Hirashin and Asuna, perhaps these are the most natural and perfect pairings in the world, and what does all this have to do with her...

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"...Look at that nigger."

"...So there are outsiders in our school?"

"...Who knows, maybe it's some 'local specialty'."

"Ahahahaha... Hey, she's looking over here, let's go."

Kadotake Karin thought back to her past. It seemed as if her life had been a mistake from the moment she was born. Unblessed by birth, a daughter not expected, an outsider who was unaccepted. In the small society of Dongguk School, even being different seemed a mistake, and she paid the price for her "mistake."

Fortunately, she met Asuna, the kindest, most adorable, and most "sparkling" girl in the world. A girl who, unlike her, was universally adored, a girl blessed by the world, a girl she longed to be but could never be. The price of receiving the sun's grace is being captured by its gravity, the price of being warmed by its light and heat is having one's inner darkness exposed to the world's most dazzling light, a constant and suffocating feeling of inferiority.

The asteroid caught by the sun's gravity might become a "unit" with her, or it might one day leave her and go to a more distant place. But Karin was sure that would not be now. She did not have the courage to face the endless darkness alone, and Asuna and Akane also needed someone to help them in the critical moment.

"...For now, this is fine."

"Good morning~...Hara Rin, you don't look well. Are you okay?"

"It's okay... I'm used to it. Let's go, Akane. If you're not here for a while, Asuna might find something new to entertain herself with."

"That's true... I hope this time will be easier. At least I won't almost get killed in the wild like last time."

Kadotate Karin and Murokasa Akane walked together, and today they were just like usual...

Maybe -

"Harin Akane, look! It's the latest limited edition bread. Come and try it too."

"..." Hua Lin wordlessly took a piece of the bread that was broken into four pieces and started eating it. The taste... was hard to describe.

"Speaking of which, the cafeteria's been having a bit of overcapacity lately. They're constantly making tons of dishes, but they can't sell them at all. Because of that, everyone's getting tired of the limited-edition bread...Hirishin-san, are you aware of this?"

"!"

He silently stuffed the whole piece of bread into his mouth, chewed it, and swallowed it. But the sight of the three women watching him chew so slowly was overwhelming. Realizing his plan to pretend he hadn't heard anything had failed, Ping Xin mumbled, "...I understand, what do you mean?"

"Yeah, yeah, could this be related to the peace letter?"

"..."x2

As Asuna said this, both Karin and Akane looked at Hiraishin. If it came from anyone else, it might sound like a joke, but if it came from Asuna, you had to be careful it might become reality. If you've ever experienced a cheesy meme like "it's raining fish" come true, you'll know when to be cautious, just like if you were living in a superhero world, you'd better stay away from all major landmarks and cities.

"Uh...well, maybe I ate a little too much that day."

Those who understand Ping Xinbi's universe between fingers will understand.

"...Asuna, how much did Hiranobu buy at the cafeteria just now?"

"Let me think... can't I hold it with just two hands?"

Asuna drew a perfect circle in the air. Although something seemed a little off, everyone understood what she meant.

"But now there's only one left...half? Well, now there's none. Didn't you guys have breakfast either? I have other snacks here."

Pingxin devoured the last of the hot dog. Honestly, he wasn't used to Eastern specialties like fried noodles and bread, so this simple, calorie-dense American hot dog was just right. He wiped his hands and then entered the weapons display. Not surprisingly, he was probably the only student with a backpack full of chocolate, candy, and other treats but no textbooks.

"Aren't you here to study?"

"...At least I brought a notebook and a pen."

It seems Nobuhira didn't show up for the opening ceremony. Does that mean he doesn't have textbooks? Is that why he's not coming to school? But buying a set of textbooks isn't that hard these days, unless... He spent all his money on food. Kadodate Karin thinks her day has come. While it might sound strange for one person to bankrupt his family, it's not unacceptable in front of Asuna, so...

"Just credit my book, okay? You're in Class A and I'm in Class B. We have different courses."

"...Here, a thank you gift."

"Great! It's a candy I've never eaten before!"

"Okay, touch it, touch it."

Pingxin patted Asuna's head fearfully. He seemed to have found a way to "tame" Asuna. Could it be that in real life, giving snacks could also increase her favorability? To be honest, his first reaction when he thought of Asuna was to run away.

After all, whether it was the most basic combination of instant gratification and yin-yang attributes, or super luck and constant unluckyness, he was completely outmatched. Running away was shameful, but it wouldn't necessarily work against Asuna, so he opted to try and fight a little longer. However, considering the possibility, Hirayuko decided to try to contact Asuna. If he wanted to find his parents, a miracle was essential. The prospect of the benefits outweighing the risks was a reason for this, and this was one of the reasons he'd proactively come to school and approach them.

As for the second point...we have to keep our promise, right?

Besides, Asuna herself was a charming beauty, with no flaws except for being a little too familiar with him. Coming to school to see a beautiful girl was always better than staying home and working overtime. But compared to Karin, who wore a blue cardigan over a white shirt, buttoned up, wasn't her collar a bit risky? In short, a pair of large, white rabbits, dancing with their owner's movements under the restraint of gravity, captivated Hiraishi's gaze. He hadn't expected that his supposedly hidden gaze would be fully exposed to the three of them. After all, women are naturally more sensitive to gazes on them.

"Hua Lin, why are you in a daze? Are you thinking about something?"

"...Nothing, I was just...thinking about how I could repay Ping Xin. After all, he saved me before—"

Seeing Karin like this, Akane felt a bit strange about her today, but her friend's expression was always difficult to read, and she didn't show many expressions. Seeing Karin staring blankly at him, Hirayuko wondered if his presence had reminded her of a less pleasant experience that day. After all, even jailing those scoundrels wouldn't erase their evil deeds. Hirayuko had already arranged for the investigation of past cases and compensation for those involved.

"...I don't need any compensation. After all, most students have limited money. Just take care of yourselves."

"But--"

"Then why don't you just lend the book to Heishin? You two happen to be sitting next to each other, so you can just put your seats together and share it."

"Your thoughts today are much more reassuring than usual. Keep up the good work~"

Akane patted Asuna's head happily. Although Asuna was the oldest of the three, she was also the most impulsive. Karin and Akane often treated her like a younger sister, or even a daughter. While this "super baby" could actually survive without any care, in a sense, preventing others from harming themselves, and preventing people from falling headfirst into natural disasters like earthquakes, tsunamis, and volcanic eruptions, was perhaps more their job.

"...What do you think, Karin? Do you mind sharing a table with me?"

"...Okay, Asuna is always right."

"But... speaking of which, when did you two start calling each other by first name?"

Murokasa Akane finally noticed something was wrong. Why were the three of them calling each other by their first names? What was going on? It felt like she was the only one who was out of place? It was the same thing at the arcade the other day, when they suddenly called and told her to go home alone. It wasn't that she was worried about being excluded, but Akane was a little worried that these three innocent kids might cause some trouble.

"Well... I'm from Yan Country, so I'm more used to calling people by their first names."

Pingxin spread his hands. Even after living here for several years, he still preferred to address people by their first names. After all, many Easterners have strange and unusual surnames, which he couldn't get used to. He'd once lost business because his habit made the other party feel disrespected, but since then, he's never encountered anyone refusing to work with him, a surefire way to make money. Now, Pingxin has even decentralized most of his work through various agents, spending most of his time controlling direction and making final confirmations. Therefore, this habit has persisted.

"...Are you from Yan country? No wonder your name sounds weird, an international student?"

"...I'll be waiting for them here until I've finished something. Judging by how long I've been here, I guess I'm half a local. And your spoken English doesn't sound awkward, Karin. Are you also a native of the East Country?"