The social phobia substitute will not dream of the band girl

“Being sensitive may seem easy to get hurt, but it’s not necessarily a bad thing.”

"Hmm...baby~"

Sakamoto's hands are broad, warm, and soft, yet they are completely different from those of my seniors...

Before Goto Ichiri finished charging, the back door of the classroom was opened, and in there appeared the sunny beauty Kita, who was completely different from her and didn't like people calling her by her name, Ikuyo, who was famous throughout the school.

"Ichiri-chan, have you seen the news? There will be a chocolate dessert-making party at the senior's house this weekend... Good afternoon, Sato-san, Sakuragi-san, and Sakamoto-san~" Although Kita was a little cheerful and impolite when he arrived, after coming to his senses, he was still a polite, enthusiastic and sunny child.

"Another one has appeared."

"I kind of want to see something dramatic happen, but it's impossible."

"Ahh, a fish that walked into a trap~"

?

A question mark appeared in Kita Ikuyo's head. Why can't everyone explain things directly like the senior?

Of course, if someone knew what she was thinking, they would definitely laugh out loud and would not tell her why she was laughing.

"A party..."

There must be a lot of people.

Goto Ichiri looked at Kita, who was also looking at her. The moment their eyes met, they looked away, but they couldn't help but look at each other for the answer.

......

...

..

"Hongxia, let's make chocolate. I'll tell you Pingxin's preferences, and you'll definitely win!"

"What's there to win? It's not a competition..."

For Ijichi Hongka, who is usually responsible for housework, making (reshaping) chocolate is a very simple thing as long as there is no special purpose.

"Of course, it's a competition to help you stand out from the harem candidates!... Valentine's Day is truly a battleground for girls."

"What kind of a competition is that!"

Because of her gentle personality, Hongxia's complaints may not be sharp, but she will definitely react quickly. After all, she has a close friend who "trains" her almost non-stop 365 days a year.

But even so, this joke has gone too far——

"I'm not a candidate... You sound like the truth (whispering)... It's you, Liang, who should be preparing hard. How can you accept gifts all year long without giving anything in return?"

"It's okay. Even if I send him a plate of coke, he'll definitely eat it!"

Yamada Ryo gave a thumbs up.

"Don't be so confident in a place like this, you're just being a spoiled brat!"

"Then Hong Xia doesn't want to act like a spoiled child?"

"...In no mood."

Hongxia often has the urge to kick Yamada Ryo out, and has put it into practice several times, but she usually brings her back after a few minutes.

"Eh, is that so..."

Yamada Ryo leaned over the railing of the rooftop, not saying a word. This was the place where Hong Xia had come to her to form a band when she was disheartened by her previous band, and this time it was her turn to take the initiative.

For an end and also for a beginning.

"...Ping Xin is very handsome."

Say this suddenly?

"He makes a lot of money and is very generous."

This is no excuse for you to waste money!

“I can cook, and it’s delicious.”

Although my sister didn't say it, she was very satisfied with Ping Xin's cooking.

"And he has a very good personality and is very comforting."

I'm also very clear about this. After all... I'm also one of the parties involved~

“So everyone will like him.”

"Okay, I know you're showing off. Hey, Mrs. Ping~"

The roof of Shimokitazawa High School is not very big, but not small either, just like the wind blowing through my heart today.

"So...why don't you love him?"

"What's going on? It's like a sales pitch—... Could it be that Hirashin-san is being dishonest? If so, I'll tell Asuna and the others~"

Because she was standing behind Yamada Ryo, Hongxia's expression was not seen.

"Sales promotion? Maybe..."

"..."

The sun was bright, the branches were swaying, and the wind was cool.

Chapter 47 Protection Fee

Valentine's Day is a crucial time in many gal games, and these creations are inspired by real life. In the East, February 2th is a day for confessions, a day when girls can bravely pursue love.

But events are events, and they may not all be good things.

Just like it's a good thing for a person to be charming and popular, but if he/she is wavering between many people, or in layman's terms, engaging in ambiguity, it is easy for things to go wrong if he/she does not have certain abilities, such as the classic scumbag who acts separately.

Fortunately, Ping Xin doesn't have to worry about this, just like he doesn't have to worry about cavities or weight gain, or less safe gadgets like hatchets and sleeping pills...

Well, there is no need to worry about physical weakness, which is very important.

"Good morning, Sa-rya. Bring me some suitable desserts, like macarons, donuts, cream puffs, things that are not too big and easy to share."

On the way to school, Taishin stopped by Yamabuki Bakery. Saaya had always helped out at home whenever she wasn't on duty early, arriving about 15 minutes early. She was a dedicated child, balancing schoolwork and family. Even her mother, now fully recovered, still did the same. It seems even a long-term patient's bedside can be a source of filial piety.

"Good morning, Brother Pingxin, I'll help you prepare..."

Yamabuki Saya prepared many paper boxes with cute patterns and colors, and then packed desserts such as macarons, donuts, cream puffs, cookies, and small cakes into different categories.

In the past, Yamabuki Bakery basically relied on Yamabuki's father, whose name was Yamabuki Wataru, to bake bread. His daughter had to take care of her studies, his wife was seriously ill and frail, and he had two small children to take care of at home. Therefore, the variety of bread was not rich and the supply was limited.

Fortunately, he is still relatively young and has not lost his learning ability like some adults. Following Ping Xin's suggestions, he greatly enriched the menu, especially adding many desserts, snacks, and refreshments that young people would like.

A richer menu doesn't necessarily mean better business; a shift in business strategy is also a key factor in a booming business. Besides the usual membership, set meals, and points arrangements, the vast majority of stores on the shopping street have also been drawn into the business system built by Pingxin.

For example, receipts from Yamabuki Bakery can be used to deduct some cash from transactions at Yuze Café or other stores in the shopping street. Most of the customers who buy bread in the morning and evening are office workers and housewives. The former need to drink coffee to refresh themselves, while the latter are willing to enjoy a relaxing afternoon or bring their children to taste desserts.

Office workers don't spend much time in cafes on weekdays, often leaving their seats empty after grabbing their food. Students are the same, leaving a lot of seats empty. This waste is no longer a problem with the arrival of housewives. There are many full-time housewives in the East, and they don't mind stopping by on their way home from shopping or hosting a small tea party with friends.

Office workers and students who come to relax on their days off become the main consumer groups, while housewives are busy taking care of their families and reduce their attendance or attend with their families, which is a good balance.

There are many examples like this. For example, Kitazawa Seibut Shop and Yamabuki Bakery have also collaborated and launched foods such as cutlet sandwiches and croquette sandwiches at Hirashin's suggestion. These foods are very popular among men who have a higher calorie demand, and wives who can use coupons to eat at a lower price are also very happy.

These foods also circulate among different shops. For example, some of the snacks at Yuze Café, including the aforementioned cutlet sandwich, are now supplied by Yamabuki Bakery, significantly alleviating pressure on their kitchen. While Yamabuki Bakery might seem to be losing money by offering its products at low prices, the low profits and high sales volume, combined with its reputation, benefit all parties involved.

Under Pingxin's operation, the shopping street has become a community of shared interests. Merchants who earn more profit are happy to give 2% to 5% of their profits to the head of the Hengxin Group, who is in charge of overall coordination. The latter will use this profit to organize events, further promote, and expand the scale...

In short, these are all good things that can make money, and no one will refuse them.

Friendship is important, but in the adult world, people trust more in common interests, sometimes positive and sometimes negative benefits. In any case, in most cases this kind of "constraint" is much more reliable than the vows spoken by men and women.

Driven by both emotion and common interests, the shopping street will be absolutely friendly to people of the Pingxin line, and such an environment is very suitable for him and his girlfriends to live in, which is his ultimate goal.

There are many ways to make money, but few opportunities to sell favors. Balancing the two is a basic skill for a mature businessman.

"——Brother Pingxin, I have packed everything for you."

"Just send the bill to my house and ask Alpha and the others to reimburse you."

"Would you like me to give you a ride on my bike?"

Yamabuki Saya didn't argue with Hirayobu about the money. Although she truly wanted to repay Hirayobu's kindness by offering him free treatment, he had also said, "Don't let money taint our friendship." On second thought, he was a hidden tycoon, not some broke man in need of help. So, why would she be so polite?

The car wasn't a bicycle, of course, but an electric scooter from the Yamabuki family. Just like restaurants in the East Country typically offer delivery only to acquaintances, Yamabuki Bakery also has this service, though due to staffing constraints, it's currently limited to a few nearby neighborhoods and has a starting price.

By the way, sometimes Toyama Kasumi would ask Saaya to take her for a ride on her bike, and Ichigaya Arisaki would always get angry afterwards. The lightweight Shura field was always very interesting, but it was a pity that there was no fighting segment between Hirayukobu's favorite women.

"No, I'll ride my bike today."

"Be careful on the road~" Yamabuki Saya handed two large paper bags to Hirashin. "By the way, I'll give you the chocolate later with Kasumi, Satomi, and the others."

"I know, I know. I'm not collecting protection money... Ciao~"

When leaving, Pingxin closed the door and waved goodbye.

After watching Hirayukobu leave the mountain on his silver motorcycle, Saya Fuki took off her apron, washed her hands, and prepared for school. Of course, she mentioned what happened that morning when she got to school.

"Protection money...?"

After hearing Ping Xin's description, everyone felt that it was both appropriate and ridiculous. The original image of the gentle, amiable and helpful elf was transformed into a man wearing a suit, sunglasses and a smoking mosaic hanging from his mouth.

“…Puff~”

Chapter 48: Keeping some suspense

People always get lost at the crossroads of life. This happens intermittently for some people, such as the fisherman who can't find the way and can only circle the gate of the community over and over again, and the ordinary person who can't find the way at school and can only ride his bike a few more times -

Rather than the sweet good guy card (giri chocolate), the boys were definitely more curious about Hira Nobu's motorcycle. Transformations, giant robots, cool cars—men always yearn for these cool yet romantic things, and they're just about to ask, "Can I touch yours..."

"No, because [Silver Bullet] was given to me by my girlfriend..."

Seeing the fish had taken hold, Hirayū quickly found the student parking area, which was mostly bicycles with a few electric bikes mixed in. He wasn't lying; while the bike was an Alpha (internal test version 1) developed by Hirayū, the name was thought up by Enka Higuchi.

So this is not called lying, please call it the art of language~

When someone suggested that she could be a "girlfriend," Pingxin complained in his heart as usual, but on the surface he remained gentle enough: "Actually, if you want, you can buy it. Similar models will be on the market soon."

As a prestigious school built with a lavish budget, Shengxiang's student body is primarily middle-class, followed by upper-class politicians and businessmen, and finally, those from struggling families who receive financial aid. The subsequent mass-produced model, considering cost and target audience, will undoubtedly lack the materials and performance of the Silver Bullet, but it will definitely look impressive, which is Pingxin's primary requirement.

High performance is useless in the city, but if your car is cool, it can really make you look good.

"But this kind of car must be very expensive, right? I don't know if the New Year's money I saved is enough." A shill hired by Ping Xin asked.

"These vehicles come in three types: electric, gasoline, and hybrid. Prices for the first batch of production vehicles range from 12 yen to 60 yen (approximately RMB 6-3) depending on the model and specifications. Buying a motorcycle might be frowned upon by your family, but buying a really cool, quality-assured electric vehicle is something they're open to negotiation."

After all, people always compromise, Pingxin added in his heart.

The primary target audience for this product is young people aged 16-20+, primarily men. For these individuals, spreading the word through like-minded communities is far more effective than advertising. Once their popularity reaches a certain plateau, they can promote their product through celebrity, variety shows, sports events, and other platforms where young people widely follow them.

After saying that the official website would be open for pre-orders within two weeks and pre-sales would begin a month later, Ping Xin left the place and prepared to harvest this year's chocolate.

......

...

..

"Senior, this is my coincidence..."

"Don't talk about morality or destiny, let me keep some room for fantasy... After all, wanting others to like me is everyone's basic psychological need, even me~"

Assuming that the opposite sex likes you is often a sign of inferiority, but there are exceptions. For example, handsome men, especially handsome men who are rich and good at talking.

The girl was interrupted by Hiranobu before she could finish her words, the fire that had been ignited by her impulsiveness extinguished by the cold water. She could only sense a gentleness, a sense of peace and distance from Hiranobu's smile, a smile meant to liven up the atmosphere, not the kind she felt when she was with Ichinose-senpai and the others.

Sakako knew she was rejected, in a subtle but gentle way——

"OK..."

After hearing Sakako's answer, Hirayuko nodded. "Just put the chocolates in this box. There are some sweets on the table over here from famous dessert shops and bakeries. You can take whatever you like, but don't miss your meal. Miss Yamashita Sakako from Class 1-C."

"You know I...?"

My heart, which had been silent due to rejection, is now beginning to waver again. Could it be that...

"I have a good memory, and you can expect a return gift on White Valentine's Day. After all, I have collected protection fees from you, so I should occasionally produce some results, right?" Ping Xin said with a smile.

Hira's humor livened up the atmosphere, brightening Yamashita Sakako's mood. The girls in the queue behind him also began to anticipate it. A joke from Hira was sure to be a good topic of conversation. Even though they knew it wouldn't work, it was still worth trying, for example... fitting in.

"next."

Ping Xin felt like he had become a famous writer, but a book signing was about selling things, not receiving them...