The social phobia substitute will not dream of the band girl

"through..."

"what?"

Although he wanted to speak, the moment he looked into Asakura Toru's clear blue eyes, Ping Xin's heart couldn't help but feel some ripples, and he couldn't help but feel fascinated by her beauty——

When personal beauty is not enough to stand out from the crowd, people tend to further pursue makeup, clothing and accessories, hoping to use the power of these "unconventional methods" to outshine the crowd.

Before leaving the house, she lightly applied sunscreen and wore a pure white, strapless dress. Her pale shoulders and slender legs were exposed, yet not revealing, lending a natural, pure beauty. The outline of her ears was faintly visible through her beautiful short brown hair. Asakura Toru had three unassuming earrings, one on the right and two on the left, but their presence was far less pronounced than the black choker around her neck.

At first glance, she looks like a pure girl who has just begun to pursue fashion and rebellion, but upon closer inspection, you will find that this harmonious conflict gives her a human beauty, which is contradictory and beautiful, natural and artificial, just like the natural smile that always hangs on Toru Asakura's face.

People always like to use various kinds of clothes to deal with different occasions and make themselves look more decent and beautiful, but Toru Asakura is different. Her beauty comes from the inside out, a kind of beauty emanating from her soul and a unique aura that cannot be replicated.

Asakura Toru never needs clothes to set off her beauty; the clothes she chooses become dazzling and dazzling. Even a plain dress without any decoration or embellishment becomes brilliant because of her. She does not need to be the focus, because she is always the center of the crowd.

But I still care...

"Toru..why are you telling me this now?"

Unexpectedly, Hei Xin would ask such a direct question. Tou was a little stunned. After a dozen seconds of humming, she gave her answer: "Probably... I hope Xin can understand me better."

Her smile was the same as before, but Ping Xin could no longer face her with the same expression as before.

Just want me to know more about her...

......

...

..

It is a very comfortable thing to be with Toru Asakura, because many times your heart can become calm just by looking at her usual peaceful smile. When you look at her eyes that are like sweet springs from snow-capped mountains, you can forget all the troubles in the outside world, even forget to breathe.

But nothing is absolute, and this state of emptiness may not be a good thing for Ping Xin. Because for Ping Xin, who has always relied on non-stop work to prevent himself from having random thoughts, such an action will undoubtedly disrupt his spiritual heart.

What do you mean by "I won't lie to you"? Actually, I'm a complete liar, right? From beginning to end, from head to toe, everything is a lie...

The mission and obligation to spread music, all those nice words for others were thought up afterwards. The reason why he started "writing songs" was very simple, just because of loneliness, because of the loneliness of a person being excluded by the whole world, and in the end, the only thing that is true is that he has to bear the weight of the whole world on his shoulders.

The friendship he had worked so hard to build with Tohru and the others was abandoned by him, and the promise he made to that person was ended by his careless departure. Then, his parents, who had appeared from heaven, were taken away by heaven again. The pretend sibling relationship was ultimately just a subordinate one. In the end, he could only draw warmth and strength from Asuna and other unfortunate people who were born into this world because of him and who were harmed by him...

Could he be a great person like this?

No, he has always been a lonely person who longs for warmth... Compared to admitting that he is alone, it is really easy to admit that he is wrong.

Going back to school after high school started was not for a new beginning, but to give himself a reason to give up. If Asuna, Karin and the others hadn't appeared, Hira Nobuyuki would really have died.

Either die in the heart, or die in actions.

“…I’m scared, really.”

Ever since he saw through Toru's eyes, Ping Xin looked out the window silently as if he was under an illusion, and finally suddenly uttered such a nonsensical sentence.

But what is the use?

Asakura Toru had already gotten out of the car, and even Delta was outside keeping watch. Now, Hirayukobu was the only one left in the car. As Dazai Osamu said, "A coward is afraid of even happiness," and a true coward is afraid to even speak the truth.

Yes, coward.

There was not even the courage to step on the grass, touch the flowers, or embrace the sunshine. The car was silent, and the tin cans of blessing rattled on the open road between the fields, announcing the arrival of happiness to passers-by, friends and relatives along the way.

As the sun set, golden light spread evenly across the earth, but she was the only one who stood out. Wearing a crown studded with sapphires, a veil gently flowing from above like a hazy dream, the girl clutching a white rose and draped in a wedding gown looked like the embodiment of happiness.

But this is not her, not the real Toru Asakura.

In the shot, she removes her veil, discards her flowers, takes off her heavy outer dress, kicks off her unaccustomed high heels, and, clad in a black lingerie, runs into the sunset. She feels the breeze with her skin, touches the grassland with her toes. Her goal is in the distance, beyond the horizon, and also...

Here.

Asakura Toru stared at the camera and smiled back. The next second, she ran off into the distance, stepped onto the highest point of the hill, and looked out at the sunset in the distance. Although it was as ambiguous and unclear as the future, it was impossible to see clearly, but there must be the light and warmth she wanted there.

Even though Kuafu's pursuit of the sun was ultimately in vain, there is no reason to stop a person from pursuing his own happiness and goals... Pingxin suddenly understood.

"It's not that I found you, but you found me——"

Pingxin still remembers the curious look she gave him on his first day at kindergarten, and the surprise and delight he felt when he discovered he was actively engaging with them. He remembers the two of them walking side by side on the way home, and the smiles they exchanged as their father carried them down from the climbing frame, one on each side. He remembers the surprise they shared as they passed each other, the sweat and achievements they had shared while working together, and he remembers...

Her eyes, her smile, and her love.

The ones who are transparent are never Noctchill and the others, but him.

It was he who was once alone who was found, and she who was seen when she met them.

"If you want to come, then come on......!"

Everything captured by the camera was shrouded in a golden glow, a blessing. Beneath the camera, on a hill, a barefoot girl stood, shouting into the distance.

Suddenly, as if she had discovered something, she looked off into the distance. There, too, was a figure with a golden rim waving at her. Although the camera lens wasn't capturing it clearly, there was definitely a smile on their face.

The figure in the distance suddenly started running, and so did the heroine in the camera.

Running and running, they kept getting closer to each other, and finally they embraced each other in the sunset. Perhaps they never needed the sun's grace or the congratulations of others, their best blessing was each other.

“…This isn’t part of the filming plan, right?”

"...................................Shut up, Zhifu, don't ruin my good thing."

The green dot on the camera kept flashing, and the crew, photographer, director, and makeup artist who were supposed to be responsible for the filming all watched them quietly, watching them holding hands and walking towards the distance together.

Until the sun sets, time stops.

......

...

..

"Eh, super powers? Isn't that the Great Flame Kung Fu?"

"No, even though this thing called Ripple Qigong claims to be from Yan Country, it's not legal in any way. It's clearly a superpower."

"Um--"

As her feet were being massaged, Asakura Tou made a sound that was unclear whether she was thinking or simply feeling comfortable. Perhaps she should add the attribute of being prone to stepping on things.

"Is this why you rejected me?"

"... Partially, but not right now. Sorry, Tooru."

This result did not surprise Asakura Toru, because she always knew what kind of person Hirayukoshi was, but she was just in a bad mood.

"Why am I the only one who can't do this?" she murmured to herself.

For Ping Xin, his previous emotional choices were [not to marry anyone] and [to marry only one], but they appeared, changed his mind, and changed his life.

One person's love is limited, and in some situations, it's inevitable that it's powerless. Psychological problems are like loan sharks, growing larger over time. Therefore, even now, it takes the love of a group of people to correct Ping Xin's distorted personality.

"Tou... We are all prisoners of fate, and you are a gust of free wind. The pretentious iron bars can't hold you back, and there's no need for you to be entangled with me."

At this moment, Toru Asakura really wanted to kick Hirayobu, because he had run barefoot with her in the sunset and brought her back to everyone in a princess hug, but at this moment he was still saying these words to distance himself from her... If she didn't understand Hirayobu, she might really be angry.

"...Why?"

"Once you choose me, you can only choose me. I hope you can find complete happiness. At least...at least wait until you have seen more before making a choice. Because there is no inevitability or fate between us. We are just two equally free and unique souls here. It is precisely because we are 'the same kind' that I hope you can make a careful choice."

"......cunning."

Asakura Toru suddenly understood why Higuchi Enka always said this, because Hirashin was really a cunning person.

The most cunning in the world——

Chapter 76 Promise

"Yes, I am cunning."

Hirashin grabbed Asakura Toru's hand with a smile of "interest" on his face.

When was the last time you saw him with an expression like this?

It was unknown what Tou was thinking about as he exerted more force on his hands, and Pingxin also held them back with his gentle but powerful palms. If it were not for the beads of sweat on the palms of their hands, no one would have guessed what the two calm-looking people were feeling at the moment.

"Toru... I don't want you to choose me, but I also hope you can choose me."

"...hypocritically."

"Anyway, I only dare to say this because I know you like me. After all, those who are favored are always fearless~"

As he spoke, Ping Xin wore a sly smile on his face. His hypocritical "good intentions" and genuine heart, these two contradictory feelings, blended perfectly in Ping Xin. It didn't seem out of place, but instead gave people a feeling of "Ah, this is the real him."

It's not that he is deceitful, but what he shows is never his complete self.

"Can that come true? My wish."

"..."

On the night of her birthday, May 5th, Toru Asakura met Nobuhiro alone and made her birthday wish - a wish for a future where they could be together forever.

"We will definitely be together, but definitely not now..."

"Liar... called my name."

Asakura Toru was a little angry. His two feet were shaking, occasionally brushing across Ping Xin's face. If he lied again next time, he would probably be attacked directly, right?

Ping Xin was actually eager to try it out. It was not because he was a foot fetishist or an LSP, but he simply wanted to make a surprise check to see if Asakura Toru had practiced self-defense well.

Yes, that’s all!

"It's more in line with my philosophy of mind to not set a goal before a major war..."

Ping Xin scratched his head.

"Is that so... Then there's nothing we can do."

Asakura Toru's mood was visibly down, but she pulled herself together before Hiranobu could offer her some comfort. After all, it was out of concern for Hiranobu's safety. Although she didn't quite understand the concept of flags, she could tell Hiranobu wasn't lying, so she stepped on his hand again.

"A gift... you'll prepare one, right?" Toru paused and added, "It has to be something special. After all, it's compensation."

"Of course, you can look forward to it."

"Well, I'll be looking forward to it."

Toru Asakura recalled the crystal-like chocolate at home (a Valentine's Day gift last year). Not only was it beautiful, it was also great for cracking walnuts. He really didn't know how it was made.

But if she really knew what Hiranobu could do now, Asakura Toru's imagination would definitely not be so conservative.

Crystal chocolates for Valentine's Day?

That stuff is already outdated!

When he returns next time, Heishin will build a tower for Tohru on Mars that will stand for ten thousand years, a symbol of eternal companionship and everlasting love. Perhaps we could call it Pandora's Tower and prepare a magic box, and put something filled with memories inside?

No, do it tonight!

Of course, Ping Xin went to such great lengths not just for romance. The treasure trove on Mars was also a backup plan he prepared for the remaining team in case something happened while he was away this time.

If all goes well, it could just be left there. When humans land there in who knows how many years, they'll be pleasantly surprised, right? Then we could even leave some real "history" there... Thinking about it this way, why not leave a few aged stone tablets on Earth to guide humanity to Mars, where the One Piece lies?

They would definitely think that there was some super ancient civilization on Earth, and then they hid some things on Mars. When they opened the treasure box, they would only see the memories left by Ping Xin and his loved ones. This is a show of affection across time and space.

"I'm waiting, my whole life~"

"...If Enka heard you say that, she would definitely be jealous."

"Hey, why? Who's jealous?"

Maybe it's both sides... Pingxin seems to know where part of Enka's awkward personality comes from. She has been twice as jealous since she was a child. If she grows up, won't she be a 1000% jealous person?

Asakura Toru, you have caused so much harm to others!

Point and point.jpg

"No, nothing." Ping Xin tried to get away with it.

Enka's awkwardness is all hidden beneath her rational exterior, and out of respect for Hiranobu, he won't reveal the truth until she's reconciled. Well, it's definitely not because he's afraid of domestic violence, but of course, it would be even better if she could wear stockings when kicking someone.

......

...

..

"So.. you made a promise with Asakura?"

The purple eyes were staring at him at this moment. Higuchi Enka, who was sitting on the bed, had a bad look on her face, and her aura gave people the feeling that it was a few degrees lower than usual, but on the bright side, she was at least willing to be angry.

"Well, after I finish that I'll take her for a spin on Mars."