The social phobia substitute will not dream of the band girl

Pingxin is here today to do three things: guidance, guidance, and damn guidance!

Appropriate white space can always arouse people's imagination to the greatest extent. At least at this moment, Hua Lin's brain is about to be overloaded——

Why did I go to his room after taking a shower? What happened last time? What did it mean to continue what I hadn't finished? Could it be...

Karin thought back to the last time she'd been a guest at Hirayobu's house, crying in his arms. Her tan skin, now a pale pink, shimmered under the double-heated water. The water in her eyes shimmered with the golden light of the bathtub, like a dream in her mind.

Seeing Kadotate Karin's dreamy expression, Hiranobu's sister Asuka Batoki's eyes suddenly became sharp. Perhaps...

It was the Karin she didn't know... She looked very cute, very attractive, it was the Karin she didn't know at all—

"What? What happened between you and Ping Xin? There's something I don't know... I want to hear it~ I want to hear it too~"

Ichinose Asuna launched her usual straight attack, slamming into Karin. The soft fusion of black and white made everyone present drool. This gender-neutral beauty, this absolute visual impact, gave them a slight shock of the female form. Although Akane herself experienced this, the sight of her looking in the mirror and their "actual combat" were completely different.

"Lost..."

Asuka Batoki boasted that she had never been inferior to anyone, but she only considered herself "third in the world," which translated to mean second only to her adoptive father and brother. But today, in this moment, even she had to admit defeat.

Big is strong, big is beautiful, this is the true meaning of big ships and big guns!

"...Nothing, probably—it's about the 'book' thing last time." Kadotake Karin hesitated. Facing the questioning of her relatives and friends, she could only give a half-truth answer. It seems that the strength of learning ability is not enough to prevent people from telling riddles—

Everyone hates the Riddler, everyone is the Riddler!

Where's Nero? She's swimming in the pool, so she's fine...

With their own feelings, the girls finished their baths one after another. After changing into the cute stuffed animal pajamas provided by the maid, Kadotate Karin arrived at the door of Hirashin's room.

dong dong——

"Ping Xin, are you there?"

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Chapter 1: Study Session? (Additional Update )

After taking a bath, Kakudate Karin came to the door of Hirashin's room wearing thin pajamas.

dong dong...

"Ping Xin, are you there?"

"Come in, the door is not locked." Ping Xin's voice came from inside the house.

"...I'm sorry—"

After taking a deep breath, Hua Lin pushed open the door and walked into Ping Xin's room. When she entered the room, she saw Ping Xin sitting at the desk, writing and drawing. He was wearing a pair of simple black-framed glasses. This was a look Hua Lin had never seen before. At this moment, he seemed to be concentrating on handling something important.

Hua Lin stood behind him, somewhat reserved. It was so quiet that Ping Xin glanced back at her, then patted the empty chair beside him, motioning her to sit. After that, he remained silent, buried in his writing. As an artist, he sometimes had to seize the moment of inspiration to complete his work.

Compared to Heishin's relaxed demeanor, Hana Rin's breathing became rapid. After a moment's hesitation, she made up her mind and walked over to sit next to Heishin. The window in the room was open, and outside looked out onto a corner of the vast courtyard. The April breeze was refreshing, but Hana Rin didn't feel the slightest bit of chill, but rather a bit of heat. Her mouth was dry, and she wanted to drink some cold water, but there was only one cup on the table—

Noticing Karin's gaze, Hiraishin pushed the mug toward her and turned away, this time merely twirling a pen. Karin took the mug, stroking it in her hand and slowly spinning it around before taking a drink with her left hand, savoring it with her tongue like a deer bowing its head by a stream.

He used his peripheral vision to imprint all of this in his mind, forever retaining it. You and I knew it, yet it seemed as if no one knew anything about this. Each seemingly intimate gesture and the attitude that everything was implied were actually just two cowards playing a game of tag.

You chase me, I flee, you flee, I chase. They enjoy this ambiguous relationship and the looming sense of distance, afraid of hurting each other and afraid of being hurt by the other party's dislike. Even the contact between hedgehogs is more intimate than them.

Looking at Hiranobu's profile, Hana Rin realized that his hairstyle was different from his usual natural, loose hair. In her eyes, Hiranobu, with his hair simply tied back, looked like an ancient daimyo or samurai. There was a special flavor to him after he had transformed himself into a maid whose life was worthless.

Sitting beside him, Hana Rin could see his fair neck and striking collarbone. Despite being a man, his skin somehow looked fairer and more hydrated than even these meticulously maintained women. His skin, overly pale from living indoors, gave him a sickly look, but paired with Hirashin's muscular physique, the two combined to create a unique beauty, like the legendary vampire nobles, a bewitching allure that defied gender.

Through the loose collar of Hirashin's pajamas, Karin could clearly see his mermaid line and abdominal muscles, even through the curve of his chest muscles. He usually wore the same uniform white shirt and black suit pants as the others, nothing special. She hadn't expected Hirashin to have such a surprise... Asuna might have been interested, but Karin, of course, couldn't refuse.

"...What's wrong, Karin?"

When Ping Xin found that the brown-skinned girl next to him was just watching without saying a word, he thought for a moment that she had been replaced by Murokasa Akane.

"Nothing, just..."

"You were looking at these glasses just now, weren't they? They're plano. ...It's mainly to give me a psychological cue, so I can better focus on my work, just like an athlete's warm-up to quickly get into shape."

Ping Xin pushed up his black-framed plain glasses, and the refined corporate temperament just now disappeared in an instant, leaving only a young man sitting there with an innocent look in his eyes.

"That's right..."

"I'm not nearsighted, okay? Although most people with myopia have genetics, the number of people with acquired myopia will likely continue to increase with the development of electronic technology... At least I don't want to become the first generation of myopia and pass it on to my children. Wouldn't it be very inconvenient if they wore glasses from a young age?"

Child?!

Had he thought that far ahead? So, was it really true that he had asked her to come today... Kadotake Hana Rin was in a state of confusion. She could only assume she was already considering how she would live as a single-parent family in the future.

"Come to think of it...it smells really good here." Hua Lin made small talk to divert attention.

"Ah, this? There's some incense burning in the incense burner in the corner. It's probably something to calm the mind or help with sleep, or maybe it just smells nice. I don't really understand it, it's all prepared by the maids."

Hirayukoshi closed the pen in his hand, set it down, and took a sip of water. Seeing Hirayukoshi's right hand, Karin felt both relieved and inexplicably disappointed. If he hadn't been so unsure of people's hearts, he might have asked Karin to guess which hand he held the water cup with while writing.

"Is that so..." Kadotake Hana Rin felt a little guilty. Actually, the taste she just described was not...

If this incense could help calm the mind or induce sleep, then why was her heart beating so fast? Her heart wanted to burst out of her throat and pounce on Ping Xin to reveal her true self. Could it be...

In fact, the incense prepared by the maids does have a certain "sleep-inducing" effect. Let's be clear, neither they nor Hein Xin use those cheap drugs that arouse people—the incense simply contains a subtle relaxation effect that makes people more emotionally relaxed. Simply put, it makes it easier to speak truthfully and open up, often used in business negotiations and situations where creating chaos is necessary.

"Come to think of it...what exactly did you call me into the room for?" Hua Lin hesitated to speak.

"...Hmm? Of course, I'm continuing with the tutoring from last time. When you were late without asking for leave, I thought you hated me. I never thought that even the serious Karin would oversleep one day."

Heishin smiled, then took a stack of papers from the side and handed them to Karin. The paper had a score of +6, and the kids next door were crying with envy.

"So...it's about tutoring. I thought it was...something else."

"Since there isn't much new information in the first monthly exam for high school, most of the questions are actually based on knowledge from junior high school. A few days ago, I briefly sorted out the knowledge points of junior high school subjects and made this knowledge outline. You can study and memorize them on your own first. If you have any questions, just ask me directly. I'll be able to ask you questions at any time later."

The goal is to complete the junior high school knowledge review and fill in the gaps before the next monthly exam. What do you think, Hua Lin?

Ping Xin spoke enthusiastically, as skillfully as a salesman from some cram school.

After a moment's hesitation, Karin said, "But... I'm really bad at studying."

"But I'm good at it! Don't we complement each other?"

"Just right"... Should we say that geniuses always have their own personalities? Kadodashi Karin feels that there is something strange about her friends who have special skills. This is the trouble of common sense...

"But...would this be too much trouble for you?"

"It only took me a few hours, actually... But it's true. After all, equivalent exchange is the foundation of alchemy... Oh, right! Then, Karin, why don't you learn to cook, just like I mentioned before!"

Karin: ???

Were we just discussing academics? Why did he suddenly jump to cooking? Is this because I'm not naturally gifted at studying, and so he's directly suggesting I time my entry into the factory? While this advice is practical, it's surprisingly hurtful coming from him...

"Even if you don't like studying, learning to cook is always a good option. Having a skill in society at least keeps you from starving to death, and the ability to cook is very useful, whether for yourself or for finding a job or starting a family. Therefore, I'd call it the most valuable skill. After all, as humans, we can't escape the 'three great desires'..."

Ping Xin leaned back and stretched his upper body, his muscles clearly visible in his loose pajamas.

"From now on, I'll help you with your studies every day, and you'll bring me your lunch box every day. Isn't that fair? You only have one life, and the most important thing isn't whether you can do it, but whether you actually want to do it—"

Hua Lin, if you don't take the first step, nothing will start. So what I'm asking now is not whether you can do it, but whether you want to do it! "

The prerequisite for saving someone is that the other person wants to be saved. Even Ping Xin doesn't want to spend too much time on people who are willing to fall into depravity.

"Ping Xin... Then please - please guide me, Sensi!"

"Okay, you're very energetic! Anyway, let's study this material first..."

If there were no issues with Hua Lin's memory or study attitude, then the reason for her appallingly low learning efficiency was most likely her study methods. So, he was concentrating on "work" and wasn't being harassed, right? Having found a way out for himself, Ping Xin observed Hua Lin's every move out of the corner of his eye. However, those who attempt to predict everything will inevitably be thwarted by unpredictable circumstances.

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Chapter 4000 What are you going to do together in the evening? ()

"I didn't expect it was just tutoring...boring!"

Asuna grumbled, her cheeks puffed up slightly. Even though her two friends hadn't left her to do anything fun, Asuna still felt an inexplicable unease in her heart, but she quickly put it out of her mind.

"Well, everyone, please do as you please—" After turning off the monitoring device, Asuka Matoki kicked the other three beautiful girls who were staying at Hiranobu's house out of her room. As for why she had such a monitoring device and why she installed it in Hiranobu's room, that's another question...

"Azuna, Senior Nel, we are going to do something interesting!" Asuna said excitedly.

Pingxin's house is like an ancient castle hiding a huge secret treasure, which makes Asuna, who loves surprises the most, very excited.

"Haha~~ I'm going to play games——"

Nel yawned, waved, and then, slipping on the pink furry bunny slippers Pingxin had prepared for her, went off to find a game. She looked as relaxed and at ease as if she were right at home, which wasn't surprising, considering he was her "godfather," after all.

"Hmm - Senior Nel ran away... Akane Akane, let's go do something to play!" Asuna, who was not giving up, looked at Murokasa Akane beside her and said.

"Well... but I'm going to learn housework and cooking skills from the seniors here later... I'm sorry, Asuna." Murokasa Akane touched Asuna's head and comforted her.

"Since you've agreed, there's nothing I can do... Never mind, everyone is so busy, so I'll just go and have fun by myself--!" Ichinose Asuna ran away with a smile, as energetic as ever... right?

Pingxin: Yes, yes, yes. In short, you can do anything except studying, right?

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Inside the ordinary room——

"...Ordinary letter."

"What's wrong? Is there something you don't know?"

"Sorry, I told everyone about the book." Kadodate Karin looked away, not daring to look into Hiranobu's eyes.

"Oh... Anyway, as long as there aren't a bunch of strangers pointing fingers at me, it's fine - so, is there anything that needs to be corrected?" Ping Xin put down the pen in his hand.

He had never given this book even an hour, so Kadotate Karin, his only "fan", was the most important and only source of feedback for him.

"I feel good..."

"Really...that's good." Hearing this, Pingxin started to write again, but put it down again as soon as he picked it up.

Looking at Hua Lin's emotional little hands, Ping Xin said: "...Just say whatever you want to say."

"So, is everything in the book true... including the last part, 'I dedicate this book to the memory of my great parents'?"

She spoke carefully, her words unclear and intermittent, but to Ping Xin's ears it was no less than thunder.

"...So you're the kind of person who even reads the tiny print at the bottom of the inside cover—

That's right, all the stories in it are real adventures that our family has experienced, whether it's the mafia, cannibals, or perverted shark people and crazy women who call themselves witches. Otherwise, how can it be called a "memory"? "

No wonder I never saw Pingxin's parents after visiting his house twice, no wonder Pingxin never mentioned his parents, and no wonder the maids here said they couldn't say anything unless the master asked.

"I'm sorry...for mentioning something that upset you."

Even at the risk of being disliked or even hated by Hiranobu, Kadotake Karin still asked. It wasn't out of curiosity—

Kadotate Karin has always been a sincere and honest child. Unlike her friend Asuna, who is lively, active, and free-spirited, she, like everyone else, often thinks a lot before speaking. There's only one reason she asks this question: although Hiranobu has become their friend on the surface, their connection remains distant and one-sided.

Ping Xin cares deeply about them, but he doesn't miss them just because he hasn't seen them for a while. This easy-going, even laissez-faire attitude towards life makes him look like a balloon tethered to the ground by a thin string.

It only takes a little bit of hurt to cause an explosion, and it only takes one letting go to cause a permanent separation.

All of this made her feel very...scared.

Yes, that's right, fear.

If Ichinose Asuna gives Karin the courage to face life anew, becoming her constant companion, then Hirayukobu is the Sensi (teacher) who encourages her and guides her forward. While both are genuinely motivated by her own best interests, they will eventually part ways and embark on their own journeys.

Kadotate Karin couldn't imagine what would happen if Hiranobu suddenly disappeared, just as she never dared to imagine what would happen to herself if she suddenly lost Asuna.

Seeing the girl in front of him looking like she was stuck in a rut again, Pingxin grasped Hana Rin's soft, smooth hand with his left hand, while his right hand gently stroked Hana Rin's flowing hair. This was how his mother had comforted him back then, how he had comforted others in the past, how he had comforted his sister when she was little, and today he would do the same to comfort Hana Rin.

"Although this might sound cold-blooded to some, I'm probably not sad. Because in my opinion, the death of our parents is inevitable. After all, they can't be with us our whole lives.

I happen to be a particularly dark person, always assuming the worst in everything I do. So, aside from the thought, "Oh, so that's how it is, I'll try to take good care of myself and my children from now on," I don't really have any particular thoughts. All I can do is do my best to hold on to what's in front of me, and as for the rest, I'll deal with it later.

"...But your book doesn't say that. I can feel your love for your family between the lines. To me, this book is like a memoir of your family."

Such an answer could not satisfy Hua Lin. Coming from a single-parent family, she longed for family affection, which is why she could understand the emotions contained in the book.

"...Memoirs, perhaps. Most people write memoirs for two reasons: one is to record the key moments of their lives while they can remember them, and the other is... to ensure they are not forgotten by the world—"

In addition to the three major desires, humans also have three deaths, Hua Lin, do you know?"

Kadotate Karin shook her head. She knew that at this moment, it was enough for her to just be a responsible student and listen.

David Eagleman once interpreted death in his book The List of Life. The original text described the three times a person dies in his life:

The first time, when your heart stops, your breathing stops, your heart stops beating, and you are biologically dead.