The three of them got onto the train.

This time Kagura Hikaru didn't have the chance to chat with his 'best friend.'

Because a girl on the train recognized Ai Cheng Hua Lian and shamelessly stuck close to her, asking question after question.

This caught the attention of the others nearby.

Almost instantly, several people remembered who Ai Cheng Hua Lian was and crowded in asking for autographs.

After the Red Pepper Band's concert ended a few days ago, their popularity seemed to have reached a new level.

Kagura Hikaru and Kohinata Motoyo were forced to retreat to the back half of the train car, silently watching Ai Cheng Hua Lian awkwardly smile in the middle of a swarm of fans.

Being a celebrity didn't seem like such a great thing after all.

Neither Kagura Hikaru nor Kohinata Motoyo were the kind of people who liked noisy situations.

If their positions were swapped with Ai Cheng Hua Lian's, Kohinata Motoyo might manage, but Kagura Hikaru would probably resign on the spot.

In this regard, the two of them admired her.

The train was rowdy the entire way.

When they finally arrived at their stop and got off, Ai Cheng Hua Lian was at last freed from her fans.

By now, her constant business-like smiling had left the corners of her mouth stiff.

"You really shouldn't be taking the train anymore," Kagura Hikaru said.

Kohinata Motoyo suggested, "How about I lend you a road bike? If you ride a bike, it'd be harder for people to block you, and it's not like a motorcycle where you need a license."

"No, no, that would be too much trouble for you."

Ai Cheng Hua Lian waved her hands repeatedly.

Taking the train to school every day and being easily spotted by fans—of course, she knew.

Knowing it clearly, yet still not planning to change.

You didn't need to spell it out to understand why.

Kohinata Motoyo narrowed her eyes slightly, then pretended to know nothing and said with concern:

"Then next time, at least wear a mask. Better yet, buy a hat and maybe change your hairstyle a bit—you'd be surprised how much harder it is for people to recognize you."

"R-Really? I'll give it a try tomorrow then..."

Ai Cheng Hua Lian turned away bashfully, lowering her head, fiddling with her hair between her fingers.

She couldn't look more obviously guilty.

Was she doing this on purpose just for me to see?

Kohinata Motoyo suddenly had a dark thought.

But immediately, she felt ashamed for doubting her friend.

Humans really are creatures driven by desire. Rеаd аhеаd аnd gеt updаtеs аt

Once you have something you can't bear to lose, you start doing things you'd never have done before, saying things you'd never have said before, thinking sinister thoughts you'd never have considered before.

Kohinata Motoyo had thought that after her previous lesson, she wouldn't make the same mistake again.

But the jealousy that burned in her heart made her realize:

She was still just an ordinary person.

How was this different from a soap opera's venomous mistress, green-eyed and bitter?

Even in her past behavior toward rivals, she hadn't been any better.

Recognizing herself as just a petty woman, Kohinata Motoyo felt a wave of emo hit her.

"Yo, good morning."

A voice greeted her from the side.

She turned to look, only to find Ayakoji Chiyoko strolling over with a nonchalant expression, a book bag slung over her shoulder.

"Oh, everyone's here, what a coincidence."

"Morning!"

Before anyone could respond, Kiryu Hina came from the other direction, smiling and waving hello.

Kohinata Motoyo pursed her lips slightly.

Those two—normally, they wouldn't even pass by this train station on their way to school.

Not even bothering to act natural.

"Morning, President Ayakoji! President Hina!"

Ai Cheng Hua Lian, however, didn't think much about it, cheerfully greeting them with her boundless energy.

Even Kiryu Hina and Ayakoji Chiyoko, who had approached with ulterior motives today, couldn't help but soften their expressions in the face of her radiant smile.

Ayakoji Chiyoko: "Good morning, Student Ai Cheng."

Kiryu Hina: "Mm, morning."

"What's the occasion? Running into both Presidents here."

"I just had something to take care of this morning, so I took a different route," Ayakoji Chiyoko replied confidently.

After all, she wasn't lying.

With her demeanor, anyone would assume it was official work for the Student Council.

Kiryu Hina scoffed.

Fake.

"What about President Hina?"

"I came to see Kagura."

Unlike Ayakoji Chiyoko, she was straightforward and sincere.

Nobody expected such a direct move from Kiryu Hina. The group momentarily froze with awkward expressions.

Kagura Hikaru: "...Something you needed?"

"Nope."

Kiryu Hina swept her hair aside, coldly throwing out a line that sounded like something from an arrogant girlfriend:

"Just felt like seeing your face this morning. Is there a problem with that?"

Everyone: "..."

Once they accepted Kiryu Hina's new tsundere persona, they actually started finding it amusing.

"As expected of Hina, she's such a flirt!"

Kohinata Motoyo's eyes sparkled.

Ayakoji Chiyoko couldn't help but think that Kohinata Motoyo's talent for sarcasm was just as brilliant.

It wasn't until closer observation that she realized Motoyo might be serious.

...Scarier than sarcasm.

Kiryu Hina felt thoroughly disgusted, the very picture of "grumpy elder with outdated phone."

"Shut up. Stop using that tone to talk to me—it's gross. Go die."

Kohinata Motoyo: "Oh~ You're getting more and more tsundere. Si Guoyi!"

Kiryu Hina: "...Tch."

This woman was utterly impervious to anything.

"Ha ha ha..."

Watching the 'harmonious interactions' between the esteemed President Hina and Little Hinata, Ai Cheng Hua Lian could only offer a strained laugh.

Even as a fellow woman, sometimes she couldn't help but feel jealous of Kagura Hikaru.

How could one person manage to attract someone as talented, kind, and stunning as Little Hinata and President Hina at the same time?

No, not just them...

Kagura Hikaru—could he have saved the world in a past life?

Or maybe, somewhere, he'd become a romance novel protagonist... No, that's too far-fetched.

In any case, compared to President Hina, President Ayakoji, and Little Hinata, she didn't see herself as remotely capable of being the main heroine.

Maybe it was better to just give up on comparisons...

In the corner of the group's vision, Ai Cheng Hua Lian lowered her head silently.

Kagura Hikaru glanced at her out of the corner of his eye, wondering why girls' emotions always seemed so unpredictable.

Maybe he'd buy her some cotton candy later—would that cheer her up?

The group chattered and joked as they headed for the station exit.

But before they could reach the turnstiles—

Suddenly, the ground began to shake violently, pouring chaos upon the station.

Screams erupted everywhere.

"An earthquake?!"

The tremor was intense, shaking even the ceiling lights and dropping dust.

Kiryu Hina lost her footing and instinctively reached out, grabbing a strong arm beside her.

She glanced sideways, feeling a bit embarrassed.

Only to lock eyes with Ayakoji Chiyoko, who was staring at her silently.

Hina's hand was clasped around Chiyoko's arm.

Hina: "..."

Chiyoko: "..."

Elsewhere, Kohinata Motoyo swiftly reacted, turning to Kagura Hikaru nearby:

"Mister Hikaru, crouch down and don't move. When the shaking eases, we'll—"

She stopped mid-sentence.

Her gaze froze on the scene ahead.

Kagura Hikaru had firmly pulled Ai Cheng Hua Lian into his arms, shielding her with his upper body, his left hand pressing her head down.

He had nearly tucked her entire form into his embrace.

From Kohinata Motoyo's angle, she could see Ai Cheng Hua Lian's cheeks slowly turning red.

When faced with danger, people instinctively protect the things most precious to them.

This was a reflex.

Acting without hesitation.

Someone as perceptive as Kohinata Motoyo couldn't possibly miss the meaning behind it.

Ai Cheng—his best friend?

Was that really the case?

Were they really just friends?

A sense of confusion spread in her eyes.

The solid wall that was her inner self—

Had suddenly fractured.