About a minute later.

The tremor finally weakened significantly.

Everyone hurried to leave the station.

Standing in the open space, the earthquake also ceased.

"Is everyone okay?"

Ayakoji Chiyoko turned around and seriously checked everyone's condition.

It seems like everybody is fine.

No one is injured, and their spirits appear normal.

... No, that's not right.

It seems like there is something off about one person.

She suspiciously glanced at Motoyo several times.

Her smile seemed fake.

Just like a paper mask pasted on her face.

She didn't look like this during the 'encounter' at the station before.

Did it start after the earthquake?

Poof, maybe she's just scared.

Ayakoji Chiyoko sneered.

She finally saw a weakness in Kohinata Motoyo.

Although it's not a big deal, it feels inexplicably funny.

It's all because she usually acts too perfect.

Like a flawless golden Buddha statue.

Constantly emanating a Buddha's light.

That vast inclusiveness.

It's the exact opposite of Ayakoji Chiyoko's type.

That's probably why.

From the moment they first met, they didn't get along.

Even without Kagura Hikaru.

They probably wouldn't have become friends.

Her gaze shifted to Kagura Hikaru.

He was asking Ai Cheng Hua Lian if she was injured.

Clearly obvious from just looking, yet he took the trouble to inquire.

It seems their relationship is indeed good.

Ayakoji Chiyoko recalled when Motoyo caused trouble with Kagura Hikaru last time.

Ai Cheng Hua Lian helped them a lot then.

At that time, she thought.

Ai Cheng Hua Lian seemed inexplicably clear about Kagura Hikaru's matters.

They must be quite good friends..... Ayakoji Chiyoko wasn't that naive.

She always knew Ai Cheng Hua Lian also liked Kagura Hikaru.

It's something unchangeable.

Despite his appearance, Kagura Hikaru is surprisingly charismatic.

Especially attracting some who have personality flaws.

Ai Cheng Hua Lian is one of the rare normal ones among them.

If Kagura Hikaru could fall for her.

Ayakoji Chiyoko would feel very gratified.

Probably almost as happy as if he liked herself.

Someone as passive and unlucky as Kagura Hikaru.

Should find a normal person to spend his days with.

Return to a normal life.

Always read at the source—*.

It would be better for him.

Maybe it could even cure his inability to smile.

At least better than Kohinata Motoyo.

And much better than that damn Kiryu Hina.

Especially the latter, who should rot away in the garbage dump called life.

Ayakoji Chiyoko contemptuously stared at Hina.

But noticed she was sneakily getting closer, whispering.

"Don't you find the atmosphere strange?"

"I think you're strange."

"Tsk, I'm not joking with you!"

Hina signaled with her eyes towards Motoyo, hinting to watch carefully.

"That person hasn't smiled since just now.

Even I've never seen that expression on her before."

"So what?"

Ayakoji Chiyoko showed indifference.

Hina stomped her foot anxiously:

"What are you saying! Did you forget our initial purpose?!

That person looks inexplicably depressed.

Now is the best chance to separate her from Kagura!"

"How do you mean?"

"Just, you distract her by pretending to talk to her.

I'll go talk to Kagura and see if I can find something wrong."

"Ha? Why not me go to Kagura, this isn't fair."

"...You're seriously arguing with me at this moment?"

Before any action started.

Kiryu Hina and Ayakoji Chiyoko had already had a falling out, busy squabbling.

This is probably the worst team in history.

On the other side.

One of the individuals they were debating about.

Kohinata Motoyo was undergoing an unprecedented brainstorm.

Ai Cheng Hua Lian... likes Mister Hikaru.

Mister Hikaru... also likes Ai Cheng Hua Lian.

So... that means....

Eh, eh?

Her chest seemed to explode open.

This strong sense of defeat.

Worse than when she fled Tokyo.

Even more severe than when Mister Hikaru rejected her again upon returning home...

Like a ball of yarn played with by a cat.

This phrase perfectly describes her chaotic emotions.

Not good.

Her eyes started to get warm.

Motoyo touched her face.

If tears fall, this smiling face won't stay.

Looking back now.

Since she became aware, her few moments of losing composure were all related to Mister Hikaru.

She really liked him, liked him a lot.

Initially, she admired his talent.

Gradually attracted by his smile.

Both his unconventional and mundane sides grew on her.

Before meeting Kagura Hikaru.

Kohinata Motoyo's life seemed almost fake.

She saw others as NPCs.

She was different, no one could walk alongside her—living her life as if it were only natural.

But after those feelings blossomed.

The world seemed different.

If there's a kind of magic in this world.

For Motoyo, that magic is love.

She was genuinely changed by someone other than herself.

Even she welcomed it.

She thought she could change Mister Hikaru too.

But it turned out she couldn't.

She really was defeated by him.

Looking at Kagura Hikaru's back, Motoyo touched her face with her right hand, unconsciously revealing a helpless smile.

As if sensing something.

While talking to Ai Cheng Hua Lian, Kagura Hikaru turned back to look at Motoyo.

Just now, there seemed to be some interference for a moment.

Since finding a way to curb the mind-reading ability's rampage beside Motoyo.

It's the first time Kagura Hikaru heard a heart not belonging to her.

What could it be....

Though it rapidly normalized, it reminded him of the original fear.

At that time, he genuinely thought death was his only escape.

He vowed never to return to that state, absolutely not.

He was already determined.

Kagura Hikaru didn't notice.

While he was contemplating how to please Motoyo.

Behind him.

Ai Cheng Hua Lian was watching him with a complicated expression.

At the moment the earthquake struck.

Even Ai Cheng Hua Lian herself didn't react.

Yet Kagura instantly hugged her.

The peace she felt then was incomparable.

Unlike the childhood embrace from parents.

It was a shy embrace.

Her heart uncontrollably raced.

Her heart seemed to grow wings, ready to leap out of her chest.

That thrilling frequency.

The same as when she first encountered Kagura two years ago on the train.

That was when Ai Cheng Hua Lian realized she liked a boy.

But she never thought this feeling would last so long.

Even lasting.

Despite Kagura already dating someone else, it isn't over.

She couldn't deny her feelings.

But no matter how unwilling, she couldn't ruin Kagura and Motoyo's relationship.

She'd be a silent guardian, silently watching.

However.

Kagura's hug directly shattered her defenses.

She felt something 'special'.

That special feeling Kagura had for her.

It's something even Motoyo didn't have.

It was then.

Suddenly, Ai Cheng Hua Lian made a decision.

—She would confess to Kagura.

This Christmas!