As expected, Ashford’s idea of joining a club ultimately fell through.
Ashford didn’t know why, but he always felt that whenever he tried to join a club, many strange and bizarre things would happen.
How is it that in such a large school with so many students, there isn’t a single club suitable for him?
Because of this, Ashford, now on holiday, was gloomily drinking milk.
His little brain couldn’t figure it out no matter how hard he tried.
Was there some hidden force targeting him?
“Ashford, now it’s my turn to ask you a question. In your opinion, who is the most beautiful woman in mythology?”
“The most beautiful woman in mythology? The Goddess of Love?”
“Wrong. It’s Medusa.”
“Why?”
“Because every man who sees her gets hard.”
“…Isn’t it possible that any physical body would have the same effect?”
Ashford didn’t know why, but his childhood friend seemed to have changed somewhat.
Deep down, he felt that Sonata should be that pure, flawless girl-next-door type.
But why now…
Although he couldn’t suspect Sonata of not being human just because of this—after all, that aspect is an instinct for all living beings—he just felt that this childhood friend of his was becoming more and more…
off.
To be precise, Ashford now felt that Sonata was a pseudo-human.
Although this childhood friend of his had been on a long-term leave from school due to certain reasons, given her financial situation, it wouldn’t be a problem even if Sonata never went to school.
But this Sonata was like a non-human creature that had suddenly become human.
Admiring oneself in the mirror is a woman’s natural love for beauty, but what does it mean to look in the mirror at nothing?
Admiring her own figure?
Even if that were the case, it would be one thing.
But she would occasionally tug at her own fingers, occasionally look at the soles of her feet, with an expression as if she were seeing her own body for the first time.
Ashford even wondered if Sonata had suffered a mental breakdown, leading her to believe she had transformed from a non-human creature into a human.
Moreover…
whether it was Ashford’s illusion or not, Sonata was becoming increasingly lacking in boundaries.
It was as if she had truly turned into a regressed monkey, with a sense of shame that could be described as minimal.
It wasn’t just Sonata; Aria was the same.
Although Aria just lay in her room playing games all day, whenever Ashford returned home, he would see Aria looking half-dead.
Had Aria’s yang energy been drained?
But she doesn’t even have a job.
“Ashford, are you free? There’s a level I can’t get past. I need your help.”
“Aria, I’d be happy to help, but shouldn’t you go rest for a bit now?”
“Why do you say that?”
“Your eye sockets are sunken…”
Looking at Aria’s decadent appearance, Ashford was very worried about her health.
“No!”
Unexpectedly, just as Ashford was about to reach out and take Aria’s game controller, Sonata stood up and Prevent him angrily.
“Ashford can’t leave yet. He has to continue playing brain teasers with me.”
“Sonata, don’t be difficult. I’ll buy you candy in a few days.”
“No! I haven’t even finished my Rock Candy and Marshmallow yet. Besides, Ashford has to go to school for so long before getting such a short break. He must spend more time with me.”
Sonata and Aria began to argue.
Sonata and Aria had fully immersed themselves in the personas they had crafted for Ashford.
Sonata now acted like a childhood friend with Extremely strong possessiveness, while Aria, though arguing logically with Sonata, spoke in a half-dead manner—the very picture of a shut-in who withers in the light.
Ashford felt his head was about to explode.
“Alright, Sonata, it’s just a game. I’ll come accompany you after I help her pass this level.”
“But…”
“Be good.”
“…Fine.”
Sonata lowered her head Lossly, looking as Wronged as if she were about to cry.
Aria blinked her tired eyes, but the corners of her mouth curled into a victorious smile.
After Ashford left with Aria, Sonata returned to her room.
Logically, when she used magic to arrange her own set up for Ashford, Sonata should have been the one to grow closer to him.
Why did Ashford choose Aria now?
Could it be that the childhood friend set up was different from what she imagined?
Was there some cultural difference between their two worlds?
Sonata looked at the cell phone on the table that hadn’t been opened for a long time.
For the first time, she fully charged it and began surfing the internet.
In the end, Sonata went down a rabbit hole under titles about attracting the opposite sex…
By the time Ashford came out of Aria’s room and knocked on Sonata’s door, she was deep in her research.
Speaking of which, Ashford’s house was quite spacious.
He had his own room, and Aria had her own room.
Sonata and Adagio shared a room.
After the knocking sound, Sonata opened the door.
“Sonata, I think I have time to spend with you now.”
“Oh~, sorry, Ashford. I’m in the middle of doing something.”
“Are you angry because I didn’t spend time with you?”
“No, no! That’s absolutely not what I mean. I’m saying I’m doing something… um… very private. You understand, right?”
“…Moderation is key.”
After saying this, Ashford left, leaving Sonata tilting her head, using her already limited intelligence to ponder what he had just meant.
After returning downstairs, Ashford saw Adagio sitting on the sofa watching TV.
Judging by her complexion, she had just finished with the housework.
After some thought, Shangguan Jingxing sat down beside Adagio, wanting to have a talk.
“Adagio, there’s something I’d like to discuss with you now.”
“Oh? Have you found something related to magic?”
“…No. But I wanted to talk to you about something else.”
“Hmm? What do you want to talk about?”
Shangguan Jingxing took a deep breath and then voiced his concerns to Adagio.
“Adagio, I don’t know if you’ve noticed, but something has changed in our relationships.”
“Changed?”
“Yes. Aria, that shut-in who withers in the light, has actually started initiative talking to us. You know, apart from eating, using the bathroom, and such, she basically never leaves her room. And Sonata—haven’t you noticed she’s becoming More and more sticky me? Although she’s my childhood friend and we’ve always been close, her enthusiasm is as if she wants to glue us together. And you, Adagio…”
“Me?”
“Yes. Although our comminicate is relatively limited, I can feel that the distance between you and me is the closest. But I feel as if there’s a barrier between us. Close, yet Never to be touched. It’s as if we’ve all… become Unlike ourselves anymore.”
After listening, Adagio first stared blankly for a moment, then relaxed and began to comfort Ashford.
“Relax, Ashford. You must be tired from school. How about I sing you a song to help you unwind?”
“That would be really nice of you.”
As Adagio began to sing, Ashford felt his eyelids growing heavier and heavier until he finally closed them and fell asleep.