Little Tomie was very unhappy, extremely unhappy.
She had merely fallen asleep, so why—why had Tomie suddenly become so intimate with Kanade?!
They had almost, just almost…!!
Staring at Yu Duojiaye who had somehow returned home and fallen asleep, if not for the synchronized memories revealing last night’s events, she would have remained completely in the dark.
But… but she could have done it too…
It was all Kanade’s fault—Kanade was the one preventing her from growing up!!
Growing angrier the more she thought about it, Little Tomie looked at Yu Duojiaye’s sleeping face and couldn’t resist raising her small hand to repeatedly pat his cheeks.
“Mmm… what’s wrong? Are you hungry?”
Blinking groggily awake and seeing the furious Little Tomie hitting him, Yu Duojiaye rubbed his eyes and asked in confusion.
“Hmph! I’m just unhappy!”
In the end, Little Tomie didn’t tell Yu Duojiaye that she knew everything about last night. After all, if he discovered this secret, he would surely change how he interacted with her.
Watching the suddenly angry Little Tomie, Yu Duojiaye wore a pained expression, but then assumed she was upset about the unfamiliar woman in the house.
Tomie was, after all, a very jealous person. Even if she had pretended to be magnanimous last night, after a night had passed and with her inability to go out freely as before, it was normal for her to be in a mood.
“Don’t worry, I’ll send her back today.”
With her back to Yu Duojiaye, Little Tomie secretly sighed in relief but still huffed indignantly, speaking with tsundere pride.
“Hmph, do whatever you want—it has nothing to do with me~!”
Seeing that Little Tomie was less angry, Yu Duojiaye smiled, picked her up, and turned her around. Despite her laughing struggles, he pressed her against his face and rubbed cheeks with her.
“Eww~ you’re so gross, all oily.”
Yu Duojiaye got up and went downstairs, about to wash up, when he saw Tomie sitting on the sofa as if she had been there for some time.
“When did you get here?”
“What, can’t I come? Are you the only one allowed to visit my room?”
“…”
Faced with Tomie’s teasing, Yu Duojiaye’s mouth twitched, unable to form a single retort.
Of course she had to come—if she didn’t, what if that wretched woman from last night left an impression on him?
Moreover, their relationship had progressed monumentally last night. Her visit wasn’t just a casual drop-by; she was here to assert her status as the quasi-girlfriend!
“Kanade-kun, good morn…”
At the second-floor railing, Jiayezi—who had just woken up—immediately searched for Yu Duojiaye upon rising. Hearing noise downstairs, she happily prepared to greet him.
But the moment she spoke, her words froze in her throat as she saw Tomie sitting on the sofa like the lady of the house, legs crossed elegantly, exuding a bewitching allure.
“Tomie, she…”
Watching Yu Duojiaye frantically try to explain himself, Tomie felt secretly displeased but feigned magnanimity and indifference as she spoke.
“The pills and water glass on the table… I suppose you picked up another damsel in distress from that place again? You really shouldn’t bring just anyone home with you.”
After Yu Duojiaye finished his grumbling, Fujiang looked up at Jiayezi on the second floor, sizing up this girl who could be considered pretty but gave off an oddly uncomfortable vibe.
“Hello, I’m Kawakami Fujiang, this guy’s childhood friend.”
“…”
Jiayezi stared at Fujiang, who carried herself with the air of a mistress of the house and spoke with a hint of sarcasm.
Flawless skin, stunning features, and every movement exuding captivating charm.
Comparing this to her own withdrawn and gloomy appearance, Jiayezi felt an inexplicable bitterness well up inside, accompanied by waves of loneliness and sadness—as if she had just found a harbor only to be abandoned immediately.
Watching Yu Duojiaye remain silent, tacitly acknowledging Fujiang’s status, Jiayezi forced down her mixed emotions and managed a weak smile.
“H-hello, Kawakami-san…”
After the exchange, Fujiang nodded to Jiaye before turning her gaze to Yu Duojiaye.
“What are you standing around for? Go make breakfast already~”
Giving Yu Duojiaye a light kick on the butt, Fujiang lazily sprawled on the sofa and picked up the comic book Little Tomie hadn’t finished reading yesterday.
Yu Duojiaye glanced at Fujiang, who seemed off today, then at Jiayezi.
“Come on down, there’s a spare toothbrush in the bathroom you can use for now.”
“Mm… thank you, Kanade-kun…”
The last three words “Kanade-kun” were spoken so softly only Jiayezi herself could hear them, as if this was her only act of defiance against Fujiang, mustering what little courage she had.
Though reborn in Japan, Yu Duojiaye still preferred Xia cuisine, so breakfast leaned more toward noodle dishes.
When three bowls of noodles were served, Yu Duojiaye seized an opportunity to secretly bring a bowl of milk oatmeal to his room to feed Little Tomie.
Fujiang noticed everything but pretended not to see.
It didn’t matter. She’ll never grow up anyway. The advantage is mine.
Next time—next time will be when I make my move on Yu Duojiaye!
As for why she hadn’t done it last night? She just wasn’t prepared yet!
After breakfast, while Yu Duojiaye was cleaning up, Fujiang observed Jiayezi, who had changed into her damp school uniform.
“You go to Hayamikawadai University too?”
Jiayezi nodded cautiously, feeling utterly inferior in the presence of this swan-like girl.
“You don’t recognize me?”
“I… I’ve heard of you…”
Fujiang nodded in understanding, then eyed Jiayezi’s timid demeanor—she was probably invisible in her own class too.
No threat. Wait, maybe there is…
Fujiang narrowed her eyes and studied Jiayezi’s chest. As a girl herself, she knew exactly how impressive the reveal would be when someone could show such curvature even in loose clothing.
After all, her own clothes always lay rather flat…
“Yu! Duo! Jia! Ye!!”
“What’s up?”
Yu Duojiaye turned from the kitchen, confused by Fujiang’s suddenly puffed-up cheeks.
“Aren’t you going to see Jiayezi-san home quickly?”
Hearing the emphasized “quickly” in Fujiang’s tone, Yu Duojiaye smiled wryly to himself.
The familiar Fujiang was back.
“Alright, right away.”
After changing quickly, Yu Duojiaye went to the laundry room to fetch her socks. The moment he picked them up, the damp texture made him frown.
Seeing Jiayezi already waiting at the entrance.
“Jiayezi, wait a moment.”
“Huh?”
Before Jiayezi could ask, Yu Duojiaye went to his room and brought a pair of new socks.
“Wear these. Your socks are still wet – cold enters from the feet. Don’t get a fever again.”
As she spoke, Yu Duojiaye touched Jiayezi’s sleeve.
“It’s still damp. You should go back first and change into sleep…”
Before Yu Duojiaye could finish her sentence, Jiayezi grabbed her arm and forced a weak smile.
“No, that’s not necessary, Kanade-kun. I’m… I’m fine.”
Without waiting for Yu Duojiaye’s response, Jiayezi quickly changed her shoes and rushed out the door as if fleeing from some wild beast chasing her.
Seeing this, Yu Duojiaye immediately ran after her, but when she tried to look for the girl, Jiayezi had already disappeared from the street.
“She ran that fast?”
Scratching her head in confusion, Yu Duojiaye returned home.
Completely unaware that just across the narrow street, behind the wall, Jiayezi was leaning weakly against the courtyard fence.
Staring at the broken porcelain bowl in the yard and her father who had driven her out during yesterday’s heavy storm and had only glanced at her today, Jiayezi slowly crouched down.
Recalling the warmth she had felt at Yu Duojiaye’s home last night and the indifference she felt now, Jiayezi’s heart turned ashen.
Perhaps I’m just a girl who doesn’t deserve happiness.
As this thought emerged, the birds nearby suddenly took flight, crying mournfully as they flew into the distance.
Upstairs in her room, beneath the diary hidden under the bookshelf, a shadow that devoured darkness struggled and roared, trying to break free from its constraints, but ultimately could only helplessly retreat back into the notebook’s shadow.