During the break between classes at Hayamikawadai University, Yu Duojiaye sat in his designated seat gazing out the window, his fists unconsciously tightening beneath the desk.
The sensation of those tiny limbs clinging tightly to his fingers still lingered, and the accompanying psychological pressure left Yu Duojiaye feeling suffocated.
Although he knew this was a necessary choice for Fujiang’s sake, the feeling of having personally ended its life still filled him with sorrow.
“Fujiang? What brings you here~?”
“It’s Fujiang from the Economics Department! Just as the rumors say, she’s unbelievably beautiful.”
The commotion outside disrupted Yu Duojiaye’s thoughts. He looked up to see Fujiang standing at the doorway, arms crossed, holding a can of soda with a cold expression.
“How did you—”
Before he could finish, Fujiang strode over in her black stockings and reached Yu Duojiaye’s seat in just a few steps.
“Stop thinking about it.”
Placing the canned orange juice on Yu Duojiaye’s desk, Fujiang turned and left the classroom without looking back.
“Ooh~ There’s a story here~”
A teasing voice came from beside him. Yu Duojiaye sighed at the sound and turned to look at Azuma Saburo.
“Even if there is a story, it’s none of your business. Shouldn’t you be chasing your 2D waifus since you have no interest in the real world?”
Hearing Yu Duojiaye’s retort, Azuma Saburo clicked his tongue.
“Tch—I may not be interested in most 3D women, but when it comes to someone like Fujiang, a girl so flawless she’s practically perfect… hehehe…”
Yu Duojiaye snorted coldly at Azuma Saburo’s infatuated grin.
“So you’re actually picky?”
“Damn right!”
After exchanging a few jokes, Azuma Saburo got up and moved closer to Yu Duojiaye.
“Seriously though, Duojiaye, do you really have no feelings for Fujiang? Let me tell you, if you’re interested, you should make your move while you’re still in university. Once we graduate and enter society, a woman with Fujiang’s looks will have nothing to do with ordinary people like us!”
Yu Duojiaye looked at him with some surprise, never expecting this four-eyed otaku who only cared about virtual waifus to have such insights.
“You actually understand these things?”
Azuma Saburo crossed his arms and smiled proudly.
“Of course! You see enough and naturally understand.”
“Oh? Where have you seen this?”
“Definitely in novels!”
“…”
Rubbing his cheeks, Yu Duojiaye admitted that overestimating this guy had been an insult to his own intelligence.
But thinking about it, this was normal. Wasn’t adolescence all about trying to show off those half-baked knowledge and opinions gathered from who-knows-where to attract others’ attention?
Lunch break.
Being good-looking was a natural advantage, and this advantage was particularly evident in Fujiang. Waiting in cafeteria lines had never been something she needed to do.
The crowded, endless queues were enough to make anyone’s scalp crawl. Fortunately, Yu Duojiaye, who had done Fujiang a big favor today, didn’t need to queue up. The task of waiting in line was left to Fujiang!
“Hello, classmate? I didn’t eat breakfast this morning and I’m really hungry. Would you mind if I cut in line?”
With a cute head tilt and a pursed-lip smile, combined with hands clasped together in request—even though requeuing would cost nearly ten minutes, the boy still chose to give up his spot and go to the back of the line.
“Arigatou~!”
At the table, Fujiang gently thanked the boy, who quickly waved his hand and said it was no trouble. Before leaving, he glanced at Fujiang, then turned his gaze to Yu Duojiaye.
“Um, classmate, if you need anything, I’m sitting not too far away. Just call for me.”
“?”
Puzzled as he watched the boy wave goodbye to Fujiang, Yu Duojiaye turned to look at Fujiang.
“What did you say to him?”
Fujiang tucked her hair behind her ear and picked up a piece of tempura to eat.
“I told him you’re my disabled neighbor who’s had trouble walking since childhood, so I asked him to help carry the food.”
“.”
Looking at the full plate in front of him, though he knew Fujiang had said it on purpose, he forgave her considering he hadn’t been shortchanged by the cafeteria lady for lunch.
“Why so many vegetables? Are you afraid I’ll gain weight or grow taller?”
“Even if I got it for you, you’d still have to eat it. Lately, every time you see meat, don’t you feel sick?”
“.”
Yu Duojiaye had no rebuttal for this, and Fujiang didn’t press further.
After all, both of them knew that Yu Duojiaye’s current aversion to meat was due to dealing with the split entities.
“From now on, if there’s curry rice, I’ll get you curry rice. If not, you’ll eat noodles. Any problem with that?”
Seeing Fujiang deliberately avoiding his gaze as she ate, Yu Duojiaye nodded.
“Okay.”
After finishing the day’s classes, Yu Duojiaye rubbed his aching head, unable to comprehend how those protagonists in rebirth or time-travel stories managed to study so fiercely.
If he didn’t know how important a diploma was in modern society, Yu Duojiaye would never force himself to glance at another textbook.
“Speaking of which, Kāyè, I find it strange. Even though you and Fujiang are neighbors, I rarely see you walking together. What’s going on?”
Yu Duojiaye glanced sideways at Azuma Saburo, feeling somewhat puzzled by the question himself.
They used to walk together all the time, but ever since the incident in Yamazaki Alley in their third year of junior high, Fujiang not only stopped walking with him—her temper had grown worse too.
The Fujiang from their childhood was so sweet, always calling him “Kāyè-kun.” Now, it’s just “hey” this and “hey” that.
“You’re asking me? I suggest you take that question directly to Fujiang.”
“Ah, it’s just that I don’t get to interact with Fujiang, so I have to ask you.”
As they chatted, Fujiang appeared ahead, walking closely with her classmates. Their eyes met briefly—Fujiang glanced at him, then smiled and turned back to continue chatting with her friends.
At the school gate, watching Fujiang finish her classes for the day and head off to hang out with friends instead of going home.
“Now do you understand why we don’t walk together?”
Azuma Saburo nodded.
“Yeah, I get it. Fujiang is so pretty—naturally, lots of people invite her out.”
No sooner had he finished speaking than Azuma Saburo reached out and patted Yu Duojiaye’s shoulder.
“We might not get to pick the flower, but Kāyè, you’re not bad-looking yourself. I think Kotori from the art department is really cute—and I happen to know her. Put in some effort this semester and lose your innocence!”
“Get lost!”
Returning home, Yu Duojiaye called out “I’m back” to the empty house, then went to the household shrine and respectfully lit three sticks of incense.
Looking at the kind-faced elderly woman in the photo, Yu Duojiaye sighed.
Going into the yard, he poured out the burnt ashes and carefully flushed them down the drain. Suddenly, the sound of Fujiang talking with her grandmother came from the neighboring yard.
“I’m back~!”
“Fujiang’s back. Did you come home with Jiaye today?”
“Of course not. Who would want to walk home with that blockhead?”
“Alright, alright. Take the watermelon Grandma bought today over to Jiaye.”
“I’m not going!”
“Go on, be a good girl~”
A few minutes later, Fujiang—now changed into a T-shirt and hot pants, radiating youthful energy and captivating charm—opened her private yard gate. Carrying the watermelon, she effortlessly found Yu Duojiaye writing his novel on the second floor.
“Get over here and eat some watermelon.”