After deciding to give up, I became popular

It was clear that she had a lot of prestige within the trio. The other two girls immediately stopped giggling and put on a "I'm very serious" strategist look.

"But seriously, if Mahiru keeps dragging her feet, she'll miss out on the courage test event this time. No, maybe she'll even be assigned to some annoying, frivolous guy..."

"Even if you're okay with it, what about him? You don't want to be misunderstood by the person you like, do you?"

"..."

The angel-like Miss Shiina, having been hit where it hurts, was finally unable to maintain her peaceful state of mind.

Indeed, to eliminate any possibility of causing Kanade trouble, she could give up inviting him and endure the loneliness of not being able to participate in the game or go on a date with the person she likes, but she absolutely couldn't stand being misunderstood by Kanade.

"But I can invite you guys, right? Girls..."

"Sorry, I have my own plans," the girl with long black hair refused directly.

"..." So Shiina Mahiru looked at the other two, "Then you guys..."

"Sorry, Mahiru-chin, I'm going to be with my boyfriend~" The girl with the ponytail put her hands together in apology.

"Eh? But I remember your boyfriend's grades aren't very good either, right?"

"Yeah, so we signed up as staff members so we don't have to be apart," the girl with the ponytail nodded.

"After all, for us two, where we date and what we do is the same, what's important is being together!"

"..."

The angel-like Miss Shiina naturally didn't want to disturb this loving couple, so she turned her gaze to the last twin-tailed girl.

"Wah, don't look at me, I'm going to be with my boyfriend too," the other party quickly shook her head.

"But don't you not have a boyfriend?"

"I'll find one now! I can't miss this event, after all... what if the assigned partner happens to be my future boyfriend?" the twin-tailed girl said matter-of-factly.

After all, this event was attractive because of this point. Those with partners still have partners, and those without partners might get one because of it, and it even creates perfect development space for you, so what's not to be satisfied with?

"..."

But the angel-like Miss Shiina was very dissatisfied.

Her best friends all had their own things to do and couldn't accompany her, and she was too hesitant to open her mouth to the person she liked because of too many considerations. If things continued like this, her only option would be to pretend to be sick and choose to give up...

"I think I'll just give up participating..." Shiina Mahiru shook her head, a hint of regret on her face.

For her, missing this event would indeed mean missing out on many precious memories, but if she wasn't with someone important, she wouldn't find it very interesting even if she participated.

"Why, Mahiru-chin? Weren't you looking forward to it for a long time?"

"That's right, why give up? With your relationship with the president, you could invite him just by opening your mouth, right?"

"That's right, how could he possibly refuse you... Could it be... is he cheating? That's too much!"

"No, it's not like that," Shiina Mahiru quickly explained, "Things aren't like what you think, and he and I... aren't together in the first place."

"But with the atmosphere between you two, it's obvious that you have feelings for each other, right?"

Not to mention the heart-to-heart talk at the swimming pool that day, they had all seen the secret interactions between them on a regular basis.

"I... I don't know..." Shiina's expression seemed a little黯然 (ànrán - dim, dispirited), and this weak appearance made the others even more angry.

"You... Ugh! This is so frustrating!"

"I'll do it! Give me your phone, I'll help you ask! I don't believe an invitation is that hard to say!" The ponytail girl reached out her hand to her.

"No..." Shiina naturally wanted to refuse, but she didn't expect the other person to react faster and stop her.

"Wait, look over there, isn't that the president?"

So they all looked in the direction she was pointing, and sure enough, they saw Xia Chuanzou and a petite blonde girl.

"Who's sitting next to the president? Do you guys know her?"

"I seem to have a little impression... I think her name is Sawamura... what's her name... Eriri?"

"Huh? What's her name exactly?"

"Oh, it's Sawamura Eriri, but there seems to be a family name in the middle. I remember she's a mixed-blood, and her father is the British ambassador to Japan."

"What's the big deal, she's not as cute as our Mahiru..."

"Mahiru-chin, do you know her? Is she the president's friend?"

"..."

"Stop talking," the leader of the trio, seeing Shiina's very bad complexion, immediately stopped the two from discussing.

"Let's go, let's go see what's going on... Mahiru, you come too."

"No..."

"Huh? What did you say?" The black-haired girl frowned, a little unable to hear the other party's words, and just as she was about to lean over to pull Shiina Mahiru, the other party suddenly pushed her away.

"Don't interfere with my affairs!" The angel-like lady's face flickered with crystal tears.

How could she not know that girl?

That day, the other party showed the same kind of look she had, fearing being abandoned. The other party clearly also liked Kanade, and now they were sitting together, talking and laughing, and the other party even showed star-like eyes... Then the answer was obvious, wasn't it?

"Sorry, I've lost my composure..." Shiina rubbed her eyes, but found that she couldn't wipe away the tears on her face.

"I, I'll go back first..." She stood up in a hurry.

She didn't want to stay any longer.

Because if she stayed any longer, she would definitely not be able to help but cry.

"..." The girl beside her stretched out her hand, as if wanting to stop her, but was stopped by the girl opposite her.

So the others could only watch Shiina Mahiru run away covering her face, even forgetting to bring her shoulder bag.

"..."

"What do we do now?"

"I don't know... By the way, was I a little too talkative?"

"It's a little true, but I feel like Mahiru seems to know that girl?"

"Ah? Could it really be cheating..."

"Whether it is or not, wouldn't it be fine to ask?" As the eldest sister in the trio, the black-haired girl stood up without letting go.

"Eh? But Mahiru didn't want us to go over, did she?"

"Yeah, if she finds out..."

"What does it matter? Do you think that in the current situation, does it matter if she knows or not? Anyway, no matter what you think, I must go over and ask clearly, even if it's for Mahiru..."

"..." The other two looked at each other for a long time before nodding heavily.

"Then we'll go too, we'll give you courage!"

"Yes!"

"..."

139. You've changed! You used to coax me.

"There are too few kinds of desserts here. Although they are delicious..." Eriri forked a small piece of cake and put it in her mouth, with a fairly satisfied expression on her face.

"You're asking for too much. This isn't a restaurant..." Xia Chuanzou complained.

He picked up his coffee and took a light sip, with a satisfied smile on his face.

"The taste is really good... I heard that the chefs and pastry chefs here were sent from Xiuzhiyuan. I thought it was fake before..."

Generally speaking, in order to exercise students' personal abilities, students usually make their own meals during the forest school period. Even if it is to take care of special circumstances, they only provide appropriate help.

How could it be like Xiuzhiyuan, which not only directly provided the cafeteria, but also specially sent a lot of chefs from the main family, for fear that their students would starve themselves due to insufficient ability.

This also led to the fact that everyone only made their own lunch and dinner on the first day because they wanted to try something new, and all the other times they came to the cafeteria.

It can be said that they exercised a loneliness.

"Although it's delicious, I want to try something else. I'll get tired of eating the same thing all the time..." Eriri said meaningfully, her eyes always fixed on the dessert in Xia Chuanzou's plate.

"How's your share?"

"It's pretty good, not as greasy as I thought," Xia Chuanzou nodded, expressing his approval.

"...Is that all?"

"That's all."

"...Aren't you going to say something else?"

"Ah?" Xia Chuanzou was stunned for a moment, thinking that it was just a dessert. Did he have to write a review?

"How should I put it... the inside is delicate, green, and moist, and the surface is very fluffy. After taking a bite, the unique aroma of matcha spreads on my tongue, and the taste is very refreshing, which is intoxicating..."

"..."

Looking at Xia Chuanzou's eloquent appearance, Eriri didn't know what to say. She could only sigh in her heart that he had really changed.

In the past, even if she didn't hint, he would considerately say to her, "My share is also delicious, do you want to try it?"

Even if she was disgusted by her "I don't want the things you've eaten", his ideas would not be shaken.

But now it's completely the opposite, but she doesn't want him to be as conscious and persevering as her. Just thinking about the possibility of being rejected will make her unacceptable, let alone really doing something intimate...

She really can't bear the consequences of failure.

But this is also very good. Although she can't enjoy more intimate interactions, at least she can walk with him, and even occasionally be held in his arms... It seems that the consequences of making a fuss are not as serious as imagined? It's even good to have Kanade coax her specially?

But if you think about it carefully, this is also achieved by venting. Maybe it's okay once or twice, and Kanade can still maintain a patient attitude towards her, but if it happens too many times, he will one day find her annoying, right? And if she develops a habit and can't change it back, wouldn't she be finished?

Adolescent girls have a lot of thoughts, especially after having someone they like. Their minds are always thinking about each other, thinking about interacting with each other, and thinking about the future with each other.

As for boys...

So how is his description? Did it make Eriri feel what he felt? Or is it too abstract and not specific enough?

Xia Chuanzou was still thinking about whether the "taste" he described was correct. He didn't think that the girl opposite him was not thinking about desserts at all.

But soon he didn't need to think about these things, because a familiar trio found them.

"I really admire you for being able to sit here leisurely and eat desserts, President Xia Chuan."

Hearing his name, Xia Chuanzou looked towards the person who came, and at a glance he saw the trio with the words "I'm here to find fault" written on their faces.

"Uh... is there anything wrong?"

Although they had a questioning meaning as soon as they came up, Xia Chuanzou didn't show much impatience. After all, as the student council president, he wouldn't think it was appropriate if he didn't have this kind of self-restraint.

Of course, the main reason was that he knew these three people—Mahiru's few friends.

As one of the girls he cared about more, he had always felt that Mahiru was a little too lonely.

Although there were actually many people in the school who liked this little angel-like lady, no one could stand by her side, not even listen to her words.

Not only that, but she couldn't even tell her family about this kind of loneliness, because even if she did, the only answer she would get would be—what does it matter to them?

She, who was perfect in dealing with people, had an unfortunate background—her parents were purely a business marriage, and the reason she was born was entirely because of a momentary impulse of her parents, but the two who had no feelings immediately lived their own lives, and treated this accidentally born child like a worn-out shoe.

The only thing they did responsibly was to hire a nanny to take care of her daily life and send her money regularly.

Their evaluation of her was even so vicious that it was difficult to call them human—it would have been better if someone like you had not been born.

That's why Xia Chuanzou couldn't let go of that girl, but recently he occasionally saw her talking and laughing with a few classmates, so he paid attention to her and investigated the situation of those people. After finding that they were just more conspicuous in their dressing style, but were actually good children, he felt relieved and let them continue to contact her.

And seeing Mahiru gradually become cheerful every day, and the smiles on her face from time to time were no longer polite, he was also happy from the bottom of his heart.

This was naturally a good thing, and he also hoped that these people would always be her good friends, so whenever they leaned together, he would always not go over to disturb them, and even take the initiative to give them space to communicate.

This also led to very little contact between him and them. The only frontal communication was even just the swimming pool sneak shot incident, but today these people took the initiative to find him...