As I was walking back to the classroom after having lunch in the cafeteria, I was ambushed by Katagiri Mai. Speaking of Katagiri Mai, she is indeed a peculiar girl. Compared to Uesugi Yui, no, compared to ordinary people, Katagiri Mai's attitude towards others appears much colder and more malicious. Whether it's towards someone like me, a frivolous and detestable guy, or towards a kind and friendly teacher, she never puts on a friendly face, let alone a smile.
There is only one person who is an exception, at least from what I know. That person is Uesugi Yui. Katagiri Mai only lets her guard down around Uesugi Yui and becomes an ordinary girl in her presence. Why is that? Admiration? If I didn't see wrong, I believe I only saw respect.
Katagiri Mai respects Uesugi Yui, far more than she respects the school teachers. Why is that? Katagiri Mai is just such a mysterious girl who keeps piquing my curiosity. It's no wonder "Ziongzong" loves and hates her at the same time.
Right now, in the corridor, Katagiri Mai stands in front of me, her expression as cold as "Ziongzong" remembers, as if I owe her tens of thousands of dollars for several years and haven't paid it back, or as if I stole her underwear and ran around with it on my head. I don't know if the latter or the former is more severe, but it's just a metaphor, I am innocent.
"Do you have something to say, Katamugi?" With no one around, I face Katagiri Mai, who looks at me as if I am her mortal enemy, and I have no idea why she stopped me outside the cafeteria.
"Katamugi?" Katagiri Mai doesn't seem to care about my confusion and instead repeats the name I call her, as if something is not right. Suspicion? That's unlikely. In order to perfectly portray and use the role of "Ziongzong," every single action and word of mine strictly adhere to the "memories" of Ziongzong, even fooling the Uesugi family with whom I spend every day. How could it be exposed in the eyes of Katagiri Mai?
It's impossible.
"Here." Without supplementing anything about the previous pause, Katagiri Mai takes out a letter from her coat pocket and hands it to me. As I reach out to take it, she lets go of the letter, but luckily, I react quickly and catch it with my fingers.
Her attitude remains the same as when we first met, still highly repellent towards me, even after everything I've been through with "Ziongzong."
While I'm receiving the letter, Katagiri Mai turns and walks away without a word of goodbye. In the end, with such a good scene, Katagiri Mai only says six words to me. Do I have a problem with my social skills... I'm at least a senior... Although I haven't been called that by my juniors very often.
"Uesugi-senpai...!" Just as I thought that, what I feared came true.
This gentle and sweet voice is like music to my ears. This respectful address is truly moving. The owner of this voice, I don't even need to turn around to know it's Kurashige Yui.
Among all the girls I've met as "Ziongzong," Kurashige Yui is the most obedient. As a younger female student, she is truly impeccable.
Wait, younger female student? What am I saying? Is there such a thing as a "male female student"?
For a moment, I am invaded by terrible images in my mind, unable to resist.
Ah... please no...
"Uesugi-senpai?" Thankfully, Kurashige Yui's voice pulls me back from that dreadful world of delusions.
Thank you so much, Kurashige Yui! Even though you don't know anything, I won't tell you anything.
"Hmm? What's up?"
"Oh, nothing in particular, just wanted to say hi to Uesugi-senpai when I saw him."
Kurashige Yui giggled shyly, looking like a cute little kitten.
"Have you eaten? Is the library work busy lately?"
Chatting with a gentle and adorable underclassman was irresistible, like lazing around in bed.
From Katagiri Mai to Kurashige Yui, it felt like going from the icy North and South Poles to the warm and blooming Xishuangbanna.
My frozen hands and feet melted away, feeling quite content.
Goodbye polar bear, goodbye penguin sauce. I prefer watching the white-cheeked gibbons swinging on the tree branches under the warm spring breeze!
"After class, I went to the library for a bit and now I'm going to eat~"
Ending the daydream and returning to reality, Kurashige Yui said so.
I should have smoothly replied, "Then go eat quickly," but Kurashige Yui's hesitant expression clearly indicated there was something else to say.
It must be about the letter in my hand.
"Is the letter in your hand...a confession?" Kurashige Yui asked, looking down. She didn't look up at me and only sneaked a glance at my reaction after asking.
I immediately understood what was going on. Instead of directly answering her question, I asked her back.
"You saw it?"
"No...I didn't."
Kurashige Yui's gaze drifted into the distance, and her fingers intertwine restlessly.
It's normal to feel shy when discussing such topics, but beyond the shyness, there was an element of lying.
The hallway was straight, and the gap between the two conversations was so short that it would be difficult not to notice if she hadn't seen it.
But since Kurashige Yui didn't want to be explicit, there was no need for me to say much.
To explain at this moment, "Cangzhong, it's not what you think. This letter is not a love letter, and Pianwu doesn't feel that way about me either," would be too youthful.
Such a youth drama unfolding would be inappropriate for me. If possible, I would rather it happen to "Ziongzong."
Lost things can be figured out, but the dead cannot come back.
"I think no one would give a confession letter to someone they like with a sour face, right? It's just an ordinary letter."
Finally, I answered Kurashige Yui's doubt in this way.
After answering, I saw that Kurashige Yui didn't know how to come down the stairs, so I added another sentence.
"It's getting late, go eat quickly."
"Oh, um, alright. See you next time~"
Kurashige Yui awkwardly took the conversation and waved goodbye to me as she left.
Watching her graceful figure leave, I couldn't help but think, when is a better time than adolescence for love?
But the person you like is a gentle boy like "Ziongzong," not me.
