Lucky Mutual Aid Society (2)

"What are you talking about?" Inuyama Heita asked.

Matsui chuckled, leaned in, and whispered in his ear, "I'm saying... we are the saviors of these people. Without us, they'd just live their repressed lives until death, unable to break free from their shackles, unable to live for themselves. If you pity them and want to persuade them to break away from the 'evil organization' that is the Mutual Aid Society, you should at least ask for their wishes, shouldn't you? Maybe they don't want to leave. And it's fair, isn't it? They find meaning here, and we gain profit. It's a fair trade."

"You're twisting words," Inuyama Heita frowned.

"I'm telling you this because I value your abilities, Heita-kun," Matsui took a step back and smiled. "Talented individuals shouldn't be buried among the mediocre masses. You have such talent, yet you're stuck working in a restaurant, living a life of poverty and hardship. It's truly a shame. But that's how society is; the capable are suppressed by the incompetent. Superiors oppress subordinates, seniors oppress juniors, and even in school, there's bullying from older students towards younger ones, simply because they have more seniority... But it's different here. Talented people can ultimately showcase their true abilities here, just like you, Heita-kun. Your talent can help you escape this mediocre life and become even more brilliant! The Lucky Mutual Aid Society is such a fair platform. The mediocre can find peace here, the strong can realize their self-worth, and everyone can find their place here..."

"That was brilliantly said!" Just as Matsui was about to continue, a voice abruptly cut in.

A pair of hands, smeared with cream, tightly grasped Matsui's hand. Qian Xiaoyi exclaimed excitedly, "This teacher spoke so well! This society is full of oppression towards talented people like us. Whenever I think about my situation, I always tremble with anger, breaking out in a cold sweat and feeling my hands and feet go cold even on a hot day. Can this society ever get better? How must we, the people at the bottom, live for them to be satisfied?"

Feeling the slippery, creamy sensation in his hand, Matsui's perpetually smiling expression instantly stiffened. He tried to pull his hand away from Qian Xiaoyi, but Qian Xiaoyi seemed completely oblivious, still gripping his hand tightly. He kept muttering about being "angry and shivering" and constantly praised the Lucky Mutual Aid Society.

With a stiff smile, Matsui asked, "Excuse me, who are you..." He didn't recall anyone like this in the society. If there was a fool who could be easily swayed with just a few words... a valuable member, he was sure he would remember.

A semi-transparent baby ghost face suddenly appeared before Qian Xiaoyi. However, Qian Xiaoyi didn't even blink, confirming to Matsui that the person who had suddenly appeared was likely an ordinary person.

Qian Xiaoyi panted, his voice filled with emotion, "It's understandable that you don't recognize me, teacher. I stumbled upon your organization's advertisement online and learned about this place. This is my first time attending one of your gatherings, but how should I put it... ah, it's like love at first sight? No, that's not right. Anyway, I just feel a strong connection with the Lucky Mutual Aid Society, like I was born to be here! Your few words just now were very insightful. Teacher, let's go over here and continue discussing how the incompetent government oppresses capable people like us..."

With his cream-covered hand on Matsui's shoulder, he enthusiastically tried to pull him aside for a more in-depth discussion. Inuyama Heita even saw Qian Xiaoyi subtly wipe his hand on Matsui's clothes, treating him like a rag.

"No, that's not necessary." Matsui was genuinely annoyed now. Although he maintained his smile, he stared intently at the hand on his shoulder and said through gritted teeth, "The gathering is about to begin. We can discuss anything later."

A semi-transparent little hand reached out from Matsui's embrace and touched Qian Xiaoyi's hand, causing Qian Xiaoyi to shiver and involuntarily let go of Matsui. Only the stain on Matsui's clothes remained. Qian Xiaoyi looked around with a confused expression and asked, "Ah, did you guys feel a cold draft just now? Is the air conditioning in the venue too low?"

"My apologies." Matsui shot Qian Xiaoyi a look of disgust and took out a handkerchief from his pocket to wipe the cream off his clothes, preparing to leave. Qian Xiaoyi's eyes lit up, and he rushed forward, snatching the handkerchief. "I'm so sorry! The cream on you is from me, isn't it? I was too excited at the time and wasn't paying attention. I'm truly very sorry! Let me wipe it for you."

Perhaps the small cakes at the venue used vegetable cream instead of dairy cream, because the more diligently Qian Xiaoyi tried to wipe away the cream, the more evenly the white, greasy stain spread, quickly covering a large area. Startled, Matsui quickly pushed him away. "Stop! This is an expensive suit!"

"What? I'm so sorry! I'll clean it right away! I'll be careful this time."

"I told you not to wipe it!"

"I'm very good at housework. How about this? You take off your clothes, and I'll wash them by hand in the restroom. I promise they'll look as good as new."

"Don't come near me! Don't make my clothes dirtier!"

Watching Matsui flee in a disheveled state, Qian Xiaoyi pocketed the handkerchief, pouted, and muttered, "Hmph, that chattering guy finally left~ Full of platitudes, but his mind is full of crap. And an expensive suit, too."

Noticing Inuyama Heita staring at him blankly, Qian Xiaoyi said, "What are you looking at? I accidentally got cake on my hands and was just looking for a napkin to wipe them. Got a problem? They didn't have tissues on their table."

Inuyama Heita took a moment to compose himself and asked, "What do we do now? We haven't seen Suzuki-san yet."

"I already told you, we didn't come together," Qian Xiaoyi continued to enjoy the free snacks. "And what else can we do? Before the gathering starts, eat more and chat with others to gather some intel."

"But we still haven't seen Suzuki..." Inuyama Heita was about to say more, but when he turned around, he saw that Qian Xiaoyi had already very casually joined a nearby group's conversation.

Since most of the people around were adults, he, a high school student who wasn't good at socializing, lacked the confidence to join the conversation. So, he could only quietly nibble on a small cake by himself, waiting for the gathering to begin.

Finally, after half an hour, the time was almost up. All the guests who had come to attend found their assigned seats among the chairs arranged in the center of the venue, according to their number plates. The gathering was about to begin.