A Public Social Suicide

Watching Lin Mu turn around and actually start to leave while carrying those large bags, Kamuro Masumi bit her lower lip as a surge of intense frustration and an inexplicable emotion welled up inside her.

She called out to stop him, her tone carrying a hint of awkwardness and stubbornness, while subconsciously finding a lame excuse for herself:

"Hey! You... what's your name? Which class are you in? I, I'll have a chance to... repay you later!"

That word "revenge" had almost slipped out, but at the last second, she forcibly twisted it into "repay," though the tsundere, unconvinced vibe was practically overflowing.

Lin Mu had never intended to get too involved with this girl who looked like she would be quite a handful.

He didn't dislike her, but... in short, he wanted to avoid the "you helped me/reminded me, so I owe you a favor" type of development.

Hearing this, he just waved his hand casually without looking back, perfunctorily saying:

"I already said I'm just a kind-hearted passerby. Forget about the name. See ya."

After speaking, he didn't even pause his pace, heading straight toward the other side of the checkout counter; he still had to pick up the custom-made banner.

Watching his back as he left without a shred of attachment—almost as if he couldn't wait to get away—Kamuro Masumi stomped her foot in anger, the fire in her heart flaring up again.

She had (barely) taken the initiative to ask for his name, and this guy was actually being so dismissive!

He didn't even look back! She raised her voice at his retreating figure, her tone filled with stubbornness, which served as a roundabout way of announcing her own identity, as if that could help her regain some face:

"My name is Kamuro Masumi! Class A, first year! Today... today counts as me owing you one!

If you need help in the future, just come find me! Even if it's just... just to repay you for your meddling today!"

She said the last few words through gritted teeth.

Lin Mu heard her, and his footsteps faltered imperceptibly, but he still didn't look back. He simply raised his free hand to shoulder height and waved it casually, acknowledging that he had heard.

His heart remained calm, and he even felt a bit like laughing. Class A, huh... as expected, "elites" also have all sorts of strange troubles and rebellious phases.

However, none of that had anything to do with him. Right now, his mind was entirely focused on getting the banner and then rushing to the club recruitment area to snag a good spot.

After picking up the finished banner at the terminal next to the checkout and confirming all his items, Lin Mu finally set off on the road to the club recruitment area, carrying, hugging, and wearing bags and packages of all sizes.

(Good grief, I'm fully armed. Actually, my superpower could create things out of thin air, but if I did that, it would be... boring, and you can't explain where things come from later...)

He looked down at the folding table he was hugging, then at the bag in his hand containing the small stool, crystal ball, and tarot cards, and the tent bag on his back.

Along with the banner scroll tucked under his arm, he felt that his current appearance must be very... bizarre and disheveled.

There was no air of a "future master fortune-teller" about him; he looked more like someone moving house or fleeing a disaster.

"Tsk, carrying so much stuff on the road, what a miscalculation."

He muttered to himself, trying to adjust his posture to hold everything more steadily.

Fortunately, most of them were foldable models, and the volume was well-controlled. If he had to carry them all fully expanded, the sight would be too beautiful for him to imagine.

At the very least, he was a top-tier visual (by his own admission), so he had to pay attention to his image; he couldn't let it fall apart completely.

However, the thought of being able to set up that little fortune-telling stall soon and starting a wonderful life of "earning points while lying down" made the slight gloom he felt from spending a huge amount of points and being interrupted by Kamuro Masumi vanish instantly, and his footsteps became lighter unconsciously.

The sun was still bright, and more and more students were on the tree-lined path, mostly gathering toward the club recruitment area, their faces filled with longing and curiosity for their new lives.

Just like that, Lin Mu carried a pile of "entrepreneurial tools" including a folding tent, table, and small stool, with a newly unwrapped grape-flavored lollipop in his mouth.

He walked toward the club recruitment area at a leisurely pace, his gait completely out of sync with the excited, running, or laughing freshmen around him.

With the physical strength and stamina he had gained from the subtle enhancement of his superpower, this weight was nothing at all; his breathing didn't even quicken.

But he couldn't help the fact that his peculiar "moving house alone" appearance was truly eye-catching, and coupled with that overly outstanding face, he attracted many curious or friendly gazes along the way.

(If one person is social suicide, what is a group?)

He hadn't gone far, and just as he was thinking about where to set up his stall—somewhere not too conspicuous to avoid being chased away by the student council or the like.

(Good grief, campus city management; after all, I don't know if you can just set up a stall on campus)

—and yet still able to attract potential customers, those confused and wealthy classmates, a gentle and sweet female voice, seemingly carrying the warmth of sunshine, rang out beside him:

"Hello, classmate!"

Lin Mu lazily turned his head and glanced over. The person who had arrived was a girl with shoulder-length, gradient-gold hair, the ends slightly curled inward.

Her face was delicate and beautiful, and a pair of pale purple eyes were curved into lovely crescent shapes, filled with genuine kindness.

She walked quickly to Lin Mu's side, her gaze falling on the pile of clearly overloaded items in his arms and hands, her tone sincere, enthusiastic, and carrying a hint of concern:

"Classmate, you're carrying so much stuff, where are you going? Do you want me to give you a hand? You look like you're having a bit of a hard time."

Lin Mu didn't even look up, refusing directly: "No thanks. I can do it myself."

He really didn't want to get too involved with strangers, especially this type who looked "warm-hearted," as it easily led to social obligations later, which was a hassle.

However, this female student clearly belonged to the type with a gentle and exceptionally enthusiastic personality.

She seemed to take Lin Mu's refusal as the politeness of someone who didn't want to trouble others. Instead of walking away, she smiled and stepped closer.

Her attitude remained earnest, and the warm, sincere feeling in her tone—the kind that made it hard to harden one's heart and refuse—grew even stronger:

"It's okay, classmate! You don't have to be polite with me. Looking at the direction you're walking, you must be going to the club recruitment area, right? Me too! We happen to be going the same way, so let's walk together."

She pointed to the area ahead where the noise was faintly audible, then her gaze fell back to the heavy objects in Lin Mu's hands, her eyes full of the certainty that "you really need help," adding, "You must be having a hard time carrying all this by yourself."

"Let me carry some of that for you, it's really no trouble! Many hands make light work, after all!"

Lin Mu: "..."

He looked into those clear, bottomless eyes filled with pure goodwill, then considered what might happen if he continued to bluntly refuse. (Her eyes were as clear as a college student's.)

If he kept at it, he might invite even more persistent "persuasion" or draw strange stares from the people around them—that would be even more troublesome. Forget it, he'd just let her carry it; they were almost there anyway.

With no other choice, Lin Mu could only sigh inwardly, though his expression remained unchanged.

He simply loosened his grip on the bag he was holding, letting her take it, while mumbling, "...Thanks, then."

"You're welcome~" The girl took the bag and naturally moved to a position slightly behind and to the side of Lin Mu, maintaining a friendly distance that allowed them to walk together without feeling overly intimate or oppressive.

She glanced curiously at the corner of the crystal ball peeking out from the bag, but politely refrained from asking any questions.

The two of them walked side by side down the bustling, tree-lined path.

The boy was tall and straight, with white hair and a cold face, his temperament lazy and aloof; the girl was gentle and sweet, with dazzling blonde hair and a healing smile.

(Event duration: May 1st to May 5th)