On Campus 2

Kamuro Masumi raised an eyebrow; this "quiet girl" from Class C was more proactive than she had expected.

She nodded.

"Let's go then."

The two walked side by side toward "Palette," a popular café on campus.

A gentle breeze, carrying warmth, caressed the girls' skirts and hair.

"Kamuro," Shiina Hiyori, turning her head to look at Kamuro as she walked, her large eyes sparkling with pure curiosity, "Do you like reading?"

"Reading?" Kamuro Masumi didn't stop walking, her tone somewhat casual. "You mean study materials for exams, or... leisure reading?"

"Extracurricular reading, of course!" Shiina Hiyori's voice held a hint of excitement, as if she had found a like-minded topic. "Study materials are necessary, but I always feel like they lack... the warmth of the soul."

"Oh," Kamuro Masumi twitched her lips, revealing a slightly amused smile, "Well, I'd say it's just so-so. I prefer... something a little more exciting to pass the time. Quiet reading isn't really my thing."

She deliberately emphasized the word "stimulating," glancing at Shiina Hiyori to see her reaction.

Is he a true bookworm, or just someone disguised as quiet and reserved... or something else entirely?

Several girls of the same grade who were passing by whispered among themselves when they saw this.

"Look, aren't those Shiina from Class C and Kamuro from Class B? Why are they walking together?"

"The atmosphere seems pretty good?"

"What an amazing combination, one like a quiet rabbit, the other like... well, a cold and aloof cat with a hint of danger?"

Upon hearing this, Shiina Hiyori was not disappointed at all; instead, she chuckled softly as if she had heard something amusing.

"Exciting? I understand. Actually, many stories contain thrilling moments. For example, the life-and-death chases in detective novels, the court intrigues in historical novels, and even some literary works that depict the subtleties of the human heart—isn't that undercurrent of tension a kind of mental stimulation?"

As she spoke, she observed Kamuro Masumi's expression with great interest. "What kind of stimulation are you referring to, Kamuro -kun? The adrenaline rush from extreme sports? The competitive matches? Or... something else that's more challenging and mentally taxing?"

Her question seemed innocent and naive, like a simple curiosity about the unknown, but it subtly concealed a hint of probing.

Kamuro Masumi's heart stirred slightly; this Shiina Hiyori was indeed not as simple as she appeared.

Instead of answering directly, she asked, "Shiina seems quite interested in human nature? What kind of books do you usually read?"

With their own thoughts in mind, the two walked into the Palette Café, chatting and laughing.

The crisp sound of the glass door opening and closing temporarily shut out the noise from the outside world.

Back downstairs, Karuizawa Kei practically rushed home.

Pushing open that familiar door, the private space that belonged to her and Tanaka Yukishin came into view, exuding a reassuring atmosphere.

She didn't even have time to properly take off her shoes; she just rubbed her heels together, and her two small canvas shoes were casually tossed onto the entryway floor with a soft "thud."

Barefoot, she trotted across the small living room like a gust of wind, heading straight for the bedroom.

Before leaving to see Xuexin off, she did two things specifically.

The air conditioner was set to a comfortable temperature, and... the blankets were carefully folded and piled high, forming a stable arch.

This shape perfectly mimics the outline of Xuexin's body when she is lying on her side.

While reducing heat loss, it also preserves the warmth of the lovers to the greatest extent possible.

She couldn't wait to throw off her dress, leaving only her close-fitting underwear, and like a slippery fish, she darted into the arched bed.

The air conditioning provided just the right amount of coolness, but what truly captivated her was the scent of Xuexin that enveloped her.

The faint, refreshing scent of soapberry mingled with his unique, comforting body temperature, as if he were still lying there, never having left.

"Hmm..."

She let out a satisfied sigh, burying her face deeply into the pillow that smelled of Xuexin, breathing it in greedily.

The corners of his mouth involuntarily curved upwards, forming an incredibly happy, even slightly silly, smile.

The body's memory is so profound.

She habitually reached out her right hand, still sleepy, and hugged to her right.

That place should have been Xuexin's warm and firm waist and abdomen.

My arms missed their target, only managing to grab the cool air and the folds of the blanket.

The sudden sense of emptiness was like a tiny needle, gently pricking her.

It dispelled some of my drowsiness.

She then realized clearly that Xuexin had left to participate in that Gyokuryuki competition and wouldn't be back for several days.

A strong emotion, a mixture of longing and loss, surged up, overwhelming the satisfaction she had just felt.

She remained lying on her side, staring blankly at the empty space to her right, her eyes unfocused.

"So... I've already made Xuexin a part of my life?"

The thought popped into my head without warning.

It carried a profound, unprecedented clarity and weight, like a sudden awakening.

My thoughts drifted back to early April, the start of the school year when the cherry blossoms had just begun to fall.

From that first day of school, filled with unfamiliarity, unease, and longing.

Later... when his shameful past was revealed, plunging him into the deepest fear and despair...

It was Xuexin who awakened her with a single sentence and captivated her with a concerned look.

Although her past was revealed by Xuexin.

But he also used love to shelter her under his wing, giving her a sense of security and happiness she had never experienced before.

Those dinners we spent together,

Those moments when he silently helped her get rid of trouble,

Those awkward yet sincere ways he expressed his concern,

And those...

A night filled with fiery passion, sweat, and soft moans...

Little by little, like a gentle stream.

It had already silently seeped into every crevice of her life.

It became the air she breathed, the background sound of her heartbeat, an existence as natural as the rising and setting of the sun and moon.

Until this moment, he temporarily left, and this "taken-for-granted" feeling was removed.

Only then did she truly feel the weight of this presence, which had long been ingrained in her very being.

For Tanaka Yukishin, she had long transcended the simple label of "lover".

He was her protector, her haven, the only person she could completely let down her guard and reveal all her weaknesses and dependencies in this cruel and realistic world.

He was an indispensable piece in the puzzle of her life.

If there's no one else to hug, then I'll hug the blankets that still retain his warmth.

Karuizawa Kei hugged the arched blanket in her arms even tighter, as if she could draw strength from her lover in doing so.

She slightly adjusted her posture, letting one smooth, supple leg peek out from under the covers and rest on the "waistline" formed by the blanket.

One hand tightly embraced "his" "body," and her cheek rubbed against "his" "shoulder."

Feeling this simulated closeness, the emptiness in my heart caused by separation seemed to be slightly filled.

With a bittersweet feeling and the relief of confirming her feelings, her eyelids grew heavier and heavier, as if lifted by gentle waves, and her consciousness finally sank into the depths of a peaceful dreamland enveloped by Xue Xin's presence.

In the last moments before drifting off to sleep, she seemed to hear Xuexin whisper in her ear, "Wait for me to come back."

Even in her sleep, a happy smile remained on her lips.

Chapter 136, Section 135, Campus 2

The air conditioning inside Palette Cafe was very strong.

The air was filled with the aroma of roasted coffee beans and the sweetness of desserts.

Kamuro Masumi and Shiina Hiyori chose a corner seat by the window.

It's relatively quiet here, with a wide view, and you can observe the flow of people coming and going.

Kamuro Masumi ordered an iced Americano, Shiina Hiyori ordered a vanilla milkshake and a small piece of strawberry cake.

The drinks were served quickly, the ice cubes clinking crisply in the glass.

"Well then," Kamuro Masumi spoke first, stirring the ice in her glass with a straw, her tone regaining its usual calm, "Shiina, did you come all this way to see your brother off today because you have something to tell him? Or... is it purely out of friendship?"

Her gaze was sharp, like a scalpel trying to dissect the other person's calm facade.

She didn't believe that Shiina Hiyori's appearance would be without reason.

Shiina Hiyori gently scooped up a small piece of cake with a spoon, put it in her mouth, and squinted her eyes contentedly, as if she really was just there to enjoy dessert.

"Of course there's friendship," she swallowed the cake, her voice still gentle. "Tanaka-kun is a very interesting and trustworthy person. And he can keep in touch with his family outside. For this closed school, for all of us, it's a great blessing. Just like Ichinose said, when you receive a favor, you may not be able to do anything else, so you can only express your gratitude by seeing him off."

She paused, then picked up a tissue and elegantly wiped the corner of her mouth.

This reason sounds reasonable.

Kamuro Masumi nodded noncommittally.

"I see. Big brother really did help us a lot."

She changed the subject, with a hint of unintentional probing, "However, Shiina seems particularly concerned about her older brother's affairs?"

Shiina Hiyori and took a sip, her long eyelashes drooping down, concealing the fleeting emotion in her eyes.

"Because Tanaka-kun ... is like a book with a simple, unassuming cover but profound content." She looked up, her smile innocent, "Making you want to know more, to turn a few more pages. Besides, he helped me with some small favors, and I've always wanted to find an opportunity to thank him."

"Oh? Help?" Kamuro Masumi tapped her fingertips lightly on the cool glass. "Looks like my older brother's pretty active in Class C too."

"Rather than saying 'active,'" Shiina Hiyori tilted her head, as if searching for the right words, "It's more like...a strong presence. Like..."

She thought for a moment, "Like a book in a library that has been read by many people and bears their unique mark, even if it's placed in a corner, it will still attract people who truly appreciate books to find it."

The two girls from Class C sitting next to each other lowered their voices to chat.

"Hey, look over there, isn't Kamuro chatting with Kamuro from Class B?"

"What are they talking about? It seems they mentioned Tanaka from Class D?"

"I don't know... but Hiyori seems to be in a good mood?"

"Kamuro Masumi's expression is still so cold. I really don't know how Hiyori-kun can stand it."

Kamuro Masumi quickly analyzed every word Shiina Hiyori said in her mind.

This assessment... is quite subtle.

This not only points out that Tanaka Yukishin was not entirely low-key in Class C, but also implies that he attracted a specific group of people. "Those who truly understand books."

Is Shiina Hiyori implying that she herself is also a "book-savvy person"?

Or was she testing how well I knew Tanaka Yukishin?

"Indeed," Kamuro Masumi followed up with a more leading question, "Big brother's eye for people... is sometimes frighteningly accurate. For example, Classmate Sakayanagi from our class, and... Ichinose from Class A, they both seem to have some connection with him?"

She deliberately mentioned Sakayanagi Arisu and Ichinose Honami to see Shiina Hiyori's reaction and observe her attitude towards these two important figures.

Shiina Hiyori held the milkshake cup, her fingertips unconsciously tracing the water droplets on the cup's surface.

"Classmate Sakayanagi is an incredibly talented person." Her assessment of Sakayanagi Arisu carried an objective admiration. "For Tanaka-kun to have any interaction with Classmate Sakayanagi, they must be evenly matched, right?"

She cleverly avoided directly evaluating the relationship between Sakayanagi and Tanaka, instead highlighting their "equality."

Then, she naturally mentioned Ichinose Honami.

"Ichinose is like a warm sun; her light is open and selfless. Tanaka-kun is probably able to get along with her because of this frankness and integrity?"

Kamuro Masumi sneered in his heart.

This Shiina Hiyori, she speaks with absolute tact.

The assessments of Sakayanagi and Ichinose are quite accurate and "correct".

Her assessment of Tanaka Yukishin was also vague, consistently remaining at a superficial level, describing her as "interesting," "trustworthy," and "someone who needs to be understood."