"Don't overthink it..." Seeing the little girl's hesitant expression, Sogo Doma decided to be considerate for once. "Actually, taking pleasure in others' misfortune is one of humanity's virtues!"
Rumi Tsurumi: "..." Don't think she was easy to fool just because she was a child. Since when had schadenfreude become a virtue?
?
"Hmm, looks like you don't agree?" Rumi Tsurumi wanted to roll her eyes again. Wasn't that obvious?
"Fine..." But before she could speak, Sogo Doma shrugged. "Consider it repayment for returning your water bottle, little miss. Have you ever heard this truth? If something's bothering you, why not tell everyone and let them have a laugh..."
Rumi Tsurumi: "..." What kind of bullshit truth was that?!
She finally understood why Shizuka Hiratsuka had dragged her away earlier. The guy in front of her thought in ways completely unlike normal people. Tell everyone what was upsetting you so they could have a laugh?
This... While her thoughts ran wild, Sogo Doma looked at her unreadable expression and said, "Don't think I'm talking nonsense. Let me ask you something—what would you do if your friend fell down in the street?"
"Help her up?" Rumi Tsurumi answered instinctively.
"Wrong..." Sogo Doma immediately rejected her answer. "The correct answer is to fall down with them! Just like right now..."
"What do you mean?"
"People who share the same affliction often grow closer..." Sogo Doma said pointedly. "Don't you think now's a good time to make new friends?" The friendly atmosphere had already been destroyed. To rebuild it, they would inevitably have to interact with people outside their circle, perhaps even form a new circle!
And while that new circle was forming, Rumi Tsurumi, who had no circle of her own, could naturally join them...
"..." The little girl fell silent for a