"Huh?" Everyone was startled by Yui Yuigahama's words.
"Because both Little Luo and Little Xue speak so directly, I feel like it's really cool."
"Are you serious? I feel like what I say is quite harsh." Yukino Yukinoshita took a step back. "And what's with 'Little Xue'?"
"Yeah, Dango, explain what you mean by 'Little Luo'." Luo Yu also questioned his own nickname.
"Your words are indeed harsh, but I can feel they come from the heart. Unlike me, I just try to please others." Yui Yuigahama explained.
"You still haven't explained the nicknames 'Little Luo' and 'Little Xue'," Luo Yu reminded Yui Yuigahama.
"Doesn't calling you that make it feel more intimate? Besides, Little Luo, aren't you always calling me Dango?"
There was nothing to say.
"But we still need to find a way to solve Yui's problem. If this continues, I'm afraid we won't be able to complete Yui's request," Yukino Yukinoshita said with a headache.
"I say, why are you guys making delicious cookies?" Hachiman Hikigaya asked, popping a cookie made by Luo Yu into his mouth.
Yukino Yukinoshita retorted, "What are you trying to say?"
"This is an experience from a friend of a friend."
Next, Hachiman Hikigaya recounted his embarrassing past to everyone in the home economics classroom.
"Wait a minute, this personal experience of yours..." Yukino Yukinoshita interrupted.
"Are you an idiot! I already said it was a friend of a friend," Hachiman Hikigaya said anxiously.
"It's a friend, though."
"Mhm, it's a friend, how pitiful."
The girls all let out their exclamations.
To Hachiman Hikigaya, who was still stubbornly denying it, Yukino Yukinoshita said compliantly, "Then what point does it make?"
"It shows that guys are very simple, right? Hachiman," Luo Yu said at the opportune moment.
"Luo Yu is right," Hachiman Hikigaya said, rubbing his head. "If you talk to him, he'll misunderstand. If you say these are cookies you made for him, he'll be very happy. So it doesn't matter if they taste good or not. As long as he sees your effort, you can move his heart."
"Then was Little Hachi moved?" Yui Yuigahama suddenly asked.
"Mhm, I was shaken quite a bit. By the way, don't call me 'Gua Jia' (a nickname for Hachiman)."
"Oh~ Guys are all so simple." Ritsu Tainaka nudged Luo Yu's waist with her elbow. "Luo Yu, have you ever been this simple?"
Luo Yu replied with a dangerous smile, "Guess?"
"Never mind, I won't ask." Seeing Luo Yu's expression, Ritsu Tainaka immediately stopped her curiosity.
"So, Dango, what do you plan to do?" Luo Yu stopped paying attention to the lively one and asked Yui Yuigahama.
"I'll do it my own way. Thank you, Little Xue, Little Luo. And everyone from the Light Music Club. I'm sorry for wasting everyone's time today."
"It's okay, it's okay, we didn't help much either."
In the activity room.
The Light Music Club was engaged in their main daily activity: drinking tea.
Yukino Yukinoshita suddenly spoke.
"About Yui's request, is doing it that way really the best?"
"What's wrong?" Hachiman Hikigaya asked.
"I think if you want to improve yourself, you should challenge your limits as much as possible. This would be better for Yui."
"But that was Dango's own choice. Senior Yukinoshita, we have no right to make decisions for others," Luo Yu joined the conversation.
"Effort doesn't betray oneself, but it might betray dreams. Effort doesn't necessarily achieve dreams, but as long as you've tried, at least you have a reason to console yourself."
"Yo-ho!" Yui Yuigahama pushed the door open and greeted everyone.
Everyone looked at her, but no one responded.
"Huh? It seems like you don't welcome me?"
"Come in and sit down, Dango."
Luo Yu moved a chair, letting Yui come in and sit.
"Please, have some." Tsumugi Kotobuki, the Young Lady, as always, brewed tea for the guest.
"Thank you," Yui Yuigahama replied politely.
"So, is there something you need, Dango?"
"This is a token of my gratitude from before. I made cookies for you."
Then, Yui Yuigahama distributed the cookies to everyone. After that, Yui Yuigahama naturally started chatting with the girls.
Chapter 21: Eiri
Weekend.
"Kazuma, you dragged us out here early just so we could stand in line with you?"
Luo Yu looked at the long queue in front of him and wondered if he should have stayed home today.
"Don't say that, Luo Yu. Look, Kazuto isn't complaining. Besides, don't you want to be the first to get the second volume of Flame Chasers?"
Honestly, no. Though he wanted to say it, seeing Satou Kazuma's expectant gaze, Luo Yu couldn't bring himself to say it.
"Actually, I'm pretty excited too," Kirigaya Kazuto said sheepishly.
"Fine, since Kazuto doesn't mind, I'll wait in line with you guys too." Luo Yu sighed. This was the indulgence of an old father towards his son.
Time passed slowly.
The three of them finally entered the bookstore.
"Luo Yu, Kazuto, let's go buy Flame Chasers directly," Satou Kazuma suggested to the other two.
"You and Kazuto go ahead. I'm going to see if there are any other books that interest me."
With that, Luo Yu walked towards the innermost bookshelves.
After browsing the shelves for a few laps, Luo Yu found a few light novels that suited his taste. Especially one called "Golden Season," Luo Yu had read its predecessor, "Silver Season." At the time, Luo Yu was completely captivated. Unfortunately, he was too busy grinding experience for his various skills and only finished "Silver Season" without paying further attention. He didn't expect to find its sequel here today.
For books like "Silver Season" and "Golden Season," Luo Yu always felt a sense of familiarity. Despite having LV6 Absolute Memory, Luo Yu didn't deliberately recall such things. Only when he saw something iconic would Luo Yu actively pursue those memories.
"Bang!" While Luo Yu was lost in thought, a small figure bumped into him.
"Sorry, are you okay?" Luo Yu extended his right hand to the girl who had fallen to the ground after bumping into him.
"I'm fine, I'm fine. It was my fault for not watching where I was going." The girl grabbed Luo Yu's hand and stood up.
However, upon seeing Luo Yu's face clearly, the girl's expression became one of great surprise.
"You're Luo Yu?"
"You know me?" Luo Yu looked at the blonde girl in front of him with confusion.
"You don't recognize me? I'm Eiri," the blonde girl said, taking off her glasses.
Whoa, it really is Eiri. But when did I meet Eiri? Luo Yu began to search his memories. Let me look, scenes flashed rapidly in Luo Yu's mind.
Found it! It was a drawing class, a group of children were diligently drawing, and Luo Yu and Eiri were among them.
So I knew Eiri long ago, I just didn't pay attention then.
"So it's Eiri, long time no see," Luo Yu said to Eiri, recalling everything.
"Long time no see." Eiri suddenly remembered something and said, "Oh right, Uncle Luo told me you ran away from home in junior high."
"It wasn't exactly running away from home," Luo Yu recalled the surprised expressions of his parents after he made his decision. "I just wanted to live on my own. I'm still in touch with my family."
"So where do you live now? And what high school are you in?"
"I'm a student at Private Integrated High School now."
"No way! I'm also at Private Integrated High School. We're in the same school, and we haven't met until now."
Luo Yu thought about his daily life: well, he was either in the classroom or in the Light Music Club's activity room. "It's probably because I don't show myself much."
"Never mind." Eiri didn't press the issue. "Have you joined any clubs? Do you want to join the Art Club?"
"Sorry, I've already joined the Light Music Club."
"The Light Music Club? Seriously? You're not drawing anymore? Your talent is so good." Eiri was very surprised. The other person's talent far surpassed hers, yet he joined the Light Music Club.
"Of course, I'm still drawing," Luo Yu knew why Eiri asked. Looking at the Painting LV5 on his status panel, "But joining the Light Music Club doesn't affect my drawing, does it?"
"Oh right, Eiri. Did you come to the bookstore to buy something?" Luo Yu looked at the girl with empty hands and decided to remind her.
"Oh no! I was so busy talking to you that I forgot to buy books. Wait here for a moment, I'll go buy my books and come back to talk to you later."
With that, Eiri ran off in a hurry.
Seeing the girl leave, Luo Yu stood in place and began to read "Golden Season."
Not long after, Eiri returned, holding a copy of "Flame Chasers."
"Let me tell you, Luo Yu. Do you know Teacher Meng Yu? This is Teacher Meng Yu's new book. If you haven't read it, I recommend you buy a copy too," Eiri enthusiastically promoted it to Luo Yu.
"I know. So Eiri, what do you think of 'Flame Chasers'?"
"Me? I don't know about others, but I quite like it. Especially the illustrations in the first volume. Oh right, you saw them too, didn't you, Luo Yu?"
"Saw what?"
"The illustrations! The illustrations drawn by Teacher Prometheus! The first time I saw them, I thought I was mistaken. Those aren't illustrations! They're clearly works of art! Teacher Prometheus is truly amazing. I wish I could meet Teacher Prometheus, then I could learn drawing from him."
Sorry, you've already met the artist Prometheus. Luo Yu looked at the increasingly excited girl and felt that now wasn't a good time to reveal his identity.
Beep beep.
Luo Yu took out his phone and saw a message from Kirigaya Kazuto:
Luo Yu, where did you go? Kazuma and I have already bought our books. We're outside the bookstore entrance now, hurry over.
"Eiri, my friend just sent me a message, they're asking me to hurry over. Let's stop here for today. We'll talk again next time if we have the chance."
"Got it. Give me your phone number first, otherwise how will I contact you next time?" Eiri called out to Luo Yu, who was about to leave.
"Almost forgot, 10721114514, never mind, I'll just add you on Penguin Account. That's all for now, see you next time."
"See you."
"Kazuto, Kazuma, sorry I'm late. I just ran into an acquaintance and we ended up chatting for a bit. Let's go."
After adding Eiri on Penguin Account, Luo Yu walked directly towards Satou Kazuma and Kirigaya Kazuto.
"An acquaintance? Male or female?" Satou Kazuma asked curiously.
Kirigaya Kazuto also showed a curious expression.
"Female. So what?" Luo Yu replied indifferently.
"Damn it! Luo Yu, how many girls do you even know! It's one thing that the Light Music Club is full of cute girls, but why do you casually run into girls you know just by going out to buy a book?" Satou Kazuma's expression was incredibly exaggerated. "I wish I could meet cute girls too!"
What should I do? Kirigaya Kazuto asked Luo Yu with his eyes.
Let him have his moment. Luo Yu replied with his eyes.
However, Luo Yu still interrupted Satou Kazuma's outburst.
"It's getting late, Kazuma, hurry up and keep up."
"Oh, coming."
The three then walked home, chatting and laughing.
Chapter 22: Flame Chasers Volume 2
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