“Was it because the road was slippery due to the rain that you fell?”
“I stepped on a patch of uneven ground, which caused me to twist my ankle and fall.”
“I see, if you’re not careful and step on uneven ground, your feet will lose balance and you are prone to twisting your ankle.”
After saying this, they didn’t have much to talk about. Zhao Hao had excellent stamina, and with Shiina Mashiro’s light build, it wasn’t hard for him to carry her back to her apartment. The distance from the school wasn’t that far either, she probably specifically chose to rent a place here.
They arrived at the fifth floor of the apartment building, and under Shiina Mashiro’s guidance, they reached the door of unit 507.
“We’re here, senpai, this is where I live.”
After being put down, Shiina Mashiro stood on her right foot and took out a key from her pocket, unlocking the door. She then flashed an angelic smile and invited him in, “Thank you for sending me back, senpai. Come in and rest for a bit.”
Zhao Hao politely declined, “It’s getting late, I should go home too. I won’t stay any longer. Take care of your injured foot and rest well.”
“Alright, thanks again, senpai. Please be careful on your way back.” Shiina Mashiro took the umbrella that was placed beside her and handed it back to Zhao Hao.
“An angel, huh? It’s tough to have parents like that.”
While walking home, Zhao Hao couldn’t help but mutter. When he was with Shiina Mashiro, he felt curious about her experiences, so he selectively used his ability to view her memories about her family.
It was truly remarkable that she could grow up in such a family and still be so humble and polite, without being corrupted. If it were anyone else, they would have long given up on themselves. Every family has their own difficulties.
Days went by, and Zhao Hao lived an ordinary and mundane life, despite the occasional appearance of monsters and Xeno Beasts.
The club, known as “All-Purpose Department,” was formed a few days ago but no one else had visited them yet.
Thus, the club was rather quiet, with only Zhao Hao and Yukinoshita Yukino. They would sometimes chat casually, and other times they would just quietly read by themselves.
“Oh, I heard Zhao Hao-kun joined the club. I didn’t expect to find you here.”
As Zhao Hao and Yukinoshita Yukino were quietly reading, a slightly lazy voice echoed. Kashiwazaki Shiori, who had a striking figure and was wearing alluring black stockings, entered with a smile.
Yukinoshita Yukino glanced at Zhao Hao. Was she someone Zhao Hao knew?
Her appearance was no less beautiful than her own, and her figure was even better. This aroused a bit of curiosity in Yukinoshita Yukino’s heart. What kind of relationship did this senpai have with Zhao Hao? They didn’t seem like ordinary friends.
Zhao Hao asked, “What brings you here?”
Kashiwazaki Shiori winked at him. “What, I can’t come here? You’re really cold, Zhao Hao-kun. It’s been so long since we were so close.”
Compared to Yukinoshita Yukino’s icy and frigid demeanor, Kashiwazaki Shiori was like a blazing sun, full of charm. She was more mature than her fellow high school students,
“Close?”
Yukinoshita Yukino’s brows furrowed slightly.
Zhao Hao closed the manga magazine he was reading, and said, “Don’t say things like that. When were we ever close? You just followed me around as a kid.”
Kashiwazaki Shiori stood in front of Zhao Hao without any hesitation, twirling a strand of hair with her fingers, “Hmph, men are just pigs! It was just when we were kids, but we were neighbors and childhood sweethearts. You saw what you shouldn’t have back then. Aren’t you going to say anything?”
“No… you shouldn’t have!”
Yukinoshita Yukino was shocked and unconsciously crumpled the book in her hand.
Zhao Hao calmly responded, “It was just when we were kids. You were the one who got lost and fell into the sewer, and I sent you home. You took your clothes off yourself, and besides, you had no figure, what’s the difference between looking at you and looking at myself? You must be here to cause trouble, right?”
“No, I’m not.”
Yukinoshita Yukino spoke up, “Then, you’re here to have us help you with something?”
Kashiwazaki Shiori shook her head, “Not really. I just wanted to see what kind of club could make you join, Zhao Hao. After all, so many excellent clubs invited you to join, but you didn’t go. Now, you actually joined this All-Purpose Department. I’m just curious.”
After saying this, Kashiwazaki Shiori looked at Yukinoshita Yukino. Could it be that this woman used some kind of beauty trick?
But in her impression, Zhao Hao wasn’t the type to be swayed by a woman’s appearance. He’s quite clear-headed.
Yukinoshita Yukino heard that Zhao Hao was invited to join many outstanding clubs in the past but didn’t go, yet he joined hers, which made her feel a little pleased. Of course, this was just in her heart, and she didn’t show any outward signs of it.
Yukinoshita Yukino calmly said, “Of course, my club is more suited to Zhao Hao’s interests.”
“All-Purpose Department, a club that helps people? Speaking of, I am very enthusiastic about helping others, so I’ve decided, I want to join the All-Purpose Department.”
“You want to join?”
Yukinoshita Yukino felt a subconscious resistance in her heart. These past few days, she and Zhao Hao were the only two in the club, and she felt a sense of comfort and tranquility in that atmosphere. But if someone suddenly joined, wouldn’t that disrupt their peaceful coexistence?
She rejected her, “No, our club hasn’t formally started yet, so it’s not suitable for others to join.”
Kashiwazaki Shiori blinked a few times and said, “Is that really a thing? Isn’t it better to have more people in a club?”
Yukinoshita Yukino argued, “That’s true for other famous clubs, but our All-Purpose Department hasn’t even had a single club activity yet, so it’s not appropriate to add more people.”
Their words were full of verbal sparring, whether it was to compete for face or something else, it was unclear.
Watching the two women engage in a war of words, Zhao Hao rose to his feet speechless.
“Where are you going?”
When Zhao Hao reached the doorway, the two women spoke at the same time.
Zhao Hao turned back and replied, “Going to the restroom.”
After leaving the classroom and closing the door, Zhao Hao experienced firsthand how women’s emotions can escalate and sound like an argument when they are agitated.
When he returned from the restroom, Zhao Hao saw a girl standing at the door of the All-Purpose Department’s clubroom. She had outstanding features, with fair skin, flowing warm purple-black hair and bright, captivating eyes.
She looked like a first-year student, and she was standing there hesitating, not knowing what to do.
Zhao Hao walked over curiously and asked, “Junior, is there something you need?”
“Se… senpai?”
The girl looked at Zhao Hao nervously. She was shy, and she didn’t know what to do when faced with a sudden stranger.
Because students in the school are classified according to the color of their ties: first-year students wear black ties, second-year students wear blue ties, and third-year students wear red ties.
So, you can tell a student’s grade by looking at the color of their tie.