Miku averted her gaze. Her right hand subconsciously pressed against the earphones resting on her chest. Feeling a little nervous, she pursed her lips and said,
"You've got the wrong person."
"That shouldn't be the case, right? You're really not Itsuki?"
Ye Feng looked surprised. He tilted his head and examined the girl closely.
Same voice.
Same face.
Same height and figure…
And the same ominous aura…
No matter how you look at it, you're Itsuki, right?
Wait!
Ye Feng's gaze suddenly dropped to her legs.
Itsuki wore knee-high socks, and between the hem of her skirt and the stockings, an occasionally dazzling strip of absolute territory would be revealed.
But this cool, gloomy-type girl in front of him was wearing black pantyhose instead…
Also—
Her legs were well-proportioned and slender, with nearly perfect ratios. Looking closely, a soft sheen could be seen beneath the black tights, outlining graceful, alluring curves. They were also slightly slimmer.
Hairstyles could be changed.
Expressions could be faked.
But leg thickness couldn't be altered in a short time.
Itsuki's legs were clearly more rounded.
With his photographic memory, Ye Feng was absolutely certain he wasn't mistaken.
He confirmed it inwardly.
"Right. She's not Itsuki."
Girls were especially sensitive about things like this. A faint blush appeared on Miku's face as she instinctively covered her skirt.
"Shameless."
Ye Feng snapped back to his senses.
"I'm sorry. Please forgive me."
…He apologized?
And he didn't seem that hard to get along with either?
Miku turned her face away. After hesitating for a moment, she pressed her lips together and said,
"I'm not Itsuki."
"I'm sorry."
Ye Feng tilted his head slightly and looked at her.
"You should be Itsuki's sister, right? If possible, could you tell me your name?"
Liar!
Miku didn't believe for a second that he had really figured it out. He was obviously just saying that to ease the awkwardness.
She said nothing and quickened her pace.
If he were just an ordinary student, she wouldn't mind chatting a bit more—but him… it was probably better to keep her distance.
"Nakano?"
Ye Feng caught up.
"Let's walk together."
Itsuki aside—why did this girl also have such an ominous aura around her?
However, after speeding up for less than a hundred meters, Miku couldn't help but slow down.
Her breathing grew noticeably heavier.
She looked clearly exhausted.
Ye Feng tugged the corner of his mouth and couldn't help complaining,
"Nakano, your stamina is way too bad. You can't even manage three minutes of fast walking!"
If danger really showed up, with this level of stamina, she probably wouldn't even be able to buy time!
Seriously worrying.
Miku took a couple of light breaths and gave up on trying to shake him off.
There was no helping it.
Her stamina really was terrible.
But hearing what Ye Feng said, she puffed her cheeks slightly, clearly unhappy.
If she really tried, three minutes was definitely possible…
Don't underestimate her!
A flicker passed through Miku's eyes. She pressed her earphones and said calmly,
"I am Itsuki."
"?"
Hey—didn't you just say you weren't Itsuki? And now you are?
That's way too strange!
Ye Feng said seriously,
"No. You can't be Itsuki. Itsuki sits next to me. I can tell the difference."
Hearing how certain he sounded, something stirred in Miku's heart. Still, she maintained her calm tone.
"I am Itsuki."
"You're not."
"I am."
"You're not."
"I am."
"…"
Ye Feng twitched the corner of his mouth, speechless.
"You literally just said you weren't."
At this point, he was starting to wonder if he had misremembered.
But he was absolutely sure—
There was no way he could be wrong.
As an esper with photographic memory, making a mistake like that was impossible.
Miku held her earphones and stayed silent.
This was the first time since transferring schools that she'd talked with someone for this long…
Even if it was just out of momentary stubbornness.
Even though he seemed like a delinquent, strangely, he didn't make her feel afraid.
That puzzled her.
Thinking it over, she understood.
Just like Ichika—no matter who she faced, even complete strangers, she could handle them with ease and make people like her.
Maybe he was that kind of person too?
Thick-skinned.
Shameless.
Guilty!
And—
This was also the first time someone had been so sure that she wasn't Itsuki.
To be honest… it made her a little happy.
Still—
Miku didn't believe he had really recognized her.
Aside from their mother and grandfather, no one could tell them apart. Even with different hairstyles, strangers found it extremely difficult.
And Ye Feng was, without a doubt, a stranger.
Seeing that she wasn't speaking, Ye Feng thought for a moment and said earnestly,
"I'm sorry for mistaking you earlier. I'm Ye Feng from next door. Nice to meet you."
Again and again…
This was—
Hitting on her, right?
Miku's cheeks warmed slightly. She tightened her grip on the earphones, her cherry-colored lips moving before she blurted out two words:
"Shameless."
Ye Feng's mouth twitched.
"I protest, Nakano. That's slander!"
Earlier was one thing—staring at a girl's legs nonstop was rude.
But now?
It was just an apology and a self-introduction!
How was that shameless?!
"Protest denied!"
Miku pressed her lips together and sped up again. A gentle breeze brushed past as her skirt fluttered. When she passed by him, a faint, elegant fragrance lingered in the air.
"I'm… Nakano Miku."
Her cool voice reached Ye Feng's ears.
"Miku?"
Ye Feng exhaled softly.
For some reason, in the moment she brushed past him, his heartbeat had suddenly sped up…
No, no, no!
That had to be an illusion.
Who would fall for some one-earphone girl?!
It was just a basic physiological reaction to something beautiful, that's all!
Little Mafuyu was the best in the world!
Cool and proud, soft and adorable—a teacher like that was simply perfect!
Ye Feng entered the cafeteria, ordered an eel set meal, two fried chicken legs, and a cola, then casually found a quiet corner.
Miku glanced at him once before turning and walking in another direction.
"Miku, over here."
"Miku, hurry up—we're just waiting for you."
"Why are you so late today…?"
Itsuki puffed out her cheeks. While everyone else's trays were still full, hers was already more than half empty—so naturally…
She didn't have time to talk.
Miku sat down. The quintuplets were all together—identical faces paired with beautiful, cute appearances, drawing countless gazes.
Unfortunately, Ye Feng skipped classes often. Even though school had been in session for nearly a week, he still didn't know about the Nakano quintuplets.
Miku took a sip of miso soup, looked at Itsuki, pressed her lips together, and said,
"Itsuki, someone can tell you apart."
"Eh?!"
Yotsuba—the girl wearing green, rabbit-ear-like hair accessories—covered her mouth, eyes wide in shock.
"Miku, is that true?"
"Mm?"
Itsuki puffed her cheeks and looked over too, her eyes equally wide with curiosity.