Sakayanagi Arisu, Kamuro Masumi, and… the classmate she had summoned, Wang Meiyu.
White thigh-high socks, black knee-high socks, and smooth, clean bare legs.
What had originally been nothing more than an invitation accepted to kill time—joining Ichinose's friendly little gathering at the Palette—had unexpectedly led to this scene.
Asakusa Tetsu could tell at a glance.
Sakayanagi Arisu still hadn't changed her mind.
She was firmly convinced that he was "Wang Meiyu."
Most likely, she had come because of the "internal-war god" line he'd written in yesterday's diary.
Unfortunately for her—
She'd picked the wrong person.
After a brief moment of thought, protected by the cognition filter, Asakusa calmly took out his diary and pen.
He was going to write today's entry in advance.
Yes.
Right now.
While Sakayanagi Arisu was putting pressure on Wang Meiyu.
...
"Uu…"
Although she had come because of the invitation, Wang Meiyu was under enormous pressure right now.
Because Sakayanagi Arisu, sitting across from her, had been silently adding sugar to her coffee and gently stirring it.
She had invited her.
Yet she had been sitting there without saying a word for several minutes.
S-Say something…
"Hehe…" Perhaps sensing her anxiety, Sakayanagi finally stopped and let out a soft laugh.
"So you get nervous too?"
Of course I do!
You suddenly came to my class last time, and everyone questioned me for ages about our relationship!
And now you suddenly called me here again…
Did I do something wrong?!
Lowering her head, Wang Meiyu desperately searched her memories, trying to find any clue that might explain this situation.
Did I offend her somehow?
Did I forget to greet her when I passed her in the hallway?
Did I step on her shadow in P.E. and anger her?
She tried her best to think of a reason.
But she found nothing.
After all, she barely had any contact with Sakayanagi Arisu at all!
Other than knowing she was in Class A—no, now Class B—and that she was the popular "little princess," she knew nothing about her!
"Um… um…" Wang Meiyu asked softly with her head lowered.
"D-Did I do something wrong…?"
"If I did… I can apologize…"
Honestly, if she had done something wrong, she was willing to apologize.
But at least tell her what it was!
"…Wang-san, you're very good at pretending," Sakayanagi sighed faintly, interlacing her slender fingers.
Disappointment flickered in her eyes.
"But there's no need to keep acting in front of me, is there?"
"Are you worried about your classmates?"
"It's fine. No one's watching. No one's listening."
"Ah, the only one who might hear anything is Masumi."
She smiled lightly and turned to Kamuro Masumi.
Standing behind her like a loyal guard, Kamuro met her gaze expressionlessly.
"…So I can sit down now, right?" Kamuro asked weakly.
"Mhm, you can," Sakayanagi nodded.
"I've already troubled you enough. It'd be awkward to make you keep standing."
"Order whatever you like. It's my treat."
"…I don't need you to pay," Kamuro muttered as she pulled out a chair and sat down.
She raised her hand to order.
The waiter came.
The waiter left.
Sakayanagi turned her attention back to Wang Meiyu.
Perfect disguise.
Lowered head.
Shrunken shoulders.
An air of being bullied.
She looked exactly like a fragile, submissive girl.
Yet—
Who would've thought her diary messages were so outrageous?
"Besides, even if you drop the act, as long as you talk about the diary, no one will understand anyway, right?" Sakayanagi raised her eyebrows.
She had tested it herself.
Any discussion about the diary was blocked.
Words would be distorted in others' perception.
No matter how she tried to reveal it, the content would be altered.
So even if her true nature slipped out, as long as she mixed in diary-related content, no one would know.
Just like now.
Kamuro hadn't heard anything.
And Wang Meiyu…
"Why are you still pretending you didn't hear anything?" Sakayanagi frowned.
A bad feeling suddenly welled up inside her.
N-No way…
A strange, uncomfortable sensation spread through her body.
She finally noticed the tiny inconsistency in her conclusion.
"…Did Sakayanagi-san just say something?" Wang Meiyu turned in confusion toward Kamuro, who was holding her freshly served iced coffee.
Kamuro shrugged.
"Don't mind it. Happens all the time."
"Oh…" Wang Meiyu replied softly.
After hesitating, she gathered her courage and said what she'd wanted to say all along.
"Um… Sakayanagi-san… really, if you don't actually have anything to tell me…"
"I-I'll go first. I still have friends waiting…"
"Friends waiting" wasn't quite accurate.
It was more like—
Friends who needed her.
Since Kushida Kikyo's absence that morning, Wang Meiyu had been worried.
No leave request.
No replies.
She'd even gone to her dorm at lunch, but got no response.
So rather than sitting here guessing what she'd done wrong, she'd rather hear the truth.
"I said I'd apologize… so please stop teasing me…" She clenched her fists and raised her head.
"..."
Sakayanagi Arisu fell silent.
Too perfect.
Her expressions.
Her movements.
Her demeanor.
Every layer of disguise was flawless.
No matter how much pressure she applied, there wasn't a single crack.
If this were a month ago, she would've admired Wang Meiyu's acting.
But now—
Now that she was finally starting to doubt her own conclusion—
She found herself unable to say anything at all.
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