After strolling through the park for a while, the two, noting the time, decided it was prudent for the truants to return to school.
While Liu Li remained largely unconcerned about such matters, Zhou Huanan faced strict expectations from his family: his grades in every subject had to be exceptional, or he would be forbidden from leaving the house.
Liu Li, on the other hand, had long since been free from his family’s oversight.
A subtle flicker of envy stirred within him.
Emerging from the park, they rented a shared bicycle. Ever frugal, Liu Li, believing every penny saved was a penny earned, swung his legs over and settled onto the back seat.
The usually deserted park was conveniently close to the school, a fact Liu Li had specifically chosen for his transformation reversal.
What he failed to notice, however, was this:
Zhou Huanan, expertly navigating the electric bicycle, was equally familiar with the route back to school.
In short order, their electric bicycle pulled to a stop directly in front of the school gates.
It happened to be dismissal time, and countless students, all clad in uniforms identical to Liu Li’s, streamed out of the gates in twos and threes, chatting about the typical topics of high school life. The only discernible change was this:
Some girls were confiding in each other about how truly terrifying the afternoon’s attack had been, then using it as an excuse to go have fun elsewhere.
An aura of sunny, ‘normie’ vibrancy emanated from them, the kind that would reduce Liu Li to an ash-like powder if he dared approach.
As their gazes inadvertently swept over him, Liu Li’s heart fluttered in panic, and he instinctively lowered his head, seeking to evade their notice.
“Oh my! It’s Senior Zhou!!”
“Senior, Senior, do you have time tonight? Would you like to go singing with us?”
From a distance, the girls’ excited cries rang out.
With his sharp, short hair, and his clean-cut, athletic, sunny disposition, Zhou Huanan was, as previously mentioned, immensely popular among the girls. His presence sparked quite a commotion at the school gate, as a swarm of infatuated girls encircled both Zhou Huanan and Liu Li.
Passing male students, meanwhile, shot hostile glances at the handsome, cheerful fellow, then clicked their tongues in annoyance before quickly scurrying away.
‘This guy.’
‘He must be incredibly smug right now, mustn’t he?’
Though unaccustomed to being the focus of attention, Liu Li knew these girls weren’t gathered to look at him. This knowledge emboldened him to lift his head slightly and steal a glance at Zhou Huanan’s expression.
‘Ah.’
‘Their eyes met.’
Zhou Huanan, catching his eye, subtly winked and quirked an eyebrow at Liu Li alone. Before Liu Li could even react, Zhou Huanan seized his wrist amidst the throng and raised it high.
“My apologies, but this guy already booked me for tonight!”
A generous smile graced Zhou Huanan’s face as he apologized to the eager girls. Seeing their idol smile at them, these easily smitten girls no longer pressed the issue, instead departing with tearful murmurs.
“Senior is so biased, boohoohoo~~”
“Yeah, yeah~~”
Zhou Huanan maintained his strained smile, then turned his gaze back to Liu Li, finding it far less taxing and more relaxing to be with him.
“Shall we grab our stuff and head back soon then?”
“Then would you mind letting go of me…?”
Liu Li wore a helpless expression; Zhou Huanan was holding his wrist so high that he was uncomfortably standing on his tiptoes.
“Oh, come on, wasn’t I in a hurry?”
Zhou Huanan apologized, hastily releasing his grip. With both feet firmly on the ground once more, Liu Li’s wits returned, and understanding Zhou Huanan’s predicament, they walked together towards the main building. Ascending to the fourth floor, they entered Class 2-E, which contained nothing but rows of empty desks and chairs.
Only three girls remained, huddled in a corner, seemingly engrossed in a discussion about Magical Girls.
Zhou Huanan walked inside.
Liu Li waited by the classroom door for him to pack his bag, his mind blank, allowing the girls’ conversation to drift naturally into his thoughts.
“Magical Girl Grey Moon, if I ever run into her again, I won’t go easy on her!”
The speaker was Unohana Ren, the class’s sports committee member, whose fiery red hair was particularly striking. With her oval face, she was undeniably beautiful, yet she perpetually wore an expression that suggested everyone owed her two million.
It was she who was speaking now.
Liu Li opened his eyes, subtly leaning closer to eavesdrop.
“Ren, don’t speak of her that way. I’m sure she didn’t mean it.”
The one gently speaking up to persuade her was Genbu Omori, the class president. Her gentle nature was as expansive as her generous bosom, which, it was said, could ‘propel a boat.’ She urged Unohana Ren not to speak so loudly.
“Not on purpose!?” Unohana Ren’s voice, far from softening, instead rose an octave.
“Well, you tell me! Every time, every single time, she appears when the Three Primary Colors are nearly down and out, and you’re still saying she didn’t mean it!?” Unohana Ren’s voice abruptly cut off. It was then that Liu Li realized his eavesdropping had been discovered by the third girl, the English committee member.
The English committee member, with her drill-like golden pigtails and a pouty ‘cat mouth,’ did nothing, yet exuded an air of supreme elegance.
She presented a stark contrast to Unohana Ren, who was on the verge of losing her temper.
“Snap!”
“That Magical Girl Grey Moon always shows up when the Three Primary Colors are nearly down and out, and you’re still saying she didn’t mean it!?”
Unohana Ren stood up, slamming her hand on the desk with force, loudly protesting.
Upon hearing this, Liu Li’s shoulders hunched, and he cowered behind the classroom door, trembling.
‘Me?’
‘But I truly didn’t mean it!!’
The class president displayed a speechless expression, then turned to Liu Li, who was still looking frightened, offering him a ‘please don’t mind her’ smile.
She then turned back to Unohana Ren with a serious face.
“Ren, are you trying to make yourself a spectacle for the whole class by being so loud?”
Liu Li noticed the class president subtly wink at Unohana Ren, who then glanced at him before her gaze swiftly darted away.
‘Tsk.’
‘She just clicked her tongue, she just clicked her tongue at me, didn’t she!!’
‘Ugh.’
Feeling hurt, Liu Li retreated to the corridor, silently isolating himself.
Unbeknownst to him, Unohana Ren gazed at the empty doorway, a complex mixture of emotions swirling in her eyes. The other two girls observed her expression, exchanged silent glances, and shook their heads in resignation.
“If you think you did something wrong, it’s better to apologize sooner rather than later.”
Zhou Huanan suddenly interjected, startling Unohana Ren.
“Y-you, what nonsense are you spouting!?”
“…It doesn’t matter if you don’t admit it.”
Zhou Huanan waved his hand at Unohana Ren, leaving the girl with her cheeks faintly flushed in embarrassment, and soon found Liu Li muttering to himself not far down the corridor.
Liu Li’s panicked expression, convinced that everything was his fault.
A pang of heartache struck Zhou Huanan as he witnessed it.
He walked up to Liu Li, clapped him firmly on the shoulder, and flashed a cheerful smile.
“Let’s go home. Want to grab something to eat?”
Sure enough, Zhou Huanan’s gesture jolted Liu Li back to reality. Zhou Huanan was offering to treat him to food? Liu Li’s eyes sparkled, and he beamed with delight. After all, despite Zhou Huanan being a scoundrel, his family was quite well-off, and if he offered to treat him, Liu Li knew he’d be stuffed to his heart’s content.
But then…
Liu Li shook his head, a crestfallen expression crossing his face.
“No, thank you. It’s almost time for my part-time job.”
“I see.”
Liu Li noticed a certain distractedness in Zhou Huanan’s tone. He looked up to find him frowning at his phone. Initially, Liu Li had intended to joke about whether a girl was asking him out on a date,
but his expression suggested it was far from good news.
“Ah, even though I was the one who offered, I actually have to go out for a bit later.”
“My apologies, I owe you a meal.”
Liu Li gazed at Zhou Huanan, who had suddenly become serious and apologetic, unsure what had transpired. His hands rested helplessly on his chest, and he could only nod, watching Zhou Huanan rush out of the school.
‘What exactly happened?’
Though Liu Li was somewhat concerned, there was no time for contemplation; he, too, had to leave school to go to his part-time job.