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After school, because Asakura still had to clean up the messy Association Clubroom and try to brew some new magic potions, he remained in the Association Clubroom and hadn't left yet.
Yui Yuigahama originally wanted to stay and accompany him, as the girl had never seen magic potions being brewed and was very curious about it.
However, she had only gone missing three days ago, and if Asakura hadn't found her and Yukino Yukinoshita, who was affected by her, in time, it would have probably caused a huge sensation.
Even though Yui Yuigahama had been quite well-behaved these past few days, some teachers still considered her an unstable element. In such a situation, if she were discovered staying at school very late again, it might make her reputation even worse.
So Asakura unceremoniously sent her away.
As for Gokou Ruri, Asakura didn't need to send her away at all: her parents were busy with work, and the task of picking up her two younger sisters from school naturally fell to her.
"What a pity, I'm quite interested in magic potions," Yui Yuigahama said with regret as she walked down the slope leaving school. "I wonder how Asakura-kun makes magic potions. Is it like those witches in anime, adding dead rats, beetle eyes, and such, then stirring it with a stick?"
"That's a witch, isn't it?" Gokou Ruri retorted with a cold expression.
"It's similar! See, isn't there a really big pot in the cabin? It must be like that!" Yui Yuigahama declared confidently.
Gokou Ruri ignored her.
"Kuroneko-chan is still a middle schooler, right?" Seeing that the girl wasn't interested in this topic, Yui Yuigahama changed the subject. "How did you meet Asakura-kun?"
"The threads of fate are already intertwined, and even countless reincarnations cannot sever them. Transcending cause and effect, in the infinite possibilities, that string of destiny, redder than blood, will also play its part," Gokou Ruri's violet eyes narrowed, and she slightly raised her chin, speaking in a declarative tone, "Guiding us to a miraculous, fated encounter."
"Eh, what's that? Lines from a play? Sorry, I don't really get those kinds of references..."
Yui Yuigahama looked at Gokou Ruri with a look of bewildered admiration, her hands foolishly clapping for her.
Gokou Ruri, who had been full of enthusiasm, immediately deflated at the sight.
"You haven't seen 'Maschera'? These are the Night Queen's famous lines."
"Is it a popular TV drama recently? I'll catch up on it when I get home."
Yui Yuigahama's expression became even more sincere, and her clear, seemingly unblemished eyes made Gokou Ruri feel a little awkward.
Darn it, I can't say it, that 'Maschera' is actually a late-night anime...
"There's no need to deliberately seek it out. Just hold reverence for the unknown," Gokou Ruri could only say vaguely.
"Is it just my imagination? Kuroneko-chan can speak normally in front of Asakura-kun, but when it's just the two of us, she starts saying strange things..."
Yui Yuigahama said, rubbing her chin like a famous detective. If she had a pipe in her mouth at that moment, it would have been even more authentic.
"Thy delusion."
"It's still a bit strange..."
Could this be the true personality of this seemingly quiet junior? Was she just pretending to be well-behaved in front of Asakura-kun? Yui Yuigahama couldn't help but wonder to herself.
"Speaking of which, how did Mochi and Takuma meet?" Gokou Ruri asked.
"Mo... Mochi?"
"Because you give off a soft, high-calorie feeling."
"Hmm, a comment that sounds neither like a compliment nor an insult makes one feel a bit complicated..."
"It's a compliment (smile)."
"Hmm... I feel like pursuing this further wouldn't be good for me, so never mind. What was your question just now?"
Yui Yuigahama rubbed her temples, tacitly accepting the nickname: "How did I meet Asakura-kun? It's actually very simple..."
"Although Asakura-kun didn't notice it at first, he and I are actually in the same class. Well, even though he hardly knew of my existence, I didn't have much of an impression of him either until a certain opportunity... Don't let Asakura-kun seem so impressive; in the classroom, he's always been very low-key and doesn't have much presence."
"No presence?" Gokou Ruri was a little surprised.
In her impression, Asakura had always been a mysterious and powerful presence, someone who left a deep impression and had a strong presence. But now that Yui Yuigahama said he was just a nobody in the classroom, how could she not be surprised?
However, thinking about it carefully, it didn't seem to be a problem. After all, Asakura himself had told her that it was best not to let the existence of wizards and witches be known to Muggles. In that case, reducing one's presence in front of ordinary people was an excellent choice.
"Then what was the real opportunity for Mochi and Takuma to meet?" Gokou Ruri continued to ask.
"Well, I wanted to learn how to bake cookies, so I looked for help from a famous club at school, and it just so happened that Asakura-kun was also working part-time at that club. It wasn't until then that we officially got to know each other, I guess."
Yui Yuigahama briefly described her past experience: "And then, because I'm a witch, something... a little inconvenient to mention happened. Anyway, it ended up like this... Speaking of which, Kuroneko-chan is also a witch, right? Then something similar must have happened between you and Asakura-kun?"
"...Mm, although it was indeed a shameful thing (referring to being seen naked), I didn't lose anything because of it, so I don't really care."
Since the other party had spoken, even if she was unwilling, Gokou Ruri could only vaguely describe her own situation.
"No, no, no, you did lose something (referring to losing her first kiss), in every sense!" Yui Yuigahama said softly, blushing, "Kuroneko-chan is unexpectedly uninhibited..."
"It's Mochi who is too pure. For those who walk in darkness, this level is just a minor matter (referring to late-night anime selling fan service)."
Because Gokou Ruri said it so matter-of-factly, Yui Yuigahama couldn't help but start to doubt herself: Am I really overthinking it?
"Speaking of which, does Mochi know anything else interesting about Takuma in his daily life?" Gokou Ruri continued to ask.
Yui Yuigahama thought for a moment, then said uncertainly, "Well, although it might sound like I'm speaking ill of Asakura-kun, this is just a conclusion based on my observations of him, and it doesn't represent factual evidence..."
"Too much hedging. Please just speak directly."
"If I'm not mistaken, Asakura-kun might like men."
"... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... Eh?!"
Gokou Ruri, for the first time, showed an expression of disbelief and a broken facade.
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