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Listening to the resentment-filled remarks from the students, Fang Li could only fall silent and laugh bitterly.
"I say, what exactly did I do to offend all of you?"
Although Fang Li had only participated in a few events, resulting in the final results not being particularly ideal, his school had been ordinary to begin with, located at the very bottom tier of Academy City. Their results in previous Daihasei Festivals had never been anything impressive either. In fact, these guys had nearly given up on the very first day, while Fang Li had still participated in several competitions and done his part. There was really no reason for him to be resentful.
But just as Fang Li was thinking this, the boys in the class all simultaneously pointed in one direction.
Fang Li immediately turned his head with some uncertainty and looked over.
A moment later, the corner of Fang Li's mouth twitched.
"Look, Fang Li-sama is over there…"
"It really is him…"
"Fang Li-sama…"
"Should we try inviting Fang Li-sama to dance?"
"B-But…"
Within Fang Li's field of vision, a group of young ladies from wealthy families had gathered together. While whispering among themselves, they kept sneaking glances in Fang Li's direction.
School Garden wasn't far from here to begin with, so it wasn't strange at all for a group of refined young ladies to come here.
In fact, many people present had specifically come here hoping to see the young ladies from School Garden.
But in the eyes of those young ladies, it was as though only Fang Li existed. Their shy behavior caused many of the male attendees to direct sharp gazes at Fang Li, as if wanting to bore holes straight through him.
Flames of envy, jealousy, and hatred burned in the eyes of one boy after another, making Fang Li feel as though he were being surrounded by some kind of curse.
And naturally, at a moment like this, the three idiots had to stir up trouble.
"Isn't this great? Young ladies from prestigious families, you know?"
"Wouldn't dancing with one of them be wonderful? Ojou-sama, meow?"
"Being called Fang Li-sama sounds pretty nice too, doesn't it? Ojou-samas, man!"
Kamijou Touma, Tsuchimikado Motoharu, and Aogami Pierce spoke in exaggeratedly mocking tones.
Bang, Bang, Bang, !
"""Aaaaaah!"""
Following several fist strikes, the three idiots screamed again and collapsed to the ground.
At this point, however, the boys in the class instead stepped forward righteously.
"I say, Fang Li, this is where you're wrong."
"How can you treat your friends like that?"
"I've always thought your temper wasn't very good. You should really work on it."
"If you want us to forgive you, how about inviting those young ladies over and holding a little group mixer or something…"
A group of boys began speaking with exaggerated righteousness, making Fang Li feel an urge to knock every single one of them down.
"So all you really want is to dance with rich girls, huh? At least be a little less shameless about it!"
That was what Fang Li said.
Of course, inviting those young ladies over was absolutely impossible.
Otherwise, if Fang Li didn't attend that so-called mixer, all of the young ladies would absolutely leave immediately. But if Fang Li did attend, then there was a good chance he'd get metaphorically, or perhaps literally, stripped bare by their attention. Either outcome would cause the boys in his class to explode on the spot, and Fang Li had no interest in doing something so exhausting and thankless.
Unfortunately, tonight was destined to be the day all boys collectively exploded.
And not just the boys here, but boys all over the world.
"Hey…!"
"L-Look over there!"
"N-No way…"
"Oh my god…"
As voices like these rang out, the noisy chatter in the surroundings instantly fell silent.
Even the classmates simultaneously swallowed hard, eyes wide as they stared ahead.
"""Revive on the spot!"""
The three idiots immediately sprang back up.
Bang!
Amid a dull thud and three miserable screams, the three of them were sent sprawling back onto the ground again, and this time, they truly stopped moving.
Only then did Fang Li withdraw his fist, turn around, and look ahead.
"I'm not too late, am I?"
Saying those words, Sylvia walked over with a gentle smile, her gorgeous long purple hair fluttering in the wind.
The commotion around them began to grow.
"T-The Diva?!"
"The Diva came to the After-Festival?!"
Excitement rapidly spread among the surrounding students.
The next moment, flashes of light started going off nonstop.
One after another, students suppressed their excitement and cheers as they hurriedly pulled out their phones and kept taking pictures in Sylvia's direction.
At this very instant, if Sylvia simply turned around and waved at the crowd, the atmosphere of the entire venue would explode completely, with cheers soaring straight into the sky.
But Sylvia didn't do that.
At this moment, Sylvia's eyes held only Fang Li, her gaze sparkling as though filled with light.
Looking at Sylvia like this, and then at the crowd around them, faces flushed red, all ready to burst into cheers at any second, Fang Li suddenly smiled.
There was no need for explanations.
Nor was there any need for prompting.
Fang Li knew exactly what he should do.
So, Fang Li stepped forward.
"Hm?"
Everyone's gaze immediately gathered onto Fang Li.
Watching as Fang Li walked step by step toward Sylvia, many people could only stare at each other in bewilderment.
Only Sylvia continued standing there with a smile on her face.
Until Fang Li arrived before her.
Their eyes met.
Fang Li extended one hand toward Sylvia.
His words were equally simple.
"Let's go."
Just that simple sentence made Sylvia's smile grow even more beautiful.
"Mhm."
With an equally concise reply, Sylvia placed her hand into the one Fang Li had extended.
"Ah…"
Someone let out a sound like that.
And the commotion instantly spread once again.
But Fang Li and Sylvia could no longer hear it.
The two of them simply held hands and walked to the bonfire.
Ignoring the disturbance of the surrounding crowd.
Ignoring the pairs of men and women nearby who had all stopped dancing.
Then, they began dancing around the bonfire.
It was the simplest kind of folk dance.
Yet at this very moment, this simple folk dance became the most beautiful dance in the world.
Fang Li and Sylvia kept holding each other's hands, one wearing a gentle smile, the other a radiant smile, gracefully dancing around the bonfire.
Like a pair of perfect lovers.
"......"
At some point, the sounds around them disappeared once more.
Everyone watched the man and woman dancing gracefully around the bonfire, as though influenced by some indescribable atmosphere, falling into silence.
Their expressions looked almost entranced.
For a long while, no one could react.
And as the dancing couple continued to move gracefully, they began a conversation only the two of them could hear.
The first to speak was Sylvia.
"Hey."
Still dancing with Fang Li, Sylvia looked at him and revealed a dazzling smile.
"It's really wonderful… being able to be with you."
With that one sentence, Sylvia laid bare all of the deepest love hidden in her heart.
Fang Li gave no reply.
He only revealed a faint smile.
(End Of This Chapter)