"Okay."
Li Wu agreed. Then, he adjusted his expression and gently pushed away the seemingly frivolous Raiden Mei from his arms.
As everyone's attention, including Kiana's, focused on him, the dry wind rustled the leaves of the banyan tree. Patches of light swayed in his brown pupils. Li Wu's expression was so serious, as if he were on a pilgrimage...
He rejected Raiden Mei.
Just as everyone thought the confession event was over and prepared to leave, they suddenly heard Raiden Mei's voice again: "But what if I still like you? Li Wu, I like you, I like you, I like you a lot... If you're worried that everyone will look down on you, I'll take you away from Nagazora City... no... away from the Far East, to a country where no one knows us!"
"We'll live together, go to school together, come home together. I'm a really good cook! You won't have to worry about going hungry at all! Whether it's housework or your hobbies, I can learn them for you, do them with you! If you like playing games, I'll play games with you. If you like listening to music, I'll work hard to learn to sing!"
"You just... just have to stay by my side, that's all..."
"I can do anything for you."
Raiden Mei tilted her head up, tears almost spilling from her eyes. Her pupils were like banyan leaves disturbed by the wind, swaying and trembling nonstop.
She seemed to want to tear her own heart out and present it to Li Wu, to show him, "Look, it really beats for you, without a shred of falsehood."
However, this reckless, unrealistic confession, in the eyes of everyone, was like a drowning person at the end of their rope, desperately clinging to the last straw, refusing to let go.
"Raiden Mei has gone mad, to actually say such things..." Exclamations arose from the crowd.
Kiana frowned slightly, remaining silent, seemingly waiting to see how Li Wu would respond.
And when no one was paying attention, Raiden Mei once again gave Li Wu a cute wink.
The stage has been set for you, and the audience has all taken their seats.
Now, you are the sole protagonist. But a protagonist isn't a protagonist because they have a halo; they are called a protagonist because they do what a protagonist should do.
So, please let everyone see your shining side. Please let her... know that you are not that kind of person. You are not a murderous madman who acts without regard for the cost. You still hold sincerity in your heart!
The scene from last night replayed clearly in Raiden Mei's mind.
The struggling expression on Li Wu's face when he made the bet with Raven and left, his vacant look in the tent, the unhealed scars on his body.
Even her most trusted father had suggested she kill herself to end her miserable and painful tragic life. Yet Li Wu had given up everything, mortgaging his life to his Herrscher personality, just to try and see if he could keep her alive for tonight.
How laughable...
Classmates betrayed her because they couldn't get anything of value in return. Her father provided a suicide plan out of pity. Even she herself had given up, preparing to die in the most miserable way possible. Yet, a stranger had given everything for her, throwing away all he had in his life.
Ha, haha... There was no funnier joke in the world. It was like a clown falling from a great height during a performance, breaking his leg, grimacing in pain, but the audience applauded wildly and cheered.
Her suffering, her thoughts, her will were just a joke.
And someone, seeing her broken leg, disregarded everyone's strange looks, carefully picked up this "joke," and asked her if it hurt. "I don't have much money, but I can give it all to you. Please don't do such dangerous things anymore."
At some point, two lines of clear tears slowly slid down Raiden Mei's aggrieved and pitiful small face. Sincerity, pretense, lies, truths—they had long become indistinguishable, whether to Li Wu, Kiana, the students and teachers of Chiba present, or... herself.
The sacrifice was real, and the sad and painful feelings were also real.
But that's just how humans are... no matter how hard it is, no matter how painful, they still want to do something for others. Family, friends, lovers, confidants...
She wanted.
To answer Li Wu's choice to die for her.
That was all.
Was that... all?
Faced with this plot that went beyond the established setting, Li Wu had no reference answer.
But looking at the tear-streaked face of Raiden Mei, so humble to her very bones, those "redemption speeches" he thought were so masterfully crafted got stuck in his throat, unable to come out.
Too grand, too magnificent, too hypocritical.
He couldn't lie to a Raiden Mei like this.
"We don't know each other well enough yet. Your current state is not right. If I agreed to you now, I would be taking advantage of your situation. But I also can't ignore your courage. Those who betray a sincere heart are the least deserving of happiness."
"If you still feel this way in three years, I will agree to you. And before then, no matter what crisis you encounter, I will help you solve it. Don't worry about me leaving. If there are still bad people targeting you, I will help you solve all of them, thousands and thousands of times. As long as you ask me for help, I will never stand by and do nothing."
"Smile, Mei. Everyone is watching. I will never break my promise."
Li Wu reached into his bag, wanting to pull out some tissues, but found he hadn't prepared any. He had to use his fingers to wipe away the tear stains on Raiden Mei's face.
Cold.
Just like her heart at this moment.
"Sorry, for saying something so cliché. I really don't know what to say..." Li Wu said in a low voice.
Raiden Mei shook her head and sniffled, "It's okay. I heard you. I heard every single word. I believe you... Go, win Kiana back."
After speaking, Raiden Mei walked up to the P.E. teacher and said something, then returned to the classroom alone.
It seemed she had used the excuse of not feeling well to avoid the long-distance run test, creating an opportunity for Li Wu to talk to Kiana alone.
If she were still there, she would only become an obstacle to their communication.
This, Raiden Mei saw more clearly than anyone.
After returning to the classroom, Raiden Mei sat in Li Wu's seat. The soft look on her face completely disappeared. Her gaze was calm, and her delicate fingers lightly traced the surface of Li Wu's desk.
She had never been a little girl who needed to be taken care of.
On the playground, Li Wu stood in the waiting area, watching the people in front of him cross the finish line. Some collapsed on the ground, some forced themselves to walk, their faces covered in sweat and undisguised exhaustion or relief.
The world unfolded before his eyes at an extremely ordinary, extremely slow pace.
No threat of death, no immediate decisions to be made, no puzzles to solve, only sunlight, sweat, and the ticking of a stopwatch.
The first group had finished running. It was the turn of the remaining dozen or so people.
Kiana stood at the end of the second group's line, her back to him, quietly stretching.
Her silver-white long hair was tied into a neater bun, revealing her slender, flawless neck. The sunlight shone on that exposed skin, so white it was dazzling, making it hard to look away.
There was a small circle of empty space around her; no one approached.
Li Wu's gaze fell on her side profile. There, he could still vaguely see a faint, unnatural reddish mark.
Well, it was from noon after all. It's only afternoon now. Even if the swelling goes down quickly, it's impossible for there to be no trace at all.
But that's based on a normal person's physique. Has her Herrscher ability not awakened yet?
Li Wu was a bit puzzled and couldn't figure it out. He then shifted his gaze and focused back on the track.
"On your marks—get set—go!"