Her tongue often pressed against the wound inside her lip, and each time it brought a wave of pain, Ichiko couldn't help but recall what happened in the basement.
Her first kiss was gone.
She was also forced to lie to Sento.
Haruko had become completely unrecognizable and said things she had never imagined.
Over the past two days, she had thought a lot, but hadn't mentioned it to anyone else. Yet, no matter how much she thought, she couldn't understand why Haruko had become like this.
She didn't understand, she couldn't comprehend.
It was better to avoid her for now.
But she didn't expect Haruko to actually show up at the school basketball game.
Was she here to see me?
Or was she here to cheer for Sento and Inari?
Somehow, another strange thought arose in Ichiko's heart.
—Didn't Haruko say she didn't like Sento and Inari?
Carrying this peculiar thought, the game soon began. As the male leads of the novel, Sento and Inari were naturally almost omnipotent beings.
The two teams fought neck and neck, and one handsome shot after another made most of the girls in the audience scream repeatedly.
Halfway through the game, Haruko secretly glanced at Ichiko.
She saw that Ichiko's eyes were also shining brightly.
Although her thoughts towards her were complicated.
It was clear she also had a good impression of the male leads.
Noticing that there were two unopened bottles of mineral water beside her, Haruko rolled her eyes.
She turned to look at a boy behind her and smiled sweetly, "Big brother, can you help me with something?"
The boy was also stunned by Haruko's sudden approach, his gaze lingering on her delicate and cute face for two seconds.
Haruko didn't mind, instead, she blinked playfully.
The boy quickly snapped back to attention and nodded awkwardly, "No... no problem."
"I'm a little thirsty. Can you help me buy two bottles of mineral water?"
"Two... two bottles?"
The boy nodded blankly, secretly pleased.
He was also thirsty, so one bottle each would be perfect.
The game continued, and the boy, whose heart was set on the beautiful girl, quickly ran back. He first handed one bottle to Haruko. Just as he was about to twist open the cap of the other bottle, he saw Haruko reach out again.
He was stunned for a moment, "What's wrong?"
"It's two bottles," Haruko said with an innocent expression.
The boy looked at his friend next to him in confusion, then back at Haruko, "You're drinking two bottles by yourself?"
"Oh, I'm not drinking them myself. I'm going to give them to Sento and Inari later."
These simple and plain words instantly chilled the boy's heart.
I bought water for the beautiful girl, and the beautiful girl is using the water I bought to give to other men.
What am I then?
He handed the water over blankly. The boy then saw Haruko take out a small wallet and pull out a 5-yuan bill.
She put it in his hand, "Thank you, big brother~"
Two bottles of water only cost four yuan.
She even gave him one yuan for running the errand!
The boy felt his nose gradually turn red at this moment, and it was as if he was wearing an explosive wig on his head.
Love had ended before it even began.
His friend next to him silently patted the boy's shoulder and stood up, "Let's go, or else Batman will come to catch the Joker soon."
Soon, the first half of the game ended.
Sento's blue team had the advantage.
It was time for a break.
The boys on both teams were sweating profusely, and girls kept bringing them water and towels, except for Sento and Inari.
These two were true campus heartthrobs, with great reputations and high prestige at school, and ordinary people didn't dare to approach them.
Furthermore, who didn't know that they were both pursuing Ichiko?
The main person herself was still here.
Just then, Ichiko picked up a bottle of water and was about to stand up.
Another petite figure was even faster than her.
Haruko picked up a bottle of water, took small steps, and ran to Inari, showing a silly smile, "Master Oriental, do you want some water?"
She held the water with both hands, her face full of anticipation.
As if it were a precious treasure.
Inari chuckled softly, then shook his head, "No need, thank you."
Although he had changed his opinion of Haruko, he definitely wouldn't accept the water she offered in front of everyone.
Especially not in front of Ichiko.
Seeing this, the disappointment on Haruko's face flashed away.
With her superb acting skills, she made sure Inari caught a glimpse of her feelings, then forced a strained smile, "If you want water, you can tell me."
She turned around.
The System's voice sounded in her mind.
[Emotion Points +4...]
[Emotion Points +7...]
[Emotion Points +2...]
Inari was surprised that she dared to give him water in front of so many people, especially when Ichiko had already stood up.
She was doing this on purpose!
Of course, Haruko was doing it on purpose.
She just didn't expect to earn some Emotion Points this way.
So she turned around.
And walked towards Sento.
That silly smile instantly turned a little fearful. When she stood in front of him and held up the mineral water with both hands.
Before she could even speak.
Sento slapped the mineral water onto the ground.
"You actually dare to appear in front of me and put on an act, get out!"
His voice carried a hint of anger, and because of his annoyance, he also provided Haruko with 23 points of emotion.
The mineral water rolled several times and stopped at the feet of a girl with yellow hair.
She stepped on it.
The girl looked at Haruko mockingly.
That small figure stood in an empty space that had been cleared around her, looking so wronged and helpless.
Seeing this, Inari frowned and couldn't help but say to Sento, "Is that necessary? There are so many people here, watch your image."
Sento snorted coldly, "What, Inari, are you actually sympathizing with this person? I haven't even settled the score with her yet and she still dares to come over. If Ichiko hadn't stopped me, she would have disappeared from this school yesterday. Just looking at her makes me want to vomit."
From beginning to end, he hadn't looked Haruko in the eye.
That pale, bare little face was very pitiable, but if he didn't look, how could he be charmed?
Haruko returned to her seat dejectedly, picked up the last bottle of mineral water, and slowly looked at Ichiko, "Ichiko, do... do you want some water?"
Rejected by two people in a row.
She seemed to be seeking spiritual solace.
Seeing that Haruko looked and felt very bad, Ichiko wanted to take the water and comfort her.
But Sento walked over from a distance again and snorted coldly.
Ichiko shrank her neck. After glancing at him, she hesitated repeatedly before shaking her head, "Sorry, Haruko, I'm not thirsty right now, I don't really want water."
"Thump!"
The mineral water she was holding dropped heavily onto the ground.
The surrounding eyes that were originally watching the show gradually became either mocking or pitying.
"Oh, so that's it. Ichiko doesn't want to drink water..."
Haruko's voice was not loud, but it happened to reach Ichiko's ears.
She handed a bottle of water to Sento, then turned her head and found that Haruko had a faint smile on her lips, and her crimson eyes reflected her action of handing over the water.
Her pupils seemed to have no highlight, completely empty.
That listless expression seemed to be conveying a message to Ichiko.
Haruko's world.
Had collapsed.