Chapter 18: It's Time to Cast the Bait.

[Chitose Kazumi was surprised. She thought you just wanted to dabble in music, but unexpectedly, you made it your life's goal.]

[You brought your trumpet and showcased your skills to her. Chitose Kazumi didn't understand music, but she could tell you played well. She praised your suona technique, and you politely corrected her, saying it was a trumpet.]

[The harmonious atmosphere between you made Asano Nao, who was spying from upstairs, very unhappy. For the past week, she had been sitting in front of her computer every day, watching you and Chitose Kazumi through a camera downstairs.]

The memory scene emerges.

In the pitch-black bedroom, Asano Nao sat cross-legged on the bed in brown pajamas. The computer on her lap emitted a glow, illuminating her face in a kaleidoscope of colors.

She closed the laptop, tossed it aside, and flopped onto the bed, causing it to creak loudly.

There was no anger, only sadness and resentment. She resented her own cowardice. Despite Minami Yuuki telling her to pretend to be his girlfriend to make Chitose Kazumi give up, she was too afraid to go downstairs and face the girl.

She turned over, the soft pillow enveloping her cheeks and obstructing her breath, causing her chest to feel tight.

She grabbed the laptop, placed it in front of her, and lifted the screen. The Chitose Kazumi on the screen looked very honest, with her plain, unadorned face, simple features, and gentle eyes, lacking any aggressiveness.

Maybe she could get up, change her clothes, and go down to meet Chitose Kazumi, to tell her that Yuuki-kun belonged to her?

Courage slowly grew in her chest as she stood up, bracing herself.

You can do it, Asano Nao!

She strode to the wardrobe and pulled the door open.

Inside the wardrobe, a row of tracksuits hung neatly.

Red, green, blue, purple, thick, thin, long, short, all kinds were available.

Which one should she wear to go down?

How could she possibly go down in a tracksuit!

Chitose Kazumi downstairs was wearing a school uniform; a tracksuit would be no match for a JK uniform!

Moreover, wearing a tracksuit would embarrass Yuuki-kun, right?

That Chitose Kazumi might even spread rumors at school: "Did you know? Did you know? Minami Yuuki's girlfriend actually wears tracksuits!" And people who heard the rumors would reply: "Really? Really? So old-fashioned! I never thought Minami Yuuki would like such a country girl!"

In the end, dozens of classmates would gather around Minami Yuuki, clapping and laughing, calling her a bumpkin! A bumpkin!

I'm sorry, I'm a sinner!

Asano Nao pulled open the shrine in her room, knelt before the photo and handkerchief of Minami Yuuki enshrined inside, and began to repent.

All her courage dissipated, and she lay on the floor, feeling that her ideal state was to stay quietly in her room, not meeting anyone, not causing trouble for anyone.

The faint smell of wood reached her nose; it was the scent of decay.

Maybe she should stay in a place where no one knew and decay.

Downstairs, both Yuuki-kun and Chitose Kazumi were full of life. She didn't fit in with them, a rotten piece of wood among green trees, only ruining the atmosphere.

Her sadness and resentment faded away, leaving her heart dead. The coldness of the floor seeped into her forehead, and she pondered where to hide.

This house and the savings should be left to Yuuki-kun. She didn't deserve to enjoy them; she just needed a broken hut where she could eat cold water and steamed buns.

At this moment, a strange noise appeared, continuous and incessant.

Click, click, click, click...

She turned her head. At some point, the bedroom door had opened, and Minami Yuuki was standing beside her, holding a camera in one hand and a phone in the other.

The clicking sound was from the phone's camera.

"This pose is so provocative. Are you seducing me, sister?" Minami Yuuki squatted behind her, quickening the shutter speed.

The emotions taken away by self-deprecation revived in Asano Nao's heart. She crawled, hands and feet, into the corner by the door.

"What are you doing!" She covered her flushed face.

"Just regular filming and photography." Minami Yuuki walked up to her, the clicking continuing.

Entering a woman's bedroom with a camera and phone couldn't be considered regular by any means!

Wait, maybe this was the trend now?

Asano Nao's mind was in turmoil as she peeked through her fingers at Minami Yuuki, who was grinning and checking the images and videos.

The boy always easily tugged at her heartstrings, making her feel both ashamed and troubled.

She feared crowds because others made her anxious and pained, but the pure pain was different from the trouble Yuuki-kun brought her.

Pain was all sour, but the trouble had sweetness.

She was addicted to this sweetness.

"Eh? What's this?" Minami Yuuki noticed the shrine, asking in surprise.

"Nothing!" Asano Nao quickly closed the shrine door, hiding the treasures inside.

"Well, I already knew you were a pervert, so there's no need to hide." Minami Yuuki held her hand, reopening the shrine.

His palm was warm, covering Asano Nao's cool hand. The small difference in temperature was enough to make Asano Nao's whole body burn.

Along with the touch of their hands came the closeness of their chests and backs. Minami Yuuki's firm chest pressed against her back, and she smelled the scent of his body wash.

This sudden intimacy was like a petrifying spell, leaving her motionless and dizzy.

"This is really something." Minami Yuuki looked at the setup inside the shrine.

"I'm sorry, I'll take it down immediately." Asano Nao snapped back to reality. She didn't dare move, knowing any movement would touch Yuuki-kun's body.

Her heartbeat quickened, and she found it hard to breathe.

"I'm not blaming you. If anything, I'm a bit happy." Minami Yuuki released her hand.

Asano Nao immediately closed the shrine, moving away from his embrace to kneel facing him.

A bit happy? She looked at Minami Yuuki.

"The handkerchief I gave you, I didn't expect you to place it in such an honorable spot."

Minami Yuuki stroked his chin. "Thinking about it, you've always taken care of me. How about I give you a gift every month?"

"A gift?" Asano Nao's hands trembled.

God, why do you always favor me!

She was so excited she wanted to bow in worship.

"What kind of gift would you like?" Minami Yuuki asked.

"Something you've used!" Asano Nao answered without hesitation.

"You're straightforward. Alright then, I'll think about what to give you this month." Minami Yuuki, holding the camera, left the room.

[You realized that Chitose Kazumi's presence had a significant impact on Asano Nao, plunging her into depression. To alleviate this depression, you made a promise to give Asano Nao a gift each month.]

[The gifts were not just gifts; they were the kite strings tethering Asano Nao. To receive the next gift, she couldn't leave your side.]