Troubled Child

*Jiii*

Satania looked at Nagi with a serious face, her deep eyes seemingly able to penetrate his innermost thoughts.

"Nagi, did you do something naughty without telling me last night?"

Her words made Nagi's face immediately break out in cold sweat.

Seeing Nagi's anxious expression, if Gabriel was really found at his house by her, he would be in trouble!

There was turmoil in his mind, could it be his turn after Gabriel's trial?

Did Satania also receive orders from Vigne to watch over him here?

(Better lie, I hope Gabriel doesn't confess)

Nagi swallowed hard, his eyes blinking, "No... No, it's nothing, I slept at home last night."

Satania frowned slightly. She didn't fully believe his words. Nagi didn't call her when he did something naughty.

"Hmph, Nagi, the chocolate cake is gone today! This is what you get for lying to me."

"Satania, aren't you trying to take advantage of this opportunity to cheat, huh?"

"No, because you didn't say anything, you can invite me to do naughty things today."

"Uh... Satania, what did Hiratsuka-sensei ask you to talk about at the door earlier?" Nagi carefully changed the subject of conversation.

Satania didn't notice the change of topic, and her face turned sour when told about it.

"Hiratsuka-sensei asked me to go to her office after school this afternoon..."

"My condolences."

"Hey, Nagi, don't you have something to say? You have to wait for me! If you don't wait for me, your chocolate cake will disappear!"

Satania raised her chin and stared at him.

Nagi felt helpless. Was he being manipulated by her with chocolate cake today?

＊＊＊

After school.

"Nanaba-san, don't you want to come to karaoke with us? You rarely have to attend practice now, so why not come with us just this once~"

"Sorry, I'll do it next time."

"Nag, such a shame~"

Facing classmates inviting him, Nagi found Hitori trying to sneak away quietly.

"Goto-san, you haven't forgotten our agreement."

Hitori turned around and saw Nagi looking at her with a gentle smile on his face.

She hesitated, then nodded. "Um."

Yesterday she showered with ice cubes and turned on the AC, but today nothing happened, why does her body feel unsatisfied now?

"Goto-san, let's go with Satania-san to the teacher's office first. She'll treat us to delicious food later."

Hitori squeezed her hands nervously.

"The teacher's office?"

"Don't worry, we're just accompanying Satania's classmates."

They walked towards the teacher's office door, and Satania had been waiting for a long time.

"So slow, hey, isn't this Goto-san? Are you also here to watch me fight against old witch Hiratsuka?"

"Old witch Hiratsuka?"

Hitori's heart tightened, it's over, Hiratsuka-sensei!

While Satania was talking, the teacher's office door opened.

Hiratsuka hit Satania's head with her hand, causing her to crouch down while holding her head in pain.

"Hiratsuka-sensei, I'll never tell it again!" Satania cried.

Beside them, Nagi and Hitori tried to downplay their presence. However, Hiratsuk still noticed them.

"Nanaba, Goto, initially I thought of calling you here tomorrow. Since you're here now, come in." Hiratsuka looked at them and said calmly.

Entering the office, his classmate, Hikigaya Hachiman, stood bored. Nagi wanted to greet him, but considering Hiratsuka, he gave up.

＊＊＊

At this stage of hypocritical friendship, people switch between smiles and stabs, displaying a long-lasting friendship story that seems sincere but is actually hypocritical.

Friendship is like a well-woven lie, selectively forgetting or burying anything uncomfortable to maintain the relationship.

The hypocrisy of friendship silently sublimates in intimate embraces, yet when the knife behind the back is revealed, the picture of friendship becomes distorted and cruel.

What appears to be a small favor is actually a hidden power play, and every effort is expected to receive equal reward.

Although people come and go in this friendship exchange market, there are always hidden intrigues.

In the realm of social networking, fake friendships are at their peak. Enthusiastic messages and likes in the circle of friends are like a one-man show with a glamorous appearance.

In essence, those false praises and concerns are just beautiful lies made to meet others' expectations.

People seem to increasingly rely on these fake friendships, treating them as a standard of social success, and ignoring how valuable true friendship is.

However, true friendship is not a moment of joy in this stage of hypocrisy.

It's a deep and sincere emotion that doesn't need beautiful decorations and isn't afraid of life's ups and downs.

In the web of friendship, there may be some souls craving authenticity, but most are trapped in pretense and shallow role-playing.

In short, the hypocrisy of friendship is like a scene from an illusionary drama, with untold bitterness flowing behind smiles.

This fake friendship may make people intoxicated, but it also makes them lose sight of truth in its interpretation.

So... Friendship is the worst game where everyone wears masks.

Class A, Second Year, Nanaba Nagi

Hiratsuka read Nagi's composition loudly in front of everyone in the teacher's office, with veins on her face.

It was the composition she assigned in the last weekend class to summarize the first year of high school and look forward to the future.

The title, High School Life Review.

At that time, Nagi felt pressured by the impending destruction of his rock band, so he wrote his true thoughts in a rough manner.

"Nanaba, I didn't expect that a Good Person would have such a face behind their appearance."

Nagi didn't speak, just stared at Hiratsuka in silence.

He had initially planned to write a more normal review over the two days of the weekend, but he forgot because he was too busy (referring to playing with Gabriel).

"I didn't expect you to have such a side, Nanaba, you deserve to be my responsibility, hahahahaha!" Satania put her hands on her hips and laughed.

"Satania, you're even worse. You copied Nanaba's composition without changing it word for word. Even the name is the same!"

"Eh... Ehehe."

"And you both, do you want me to read your compositions too?"

Hachiman immediately stood up straight, his speech slightly unclear. "No, no, I have carefully reviewed my high school life. Aren't all high school students like this nowadays? I didn't write wrong, Hiratsuka-sensei."

Hitori turned into dough and fell to the ground. Seeing this, Hiratsuka took out a pack of Seven Stars cigarettes from the almost burst pocket on her chest, and expertly tapped the filter on the table, as skilled as a middle-aged uncle.

After filling the tobacco, she lit her cigarette, then exhaled smoke, and finally looked at them seriously.

"Each of you is a seriously troubled child."

"Child? Judging from Sensei's age, I am indeed a child."

At the moment, Hachiman wouldn't read the atmosphere, laughing at himself, and saying dangerous things.