If Natsuka Yanagimachi doesn't come, there's no need for Hojo Shouko to go to the Guzheng Club either.

The two left the school gate, waving goodbye at the entrance.

Natsuka Yanagimachi walked towards home, letting the right hand holding her school bag swing back and forth.

She pondered over Hojo Shouko's suggestion, repeatedly examining her own conditions.

Height: 1.65 meters, weight...

Natsuka Yanagimachi paused her steps, stopping in front of a store window selling clothes, staring at her reflection in the glass.

As for appearance, she could be called beautiful, with snow-white skin and a decent figure.

Long black hair.

She often received love letters from admirers too.

But because she liked older seniors, she wasn't interested in boys her age and always rejected their confessions.

"Senpai..."

Natsuka Yanagimachi thought of Aozawa, then of Hojo Shouko and Phoenix Academy Maggie.

The former's appearance wasn't much better than hers, but with that quiet temperament, compared to her own occasional craziness, how would a boy not choose Shouko?

As for Phoenix Academy's Senior, there's no need to mention her; top-tier looks, impeccable figure, and a remarkable family background.

Morimoto Chiyoda was mature enough to make Natsuka Yanagimachi dream of being like her in the future.

Ayatsuki was innocent and lively, with a pure heart.

Thinking about it like this, Natsuka Yanagimachi couldn't find any advantage in herself.

Her relationship with Aozawa only existed thanks to Hojo Shouko, which allowed her to know him.

"How could I possibly win?"

Natsuka Yanagimachi bumped her head against the glass cabinet, looking at a mannequin inside dressed in clothing.

She sighed long and deeply.

Reflecting on her past life, the words 'dull and ordinary' summarized it completely.

Natsuka Yanagimachi shook her head and decided to tell Hojo Shouko about her thoughts tomorrow.

It was impossible for her to date Aozawa-senpai.

Just like it's impossible for gold bars to fall from the heavens.

Natsuka Yanagimachi exhaled a long breath, making up her mind, feeling a trace of relief mixed with a hint of disappointment.

Realizing one's own ineptitude is truly not a joyful thing.

Natsuka Yanagimachi typically wouldn't think about such matters.

Thinking about it occasionally inevitably leads to disappointment.

She strode towards her home.

...

Away from the commercial street, the street in the residential area became noticeably quieter. A "meow" came from the bushes.

Natsuka Yanagimachi turned her head curiously to take a look; was it that Persian cat?

Before the summer break, Natsuka Yanagimachi had seen traces of that cat, but not after that.

Perhaps its owner was being too watchful.

She walked towards the bushes, reaching out to part them, and the cat inside meowed, dropped the gold bracelet in its mouth, and then ran away.

"Eh?!"

Natsuka Yanagimachi looked at the gold bracelet that fell into the bushes, rubbed her eyes, then picked it up, and instinctively slipped it onto her hand; it surprisingly fit perfectly.

She took it off, held it up to look.

Sunlight filtering through the gaps in the evergreen tree branches shone on the gold bracelet, its dazzling light seemed to illuminate her dark and ordinary life of more than a decade.

Something seemed to crack in Natsuka Yanagimachi's heart.

Gold bars didn't fall from the sky, but a gold bracelet appeared on the ground.

Could this be destiny?

Natsuka Yanagimachi stared blankly.

By all appearances, this gold bracelet wasn't fake gold.

That's not right, Natsuka Yanagimachi quickly put away the gold bracelet and took out her phone to search how to identify real gold.

She found the simplest method, bit it with her teeth, and discovered it indeed left a slight imprint of her teeth.

This was real gold.

Destiny!

Natsuka Yanagimachi stood up excitedly, unable to hide the smile on her face.

Aozawa, in a semi-transparent state, floated in the air, and upon seeing this scene, he also smiled.

After thinking about it, he decided to use Fate Weaving to give Natsuka Yanagimachi a gold bracelet, as she seemed to like shiny things.

This act would be enough to make her happy.

After all, in life, the chances of picking up a gold bracelet for most people are zero.

Aozawa could imagine how Natsuka Yanagimachi would boast about it in messages later, or show off her luck when they meet tomorrow.

With this thought, he returned to the school.

"Haha!"

Natsuka Yanagimachi raised the gold bracelet and shouted, then suddenly realized, keeping wealth a secret is wise.

She quickly hid the gold bracelet in her bag, not daring to linger there.

Though she didn't know where the cat brought the gold bracelet from.

But finding it meant it was hers.

This is a gold bracelet.

Natsuka Yanagimachi ran forward for a while, but obediently walked back.

"Eh, I'm such a fool!"

She knocked her head in annoyance, deciding to wait here.

If the owner of the gold bracelet comes looking, then she'll hand it over.

If not, well, that's not her fault.

Natsuka Yanagimachi thought to herself, going to the police station would just lead to the policemen pocketing the gold bracelet, better to keep it herself.

Just wait.

She squatted down with her backpack.

...

The sunset hid behind the clouds, the rays coloring the clouds fiery red.

Aozawa finished kendo club practice, walking home at an easy pace, and didn't forget to chat with Iroha and Maggie along the way.

His chat rule was to respond immediately when he got a message, with hardly any delay, sometimes receiving messages from them all at once.

Aozawa had a way to instantly reply.

That was using Time Suspension, nine seconds being enough for him to see their messages clearly and quickly type a reply with his speed.

This was why they always thought Aozawa was only chatting with them.

Aozawa's reply time was incredibly prompt.

"Aozawa, are you free on Sunday?"

"I'm free in the morning."

Aozawa quickly answered Phoenix Academy Maggie's inquiry.

In the afternoon, he had plans with Hojo Shouko to hang out in Kita-Senju.

He also had arrangements with Iroha on Saturday.

The holiday schedule was quite packed.

"Then let's meet on Sunday morning."

Phoenix Academy Maggie didn't ask him what he was doing at other times, such questions would only upset her; better to think he's studying.

"No problem."

Aozawa replied, seeing that he was near the Morimoto Family home, he immediately messaged: "I'm going to eat now, let's chat later."

"Okay."

Phoenix Academy Maggie replied with a panda nodding sticker.

He then sequentially messaged Iroha and the class president.

After finishing the chats with them, Aozawa put his phone in his pocket and looked at his wristwatch.

He hesitated for a moment but chose to take it off and put it in his backpack.

If only Morimoto Chiyoda is home, he wouldn't have to worry about the watch.

But besides Chiyoda, Emily was also present.

The Defense Barrier attached to Emily last time still hadn't been removed.

Aozawa didn't want Emily unknowingly praising the watch Chiyoda gave when he walked in.

That would make the atmosphere awkward.

Aozawa reached the door, turned the knob, and called in: "Chiyoda, I'm back."

"We have guests today."

In the kitchen, Morimoto Chiyoda peeked out her voluptuous upper body, holding a spatula.

Aozawa feigned confusion: "Who is it?"

"Me."

A crisp voice drifted from the living room, "Aozawa, come pour me a glass of water."

He was too kind-hearted.

Aozawa sighed inwardly, for not letting Emily stay in the hospital longer.

She'd already regained her ability to move today.

"Alright."

Aozawa took off his shoes and walked into the living room.

Emily sat on the sofa with her legs crossed, looking like she was at home.

"Miss Emily, I heard you encountered some problems recently?"

Aozawa pretended to ask with concern, heading to the water dispenser.

Emily frowned slightly: "Don't mention it, it's all in the past. I want to make those people understand what fear means."

"I trust Miss Emily's ability."

Aozawa smiled, offering her the water.

Emily looked at the handsome young man, feeling a warmth in her heart, thinking she might have been overthinking.

She found it hard to associate Aozawa with the image of Dio.

The teenager seemed so well-behaved.

Aozawa looked at her, thinking, if Fate Weaving hadn't been used on Summer Flower, he'd surely give this lady a bit of bad luck.

"You're really considerate, no wonder Chiyoda likes you."

Emily remarked as she took a sip of water, deciding to thoroughly investigate later to eliminate any suspicion about Aozawa.