The night sky in Tokyo is bright, with the brilliance of the stars blending with the neon lights below, forming a vivid picture.

Natsuka Yanagimachi lies on her bedroom bed, having just taken a bath, her dried hair spread across the pillow, looking fluffy and smooth.

She's wearing Mickey Mouse pajamas, repeatedly looking at the gleaming gold bracelet in her hand.

The surface of the gold bracelet has a rose pattern—very beautiful.

She waited there until it got dark, still not seeing the owner come for it, and decided to claim the gold bracelet as her own.

Even though she came back too late, resulting in a scolding from her parents, it was worth the joy if she could get a gold bracelet by enduring it.

Natsuka Yanagimachi slips her right hand into the gold bracelet, which fits perfectly, making her suspect it was custom-made just for her.

"Hehe."

Natsuka Yanagimachi emits a silly laugh, flipping to the other side, with the light gathering on the surface of her feet, emitting a jade-like luster.

Her feet restlessly move up and down, revealing the owner's cheerful mood.

She couldn't resist the desire to share and took out her phone to snap a photo of the gold bracelet on her wrist, sending it to Hojo Shouko.

"Shouko, I found this gold bracelet, it suits me super well, isn't it pretty?"

She watches as the message is quickly marked as read below, followed by a response, "Yes, very pretty."

If someone else answered like this, Natsuka Yanagimachi would suspect if they had some dissatisfaction with her?

But if it's Shouko, it seems perfectly normal.

If Shouko were like ordinary girls and replied with a string of excited messages, Natsuka Yanagimachi wouldn't be happy, but rather creeped out, wondering if Shouko was possessed by some entity from a Different World.

Otherwise, the Shouko she knows is very reserved emotionally, unlikely to be so lively.

"Shouko, I've been thinking for a long time, and I think there's some sense in what you said. I want to try pursuing Aozawa-senpai."

Natsuka Yanagimachi types this out but hesitates before sending it.

What if, just in case, she has such feelings, but Aozawa-senpai does not?

Though rumors say Aozawa-senpai is quite the playboy, commonly speaking, he wouldn't refuse her advances.

But what if he does?

Natsuka Yanagimachi doesn't see Aozawa-senpai as someone indiscriminate.

She fears becoming the only one rejected.

Oh no, in the past, Aozawa-senpai has already rejected many girls who sent him love letters.

Thinking of this, Natsuka Yanagimachi feels a new wave of anxiety, tossing and turning, unable to press the send button.

Not sending it now would allow her to maintain the belief that she doesn't like Aozawa-senpai, rather than being unable to win him over.

Her pride could be preserved.

Natsuka Yanagimachi thinks this but then looks again at the gold bracelet on her right wrist, biting her lip decisively.

She's decided to give it a try.

Heaven has already given her a sign; to retreat now.

Would she regret her cowardice when looking back on this memory?

Would she think, oh, had I tried back then, maybe life would be different now?

But if it fails, she might regret it in the future, too.

If only I hadn't tried, I wouldn't face such an embarrassing outcome.

"Ah! What should I do?!" 𝘧𝓇𝑒𝑒𝑤ℯ𝑏𝓃𝘰𝑣ℯ𝘭.𝘤ℴ𝘮

Natsuka Yanagimachi screams in a frenzy, spinning around several times before her mood finally stabilizes.

Thinking carefully, her past life has been ordinary and uneventful.

No failures to make others laugh, nor successes to make others envy.

Now there's a rare chance to change fate.

Should she choose to back down?

Then let it be a loss.

At worst, I'll cry my heart out then and become a clown girl.

Natsuka Yanagimachi makes her decision and hits send.

"Summer Flower, don't worry, I'll definitely help you."

Hojo Shouko's short words carry strong support.

Natsuka Yanagimachi's anxiety is soothed, and she texts: "How do you plan to help me?"

The tag shows it's read and quickly receives a response, "Of course, I'll tell Aozawa-senpai about your feelings and make him accept."

"Shut up! Don't ever tell Aozawa-senpai I want to pursue him!"

"...Summer Flower, what's your plan?

I'll coordinate with you."

"Ugh, I knew I couldn't rely on you."

Natsuka Yanagimachi sends a teasing message, sits up instead of continuing to lie down, and crosses her slightly fleshy legs.

She thinks seriously, the first thing is to warn Hojo Shouko, "Let's keep Aozawa-senpai in the dark for now.

If I don't succeed, there'd at least be a way out if I fail."

"Okay."

Hojo Shouko's words are succinct and powerful.

Natsuka Yanagimachi also knows, in terms of secrecy, Shouko is undoubtedly spy-level.

No one can decipher any hidden meaning from her facial expressions.

"What happens next will depend on my performance. Act normal as usual, don't reveal anything unusual.

When I pursue Aozawa-senpai, the first step is not to scare him, to gradually change things until he's completely won over."

"Summer Flower, as long as you're sure."

Hojo Shouko knows Natsuka's personality well, making a direct attack is difficult.

She can only initiate some changes first.

But as long as she can change, she will certainly succeed.

Hojo Shouko firmly believes this.

...

Friday, October 27th.

The weather is overcast, it looks like it's going to rain heavily.

The stuffy air makes it easy for someone to feel irritable.

Natsuka Yanagimachi, already anxious, feels like the hot air makes her collar seem too tight.

She starts pulling at it, unbuttoning three buttons with her fingers, and unzipping her jacket down to her chest.