That was a story from before Li Lin ever got isekai'd.
Back then, Li Lin used to love a certain kind of romance novel.
Or rather—honestly, even now, he still bought those sugary little stories and read them.
The kind where the heroine is extremely proactive, where she uses coincidences and stubborn obsession to "meet" the male lead again and again.
And those stories usually started the same way: with a misunderstanding, with the heroine threatening the hero. Most of them opened with some accusation like "sexual harassment," that sort of beginning.
Sure, the early parts might be troublesome. Some damage might get done. Things could turn a little uncomfortable.
But everyone's heart is "good," right?
Those kinds of stories used to be wildly popular.
A pushy intrusion shatters an otherwise quiet daily life. They argue, clash, and through fighting, they begin to understand each other. Little by little, they grow closer, discover each other's shining points, and in the end become each other's one and only.
Isn't that… nice?
So when Li Lin was younger, he'd fantasize too—about some girl who wouldn't take no for an answer, who used sharp, forceful methods to break through his defenses and drag him out to face the world.
In plain terms: he used to daydream about some rich, younger "sugar mommy" type descending from the heavens, forcibly cracking open his little world—changing him even if she had to do it the hard way.
And now, Li Lin had discovered something important.
He'd actually run into it.
A real-life scenario where a girl, because of some misunderstanding, decided to start with threats.
He'd almost pissed himself.
So yeah—turns out "breaking someone's defenses by force" was horrifying.
Those stories where a woman uses the harshest, borderline-illegal methods to crack open someone's heart?
Looking at it now, they weren't romantic at all.
They were basically an anthology of urban horror.
Why are you dragging me out without asking anything?
Why do you insist on tearing down the warm distance I've built?
Why can't we just keep some space between us and quietly exist?
What did I ever do to you?
Wasn't this "I'm not good with men so I'll start strong, then I'll understand you later" character archetype supposed to be popular?
How did it turn into a horror story now?
Under the streetlamp, Sora's expression looked almost painfully beautiful—and Li Lin felt cold sweat pouring down his back.
He knew Sora was probably serious. He knew she didn't have bad intentions. Terra didn't really have that kind of crazed, deranged "relationship scripting."
The problem was obviously not Sora.
It was him.
He couldn't gamble.
Not even a tiny possibility.
But the more it was like this, the more he had to stay calm.
"I don't really understand what you mean, Sora," Li Lin said. "Are you saying that because I'm a good person, I deserve to be treated like this?"
"Yes… but also no."
Under the streetlight, Sora shook her head and spoke honestly.
"Don't let how I look fool you. I can still sense what people are thinking—more or less. That's what an idol does, after all. We sell ideals, we sell dreams, we let everyone greet tomorrow inside something beautiful and unreal."
"But I don't think that's what I want."
"People like me. But what they see is the 'idol me.' Being an idol makes me happy, and it's a job I genuinely love… but something is still different. Something doesn't match."
"A part of me was awakened by Texas," she said. "She told me to pursue freedom, and my own ideals. I should've been satisfied with just that."
"But, Senior… you showed me another side of 'ideals.'"
"…Me?"
What did I do?
Staring at the idol standing in the light, Li Lin frowned, completely baffled.
In his memory, he hadn't met Sora that many times. He didn't think they'd even talked much. He'd just been doing his usual routine—showing off a little, acting mysterious. What was the issue?
Sora watched his confusion and gave a small, almost lonely smile.
"Because you don't care."
She looked at Li Lin—who seemed to be spiraling deeper into mental chaos—and that loneliness in her expression became clearer.
"Senior, you really care about everyone in Penguin Logistics, don't you? You see everyone as irreplaceable friends."
"But at the same time… you're always prepared to accept separation. Yours, or anyone else's. Calmly. Without clinging."
"I feel like that posture—that way of living—is what I need to touch, and learn."
"If Texas left, I wouldn't be able to accept it. I'd chase her anywhere. But you clearly have deep feelings too, and yet you can still let go and choose your own path."
"That's what I think real freedom is—mature freedom."
"But Senior, you aren't interested in me, right? And I happened to see a scene like this in one of the novels you read."
"Still… reality isn't the same as stories," Sora said softly. "I'm truly sorry for troubling you."
"I told you I don't mind that kind of thing," Li Lin replied, still wearing his perfect mask. He looked at her sincere face, puzzled. "Besides, isn't Mr. Is like that too?"
"Compared to me, Mr. Is would be the more perfect answer. He's the one who has deep feelings, but can also see things clearly."
"Mr. Is only likes weapons," Sora said matter-of-factly. "To me, Li Lin-senpai is more like… that irreplaceable friend."
"..."
Mr. Is would cry.
He really would.
Although… she wasn't exactly wrong.
Li Lin stared at Sora's completely natural expression and, for a moment, didn't even know how to defend Mr. Is.
Sora simply smiled, then pulled a black notebook from her clothes.
"So. The thing about 'helping check on Texas'… that was an excuse."
"This is what I actually wanted to do."
"…And this is?"
"Um… it's a little embarrassing to say out loud…"
"It's a friendship diary."
"?"
"My expectations for the future, and all the plans I've made involving you, Senior—they're all in here."
"If opening my heart to you can make you trust me… then this is everything I'm thinking. All of it."
"..."
Li Lin silently accepted the black notebook from Sora's hands.
What is this?
This is terrifying.
Was Sora… always this heavy and scary?
…Thinking back, maybe she really was?
When Li Lin recalled certain plotlines and moments involving Sora, he realized, with surprise, that she really was this kind of person.
Someone who acted without thinking of consequences. Someone who didn't count the cost. Someone who, once she believed something was right, would charge straight in—no matter the risk, no matter what danger came after.
And it was precisely because she was like that, that she'd met Texas and ended up becoming part of Penguin Logistics in the first place.
She was sincere—so sincere about her own thoughts and spirit that it almost bordered on stupidity.
And when it came to the friends she'd chosen, she was pure and wholehearted to an extreme. No lies. No concealment.
If she said it was like this, then it was definitely like this.
So then…
What was he supposed to do now?
The answer seemed obvious.
"Take it back," Li Lin said. "I'm not reading it."
He handed the black notebook back to Sora, his expression calm.
"I won't give you a definite answer. I'll only act according to my own rhythm."
"And I'm telling you this: you've already started walking down an extreme path, Sora."
Don't initiate.
Don't refuse.
Don't promise.
Don't state an opinion.
That was the only way.
Clearly, this should have been the kind of moment where they were moved, where misunderstandings were resolved—where they hugged and eased the pressure in their hearts.
But Li Lin only felt like he'd finally breathed out.
How did it come to this?
"Then… Senior, will you forgive me?"
"I've never thought it was your fault."
He didn't dare believe it was his fault.
It was the world's fault.
Li Lin looked at Sora—eyes wide, sincerity so pure it was almost painful—and closed his eyes, shaking his head.
"Let's go upstairs," he said. "They're still waiting."
"Mm!"
Sora nodded happily.
She didn't seem to notice at all that Li Lin hadn't made a single promise.
And he hadn't answered anything.
....
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