[Lost it]
[Rin is already hugging a girl under the moonlight, why is this Sakurano still waiting here?]
[This shot has the beauty of the old Three Kingdoms Viceroy.]
[Are you talking about the Great Viceroy Zhou Lang, who devised a brilliant plan to pacify the world, only to lose his wife and his troops?]
[Sakurano: Children, this is not funny.]
[Rin: Incorrect, this is actually very funny.]
"Huh? What is still waiting?"
Rin, still secretly savoring that heroic rescue from just moments ago, caught a glimpse of the newly appeared comments at the edge of her vision and paused for a moment.
"...No way, right?"
Could it be that Sakurano had been waiting at the school gate for Reina ever since school ended, and still hadn't left? This... what was the point of that?
Several possibilities flashed through Rin's mind: Trying to persuade Reina to join the Literature Club? Reminding her about the main gate's locking time? Or... simply trying to manufacture a chance encounter?
Forget it, it doesn't matter.
She quickly pushed the question to the back of her mind.
It wasn't successful anyway.
Besides, for things between heroines, there was no need to waste energy investigating the truth.
After all, if it were truly important, the camera would naturally shift over there.
By then, the heated discussions in the comments would surely spill out the whole story, and she would only need to organize the information and make a decision.
What? You ask what if she happened to be asleep when something happened?
Isn't the system here? It's open 24/7 anyway, so I can just have it help.
[...host, I can hear you.]
Rin gave a mental "hmm" as a response.
[Also, your secret savoring just now...]
"I wasn't." She quickly interrupted in her mind, "Quiet, I'm reviewing."
[Reviewing what? Reviewing how cool you looked catching someone?]
Rin didn't answer.
[...Fine.] The system was silent for two seconds, [As long as you're happy.]
[I need to remind you, host, your popularity has now reached fifth place on the ranking, and the overall popularity of the show has also rebounded.]
[In other words, you're doing well.]
"Do I need you to tell me that?"
——————
"Clang."
The sound of the vending machine spitting out a drink was exceptionally clear on the empty platform.
Rin bent down to take the can of mango juice from the dispenser and tossed it lightly in her palm. The surface of the aluminum can still held the chill from the machine's refrigeration, with a thin layer of condensation forming on it.
Then she reached her hand behind her.
"Ah... thanks..."
Reina quickly took it.
With a crisp "pop" sound as she pulled the tab, she lowered her head and took a small sip. The cold liquid, mixed with the sweetness of mango, slid down her throat, finally soothing the faint hunger in her stomach.
She raised her head, her gaze falling toward the empty tracks.
"How much longer do we have to wait..."
After leaving the vicinity of the school, the two hadn't discussed it, but they had both chosen the train as their way back.
It wasn't because they had some telepathic connection; it was simply that taxis were too expensive and bus schedules were too infrequent.
By comparison, the train was the most suitable and also the most ordinary choice.
Reina silently pondered while looking at the platform timetable.
By the time I get home... it'll be past eight, right? I hope Mom left me some dinner...
Tomorrow is the weekend, no need to worry about homework. That stuff can wait until before school starts.
There are still two days left anyway... no, two and a half days.
Speaking of the weekend... what should I do for this week's holiday?
I really want to stay home and play on my phone for two days... but that definitely won't work, my mom will nag me.