That day, Kuki Shinobu as usual delivered the marionette to the izakaya where the two often met, but found no sign of Sara. She drank alone until past midnight, when Sara finally arrived late.
"It's rare, for Sara to be late."
"Apologies, I ran into a noisy gang this time..."
"Hmm, what gang could trouble you so?"
"Trouble is hardly the word, they call themselves the Arataki Gang..."
This was Kuki Shinobu's first time hearing of this gang, and she became intensely interested.
Not long after, the Arataki Gang gained a second-in-command, an event that stirred minor discussion in Hanamizaka.
It was said that this second-in-command was well-mannered, understood the law, and possessed agile skills. Within days of arriving, he had the grunts completely under his thumb.
Those who personally witnessed the second-in-command cleaning up after incidents praised him without reservation, saying that finally, the Arataki Gang had someone learned, reasonable, and polite.
However, some were deeply worried. The Arataki Gang was not exactly a reputable organization.
Their past minor scuffles were insignificant, but now with a clever member, they had discipline and organization. Who knew if they would cause major trouble in the future?
Especially with the Arataki Gang's daily endeavors, besides logistics, house repairs, and live performances... they now offered tax agency, legal consultation, event planning, and other ventures involving huge sums of money and a dangerous aura.
With so many schemes, were they perhaps operating without a license? Even if it was just unlicensed, if they forged documents to start new businesses, they would be arrested by the Tenryou Commission!
Various suspicions and rumors were quickly dispelled.
The subsequent actions of the Arataki Gang were enough to prove they were still the same upright, unwavering Arataki Gang.
Some busybodies dared to try their new wealth management services, and remarkably, the person's financial situation genuinely improved significantly.
The transparency of the process and the uprightness of their conduct were astonishing.
But it was also bad because the Arataki Gang remained the Arataki Gang.
The children of Hanamizaka were still in a situation where their snacks were won by Arataki Itto during dinner, forcing them to return home in frustration...
Kuki Shinobu felt that it would take a very, very long road to completely correct the Arataki Gang's unrestrained and unruly way of doing things.
Seeing Arataki Itto, after being rejected by her, wink and exchange glances with Gentaro and Aku, seemingly not giving up on trying to get involved in the peace talks.
Kuki Shinobu couldn't help but feel weary, holding her forehead and sighing.
It seemed she would have to spend more energy keeping an eye on these guys for the next few days, to prevent Arataki Itto and his group from causing trouble during the critical period of the two islands' peace talks.
On Feng Yi's side, after soaking in the hot springs with Kokomi, they shared a delicious roasted rabbit. Afterward, the two lay on the lush grass, gazing up at the beautiful, star-studded night sky, their hearts much more relaxed.
Kokomi was only wrapped in a bathrobe, and as she shifted, it loosened considerably, revealing some soft, tender skin. Feng Yi lay beside Kokomi, catching the faint fragrance emanating from her, and couldn't help but turn his head repeatedly to look at the gentle and endearing girl.
Kokomi sensed Feng Yi's gaze lingering on her, feeling extremely shy, a charming blush creeping onto her face.
'Why does Feng Yi keep looking at me? Is there something on my face?'
'Feng Yi is looking at me again, so... so shy, what should I do? What should I do?'
'If Feng Yi confesses to me, should I agree? According to the plot of novels, shouldn't I reject him twice first to show maidenly reserve?'
'But if I reject him, it might dampen Feng Yi's confidence. If he's thin-skinned and too embarrassed to speak further, what then?'
'Ah! It's so perplexing, so perplexing...'
With the war over, Kokomi finally had time to consider matters of romance.
According to descriptions in romance novels, a man repeatedly glancing at a woman was a precursor to a confession.
Kokomi, comparing Feng Yi's behavior, began to wildly overthink.
"Kokomi, I've thought about this carefully, and I still feel it's best to be clear with you..."
Feng Yi suddenly turned his head, as if having made a momentous decision, and looked earnestly at Kokomi beside him.
"Ah, wha... what is it? Tell me, tell me..."
Kokomi's eyes darted away, her heart instantly racing. She clasped her hands into fists at her chest, her mind in turmoil.
As Kokomi waited nervously, Feng Yi slowly extended his right hand towards her cheek...
"Kokomi, there's a big piece of lard stuck on your lip. There, it's fine now!"
Feng Yi reached out and flicked off a piece of lard from Kokomi's lip, which must have gotten there accidentally when she ate the roasted rabbit earlier.
At some point, Feng Yi had developed OCD; he was extremely detail-oriented.
That fingernail-sized piece of lard on Kokomi's face bothered Feng Yi immensely. If he didn't do something about it, it felt like cat claws were scratching at his heart, or countless ants were crawling on his body.
Although it would be somewhat embarrassing to say this, to sleep soundly, Feng Yi had no choice but to do it.
"Huh? There's more?"
Kokomi let out a slightly bewildered "Huh?", this development completely diverging from the novel's description!
According to the novel's plot, shouldn't Feng Yi have solemnly declared his feelings, and after careful consideration, she should have joyfully accepted his confession?
She had agonized for so long and finally convinced herself, only for Feng Yi's eyes to be focused on the lard from the roasted rabbit?!
Kokomi really wanted to pry open Feng Yi's head and see what was inside. How could he be so unromantic?
"Is there anything else? Oh right, it's getting late. Get some rest, goodnight!"
Feng Yi, after removing the lard from Kokomi's lip, put it into his own mouth, his eyes gradually becoming dazed.
Seeing Kokomi staring at him with a complex expression, the atmosphere grew increasingly awkward.
To break the awkward silence, Feng Yi immediately closed his eyes, straightened his legs, and within three seconds, was successfully snoring.
'As long as I fall asleep fast enough, awkwardness can't catch me!'
Feng Yi rejoiced inwardly, praising his own cleverness.
Seeing Feng Yi eat the lard from her lip, an act of intimacy that made her blush furiously, Kokomi was anticipating a further move from Feng Yi. Instead, he closed his eyes and fell asleep.
Watching Feng Yi snore continuously, Kokomi suddenly felt a sense of weariness.
Those romance novels were indeed all lies.
Gazing at the star-filled night sky, Kokomi's mood gradually calmed.
She couldn't help but reflect: had she been too hasty? Nurturing feelings was something that should be taken one day at a time...