"Why do you suddenly want to know what love feels like?"
"Well... it’s a girl’s secret! Come on, help me out, Shirakawa..."
Ise Yu Yuzhijin, master of the "cutesy" antics, started shaking him on the bed without a word... The soft double bed made a slight noise...
Shirakawa Sawahei: "..."
Can you be more serious? Those in the know would think you’re doing life counseling, those not in the know would think you’re doing a "live" consultation!
He withdrew his arm and reluctantly said, "This has exceeded the scope of what I can offer as life counseling... How could I understand a girl’s thoughts?"
"You don’t need to understand a girl’s thoughts! Just understand a boy’s thoughts..."
"That’s even more impossible." Shirakawa Sawahei’s face turned dark, firmly refusing, "I’d rather understand a girl’s thoughts."
Cute little Ise Yu tilted her head, pondered for a moment, and thought it might work, so she asked, "Then what should a girl’s idea of love be like... Shirakawa, what do you think a girl wants in love?"
Shirakawa Sawahei was silent for a while, then hesitantly said, "Pardon me for being rude... Aren’t you a girl?"
Oh dear... Have I assumed your gender all along? Please don’t call the police, I admit... Oh, we’re not in the United States, so it’s okay...
"Oh please, of course, I’m a girl." The lazy girl complained slightly, "I just don’t know what kind of love most girls usually like..."
Indeed, given Ise Yu Yuzhijin’s background as a manga artist, it’s hard to imagine she would think like a typical girl.
Shirakawa Sawahei once glanced over the content of her manga stories; the endings usually involved the male lead living a life akin to taking double doses of herbal pills daily... In short, it can be summed up in two phrases — squeezing dry is inevitable, cherish as you rub.
For such a lazy girl, it’s likely she doesn’t quite get the thoughts of an average girl.
"What a girl wants in love... maybe it’s a sweet kind of love..." Shirakawa Sawahei pondered for a moment and said, "I think this is something many girls like."
Not sure where the lazy girl pulled out a little notebook from, she earnestly took notes and asked, "So, Shirakawa-sensei... what exactly is sweet love?"
Shirakawa Sawahei glanced at her, thinking she’s getting into the role pretty fast...
"Sweet love... is when both partners smile unconsciously when they think of each other, constantly have each other in mind, and are satisfied with just seeing each other every day..."
"I see... But wouldn’t such love be too cliché?"
"Love doesn’t have cliché or non-cliché... Shirakawa Sawahei said irritably, "You think it’s like drawing manga, pursuing innovative yet handy plots?"
"Then... where can one experience this sweet love feeling?"
"Go and fall in love yourself."
"Is it possible for me not to date, but still experience this feeling..." The lazy girl said coyly, "Is there such a chance?"
Shirakawa Sawahei was silent for a while, suddenly feeling that this lazy girl’s mindset might have a specific term to describe it.
Free-loading! This girl is a real freeloading monster!
"There was once a philosopher, an old man with a red hat and white beard, who had corresponding thoughts on this mindset." Shirakawa Sawahei said earnestly, "If you don’t pay after using, it’s not considered freeloading... you could try it."
"There really is such a philosopher?" The lazy girl was stunned, contemplating, "So... if I play with Shirakawa... but don’t pay... by not becoming Shirakawa’s girlfriend! It’s not considered dating then!"
"Shirakawa, you might just be a genius!"
"There’s no need for you to compliment whether I’m a genius or not, just please stop using my name in your examples in the future."
"But that’s still a bit risky... and deceiving Shirakawa’s feelings isn’t very nice either..."
"I told you not to use me as an example!" Shirakawa Sawahei retorted with a cold face, "If you’re so afraid, you might as well try online dating."
"Online dating is a good idea, but the girls who like it are ultimately a minority, right? I’m looking for the kind of love that fits the fantasies of the vast majority of girls..."
"After all, emotions are mostly subjective. If you really want to understand deeply, it’s best to ask girls who have been in love about how it feels... I can’t help you too much."
"Relying on external things is always secondary; what you can ultimately rely on is yourself."
"Hmm... Though Shirakawa, your tone feels like you want to brush me off... But you do make sense!" The lazy girl clenched her small fist, full of fighting spirit, "Thank you, Shirakawa! I think I’ve found a goal to strive for!"
"Let me, as your disciple, follow Shirakawa-sensei’s guidance to illustrate the world’s greatest love!"
Shirakawa Sawahei: "..."
So, the passionate and slightly chuunibyou nature of the Neon people is truly showcased through Ise Yu Yuzhijin...
Somehow the life counseling came to an unexpected end, and Shirakawa Sawahei didn’t continue the chat with Ise Yu. After saying goodnight, he directly left the girl’s room.
Hmm? Why does it feel like there’s a fragrance on me...
Oh well... I’ll take a shower tomorrow morning...
Watching Shirakawa Sawahei leave, the lazy girl seemed to still be immersed in the passionate atmosphere, unable to extricate herself. After thinking for a while, she made a certain decision, suddenly jumped off the bed, sat at her previously untouched work desk, and began meticulously sketching the next issue’s manga outlines...
It’s just about love! Who says I can’t draw it! I’ll draw it for you to see!
A perfect weekend ended, and the next day at school, the lazy girl, not sure if she forgot her previous vow to avoid Shirakawa Sawahei or again stayed up playing games, once more leaned on his shoulder and fell asleep.
Shirakawa Sawahei considered carefully for a moment and eventually decided not to wake her. After all, he had promised to join the Evil Little Arrogant in the sports festival, and by then, their interactions would likely be frequent. The rumors of him and Ise Yu Yuzhijin being in a relationship were bound to be dispelled under his and Hayakawa Kashi’s gossip.
Though watching this person doze off empty-headed during class was quite amusing, fortunately, Shirakawa Sawahei deemed himself to have some compassion, occasionally helping out in matters involving others.
Oh well... Let her sleep, it’s not like I’ll lose a piece of flesh.
The familiar weight on his shoulder strangely comforted him. Amidst the fragmented moments on the train, Shirakawa Sawahei began to ponder how Hayakawa Kashi might intervene in the sports festival to reignite enthusiasm among the students.