Chapter 122: This Feels Like a Secret Meeting—It’s Getting Ridiculous

The sound of cars on the road felt especially lonely on the late-night street.

After returning the landline receiver to the Front Desk Clerk, Xiao Chun Miura left the KTV, carrying Kiyono Arisa’s deep blue handbag.

Under the glowing streetlights, the silver stars embroidery on the bag shimmered with faint light.

She had still taken the initiative to contact Kiyono Arisa.

It was her own choice.

“Hu…”

Xiao Chun Miura let out a long sigh into the cool night air.

If she didn’t want Kanzaki Sou to meet Kiyono Arisa too soon, Xiao Chun Miura herself actually also hoped she could avoid her as much as possible.

But there was no way. In the end, they would meet, interact, and stories would happen.

If she had truly never encountered her, then passively waiting for the plot to trigger didn’t feel like it would bring much guilt.

But the situation was different—she already knew Kiyono Arisa now.

With the knowledge that something would certainly happen in the future, she couldn’t just ignore Kiyono Arisa’s existence.

“……Tomorrow at 10 AM, Central Park, huh.”

She had thought she’d have a beautiful weekend where she could sleep in, play games, and be a proper, carefree background character.

Yet now, she held a small idol’s secret in her hand and had to attend a mysterious meeting full of unknowns.

When she got home, it was already past nine in the evening.

Opening the door at the entrance, a warm aroma rushed out to greet her, instantly dispelling the chill of a late autumn night.

“I’m home.”

“Ah, Xiao Chun, welcome back.”

Mother, wearing an apron, peeked out from the Living Room, a gentle smile on her face.

“Did you have fun with your friends today? Why did you come back so late?”

“Mm… Mm, it was fun.”

Xiao Chun Miura replied vaguely while changing her shoes.

“We went singing.”

“Is that so? That’s good.”

Father also came over, still holding a Newspaper in his hand. The man smiled cheerfully at her.

“Xiao Chun seems so much brighter these days. She hardly used to go out with friends before.”

“What are you saying? Xiao Chun has always been great… Your father just talks without thinking. Don’t mind him.”

“Yes, yes, yes, I just said it casually, haha.”

This warm scene before her stirred Xiao Chun Miura’s somewhat numb heart.

Caring eyes, natural words, the scent drifting from the Kitchen, and the background sound of a Comedy Variety Show playing on the Television in the Living Room.

It all felt too real.

Xiao Chun Miura suddenly felt a bit dazed.

As her bonds in this world deepened, even the parents in the Game World whom she thought she’d never meet had now become people of flesh and blood.

If the Game World were erased, or restarted, or whatever might happen—

What would happen to these parents in the end?

Would they vanish with the world’s reset?

Or would they, after she returned to the Reality World, sit in an empty room wondering where their daughter had gone?

“Xiao Chun? What’s wrong? Spacing out?”

Xiao Chun Miura snapped back to reality.

Mother’s voice broke her thoughts.

“Ah, n-no!”

She quickly forced a smile.

“Maybe… the wind outside was strong. I haven’t adjusted after coming in.”

“You child… Then go wash up and get ready for dinner, okay?”

“Okay–“

Xiao Chun Miura replied, hurrying toward the washroom.

Clear water flowed as the girl shook droplets from her palm.

She looked up at the dressing mirror.

A black-haired girl with complicated emotions in her eyes stared back.

The sudden question that sprang up stirred emotions she couldn’t suppress.

But, in one regard only.

Whether for herself, or to protect this false yet warm daily life—

She had to live.

She was already a little addicted.

She couldn’t leave this illusory happiness anymore.

Saturday morning’s sunshine was a little too bright.

But Xiao Chun Miura, lying in bed, frowned in mild dissatisfaction.

Last night, Xiao Chun Miura had a Dream.

Because it was too long, she couldn’t remember all the details, but she recalled that she seemed to be dreaming from Kiyono Arisa’s perspective.

In other words, she became Kiyono Arisa in the Dream.

She remembered experiencing a lot, but most of it was unpleasant. For most of the time, she was wearing that gorgeous Stage Outfit, and after doing something, she would go up to a huge Stage to sing.

But beneath the Stage, there were no audience—only a pitch-black Abyss.

She sang as she cried, never stepping off the Stage in the Dream, until it collapsed, and beneath the Abyss were chaotic voices of blame, ridicule, and abuse.

“…….What the heck, this is way too miserable.”

That Dream felt like a nightmare, leaving Xiao Chun Miura listless all morning.

It wasn’t until she left to meet Kiyono Arisa that her spirits recovered a bit.

On the road through Central Park leading to the small commercial area where they agreed to meet—

Xiao Chun Miura wore a plain beige knit sweater and Student Trousers, carrying her schoolbag as she walked into the lush Small Forest behind the Fountain.

The Small Forest was quiet, with only a few birds occasionally chirping.

Though it was still within the park, the thick vegetation and lack of playground equipment meant few visitors usually came.

Xiao Chun Miura looked around, then at her phone.

9:55 AM.

Five minutes until ten, but she still hadn’t seen a trace of Kiyono Arisa.

She found a clean-looking Long Bench, sat down, hugged her schoolbag to her chest, and waited.

Even as the bell signaled ten o’clock, the familiar figure still hadn’t appeared.

“Could it be that she’s going to stand me up?”

She was thinking this when—

“Shaa—”

A faint rustling sounded from the bushes behind her.

Xiao Chun Miura spun around.

She saw a figure tightly wrapped, stepping out from the shadows.

It was still the same oversized gray hoodie as yesterday, the hood pulled low, a Black Mask covering most of the face, and Sunglasses on top.

Judging by the build and clothes, it was identical to the girl she’d seen last night.

Why did she come out of the bushes, like some kind of god○○shell…

Xiao Chun Miura couldn’t help but mentally complain.

“..You came.”

Kiyono Arisa stopped three meters away, her voice still hoarse, tinged with fatigue and wariness.

“Ah, mm.”

Xiao Chun Miura stood up, trying to look natural.

“Good morning, Kiyono-san.”

“……Don’t call my name here.”

Kiyono Arisa immediately glanced around nervously and lowered her voice.

“Don’t cause trouble for me, I’m begging you.”

“..Ah, sorry.”

Xiao Chun Miura hurriedly closed her mouth.

Since she’d already said something wrong, she decided to just get to the point.

She unzipped her schoolbag and took out the deep blue handbag.

“This, I’m returning it to you.”

Kiyono Arisa strode forward and took the handbag from Xiao Chun Miura’s hand.

She didn’t thank her immediately, but swiftly unzipped it and began checking the contents.

The black-gloved hands rummaged through the bag, as if confirming that something very important was still inside.

Xiao Chun Miura stood quietly by, saying nothing.

After a while, Kiyono Arisa seemed to finish her inspection. She let out a long breath, hugging the bag tightly to her chest like a lifeline.

Then, she lifted her head, looking at Xiao Chun Miura through her Sunglasses.

“Did you open it?”

“No.”

Xiao Chun Miura answered quickly and firmly.

“I just picked it up from the staff, put it in my schoolbag, and now I’m returning it to you.”

Because it was the truth—

….She could speak honestly.

“I see.”

Kiyono Arisa stared into her eyes, as if judging whether she was lying.

Several seconds passed before she looked away, speaking softly.

“Thank you.”

Turning her head, Kiyono Arisa squeezed out those words.