Reply with “Oh.”?
Too indifferent.
In the end, I’m just a fake ice queen; if the Titanic hit me, it would definitely sail back safely.
Reply with “Pervert!”?
This child mustered so much courage to confess—if a few words from me crushed that confidence, it wouldn’t be good.
Jiang Jian Yue tried to relax her expression and spoke.
“It’s fine…”
In her mind, she kept thinking: Give him a little confidence.
So she added, “Good luck!”
Still couldn’t become human.
Why say good luck! Encouraging him to confess more?
Jiang Jian Yue felt she really should go to the hospital and check if her brain was lighter than others—her language organization section never listens to commands; anyone who comes close turns into an “ice water mountain”.
Yuki Asahi’s cheeks burned, like they were about to catch fire.
Even though he didn’t understand the deeper meaning behind Senpai’s “good luck”, the attitude wasn’t one of rejection, and that alone instantly calmed his nervous heart.
His heart pounded like a drum.
After a brief moment of joy came even deeper anxiety—is she really unconcerned? Or just being awkward and perfunctory?
Just thinking she might only be tolerating his reckless feelings, the overwhelming sense of inferiority under that faint hope almost suffocated him.
But the heat in his heart could no longer be suppressed.
He understood his own desires with absolute clarity.
Life-and-death struggles stripped away hesitation.
Just now, beneath the rubble, the steady heartbeat of the girl seemed to pierce through time, gently striking his nerves again and again—
He had to make it clear, even if the next moment he was pushed away in disgust.
Impulsively, he broke through the walls of reason, shattered his cowardice, and almost in a desperate gamble, raised his head to look directly at Jiang Jian Yue.
His voice trembled slightly with nervousness.
“Jiang Jian, I like you.”
Game over.
Jiang Jian Yue felt a tightness in her chest, unable to breathe—is this the Upgrade Side Effect?
Damn Light Bug!
Even though she knew the World’s End was just Ikeda Sachi’s Ability, she also realized the ticking time bomb of favorability was bound to explode.
After all, during those days, Jiang Jian Yue had the attitude of ‘let the world’s end do as it pleases’ and didn’t bother controlling Yuki Asahi’s favorability meter.
Do I like Yuki Asahi?
Of course, I like him—a bit.
The feelings between friends, and between senior and junior.
She sympathized with Yuki Asahi’s experiences and enjoyed being friends with him.
She liked chatting with him on LINE, liked teaching him problems he didn’t understand, liked seeing this junior occasionally act silly, and liked observing the shyness and confusion of adolescence.
She also liked his courage to stand up for others.
Liked his face…
Wait!
Why does this feel a bit off?
Jiang Jian Yue, who almost trapped herself, snapped back to reality—how could she possibly like a boy?
Especially one whose mental age was so much younger than hers… a child.
Yes, it must be the Ability’s side effect!
After acquiring a new Ability, she would lose control of her emotions for a while and develop extreme thoughts; upgrading an Ability must be the same.
So, she decided to reject him.
Despairing silence wound around Yuki Asahi’s heart.
He sucked in air, but the emptiness inside his body couldn’t be filled.
Even with Senpai so close, he could feel…
The distance between them growing further and further apart.
Seeing Jiang Jian Yue’s lips part slightly, about to pronounce the death sentence on his secret feelings, he couldn’t hold back and spoke first.
“I… really, really like you, Senpai!”
“When you smile at me, when you hold my hand, when you’re in my arms—every time, it’s warm, but every time, it hurts a little more, tearing me apart!”
“I know even if I work my whole life, I’ll never be worthy of you… but… but—”
Yuki Asahi’s voice choked with sobs.
Tears rolled uncontrollably down, falling onto the cold floor and splattering into tiny droplets.
He clenched his fists tightly, knuckles turning white, shoulders trembling uncontrollably, as if using all his strength just to squeeze out those surging emotions.
“But I still like you…”
“Life, youth, and all that…”
He suddenly lifted his face, dazzling golden pupils blurred by tears.
“I never had unrealistic fantasies!”
“Senpai, you’re painting hopes and love for someone worthless—I know it all…”
Yuki Asahi’s voice was hoarse and trembling; his whole being seemed to collapse instantly, reverting to that gloomy little boy.
After exposing all his selfish, greedy love, there was nothing left inside him.
“I understand…”
Inside the rapidly quieted train car, the noise outside seemed to fade into a blur.
Jiang Jian Yue’s lips quivered slightly, and she was swallowed by a huge sense of guilt—it was all her fault!
All because she didn’t draw the line sooner!
Did she think she could just walk away after toying with this child’s feelings to this extent?
But…
I’m sorry.
Yuki, I’m a despicable and selfish adult.
Pressing her clothes to her chest, Jiang Jian Yue sat up.
“Sorry… I…”
Before she could continue, she saw Yuki Asahi’s lowered face, already plunged into hopeless despair.
She seemed to feel Yuki Asahi’s torment as well; her chest tightened, and the phantom in front of her overlapped again and again with memories.
“I… will think about it.”
The words that came out weren’t the pre-set rejection.
In the end, Jiang Jian Yue’s heart softened.
But—
Even without activating the Chantui Ability, Yuki Asahi could sense the sympathy in her tone.
A bitter taste spread through his chest.
Why is it always so gentle, considering my feelings, yet unwilling to accept my love?
“Is that so? Thank you, Senpai.”
Yuki Asahi knew that sympathy was a rejection.
It was all over.
Jiang Jian Yue noticed Yuki Asahi didn’t seem happy.
After a moment’s thought, she understood—he didn’t believe the “I’ll think about it” line at all.
Of course, if it were her, she wouldn’t believe it either.
Crap, Yuki Asahi won’t go bungee jumping without a rope after this, right?
No, no, Yuki Asahi is the protagonist; how could the protagonist possibly commit suicide… probably not?
Humans can never learn from history.
Jiang Jian Yue was the same.
Watching the story become more and more familiar, seeing things slip towards the same fate again—those painful fragments buried deepest in her memory once again sparked her mind.
She always claimed she’d never been in love, but in her student days, a girl once confessed to her.
It was a dark-skinned girl, slender and often wore her hair in braids, average looking.
They didn’t interact much, just casual nodding acquaintances in class—Jiang Jian Yue had no idea what part of her the girl liked.
Jiang Jian Yue didn’t like her.
After the first confession was met with “I’ll think about it”, the girl didn’t give up.
She started dressing up, openly showing her affection on all occasions.
Jiang Jian Yue also tried to get along with the girl, but simply couldn’t develop feelings—by then, she was already on guard; if she didn’t cut it off immediately, it would only bring pain to both.
But it was too late.
After another failed confession…
Bang—
“Good luck!” She says lmfao
Girl, just tell him you’re not human!