The atmosphere in the room plummeted to freezing point.

Faced with Ran's direct and judgmental question, Aoko was momentarily at a loss, like a little deer lost in the fog.

The morning light shone gently through the simple paper door, casting a soft, bewildered glow on her face, softening the previous ambiguity and panic.

She lowered her head, her fingers unconsciously twisting the already crumpled hem of her clothes, her voice tinged with confusion and uncertainty, as if she were trying to sort out her chaotic thoughts:

"I...I don't really know what I'm feeling...I haven't known Yuzuru for very long, not even that long...but...he seems to perfectly match all the expectations I've secretly fantasized about for a boyfriend..."

She paused, her cheeks slightly flushed. Although last night's chaos was largely caused by the "drunken bottle cap," those words and those impulses might have contained a hint of speaking the truth under the influence of alcohol.

Alcohol sometimes simply tears away the disguise, releasing deep-seated desires that one dares not admit.

"and......"

Her voice lowered, tinged with an undisguised sob and vulnerability, "When I found out... when I found out that Kaito was actually the Phantom Thief Kid who had been making fun of Dad all along... I was really... really heartbroken, devastated, felt like my whole world had collapsed, and all my trust had become a joke..."

She told Ran everything about the pain and devastation she felt when she discovered her childhood friend's true identity, and how Yuzuru accompanied her, distracted her in his unique and effective way, and helped her get back on her feet.

At this moment, she was not that lively, immature girl with a touch of chuunibyou, but simply a wounded girl who needed to confide in someone.

Ran listened quietly, her eyes initially filled with shock—she hadn't expected that Aoko's childhood friend, who looked somewhat like Shinichi Kudo, was actually the Phantom Thief Kid who had completely outmaneuvered the police.

This plot is even more outrageous than an 8 PM soap opera!

But more than anything, it evoked empathy, heartache, and resonance.

She had experienced something similar, waiting for that reasoning fanatic who would lose track of time and whose return was uncertain once he was engrossed in a case. She was all too familiar with that anxiety, unease, and occasional feeling of being ignored.

That feeling of being deceived, kept in the dark, and left behind is truly unpleasant.

At that time, it was Nan who, in his forceful yet gentle manner, forcefully squeezed into her life, using various "fallacies" and practical actions to tell her that she deserved to be treated wholeheartedly, pulling her out of that feeling of gain and loss.

The same appearance, similar experiences—this shared feeling completely softened Xiaolan's heart.

Anger and jealousy were gradually replaced by understanding and sympathy.

The two girls chatted in the room for a long time, sharing many secrets and thoughts that were only between sisters. The specific details, such as "What's so good about him?" and "What does that kind of thing feel like?", were known only to them.

Occasionally, low laughter and exclamations could be heard coming from inside.

.........

Outside the door.

After giving Aoko a helpless look, Yuzuru, being a gentleman, did not eavesdrop on their private conversation in the bedroom, but instead went straight to the courtyard where the morning light was beginning to shine.

Kimie Shimabukuro was performing her daily morning prayers in the yard.

Her posture was focused and devout, and the spiritual energy flowing around her seemed to be more solid and pure—the brief confrontation with the witch last night, though hasty, had effectively stimulated her determination and sense of urgency to become stronger.

She absolutely cannot let the gods down; next time, she must be able to hold on a little longer!

Yuzuru waited quietly for her to finish praying.

He was fully aware of Koizumi Akako's visit last night to "borrow" something and provoke him, but it was a trial he left for his own shrine maiden, so he didn't interfere.

However, he had made a note of the witch's bullying of his "newbie" shrine maiden, taking advantage of her long years of training.

At the "magic seminar" in a few days, he must "properly" and "thoroughly" seek justice for his mistress, otherwise, if others find out, they might think that he, this newly ascended "god," is easy to bully.

"Lord God."

After finishing her prayer, the shrine maiden turned around and saw Yuzuru behind her. A smile immediately appeared on her face, but a sly and gossipy glint flashed quickly in her clear eyes.

She quietly pointed towards the room, lowered her voice, and asked with a hint of curiosity and teasing, "How's the 'battle' inside...? Do you need me to help 'mediate'?"

Although she is devout, she is not always so reserved and rigid in front of Yuzuru Hanyu. Occasionally, she will reveal a lively and gossipy side that is appropriate for her age.

Seeing her little expression, Yuzuru couldn't help but laugh. He waved his hand casually, adopting the air of a deity: "A mere trifle, nothing to worry about. Everything is under control! I believe in the charm of your divine being..."

The words had barely left his mouth—

With a creak, the door was pulled open from the inside.

Xiaolan and Qingzi came out one after the other.

Both of their eyes were a little red, as if they had been crying, but the atmosphere had obviously eased a lot, and even... Aoko was holding Ran's arm?

Just moments before, Yuzuru Hanyu had been unyielding, but now he greeted her with a fawning smile: "Ran, Aoko, are you done chatting? Are you thirsty? Hungry? I'll go prepare breakfast for you. Would you like Western or Japanese food? Or perhaps our own Chinese food?"

His tone was incredibly attentive.

Xiaolan rolled her eyes at him, snorted, raised her chin, and pulled Qingzi's hand to walk past him: "Qingzi, let's go have breakfast and ignore this womanizer who's always attracting attention!"

To prevent the "sisterhood" in her house from expanding indefinitely, she felt it necessary to teach this charming guy a "lesson."

We can't give him a friendly look today!

Pulled along by Ran, Aoko could only keep turning back to look at Yuzuru, her eyes filled with apology, shyness, and a hint of barely perceptible longing. But she lacked confidence, having been caught red-handed "cheating," and could only communicate with her eyes for now:

I'm sorry! But I tried my best! Ran is so scary!

Seeing his girlfriend's unusually "tough" attitude, Yu Sheng Nan could only helplessly touch his nose and sigh.

Alas, even the gods are helpless when faced with their little girlfriends, some gentle, some violent, and some fiercely jealous.

The family's imperial throne is obvious at a glance.

Seeing this amusing scene, Shimabukuro Kimie couldn't help but cover her mouth and chuckle.

Such a deity is exceptionally real and endearing.