My Notoriety Spreads Throughout the World-Chapter 313 - 283: A Day at High School (Part 4)
Mori had no intention of listening to these rough men discuss their past romantic escapades. She had sent over a dozen messages to Yukawa Maki on Line five minutes ago, and the other party had yet to reply. That uneasy feeling was rising again, and she silently prayed that Yukawa Maki was simply busy with something and hadn't seen her messages.
"Xiaoxu, your aunt is waiting for you to go back for dinner."
Mori had almost looked through all the places she remembered Yukawa Maki would often go: the corridor in front of the club activities room, the school rooftop, the back garden, and the cultural square. Yet, she still couldn't find her. Mori was certain the girl wasn't in the crowd gathered at the school gate. Could she have gone home already? Then why hadn't she replied to the messages?
A series of complicated thoughts made Mori inexplicably anxious. To outsiders, she was the all-capable Little Witch. Only she knew that she didn't really have many friends. Aside from You, perhaps Xiaoxu was the only friend she had after leaving her family home.
Suddenly, Mori was stunned.
Was she really friends with Yukawa Maki?
Did she really understand that girl?
All these places she thought Yukawa Maki would go to were places she herself frequented. Yukawa Maki would only follow her around, always with her head down...
It seemed like the other party had never confided in her, and she had never thought to understand the girl's inner world more deeply. She had arrogantly helped her and equated her with a friend, ordering her around.
Mori now realized that most of the time she spent with the girl who always quietly followed her, the girl would seldom show any sadness or share her true feelings, never venting the emotions bottled up inside her. It seemed like she was always cautiously trying to please Mori, circling her daily, afraid of her frowning or disapproval.
She suddenly recalled earlier at the train tracks, when the girl's bright smile concealed both joy and sorrow.
The girl had never asked her for any help until today...
How did the girl behave when she was sad?
She didn't know.
Where would she go when she was upset?
She didn't know.
Had the girl ever shown her true self?
She didn't know anything.
"Xiaoxu..." Mori whispered, lost in thought.
The quiet atmosphere around her felt like an overwhelming tide, invisibly drowning Mori, as intense fear arose from her heart. Like someone about to drown, she repeatedly scrolled through past chat records with Yukawa Maki.
Yes, it was always her one-sidedly sharing bits and pieces of her life with the other party, regardless of whether it was happy or sad moments. The other would always respond to her, responding obediently, numbly, tirelessly, never revealing her true thoughts and views. Tens of thousands of chat lines had always been like this.
Even in the middle of the night, when she couldn't sleep due to some minor emotions and felt embarrassed to wake You, she would reach out to Yukawa Maki, who would always respond immediately...
[Haha, Xiaoxia, this is very interesting.]
[Did Xiaoxia make this dessert? It's beautiful, who is it for?]
[Regarding mom's thing? Mom is fine, thank you, Xiaoxia, let's not talk about it anymore. The album Xiaoxia shared is very nice.]
[Xiaoxia...]
[Xiaoxia...]
At that moment, Mori finally received a message from Yukawa Maki on Line.
[Xiaoxu: Xiaoxia, I'm really scared right now...]
Mori's pupils contracted as she immediately replied.
[Natsuki: Xiaoxu, listen to me, it's very dangerous in the school, where are you now, I'll come find you.]
[Xiaoxu: I'm really scared... I don't know what to do, Xiaoxia.]
[Natsuki: What are you saying, just tell me where you are!]
[Xiaoxu: Can you take those people away? I just want some peace and quiet for a while. I'll be fine tomorrow, Xiaoxia, just like before, I won't make you unhappy.]
Upon seeing these words, Mori's mind went blank, her entire body felt like her blood had turned cold and was being squeezed out of her heart.
[Natsuki: Haha, what are you talking about, Xiaoxu? Leaving? Unhappiness? I'm really worried about you right now. If you keep saying those strange words, I'll really get mad. You're okay, right?]
[Xiaoxu: I'm fine, I'm really fine. I'm just a bit sad and want to be alone for a while. I'll slowly get better, just like mom, things will get better tomorrow.]
Just like before, things will slowly get better tomorrow.
[Natsuki: We are friends, right?]
When Mori typed this line, her fingertips were almost trembling.
There was no reply from the other side until much later, she finally sent this.
[Xiaoxu: Xiaoxia, you're my best friend, I don't want you to see me like this right now, just go.]
Mori suddenly remembered the first time she saw Yukawa Maki. She had been curled up in the bathroom, drenched from being splashed with ice water, shivering from the cold.
A voice inside her told her that Yukawa Maki must be hiding in that place right now.
[Natsuki: I know where you are, Xiaoxu. I just want to see you...]
[...]
[The other person is typing...]
