Chapter 32: The Price of Refusal

I gazed at the lone star on the horizon, listening intently to the final symphony of cicadas. In this cacophonous world, amidst the solitary stars, I couldn’t discern which was real and which was merely an illusion.

Do other cicadas join in harmony when one begins its song?

Do stars grow accustomed to solitude in the vast expanse of space?

Or perhaps, is it the other way around?

She claimed our encounter was fate, an irreversible world choosing us through divine will. Yet, I harbored no belief in gods, nor in destiny.

No, it wasn’t disbelief so much as a profound dislike. Perhaps our world did have deities, but I found such a world utterly devoid of interest, where everything was predetermined.

Wouldn’t every person’s life then be akin to that of a mere puppet?

I refused to be a puppet, to be an ordinary person manipulated by gods. Therefore…

****

“Ah—”

Xiao Xi stood on the top-floor corridor of the academic building. An outward-jutting platform extended from there, its purpose unknown.

Xiao Xi stood, resting his face in his hands, occasionally rising to feel the breeze and gaze at the moon.

Hmm…

The primary reason he wasn’t home late at night, standing here like some performance artist in the wind, was… well, where to begin?

This story was rather long.

The narrative rewound to this morning, in the Volunteer Club activity room…

“Ah—hiss—it hurts so much!”

Standing at the doorway, Gao Meiyou heard a scream akin to a pig being slaughtered. By the sound of it, it seemed to be Xiao Xi.

While Xiao Xi’s voice was typically on the softer side, this heart-wrenching shriek still sent a chill down her spine.

Hiss—what… what was happening inside? Senior Sister found herself bewildered once more.

Had she forgotten to lock the door, allowing terrorists to infiltrate the activity room at night, abduct Xiao Xi, and subject him to inhumane torture?

Ugh…

Surely… surely not?

“It hurts so much, Xiao Meng…”

“Oh, just bear with it. I can’t help it either…”

Hmm?

Senior Sister’s face was a mask of confusion. What kind of dialogue was that? ‘My—my what is big, you have to endure it?’

Good heavens, what were Xiao Xi and Xiao Meng doing in there? Had her activity room become *that* kind of place?

Excited, Senior Sister glanced left and right, confirming no one was around. She swiftly pushed open the door, fearing the two inside might notice her and abruptly stop.

She burst into the room!

Ugh… what was she seeing?

Though she had mentally prepared herself, it was still somewhat difficult to accept.

How could she even describe it?

In the activity room, Xiao Xi was currently sprawled across the sofa, tears streaming down his face from the pain. Beside him, Xiao Meng was intently examining Xiao Xi’s backside, seemingly studying something.

This, this, this…

What on earth were they doing in broad daylight?!

No, this scene absolutely could not be witnessed by outsiders!

Senior Sister frantically glanced back at the door. Phew—thankfully, there was still no one.

It seemed choosing a more secluded location for her activity room had its benefits after all. With a proverb about keeping family scandals private in mind, Senior Sister quickly shut the door.

Then, she turned back, humming… to continue observing!

Ugh…

Xiao Meng and Xiao Xi both stared blankly at Senior Sister’s actions. What… what was happening? Were there strange people outside?

“Senior Sister, good morning~” Xiao Meng greeted politely, nodding at her. Then, she turned back to continue what she was doing.

“Good morning, my foot! What are you two doing?! Is this ‘Yosuga no Sora’? Have the roles been reversed?” Senior Sister bellowed in exasperation.

Was she so out of touch with the times? Were young people nowadays truly this open-minded? They weren’t even stopping now that she had arrived!

“Senior Sister… it really hurts!”

Xiao Xi greeted her, on the verge of tears.

“Then… if it hurts, stop!” Senior Sister exclaimed, speechless.

“Ah… well… Senior Sister, I’m just applying medicine for my brother~”

Xiao Meng chuckled awkwardly, then pointed to the ointment beside her. Senior Sister froze, her gaze falling to the floor.

Oh! So that was it, they were applying medicine?

“Oh… I see. You scared me, I thought…” Senior Sister’s words trailed off midway, a blush creeping onto her face.

She then fell silent.

But… on another note, why was the medicine being applied to his backside? Xiao Xi, what kind of torment had you endured?

“Are you… injured, Xiao Xi?” Senior Sister leaned closer, squatting beside Xiao Meng, and began to observe Xiao Xi’s backside.

Xiao Xi froze, never expecting Senior Sister to actually come over and look at him.

‘How mortifying… Senior Sister, please don’t look indiscriminately!’

Hmm…

“Bulibuli~” Senior Sister patted Xiao Xi’s fair, tender backside. Watching the boy squirm like a little puppy, she couldn’t help but… burst into laughter.

‘Ahhh! Senior Sister was making fun of him! He couldn’t face anyone anymore!’

Xiao Xi buried his head in the sofa, silently sobbing. His heart was exhausted, he was feeling ’emo’, he was done playing!

He wanted to quit the club; his social life in the Volunteer Club was utterly ruined!

“Hmph, now you regret it, huh? Do you know how I felt waiting half the night at home for you two to return?”

“Brother, you brought this upon yourself for not having any self-respect! Serves you right! I hope it hurts you to death!”

“Hiss—” Xiao Xi was poked fiercely by his sister, who was venting her frustration. The pain rendered him speechless; he could only forcefully bang his head against the sofa, trying to suppress the agony.

“Ahaha… Xiao Meng, perhaps you should be a little gentler. The ointment itself has an antiseptic effect and stings quite a bit, especially since he’s already in such a state…”

Senior Sister tried to reason with the angry Xiao Meng. However, Xiao Meng was clearly not appeased, so she slapped her brother’s backside again before speaking.

“Hmph, I think he’s largely to blame himself. He doesn’t know how to refuse anything. He just does whatever Sister Yuan asks, without any restraint whatsoever!”

“Wuwu… don’t blame me, it’s Sister Yuan’s fault, all her fault…”

Hmm…

Xiao Xi cried out, full of grievance. Indeed… this scene was truly horrific, a public execution!

Senior Sister gave a wry smile. Sister Yuan… what a terrifying woman. To reduce Xiao Xi to such a state, couldn’t she be a little gentler?

If she were Sister Yuan… at the very least, she’d ensure Xiao Xi was hospitalized, wouldn’t she?

Ugh, she didn’t mean she would be more ferocious. What she meant was that Xiao Xi, in his current condition, should be recuperating in a hospital bed.

Coming to school was utterly pointless.

“Sigh, look how much pain you’re in now; you can’t even sit down. Tonight, you absolutely must refuse her!”

“But… what can I do? She’s not someone who gives up easily!” Xiao Xi lowered his head in distress, sighing.

Listening from the side, Senior Sister suddenly felt there might be an issue with her plan. Xiao Xi was enduring far too much suffering at home.

What if he succumbed before their plan could succeed?

Oh, dear…

“Otherwise… Xiao Xi, why don’t you stay at school a little longer after classes from now on? Go home later, only returning once Sister Yuan is asleep.”

“But… will that work?”

Xiao Xi looked up, grasping at that last sliver of hope, and asked Senior Sister.

“It should… work, right?”

And so…

Xiao Xi found himself standing here.

It was so cold…

Xiao Xi lifted his head, only to hear a sudden bang…

Hmm?