Chapter 24: Give Up, Stop Already!

Xia Xia Xia Mujun, who had changed back into his school uniform, walked out of the locker room and found Fujiwara Aoi already waiting in front of the office door.

She had also changed into the private Moonlight Academy school uniform.

This outfit complemented Fujiwara Aoi’s refreshing short hair and healthy wheat-colored skin, making her look even more energetic and vibrant.

"Let's register our shift preferences on the computer now," Xia Xia Xia Mujun suggested.

"Mm-hmm!" Fujiwara Aoi nodded happily, her eyes curving into crescents. ===== CHAPTER 49 =====

The two walked one after the other into the employee break room.

A computer was placed in the corner of the room, which the manager used to handle official business and for employees to register shifts.

Xia Xia Xia Mujun turned it on, clicked on the shift schedule file on the desktop, and started filling in the time slots he was available to work in April seriously.

Fujiwara Aoi’s original purpose was to understand Xia Xia Xia Mujun’s shift arrangement, and at this moment, she couldn't help but lean toward him, staring at the screen without blinking.

However, after only a few seconds.

She suddenly realized she was too close to Xia Xia Xia Mujun, their shoulders even touching.

Close enough to smell the faint scent of laundry detergent on him.

And the other employees in the shop had already left, leaving only the two of them in the large break room.

After realizing this, Fujiwara Aoi’s heartbeat accelerated uncontrollably, and she secretly glanced at Xia Xia Xia Mujun beside her.

When her gaze landed on his profile as he stared intently at the screen, the well-defined contours made her unable to look away for a moment.

"I'm done filling it out, it's your turn, Fujiwara-san."

Xia Xia Xia Mujun suddenly turned his head.

Fujiwara Aoi was startled, her heart almost stopping.

Fortunately, she reacted quickly and immediately turned her face toward the computer screen.

But she was still very nervous, unsure if he had noticed her gaze just now.

"Mm... mm, let me do it."

Fujiwara Aoi replied, pretending to be calm.

But her cheeks were already as red as ripe apples, and her heart was beating like a drum.

That violent heartbeat was exceptionally clear in her ears, and she even worried that Xia Xia Xia Mujun beside her would hear it.

'Give up, stop already!' Fujiwara Aoi shouted in her heart, but the blush on her face became even more obvious.

Xia Xia Xia Mujun politely gave up his seat and took a few steps back, making room for Fujiwara Aoi to operate the computer.

Fujiwara Aoi breathed a sigh of relief inwardly.

If Xia Xia Xia Mujun had still been standing beside her, he might have discovered that she had intentionally arranged her shifts to be exactly the same as his.

Soon.

Fujiwara Aoi quietly adjusted her shift schedule, ensuring that every time slot completely overlapped with Xia Xia Xia Mujun’s.

After completing this little action, she clenched her fist in satisfaction, then closed the computer and said to Xia Xia Xia Mujun:

"I'm done."

Xia Xia Xia Mujun nodded:

"Then let's get off work now."

After locking the front door of the coffee shop, the two walked side by side on the streets of Shibuya.

Although it was only ten o'clock at night, the streets far from the main commercial area were already quite deserted.

The coffee shop where they worked happened not to be in a bustling area, and there were very few pedestrians on the street at this time.

Xia Xia Xia Mujun realized that this was the first time in the few days he had been working that he had gotten off work with Fujiwara Aoi.

Fujiwara Aoi also noticed this, and a hint of joy welled up in her heart.

She suddenly remembered she didn't know where Xia Xia Xia Mujun lived, so she asked curiously:

"By the way, Xia Xia Xia Mujun, is your home far from the coffee shop?"

Xia Xia Xia Mujun pointed to the road ahead:

"Not far, it takes about fifteen minutes to walk there."

"How about you?"

Fujiwara Aoi opened her eyes wide in surprise:

"Eh? Is your home in this direction too?"

"I only need to walk five minutes to get there!"

Xia Xia Xia Mujun was slightly surprised:

"I didn't expect that."

Fujiwara Aoi stepped with light, quick steps, her face overflowing with joy.

Since she was on the same road as Xia Xia Xia Mujun, wouldn't she be able to get off work together often in the future, and even have him walk her home on the way?

"I didn't expect we were on the same road home~" Fujiwara Aoi said happily, then changed the subject, "By the way, what club does Xia Xia Xia Mujun plan to join?"

"Haven't decided yet," Xia Xia Xia Mujun shook his head, "How about you? Have you decided?"

"Me? I've already joined the Track and Field Club!" Fujiwara Aoi playfully extended her index and middle fingers, making a victory sign.

"Why choose the Track and Field Club?" Xia Xia Xia Mujun asked curiously.

"...Actually, there's no special reason, I just like the feeling of running!" Fujiwara Aoi bloomed with a bright smile.

"I see," Xia Xia Xia Mujun nodded understandingly.

Some people who run often really just enjoy the feeling of running freely.

"Then what club is Xia Xia Xia Mujun preparing to join?" Fujiwara Aoi asked again.

Xia Xia Xia Mujun thought seriously, finding that he really didn't have any clubs he was particularly interested in.

And his time was already limited; besides working, he had to write novels.

Now that he had also participated in a shogi tournament, he feared it would be difficult to find time to participate in fixed club activities in the short term.

Thinking this way, the options for clubs suitable for him were suddenly much fewer.

Clubs like the Kendo Club, Track and Field Club, or Baseball Club usually required regular training after school.

Unless he chose the "Going-home Club"—where he could go straight home after school.

But since he was reliving his high school life, Xia Xia Xia Mujun didn't want to spend it so blandly.

That kind of high school life felt like it was missing something.

If he encountered an interesting club with flexible activity times, he would be very happy to participate.

"I haven't decided yet," Xia Xia Xia Mujun explained, "Aren't there club recruitment and visiting activities these few days? I plan to take some time to go see, maybe I can find a club I like."

Fujiwara Aoi nodded repeatedly, her smile bright: "Mm-hmm, that's the best!"

The two chatted as they walked, and the streets of Shibuya in the night didn't seem so deserted because of their conversation.

Xia Xia Xia Mujun’s gaze occasionally landed on the sports watch on Fujiwara Aoi’s wrist.

[Sports Watch]

[Quality: White]

[Effect: Increases physical training effectiveness by 15%]

[Description: The girl's day-and-night efforts are all for the dream in her heart!]

[Synthesis condition: Requires at least three pieces of the same type of equipment!]

Because he had paid a 20,000 yen registration fee for the shogi tournament, Xia Xia Xia Mujun now only had about 25,000 yen left.

He remembered Fujiwara Aoi saying that this sports watch was worth over 60,000 yen.

And the prize money for the shogi tournament was set as: 10,000 yen for winning the first game, 20,000 for the second, 40,000 for the third, and so on...

If he could win three games in a row, he could get 70,000 yen in prize money.

By then, he might be able to buy a sports watch of equal or higher value to give to Fujiwara Aoi, and take the opportunity to trade for her special equipment.

After all, the condition of "collecting three pieces of special equipment to get one attribute point" was very tempting.

Xia Xia Xia Mujun hoped to find a way to get his hands on every piece of special equipment he encountered.

Whether it was his sister’s bracelet, Yukimura Yukimura Yukimura Lingyin’s trinket, Auntie Kondo’s combat magazine, or the school’s confession cherry blossom tree, he wanted them all!