After breaking up, my ex asked me to win her back

"Help me, Mr. Kagura!"

"...What happened?"

Ai Cheng Hua Lian looked up, "Actually, ever since I arrived at school today, Zhen Chun has been avoiding me, and I just can't catch her..."

"Aren't you part of the sports club?" Kagura Hikaru asked with a strange expression.

"Yes, but Zhen Chun is also in the Track and Field Club!"

"..."

Is this band really a serious one? The average physical fitness here seems to surpass that of idol trainees by two and a half years.

"Anyway!" Ai Cheng Huan Lian stared into Kagura Hikaru's eyes and said loudly, "Zhen Chun has never avoided me like this before, something must have happened, and we need to help her!"

Kagura Hikaru looked at her helplessly, "Okay, okay, I'll help."

"Really? That's great!" Ai Cheng Huan Lian said excitedly, "Then during lunch break, I'll follow her as much as possible and report her location to you using my phone!"

"Alright, let's add each other on Line," Kagura Hikaru took out his phone.

Done!

Ai Cheng Huan Lian clenched her fist in secret, single-push contact method acquired~!

Sorry Zhen Chun, as your best friend, you'll surely understand my actions!

Jokes aside, the worry is real.

Ruzaki Mami, her shy best friend, had avoided and hid, resisting communication not for the first time. But to rather hide and cry without telling her anything was definitely not normal, considering they were close friends who shared everything.

Unless, it was a problem too severe to even tell the family.

This was exactly what Ai Cheng Huan Lian feared.

Zhen Chun, with her vulnerable appearance, especially having recently gotten a secret boyfriend—who she didn't even disclose—could be in trouble if that boyfriend made some unreasonable demands...

Right, she'd definitely take care of him, absolutely, definitely starting with the least necessary 'extra wheel'.

After adding each other on Line, Ai Cheng Huan Lian and Kagura Hikaru went back to their respective classes.

Lunch break.

When the bell rang and the teacher walked out of the classroom, Kagura Hikaru also stood up with his phone, receiving a text from Ai Cheng Huan Lian while descending the stairs.

Ai Cheng: [I'm in the courtyard! Tracking in progress~~]

Ai Cheng: [Leave by the main gate and turn left!]

Kagura: [Understood.]

He chased out of the academic building, turning haphazardly following Ai Cheng Hua Lian's directions. About ten minutes later, he met up with her near the school's garbage burning area.

The school had a dedicated incinerator for burning trash, though only paper waste was supposed to be burnt. However, it was rumored some female students threw in their sanitary pads.

In the afternoon, the duty students would come here to dispose of the trash and burn it collectively; usually, no one came by because of the strong smell, naturally deterring anyone from approaching. Moreover, this was one of the most secluded spots in the school.

Anyone here at this time likely had a special purpose.

"Why would Zhen Chun come to such a place..." Ai Cheng Hua Lian peeped around the corner of a wall, looking inside.

"Ai Cheng."

Kagura Hikaru approached from behind.

"Ah, Kagura, you're here too," Ai Cheng Hua Lian cautiously pointed ahead, "She's over there."

Kagura Hikaru glanced and saw the girl named Ruzaki Mami standing in front of the incinerator, looking uneasy as if waiting for someone.

Suddenly, his eyes darted to the side, and he grabbed Ai Cheng Huan Lian's arm, "Ai Cheng, let's hide first."

"Eh?"

"Shush, this way."

He pulled Ai Cheng Huan Lian behind a maple tree and hid her. Before she could ask what was happening, he saw three male students coming from the direction they had come, and they met up with Ruzaki Mami.

They chatted for a while, and then Ruzaki Mami took something out of her pocket and handed it to the three boys who tucked away the item and walked off laughing.

As the trio turned around, Kagura Hikaru saw what they had pocketed.

It was money.

Ai Cheng Huan Lian had sharp eyes and apparently saw it too; her expression soured in an instant.

"Those guys, are they threatening Zhen Chun?!"

She was about to rush out but was held back by Kagura Hikaru, "Wait, let's understand the situation before acting."

"But!"

"I've memorized the faces of those three students, we can find them anytime. Before that, let's hear your friend's explanation," Kagura Hikaru said calmly, "If she's been blackmailed, running out now won't change anything, and might even worsen the situation."

"...I understand," Ai Cheng Huan Lian relaxed, though her face still showed her indignation.

Meanwhile.

Ruzaki Mami watched as the three boys walked away, dejectedly dropping her shoulders and head.

Her pocket money had been taken away again today.

Although she still had some savings, they couldn't withstand such endless demands.

Why had things turned out this way...

The moment she thought about it, Ruzaki couldn't help but well up with tears of injustice.

She wiped the corners of her eyes with the back of her hand and walked toward the academic building.

But just as she rounded the corner, she was stopped by a boy and a girl.

"Mami!" Ai Cheng Hua Lian called out.

"Why, why, why is Karen-chan here...?!"

Ruzaki Mami, in a panic, instinctively wanted to run, but she turned to find that she was at a garbage-burning site, a dead end.

"This time there are two of us, Mami, you can't think about running away again."

"Karen-chan..."

"We saw everything, you gave those people money!" Ai Cheng Hua Lian hurriedly grabbed Ruzaki's hands, "What exactly happened? Are they threatening you?"

"This..." Ruzaki hesitated.

"We're friends, Mami, why do you have to keep things from me?" Ai Cheng Hua Lian said earnestly, "Mr. Kagura is also a trustworthy person, you've met him, right? He helped us a lot during the live event. I can guarantee he won't spill the beans."

"No, I can't!" Ruzaki Mami shook her head with her eyes closed, "I'm sorry, Karen-chan, this is the one thing I really can't tell..."

"Mami!"

"Then there's no other way." Kagura Hikaru suddenly spoke up, picking up his phone, "Then I have no choice but to report to the Disciplinary Committee that a student is suspected of engaging in money transactions. I think given their style, they definitely won't let it go."

Ai Cheng Hua Lian and Ruzaki Mami were suddenly shocked by his statement.

They gave him a look that said 'I thought you were a good person, but you turned out to be so malicious.'

"Wait!" Ruzaki Mami rushed to grab Kagura's phone and, evading her, he looked over with a face about to cry, "Please, don't do this, I can't tell anyone about this..."

"Why, what's the reason?" Kagura asked emotionlessly, "What trouble will it cause if the Disciplinary Committee finds out?"

"Because..."

Ruzaki Mami hesitated on the spot, holding her head and turning around in circles, it took her a while before she said, "I got it, I'll tell you... but it has to be a secret! Absolutely!"

But Kagura Hikaru said, "I will judge based on the circumstances."

"Wait, Kagura!" Ai Cheng Hua Lian gave him meaningful glances.

She was just about to speak out, why create additional obstacles!

"Ruzaki, if the trouble you're facing goes beyond what we three can handle, then seeking outside help might also be an option."

Kagura Hikaru looked at Ruzaki Mami, his expression calm, "If you think it can also go on like this, then I will also respect your decision."

"I..."

Clearly, Ruzaki Mami did not think 'it can go on like this'. Rather, she very much hoped that someone could break this vicious cycle and rescue her.

But it wasn't just about her, Ruzaki Mami wasn't sure if it was the right choice.

The anguish and the outcome of that anguish—

At 12:30 PM, under the maple tree in the courtyard of Uka High School, on a long bench.

Kagura Hikaru, Ruzaki Mami, Ai Cheng Hua Lian.

The three of them sat down in this order.

Kagura Hikaru and Ruzaki Mami had their lunch boxes on their laps, only Ai Cheng Hua Lian nibbled on a chocolate bread.

"Hmm... why do both of you have lunch boxes... mmm... sneaky!" Ai Cheng Hua Lian whined.

"Wake up an hour early and you can make it yourself." Kagura Hikaru picked up a piece of octopus sausage, speaking indifferently.

"Wake up an hour earlier? How can I manage that!" Ai Cheng Hua Lian held her head, "Our school already starts early. If I also had to wake up an hour earlier... 5:30 AM, no, at least 5:00 AM I'd have to get up! Ahhh!!"

"That, that..." Ruzaki Mami shrank her neck, speaking cautiously, "If Karen-chan doesn't mind, I could make it for you, a lunch box."

"Really? That's great, Mami!" Ai Cheng Hua Lian hugged her friend happily, "But, it will be tough on you, Mami, forget it, I'll just eat bread."

"You don't need to be so polite."

"But, I don't want my beloved Mami to be troubled."

"Karen-chan..."

"Mami..."

The two girls faced each other, their faces drew closer and their hands clasped together, fingers intertwined, their gaze almost tangible.

"Ahem."

Kagura Hikaru mercilessly interrupted this blossoming scene, putting down his chopsticks: "It's about time to get to the main point, Miss Ruzaki."