I thought the conversation had ended that day, but ten minutes before school was out, there was a knock on the door.

Thinking it was probably Saito Keisuke coming to see him about a game, Dubian Che stood up and walked over—keeping in mind Jiutiao Meijie's obsession with cleanliness, he now tried not to let people into the more private zone of the Human Observation Department.

Opening the sliding door, a petite and cute, short-haired high school girl was standing at the entrance.

"Senior, Mr. Dubian!"

"If there's an issue with the bassoon, wait until the instructional period to ask." Dubian Che motioned to close the door.

In that instant, Horikita Mai, taking advantage of her small stature, slipped into the Human Observation Department.

Dubian Che could have stopped her with a hand, but hesitating a bit between 'touching a girl's body' and 'letting a girl into the Human Observation Department', he opted for the latter.

"Kiyono, good afternoon." Horikita Mai greeted while curiously glancing around the club room.

Bookshelves, a refrigerator, a TV, a gaming console, a sofa, and even a clothes rack hanging with maid outfits filled her sights.

"Good afternoon." Kiyono Lin responded indifferently, giving off an air of 'don't talk to me'.

Dubian Che shut the door and got Horikita Mai one of the chairs that Ichiki Aoi and the others had sat on before.

"Thank you, Senior."

"What's the matter?" Dubian Che sat down at his spot and casually opened "Heartbeat".

"Senior!" Horikita Mai put her hand on the cover of "Heartbeat," "Go on a date with me after school!"

"Sorry, I'm not interested in girls younger than me," Dubian Che pulled out the book, adding, "except for my K-san."

"What about Kiyono? Hey, she shares the same birthday as you, so she isn't younger than you."

"Horiakita classmate, there's something I need to remind you," Kiyono said while looking at her book, "he likes me more than his K-san."

Dubian Che turned to look at her, "What are you even talking about?"

"Am I wrong?" Kiyono raised her head and slightly tilted it as she asked.

"... While you're not wrong, it's just temporary; soon, I'll love K-san more."

Kiyono lost interest and returned her gaze to the book, saying, "That's completely impossible, you can't do it, just give up."

Not arguing with her, Dubian Che turned to a very curious Horikita Mai, "The matter is over, you can go back now."

"Hmm—why are you colder than before, Senior?"

"I'm afraid you'll fall for me."

"Is that why?" Horikita Mai exclaimed in surprise, "But I'm already in love with you, Senior!"

"Then you'd better get over it soon. And besides, I won't coach you anymore from today."

"That's mean, I was just joking, Senior, you're too heartless!" Horikita Mai pouted, "Kiyono, let's go on a date after school, I'm giving up on Senior!"

"No time." Kiyono rejected without any hesitation.

"Ah—" Horikita Mai lamented mournfully, "Kiyono is just as merciless as I thought."

After speaking, she immediately covered her mouth, fearfully looking at Kiyono.

"Senior, Mr. Dubian," she whispered in a small voice while crouching lower, "Kiyono won't be angry, right?"

"You don't have to worry about that, she never gets angry," Dubian Che said confidently.

"That's great then." Horikita Mai patted her chest in relief, "Phew, you scared me. I thought I was going to be disliked by her."

"She may not get angry, but she can be sulky, and once she starts sulking..."

"Is it scary?" Horikita Mai's eyes, round like a small animal's, stared at Dubian Che.

"Scary? She's always scary, it has nothing to do with whether she's sulking or not."

Horiakita Mai nodded in agreement then hastily shook her head.

Leaping over the topic she found scary, she asked, "So, what happens when Kiyono gets sulky?"

"Well—" Dubian Che tapped "Heartbeat" with his fingers, "cute, very cute, unbelievably cute, to the point where you want to keep angering her just to see it."

"That," the younger student raised her hand, "Senior, I've always had this question, are you a masochist or something?"

"I am."

"....." Just about to reply, Dubian Che turned his head towards the book-reading Kiyono Lin.

After a warning glance at her—he deemed it, he turned his gaze back to Horikita Mai and said:

"It's not about being masochistic or not, changing yourself for the person you like, for the person who likes you, is necessary."

"Senior!" Horikita Mai's eyes widened in admiration, "You must have gone through many chaotic scenes, you're just so good at making excuses!"

Dubian Che turned to Kiyono Lin, "Does this kid know how to talk?

"Mr. Dubian," Kiyono Lin said, "to become great, you must get used to and even seek out the harsh truths you don't want to hear."

"Really, both of you can't talk!"

"Hehehe~" Horikita Mai let out her distinct giggling.

"I wasn't complimenting you."

"I know, but being here with Kiyono, getting scolded together, shows I'm close to you, Senior."

"School is almost out, if there's nothing else, hurry and go back." Dubian Che started pushing.

"Actually, I invited you on a date because I wanted to buy you a birthday gift, and I was hoping to get some advice from you on what Kiyono likes."

"A birthday gift?"

"Yeah," Horikita Mai placed her hands between her pleated skirt and the chair, "including myself, none of us know Kiyono's preferences, only Mr. Dubian can perhaps find out from her directly, no one else even can manage to strike up a conversation."

"I see." Dubian Che nodded, "I can help you, but..."

"No need." Kiyono Lin suddenly spoke up, "I won't accept your gifts."

"But everyone is planning to give you a gift, some have even bought theirs already."

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