So I endured a thoroughly uneventful night and welcomed the next day.

During the break after first period, I arrived at the spot where Willow Ran and I had agreed to meet. Just like yesterday, the place was deserted—especially since it was morning exercise time. Surrounded only by landscaped trees, it was perfect for... private matters.

"Hmm... this setting might work in a novel... gotta jot it down!"

I pulled out my ever-present notebook.

*Scene: Dusk. The heroine calls the hero here to confess...*

Cliché? Absolutely. But undeniably classic. The setting sun stretching shadows, flushed cheeks under twilight’s glow—this scene never gets old.

In such a grand twilight backdrop, the *real* battle for shoujo novels lies in the tiny details of the surroundings.

*As for the confession lines...*

Just as I gnawed my pen in thought, an ill-timed voice shattered the mood.

"*Heh heh*. Predictable. Boys really *are* single-celled creatures. Always linking everything to ‘confessions’. Sooo in-ter-est-ing~"

"I’d rather not hear that from the one who called me out here," I snapped my notebook shut, shooting Willow Ran an exasperated look. "I’m just gathering material."

"Oh? *This* is ‘gathering material’?"

Willow Ran’s skeptical smirk said it all.

"What else would it be?"

"Ahhh~ Shouldn’t ‘gathering material’ go *boooom—*, *pew-pew—*, *bzzzt—*?" She waved her arms wildly.

I had no clue what her frantic gestures meant, but it looked... intense.

"It’s not that complicated. Material is just recording ordinary things. Not World War III!"

"Pfft—ordinary things are boring! Your novels, Gale Splendor, are *never* boring!"

"*That’s* our job as writers—to turn boring things into something exciting!"

"Eeeh~ really?"

She dragged out the syllable. No idea if she actually got it.

Seriously, why does this chaotic girl adore books so much? I always pictured Willow Ran as the type sprinting toward sunrise like a wind-chasing heroine.

Whatever. More importantly—

"So what exactly did you drag me here to see?"

"Oh! Right!" Willow Ran slapped her forehead. "First stop: the convenience store!"

"Huh? For what?"

Sure, morning exercises gave us time before next period—but we’d technically ditched class. Waltzing into the store felt dangerously bold.

"Scared?" Willow Ran bared her teeth like a rabid pup. "A cross-dressing pervert afraid of *this*? I’d have reported you ages ago if not for your novels!"

*Ugh. Still harping on that ancient history?* Willow Ran, just you wait. Once I finish Yao Star-Yan’s story, you’re next. I’ll make you *regret* this.

You’ll taste what it’s like to get ‘H-ed’ too!

"Gale Splendor... your eyes just turned scary. Can I call the cops first?"

"Ahhh—it’s an illusion! Definitely!" I waved my hands frantically. *Damn, she’s weirdly sharp about the wrong things.* Better bury that thought deep.

"*Ahem*. Morning exercises are ending. Let’s go before it gets crowded!"

"Eeeh~"

Willow Ran crossed her arms, eyes narrowed with unspoken meaning.

The pressure was suffocating.

"L-Let’s go!" I spun around and power-walked toward the store.

And then—

I regretted every second wasted chatting with Willow Ran.

By the time I reached the store, morning exercises had ended. Students flooded back from the field, swarming the counters for drinks, snacks, and bread for those who’d skipped breakfast.

But Willow Ran—standing serenely by the shrubs, far from the chaos—handed me a list:

*Five pineapple buns. Four fried noodle cakes. Four cartons of milk tea...*

Not breakfast. Not snacks.

*Oh, I get it.* This brat was treating me like a delivery boy. This was clearly lunch for her whole squad.

Honestly, I never knew the store got this packed between first and second period. I’d always stayed in class, plotting stories.

Guess I’ve been out of touch with the masses...

Every time I reached for bread, the crowd snatched it first. Against this human tide, I was powerless.

Then—a guy built like a gorilla, arms piled high with snacks, barreled out of the throng and sent me flying.

*So embarrassing.*

"*Seriously—*" I started to grumble, but froze. The "gorilla" was staring at me, stars practically twinkling in his eyes. A chill ran down my spine...

...............

.........

.....

I waved at the gorilla while clutching Willow Ran’s order.

To complete the mission, I’d sacrificed my "looks". For the first time, I felt a love-hate relationship with my own handsome face.

Dragging my feet back to Willow Ran, I found her watching the whole scene—hand clamped over her mouth, shoulders shaking with silent laughter.

"*Teacher* has such... *unique* tastes! So heavy!" she cooed, suddenly formal.

"I’ve always wondered why Teacher claims he only wants to ‘gather material’ from Star-Yan," she mused, eyes glinting. "Now I see—he’s infatuated with someone else~ Star-Yan’s place in his heart is far too... *light*~"

Double meaning. Infuriating.

"*Infatuated*? With *him*? Thanks to *you*! I thought you were setting me up with Yao Star-Yan—not making me your errand boy!"

"I wouldn’t say that~"

I shot her a murder glare.

"Okay, okay! No more jokes." She studied me with that unnervingly perceptive gaze, as if verifying something.

Since she’d dropped the act, it was time for business. I pressed impatiently:

"I bought your stuff. Now take me to Yao Star-Yan."

"Weren’t you the one who said you didn’t need my help?" Willow Ran smirked.

"...!"

"Heh. Fine. Let’s go."

"Where?" I hurried after her.

"To gather material, of course—with these *offerings*!"