"Hey, hey! Have you heard? There’s a Gemini meteor shower today!" shouted Yating, an energetic girl with D-cup breasts, to her friends.

"It’s just a meteor shower. I hope it crushes those lovey-dovey couples!" I lifted my head slightly and yawned. "Oho, oho~ Little Hua, you’ve been woken up! But a meteor shower this rare—once in a century—should be seen. How about we go to your place after school tonight?"

"No way. Even though no one’s home, it hasn’t been cleaned in ages. It’s a mess. By the way, Xiao Shan, why are you still hugging your arms? It’s a bit chilly today, but the classroom is quite warm." I looked at Xiao Shan, who had her arms crossed, and asked with some confusion.

Xiao Shan became my friend after we entered high school. Since I’m a big otaku fan, I didn’t have many friends in class—I’m what people call a pseudo-otaku: not glued to my room all day, but with basic social skills, always raving about my love for 2D worlds.

Besides my childhood friends, Xiao Shan was the only one who shared my otaku hobbies. For some reason, since we met, she’d worn warm tops and hugged her arms year-round, looking perpetually cold—except in summer. Then, in short sleeves, her arms and hands glowed like polished jade. After we got close, I started calling her Xiao Shan, and she stubbornly called me Little Hua.

"I told you, my arms got frostbitten long ago. They ache badly when it’s cold. Your room’s messy? Fine. After school, we’ll pick up Xiao Ling and clean your place together. Yating, are you in?"

"Eh? I need to ask my parents first." Yating’s family was strict—probably because her ample chest drew too much attention, I thought secretly.

"Hmm… since you insist, I guess you can come over tonight. But you’ll help buy ingredients and cook. I’m broke, after all~"

Tap, tap, tap. The crisp sound of high heels echoed. No need to guess—it was Miko. Li Meiqin, my childhood friend, had legs that sparked fantasies. After a middle school accident, she wore high heels everywhere. With a doctor’s note, the school let her skip morning drills and PE.

"Hua Shu, what fun thing are you planning?"

"Fun thing? Oh, Yating mentioned the meteor shower. Xiao Shan wants to watch it at my place with Yating. Wanna join?"

"Your place? Don’t joke. You don’t even have a telescope—I know that."

"No one’s home. They probably want to hang out anyway."

"Oh, really? Then I’ll bring my telescope to your place~"

Huh? She’d already decided to come to my house… But for her, my place was like moving from bedroom to living room. It wasn’t far, and she often visited me and my sister. We were that close.

"Can you even carry it? It weighs five pounds." I doubted Miko’s strength, especially with her leg condition. Carrying it would tire her out.

"Duh! You’ll fetch it and bring it back. What? Are you shy at my house?"

Sigh. Spending too long with girls turns you into either a husband or a guy best friend. Sadly, I couldn’t be her husband—we’re just freshmen. And knowing each other too well, I’d only become her guy best friend.

"Fine, fine. I’ll get it. After school, you and Xiao Shan pick up Xiao Ling, okay?" My sister needed clear plans. She’s my cousin, but now my only family…

"Leave Xiao Ling to us! You hopeless sis-con~"

"No sister, hate those who have one,"

"Have a sister, hate she’s not Kuromi~"

"Whoa! Xiao Shan, you jumped in too fast! Jealous I have a sister?"

"Tch~ I claim your sister now. Tonight, I’ll teach her to say ‘Onii-chan’. Hehehe."

"...You win." I was speechless. My otaku skills couldn’t match hers.

"Ho ho ho~ This fine gentleman loves targeting people with sisters!"

Wait, you messed up that meme… Aren’t I the one with a sister? Is she targeting me? I sighed internally, wondering how much my吐槽 power had leveled up.

Watching us chat happily, Miko smiled warmly. Since middle school, she’d only talked freely with close friends, staying quiet around others. Did she feel insecure? Maybe I was overthinking.

"Alright, everyone, let’s finish homework now. We’ll wrap it up before heading home, then relax and watch the meteor shower tonight."

...

Drowsy, I dozed off at my desk. Waking up, I saw Miko and the others still scribbling furiously. I grabbed my pen and joined the battle—if homework wasn’t done by放学, trouble awaited.

"How about hot pot tonight, Hua Shu?" Miko suddenly asked.

"Hot pot? Sure. I could use some spicy food to stay awake."

"I’ll bring the ingredients~" Xiao Shan chimed in eagerly.

"Th-then what about me?" Yating asked timidly.

"You’re in charge of eating!" Miko and Xiao Shan grabbed Yating’s hands and dashed out.

I hadn’t noticed before—Yating had surprisingly many moe points. Watching her chest bounce as she left the classroom, I felt a pang of nostalgia.

High school was way tougher than middle school! I’d skip streaming tonight and just relax with everyone. Oh right—I should mention: my parents and Xiao Ling’s parents died in a drunk-driving crash during our eighth-grade New Year. I refused to live with relatives. Soon after, my sister ran to my place, insisting on staying.

I knew the relatives genuinely wanted to adopt us. But after we received a hefty compensation payout, their expressions turned strange. When my sister cried at my door, she told me her parents’ money had vanished…

Since then, Xiao Ling and I have lived together, relying on each other. Though my parents’ compensation and subsidies covered our basic needs, people crave more than just survival. When Xiao Ling wished to invite friends for karaoke on her birthday, I realized that. So I took odd jobs to make her birthday unforgettable.

Sadly, most places wouldn’t hire minors. Then, during a rare League of Legends match, a teammate named The Walking 300 Bucks messaged me: "You’re so talented—why not stream?"

I never expected streaming games and selling pork floss pastries would become our main income. I’d registered using Miko’s mom’s ID, so earnings went to her account. As for the relatives? Heh.