Miss Kaneki didn't hold back, giving a brutally honest and fair opinion.

Xiaxi gritted her teeth, letting out two low "grrs" of frustration. She frowned at Kaneki. "So why are you here today? The deadline’s still ages away, right?"

"Actually, I came at Teacher Chidori’s invitation. It’s about your schooling."

Xiaxi shot me a glare, clearly blaming me for meddling. I rubbed my nose and stayed quiet.

Arms crossed, she snapped at Miss Kaneki, "That’s my personal business. Do editors really control everything?"

Miss Kaneki frowned slightly. "Normally, yes. But haven’t you forgotten something, Teacher?"

"Huh?"

"Didn’t you claim school kept you too busy to meet deadlines? That you had to pull all-nighters here? Yet you’re not even attending. You’re just drawing doujinshi. Colleagues say they spot your doujin at every comic con."

"Ugh..."

Xiaxi fell silent under Miss Kaneki’s words.

"You lied to me. Didn’t you, Teacher Ailoli?"

Miss Kaneki’s tone hadn’t changed, but even as an outsider, I shivered.

Xiaxi sweated bullets, eyes darting away from Kaneki.

Miss Kaneki’s voice sharpened. "Teacher Ailoli, answer me directly."

"Don’t call me Teacher Ailoli! How long will you keep that up!" Xiaxi threw caution to the wind, shouting, "I love drawing doujinshi! Illustrations are just for survival. Doujinshi are my dream!"

"—I’m not going to school! Stop bugging me. It’s annoying, all of you!"

Seeing Xiaxi losing control, I shot Miss Kaneki a worried glance.

She shook her head slightly, signaling not to worry.

"Though I may not be qualified to say this," she continued, "if Teacher Ai—Xiaxi returns to school, it’d be good for everyone."

She paused. "We can even make concessions. Like designing Teacher Chidori’s ‘Midnight’ characters exactly as you like."

I was shocked. This hadn’t been discussed with me.

No way. Absolutely not. I’d never accept ‘Midnight’ without busty heroines. Besides, Xiaxi wouldn’t cave for this.

I glanced at Xiaxi. She looked hesitant, troubled.

Hey, stay firm! Where’d that defiant spirit go?

"Though I’m a bit tempted..."

Hey, hold your ground! Don’t waver over tiny concessions!

"—But I still don’t want to go."

Way to go, Teacher Ailoli!

I sighed in relief. Guilty, but glad ‘Midnight’s girls wouldn’t turn flat-chested.

Miss Kaneki nodded. "Then I won’t force you, Teacher Xiaxi. I hope you work well under Editor Yedong from now on..."

Xiaxi blinked. "Wait, why Yedong? He’s a lolicon, right? His stares creep me out."

"Your deception caused late submissions. I’ve failed as your editor. I’ll request reassignment and recommend Editor Yedong."

Miss Kaneki sighed regretfully. "He’s responsible. Unlike me, he won’t let authors slack off. Prepare for long stays at the office, Teacher Xiaxi."

"He’ll definitely do something! He’ll expose himself when no one’s looking, then @#%#￥￥%..."

Xiaxi’s voice cracked near tears. The rest was too vulgar—I mentally blocked it.

"Good luck, Teacher Xiaxi. If Editor Yedong plays you into a shotgun wedding, invite me and Teacher Chidori."

"Why marry that guy? No way!!!"

Switching from bribes to threats? Clever, Miss Kaneki!

But poor Editor Yedong... He’s just a kind middle-aged guy. At the office, he often treats me to coffee.

Miss Kaneki truly is Xiaxi’s nemesis. A few words left Xiaxi teary-eyed.

"However..." Miss Kaneki mastered persuasion, her tone rising and falling. Truly pro. "If you attend school, there’s no deception. Then I can stay your editor."

"Fine. I’ll go. I’ll attend properly. Happy?"

Resignation tinged Xiaxi’s voice. But she added, "‘Midnight’ designs as I like—still valid?"

Ignoring my objections, Miss Kaneki nodded. "Of course."

"One more condition." Xiaxi pointed at me. "You pick me up and drop me off at school."

"Huh? Why?"

I didn’t get it.

Xiaxi mumbled like a mosquito, "Going alone... I don’t want to."

Too soft to hear. "What?"

"Nothing! Nothing at all!" Xiaxi shouted. "Just come get me tomorrow morning. We’re going together."

"Got it. No need to yell."

I rubbed my ears, complaining.

I guessed why. Memories of lonely school days must’ve scarred her.

She didn’t want to be alone anymore.

She wanted company.

Anyone would do—as long as they could be friends.

Behind that ever-smiling face, what hides? Does she cry secretly from loneliness? Does she crave care but fear to reach out? Does she shut her heart to hurtful places and people, pretending avoidance erases pain?

But that only deepens the loneliness.