“Did you hear Huiyuan made a deal with that delinquent girl at noon?!”

“No way! That’s gotta be fake!”

“Can’t believe someone would go to that high schooler who specializes in ‘deals’!”

“He’s already two-timing, and he’s still out there looking for fun!”

“What a total scumbag! He defiled our goddess! Two of them, even!”

“...”

I’m almost used to this kind of chatter. Praise or hate, kind looks or malicious ones—I’ve stopped caring.

Rumors spread at a ridiculous speed. One period in, the whole school knew. It even reached the teachers. My homeroom teacher pulled me out after class to talk. I only got back halfway into the next period. I managed to convince him it was just a misunderstanding.

Sure, the scene looked like I handed Ayukawa money to do something for me. But you could flip it too, right? Like Ayukawa paying me to do something—wait, that’s even worse. Pick your poison.

What’s done is done. If no one had spread it, we wouldn’t be in this mess.

There’s only one person who’d start this rumor, obviously. I don’t need to go argue with him. Ayukawa already beat him senseless without mercy. He spent a whole period in the nurse’s office.

Mengxiang sat back down without a word. She didn’t speak to me all afternoon. It’s like we’re back to how it was after my confession. We’d only just started talking again...

Ayukawa pretended to sleep the whole period. She used that to dodge the snide whispering. I knew she was faking because her leg kept bouncing, jittery with nerves.

Come to think of it—Ayukawa either doesn’t come to school, or comes here just to sleep. She never shows up for exams. What’s she gonna do in second year? I couldn’t help worrying about her future. Then I realized I’m insane for worrying about a slutty girl like her.

I gotta admit I’m biased. I can’t stand immoral stuff. Even if I treated Ayukawa kindly at noon, if those rumors were true, I’d flip 180 on the spot. That’s assuming those noisy rumors are false.

I still remember what Zhou Hao told me when I walked him to the nurse’s office—

“I heard you can spend a night with Ayukawa for 500 yuan. I’m kinda worried your flat little wallet can’t handle it!”

Zhou Hao said it with meaning. Sure, Ayukawa’s figure and face are great. That price probably fits. But I don’t want to hear people calling someone a slut behind their back.

“If I hear you say that again, we’re done. I promise I’ll let you live comfortably until then...”

“This is the first time you’re this serious—anyway, it’s all rumors. I don’t know what’s true. But the part where she beat someone? That’s real.”

“Hm?”

I pushed him to go on.

“People told me—Ayukawa is a full-on agent of chaos. She’s got a heavy tendency to pick fights. Back in middle school, she even hit a teacher. Everyone from her school knows. So don’t get too close to her. Mind or body.”

Hey hey hey—why do you assume I’d get close to her? And that last emphasis was totally unnecessary, alright? Don’t make me sound like you!

“Aren’t those all rumors? I’ll reserve judgment. If one day I see her doing that with my own eyes—then I’ll hate her. Until then, she’s just a classmate.”

Thinking back, maybe Zhou Hao was right. Even so, I still don’t really buy it. Yet the whispers kept coming. A bad feeling crept up on me.

Bang—

A loud noise came from my left. Ayukawa? No. It was my childhood friend, Mengxiang, standing up.

“Are you guys done yet?! You’re chirping nonstop during class, it’s so noisy! Does badmouthing people behind their backs make you that happy?! If you haven’t verified those rumors, then shut up! Got it?!”

She screamed with all her strength. I’ve barely seen her angry these past years. The last time she was this furious was probably back in elementary school.

“Mengxiang? What’s wrong all of a sudden?”

The teacher on the podium asked timidly. He looked spooked by her outburst. Then another loud slam—this time it was definitely Ayukawa.

She didn’t say a word. She turned and walked out through the back door. She’s ditching class? In front of the teacher for this period?

The moment she left my sight, the class started whispering again. It was unbearable.

“Our goddess finally spoke up—and that girl still acts like that. Figures, just a slut!”

“She can’t even say thank you? No manners at all...”

“...”

Mengxiang looked like she wanted to say more, but it was pointless. Humans love moving in herds. For a loner like Ayukawa, you either assimilate her or push her out.

Sorry... I’m too cowardly to be that straightforward. I won’t help her—or them. I know I don’t have that kind of influence.

I shook my head and tried to focus on studying instead of staring at the bag Ayukawa left behind. Getting into this key school took a lot of effort.

Then a paper ball popped me on the head. It came from Mengxiang. I glanced over. She wasn’t looking at me. Her eyes were on the blackboard, crammed with handouts.

[That thing isn’t true, right?]

That’s what the note said. She was probably asking about noon. I’d planned to explain everything to her anyway. This saved me the trouble. If I had to start it, it would’ve taken longer.

[You’ve been with me for 15 years. Do you think I’m that bold? Even if I wanted to, I don’t have the money!]

After reading my note, Mengxiang flopped onto her desk and covered her small mouth. Then her shoulders started shaking. I thought she felt sick. A second later, I realized she was trying not to laugh.

Hey, hey—at least hold it in. People are staring at you!

[True! In these 15 years, you’ve never even touched me, let alone other girls. A pure boy is just that timid... ( '▿ ' )]

What do you mean I never touched you? We slept in the same bed for two or three years. And what’s with that weird face at the end?!

[But seriously... why did you suddenly help Ayukawa? That noon misunderstanding wasn’t cleared up yet, right? I heard it’s cleared now, but there’s a step missing here, isn’t there?]

I honestly hadn’t figured that out. Why did Mengxiang help Ayukawa? Was it just because her studying got disturbed? There had to be something deeper.

I tossed another note back. Mengxiang went quiet for a long time. She stared at it for half a period. Near the end of class, she finally replied—

[Because the way Ayukawa looked lonely was a lot like the old Huiyuan...]