"Oh? So it's you, Xia Mo! I finally found you—I had no idea you'd run off here. I was searching all the way over there—"

I hesitated for a moment before turning around with an apologetic smile. But then another girl’s voice cut through from behind me—

"Brat surnamed Bai... care to explain why you’re with my little sister? Depending on your answer, I might have to handle you differently—"

Ayakawa slowly pushed herself up from the ground, dusting off her clothes as she strode toward me. She cracked her knuckles. What was she planning?

"Hey, you blonde sporty girl—who even are you? What gives you the right to butt into our business? Did you go around flirting with every girl during the ten minutes I was gone? And of all people, you pick this violent freak—"

Xia Mo gasped in disbelief and took a step back. Seriously? That was way out of line! Did she think I’d just swallow this insult?

"Hah? Who asked you? I’m dealing with a creep who preys on little girls—none of your business! And what’s this ‘violent’ nonsense?"

Come to think of it, I’d never introduced them. Ayakawa rarely came to school, so she wouldn’t know Xia Mo. Xia Mo was always here but had never met Ayakawa.

"I’m his girlfriend—but wait, what’s this about him targeting little girls just now?"

Xia Mo! Could you *not* shout that with such righteous fury?! I refuse to admit you’re my girlfriend in public—it’s mortifying!

"Girlfriend?! A creep like him has a girlfriend?! Are you joking? He’s a total pervert! Worse—he’s a full-blown lolicon!"

Hold on—stop trashing me out of nowhere! Since when am I a lolicon?! Ayakawa, stop spreading rumors! Lemon! Get over here and explain!

I whipped my head toward where Lemon had been standing—only to find her gone. She was now crouched behind a flowerbed, munching on candied haws. Hey! Are you seriously ditching me?

"Lolicon?! No wonder you ignored me and never came looking! So you’re the type who pounces on little girls the moment you spot them? Keep this up, and the cops will haul you away!"

Xia Mo jabbed a finger at me, then turned to Ayakawa. Seriously—this is a public place! Can you two calm down?!

"...I don’t care who you are. I’m settling this with him. Stay out of it."

Ayakawa’s face darkened with storm clouds. I’d heard she’d beaten up street thugs before. At this rate, she might actually do it—and I’d be the target.

"Our bond runs deep! I’ve eaten his giant banana!"

"Eh...?"

Ayakawa and I both stared, stunned, at Xia Mo’s smug grin. I turned my stiff neck toward Ayakawa—just as she locked eyes with me. In that instant, I saw pure murder in her gaze. Deadlier than before.

"You’re serious? You actually let him eat your... your... disgusting thing?! How can you shout something so filthy without shame?!"

Ayakawa’s face flushed crimson—but the murderous intent in her eyes didn’t waver.

"It’s complicated—but since when is it ‘disgusting’?!"

I froze. Xia Mo’s brain must be wired wrong. First, she bought that chocolate banana in public without shame. Now this—though I knew she meant the chocolate banana, when did it become *my* "giant banana"?

"Of course! My dear even glared at me fiercely until I finished it! What could I do? I’m just a weak girl who can’t fight back—*sniffle*..."

No guilt flickered on Xia Mo’s face. Instead, she coyly covered her cheeks, swaying. And that fake "*sniffle*" at the end—what even was that?

"So now you understand? Outsiders like you should leave. This is between us lovers!"

Before the words faded, Xia Mo yanked my sleeve, dragging me away. I had legs, but my mind was blank.

"Tch. Think you’re special just ‘cause you’re his girlfriend? I’ve made a *private trade* with him too!"

Why was Ayakawa fixated on this? She lunged forward, grabbing my other sleeve. My shirt would tear at this rate—but Ayakawa, what even is a "*private trade*"? When did we—wait, did we actually... once?

"W-What?! You’ve gone that far already?! Walking pervert machine! Did you really pull this off in ten minutes?! And you’re so... *fast*—"

Stop making it sound real! I’m not "fast" at all! And why are you two suddenly so fired up?

"W-What’s wrong? Cat got your tongue? Admit it—my bond with him runs deeper! Let go, and I’ll take him. I’ll return him after I’ve... *trained* him properly—"

Ayakawa’s face burned as she challenged Xia Mo. Wait—*trained* me?

"Fine—but first, prove it! I’ll let my dear touch my chest. Will you?!"

Spotting Ayakawa’s flushed face, Xia Mo abruptly shoved my left hand against her chest. Clothes muffled the touch, but soft warmth engulfed my palm—deep, yielding, impossible to pull away.

Xia Mo, why are you suddenly so serious?

Ayakawa froze, stammering—

"S-So what?! Anyone can do that!"

My right hand plunged into another pair of peaks—bigger, softer than the left. This wasn’t the time to savor it, but my brain short-circuited—

"Can you two just calm—"

"You don’t get a say!"

Their shouts drowned me out. And could you *not* spit while yelling? I can’t exactly wipe it off—

"Mommy, look! That guy’s caught in a death flag—and he’s the bottom!"

"Shh! Good citizens pretend not to see."

Seriously, you two again?! Distracted by the kid, I’d missed their latest exchange. I met their furious glares—

"Now tell us—which one feels better? Me? Or this violent freak?!"