“You-you-you, don’t cry!”

Luo Xiaolu froze. Had she really said anything that outrageous? *She’s* the unreasonable one—it should be *me* crying! Damn it!

Xia Mo wept with tears streaming down her face, her curved lashes glistening. Somehow, in that fragile state, she radiated the pure, innocent charm only a short-haired girl could pull off.

Unable to stand a girl’s tears, Luo Xiaolu stammered, “I-I-I… did I say something I shouldn’t have?”

Xia Mo wiped furiously at her eyes. Her dignified senior aura had vanished completely—or honestly, Luo Xiaolu never saw it there to begin with.

“Teacher Zhou Shuren… hates me…” Xia Mo whispered, utterly shattered.

Wait—you hated *me* first?!

In over thirty years across two lifetimes, Luo Xiaolu had never felt this bewildered.

Is this the legendary “I can hate you, but you absolutely can’t hate me”?

Damn it, why?! What *are* girls thinking these days?!

“I hate Teacher Zhou Shuren the most!” Xia Mo cried out, pouting like a child.

“Okay, okay, I get it,” Luo Xiaolu soothed.

“Why aren’t you even *angry*?!” Xia Mo wailed louder.

Luo Xiaolu: “……"

Why *should* I be angry?!

If she got mad at every delinquent girl who threatened to “scatter her ashes someday,” the line would stretch from here to Tokyo. She’d die of rage—joining Xiahou Jie in history, scared to death by Zhang Fei’s roar at Changban Slope.

Alright. Luo Xiaolu had her figured out.

Total tsundere!

Cries at the drop of a hat, can’t even fake composure—what a disgrace to tsunderedom!

Low stress tolerance *and* tsundere? Self-torture! Go train your resilience! …Oh right, the toilet’s gone. Never mind.

Dealing with a tsundere? Time for blunt honesty.

“Why should I be angry?” Luo Xiaolu asked calmly.

“Because I *hate* you!” Xia Mo bit her lip.

“I’ve known you one hour. I don’t care.”

And she truly didn’t. Senior or not, Luo Xiaolu felt zero urge to befriend her—this girl stormed in radiating murder intent.

Xia Mo: “……"

Luo Xiaolu’s eyes widened in faux realization.

“Teacher Xia Mo isn’t angry… just sad. Should *I* feel sad too?”

No one actually gets upset over a stranger’s dislike… right? *Right?!*

“AAAAAH!!!”

Each word hit Xia Mo like a punch.

Her scalp prickled. She shot up, screamed, and bolted for the door—completely broken.

This Zhou Shuren is a demon! A *demon*!!

Not a pure white lotus—pink on the outside, black-hearted inside!!

So terrifying!

Just as Xia Mo tried to slip away, Luo Xiaolu zipped in front of her in a flash.

Xia Mo plopped onto the floor.

“W-w-what do you want?! M-my cousin’s a delinquent from the Sakou Gang—the top gang in Chiba! Touch me and you’ll regret it!!”

……Does she have paranoia?!

Luo Xiaolu felt defeated. She hadn’t said *anything* harsh—why was Xia Mo this scared?

Am *I*, the flawless literary girl, really that intimidating?

Xia Mo scrambled back until her shoulders hit the wall.

“P-p-please don’t pin me to the wall and make me kneel or kiss your feet or say weird stuff!!”

Luo Xiaolu: “?????”

What is this otaku *thinking*?! Are any otaku even normal anymore?!

Senior—get *serious*!!

Luo Xiaolu sighed and stepped closer.

“N-no… don’t…” Xia Mo squeezed her eyes shut, whimpering.

Instead—a gentle hand stroked her head.

“?”

Xia Mo blinked open her eyes. Luo Xiaolu gazed down with tender eyes and a smile sweet enough to melt any otaku’s heart.

“I’m so sorry for frightening you, Teacher Xia Mo. It’s my fault—I spoke poorly and caused misunderstanding…”

Luo Xiaolu activated a “skill card,” shifting into a warm, maternal big-sister voice. Smiling softly, she stroked Xia Mo’s head like soothing a flustered kitten.

Xia Mo froze, utterly disarmed.

“What I said earlier was just anger. It hurt that you disliked my work… so I lashed out.” Luo Xiaolu’s eyes dimmed slightly.

“N-no! I actually really like—”

“Teacher Xia Mo,” Luo Xiaolu gently cut in, eyes crinkling with a smile, “I truly, deeply respect you… *senior*.” She lingered on the word.

Sunlight burst through the clouds. Xia Mo’s pupils widened, sparkling.

Pure lotus? Green tea? Pink-cut-black? *Nonsense!*

This is a genuinely kind, thoughtful little sister!

Xia Mo’s heart ached with remorse. How could she have doubted her?!

“I do too! I’ve *always* liked Teacher Zhou Shuren’s work!” Xia Mo declared earnestly—completely ignoring Luo Xiaolu still petting her head.

Xia Mo stood, stared at Luo Xiaolu, and burst into tears again.

“Ah—Teacher Xia Mo, what’s wrong?!” Luo Xiaolu panicked.

“I-I’m fine… just feel so silly for misunderstanding you… and you’re still so kind…” Xia Mo choked out, wiping tears.

“It’s okay! Knowing *you* like my work makes me so happy!” Luo Xiaolu beamed.

Xia Mo sobbed harder—a full storm of tears.

“There, there~”

They chatted warmly about the physical release and anime adaptation. Xia Mo offered sincere congratulations; Luo Xiaolu stayed graceful, humble, crediting luck. A lovely afternoon faded. Xia Mo parted reluctantly.

Home. Bag tossed on the sofa. Xia Mo bounced with joy.

“Senior, senior, senior!”

She murmured it endlessly, replaying every moment, giggling with a lovesick grin.

That morning she’d called Luo Xiaolu a “pure lotus.” Now? Only that gentle smile filled her mind.

*How could that be fake?!*

Heart soaring, Xia Mo opened her laptop, clicked into *Your Lie in April*’s comment section.

Time to leave a heartfelt blessing with her main account.

Click send.

A pop-up flashed:

“Send failed. You have been added to the recipient’s blacklist.”

Got played!!