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Li hope was slightly taken aback. He went to Xiao Deng's side and quickly said to the girl, "I'm sorry, Xiao Deng, it's my fault. I... I shouldn't have given you such advice!"
Seeing Li hope's remorseful expression, Gao Songdeng shook his head vigorously, but didn't know what to say.
However, Maki mocked, "Of course it's your fault, you idiot. I picked out all your clothes, and even designed your hairstyle. What kind of aesthetic sense do you have? You even went and gave advice to Izumi."
"Well……"
Normally, Riki would definitely not be convinced, but since it involved Takamatsu Akari, Maki's criticism actually made Riki feel a little better.
"However, we can't entirely blame you. How did you happen to run into Meow Dream and even wear the same outfit as her? That guy hates wearing the same clothes as others, so it's not surprising that he got angry," Maki said with a smile.
Lixi couldn't help but look at her sister. Although she didn't want to admit it, when it came to music and drums, Lixi didn't think she was any worse than her sister.
However, apart from that, whether as a woman or as a member of society, her older sister far surpasses her.
If it were her, she would know what kind of outfit would suit Xiaodeng better.
However, Maki just smiled and helped Koharu tidy up the grass clippings on her body, without saying anything.
Lixi knew that she was waiting for her to speak.
And asking her for help was the thing that made Li hope feel the most uncomfortable.
"It's not... Riki-chan's fault, it's me... I was too greedy. Just wanting to be human isn't enough... I also... wanted to become the girl who attracts Hachiman-kun."
These words made Lixi even more upset. Xiaodeng had rarely mustered up her courage, but now she showed signs of backing down.
"You're wrong, Akari. Greed is the proof that you became human." However, Maki's words interrupted Akari's negative emotions.
Xiaodeng looked at Maki, but the other only smiled and didn't say anything.
Lixi, who was standing nearby, was anxious. She knew, she knew, she knew what Maki wanted.
So she pulled Maki aside and asked, "You, can you help Koyuki become a charming girl?"
Maki smiled but didn't say anything.
"You can," Li hope said, answering his own question.
“But you’re not that kind-hearted, helping Xiaodeng for no reason!” Lixi continued.
Maki still smiled.
"unless……"
"You beg me," Maki said softly.
Lixi pursed her lips gently. Seeing the dejected look on Xiaodeng's face not far away, she wanted Xiaodeng to be happy no matter what.
"I beg you." Li hope was even prepared to kneel down.
Maki chuckled and said, "Alright, alright, after all, I'm not a demon, I was just joking."
This is nothing more than a small favor for me.
Small lamps are excellent materials in themselves; with proper embellishment, they can display a charm that is enough to attract Hanami, and they might even rival Nyanmeshi's.
Lixi's eyes lit up immediately. Subconsciously, she trusted her sister the most, and if she said that, she could definitely do it.
"However, you'll owe me a favor. Are you really sure about this?" Maki's lips curled up slightly.
“Okay!” Lixi knew that it was not good to owe her sister favors, but now she was ready to go all out.
Chapter Five: I Feel Pity for You
That night, Takamatsu Akari was asked to stay overnight at Shiina's house by Shiina Maki.
Maki explained with a smile that she wanted to finish quickly the next morning to create the most suitable look for her. Then she dialed Banami's number: "Don't worry, Akari is fine at my house. There's nothing wrong. You don't need to come over. Just come over tomorrow."
After hanging up the phone, Maki arranged for Xiaodeng to rest in the guest room and instructed Lixi to keep Xiaodeng company. She then turned around and went back to her room, remaining calm and composed throughout, as if she had already made up her mind.
Lixi and Xiaodeng, however, each had their own worries and tossed and turned all night, unable to sleep.
The next morning, just as dawn was breaking, Shiina Tatsuki had faint dark circles under her eyes; she had barely slept all night.
As soon as I entered the living room, I saw Shiina Maki sitting at the dining table, leisurely eating breakfast, looking relaxed and without a trace of fatigue on her face.
"Ara, Riki-chan, you're awake?" Maki looked up, saw the dark circles under Riki's eyes, and a playful smile appeared on her lips. She teased in a lighthearted tone, "Looks like you didn't sleep well."
Li hope's lips twitched. Just then, soft footsteps came from the stairs, and Gao Songdeng slowly walked down. She hadn't slept well either; her eyes were bloodshot, her face was pale, and a lingering unease remained between her brows.
After all, she had always been a loner, and staying overnight at a classmate's house was a first for her.
Given the shock she suffered at Toyokawa's house yesterday, it's normal for the little penguin to have insomnia.
"Oh dear, Akari's awake too?" Maki looked at Akari Takamatsu with a gentle smile on her face. Her tone was still light and cheerful, as if she was doing it on purpose. She said with a smile, "Akari doesn't look too well either, but it's okay. I've already notified Yuuki, and he'll be here soon."
"what?!"
These words struck Lixi and Gaosongdeng like a thunderbolt, leaving them completely stunned.
Lixi couldn't help but stomp her foot and shout, "Sister, how could you do this!"
I clearly wanted you to help Xiaodeng, but now you're not saying you'll help her. You're actually hurting her.
Maki put down her chopsticks and praised, "Mom, your breakfast is delicious."
Then he said to the two girls, "What's the rush? You two come with me."
After saying that, she stood up, turned around and walked towards her room on the second floor. Her expression was calm and composed, without the slightest panic, as if everything was under her control.
Maki had Takamatsu Akari sit in front of the dressing table, and then said softly, "Every girl has her own unique beauty."
Just like you, Lixi, thanks to my family's genes, you're actually quite good-looking.
Lixi seemed somewhat dissatisfied, saying that it was all thanks to genes, as if it had nothing to do with her.
"However, you're too clumsy with words and have a short temper. You don't have any gentleness at all." Maki changed the subject, her tone becoming even more teasing. "That's why I let you grow your hair long and dress in a cool and aloof style. As long as you shut your mouth, you'll look like a rare and beautiful cold and aloof girl."
Li Xi was completely speechless, his face turning pale and then red, extremely displeased, yet unsure how to retort.
Maki stopped teasing Riki and turned her gaze back to Takamatsu Akari in the mirror: "And Akari, you are petite, with a pure and innocent look in your eyes. You look like a well-behaved little hamster, so lovable."
Upon hearing the word "cute," Takamatsu Akari didn't show a happy expression; instead, she looked somewhat saddened—what she wanted was to possess the feminine charm that could attract Hachiman, the mature charm that could make his heart flutter, like Mana-chan or Nyanmu-chan.
Maki clearly noticed the disappointment on her face, but still smiled and said, "Therefore, the first thing we need to rule out is that mature style of dressing yesterday. It doesn't suit you at all. It will only make you look like a poor imitation and make you a laughing stock."
"Gulp..." Li Xi took an arrow to the knee.
"Then... what should I dress up as...? Hanami-kun will be here soon." Kodama had been thinking about this.
Maki smiled and said, "No rush, beautiful girls possess magical powers."
After saying that, she turned around and took out a bottle of light ivory-colored foundation and some cosmetics that Li hope didn't usually use from the makeup box on the dressing table.
"Close your eyes, relax, don't be nervous." Maki's tone became exceptionally gentle.
While checking the time, Li hope also observed the changes in Xiao Deng's expression and said, "Hana-kun is coming soon!"
"Alright, Lixi, what do you think?"
Maki pushed aside, and Riki looked at Koden's face with some anticipation; however, her face looked even paler.
Little Lamp realized this too, and looked even more worried.
"Sis, Xiaodeng's complexion looks even worse now, what are you doing!"
"Clothes, there are still clothes!"
Just then, the doorbell rang.
"Ah, no, Yanami has already arrived."
"I...can I hide first?" Xiaodeng said in a panic.
However, Maki remained composed, gently placing her hands on Kodama's shoulders and saying, "Trust me, now come with me to see Hanami. You don't need to change your clothes for now."
"Sister!" Li hope couldn't help but call out.
However, Maki glanced at her and said, "Do you think you understand men just because you're not a virgin? Silly girl."
Li hope choked on his food, and before Xiao Deng could agree, Zhen hope, almost forcefully, pulled Xiao Deng out.
Takamatsu Akari has never been good at saying no to others.
Lixi could only follow them out. They soon arrived at the door, and Maki gently opened it. The two girls quickly saw the somewhat hurried Banami.
"How is Xiaodeng now?" The concern in Banami's tone warmed their hearts.
This also made Takamatsu Akari even more afraid of disappointing Hachimi.
But when Banami turned her gaze to the side, she saw Xiaodeng's pale face. In the gentle light, she was as pale as paper and as fragile as glass.
The phrase "so pitiful to behold" seems to have been made for this moment by the little lamp.
That fragile yet innocent look instantly struck a chord with Banami's heart.
"Hana...Hana-mi-kun..." Kodama's voice trembled slightly, afraid that Hanami would hesitate to speak again like she did yesterday.
But the next moment, the boy walked past Maki, into the entryway, and hugged the little lamp tightly in his arms.
"I'm sorry, Xiaodeng, I'm so sorry about yesterday. I didn't mean to hurt you."
"No matter how you dress, you are the cutest to me."
"Huh?!" Xiaodeng and Lixi seemed to exclaim in surprise at the same time.
Lixi's eyes widened involuntarily, and he subconsciously looked at Maki, who was smiling at the door.
In Lixi's eyes, her sister at this moment seemed like a magician.
Lixi's carefully prepared outfit for Xiaodeng made Banai hesitate to speak.
But the older sister just casually applied makeup to Xiaodeng's face, making her complexion look even worse, which moved Banai so much.
This left Lixi with a deep sense of frustration.
Chapter Six: Keep Dry
The chill of late winter has not completely faded; the bare branches on both sides of the street are still covered with a thin layer of frost that has not yet melted. When the wind blows, it carries a bit of a crisp coolness, brushing against the hair of passersby.
Three beautiful girls with different styles walked side by side on the street, attracting a lot of attention.
At Maki's suggestion, they went shopping at a nearby large shopping mall to buy suitable clothes for Kodama.
Of course, with Maki as the art director and Hanami personally involved, at least the kind of ridiculous situation that Ritsuki did before won't happen again.
However, Xiaodeng's behavior seemed a bit strange. After being hugged by Yanami in the entrance hall, she now avoids Yanami whenever she tries to get close to her, and even keeps "walking around the pillar" next to the Shiina sisters.
When Banami tried to talk to her, her tone became even more flustered. Helpless, the boy had no choice but to give up for the time being and go to Riki, who had walked ahead.
He scratched his cheek and asked, "Hey, Riki-chan, it seems like Kodama is really afraid of me now?"
"Of course, you idiot!" Li hope frowned immediately upon hearing this, her tone tinged with annoyance. "You picked up Xiao Deng without saying a word, you're bound to scare her!"
"Ah, I knew it!" Banami suddenly realized, a hint of frustration on her face. "It's all Maki's fault. She wouldn't let me come over last night, which made me worry about Koharu's condition. I couldn't help myself when I saw her today."
“…Idiot.” Li hope said with a hint of bitterness in his eyes.
"What do you mean?" Banai looked completely bewildered by what she said.
Li hope thought to herself, "Xiao Deng isn't afraid of you right now, she's just... shy. You idiot, even a straight girl like me can see that. You're such an idiot..."
Thinking of this, she subconsciously recalled the scene in the entryway where Banami was tightly hugging the little lamp.
Thinking of this, Lixi recalled the scene from just now, and felt a pang of sadness in her heart.
Banami was happy that Kodama treated her this way, but... but she couldn't help feeling sad.
She... is so selfish.
"Um...that one, Riki." Suddenly, while looking at Banami walking ahead, she said casually.
"Spit it out!" Li hope said coldly, her mood suddenly sour.
Seeing that she didn't seem to care about her attitude, Banai spoke with a hint of apology, but still gently: "I... I might not be able to take care of you today. I mainly want to spend time with Xiaodeng. I apologize in advance."
"boom--"
These words struck Lixi's heart like a pebble, causing it to pound wildly and even making her gasp for breath.
This guy... he's always like this, stop saying things that... make people happy!
In Lixi's eyes, it seemed as if a seed of love was sprouting.
"Who...who needs you to take care of me! I don't need you to take care of me. You just need to stay with Xiaodeng and leave me alone!"
Our Lixi-chan is soft all over, except for her mouth.
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