"Congratulations on Muse's first live performance concluding perfectly. You already have many fans, and you need to work a little harder to gain more popularity, so you can save the academy..."
After the live, Yoshino, Kousaka Honoka, Minami Kotori, and Sonoda Umi, who had already changed back into their clothes, were at the school gate.
Although afterward, thinking about what she had done made Yoshino feel utterly embarrassed, she was in a very good mood because she had helped Muse change its original fate, and she had been smiling from then until now.
Minami Kotori stepped forward and hugged Yoshino; she was still a little moved.
"This is all thanks to Yoshino's help. If it weren't for Yoshino, I guess no one would have come to see our performance today."
"That's right! Because of Yoshino, all the students in the school are supporting us now. No one, not even the teachers who initially didn't take us seriously, came to apologize to us just now. Thank you very much, Yoshino."
Kousaka Honoka also hugged Yoshino on her left side. The teachers had just come to apologize to them.
"Yoshino is very right. You can't be afraid before doing something; as soon as you are afraid, you have already lost half. I will gradually overcome my shyness, so I will not lose from now on."
Sonoda Umi, unwilling to be outdone, hugged Yoshino on her right side. What Yoshino said was very true; she had always been shy. Now, even Yoshino, with such a shy personality, could go on stage for them. She had no reason not to change her habit of being easily shy.
"Ah, ah, ah..." Being hugged by three beautiful girls gave Yoshino an unusually great thrill.
She hadn't fainted yet because Shiina's training... had made her courage grow before this.
"Hey, hey, hey! Don't you guys push your luck too much! Yoshino is about to faint!"
How could a group of people who like to bully Yoshino also like to take advantage of her, just like Sister Nozomi?
"Ah, I'm sorry, Yoshino. We were too excited just now."
Minami Kotori quickly let go of Yoshino, seeing that she was starting to get dizzy, and apologized.
"Honoka, didn't you hear that Yoshino is already uncomfortable? Why haven't you let go of her yet?"
Sonoda Umi pulled Kousaka Honoka, who was still hugging Yoshino, off her, and hit her head hard.
"Ouch! What's the big deal~ I just wanted to hug Yoshino a bit more, it's not like it matters."
Kousaka Honoka pouted and said discontentedly. She felt a sense of loss when she let go of Yoshino, which was why she didn't want to release her.
"Honoka!?" Seeing Kousaka Honoka's unrepentant expression, Sonoda Umi got a little angry.
Although she also wanted to hug Yoshino more, it was only if it didn't bother Yoshino.
"No, don't quarrel, Honoka, Little Umi. It's okay, Yoshino, I feel fine."
"That's why you can't spoil Honoka too much, Yoshino. It's not good."
"Exactly, exactly. Someone like her will get carried away if you praise her even once, so you can't praise her, Yoshino."
Shiina and Sonoda Umi stood on a united front, speaking to Yoshino.
Shiina indicated that this was the best ally; they should team up against Empress Honoka.
"Waaah~ You're all bullying me." Looking at the two of them badmouthing her, Kousaka Honoka expressed that she was just a little excited when showing happy emotions. Why were they talking about her like that?
"But didn't Xiao Guǒ always pull us forward when we hesitated?" Minami Kotori spoke up for Kousaka Honoka.
"Because of that, haven't we also encountered a lot of terrible things?"
Thinking of those somewhat unbearable past events, Sonoda Umi expressed helplessness; she was always the victim.
"Indeed so." Minami Kotori said with a wry smile.
"Honoka always forces things on people."
"But Little Umi, have you ever regretted it?"
Minami Kotori looked at her with curiosity. At least she had never regretted it.
"..." Sonoda Umi fell silent.
Yes, she had never regretted it. She had been messing around with Kousaka Honoka since childhood until now.
"Hey, Yoshino. Are you interested in visiting Homura's house? We have delicious and suitable snacks at home. Would you like to try them?"
Kousaka Honoka looked at Yoshino expectantly. She wanted to take Yoshino home and show her cute classmate to her mom and sister.
"Go, go to Homura's house?" That seemed to be Kousaka Honoka's house.
She remembered it was an old shop that sold traditional Japanese sweets, so Yoshino was naturally interested in seeing it. But now... "Let's not today, Honoka. Someone is waiting for me at home for dinner. If I don't go back, she'll be alone at home. I don't want that."
"...Is that so?" Kousaka Honoka felt a little disappointed hearing Yoshino's refusal.
However, thinking of Yoshino's personality, she quickly recovered.
After all, Yoshino was so kind, and family was more important.
"Then, when you have time next, please come visit our house. It's a promise."
"Okay, then it's a promise."
Yoshino nodded. She would visit Homura's house eventually; after all, they were already friends.
"Then we'll head back first, Yoshino. But before we go... let me have a farewell hug."
After saying that, without waiting for Yoshino's reaction, she hugged Yoshino tightly. Without waiting for Shiina to speak, she let go of Shiina and made her escape.
"Then I'd like a farewell hug too."
Minami Kotori indicated that she couldn't fall behind either. After a light hug, she also followed Kousaka Honoka and left.
"..." Sonoda Umi didn't say anything.
She just hugged Yoshino and then left directly, without taking away a single cloud.
"Waaahhh~ How are you so skilled? Sonoda Umi! You're not that kind of child!"
Hugging without a word was even worse than the previous two.
"Shiina, don't be angry." Yoshino soothed Shiina, who was constantly waving her hands.
"Yoshino is being taken advantage of more and more frequently now, and that's not a good thing."
Because Yoshino's actions today deepened their affection for her, those three would probably become even more reckless.
"No, let's not talk about this anymore, Shiina. Let's go, Sister Nozomi is waiting for us now."
Turning around, seeing Toujou Nozomi walking towards her, Yoshino jogged over.
"Someone is waiting for me to come back. Someone is waiting for me."
Toujou Nozomi looked at Yoshino running towards her, squatted down and opened her arms, and Yoshino hugged her.
However, this scene was being watched by four pairs of eyes, though the two were unaware.