In the world of anime with the power to stop time.

Chapter 124: Doesn't Like Being Touched by Women

A deathly chill enveloped her entire body. Even though she had long known about the existence of Strange Occurrences and had considered how to react if she ever encountered one,

the moment a Strange Occurrence truly appeared, all of Haruno Yukinoshita's composure and rationality vanished without a trace. Her mind was left with only blank bewilderment and a deep, primal fear of death.

"Haaah..."

"Haaah..."

Sitting on the floor, propped up by one hand, Haruno's eyes were wide, and her other hand trembled uncontrollably, her already pale face becoming even more ashen.

Lin Ye was quite surprised.

While he knew Haruno would be startled, he hadn't expected her to be frightened to this extent.

"Can you stand up?"

Lin Ye asked.

His familiar voice finally pulled Haruno back from her frozen bewilderment.

Lin Ye walked over to Haruno, extending his hand. Seeing that Haruno didn't take it voluntarily, he clasped her hand and pulled her to her feet.

The next second,

Haruno's graceful form naturally slumped against Lin Ye's body.

Soft and yielding, though still trembling slightly.

"I told you you'd regret it,"

"No..."

Haruno stammered, her teeth chattering. The solid body she leaned against brought her warmth and a sense of security. She forced herself to suppress her inner fear and looked up at the terrifying figure that had appeared.

The figure had its back to her, walking to the dining table. It quickly turned and sat down, reaching out to open a package and prepare to eat a small cake on the table.

What remained in Haruno's mind was still that grotesque face, but now, the black long hair concealed the Strange Occurrence's appearance, preventing her from seeing its current look.

But just from this side view, she felt this could be a stunningly beautiful and charming girl.

"She is..."

Haruno's heart calmed slightly. With her composure returning, she realized that this Strange Occurrence had an immense connection to Lin Ye.

She wouldn't be in mortal danger.

"Miyuki Kuroshima, my friend."

As he spoke, Miyuki Kuroshima's movements froze. She turned her head slightly to look at Lin Ye's side. At that moment, Haruno once again clearly saw the beautiful figure's face.

Where was the grotesqueness? This was clearly a stunning beauty!

Her cool demeanor instantly reminded Haruno of her own younger sister, but compared to her sister, this female Strange Occurrence, Miyuki Kuroshima, utterly dwarfed her in terms of physique.

No wonder Lin Ye wasn't interested in her sister anymore; he had a beauty hidden away at home. Even if it was a Strange Occurrence, she was still a great beauty.

No man could dislike that.

Haruno mustered her courage and proactively greeted, "Hello, I'm Haruno Yukinoshita."

No sooner had she spoken than Haruno felt a cold, sharp aura washing over her from the female Strange Occurrence. She keenly sensed the displeasure and hostility within this coldness.

It was... the animosity of one woman towards another.

Why was this happening?

"I know you."

Miyuki Kuroshima spoke calmly. "You're the Service Club president."

What concerned her was that Lin Ye had brought this 'Yukinoshita' woman back to his apartment. She couldn't help but overthink it.

Haruno was startled. "Uh, I'm not..."

Lin Ye also realized Miyuki Kuroshima had misunderstood. "Miyuki, she isn't the Service Club president. Her sister, Yukino Yukinoshita, is the president."

"Sisters..."

A soft mutter caused Lin Ye a fresh wave of worry, fearing Miyuki Kuroshima might do something beyond his expectations.

"I've finished eating."

In just one minute, Miyuki Kuroshima had finished the small cake. "It doesn't taste good."

This made Lin Ye pause, as he had bought the same type of cake. "Next time, I'll get you a tastier cake."

Lin Ye promised. Miyuki Kuroshima was now his important support force. She could help him deal with certain Strange Occurrences and provide assistance.

He certainly had to meet the girl's needs.

Haruno silently stored this information in her mind.

Miyuki Kuroshima nodded slightly.

Lin Ye then added, "I still need your help with a test."

He pointed to Haruno. "To see if she can touch you."

In the Inner World, he could touch Miyuki Kuroshima, but not in the real world.

He had never tested if others could touch Miyuki Kuroshima in the real world. Haruno was perfectly suited for this test now.

"Hello..."

Haruno adjusted her mindset, enthusiastically raising a smiling hand.

But Miyuki Kuroshima didn't extend her hand. Her gaze was cold. "I don't like being touched by women."

Haruno's smile froze on her face.

"I'm leaving."

The next second,

Miyuki Kuroshima's figure vanished from where she stood, as if she had never been there.

Haruno slowly withdrew her gaze, looking at Lin Ye with a hint of resentment. "Lin-kun, it's not nice to scare me! Does Lin-kun just like seeing my ugly, disheveled state when I'm scared?"

"That feeling seems pretty good."

"You're so mean."

She said coyly, completely unbothered by what had just happened.

This was Haruno; rationality always took precedence. Had it been any other woman, she would likely be throwing a tantrum by now.

A thought surfaced in Lin Ye's mind. He suddenly yearned to see Haruno lose control and go wild. At least then, she would be her true self beneath that woman's facade!

"So she's the beautiful female Strange Occurrence you've brought to heel?"

She suddenly noticed Lin Ye looking behind her.

"Miyuki, she said that. It has nothing to do with me."

Haruno instantly shivered all over, her eyelids twitching.

She hadn't left?

She cautiously and timidly turned to look, only to find an empty space.

Turning back, she saw Lin Ye's uncontainable smile. She understood; she had been tricked.

"Lin-kun,"

"It's just that Miss Haruno herself has a guilty conscience."

Yes,

she did have a guilty conscience. Facing Lin Ye, she still had some confidence and knew that Lin Ye had his principles and bottom lines, so a few playful taunts wouldn't be a big problem. But a female Strange Occurrence was different.

What if the other party acted abnormally and made a move? She wouldn't have anywhere to complain.

Even if Lin Ye wanted to protect her, what if that female Strange Occurrence wanted to kill her?

"I do have a guilty conscience! What if such a beautiful woman has ideas about Lin-kun? What if she accidentally takes me as a love rival? What should I do? I can't bear to leave Lin-kun!"

Haruno snuggled next to Lin Ye, raising her small head, her beautiful eyes glistening as she gazed at him. "But as long as Lin-kun is by my side, that's all that matters. I believe Lin-kun will definitely protect me."

"Within my capabilities."

"And beyond your capabilities?"

"I'll prepare the best burial plot for you."

"How sad."

Haruno made a sorrowful face, her exaggerated expression looking as if she was truly about to cry.

"Lin-kun has no sense of humor at all. He doesn't know what girls like to hear."

"You're not a 'girl' in my eyes."

"Tsk."

Haruno clicked her tongue. "Even I can get upset."

She glanced around, checked the time. "If Lin Ye doesn't have anything going on, I'll head back. Yukino is still waiting for me!"

She emphasized the word 'anything', implying a strong hint.

"Be careful."

Haruno smiled as she left the apartment and got into the car downstairs.

"Yamada-san, let's go to Yukino's place!"

The black sedan slowly drove forward once again.

Along the way, Haruno sat with her arms crossed, eyes closed.

In truth,

Haruno had also wondered if, as a Strange Occurrence Player, she could successfully navigate it and become an outstanding player.

But her performance tonight made her realize that she was merely stuck in her imagination, completely unaware of the vast gap between reality and her ideals.

"Strange Occurrences,"

they were not merely terrifying because of their grotesque appearance.

To be friends with a female Strange Occurrence, what exactly had Lin Ye been through?

Haruno suddenly recalled the 'bitch collar' Lin Ye had once used to threaten her. Could it be?

She remembered Miyuki Kuroshima's fair neck, completely devoid of any decorative collars. Then, considering the way the two interacted, Haruno ultimately concluded that Miyuki Kuroshima and Lin Ye's relationship was definitely not a master-servant bond formed by an item.

Perhaps they truly were just friends!

Being friends with a female Strange Occurrence... she wondered how many Strange Occurrence Players had achieved that.

"Young Miss, we've arrived,"

Without her noticing, the car had stopped.

"Yamada-san, you can go back first! I'll be staying at Yukino's tonight."

After Haruno entered the apartment building, the driver started the car and drove off again.

Haruno took the elevator and quickly arrived at Yukino's apartment door.

'Ding-dong...'

In just five seconds, the door opened.

"Oh, Yukino, so fast! I thought you would've gone to bed early, which had me worried."

Under Yukino Yukinoshita's watchful eye, Haruno stepped into the apartment.

The familiar scene remained unchanged.

"Oh, right, there's something I need to tell you, Yukino!"

Facing her older sister's smile, Yukino Yukinoshita instinctively felt a bad premonition, thinking it best not to listen.

"If it's not important, you don't need to say it."

"Oh, but I have to. I'm going to say it."

The more her sister resisted, the more invigorated she became. "Lin-kun actually wants to live with Yukino and even hoped I could persuade you to agree to start a wonderful cohabitation life with him!"

Yukino Yukinoshita slowly formed a mental question mark.

That guy wants to live with her? What a joke.

"Impossible. Please stop joking around."

Yukino Yukinoshita stared at her sister.

"I wish it were a joke, but Lin-kun really said that,"

"It's true?"

"It's true, but he didn't expect to succeed at all. However, I thought if I could persuade Yukino, it would surely be a huge surprise for Lin-kun. Yukino, are you willing to help your sister with this favor?"

She wondered if her sister had lost her mind.

Asking her own younger sister for help — to agree to live with Lin-kun?

Surely, she was the only sister in the world so uniquely unconventional!

"Sister, you can live with him yourself."

"Eh!"

Haruno was shocked. "How could I? He's my future brother-in-law! How could I live with him first? How about this... the three of us live together! There are two rooms, so I'll just take one."

Yukino Yukinoshita immediately turned and headed for her bedroom.

"Don't go, Yukino, don't go!"

But Yukino Yukinoshita only left behind a retreating back and a loud slam of the door.

"She's mad,"

"But even an angry Yukino is adorable."

She didn't know what demands their mother would make of Yukino this weekend.

Perhaps nothing at all, or perhaps a direct proposal of engagement, or cohabitation, or dating. Anything was possible.

Letting Yukino 'get a taste' in advance was also a preview, preparing her mentally so she wouldn't be completely bewildered later and not know what to do.

"I hope Mother's actions align with what she said!"

'If Yukino doesn't like it, I won't force her.'

Haruno had always kept this phrase in mind.

She would never forget it in her life.

Haruno headed to the bathroom and began to bathe. As the warm water splashed over her, every cell in her body cheered, and she unconsciously relaxed.

Even now,

the lingering shadow Miyuki Kuroshima cast on her hadn't completely dissipated.

"Tonight, I'll just have to hug Yukino to sleep,"

She decided: every time Lin Ye bullied her, she would come and bully Yukino.

"Good idea."

This idea was brilliant.

Haruno's eyes sparkled.

Meanwhile, in her bedroom, Yukino Yukinoshita sneezed several times. A sudden chill ran down her spine, making her feel as if someone was plotting against her.

"That guy couldn't really want to live with me, could he?"

She looked at her phone on the desk, wondering whether to send a message or make a call to subtly inquire.

But in the end, she decided to find time to talk face-to-face tomorrow.

She figured her sister was probably just distorting and spouting nonsense again.

...

...

April 25th, Thursday.

Kyou Fujibayashi woke up early and prepared breakfast.

"Ryou, wake up. Breakfast is ready."

As soon as she heard Kyou Fujibayashi's call, Ryou Fujibayashi scampered two steps to open her bedroom door without even changing out of her pajamas. "Sis, you're up so early, you're not planning to go to school, are you?"

She absolutely didn't want her sister to go to that dangerous place, Chiba Elementary. At least not until Lin-kun confirmed it was safe again.

Kyou Fujibayashi paused. "No, I just couldn't sleep, so I got up early. You still have to go to work at the hospital, so I need to prepare breakfast and lunch for you, don't I?"

Her sister seemed very worried about her going to the elementary school?

Did she know something?

Kyou Fujibayashi wasn't entirely sure.

"The hospital has a cafeteria."

"Does Ryou think my homemade bento isn't as good as the hospital cafeteria's?"

"No, no, no, not at all."

Ryou Fujibayashi shook her head repeatedly, fearing her sister would misunderstand.

"Go get dressed and freshen up,"

At Kyou Fujibayashi's reminder, Ryou Fujibayashi sprang into action.

Ten minutes later,

Ryou Fujibayashi was eating the meal her sister prepared.

The night before last, when she realized her sister had encountered a Strange Occurrence and almost hadn't made it back, one of the first thoughts that crossed her mind was: 'If my sister never woke up again, I'd never get to eat her delicious homemade cooking again.'

As Ryou Fujibayashi ate, she savored every bite of this familiar, warm home-cooked breakfast, a wave of deep affection washing over her.

She decided that when she went on a date with Lin-kun this weekend, she would talk to him about her sister.

A date!

It was already Thursday.

But Lin Ye hadn't given her a clear answer or plan yet. Was their date going to fall through this week too?

Were other girls asking Lin-kun out?

...

...

"Haaah!"

At midday,

in the Service Club classroom,

Lin Ye's uncontrollable, mournful sigh drew the attention of Yukino Yukinoshita and Yui Yuigahama, who were having their meal.

"Haaah!"

"Um... Lin-kun, what's wrong? Is something bothering you?"

Yui Yuigahama couldn't help but ask. Beside her, Yukino Yukinoshita watched, waiting for Lin Ye's answer.

"My friend is too popular."

The Service Club room was bathed in bright sunlight, but Yukino Yukinoshita and Yui Yuigahama had fallen into silence.

Silence.

Especially Yukino Yukinoshita, whose eye twitched incessantly, betraying her unquiet mind.

"Po-popularity is a good thing... You should be happy for your friend."

"I think so too, but I just can't quite get over it."

Lin Ye sighed again. "This weekend, he told me he has dates with several girls, and he can't even manage his schedule. On top of that, he wants me to strategize for him, to arrange his time and activities. How am I, who's been rejected countless times, supposed to feel?"

"Scumbag,"

Yukino Yukinoshita said unceremoniously.

Yui Yuigahama could only offer an awkward smile.

"Um, Lin-kun, I think you should suggest your friend choose one and try to build a proper relationship."

"If only it were as simple as you say."

Lin Ye sighed. "How about you, Yui Yuigahama, come up with an idea? Or perhaps I should submit a request to the Service Club as a client?"

"Rejected,"

Yukino Yukinoshita immediately stated. "Our Service Club doesn't accept such requests. And those women, can't they even tell he's a scumbag? Are they blind? Are they just groupies?"

Calling herself a groupie? Classic Yukino.

Lin Ye felt a smile welling up inside, but he held it back, not laughing aloud.

"I don't think so!"

"You've seen them?"

"Yes, I have. They don't seem like groupies."

"Then that's it."

Lin Ye paused,

"They would never show a 'groupie' side in front of you."

"Yui Yuigahama."

Lin Ye unexpectedly called Yui Yuigahama.

"What is it?"

"Do me a favor."

"What favor?"

"President Yukinoshita thinks no girl acts like a groupie in front of me. You, perform one."

Yui Yuigahama: ???

The next instant, her face flushed crimson. "Th-this... this won't do, it's not appropriate. I, I don't even know... how to act like a groupie. Really... I truly don't know how to act like a groupie."

Yui Yuigahama shook her head like a rattle-drum.

Lin Ye looked helplessly at Yukino Yukinoshita, seeing a fleeting smile on her face.

"This Service Club... there's no place for me here anymore, sigh!"

The time for his visit to the Yukinoshita family's home was set for Saturday evening. At 4 PM on Saturday, the Yukinoshita family's driver would pick him up.

He was scheduled to go to Tokyo on Sunday morning, with Mai scheduled for his daytime activities. In the evening, he would enjoy Ai Hoshino's performance and even check out the newly joined idol rookie, Sayaka Maizono.

In addition, there were dates with Ryou Fujibayashi and Ren Nanase.

Lin Ye had considered postponing both dates, but remembering that he had already postponed their dates once, he felt it wouldn't be appropriate to do so again.

Friday night and Saturday daytime, then!

Lin Ye made the arrangements.

There was still enough time.

He sent messages to Ryou Fujibayashi and Ren Nanase—asking about their availability on Friday night and Saturday daytime.

"If anyone's not free, it just means it can be postponed."

Saturday evening and all day Sunday were already fully booked, with no free time left.

At the podium, Shizuka Hiratsuka-sensei was lecturing on Japanese literature.

Lin Ye was dozing off.

This Japanese literature class truly held no interest for him.

Shizuka Hiratsuka-sensei, observing Lin Ye's current state from the front of the classroom, was quite displeased.

This jerk,

acting so brazenly in her class? His blatant sleepiness made a wave of irritation well up inside her.

'At least show some respect for me as your teacher! I care about you so much; just give me some face!'

"Lin Ye..."

Shizuka Hiratsuka-sensei suddenly called out.

"Lin Ye,"

Both calls made all the students in Class J focus their attention on Lin Ye.

Many were curious, eager for some drama.

"Hiratsuka-sensei, I'm here."

Lin Ye showed no awkwardness, looking calmly at Shizuka Hiratsuka-sensei, making her briefly wonder if she had misjudged him and if he hadn't been distracted after all.

"Pay attention in class. Today's content has a high probability of appearing on the exam. I recall you saying you wanted to rank in the top three, didn't you?"

Top three?

Him?

The students in Class J whispered amongst themselves, many laughing, not believing it at all.

Shizuka Hiratsuka-sensei wanted this exact effect. She wanted Lin Ye to be mocked, to ignite his competitive spirit and desire to win, thereby focusing his mind on studying.

"Sensei, I will,"

"Listen well in class, study hard. I believe in you. Perhaps you can even defeat Yukino and become the top student in the grade!"

These words caused another ripple of murmurs throughout the class.

Yukino Yukinoshita also cast a sidelong glance at Lin Ye.

The class ended.

It was dismissal time.

But Lin Ye was taken to the guidance office by Shizuka Hiratsuka-sensei.

"You, you really!"

Shizuka Hiratsuka-sensei sighed, not knowing how else to advise him. She had already said everything there was to say. If Lin Ye wasn't going to listen, she truly had no other options.

"Sensei, for the next exam, let the results speak for themselves!"

"Alright, don't disappoint me."

'That's how it'll be!'

Shizuka Hiratsuka-sensei thought.

...

Today,

Isshiki Iroha had already thoroughly investigated Lin Ye's class and his daily routine.

"After school, he goes to that ice queen Yukino Yukinoshita's Service Club,"

"Wow! There's something going on there."

"And 'Service Club'... that name sounds weird from the start. Could it be..."

She really wanted to visit the Service Club immediately, but she couldn't find a good reason.

"Maybe I should just ask Senpai to fulfill his promise and treat me to dinner!"

As Isshiki Iroha, conflicted, walked along the campus's tree-lined path, she suddenly saw a small girl with long black hair not far away. The girl's slightly nervous demeanor made her feel a surge of concern.

'Is she looking for her older brother or sister?'

Isshiki Iroha thought for a moment and then proactively approached. "Hello, little one, are you looking for someone? Big sister might know them and can help you."

The small girl with black hair pursed her lips and thought. "Lin Ye. I'm looking for Lin Ye."

"Eh eh eh, you're looking for Senpai?!"

Isshiki Iroha was shocked.

She never would have imagined that this delicate, doll-like little girl was looking for Lin Ye.

What a coincidence in this world!

Her reason to go to the Service Club—hadn't it just arrived?

Isshiki Iroha was overjoyed.