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That's why she envies you, because you've done what she couldn't do and didn't dare to do back then.

[Vilvie sighed, "If only I could be like you, confidently expressing myself and doing everything so well..."]

[You mean she should just be herself... and she did imitate your tone quite well just now.]

【Hmm? Hiss...Eh?】

[After hearing your praise, Vilvi suddenly fell silent.]

She seems to have some ideas.

Chapter Six: Childhood Sweethearts with Absolutely No Romantic Feelings (4789)

From that day on, Wilvi visibly became more talkative, her grades returned to the top, she often had a smile on her face, and her speech was calm and gentle... just like you.

Although she sometimes reverts to her old ways, Velvi tries to improve, for example, by practicing music... but when she realizes she can't keep up with you in that area, she immediately gives up and starts thinking about what else she can use as a "substitute".

Soon, she found a "substitute" based on her own circumstances—magic!

Relying on her nimble fingers and keen observation, Vervier taught herself a few simple magic tricks. After trying them out in front of her classmates, she naturally received cheers and praise, quickly building closer relationships with them... Excellent! This "substitution" was a great success! Vervier was very satisfied!

Although I can't compare to you musically, I can still be "just like you"! You use music to connect with your classmates, and I can do the same with magic!

[Besides, because I really can't learn your gentle attitude towards people. It's not hard to maintain a gentle smile, but it's really tiring to maintain your tone and demeanor... She's not used to it herself, and she always gives herself away halfway through. Not to mention, she also feels that she's not suited to this kind of behavior, and she always feels that something is off.]

So she started to imitate you, making minor adjustments—her smile couldn't be changed; it's a sign of confidence, so it couldn't be altered. Maintaining good posture, while difficult, wasn't impossible, so she could try to preserve it, but also try to differentiate herself… After all, she couldn't lose her own "uniqueness." Just like you said, she should be herself, so in some ways, she needed to "differentiate" herself from you.

[Since that's the case... um... try imitating those actors on stage, using exaggerated movements and expressions to highlight your "uniqueness" and differentiate yourself from them. Coincidentally, magic performances also need some similar assistance; maybe it will attract more attention?]

And so, you just watched helplessly as Velvi gradually transformed into someone completely different from the original her—someone similar to you, yet different.

Both are full of confidence, both have excellent grades, both possess special talents in a certain area (referring to your music and Vivi's magic), and both have distinct mannerisms, only one is gentle and the other is flamboyant.

[Even though you both possess "another demeanor"—your frequent use of "indecent language" and Vilvi's extreme "social anxiety"—these are precisely the opposite of the personas you present to the public at this moment.]

Everyone was very satisfied with this. The students had made new friends and could often see magic performances from Vervie. Naturally, they were happy. As for their previous indifference towards Vervie, it was naturally swept into the corner of their memories.

Teachers naturally have no complaints about getting a top-performing student.

[Vilvie's parents were also very satisfied. Although Wilvie's recent behavior had been a bit strange, and she occasionally showed the same "social anxiety" as before, at least Wilvie now had many friends, didn't she? Especially the way Wilvie confidently presented herself made them quite happy.]

But only you know... that's not the case.

The biggest difference between you and Vilvi is that your usual gentle demeanor is your true self, while that abusive use of "vulgar language" is a "mask," an act, meant to let those who use "vulgar language" know that you are not to be trifled with. Aside from the initial politeness, you are also capable of violence... only in extreme circumstances.

But Vilvie is different. Her current confident demeanor is an act, a "mask" she's created to imitate you, in order to win the favor of others and achieve a similar situation to you... Her true self, her "socially awkward" nature, is hidden away, and as people become more and more satisfied with her "mask," she hides her true self even deeper.

[That's fine...that's probably what she thinks. After all, she got everything she wanted through this method, so there's no harm in continuing.]

She was like an actress on a stage, performing herself according to her ideal identity to satisfy the audience... and when she received applause, she felt satisfied, which deepened her performance and made her more immersed in the "role." As for whether she was still the same person she was, Velvi herself no longer cared much.

[Everyone likes it, and I like it too, so I'll keep this look and keep wearing this "mask" forever—Vilvie sometimes thinks like this.]

Unfortunately, she couldn't maintain that facade forever... because she found it difficult to keep that "mask" in front of you, especially when you were alone together.

[Perhaps it's because her "mask" is modeled after your appearance. In your presence, she always feels like an imposter meeting the real person, always experiencing a strange sense of panic... Then, with your comfort or gentle music, she slowly regains her composure, and finally, little by little, takes off her "mask," reverting to her timid self.]

At these moments, she feels a sense of relief, as if she has a rare intermission after a performance, and her tense spirit relaxes under the influence of your music.

At this time of day, she would unknowingly fall asleep in her chair... Her peaceful sleeping face was quite adorable.

[Especially when she suddenly wakes up and realizes she's asleep, her panicked expression is really hard not to laugh... Of course, at this time, Velvi will also specially put on a "mask" to offset her embarrassment and annoyance, using a confident smile and exaggerated movements to show off her budding figure, and saying things like, "Isn't my sleeping face beautiful? Are you mesmerized?", something like that, to deal with you.]

However, in the end, this demeanor will gradually crumble under your gentle smile and doting gaze, until she finally shrinks into a corner like an ostrich... That kind of expression, like a gentle older brother looking at his "silly" younger sister, is really hard for her to hold back.

At this time, you would squat down next to her and gently stroke her two-tone frizzy hair to comfort her... Sometimes you would even deliberately play with her hair on both sides, taking a small tuft of each color and holding it in your palm, then flipping it up and placing it on her head, jokingly saying, "Ta-da~ Velvet's new ears~"... Afterwards, Velvet would shyly and angrily press her hair back down and give you two light punches, not too hard, but rather like she was being coquettish.

Well... even though you always tease her, Vilvie is still grateful to you because being by your side, accompanied by your music, allows her a rare moment of rest, a precious respite, allowing her to rediscover... what her true self is like.

Although the more she acts this way, the more she envies you and the more she relies on this "mask," it wouldn't be bad to show your true self a little in front of you...

At least with you, she can return to her original self; at least by your side, she can find rest.

Like a harbor for an ocean-going vessel, she can rest here and wash away the fatigue from her "performance."

Perhaps for this reason, Vivi has unknowingly developed a certain dependence on you. At certain times, especially when she feels "tired," she becomes particularly clingy to you. At these times, you will understand that she is tired and needs "rest."

At times like these, you would proactively invite her, either to a music store or the school's music room, to play a soft melody for her to relieve her "fatigue" and allow her to take off her "mask" and get some rest.

[From an outsider's perspective, this process might seem... a bit strange about your relationship, perhaps a little too "intimate"?]

[And your invitation... specifically to Velvie... and it was just the two of you... This is a date, isn't it?! It's definitely a date, isn't it?!]

[Hmm...good, the rumors about you and Wilvi have started flying again, and even Wilvi's parents have found out about it. They had a special talk with Wilvi and said seriously—you're still young, it's not the right time yet, wait until you're older...They've really confused Wilvi.]

Although Vilvie had considered this possibility, expecting her to express even a hint of affection towards you was really asking too much. Besides, in her own eyes, she was just someone who wanted to imitate you, someone who wanted to chase after your "star," like someone who idolizes a celebrity, someone who wanted to become like you.

[If we're talking about liking someone... well, she certainly does like them, but not in the way others perceive it.]

[Perhaps there will be a chance to develop into a romantic relationship in the future, but Wilvi doesn't have any particular feelings right now, so she can only feel both amused and exasperated by her parents' attitude.]

As for your attitude towards Velvi? Hmm... this child needs care and supervision, otherwise she might forget "herself" one day.

And so, you maintained this somewhat delicate and peculiar relationship until high school... and "luckily," you ended up in the same school again.

--------

"Humph~?"

In the school's courtyard, Xi Wang hummed her own melody softly, casually flipping through the medical books she had found... The detailed explanations of acupoints from the Central Plains region were very interesting, allowing Xi Wang to learn more about medicine... She also learned which acupoints could numb which part of the body, which was quite useful.

Da da--

The footsteps, distinct and slightly ostentatious, were gradually approaching.

Xi Wang already knew who it was.

Sure enough, a short while later Xi Wang felt a weight on her thigh.

"Vilvi..."

With a somewhat helpless sigh, Xi Wang put down the book in her hand and looked at Wilvi, who was resting her head on her lap with a playful smile on her face.

"Tell me, what magic trick has the future great magician come to ask me to perform this time?"

"Hehe~ That's right! I've learned another close-up magic trick~ Of course, it's not difficult... You're the first one to see it, a future great artist, feel honored!"

"I already told you I plan to study medicine in the future... Oh well, whatever."

"You're already amazing, and this is before you've even had any formal training. With a little specialized training, you'll definitely become incredible... Look, here's a coin, right?"

"Just treat it as a hobby... Hmm~ Indeed, it's just an ordinary coin."

As Xi Wang spoke casually, he also checked the coin in Vilvi's hand to confirm its authenticity before handing it back to her.

"Hey~ Look at you, you're so amazing even with just a hobby, how are other people supposed to live? I know you secretly registered an account to upload your songs online, right? I remember you even had quite a few fans... Okay~ Look, this coin is in my hand, right? Clink~ Gone~"

"……How did you know?"

A hint of surprise flashed in Xi Wang's eyes... Vilvi had just held her hand up in front of him, but in the blink of an eye, the coin was gone. Vilvi had even put her hand in Xi Wang's hand and let him look through it... But Xi Wang searched for a long time and still couldn't find it. He even rolled up his sleeves, but still couldn't find it.

"Don't underestimate me, Velvi... I'm a great magician!"

"No, no, no... this has nothing to do with magic, right? Hmm... oh, I remember now, isn't that account [VV] yours?"

"...Hehe~"

Wilvi stuck out her tongue, which was a tacit agreement with Xiwang's statement, and at the same time stopped Xiwang from flipping her fluffy hair again.

"Not here~ And Xiwang, why do you always like to mess with my hair..."

"Because Velvi's hair is fun, and the distinct colors are very beautiful."

"That's funny... You really don't hold back. Oh well, it's you anyway, so I won't mind this little thing... Ta-da! The coin is actually here!"

"I'm a little helpless," Wilvi said, then lifted her collar and pulled the coin out of her breast pocket.

"...Isn't that cheating?"

"It's all because Xi Wang didn't check it herself! This is a victory for Wilvi!"

"Okay, okay, you win."

"Don't try to fool me with that tone! It makes me sound so naive... Besides, I've been working really hard to optimize my techniques!"

"Good good..."

Xi Wang smiled, then gently patted her head and smoothed her hair. He then took her hand and gently massaged it to relieve the fatigue in her hands caused by prolonged use.

jingle--

As the notification sound of special attention rang, Xi Wang took out her terminal and looked at the name of the sender, a smile unconsciously appearing on her lips.

"Wow, Xiwang, what's with that smile?"

Wilvi grabbed Xi Wang's arm, snuggled closer to him, and peered curiously at Xi Wang's terminal screen.

"Uh...bro, you're not having an online relationship, are you?"

When Vilvi saw the username "Golden Splendor," her eyes widened, and she asked in surprise.

"What online dating... What are you thinking? And don't call me brother, I don't have a sister like you."

"Brother, don't let yourself be fooled by those bad women outside... Ouch, ouch, ouch... I was wrong, brother, I was wrong... I'm sorry, Xiwang! Let me go! My hand is going to be ruined!"

At first, Wilvi was half-joking, but as Xiwang lowered his eyelids, the hand that was massaging Wilvi's hands suddenly tightened its grip, pinching an acupoint on her hand, causing Wilvi to beg for mercy.

Their interaction naturally attracted the attention of other students passing by...

"It starts again..."

"Here we go again, these two..."

Everyone sighed helplessly.

"Speaking of these two guys... have they been like this ever since they came to school?"

"It seems so... I heard they were childhood sweethearts, they've known each other for a long time."

"So these two... are dating? Don't the teachers care?"

"Both of them have excellent grades, why should the teacher care... Besides, they don't seem to be a couple, I asked them before."

"Huh? Are you kidding me? After all this, you're saying you're not? Besides, you're of the opposite sex, childhood sweethearts, and you've always been in the same school. I don't believe you if you say you're not lovers."

"I don't believe it either, but that's what they said, and from my perspective... these two seem more like siblings... right?"