I’ve got to hide—before Meow Meow-chan spots me!

She only knows me as the divine emissary of the Church of Bishoujo. If I face her here alongside Haitang, and she realizes I’m also Zhao Zhao’s cousin, that identity conflict could raise too many questions on both sides.

I looked around frantically for somewhere to hide, but there was nothing good nearby—so I did the only thing I could: dropped into a crouch, hugged my knees, and dove under the meeting table.

Ah, from down here, I had a perfect view of Cangyu’s legs across from me.

Even though over-the-knee black socks were technically part of the uniform, Aoba-chan was just wearing short white ones. I guess it wasn’t a hard rule. Her skirt wasn’t rolled up either, falling neatly just past the knees.

Safe, or else it would be too awkward even for me to be down here.

Then I heard Meow Meow-chan’s surprised voice from the other side of the table.

“Wait a second—it’s you, that girl who used their legs in that volleyball match, who skipped the opening ceremony for work?! You’re actually the student council president?!”

So they had bonded over volleyball that day. Guess they forged some weird athletic camaraderie or something?

“Ha. Ha. Ha. Ha! Small world, right?” Haitang’s laugh was way too theatrical. It made me slightly uncomfortable.

“I’m the one who asked Qiaojue to invite you, actually. If it’s someone like you, senior, I’d be very happy to have you in the council!”

Even though Meow Meow-chan transferred in, she’s still a second-year. Haitang calling her senior wasn’t wrong.

“Nice to meet you formally. Chen Haitang, Class 1-A. Newly elected student council president. I’ll be in your care.”

Since moving up to high school, Haitang’s been recruiting to build her student council entourage—and Meow Meow-chan’s clearly part of that plan.

“I don’t mind joining, but I’ve got limited time outside class. Idol work’s pretty demanding, you know?”

Well, yeah. I nodded under the table. She is an idol, after all.

She then pulled out a chair and sat down, smoothing her skirt under her with practiced grace. Being an idol, her skirt was a short, above-the-knee type, and from my angle… yeah, very dangerous view. Thankfully she’s been a girl long enough now to have picked up the good habit of keeping her legs together.

…Also, she smells really good? Some light perfume drifted down the second she sat. Considering everything, she’s way too feminine!

“It must be tough, balancing school and idol life. I get it,” Haitang said. “Honestly, I only want your name on the roster. Think of it as clout. In exchange, you can prioritize your idol work. Just show up when there are promotional events. There’ll be plenty of chances to perform on campus too. Sounds fair?”

“This school isn’t quite in crisis mode where we need a school idol to save us… but to be a top-tier idol, you should have the power to win over a whole school, don’t you think?”

That was Qiaojue, chiming in with some classic provocation tactics.

Silence fell for a moment. Then Meow Meow-chan said:

“Alright. I’m in.”

Haitang clapped her hands and walked over, beaming. Meow Meow, who’d barely warmed her seat, stood up again.

“If you’re the president, I’ve got no reason to say no.”

“Aw, don’t flatter me.”

“I’m not. When we played volleyball, I could feel it—you and I, we’re cut from the same cloth.”

“I felt that too,” Haitang replied.

Yeah. That cloth being combativeness.

“If we get the chance, I’d like a proper rematch.”

Is she even allowed to say that as an idol?

They stood shaking hands, laying on the praise thick like they’d been waiting their whole lives to meet. The mutual admiration was thick in the air. I couldn’t help wondering—if Haitang knew Meow Meow-chan was actually Lei Laohu, would she still want to help avenge me and Commander?

Right in front of me, two pairs of long legs in over-the-knee socks blocked any path out like prison bars. No escape.

Haitang’s legs were long and toned—solid and powerful. Meow Meow-chan’s were slimmer, but her proportions were gorgeous, especially the line from calf to ankle.

…Wait a sec.

Why do I sound like a creepy pervert right now?

The current me shouldn’t have a thing for girls’ legs, isn’t it?

Suddenly, Haitang bent down and peeked under the table, startling me.

“Well, well, Xiao Lei. I wondered where you went. What’re you doing under there?”

It was bound to happen eventually.

“…It’s cooler down here.”

“Cut it out. Come on out.”

With her nudging me, I had no choice but to crawl out. Haitang stepped aside to give me room.

Meow Meow-chan looked me over, brows raised.

“Have we met somewhere before?”

“Ahaha, I’m just a big fan~ I’ve been to your concerts! You must’ve seen me then!”

“No…no, it feels more familiar than that…”

“Uh—Meow Meow, want some fried chicken? And fries too.”

Haitang came over with the bucket, pointing her chin toward Cangyu, who was hunched behind a computer monitor.

“That kid eats junk food like this all the time. It’s ruining her growth. We’ve got to make sacrifices for her health.”

Don’t make mooching food sound so noble!

“No, I’m good—wait. Fried chicken? Fries?”

Meow Meow-chan suddenly pointed at me, eyes wide.

“Divine.. divine emissary-sama?!”

“Why now?! Why’d you suddenly remember!?”

“Twelve plates of fried food platters, you ate twelve whole plates that day!”

Oh. Right. When I was locked in that VIP room during Lose Moonlit, her minions caught me and stuck me there. I just kept ordering food… I really went through twelve plates?

“Divine emissary?”

Haitang tilted her head in mock confusion, but a mischievous smile was tugging at her lips.

She definitely knows something.

“So, what exactly is this ‘divine emissary’?” she asked.

Meow Meow-chan clearly didn’t want her old male identity to come out. She waved it off, trying to deflect.

“Ah, it’s nothing… Can I borrow Xiao Lei for a bit? I need to talk to her.”

“Sure!”

Wait—why am I being borrowed like an object? Can I get a say in this?

“But first, we need a photo,” Haitang added. “We need an ID pic for the student council. You didn’t bring one, right?”

She rolled over a portable whiteboard. “We’ll use this as a background and get Cangyu to photoshop it into a blue backdrop. Qiaojue, come take the shot.”

Qiaojue called back an “On it!” and came over with a compact camera rummaged from a cardboard box.

It wasn’t anything unusual, so Meow Meow-chan just went along. She pulled out a mirror—wait, she carries a mirror around now?!—and touched up her look before posing obediently in front of the whiteboard.

“Xiao Lei, your turn, come take a pic too.”

“I’m not joining the student council, though?”

“I’ve got other plans for your photo.”

“What kind of plans?”

“Don’t ask.”

Seriously? That’s got to be a violation of my image rights!

After the photo, Meow Meow-chan took me upstairs by the hand, practically dragging me along. She seemed to be heading back to her classroom.

She’s pretty popular in the girls’ campus—people everywhere kept calling out to her. All eyes were on us, and trailing behind her like this, I felt painfully out of place.

No doubt that she’s a rising idol star. I probably don’t even qualify as background material for her.

Break was almost over. I had to get out of the building and climb back down the rock cliff before class started again.

“Where are we going? My classroom’s on the first floor.”

She’s in 2-B, so there’s a 2-B on the girls’ side too?

“Sorry, I’ll let you go before class starts. Someone’s very convinced you and Chang Kai are the same person. I brought you here to clear that up.”

…Who?!

She leaned through the classroom doorway.

“Xiao Xi isn’t here… Rinka, come out for a sec.”

…

My scalp tingled.

Oh no. When did those two meet?

Did Commander start another subplot somewhere again without telling me?

The thing is—I borrowed this school uniform from Rinka. Sure, everyone’s uniform looks the same, but there are always subtle signs: the scent of detergent, a stubborn stain, even just the feel of it.

“What’s up?”

The long black-haired girl stepped out of the classroom, glanced at Meow Meow-chan, then at me.

“…Who’s this?”

“This,” Meow Meow-chan said, “is the divine emissary. The messenger who spreads the word of the Church of Bishoujo, and who changes the fate of the unfortunate.”

Ugh. That intro is so embarrassing!

“I’m not—I mean, that’s not—”

“Kai-chan? No, wait…”

Rinka’s eyes narrowed. She reached out, hands cupping over my chest. Feeling the warmth from her hand, I instantly jumped back, covering my chest.

What just happened?! Is she this kind of character now?

I was only wearing the summer uniform shirt, my defense is practically non-existent!

“Oho~ the divine emissary is not wearing a bra?! Are those… band-aids?! That’s so lewd!”

It’s not like I had a choice! There were no bras in your stash! I had to use band-aids or risk poking through!

“Wait. Flat chest. No bra. Don’t tell me—!”

Rinka’s eyes sharpened.

She darted behind me, yanked my collar, and checked the label. Then she leaned in and sniffed my neck. Her breath tickled my skin and made me squirm.

“This is my detergent… and there’s some dirt smell too.”

She grabbed my hand—I hadn’t had a chance to wash it so it was still filthy, with mud stuck under my nails.

“Everything lines up! You’re not Chang Kai—”

She jumped back and pointed dramatically.

“—you’re Zhao Zhao!”

Sorry, Commander.

…I might not make it back.