One day in second year middle school, on the way home, Lin Youyou suddenly pulled Fang Tong into a small grove.

“Fang Tong, I want to touch you.”

“Ah? Okay…”

In her memories, loli Fang Tong didn’t understand her friend’s words, but still reached out and held Lin Youyou’s hand.

“Not that kind.”

Lin Youyou rubbed Fang Tong’s smooth pale fingers and shook them off.

“Then… what kind?”

Seeing Lin Youyou’s gaze no longer concealed, beneath long lashes lay an expression Fang Tong had never seen.

An inexplicable panic rose in her chest.

“Fang Tong, are we good friends?”

Lin Youyou stepped forward and pinned her to a tree.

“Of course! You’re my best friend!”

Young Fang Tong puffed her cheeks, answering loudly.

“But I think we’re not close enough. I want us closer.”

“Closer?”

Lin Youyou’s words seemed to bind her thoughts.

“Only something the closest people can do. Do you want it?”

“I… can I really?”

At that description her heart burst like popcorn, sweetness filling her chest.

“Of course. You’re the most important person. You like me too, right?”

“I like… being with you, but…”

The word stirred unfamiliar feelings.

“If you don’t want it, then forget it.”

Seeing hesitation, Lin Youyou stepped away as if leaving.

“No! I want to be closer. What should I do?”

“Hehe, I knew you liked me. Take off your clothes.”

“Ah!?”

“Be good. I’ll make you happier.”

Pressed between the floor and her warmth, Fang Tong felt uneasy but feared stopping her.

“D-do I really have to?”

“Don’t you want closeness?”

“But what does that have to do with…”

“Just listen.”

Her breath heated Fang Tong’s face, strength fading as she obeyed and lifted her skirt.

“Good. Put this on.”

Lin Youyou produced a red cloth and tied it over her eyes.

“What’s this?”

“If you close your eyes, senses sharpen. Don’t remove it, or it won’t work.”

“Why close them?”

“Because… like this!”

Before finishing, Lin Youyou’s hand slid inward across her exposed abdomen.

Like a hunting serpent she spread heat across Fang Tong’s body.

To her eyes Fang Tong was a ripe pomegranate, an untouched forest welcoming its first hunter.

“Youyou… strange… don’t… mm—”

Accelerating movements shattered thought. Trying to resist, she was silenced by a warm tongue.

* * *

Only when the air turned humid did Lin Youyou stop.

Looking down, she licked her fingers and lifted Fang Tong’s face.

“I knew you liked me. How was it?”

“…mm…”

Too weak to answer, Fang Tong stared blankly.

“Good. You’re marked now, so you’re mine. I’ll leave tomorrow but return, my little Fang Tong.”

Recalling this memory, Fang Tong could hardly believe it.

‘It was real. A second-year girl pushing me down. Leaving saliva and scent everywhere.’

Worse, her past self obeyed, even undressing herself.

‘Was that right? Was I really that naive?’

Even from her old perspective, maybe not impossible, it was Lin Youyou after all.

No, what was she thinking?

Why call such a person friend?

Perhaps compatibility existed because Lin Youyou shaped it.

Maybe leaving without goodbye was mercy.

‘But the mystery was solved… Lin Youyou liked girls, no wonder she didn’t care much when I was male. Why did my memories return only now? It was ridiculous.’

She could almost feel phantom touches again.

Was her sensitivity rooted here?

Memories surged freely now.

Lin Youyou had promised to return.

For the first time that promise worried her.

Did transferring mean coming for her?

Realizing this, Fang Tong hid behind her textbook.

Delay as long as possible—

‘At least don’t seat her nearby.’