In this world, Tuesday is a particularly unique day of the week. Why is it special? Because on this day, everyone in the world gets one hour of rest time—whether you're in school, at work, or even a government employee.
Unless you have a special job, you're allowed to arrange this rest hour however you like and truly enjoy it.
Of course, in general, places like companies and schools will pre-arrange a uniform break time to avoid chaos. They might delay the start of work or class by one hour or let people off an hour early. This hour is called the "Time of Peace."
This tradition stems from how devastating the Second World War was in this world. Many countries suffered heavy losses and feared that continued fighting would lead to human extinction. So, a call to end the war and share peace was made.
After more than a month of negotiations, on June 19, 1945—which happened to be a Tuesday—representatives from various countries signed a peace agreement on New Braleria Island.
The war ended the moment the agreement was signed. News of it spread globally in an instant, prompting countless people to cheer, finally able to let go of their constant fear and rest for a while.
Because this agreement could be considered the most important in human history, it restored peace to mankind. And to remember the painful lessons of war, someone later proposed during a United Nations meeting to "shorten" Tuesdays by one hour. That hour would be designated for everyone to rest.
The proposal was supported by the vast majority of member states that had just emerged from the shadows of war. Once it was approved, the shortest holiday, dubbed the "Time of Peace," was born.
Today, what started as a commemorative decision has, with the passage of time, become a global tradition.
One could say that it's not just a time of remembrance anymore—it's become an irreplaceable part of people's lives.
Alright, that was a long detour. In truth, it was just an excuse Chu Lian used to sleep in. Although she'd been in this world for nearly a year now, this sudden extra holiday still felt a little strange to her.
She liked it, sure, but it tended to mess up her biological clock. If she had just thought about how Ayase, who lived in the system space, lived like this every day, she might have felt better. Unfortunately, she never made that connection.
Dragging her feet for over half an hour, she finally got up at 7:30, yawning as she went to wash up. Afterward, she changed into the same clothes and accessories as yesterday. She had several sets of this outfit in her closet, so even washing them daily wasn't a problem.
With more free time than usual today, she didn't rush herself. Along the way, she casually bought some snacks and enjoyed the scenery. Occasionally, she'd sit down, watch the passing crowds and traffic—a very leisurely pace.
"Is that... Chu Lian?" At that moment, she was sitting on a park bench, her slender legs wrapped in white over-the-knee socks swinging gently as she sipped a bottle of milk. Just as she was about to shoulder her backpack and leave, she suddenly heard a surprised exclamation from afar.
She turned around curiously and saw an enormously fat man—probably weighing four or five times more than her—charging at her like he was sprinting a hundred meters. Startled, she grabbed her backpack and ran.
The fat man in a tracksuit shouted breathlessly, "Chu Lian-chan, Chu Lian-chan... BlackNeko-chan... BlackNeko-chan..." But his stamina was poor. Even though Chu Lian was just a loli, her physical strength easily outmatched his.
So the more he chased, the more he lagged behind. Eventually, he could only stretch out a hand and gasp for air, still shouting Chu Lian's name and online handle.
Hearing his shouts, Chu Lian stopped and looked back, realizing that the man was now bent over, panting heavily. Yet despite his state, he kept calling her name. He was probably an especially fervent fan, wasn't he?
She glanced around. There were plenty of people nearby, and judging by that fat guy's stamina, even if he came over, it would be difficult for him to catch her. Suddenly curious, she decided to ask what this guy wanted.
Ye Xiulong was bent over, gasping for breath, full of regret at having missed the chance to meet his goddess in real life. Who knew when the next opportunity would come?
Just then, a pair of slender legs in white socks appeared in his vision. Delighted, he ignored his breathlessness and looked up at Chu Lian.
But as soon as he raised his head, a few drops of sweat got into his eyes, making it hard to see. He was just about to wipe them away with his sleeve when a light, clear voice rang out: "Hey, fatty, here's a tissue." A tissue was stuffed into his hand and then swiftly pulled away.
He realized that Chu Lian had just placed her small hand into his big palm. It was a shame he froze and didn't hold on to her little hand—what a missed opportunity.
Not that he would've dared, even if he wanted to. Give him ten times the courage, and he still wouldn't have touched her. In truth, someone with his personality wouldn't even talk to a girl unless she was his idol.
He used the fragrant tissue to wipe the sweat from around his eyes, his face wearing an expression of bliss, as if savoring the lingering scent left behind by Chu Lian.
After giving him the tissue, Chu Lian quickly stepped aside. Seeing his expression now, she looked utterly disgusted. She figured that if she weren't here, he might've taken the tissue home to sniff daily.
A while later, after Ye Xiulong reluctantly tossed the tissue into the trash, Chu Lian finally asked, "Who are you? Why were you chasing me?" She had already guessed, but she couldn't say it outright—it would be awkward.
Having caught his breath, the big guy revealed a goofy smile—though in Chu Lian's eyes, it was perverted. "Chu Lian-chan... No, better to call you BlackNeko-chan. BlackNeko-chan, I'm your fan—a super fan! Ever since I first heard your beautiful singing, I've seen you as my goddess! You know, lolis are truly the most wonderful thing in the world!"
Great. Another hopeless case corrupted by otaku culture and obsessed with lolis. Judging by his figure and stamina, he was ninety-nine percent likely to be the kind of super fat otaku who never leaves his room.
Ye Xiulong would never guess that with just a few words, Chu Lian had already figured him out completely.
"So, what's your name?" Even though she already saw through him, he was still her fan. While not fond of his type, she wasn't going to reject her fans.
"Ye Xiulong. 'Ye' like leaf, 'Xiu' like cultivation, and 'Long' like dragon... Though my parents always say they picked the wrong name—meant to raise a dragon but got a bug. Still, I'm proud of my name. BlackNeko-chan, can I take a few pictures of you?" He started off bold but lost steam midway, as Chu Lian gave him a pitiful look that cut him deep.
Of course, that only made him like BlackNeko more. No way was he going to stop loving her just because she looked down on him. Lolis are supreme. My life is devoted to lolis. Let the disdain from lolis come even harder.
"Ever since I saw your videos and found out we're in the same city, I've been hoping to meet you. I even bought the entire 'The Wonderful Wizard of Oz' series you wrote, just for a chance to run into you. And today, I finally did—so please, let me take a few pictures!"
Ye Xiulong tried to bow, but without supporting his weight on his knees, he couldn't keep his balance. Yet using his hands would look impolite. After a moment of hesitation, he stood upright again and looked at Chu Lian with hopeful eyes.
Chu Lian checked the time—it was only 7:50, still forty minutes left. This was her second time meeting such a passionate fan. Since fate had brought them together, letting him take a few photos wasn't a big deal.
Overjoyed at her agreement, Ye Xiulong pulled a DSLR camera out of a small bag.
Wait a sec—aren't you supposed to be a shut-in? Why are you carrying a DSLR[1] around?
"Ahem, well... every Tuesday morning I bring my DSLR out, take a few photos during a walk, then sell them for some living expenses. The rest of the time, I mostly stay at home..."
People really shouldn't be judged by appearance. She had pegged him as a hopeless case, but he actually managed to support himself just with photography. She had clearly underestimated him.
Knowing her fan wasn't a total deadbeat made Chu Lian warm up to him slightly. At the very least, he could take care of himself. There was hope.
And so, under the skillful hands of a somewhat well-known online photographer, Chu Lian—walking through the park in her Sudi High School uniform, basking in the morning sun—appeared more beautiful than ever through his lens.
She had no idea how many scenes he captured that morning. By 8:20, she left the park for school, leaving behind a blissfully satisfied fat man cradling his precious DSLR, gazing at her retreating figure.
If there were angels, then the girl who had handed him that tissue must be the closest thing. It was a shame he hadn't managed to capture that moment. What a pity...
[1] Digital Single-Lens Reflex