In the face of such straightforward words, the girls fell silent.

Of course, it is impossible for them not to be tired, and it is impossible for them not to feel hard. But man is a creature that stubbornly moves forward as long as he has a goal that must be accomplished, even if the road ahead is full of wind, frost, rain and snow, even if the bone cracks are inserted into the dagger, even if he is covered with thorns.

The silence that distracted Ayase didn't last long, and the girl with warm orange hair radiated her light and heat as always, leading the muse forward.

She stepped forward, with the same stubborn expression on her face as she had stood in the center of the stage more than a month ago in response to questions.

"Because we want to do it!"

She said this with an astonishing force in her words and expressions.

Eri Ayase was slightly distracted. People are social animals and have become accustomed to huddling together to keep warm when facing difficulties, which has formed small groups. Even if he is a warrior who has been walking alone, it is difficult to say that he does not crave the warmth of the crowd in his heart. Or will there be a moment of softness in the bottom of my heart, thinking about what it would be like if I had a friend behind me who I could fully trust.

At this moment, Takasaka Honoka, who is the center of the small group of muses, is like the sun at noon, as if even the continuous clouds in the sky can be ordered to retreat.

Eri Ayase asked herself, this may be the reason why she unknowingly has a certain degree of expectation for this campus idol group that is not professional in her eyes.

Sui Naiguo did not stop, and said clearly and loudly: "The practice is indeed very hard, the whole body has back pain, yesterday due to the weather interrupted for a day, today I do feel very sluggish...... But! If we want to stop the school from being abolished, we will definitely not lose to the student council president! ”

Speaking of this, Sui Naiguo paused, stood up straight, bowed slightly, and continued seriously and seriously: "So today, please also ask for more advice!" ”

The rest of the muses, as if they were unconsciously infected by it, glanced at each other, and then echoed in a loud voice: "Please advise!" ”

Eri Ayase leaned back slightly, and there was a great fluctuation in her eyes for a moment. Immediately after that, she frowned directly, and with an inexplicable mood, she pushed aside the crowd surrounding her and left directly.

Listening to the crisp impact sound of the iron door that was brought over, the rest of the girls present were a little dumbfounded, and Suino Guo even used a kind of "Did I say something very excessive just now?" With such eyes, he looked pitifully at Sonoda Haiwei and Nanqin Li.

Sonoda Haiwei shook his head solemnly, and Nanqin Li also returned her friend with a big smile.

Obviously, none of them thought that Honoka's approach was wrong, but they were also puzzled by Eri's reaction just now. According to the performance of the previous student council president, it is only right to either continue to debate with Honoka, or start training after being silent. Now this kind of development is really beyond the imagination of the girls.

The words are divided into two ends, and talk about Eri Ayase who walks down the stairs quickly as if she is escaping.

In order to be able to practice early in the morning, the whole muse arrived at the school relatively early, and Ayase Eri, who was temporarily their trainer, didn't have much of a feeling, after all, she usually arrived at school almost so early.

Because it was still early before the morning class meeting, the entire teaching building seemed a little empty. Otherwise, no matter how close the school is, it can't be so quiet during non-school hours.

Eri Ayase, who was walking slowly down the aisle alone, recalled in her mind her sister Arisa's evaluation of the muse and their songs, as well as the resolute tone and expression of the orange-haired girl before and just now.

The sky outside the window was still gloomy, but there was no sign of rain. But all this is just like the calm before the stormy seas.

Just as she was a little distracted, a familiar voice suddenly came from behind her.

"Me...... After becoming friends with Eriri and entering the student council together, I've been thinking about a problem. ”

Eri Ayase turned around, looking at the purple that appeared from the corner of the hallway, a little puzzled.

Nozomi Tojo didn't care about his friend's reaction, still smiling, and said to himself, "That's what Eri wants to do." ”

"Nozomi ......"

Eri Ayase's tone was a little low, and she looked a little confused in the face of Nozomi Tojo's heart-to-heart words.

"As long as we're together, we'll be able to understand—" Nozomi Tojo paused slightly, seemingly simmering in emotion, and then continued, "Eruri, every effort is for the sake of other people. Whether it's a good student with excellent character and academics, or being the president of the student council, or working hard to stop the school from being abolished this time......

"So, I can feel it? It was as if Eri had been enduring something. Eri, who is able to handle all aspects of the student council, is the only one who doesn't think about himself - not at all. ”

As he spoke, Nozomi Tojo looked directly into Eri's eyes as if he wanted to see through the other party. The blonde girl bit her lip, showing a rather wavering and weak expression, and quickly turned around, trying to escape.

Just like before...... Same on the rooftop.

Seeing this, Nozomi Tojo raised his voice, and said quickly in a slightly eager tone: "Even if you keep saying that you want the school to continue to operate, it's just out of a sense of responsibility as the student council president, right?" That's why the chairman of the board of directors doesn't agree with Eruri, right? Because it's not out of your own will to do such a thing, that's why the chairman doesn't want you to keep trying to force it all the time! ”

Eri Ayase's steps froze, and in the wide, empty corridor, she seemed to be sucked in by the center of the whirlpool of the deep sea, as if she were stumbling over the tenacious vines, as if her feet were bound by a swamp.

She turned her head and opened her mouth to refute, only to find that she had nothing to say.

Nozomi Tojo smiled slightly sadly and muttered, "So, Eruri'...... What exactly does Eri really want? ”

Eri Ayase's lips bumped up and down, but no matter how hard she tried, no matter how hard she racked her brains, she couldn't find a word that could refute it.

She has indeed been pushing herself and suppressing herself. The work of the student council and the pressure of the third-year students have been pressed together, and now she is facing the crisis of school closure - she is indeed a little stretched, she is indeed about to be powerless, and she is indeed ...... I can't find a reason to act.

But so what? The girl named Eri Ayase.,Hasn't it always been like this? has always been an excellent representative in the eyes of others, and even in this girls' school, she has received love letters from juniors quite subtly.

Well...... Regardless of whether there is anything wrong with this kind of favorite thing happening in this Otonoki Han Academy, we can see from here how good and perfect Ayase Eri is in the eyes of others.

So, what can others do about it? Expecting without permission, imposing one's ideals on others, thinking that you are beginning to understand each other, and then disappointing yourself - this is the worst thing to do.

Here you can faintly hear the slogans of the group of girls training from the top of the rooftop. Of course, when she was not at the scene, the position of supervisor fell on Sonoda Haiwei, who found her at the beginning.

The atmosphere of silence permeated the two of them, looking at the only girl who was worthy of her friend, with that solemn expression, Eri Ayase finally spoke.

"What...... Someone has to do this kind of thing, doesn't they? Because I have to find a way to come out, so there is no way to do it! ”

She looked a little hysterical, no longer the graceful and cold look she used to have.

"I ...... too I'd love to do what I love – and if that would solve the problem, I'd do it! ”

The hysteria was followed by a faint cry. This is a rare thing in Ayase-e, at least, Nozomi Tojo, who has always been holding a deck of tarot cards and is mysterious, also showed a surprised expression - such an unfolding seemed to be beyond her expectations.

Eri Ayase's azure pupils filled with tears, and she gritted her teeth and said all her inner words like a broken jar: "I know I'm clumsy, and I don't know how to express it. But...... But now that I have said that I want to be an idol, do you think I can say it? ”

After finishing speaking, under Tojo Nozomi's slightly guilty gaze, the blonde girl turned straight and ran away, leaving a little bit of crystal along the way, shining by herself.

The purple-haired girl opened her mouth to stop it, but in the end she didn't say anything, leaned against the wall a little weakly, and muttered to herself, "Am I a little too much?" Even if...... The original intention was to make Eriri good ......"

Ever since he noticed that Ayase Eri accidentally revealed a different attitude towards school idols, Nozomi Tojo has been silently thinking about how to make this girl who has been suppressing herself do what she really wants to do.

However, since ancient times, good medicine has been bitter, and loyalty is good for action. Just like everyone may complain about their teachers or counselors when they are students, but after stepping into the society, you will be especially grateful to each other after you really use the knowledge they teach you.

Knowing that this is for your own good is not the same as whether you can accept it ideologically.

Life is such an unstoppable journey, a missed thanks, a late gratitude, may be because of the inexplicable stubbornness and stubbornness of "since then, the two are disgusted", and can never be spoken.

She didn't want that.

So, something had to be done.

Yes, something had to be done......

With this realization, Nozomi Tojo felt as if his body was filled with strength again, and hurriedly ran to the rooftop of the building.

……

After school in the afternoon, all the students around me had finished walking, and even the students on duty had written their daily reports, picked up their school bags, and went to the teacher's office.

Eri Ayase propped her head with one hand and stared blankly at the scenery outside the window.

It was still overcast and the air was still humid, but luckily it didn't rain all day.

In other words, if nothing else, the children of the Muse will be training on the rooftop of the school building now, right?

Eri Ayase reminded herself several times that she should see how their training was doing, but her body stayed in her seat as if she was awkward, unwilling to move.

And this morning...... Still crying in front of Nozomi, right? It's so ...... It's so humiliating......

Eri Ayase sighed, which is why she didn't go to the student union even after school, and she was deliberately avoiding Nozomi Tojo all day today.

Of course, she knew what she said this morning, and the other party was for her own good. But she doesn't know how to face her friend who completely speaks her heart.

"I want ...... What to do...... Is it? ”

Eri Ayase's gaze gradually lost focus, and she said such a sentence as if she was singing in a low voice.

Suddenly, a white arm appeared in her sight, and Eri Ayase subconsciously turned her head and looked in dismay, following the direction of her arm.

What caught her eye was the right hand stretched out under Honoka's big smile, the rest of the girls in the muse, and the purple-haired girl she didn't know how to deal with yet.

"You ......"

Frowning and thinking for a moment, Eri Ayase, who couldn't understand the other party's intentions, chose to strike first.

Hono Fruit Masasei said, "The student president...... No, Eri-senpai, we have something to ask for. ”

Eri Ayase lowered her head slightly, and responded with some impatience, "Practice?" Then do all the problems I said the day before yesterday ......."

"Eri-senpai!" Hoonoka interrupted her words with a smile, and behind her, a group of girls with eager eyes, "Our request is - please join the muse!" ”

"Huh?"

Eri Ayase's pupils shrank and she opened her mouth to speak, obviously shocked.

Sui Naiguo still had a smile on his face, and it became more and more brilliant: "I hope you will sing with us and become a campus idol together!" ”

Eri Ayase blushed instantly, and couldn't resist the other party's smile and words, turned her head away, and proved herself a little anxiously: "What are you talking about!" How could I possibly do something like that? ”

"In the morning and noon, we heard from Senior Sister Xi."

"If you want to be it, just be honest~"

"Heh~ Is Nicole's predecessor qualified to say that?"

"Huh! Wait – I didn't say I wanted to be ...... And...... Moreover, it would be strange for me to be an idol, right? ”

Subconsciously, Eri Ayase turned her attention for help to Nozomi Tojo, who was closest to her among the people present.

Nozomi Tojo just smiled and said in a flat tone, "Just try it and you'll know." There's no need for a particular reason, it's not because it's a heavy mission or responsibility, it's just because you want to do it, so let's give it a try—isn't that what Eri has always longed for? ”

"I ......"

"Isn't that how everything you really want to do starts with?"

Faced with such a conclusion that was too reasonable to refute in any way, Eri Ayase had to remain silent. And at this moment, the eight girls around her were all looking at her with a smile.

His eyes were rippling, his lips were twitching, and his heart was trembling a little......

Eri Ayase's eyes straightened, and she hesitantly stretched out her right hand, and then grabbed the hand that Honoka had been stretching out.

On his face, he had not seen a bright smile in a long time.