"Click-"

At this moment, the sound of the door being opened was heard outside the room.

"I'm back."

Accompanied by the sound of the door opening, there was also the girl's voice as crisp as a silver bell, bright and cheerful.

"Okay, Issei, Artoria is back. We'll talk again tomorrow when we get to school. I lowered my voice and spoke briefly into the microphone.

"Well, then I'll see you tomorrow. Also, I'll think about your suggestion seriously. ”

After saying that, Yicheng took the initiative to cut off the call, and only the busy sound of "beep-beep-" echoed evenly in the earpiece.

Snapping the handset back on the landline, I adjusted my mood and walked out of the reception room.

Outside the room, in the hallway, a petite blonde girl is taking off her shoes and putting them back on the shoe rack.

When I saw the girl who had returned safely, I felt that all the tension and anxiety in my heart had dissipated in an instant.

With knee-length black stockings on her feet, a white dress top and a dark blue skirt, the most simple outfit on her body has a beauty and elegance that no language in the world can accurately describe.

This unique temperament can only be possessed by the girl in front of her.

"Welcome back, Artoria." I smiled and opened my arms at the girl I loved in front of me.

"......" The girl smiled sweetly, and quickly took two steps forward and got into my arms like a cute cat.

The warm and light body entered the bosom, and the fragrant and fragrant cooked smell suddenly penetrated into the nose without hindrance as usual.

This is the best proof that Artoria is still with me, and it is the best consolation that I have been trying to persevere to this day.

It's just that for some reason, there seem to be some extremely subtle impurities in today's familiar breath.

The dust from cigarette smoke, the nitrate from gunpowder, and the efu from gasoline.

This smell is basically unique to densely populated areas. At least in Fuyuki's generation of Fukayama Town, there is absolutely none, and it can only be said about the Shinto area.

"......" moved slightly, but I was silent on the surface, still welcoming the girl's return as usual.

"Goo......

A small sound suddenly came from the girl's belly.

"This ...... It's not Shirou, I'm just ......" For some reason, the girl's expression suddenly panicked, as if a child stealing candy was discovered by an adult.

"Understood, I'm going to get ready for supper. It's really not early, and it's normal to feel hungry. I reached out and stroked the girl's warm hair, smiled at her and walked into the kitchen.

"Thank you...... Shirou. Behind me, the girl whispered in a low voice.

In this way, except for a little episode, tonight was spent as usual without accidents.

The week after that was all about the rest of the week, after all, Artoria and I lived a relatively simple day, just moving between home and school.

There is also the guy Issei who said that he would do what I suggested, and I don't know if the policy of the student council will change a lot in the future compared to before.

However, on the same rest night, Artoria finished her meal early and went out without giving a reason.

I was left alone at home, so I had to call Issei again and casually chat about some daily trivial matters to kill time.

"Speaking of which, is there any activity on the night of the rest day of the week in Xindu recently?" As the topic gradually opened, I asked pretending to be unintentional.

"Hmm...... Xindu? I don't really know much about that side of things. Hearing this, Yicheng's voice on the other end of the phone couldn't help but slow down, and he should have frowned as usual, "But I can ask a little about the guests who came to Liudong Temple from Xindu to offer incense in the next few days." ”

"Well, then please. Thank you Iksei. I quickly answered.

"No problem, it's a trivial matter. But Wei Gong, why did you suddenly pay attention to the recent situation in Xindu? You're obviously not the kind of person who likes to be lively......" There's a hint of doubt in Issei's tone.

"That...... I've heard people say that there are interesting events in New every Sunday night, so I thought about whether I should take Artoria with me next week. "After thinking about it, I ended up half-truthing about Issei," so...... You understand, Issei asked you for this matter, be sure not to say it to Artoria. I'm going to keep it a secret and surprise her. ”

"Tsk, that's true." Issei on the other end of the phone smacked his lips, as if he was sighing something, "Even if it's the Wei Palace, will the temperament of the girl you like change greatly?" Feelings are really an uncontrollable element, and the changes in human nature are immeasurable......"

"Alright, okay, stop laughing at me. So let's do this today, and we'll talk tomorrow. ”

Put down the receiver and look at the time of the clock on the wall, Artoria was still about twenty minutes before Artoria came home last week, just enough time to make a late-night snack.

With a movement of my shoulders, I walked into the kitchen and began to prepare.

As I expected, the girl soon returned home with a hungry look, looking at me with a gentle and affectionate gaze, and raising her knife and fork to replenish her food.

Same as last time, the freshly washed laundry left a very faint smell of a crowded area.

Seeing that the girl was silent, I didn't take the initiative to ask. Anyway, I've already asked for a percent, and the specific situation will be known through investigation.

The purpose of this is not suspicion, nor is it targeted, but only out of the purest and most simple concerns.

Choosing to believe does not mean blindly ignoring it. If Artoria really has unspeakable troubles, at least I can bear it with her as much as I can while knowing the truth.

…………

Two days later.

When I arrived at school early in the morning, I received a glance cue from Issei around the corner of the hallway.

"Artoria, I remember that there is something on the student council side that I need help with, so can you go to the classroom first?" I turned my head and whispered softly to the girl who was walking side by side with me.

"Well, I see. Shirou, please go, but make sure to come back before the class starts, or ......" The girl nodded, but she was a little uneasy.

"Otherwise, you will be deducted points by the inspection team's name, and you will be scolded by Mr. Fujimura when you turn around, right?" I took the girl's words and touched her head with amusement in my heart, "No one really cares about that kind of thing at all, and the comprehensive test score in the school has nothing to do with future employment." Besides, a teacher like Sister Fuji will never learn to criticize students, and sometimes she will be teased by the students in the class until she cries......"

"But that's someone else, Shirou is not like them at all!" The girl's brows furrowed when she heard this, and her voice instantly increased several times, "Since you are a student, you must always take the rules and regulations of the campus as the highest criterion, just like the subjects of a country must always put the authority of law and order in the first place in their hearts......!" ”