Right now, I'm standing next to the school gate waiting for Kotomi.

Apricot, starling, Furukawa and Okazaki are also there.

Everyone leaned against the wall with their bags and waited for Kotomi to arrive.

Looking at the constant flow of students and parents coming in and out of the school gates, I couldn't help but ask.

"What's going on today?"

"Don't you know?" Xing looked at me in surprise, but she reacted immediately, "Ah~ That's right! You're a transfer student. ”

"This weekend is Father's Day, and there are events on Saturday and Sunday."

"Father's Day?"

"Yes, there are also performances from extracurricular clubs," Furukawa patiently explained to me, seeing my doubts, "but the drama club hasn't officially started its activities yet, so I can't participate." ”

"That's right..."

Nodding, I didn't say anything more.

Speaking of which, we've all been busy with Kotomi lately, and the revival of the drama department has indeed delayed a lot of time.

However, even if I couldn't attend the Remembrance Day because of this, I don't think you regretted it.

"But luckily, today is the anniversary of the school's father."

The apricot on the side sighed with relief.

"Why?"

"You forgot," motioned for me to lean my head over, and Apricot whispered into my ear, "we didn't apply to the student union." ”

"Woo~ Oh no, I actually forgot!" Pressing my forehead, I let out a long sigh of frustration, "I wonder if it's too late to go now?" ”

If you are warned and banned by the student council for this reason, then you are really sorry.

"So you're stupid, didn't Xiao Zhu say before that we can't participate? Even if you apply, you will not be approved. ”

I see, it should be said that it is worthy of apricots. It's because you know that if I say it, I will definitely go to the student council to apply, and then if I am rejected, I may be targeted by the student council today, so that the original plan will be affected, which is really a great military advisor.

Wait, that's not...

"It's okay to break the school rules!"

"Shhhh If you don't say it, I don't say it, who else knows? Shut my mouth up. ”

Seeing me nodding in understanding, Xingcai relieved herself to let go of the hand covering my mouth.

However, my move with Apricot didn't attract everyone's attention because...

"It's Kotomi!"

Pointing ahead, Starling shouted happily.

With a familiar school bag, a familiar hair accessory, and that brisk pace, Kotomi walked up the ramp as usual.

"Ahh ”

"Good morning, Kotomi."

"Good morning."

"Good morning."

"Good morning, Kotomi."

“……”

Tilting her head, Kotomi looked at us slowly with an incredulous expression.

Then, bend down and salute.

"Waiting for me?"

"That's not a matter of course."

"Huh?"

Kotomi obviously didn't understand Apricot's answer, and still looked at us puzzled.

"Isn't it your birthday?"

"Ahh That's right. ”

"And then, about the gift," Apricot took something out of her bag and handed it to Kotomi, "give it." ”

It's a thin piece of paper like a movie ticket, and the left half of the paper is painted with a brown gourd-shaped thing, although it's a bit weird, but it should be a violin, right? On the four corners of the paper, many dumplings rejoiced.

Sure enough, I still insist on using the big family of dumplings...

"Violin gift rolls?"

"It's Kotomi, the violin you like, I wanted to give it as a gift, but..."

Furukawa bowed his head apologetically.

"I'm sorry..."

"Ahh I'm sorry too. ”

Starling also followed Furukawa to apologize to Kotomi.

Then, we told the story as it was, and gave us the violin from the original owner... The violin broke halfway through... I don't know how long it will take to fix it... However, it will definitely return to the way it was, so you need to be patient until then... Wait a minute.

Kotomi listened motionlessly.

"Thank you," Kotomi didn't blame us, but smiled at us with tears in her eyes, "I'll wait, it's very exciting." ”

I happily looked at the hand-painted "Violin Gift Certificate".

"So, we're back in the department, do you have anything to do next?"

Seeing the time on my watch, I proposed it to everyone who had been standing at the school gate for a long time.

"Things?"

"That's right, that's right~ Kotomi is also here."

"Hehe, you'll find out when you get to the department."

Agreeing to my proposal, Furukawa and Starling happily took Kotomi's hand and ran towards the department.

"Izumi, what are you doing standing there?"

"Aren't you going back with us?

Kazuko Okazaki, who was walking behind, saw that I was still standing there and didn't move, so they stopped and looked at me curiously.

"I still have to wait for someone, you two go back quickly, I'll be here in a moment."

I shook my head and waved my hand wryly urging them to hurry up.

"Wait for someone?"

"Ahh

"Really? Then you have to come back quickly. ”

Okazaki didn't delve too deeply.,After a word of advice, he followed.,But Apricot's words...

"Izumi! If you dare to do something suspicious to me, you know what the consequences will be, right? ”

"Yes, yes, yes!"

I hurriedly replied loudly.

Whew, what a terrible sixth sense.

———————————— dividing line————————————

"Sorry, I'm late."

Pulling open the door to the department, I scratched my head and walked in, embarrassed.

"You~ finally know that it's coming!"

"Izumi-kun just in time, we're getting ready to light candles."

"Hurry up and close the door, come and help."

When everyone in the room saw me, they immediately waved me excitedly to hurry up.

"That guy, there's actually a special guest today."

"Huh?"

"Please come in."

Stepping aside from the door, I let the person behind me in.

"Ahh

When Kotomi saw the old gentleman dressed in black walk in, her smiling face instantly lost its color.

The apricots also stared at me and the old gentleman with an expression of being a great enemy, but they didn't know if they knew something, and Okazaki just looked a little surprised.

There is nothing you can do about this reaction, after all, the old gentleman has only met them once, and that meeting made Kotomi cry, even I thought he was a bad person before I talked to him, not to mention them who only had one side?

"Then everyone take it easy," noticing the smell of gunpowder wafting in the air in the department, I coughed dryly and hurriedly introduced everyone, "This gentleman is Kotomi's guardian, and I just happened to know that he had something to give Kotomi today, so I invited him to join Kotomi for her birthday party." ”

“…”

Not... What's going on with this atmosphere of silence? I have always thought that my resistance to pressure is quite strong, but I have been suppressed and almost out of breath, although no one spoke, but I still felt that everyone's eyes contained deep reproach, especially from the northwest There was a murderous aura... Hey! Apricot when do you have an extra dictionary in your hand?!

Oh no, that apricot guy has switched to battle mode.

I feel like my vest is chilly.

However, compared to me in a cold sweat, it should be said that it is the maturity of an adult, or the experience of the world, the old gentleman was not affected by this atmosphere in the slightest, walked from behind me to the front to face them, and bowed his head deeply.

"I am the one who was appointed as the legal guardian of Kotomi Ichinose, and I am very grateful to everyone for taking care of Kotomi-kun on weekdays."

The old gentleman said, with a calm and sincere attitude, not at all like facing a few children who are much younger than himself.

To everyone's surprise, no one said a word, and the old gentleman's unexpected actions had shaken their previous understanding.

“… I mean, it's not like a badass at all. ”

Although it was quiet, in the quiet room where even a needle fell on the ground and could be heard, the apricot muttered very clearly.

The old gentleman smiled slightly, not paying attention.

Walk forward and place the box you saw yesterday on the table.

"Ahh

Seeing the box, Kotomi whispered.

"That's Daddy's suitcase..."

"It was sent to the institute yesterday," the old gentleman nodded, and said affirmatively, "I opened it and looked at it, and I was sure that it was Dr. Ichinose's thing, and I felt that I must give it to you today." ”

Kotomi looked at the dilapidated box silently, her right hand clutching her left wrist tightly.

"Papers, is it in there?"

The calm tone, although desperately suppressing feelings, is still a small trill.

"Open the box and take a look."

Gently pushing the box towards Kotomi, the old gentleman looked at Kotomi without expression.

“…”

After hesitating for a moment, Kotomi reached out to the box, but stopped when it was about to touch.

"Kotomi, we're here."

Okazaki worked her behind Kotomi.

"yes, come on, Kotomi!"

Apricot clenched his fist and cheered her on, and Furukawa and Starling on the side also nodded.

"Kotomi, open it and take a look."

Knowing that it was me who bothered Kotomi, I should have closed my mouth and silently stood by and watched at this time, but I couldn't help but say to Kotomi.

Looking at us, and then at the box on the table, Kotomi finally nodded with determination.

Kotomi puts her hand on the box and presses the unlock button for the box as everyone watches.

With a "snap", the metal clip on the box opened.

Taking a deep breath, Kotomi pressed her hand on the lid and slowly lifted it...