By the time the concert was over and the audience had left, and by the time we had cleaned up the venue and were ready to go home, the sky was already starting to glow orange.

"I think the final piece was played quite well, and my father praised it," Furukawa happily imitated Uncle Akiyu's tone as he walked on the ramp home, "It's been a long time since I've seen such an impactful stage." ”

"Great, I'm so happy."

Hearing Furukawa say this, Kotomi breathed a sigh of relief as if she was relieved.

"Why are we working so hard for her?"

"Oh~ boy, your face is really ugly and wonderful."

"But it's a shame you're still so energetic."

"Hmph~ I'm used to it."

No way, who told me to survive under the accompaniment of the piano every day during this time, even if I can't listen to the sound of the piano as music, but I have a little tolerance.

"What did she say... A lot of places are the same for small children. The older sister of the Fujibayashi sisters who walked at the back looked at Kotomi's back and said as if talking to herself, "Should I say that I can't let go of her~ or does it arouse maternal instinct?" ”

"Yes." Hearing her sister say this, Starling smiled understandingly, "I can do anything for Kotomi." ”

"You're such a nice person, how can you say that she is also your rival."

Rival?

Hearing what Apricot said, I touched my chin and thought about the slightly familiar noun.

So, it seems that the other day Apricot told me that starlings are right...

"What is a rival in love?"

"Nothing! Nothing! ”

Okazaki looked at the starlings and blushed his cheeks in a panic and waved his hands in denial, although he was also curious, but he still didn't dig deeper, so he turned his head and continued to walk forward.

That's not going to work~ Starling. Okazaki's kid is a wooden head, and if you continue in this state, he may not know your mind in the end.

Thinking of this, I can't help but worry about the thorns on the starling's future love path.

"This way, down here." Suddenly, Apron reached out and grabbed my sleeve and dragged me to the back of the line, and then gestured apologetically to Starling's hands together, "Starling, I'm sorry, Izumi seems to have something to say to me, you and Okazaki go to the front first." ”

"Huh~me?!"

It's obvious that you pulled me, how could it be that I was looking for you?

"Really? Think about it. ”

"It hurts! Pain, pain, pain! ”

Before he finished speaking, there was a sharp pain in the arm that was being held by Xing, and he forcibly swallowed back the words he was about to say.

This guy actually pinched me! And there is no mercy in the attack!

"But sister, Quan-kun seems to be very uncomfortable."

"Well~ I guess it's embarrassing." Retracting the hand that was pinching my arm just now, Xing looked at me with a bright smile as always, "What do you say~ Izumi?" ”

"Ahh

"But if it's uncomfortable..."

"It's okay, starling." Looking at Starling's worried eyes, I hurriedly waved my hand and explained, "Actually, I'm going to discuss the class affairs with Xing. ”

If I don't cooperate with Xing, maybe this arm will be useless, right?

"yes, that's right, I see."

Although I was still a little worried, hearing that I had said this, Starling decided to follow the advice of Apricot and me.

"What are you doing?"

"It's strategy."

"Huh?"

"Have you forgotten that you promised me to help the starlings?"

"I remember that, but does it matter?"

"Love starts with laying a solid foundation."

"Basics?"

"Is your head made of sawdust? It's so simple, I don't see it. ”

"You're rude."

"Good feelings." Looking at the starling in front of her, who was talking to Okazaki with a red face, Apricot touched her chin and explained to me with a professional expression, "The first condition for becoming a lover starts on the premise that both parties have a good impression of each other, so I said~"

"Do you want Okazaki to have a crush on starlings?"

“Bingo！”

"I see, but will it work?"

"Just watch with confidence, I'll let you know when I need help."

If only that were the case.

But looking at the confident apricot now, I can't say the worries in my heart, so I just nodded silently.

"Sister, look ahead!"

Starling suddenly let out an exclamation and pointed to Furukawa and Kotomi, who had already walked to the fork in the road.

"What are they doing?"

In front of Furukawa and the two of them was a middle-aged man wearing a black top hat, sunglasses, and a black trench coat.

"Wait, what does he want to do!"

I saw that the man in black seemed to be saying something to Kotomi, but Kotomi seemed to be frightened by him, trotted back a few steps and tripped on the ground, and when the man in black walked towards Kotomi excitedly, Furukawa, who reacted on the side, hugged his waist and stopped him from moving forward.

"Nagisa!"

"Okazaki-san!"

"Sister Kotomi!"

Okazaki, who was walking in front, rushed over with an arrow to separate the man from Furukawa and block them in the middle; Starling, who usually gives the impression of being timid, runs in front of Kotomi and spreads her arms to protect Kotomi behind her like a mother chicken.

"Tell us if you have anything to say!"

Xing walked in front of everyone in a dashing manner, and confronted the man in black with his waist full of momentum.

"No... I'll visit again another day. Noticing Kotomi's timid expression behind the starling, the man pulled the brim of his hat and nodded to us, "Then, see you another day." ”

"Who's that guy?"

"That's... It's the bad guy," grabbed Starling's shoulder, and Kotomi kept shaking her body, "Bad guy." ”

Looking at such a beautiful qin, everyone couldn't help frowning worriedly, but no one answered, after all, in this sudden state, what should be said better?

Although I don't know why Kotomi is afraid of that man, and the reason why everyone is hostile to the man in black is because of his sudden action, I don't know if it's an illusion or a memory problem, but I always feel like I've seen that man somewhere.

Looking in the direction the man in black left, I thought.