Rubbing his hair, Hikaru Takikawa sat down next to Naruse.

"I suddenly found that the B&B is better than the hotel: it feels like being at home, especially when you are in the bath."

"Although it's someone else's home." Naruse moved slightly to the side, and the starfish had crawled back into his bed.

"I wanted to soak for a while, but I was a little bored sitting alone, so I came out."

The night was cold, and Hikaru Takikawa stepped on his left foot and his right foot, alternately placing his feet underneath, "It would be nice if there was a hot spring here, so everyone could soak together...... Have it? ”

"Nope." Naruse shook his head.

"Where?" She asked again.

"Hot springs......" Naruse thought for a moment, "Arashiyama, Kurama, or Okoto Onsen over there." ”

"Otsu?"

"On the other side of Mt. Hiei, on the edge of Lake Biwa, you can get there by train."

"Then we ......"

"—we're going back tomorrow."

Hikaru Takikawa leaned to the side and bumped into him, "Don't spoil the fun." ”

Naruse was knocked crooked by her, and soon crashed back again.

"Haha." Takigawa Hikaru didn't exert any more force, leaned on him, and turned his head to look at the starfish that had been silent for a long time, "What were Harumi and Starfish talking about just now?" ”

"Huh...... Talked a little bit about the studs. ”

Starfish looked at the two people huddled together, and regretted that they had just crawled back.

"Stud earrings......"

Hikaru Takikawa looked at Naruse who was leaning again, and suddenly raised his hand and touched his ear.

Starfish opened its mouth, but didn't know what to say.

"Why black?" Hikaru Takikawa touched the studs while pinching the soft flesh of his earlobes.

Naruse touched her, "I don't understand what you mean." ”

"I think the silver ones look better."

"Perhaps." Naruse doesn't deny her taste, "It's just that at the age when I wore earrings, I felt that black was more in line with my personality." ”

Hikaru Takikawa laughed, "It's like it's been years. ”

"That's how it feels."

She looked at him again and said nothing.

While chatting and watching TV, Hikaru Takikawa leaned on Naruse and didn't stand up until he dried his hair.

"I'm going to see if the moon is asleep."

"Hmm."

Watching her walk out of the living room, Naruse shook her head, always feeling that what she just said had a feeling of taking care of her sister or daughter.

"What's wrong?" Starfish, who hadn't spoken much, asked.

"It's fine."

After a while, Hikaru Takikawa came lightly.

"Asleep."

"I'm tired today."

She smiled, stopped again as she was about to approach, and stood in front of the glass sliding door, staring at the rainy yard outside for a moment.

“…… Oops. ”

She muttered, "I've only been here for a long time, and I don't want to go back anymore, what should I do?" ”

“……”

Naruse pretended not to hear.

"Is it because of skipping school, or because of traveling, or because of being with everyone."

Her voice was raised, and he didn't want to help her analyze, so he slipped into the quilt that had already been laid.

The starfish let out an "ah" next to it.

"Spring Sea ......"

"Everything. But tomorrow must go back. ”

"I know."

Hikaru Takikawa looked back and sighed, then suddenly opened the glass door that led to the courtyard.

"Hey ......"

The cold wind accompanied by some raindrops poured in at once.

She opened her arms and blew the cold wind for a moment before closing the glass door again.

"It's a little cold."

“……”

"Will it rain again tomorrow?"

"The weather forecast says it won't ...... Not necessarily. ”

Hikaru Takikawa returned to the living room, closed the other glass door on the side of the rim, and stepped over Naruse and the starfish to get into the innermost futon.

"Are you going to sleep?" Starfish looked at her.

"Huh?" Hikaru Takikawa drilled out again, supporting his head with one hand, "Oh yet, I just feel a little warmer in the bed." ”

Starfish nodded, looked at Naruse lying on his stomach on the other side, he took the remote control, and changed the program again.

"Chunhai, have you booked your ticket for tomorrow, what time is it?"

"Don't worry, I'll call you when I get up."

Hikaru Takikawa leaned forward and looked over the starfish's pillow, "There's one more thing I'm concerned about. ”

Naruse looked this way.

"We'll be back in Aomori tomorrow afternoon, do we still have to go to school?"

"I'm going to go home first."

"Go home first...... Does it mean that you have to go to school after that? ”

"Well, I'm going to pick up Naoko."

Hikaru Takikawa thought for a moment, "Then I'll go with Harumi." ”

Naruse was silent for a moment and said, "It's better to stay at home and accompany Sister Yue, your motorcycle can't carry three people." ”

"Hmm......"

Hikaru Takikawa thought about it for a while, turned over again, and lay down in a more comfortable position, but his thoughts were interrupted by this simple action and he couldn't take it back.

Then she quickly noticed another thing.

"Why is the starfish still sitting?"

"Ah......h

Both Naruse and Hikaru Takikawa had already gotten into the bed and lay down, only the starfish in the middle was still sitting, tilting his head and watching TV absentmindedly.

“…… I'm not sleepy yet. She said.

Naruse also looked at her, and suddenly thought of the previous conversation between the two, and was a little helpless.

She can't be waiting to go out for a late-night snack, right?

Looking at the time, it was just past nine o'clock.

"Hungry?"

“……”

Starfish turned to look at him, quickly lowering his gaze, "No." ”

"Let's lie down first. What happens after that...... More on that later. ”

Reluctantly, she lay down and looked at the ceiling.

In the bed, a touch of warmth suddenly rubbed against her calves.

Starfish looked at Hikaru Takikawa, she stretched her legs, and smiled at her: "What's the matter, Starfish seems to be a little reluctant." ”

"It's okay......"

She turned sideways to her, but there was nothing else to say.

Hikaru Takikawa didn't ask much, retracted his feet, and looked at the ceiling above him.

"Chunhai, do you want to turn off the lights?"

"Hmm......" Naruse turned his head to find the position of the switch, "Do you want to turn off the lights?" ”

"No, I don't. I can sleep with the lights on, and turn it off when Chunhai wants to. ”

And she did, as she said, with the lights on, it didn't take long for her to fall asleep.

The starfish that looked at her while wandering did not notice the decisive moment when she fell asleep completely.

That's amazing......

After staring at her for a while, Starfish lay down and looked at Naruse on the other side.

He was lying on his stomach watching TV, his phone in his hand, and the humming vibration had not been heard since he fell asleep.

Starfish turned to look at him, and after a while unconsciously rolled over and turned sideways to his side.

He's messaging Naoko, she guesses.

There was no movement of news, just because it was turned off.

And she took off her contact lenses when she took a shower, and she didn't bring out the pair of black-framed glasses that she usually used at home, so she couldn't see the expression on his face clearly.

“……”

But he suddenly turned his head to look at her, and he could still see it.

Seeing the starfish shrink into the bed, Naruse smiled, "Do you want to turn off the lights?" ”

The rain outside has never been quiet, and there is probably no chance to go out tonight......

Starfish nodded in resignation, and sighed in his heart, "Turn it off." ”

With a click, Naruse got up and turned off the light, and the living room suddenly darkened, leaving only the light of the TV.

"What about TV?"

“…… As you see fit. ”

Naruse didn't turn off the TV and went back to the bed.

After the room darkened, she could also guess more intuitively about the situation on his side - when his face was illuminated by the phone screen, it was a new message.

There's a lot of news about Naoko......

She couldn't help but think.

She wanted to see the expression on his face even more.

The starfish moved and moved in the bed to his side, and moved and moved until he could no longer get any closer—a little further on, his bedding.

She stopped, could see clearly, staring silently.

["Because...... Love starfish. ”】

“……”

Even at that time, he had never shown such a gentle expression on his face.

I already knew you were a liar......

But even so, I couldn't help but immerse myself in it, pretending not to find out, until the adults decided to separate.

If they hadn't been separated, would he and her pretense have continued until now?

Will it go from pretending to reality......

She closed her eyes.

I don't know how long it took, Naruse put down his phone, lay down and stretched his body.

"It's almost time to sleep......"

He picked up the remote control, prepared to turn off the TV, and casually glanced at the starfish sleeping next to him.

“……”

Tears were in the corners of her eyes.

The hand that had been pressed on the switch was still put down.

There was silence for a long time, and by the light reflected on the TV screen, Naruse moved a little there, reaching out and wiping the corners of her eyes.

Is it a dream of a mother who has passed away...... Or did you dream of him before?

“…… It's still like a child. His fingertips were wet, and he stroked her face and whispered softly.

(End of chapter)