As the day passed, by the end of the afternoon, the rumors that the first two of the first grades were in a relationship had been unconsciously forgotten in the corner, replaced by anticipation or anxiety about the final exams starting tomorrow.

“…… That's the exam schedule for these three days, let's do it. Tomorrow's duty students remember to come early. ”

With that, Nakahara Xue announced the end of the evening shift, picked up the attendance book and left the classroom.

"Let's go to the library." Hikaru Takikawa greeted Naruse.

"No, I'm not going there today, let's meet again in the evening." He turned around and said, "Naoko and I are going back early today." ”

"Why...... Ah, I see. ”

Matsu Chiaki is back today.

"Are you back already?" She asked.

"Hmm."

"Then I'll go say hello early."

"Didn't you go to the library?"

Hikaru Takikawa smiled, "Let's go to the Ichiha house again in the evening." ”

"I'll have to talk to them."

"I'll go tell you." She left the classroom.

Naruse and Naoko packed their things, and after a while, Hikaru Takikawa returned.

"I said it. Kazuha said that she and the starfish were going to stay. ”

"Hmm."

The three of them left the school, did not stop, and went straight back by bus.

When he returned to his house and saw that the lights were on inside, Naruse suddenly quickened his pace.

"Welcome back."

Song Qianqiu, who arrived home early, had already changed into a home coat and greeted his son who came home with a smile, as well as the two girls behind him.

"Are the three of you back, what about Kazuha and the starfish?"

"Still studying in school."

Naruse put down his bag, "Tomorrow is the final exam." ”

"Ahh Song Qianqiu hugged Naoko, and beckoned Takigawa Hikaru to come to his side, "Did the winter vacation start so early?" ”

"No, I don't. There are a few more days of classes after the exam, and the holiday will start the day before Christmas. ”

Looking at Hikaru Takikawa, who was as well-behaved as a puppy under the caress of Matsu Chiaki, Naruse didn't say anything, and his mother opened her arms to him again.

"Chunhai also let my mother hug it."

"Don't."

Hikaru Takikawa stayed until late in the evening before returning home, and before leaving, he made an appointment to come over in the evening.

"Are you going to Kazuha's house for a study meeting tonight?" Matsu asked.

"Hmm."

"Starfish will go too?"

"yes."

"Hmm......" Song Qianqiu thought about it for a moment, "why don't you hold a study meeting at our house?" ”

"Do you want to let Kazuha go back alone?"

"I'm really not sure......"

Song Qianqiu didn't say anything more, and instead asked when the two would come back.

"It's about eleven o'clock."

Naruse looked at Naoko, "But you can come back early today, and you have an exam tomorrow, so it's better to rest early." ”

She nodded.

"Mommy is waiting for you to come back at home."

"What are you waiting for, just rest by yourself."

"I'm going to be hungry at such a late hour." Song Qianqiu said.

"Ah, we're going to cook udon noodles at Ichiba's house today." Naoko picked up her words, "I said it yesterday." ”

Matsu Qianqiu was slightly surprised, and then looked at Naruse, "It seems that you guys are getting along well now." ”

"It's okay." He understood who she was really referring to by "you" and didn't say much.

It's getting late, and Matsu Chiaki rarely comes back, and Naruse and Naoko are going to the supermarket to buy more ingredients and prepare dinner.

And she offered to go with the two of them.

Passing by the real wood hotel, Matsu Chiaki went in to say hello to her ex-husband.

When she came out, she said, "The starfish hasn't come back yet." ”

"Not so early."

When he came to the supermarket, Matsu Chiaki said that he was going to choose the ingredients for dinner with his two children, but in fact, he enjoyed the screams and constant inquiries of the clerk at the cashier counter the whole time.

"Let's eat sukiyaki at night." Naruse discussed with Naoko, "Just buy more meat, and it's easier to clean up." ”

"Uh-huh."

After purchasing the ingredients, the two of them returned home and began to prepare.

Song Qianqiu spent most of her time watching from a short distance, sometimes her eyes resting on her son, and sometimes looking at Naoko.

After a few months away, the two have naturally become closer, but there seems to be a little bit of difference......

After staring at it for a while, Matsu Chiaki corrected his judgment.

No, the kind of emotion she thought was missing was actually so much that it was about to overflow.

It's just that both of them are restrained.

Convergence, let all the emotions be hidden in his body, and only the occasional gaze will flow out inadvertently with the gaze.

“……”

Song Qianqiu sighed silently.

Of course, she understood her son's problem, but she was even more surprised by Naoko's patience.

What should I do, should I do something?

She also had no idea.

Is this a problem that time can solve......

Until the two brought dinner to the table, Song Qianqiu was still pondering.

Seeing that she was leaning on the sofa and not moving, Naruse thought she was asleep, "It's time to eat." ”

"Here we go."

Matsu took a deep breath and got up to the restaurant, where he was quickly attracted by the aroma wafting from the sukiyaki.

"It smells so good."

Naoko smiled from the side.

"Good work."

Song Qianqiu suddenly hugged her and gently stroked her back, "It's hard work, in all aspects." ”

“……”

Naoko was stunned for a moment, raised her head, and Matsu Qianqiu had already let go.

"Let's eat—Harumi, crack me an egg."

"Aren't the eggs right next to you?"

"Mom's hands are precious, and she can't do such a thing."

"How can there be such an exaggeration......"

Naruse cracked three eggs in a row, handed them to Matsuchiaki, Naoko, and himself, and then sat down at the table.

The soup in the boiling pot is full of aroma.

"I'm moving."

After dinner, Hikaru Takikawa came to the door on time.

"Yue also knows the news of Auntie's return, so I'm very happy."

"Why didn't she come over, wasn't she home?"

"I'm still studying at the school, and I won't take tomorrow's exam in the third grade."

"It's hard now."

"Yes."

Packing up and going out, Naruse said again that there was no need to wait for them, and Matsu Chiaki just smiled and didn't say no.

When she came to Starfish's house, she wore black-framed glasses for a day, and she didn't bother to change her contact lenses anymore.

"Kazuha is at home."

"Well, let's go straight over."

When I came to Morimi's house, several people entered the door and were changing shoes, and Morimi asked casually:

"I didn't come in the afternoon, is there something wrong?"

Naruse was stunned for a moment, turned his head and looked at Hikaru Takikawa, "Didn't Hikaru tell you?" ”

"Just to say you have to go back early." Morimi said.

"Huh? Kazuha didn't ask. ”

“……”

The three looked at each other.

"My mom is back." Naruse said.

Naoko looked at the starfish beside her, and as soon as his words came out, she was stunned.

"When?" Morimi was also surprised, "Why, is the filming over there in Tokyo over?" ”

"No, let's go in and talk about it." Coming all the way through the snow, Naruse was so cold that he just wanted to get into the kotatsu immediately.

After several people sat down around the kotatsu, Naruse explained the reason why Matsu Chiaki had returned.

"Is the director down, it feels like it's going to be news."

"It's possible, it can be regarded as a warm-up for that new drama."

"Is that intentional?"

"How could it be ......"

Several people chatted for a while before starting today's study meeting.

"After the exam tomorrow, do you want the right answer?" Morimi suddenly asked, looking at Naruse.

He didn't even look up, "Don't go too far, honor student." ”

She just snorted and didn't say much.

After a few days of making up for it, on the last night before the exam, Starfish and Hikaru Takikawa had already passed the stage of striving for all subjects and continued to participate in the study meeting, the former was using continuous study to eliminate the anxiety before the exam, while the latter was more like coming to join in the fun.

"I might be able to get the best results I've ever had since I entered high school." Hikaru Takikawa said, "What if the teachers have expectations of me that they shouldn't have? ”

"Then keep working hard and meet their expectations." Morimi said.

"But I'm really not the material for learning, whether it's interest, talent, or hard work...... Attending a study session before an exam is already the limit. ”

She chattered, Naruse took the exercise book and found a problem for her to do, she quickly frowned and stopped talking.

After a while, he finally solved the problem in front of him and breathed a sigh of relief.

Morimi glanced at him.

"Haven't you been doing math all the time?"

"Just to pass the time." After checking it, Naruse climbed out of the kotatsu and went to the bathroom.

When I came out again, the starfish happened to come by.

The two were speechless, and they were about to pass by, when she suddenly grabbed him.

“……”

Naruse hesitated, didn't break free, just looked at her.

Starfish pursed her lips, "I have something I want to ask you." ”

Naruse glanced over into the living room.

"Hmm."

"Your mother...... How long will you stay in Tsumae this time? ”

(End of chapter)