Buzz –

Accompanied by vibration, the mobile phone alarm went off for the fourth time, and for the fourth time it was casually turned off by the starfish with his eyes closed.

Before the fifth time, her door was slammed.

Knock knock!

Seiichiro Maki outside the door spoke in an anxious tone, "Starfish - why haven't you gotten up yet!" ”

"Hmm, it's so noisy......"

She closed her eyes tightly, burrowed deep into the warm bed, and pulled up the quilt to cover her ears.

Still a voice came in.

Not her father, but the voice of another man who was very important to her.

"It's alright, Mr. Seiichiro, let the starfish continue to sleep. When she woke up, I told her that we set off first, and that we would definitely take her with us tomorrow. ”

“……”

His voice was undisguised, or he deliberately raised the volume, and the starfish opened his eyes suddenly, and he instantly came to his senses.

Let's go...... Next year......

She's leaving for a hot spring trip today!

"Ahhh

She hurriedly climbed out of bed, unable to put on her slippers, and threw herself at the door.

"Wait a minute! I'm up! ”

Hurriedly opened the door, and Naruse and Seiichiro stood outside, looking at her helplessly.

"Guess what time it is?"

"I'm sorry...... I'll get up right away......"

Seiichiro turned to go downstairs, and Naruse glanced at her pajamas and looked away.

"Hurry up and change your clothes, we'll wait for you downstairs."

"Okay."

Before going downstairs, he threatened again: "In more than five minutes, we will go first." ”

"Right away!"

How sleepy the starfish was a minute ago, how awake it is now.

Closing the door, she hurried to change her clothes, and then went downstairs with her luggage to wash.

"There's no time for makeup......"

She didn't have time to put on the contact lenses, so she had to wear the black-rimmed glasses first.

When she came out of the bathroom, Naruse had already picked up her things, and Hikaru Takikawa was also waiting at the door.

"Quick, starfish, the bus is coming."

Saying goodbye to Seiichiro Maki in a hurry, the three of them ran to the bus stop, where Naoko, Morimi, and Takikawa Tsuki were waiting for them.

The starfish turned around as she ran, for fear that the bus would appear behind her in the next second.

“……”

The bus is really coming!

"The car is coming!"

"Faster." Hikaru Takikawa grabbed her hand and dragged her forward.

Naruse was carrying something in his hand and ran faster than them, "Don't worry, I can catch up." ”

The three of them did not stop, but they were quickly overtaken by the bus.

The bus stopped at the platform in front of her, and Naoko got on the bus first, and the bus waited there ever since.

"Ha ......"

Rushing to the platform, Starfish didn't have time to stop to catch his breath before he was pushed into the car by Morimi.

When Naruse, who was left at the end, also got on the bus, the driver looked in the rearview mirror, and the bus finally started.

Morimi sat next to Naoko, and Naruse gasped and sat down next to the equally panting starfish.

"Spring Sea ......"

Naoko looked back at him.

"It's fine." Naruse took a few deep breaths, and his breathing gradually calmed down, "Just take a break." ”

Looking at the starfish next to him, he was in a state of dying.

She held the back of Naoko's chair, closed her eyes for a long time and didn't recover, and Takikawa gently stroked her back in the back seat.

"Didn't you say yesterday that you would be able to get up in the morning?" Morimi also turned to look at her.

"Uh......h The alarm clock didn't go off...... It doesn't seem to sound. ”

She raised her eyebrows, but she didn't poke them, and glanced at Naruse who was sitting next to her.

"I said it, let you go early."

Naruse leaned back in his chair, "It was Morimi who said to wait another ten minutes." ”

"yes, I don't remember." She spun back again.

Hikaru Takikawa leaned out from the back seat, "Is the starfish better?" ”

She nodded, still a little uncomfortable, and didn't really want to speak.

Seeing this, Naruse also reached out and patted her gently above her lower back.

"Would you like some water?"

Starfish nodded.

Naoko handed a bottle of water to the back, and Naruse opened it and handed it to her.

The first day of a hot spring trip begins with a panicked morning.

The bus swayed, and after more than 20 minutes, Naruse and his party were sent to the vicinity of Central Station to be dropped.

A few people had to get on the bus here and rush to Aomori to catch the Shinkansen bound for Sendai.

The train still had some time to come, and Naoko looked at the starfish's state, "The starfish didn't eat breakfast." ”

"Hmm...... I didn't have time to eat, so I came over to catch the car as soon as I got up. ”

Naruse put down his luggage and walked away.

When he returned, he had two sandwiches in his hand.

"Let's just take a moment."

"Thank you......" Starfish took the sandwich and ate it.

After eating a few bites, she looked at the few people who were looking at her, "Have you all eaten?" ”

"Hmm."

Naoko woke up early today, and Naruse ate breakfast at home as usual before going out, as did the other three.

After waiting a little longer, the tram finally came into the pit.

The carriage was empty, and several people were still sitting together.

Starfish hugged her bag, hesitating to use this time to put on light makeup.

"It used to take more than half an hour, so of course you can put on makeup."

Morimi sat next to her, looking at the delicate skin on her face, "Although I don't think it's necessary." ”

Naruse also looked over, his gaze lingering on her face for a moment, but he didn't say anything.

"Starfish look good without makeup."

Hikaru Takikawa has no scruples, and is more straightforward, "I prefer the way starfish usually look." ”

Naoko nodded in agreement.

"Makeup isn't good for the skin." Takigawa said.

As soon as a few people said this, the starfish also dispelled the idea of makeup, but the topic of makeup began to talk.

Naoko and Morimi basically don't wear makeup, except on some special days, such as cultural festivals or when there are many outsiders participating in events;

The same is true for Takikawa Tsuki, who is the top student in the third grade, and his younger sister Hikaru Takikawa never wears makeup.

"It's a bit of a hassle...... And I'm from the sports department, so everyone doesn't have the habit of wearing makeup. ”

Therefore, the most frequent makeup is still starfish, and her makeup skills are also the best among several people, whether it is for herself or for others.

"Where's Chunhai?" Hikaru Takikawa suddenly asked.

“…… What are you talking about. ”

Starfish also looked over, "Do high school girls in Tokyo wear makeup every day?" ”

"No, it won't." Naruse shook his head, "At least the private one I read before has no makeup at all." ”

"Really?"

Starfish was a little skeptical, "I don't see that's what the magazine says...... Or is it actually wearing makeup, but you don't see it? ”

Naruse was silent for a moment, not as confident as he had just been.

After all, he hadn't looked at any girl carefully.

"It's true." Naoko suddenly said, "The private high school that Chunhai studied is a prestigious school, and the school rules are relatively strict, and girls are forbidden to wear makeup. ”

Starfish was stunned: "Eh, that's ......"

"Is that so?"

Naruse himself didn't know that the original school still had this school rule.

"Yes."

Naoko smiled at him, "I've investigated a little before, and Harumi probably didn't notice it, after all, this is what girls only pay attention to." ”

"I see."

Morimi pushed his glasses and glanced at the two of them.

Whether it's the investigation or the party being investigated, it's a little too natural, right?

The tram stopped, and after a few stops, there were a few more passengers in the carriage.

"It's all people who go to Aomori."

"If you're going to take the Shinkansen, you'll have to go there."

Half an hour after the train departed, it finally arrived at Shin-Aomori Station. Naruse and his entourage also have to change trains here and get on the Shinkansen bound for Sendai.

(End of chapter)