After returning from Kyoto, the starfish thought that he had given up some ideas, and everything he saw and heard afterwards consolidated this half-compulsive, half-helpless obsession all the time.

But in the early morning of her birthday, when she was alone with him, she got the right to make a wish, and she still couldn't help but want to be willful once.

"Just once, a little bit...... May I? ”

She gripped his wrist and let go of it a little, not wanting the force she had just unintentionally applied to be misinterpreted by him as a compulsion.

With a slight lift, his wrist broke free from her grasp.

“……”

The starfish's heart also emptied, and it fell straight down.

And he didn't leave.

"That's it?" Naruse turned around and looked at the girl who suddenly raised her head.

Starfish was stunned for a moment and immediately nodded.

"No problem." He looked at her, "Just hug it and it's over." ”

“……”

She pursed her lower lip, understanding what he was deliberately emphasizing.

"Just hug it and it's over......," Starfish repeated.

Naruse didn't say much, took a step forward, opened his arms, and hugged her.

“……”

She shuddered, her body tense, soft and stiff.

Naruse sighed silently.

"Happy birthday."

She lowered her head and slowly pressed her head against his chest tentatively.

"Hmm...... Thank you. ”

"Is it okay?"

He only let go a little, and she immediately hugged him tightly, "Wait a minute! …… It's not time yet......"

"Didn't you say a little bit?"

“……”

She hugged him, her hands pressed on his thick back, trying to exert force, but she was a little uneasy, afraid that he would suddenly break free.

"A little bit...... It's the meaning of one minute. ”

"A minute, then." Naruse didn't bother with her much in this short time, "I'm already sleepy." ”

Starfish didn't expect him to agree so easily, and immediately regretted not having the time to say more.

But she didn't dare to get an inch, a little greed might make her lose the minute she had earned......

"Take it easy."

Seeing that she had been tense, Naruse couldn't help but say.

"Oh......"

Starfish answered, trying to loosen up her stiff body.

He hugged her tightly again.

She closed her eyes, her body tensing up again unconsciously, and then slowly relaxed again.

Feeling her change, Naruse breathed silently.

A burst of fragrance penetrates her nostrils, which is her unique taste. She has been using the hair care products that Song Qianqiu sent.

Through the not-so-thick pajamas, the temperature of her face came from her chest, and there were bursts of hot and humid breath.

She softened, he hugged him a little tighter, and she immediately responded.

Coincidentally, both remained silent.

And the past suddenly floated in each other's hearts without permission.

["Why do you keep following me? ”】

["I like Harumi! ”】

……

"I love starfish. ”】

【“……”】

……

["Like is fake, it was all a lie to you before."] ”】

【“…… I already knew. ”】

……

Breaking free from the memories and pushing away the past, Naruse closed his eyes and took a deep breath.

When he came back to his senses, when he let go of her, a minute had already passed.

"It's time, it's time to go to bed."

Starfish also slowly let go and nodded.

"Thank you."

"My mom should be tomorrow...... Come back this afternoon, you can go home later, she should have brought you a gift too. ”

She answered and nodded again, "Okay." ”

“……”

She was so calm that he was a little uneasy.

After glancing at her twice, Naruse took half a step back, and their bodies that were clinging to each other because of each other's hugs were completely separated.

He turned on his phone and pointed it on the floor, "Go back to your room." ”

"Hmm."

She walked in front, and he followed until he sent her back into the room.

He stopped at the door, "Good night." ”

"Good night."

With a click, Starfish closed the door and listened to his footsteps fade away until he couldn't hear anymore, then turned back to the bed and sat down.

"Woo......"

She bit her lip tightly and kept wiping the tears that overflowed from her left and right eyes.

"Spring Sea ......"

Listening to the suppressed sobs behind him, Morimi pursed his lips and slowly closed his tired and heavy eyes.

When Naruse woke up, it was already noon.

Glancing at the time, he put down his phone and stared at the ceiling for a moment.

“……”

All night in my dreams, it was full of starfish.

Laughter and tears coexist, always close to each other and separated, and the final scene is where she is holding his wrist tightly behind him, telling him not to go to Tokyo.

The dream was so real that he had just woken up from his sleep and he couldn't even tell if it was something that had actually happened when he left four years ago.

Goo –

Hunger in his belly interrupted his daydream.

Getting up and getting out of bed, Naruse came downstairs, and the living room remained as it was at the end of the party, and several girls didn't seem to get up.

Pausing at the door of the guest room, he quickly walked past and knocked softly on the bedroom door.

Naoko's response came from inside, "Harumi? ”

"Well, can I open the door?"

"Yes."

He opened the door, and Naoko leaned against the head of the bed, while Hikaru Takikawa was cowered under the covers, her hands still on her chest.

She smiled slightly, "Good morning." ”

"It's twelve o'clock."

"I just woke up......"

"Me too." Naruse glanced at the quilt that was bulging beside her, "Is Hikari still asleep?" ”

"I woke up just now and fell asleep again." Naoko said.

He nodded, and closed the door again, "I'll go wash up and get something to eat." ”

Naoko's voice floated out, "I'm up too." ”

Halfway through washing, she came over in her pajamas.

The two looked at each other in the mirror and smiled one after another.

"Eat the leftovers of the party for lunch, or you'll have to save it until next year."

"I just woke up and ate those things, it's a little greasy......"

"Then make another vegetable salad."

"Okay."

After washing his face, Naruse waited for Naoko for a while, "I'll go and prepare food, you see if Mori is awake." ”

"Okay."

Coming to the door of the guest room, Naoko knocked lightly on the door.

"Come in." Morimi's voice came from inside.

She opened the door, and Morimi sat at the head of the bed, looking over with a tired face.

"One leaf...... Didn't sleep well? ”

"Almost, I'm a light sleeper, and I'll wake up when there's a little movement."

She glanced at the starfish on the pillow next to her, "I'm going to have a nervous breakdown." ”

"Then Ichiha will sleep for a while?"

"You're all up, I can't sleep even if I want to. Let's talk about it when we get home. ”

"Okay. Harumi is preparing to eat. ”

"What to eat?"

"Food ...... for the party"

Morimi frowned, "Isn't it too greasy?" ”

Naoko smiled, "And the salad." ”

She nodded, not saying more.

Naoko didn't bother anymore and left with the door.

Glancing at the starfish next to him again, Mori saw her body slip and reached out to touch her cheek.

"I cried so badly last night, but now I can sleep peacefully......"

(End of chapter)