At about twelve o'clock in the afternoon, Takigawa Yue came to Naruse's house to send birthday wishes to the starfish, and by the way, he inquired about the things he was most concerned about.

"Well, hasn't Miss Song come back yet?"

"Not yet. She just sent a message saying that she had just gotten on the Shinkansen. Naruse said.

"Okay."

Because there was still something at home, the Takigawa sisters stayed for a while and left first.

Morimi doesn't plan to stay long.

"Sorry......"

Starfish looked at her slightly haggard face, feeling guilty and a little weak, "It's all because of me, Yiye didn't sleep, right?" ”

Morimi looked at her for a moment, and suddenly smiled.

"Starfish are too good to roll over. Luckily, after I fell asleep, I couldn't feel any movement on your side. ”

Starfish's heart was relieved and he apologized again.

"Okay, it's your birthday, be happy."

"Hmm...... Well! ”

Glancing at Naruse who was standing aside, Morimi turned around and went home.

"Say hello to Miss Song for me."

"Hmm."

Sending Morimi away, Naruse returns to the living room and cleans up the party mess on the table with Naoko.

Starfish looked at it for a while, pointing to the balloons on the wall and the ribbons on the top of his head, "Do you want to remove these things too?" ”

"There's no hurry." Naruse shook his head, "My mother said to keep it first, and she came back to see." ”

Starfish nodded.

And about what happened last night, the two tacitly remained silent.

After cleaning up the tabletop, Naruse looked at the remaining half of the birthday cake and cut a small piece for himself, Naoko, and Starfish.

"Would you like a cup of coffee?"

"How can there be coffee at home......"

"I can go to the convenience store and buy it."

"No."

After a few bites of cake, Naoko looked at the time and went back to the house next door to clean up—even though it had been cleaned up before.

"No help...... I'll just clean it up a bit. She said before leaving.

Naruse didn't stay in the living room anymore and came to the courtyard.

The snowman I made last night has been blown by the wind and snow all night, and his body has become a little fat and out of shape.

"Take it."

He took off his gloves and let the starfish that came out of his shoes hold them, and then slapped them on the snowman.

Naoko took a look and went back into the house.

"Will the store be busy today?" Naruse asked suddenly.

Haixing was stunned for a moment, and quickly replied: "I will be a little busy in the morning, and I will stop taking orders in the afternoon, because I have to be busy with family affairs...... Yes. ”

She suddenly remembered that she had "run away from home" in the middle of the night and had not yet said hello to her father.

"Don't worry." Naruse glanced at her and put a ball of snow on the snowman's chest, "I left a message for Mr. Seiichiro last night, and he also replied to me in the morning." ”

"Oh......" Starfish relaxed.

After turning around, re-slapping the snow around the snowman, and shaking off the snow that fell on the ribbons, Naruse's hands were already red from the cold.

Rubbing his hands, he took two steps back, took out his phone and took a picture.

Click!

During the day, there is plenty of light, and the results are better.

Starfish looked at it twice and stood over.

Staring at the screen for a moment, Naruse zoomed in and out of her face.

“……”

He pursed his lower lip.

The underside of the eyes is really a little red......

Seeing that he held his mobile phone for a long time and didn't take a picture, Starfish changed sides and stood, touching his hair again, a little at a loss.

"Don't keep your face strained."

"Ah, oh."

She struggled to make her expression more relaxed.

Click!

After taking a few photos and sending them to Starfish's phone, Naruse turned his eyes and looked at the white car slowly approaching at the intersection.

The car stopped outside the yard and the windows rolled down, revealing a middle-aged woman in the passenger seat.

"Spring Sea."

"Aunt Sawako, you're back."

Kazuko Hanasa got out of the car, smiled at him, and looked at the girl standing next to the snowman.

"Hmm...... Starfish? Long time no see. ”

"Long time no see, Aunt ...... this flower"

The flower couple didn't have a few days a year at home, and the starfish were completely unfamiliar with them, so they greeted them timidly, and subconsciously stood next to Naruse.

"Sure enough, it's a starfish." Seeing her reaction, Kazuko Hanasa said inexplicably.

Starfish bowed her head slightly, and responded with a smile that only shows when she didn't know what to say.

This Hanatoru also drove the car into her garage, and Naoko also came out of the house to greet her parents as they returned home.

"Daddy, Mommy."

She smiled, "Welcome back." ”

After her parents came home, Naoko stayed at home.

Naruse said hello to the starfish, and after a while, returned home.

At three o'clock in the afternoon, Song Qianqiu, who was carrying a large bag and a small bag, finally came back.

"I'm exhausted......"

After removing his luggage from the trunk and watching the taxi turn around and leave, Naruse asked, "Didn't Miss Sato come back with you?" ”

"She's going back to her hometown for the New Year."

"When I was in Tokyo, didn't Miss Sato stay every year?"

"I'm back this year, and there are no other arrangements from the office, so Yoko will go back."

Song Qianqiu took off his sunglasses and mask, revealing his true face.

"Suffocate me...... The driver of the taxi just now, who is still a fan of mine, said that my voice was very similar to that of Matsu Chiaki. ”

"If you sign for him, the fare from Aomori will be waived." Naruse said.

"Well, maybe...... But I don't want to bother. ”

Untying the shackles of disguise, she stretched her long waist, and then hugged her baby stepdaughter who was standing aside, "Starfish, happy birthday!" ”

"Thank you......"

Deeply trapped in the warm embrace, feeling the throbbing of another hug, the starfish couldn't help but hug her tightly.

"Harumi has prepared a party for the starfish...... Happy? ”

"Uh-huh!"

"That's good." Song Qianqiu smiled slightly, and looked inside the house again, "Where is Naoko?" ”

"At home." Naruse motioned for her to look at the neighbor's house on the other side, "Naoko's parents also just came back in the afternoon. ”

"Yes." Song Qianqiu looked at the neighbor's side, "Then I'll go over and say hello later." Let's go in first. ”

Letting go of the starfish, she pulled her into the house, and Naruse looked at the sky from behind, and could only drag the large bags of luggage into it by herself.

"Why did you bring so many things back......"

Song Qianqiu motioned for him to bring one of the paper bags over, "I picked out a set of clothes for the starfish, let's try it to see if it fits." ”

"Ah, that's ......"

The two went to the room to change clothes, and Naruse sat down on the couch and rummaged through the rest of the things, which seemed to be gifts except for her own clothes.

After another moment, Matsu Qianqiu opened the door of the room, walked out, and turned back to beckon inside.

"Come out and let Harumi take a look."

Only then did the starfish come out with her skirt.

“……”

Naruse subconsciously held his breath.

She was wearing a long black dress, sleeveless on both shoulders, hung by shoulder straps, and long-sleeved gloves on both hands, surrounded by a white shawl.

The waist is tied, and the skirt reaches to the ankles, half of which is black, and the other part is sheer tulle.

She took two steps forward, her long blond hair draped over one shoulder, making it difficult to look away.

The only thing that makes people feel incongruous is probably the cautious expression on her face at this time.

Well, I can't hold up my chest at all......

Naruse stared unconsciously for a moment before remembering to look away, "Evening dress?" ”

"Hmm. How's that, it's perfect for starfish, right? Song Qianqiu said.

"Well, that's a good fit." He couldn't deny it.

The corners of the starfish's mouth rose, and she slowly let go of the skirt she was holding in her hand.

"As soon as I saw this evening dress, I was expecting what the starfish would look like in it, so I bought it."

Song Qianqiu put her arm in her arms, "If there is a dance or party at school, you can wear this dress." ”

"Uh-huh." Starfish nodded.

"There are also some matching ornaments...... Harumi, bring the blue bag. ”

Inside were a few red and black ribbons, as well as a small top hat, all worn on the starfish, and her temperament also changed a little.

"Ah, and this."

Matsu Chiaki went back to the sofa and looked for it, took out a necklace from the bag, and handed it to Naruse.

"Go help the starfish put it on."

(End of chapter)