At around five o'clock in the afternoon, Naoko left the school and found Naruse and Hikaru Takikawa on the second floor of the café.

"Would you like a piece of cake and then go back?" Naruse asked.

She shook her head, "The bus is coming." ”

"It's a big deal, sit a little longer."

Naoko smiled, just such an attitude already satisfied her.

"Next time."

So Hikaru Takikawa also stopped the idea of going downstairs to order for her, and the three of them went back together.

"How's the club meeting going?"

"It's just over, and I've gained a lot of useful content."

"It's been on for so long." Naruse was slightly surprised.

Shangzi nodded seriously with a serious face, "Because it is related to the recruitment of new students in the next semester, we can't be sloppy, our restoration department is a newly established club, and the first recruitment is very important." ”

Hikaru Takikawa watched from the side, his eyes stayed on her face for a while longer, and he suddenly said, "I'll come to help when the time comes." ”

"Okay." Naoko immediately agreed, "If there is light, it will definitely attract many people to come." ”

"Don't let the freshmen misunderstand that you are a member of the restoration department, otherwise you won't be able to keep even if you join." Naruse said.

"Ah......" Naoko also realized this.

Hikaru Takikawa smiled, "Don't worry, I'll make it clear." But if you don't have people, I can just join the club. ”

"There is no shortage of ...... people"

The three of them walked and chatted, and soon came to the bus stop.

When the topic gradually shifted to the specific process of recruiting new students in the club next semester, it became Naoko talking, Naruse and Hikaru Takikawa listening, and the latter's attention quickly drifted away.

“…… The first week after the new students enter the school is a crucial time for the club's recruitment activities...... At that time, there will also be an introduction to each club in the gymnasium. ”

"Who's going to introduce you?"

"There is no requirement from the student union, and each club has its own member to introduce to the stage, which can be a minister and deputy minister, or an ordinary member."

"So, will it be Naoko who will come to power in the restoration department at that time?" Naruse asked.

She imagined the scene for a moment, and a somewhat embarrassed smile appeared on her face.

"I'll try my best......"

"I'll do it." Naruse said, "If Naoko can't be busy, let me go." ”

She blinked, and the smile on her face widened.

"Hmm...... We'll talk about that then. ”

"Hmm."

"And then, after the briefing......"

Naoko had already experienced a baptism of club recruitment last spring, and at today's club meeting, she listened to the senior sister introduce a more detailed process from another angle, and she gained a lot, and she also shared it with him at this time.

Although it will not be until two or three months later that it will be implemented, and then we will have to listen to her specific arrangements, Naruse doesn't want to disturb her rare interest, and responds while listening.

Hikaru Takikawa stood silently aside, his eyes drifting from near to far, drifting from the ground to the gray sky, and he couldn't find a landing point for a long time;

After a long time, it landed on the bus coming from the other end of the road.

"The car is coming."

The bus stopped at the platform, and the three of them got off the bus with several elderly people who lived nearby.

At the intersection of her house, she waved her hand to the two, "I'll go back, see you tomorrow." ”

"See you tomorrow." Naoko smiled at her, and Naruse nodded as well, and then left side by side.

Seeing the two walk away, Takikawa Mitsucai turned around and kicked the snow all the way home.

She went to the garage and looked at the motorcycle, which had been parked for more than two months, and sighed.

"I'm back."

"Welcome back." Midoriko Takikawa poked her head out of the kitchen, "Hikari, eat tonkatsu at night." ”

"yes."

Hikaru Takikawa raised his arm and cheered, only to soon realize that he was not so happy.

“……”

Holding her arms up for a moment, she dropped her bag and sat down on the couch.

Even the thick-sliced pork cutlet made by her mother couldn't lift her appetite much.

It's not because of the little cake I just ate at the café.

"Mom, I seem to be sick."

"What?" Midoriko Takikawa didn't hear clearly in the kitchen.

"Nothing."

Hikaru Takikawa took a deep breath and got up to go to the kitchen, where her mother was pounding the pork chops with a loose meat hammer.

"I'll help you."

"Don't mess around."

She smiled, "I know." ”

Taking the loose meat hammer, she maintained a fixed rhythm and kept beating the pork chops on the board.

It's not the first time she's helped with this kind of thing, and she's not skilled, but she's sure of it.

Sure enough, when she felt that the beating was almost done, her mother also spoke.

"So be it."

She let go of the loose meat hammer, and Midoriko Takigawa coated the pork chops in flour, and continued, "The black pepper juice has run out, just go to the supermarket and buy a bottle and come back." By the way, bring me something else. ”

"Okay."

Takigawa Mitsuyo came down, rewrapped himself in his coat, put on his shoes and went out.

Walking outside the Morimi Komoto store, Ichiha is not there; After passing by the real wood hotel, I didn't see the starfish.

Walking into the supermarket and coming to the food section, she was slightly stunned.

"Harumi, Naoko."

The two looked over together, "Light." ”

She leaned over and said, "Buying ingredients?" ”

"Hmm." Naruse showed her the shopping basket she was carrying.

"I'll buy black pepper juice and eat tonkatsu at night."

"That's good."

The two continued to pick out the ingredients, and she turned to the place where the spices were placed, and found the black pepper juice, as well as a few things that her mother had asked her to bring along.

Turning outside, Naruse and Naoko were already checking out.

She was behind the two.

Watching Naoko take the change and receipts from the clerk and put them in her wallet, she suddenly noticed a large number of tickets inside, "There are a lot of receipts." ”

Naoko just smiled and quickly put away her wallet.

"Do you keep the receipt for bookkeeping?"

"yes."

"My mother always likes to keep a small receipt, saying that the money raised by me and Yue can be accurately calculated."

“……”

Naoko's smile froze for a moment, and soon returned to normal.

"Yes."

Naruse glanced at her, slowly frowned, and looked away before she could look.

After settling the bill, the two waited outside for Hikaru Takikawa, and the three left the supermarket together and separated at the intersection.

"Monk Chunhai also came to my house to eat the tonkatsu made by my mother."

"Aunt Midoriko should only prepare her family's share."

"You can prepare again."

"Next time."

Back at home and sending things to the kitchen, Hikaru Takikawa lay down on the sofa again.

And as soon as she stopped, the lingering feeling of emptiness and blankness occupied her mind again.

“……”

Looking at the ceiling, she slowly raised her palm, her five fingers opened, and she retracted them one by one.

"'Winter Break', 'New Year', 'School of Start'...... It's going to be the 'Common Exam' soon. ”

(End of chapter)