After graduating from the third year, the rest of the third semester passed faster.

One morning, when Naruse was about to go out, he felt that he was wearing too many clothes, only to suddenly realize that there was not much left of March.

Come like a lion, go like a sheep, the temperature is gradually rising, and the wind and sunshine in late March have already stepped into spring in half a step.

"Wearing too much? …… Does Harumi feel hot? Naoko asked.

"Sort of."

"Because the floor heating is turned on, it won't be hot when you go out."

"It's a sunny day."

Naruse turned his head to look at the blue sky outside the window, and then said, "I'd better go change into a thinner jacket." ”

"Nope."

Naoko stood close in front of him, pulling the zipper of his coat down slightly, and flicking a few pieces of clothing inside with her fingertips.

"Hmm...... Let's change this one. ”

Naruse looked down at the clothes and her fingertips, "It's okay." ”

Go upstairs and back to the room, change the thread shirt inside to a thinner one, and then go downstairs, Naoko smiled at him.

"Let's go."

"Hmm."

The two went out together and went to the bus stop to wait for the bus.

Today is not the weekend, but the day of the next first-year entrance exam.

The entrance exam lasts for two days, and the current first and second grades have two days off.

Faced with a sudden holiday, Naoko wants to go to the city for a stroll and buy something by the way, and Naruse accompanies her.

After waiting for a while, the bus came.

The two got into the car, not early or late, and there were very few people in the car.

The bus was soon restarted.

Naruse looked out the window, his slightly swaying gaze falling on the mottled fields.

"It's been almost a month since it snowed, and there's still a lot of snow on the roadside......"

"Hmm. It won't be until April for the snow to melt completely. Naoko said.

"At that time, spring will really come."

She smiled, "Hmm. ”

Leaving the fields and heading towards the city, the bus stopped at the stop in Totemachi after about half an hour.

The two got out of the car, and Naruse followed Naoko towards the fabric store.

"After the start of the new semester, in addition to recruiting new students, you have to think about things like procurement." Naoko said, "You can't just focus on the fabric, you have to take into account the needs of the entire community. ”

Naruse nodded, "When school first started, I guess I had to be busy for a while." ”

"Time flies...... It feels like it was yesterday to join the handicraft club, and I'm going to be promoted to the second grade in a blink of an eye. ”

Naruse smiled.

When tomorrow's freshman entrance exams are over, she will probably feel a little stronger.

When I came to the familiar fabric shop and greeted the clerk, Naoko walked in front, and he followed behind with a shopping basket.

"The crystal is super soft and feels really good."

"Buy it."

"I haven't used up the ones I bought last time."

Naoko walked forward and picked up another piece of fabric, "This fabric also feels good and is more elastic. ”

Naruse touched it, "Buy it." ”

She smiled back.

The two of them walked around the store, and Naoko didn't take anything, and most of the fabrics were put down after looking at them.

"Don't you want this either?"

"Well, there's still a lot to be done."

Naruse almost understood that her current state was similar to how she felt when she visited a second-hand store, and the focus was on shopping and seeing, not buying.

"This fabric also feels good and soft."

"This is the long hair in the water, and Chunhai has a pair of boots, and the fluff inside is made of this material. It can also be used for hair...... I mean the hair of the puppet. I don't usually use it much. ”

"Naoko doesn't seem to be a humanoid puppet, it's all animals."

"Hmm...... Not much is being done now. ”

After walking around the fabric shop for more than an hour, Naoko finally only needed two kinds of urgently needed fabrics, and did not buy the rest.

"I'll come back next time."

"Hmm."

It was still early to leave the fabric shop, and Naruse was ready to spend the whole day with her.

He was carrying the bag, and Naoko looked back at him, her eyes falling on his coat again.

"Now it's almost time to prepare the clothes for spring, let's go to the mall and have a look."

"Okay."

Coming to the vicinity of the central station and walking into the mall, the two went around.

Passing by a men's clothing store, Naoko stopped and pulled him in.

"In the clothing stores now, there are basically new spring clothes."

"Well, winter is over. Naoko will also pick a few. ”

"We'll talk about that later." She laughed and dragged him to a coat hanger full of coats.

Naoko picked it up and quickly picked up a coat, "What does Harumi think of this?" ”

Naruse straightened up, and she compared her clothes in front of him.

"It seems to be a good fit......

"I'll try." Naruse took off his coat and tried it on with new clothes.

"How?"

"It's a good fit."

Naoko smiled, a little proud of her precise gaze.

But if it ended like this, she was a little dissatisfied......

No, it's very unsatisfying.

"Hmm...... Let's put this one away and look at the rest. ”

Naruse didn't have any opinion, "Okay." ”

She continued to pick and choose between the hangers, and he continued to try them on.

"How about this one?"

"It's also appropriate."

"This is it, then?"

"Let's see, there should be a more suitable one."

"That's what Naoko says in every dress......"

"Because Harumi wears whatever clothes are suitable."

As Naoko happily picked out her next coat, Naruse looked left and right, her eyes resting on another row of hangers next to her.

"Chunhai, try this ...... again"

Naoko turned around, only to realize that he had walked to the other side.

"How's this one?" Naruse picked up a coat and looked back at her.

"I feel like it's a little simple. Give it a try. ”

Naruse puts on her coat.

She leaned over and straightened his collars on either side, then took a small step back, looking up and down.

"It seems to be pretty good, and it fits perfectly."

"Then ......"

"But in Chunhai's closet, isn't there already a coat similar to this one?"

“……”

No wonder he had taken a fancy to this one at a glance.

"It's not the same, is it?"

"It's the same...... Let's take a look over there. ”

Naoko took off his coat and dragged him back to another row of hangers to try it on.

After more than an hour of selection, Naruse tried on more than a dozen coats, and Naoko finally picked out the one that suited him best.

"That's it......" There was still a little hesitation in her tone, but her eyes swept over the rest of the clothes in the store, there was nothing more suitable for him.

"That's it." Naruse's tone was firm, and he used his body to block her glance away, "I like it very much." ”

Naoko laughed.

"Okay."

Taking off her coat, Naruse was about to go to the checkout, when Naoko reached out and asked for it, "I'll pay." ”

He didn't refuse, anyway, he had to go shopping, and he was going to pick out a few spring clothes for Naoko as a return gift.

After settling the bill and walking out of the men's clothing store, the two continued to shop around the mall.

"Let's take a look at the bottoms. If I want to match this coat, I want to think about it......"

"Don't worry, I'll talk about it when I see the right one. Naoko will pick out a few clothes herself. ”

"Hmm...... Does Chunhai want to help me pick? ”

"Didn't Naoko help me pick out a coat, and I'll pick one for you—I'll pick it, I'll pay for it."

"Okay."

And Naoko's next place to stay is a lingerie store.

“……”

Naruse turned his head to look at her.

"I just happened to be passing by."

Naoko smiled, "I want to buy a new underwear, and the one I'm wearing now is a little tight......"

Naruse looked aside again, "Buy it, buy it." ”

Looking at his slightly red face, Naoko smiled again and pulled him into the store.

"I don't have to come in......"

"Didn't Chunhai say that he would help me choose."

"How can I pick this?"

Holding his hand and scanning the various styles of underwear in the store, she felt her face heat up a little.

"Colors or something......

"Everything."

Naoko didn't embarrass him too much, pulled him in, and picked it up by herself.

“……”

As the only man in the store at this time, feeling the constant gaze of other female customers, Naruse was even more embarrassed to stand alone, so he could only follow Naoko again.

She picked up a pale blue bra and looked at the size.

"Seems to be a little smaller......"

Naruse glanced at it and didn't speak.

The fitting room was on the other side, "I'll go and try it." ”

"Hmm."

Seeing that the other female customers in the store were looking over here, she pulled him up again, "Chunhai is also here." ”

Before coming to the fitting room, Naoko opened the curtain and went in, while Naruse waited outside.

There was a squirming movement from inside.

Even through a curtain, he could hear it clearly, and he could even sketch in his mind how she took off her coat and gradually untied herself.

“……”

Naruse looked up at the air vent of the air conditioner overhead.

The continuous hot wind blew him a little hot.

"It's a little tight......" she whispered from inside.

After a while, Naoko opened the curtain, and only a thread shirt was put on her upper body.

Glancing around the store, she came out, her freshly changed pale blue bra in her hand.

"It's a little small, I'm going to change the size......"

"Hmm."

Naruse nodded, and then saw another bra hanging on the wall of the changing room.

“……”

It's the one she wore today.

Naoko quickly returned to this side and stopped in front of him, the roundness and plumpness wrapped in the thread shirt swayed faintly.

"There's no bigger size for that color...... Changed the color. ”

When the unconscious became conscious, the slightest wavering in her body was very noticeable, and Naruse struggled to let herself just look at the black bra in her hand.

“…… Try it first. ”

"Wait a little longer."

"There's no hurry...... Take it easy. ”

Naoko glanced at him and slipped into the fitting room.

The curtain was drawn again, and she covered her face.

“……”

After a few more minutes, Naoko came out dressed and dressed.

"That's it."

"Hmm."

She looked at him.

Naruse also looked at her, stunned for a moment, and quickly understood.

“…… Naoko doesn't pick out other clothes? ”

"So be it for now."

“……”

After taking the bra that was still warm, he took it to the front desk to settle the bill.

Walking out of the underwear store, Naruse let out a long breath.

Naoko smiled and took his hand.

The look in the female clerk's eyes...... I should have given my wallet directly to Naoko. ”

"Next time."

“…… There's no next time for this kind of thing. ”

She smiled, "Okay. ”

After visiting the men's clothing store and lingerie store, it was already noon, and the two decided to find a place to settle lunch first.

"When I came over, I saw a beef restaurant on the side of the road, so let's go there."

"yes, okay."

Leaving the mall and finding the restaurant, the two of them sat down at the bar.

Naruse was already ready to order, and Naoko was holding the bag of underwear, still hesitating where to put it.

"Just put it on the stool next to it, there's no one right now."

"No, this is the underwear that Harumi gave me."

"Don't be so shy...... I just paid for it. ”

"So that's what Haruhi sent me."

“……”

Glancing at the shopkeeper's aunt who was suddenly smiling at the bar, Naruse handed the paper bag of his coat to Naoko.

"Put it in here."

Putting the small bag into the large bag and putting it in the space between the two stools, Naoko picked up the menu.

"What did Chunhai order?"

"I'm waiting for Naoko to make a decision."

"I want to try this...... But it looks like a lot, and I can't eat it all by myself. ”

"Order, I'd like to try it too."

She moved a little closer.

"And this."

Shoulder to shoulder, he looked at the side of her face, and then at the picture of the food where her fingertips fell.

"Can you finish eating?"

"If there is a spring sea, you can eat it all."

"You probably have some misunderstanding about my appetite."

"There are two of us......

"Okay, point."

There's still a lot of time today anyway.

"Just eat it slowly."

"Uh-huh."

Anyway, today is a date.

When the short extra holiday ended with the end of the freshman entrance exams, just one day later, the weekend arrived again.

Although it was not continuous, it was barely a long vacation, and Naruse and Naoko had a good rest for a few days.

After the weekend passed, I went to school for another half week, and the last semester of the school year finally came to an end.

The closing ceremony of the third semester is the summary of the entire academic year, which is longer than the closing ceremony of the previous two semesters combined.

“…… In September of the second semester, we successfully held the Tsugaraka Cultural Festival. Although there was a little accident during the period, it still ushered in a happy ending in the end.

According to incomplete statistics, during the Tsingao Cultural Festival, the number of people from outside the school who visited the school ......"

The dean's voice spread through the radio, echoing through the slightly empty gymnasium.

Naruse turned his head to look at the side of the second-year team, which had been empty for nearly a month.

After the short spring break, the current sophomore will fill that gap, and in its place, the sophomore will be himself.

As for the class......

He looked at Naoko next to him again.

As long as you can be in the same class as Naoko.

"Spring Sea?" She looked at him too.

He shook his head, "Why isn't it over yet, it's really nagging." ”

She smiled and glanced at the stage, "It should be over soon." ”

Seeing her clasping her hands together, rubbing them from time to time, Naruse leaned closer to her.

"Is it cold?"

"A little ......"

After the temperature gradually rose, there was no need to wear a coat all the time, not to mention that it was still a sunny day, and he and Shangzi chose to take off their coats before they came down to attend the rally.

However, there was no sunlight in the gymnasium, and there was no way to move during the rally, only wearing uniforms, and it was still a little cold in the end.

He reached out and took her hand, rubbing it lightly.

"Artificial heating."

She smiled.

The boring and cold graduation ceremony suddenly became warm, but the dean of education on the stage announced happily at this time:

"This is the end of the graduation ceremony, and each class will leave in order!"

"Finally able to go back......" Naruse let go of her hand and smiled at her.

Naoko smiled back and puffed out her mouth again.

The two grades left the arena one after another, and followed the team to the outside of the gymnasium, the warm sunlight shining through the eaves of the porch, and Naruse stretched a long lazy waist.

"Naruse, are you going to the bathroom?"

"Okay."

A few boys from Class C broke away from the group and went to the bathroom together.

"Tomorrow is spring break, do you have any plans?" Kobayashi said.

Tokawa Dahe trembled, "What can you do, stay at home." ”

"Me too."

"I'm short of money, I still have to work."

"Where's Naruse?"

Naruse shook his head, "There are no arrangements for the time being, let's talk about it then." ”

"Then let's not talk about spring break, let's get together again this afternoon. After all, when you are in the second grade, you will be divided into different classes. Koji Tanaka proposed.

"Ah...... Oh yes...... At the beginning of the next semester, classes will be re-assigned. ”

Ryo Kamoi was stunned for a moment.

"Come out if you're okay, don't keep occupying your position." Ito urged and said to Tanaka, "I'm going." ”

"I'll go too."

"And me."

The boys had no opinion, and Naruse thought about it and agreed.

Although he spent less than a semester with them, they all got along happily.

"Are you going to call it a girl?"

"Okay, let Takikawa organize the girls."

"Naruse go and talk about it."

"Hmm."

Back in the classroom, Naruse found Hikaru Takikawa and conveyed the boys' meaning.

"Class C having dinner together? All right. ”

Back in his seat, he looked at Naoko's seat again and saw that she hadn't returned.

"Did Hikari see Naoko?"

Hikaru Takigawa shook his head.

The girl sitting in front of Naoko said:

"Naoko's words, when I went upstairs just now, I was pulled by a second-grade senior sister...... Ah, Naoko called her 'Sugiyama-senpai'. ”

“……”

Ritsuko Sugiyama?

Naruse stood up, "Where was Naoko pulled in?" ”

"The corner of the stairs on the second floor."

He immediately left the classroom and went downstairs to find Naoko.

And she's downstairs.

With Ritsuko Sugiyama, standing at the back door of the empty third-year class G classroom.

“……”

Ritsuko Sugiyama looked over, and Naoko was also surprised, "...... Harumi"

Naruse stopped beside her, "Is there something wrong, Sensa Sugiyama." ”

Ritsuko Sugiyama looked at him twice, did not answer, but said to Naoko:

"Isn't he a good fit?"

“……”

Naoko was silent for a moment.

"I'll think about it again."

"This flower ......"

"-Before noon, I will definitely give an answer to Senpai Sugiyama." Naoko said as she looked directly at her.

Ritsuko Sugiyama looked at her again, said no more, nodded and went upstairs first.

At the end of the corridor on the second floor, only her and Naruse remained.

Tanaka said that in the afternoon, he would organize a dinner party for the students of Class C. He spoke.

"Eh......"

Shangzi was stunned, but he didn't expect him to talk about this matter first.

"I agreed, and Naoko will come along."

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

"Let's go up."

She grabbed him, "Didn't Harumi ask Senpai Sugiyama what she was looking for me?" ”

"Pretty much guessed."

He looked at her, his hand sliding down, and he took her hand.

The two returned to the stairs, and he pulled her up.

"As long as it's Naoko's own decision, I will support it."

“……”

She opened her mouth, smiled quickly, and took another step up, parallel to him.

"But...... If I go back to the next minister of the handicraft club, the restoration department will have to be handed over to Chunhai. ”

"Hmm...... Is that the only way to do it? ”

"After all, I can't be the head of two societies at the same time. And the rest of the first-year members are not particularly mature......"

"—I just can't trust them to give it to me."

"It's because I'm more at ease with Chunhai."

"Okay. I'll stay and be a good puppet of Naoko. ”

"What......"

·

【Snow Country Long Winter Chapter: End】

Grand Chapter. End of this volume

(End of chapter)