In the evening, the rain began to fall again.

Listening to the sound of the rain, Naruse leaned back on the sofa and watched the TV absentmindedly.

Next to him is Naoko, who is also absent-minded.

Buzz –

Leaning on his shoulder, Naoko picked up the phone and looked at it, and was stunned again, showing him the phone.

Auntie asked Chunhai why he didn't answer the phone.

“……”

Naruse was stunned for a moment, took out his mobile phone, and found that there were several missed calls, all of which were from Matsu Chiaki.

"It's muted, I didn't turn on the vibration, I didn't pay attention."

"Hmm." Naoko replied like this, and he called back directly.

Matsu Chiaki quickly answered the phone.

"What is Chunhai busy doing, he doesn't answer the phone."

"Watching TV."

"Watching Mom's new drama?"

"Hmm...... What's that show called? ”

"Nario, Se, Spring, Sea-"

"Just kidding, I remember."

Naruse lay down, "It doesn't matter." ”

"It's nothing, I just want to have a casual chat with Chunhai."

"Oh."

Naoko watched him from the sidelines, and could only hear his voice - he didn't turn on the speakerphone this time, and I don't know if he forgot it.

"Haruhi seems to be a little ...... Not...... Depressed. ”

From his son's voice, Song Chiaki keenly sensed that his emotions didn't seem quite right.

"It's raining every day, and it's hard not to be depressed."

"That's right, Mom has had several activities postponed due to rain this week, and I've been staying at home, and people are getting moldy."

"Hmm."

"Is that just the reason?"

Of course not.

If only it was the weather, it would be great......

Naruse pursed her lower lip, and suddenly remembered the flaws that had been revealed in the afternoon because of hesitation.

"I didn't hear what you said."

"Hehehe......"

“……”

Although he saw that he had something else on his mind, Song Qianqiu didn't expose it, smiled and continued to talk about other topics, and Naruse also responded without a word.

“…… Next month, there will be a promotional event in Sendai. ”

"Yes." He knew that she had traveled a lot of places in the past few months, "Aren't you coming to Aomori?" ”

"There's no such arrangement on the firm's side."

"It should be a good topic for well-known artists to return to their hometowns with new dramas."

"Haha, it makes sense, then it's better for Chunhai to plan an event for the firm."

"What do you say......

Naruse said, and suddenly felt his girlfriend who was leaning on his shoulder rubbing, as if unintentionally, but he turned his head to look at her, and she also looked at him, her eyes blinking.

Got bored......

He suddenly realized the problem, "I forgot." ”

Naruse turned on the hands-free, and Matsu Chiaki's voice came out.

"What forgot?"

"Nothing."

He replied casually, pausing for a few more seconds, "No...... There's one thing I forgot to tell you. ”

"What?" Matsu Qianqiu asked.

"I'm in a relationship with Naoko."

“……”

On both sides of the phone, the two women who were most important to him were stunned all of a sudden.

Naoko looked at him, and although he had never asked him to keep it a secret from his mother as well, he had always tacitly said nothing, and she didn't understand why he suddenly wanted to say it.

Although telling Matsu Chiaki about this does not mean that her parents will know......

Nanose just reached out and took her into his arms, signaling her peace of mind with his eyes.

On the other side of the phone, Song Qianqiu, who was stunned for a while, finally reacted.

"Harumi has a relationship with Naoko...... When did it happen? Today? This week? ”

"When I first started school......

"—You've been hiding from your mother for so long!"

With the speakerphone on, the voice on the phone suddenly raised, and both Naruse and Shoko shrank their heads.

“…… It's going to be shy, I'm a monk and I. ”

"Then why are you willing to tell me now?"

Naoko also looked at him, waiting for his answer.

Naruse hugged his girlfriend in his arms tightly and looked ahead, "I want you to know about this." ”

“……”

On the other side of the phone, he seemed to sigh softly.

"Really...... Well, you're finally dating. ”

"Hmm."

"Actually, even if Harumi tells me that you and Naoko have been dating since you returned from summer last year, I don't think it's strange."

Naruse looked down at Naoko and didn't speak.

Song Qianqiu was also silent for a while, and suddenly asked, "Chunhai suddenly confessed now, it won't be because Naoko is pregnant, right?" ”

"We haven't ...... yet No! ”

Naruse's tone was a little excited, and Naoko, who could also hear clearly, was already flushed.

"That's good......"

Matsu Qianqiu pondered for a while, "Is Naoko next to you?" ”

Naoko responded, "in ......"

"Naoko and Harumi have finally come this far, and my mother is very happy."

"Hmm...... Thank you. ”

"Turn off the hands-free, I have something I want to say to Naoko alone."

“…… Good. ”

Naoko answered, but didn't make any moves.

Naruse picked up the phone, turned off the speakerphone, and shoved the phone into her ear.

"Take it."

Naoko looked at him and held the phone.

He stood up, walked around the living room, and then went to the window, staring at the darkness outside for a moment.

Of course, there was nothing to see outside, only the sound of the dripping rain and Naoko's response from time to time.

"Yes...... I know...... Eh...... Yes......"

The two chatted alone for more than ten minutes, Naoko returned the phone to him, and Matsu Qianqiu also had something to say to him alone.

"Is it Haruhi now?"

"Hmm."

"Naoko said that Chunhai took the initiative to confess, and my mother was so happy."

“…… What is there to be happy about. ”

"It shows that Chunhai is willing to take responsibility. Since Harumi has decided to date Naoko, it must have been well thought out...... Our family Chunhai is already a man. ”

Naruse pursed her lower lip and took another deep breath, "Hmm." ”

"Let's get along with Naoko."

"I know."

"And ......"

Song Qianqiu hesitated for a moment, "Does the starfish know about this?" ”

"Of course, how long has it been."

"Really...... Did the starfish say anything? ”

Naruse lowered his eyes, "I forgot." ”

“……”

Song Qianqiu smiled silently and bitterly.

"The spring sea and the starfish, are they still in contact?"

"Hmm."

"That doesn't seem like a problem...... After all, it's been so long. ”

Naruse answered, and didn't ask her what the so-called "question" was referring to.

"Chunhai has really grown a lot over the past year."

"It's okay."

"Have you discovered more interesting things about this world?"

"It's better to have more problems."

"Thinking about it from another angle, the problem that Chunhai encountered may be one of the interesting places in this world."

“……”

Naruse looked up at the chandelier in the living room.

He didn't feel the slightest bit of the interest in the question that bothered him the most right now.

"All in all, don't just stand from a distance and watch, when you encounter a problem, running away is not the only solution, to hit your head and break the bloodstream, maybe you can also knock out a different path...... Of course, if this is the case, it is best to discuss it with your mother first. ”

"This can't be your experience of running away from home, right?"

"Hahaha, stinky boy!"

There's no way Naruse laughs like she does.

He is the one who has problems now, but not the one who will hit his head and bleed.

It would be great if we could solve the problem by really discussing it......

"Does Haruhi have anything else on his mind?" Song Qianqiu asked suddenly.

"Nope."

Naruse took a deep breath, looked at Naoko on the sofa, and said, "Do you usually have contact with Naoko's parents?" ”

Naoko looked over.

"Huh? Toru and Sawako? I do have time, but the problem is that they don't have time, and they don't usually keep in touch much. What's wrong? ”

"If there is a connection, don't tell them about my relationship with Naoko."

"Why?" Song Qianqiu asked as a matter of course.

"Shy."

"What, are you embarrassed to face other people's daughters?"

"yes."

"Okay, then wait for your mother to come back and tell them in person."

"No need to ......"

That's what Naruse wanted to explain, and Matsu Chiaki dominated the topic, and soon went astray again.

"It's raining these days, and Chunhai hasn't ridden out, right?"

"Nope."

"Hey...... Since Chunhai bought a race car, my mother has always unconsciously paid attention to the news of accidents on TV, and she is terrified every time...... Or Haruhi should buy an ordinary motorcycle, and racing cars are not suitable for commuting, that kind of seat, doesn't Shangzi feel scared when she sits? ”

"What a waste, do you pay?"

"Harumi Naruse, did you use the money you earned from the car you bought without my consent?" The mother immediately questioned.

“……”

He couldn't refute it, and said: "Anyway, it's been raining almost every day lately, and I haven't ridden a bike at all, so let's talk about it when the rainy season passes." ”

"That's it."

"Good ......"

After chatting for a while, Song Qianqiu hung up the phone.

Back on the couch and sat down, Naoko leaned in.

"Auntie will find it strange."

"What's weird...... Conceal the relationship, it's okay, it's already fooled. ”

Naoko forced a smile.

"That'...... Does Harumi find it strange. ”

"I'm so smart that there's not much that makes me feel weird."

She laughed again, "What......"

Naruse squeezed her hand, picked it up again, and kissed it gently.

"I mean, I understand."

(End of chapter)