After taking a shower, Morimi returned to his upstairs room and habitually sat down at his desk.

After a moment's pause, she picked up an idle book and flipped through it.

Even if she had a certain plan, she couldn't stop learning at all. It's just that this summer, she gave herself more time to relax.

Her hair was still a little wet, and she just wiped it a little, and it didn't feel like it was dripping. Anyway, she wouldn't go to bed so early and wait for her hair to dry naturally.

Flipping through the book, the time slowly reached eight o'clock.

Picking up her phone and glancing at it, she clicked into his chat window again, and looked at the [read] prompt next to the latest message for a while.

Can't read it back, how many days has it been?

She suddenly remembered that when she was in the first grade, a girl sitting near her stayed in the classroom after school one day, crying to her friends about her boyfriend who had known her for more than ten years and suddenly became cold to her after entering another high school.

["I don't usually see people...... Messages will still be read, but no matter what I send in the past, he will not reply...... He's not interested in me anymore. ”】

I shouldn't have fallen to this point yet, Morimi thought to himself.

And another voice that suddenly came out of her head told her that she was not as good as that girl, because that person had at least dated that boy and really had the name "girlfriend".

She has nothing but a third party trying to dig into the wall.

“……”

Because of his ignorance, and because of her active thinking, she sulked alone for a while.

The phone stayed on his chat interface, and by the time she noticed a new message had been sent, it was already a few minutes later.

Perhaps because of this, she found herself unusually calm when she saw the new news.

Harumi: You're bothering me a lot.

After staring at his message for a moment, she looked at the time again.

It's past eight o'clock.

After playing for a day, this time should have been full of food and drink, back to the hotel room to lie down...... Maybe even the mandarin duck bath is finished.

Can't bear it anymore, is it finally time to solve her problem?

Kazuha: Why?

Harumi: What do you think?

Kazuha: Don't you like books on this genre?

Harumi: Is it a problem with the book?

Kazuha: Do you mean to take the book away?

When this message was sent, she felt her face heat up.

However, the recipient of the message was puzzled and still cold.

Chunhai: If you continue to post, I can only block you.

“……”

Seeing this threat, Morimi smiled instead.

If he could really achieve this level, the relationship between them would not have developed to this point.

She is making mistakes, but the wrong stage is built by him.

Kazuha: Was it seen by Naoko?

Harumi: No.

Kazuha: Then what are you afraid of?

Chunhai: ......

After another half minute, he sent the next message.

Harumi: I think I've made it very clear.

Kazuha: What are you doing?

Harumi: Tell you about it.

Kazuha: I mean your current state.

Chunhai: I'm telling you about this.

Kazuha: Is Naoko next to you?

Chunhai: What do you want to do?

Kazuha: You tell me honestly, and I'll tell you honestly.

Harumi: No.

The message went out, and it took a while for her to reply.

Kazuha: What about Naokoto?

Naruse: Next door.

Naruse told her about Matsu Chiaki coming here.

Kazuha: Then you're alone now.

Naruse: Hmm.

Buzz Buzz –

didn't wait for her next message, but the interface of the call suddenly popped up.

“……”

Naruse closed his eyes, took a deep breath, and slowly spit it out.

He answered the phone.

"Why does it take so long to answer the phone?" She called suddenly, but she was justified.

Naruse didn't want to talk nonsense with her, and the person sat up, "What are you going to do?" ”

"I don't do anything, I just want to hear your voice......"

She paused.

"I miss you so much."

Naruse pursed her lower lip.

His chest was a little dull, and he looked out the window, the darkness had long since shrouded him, and he couldn't escape from it.

"If you don't know what to say, don't hear it."

She spoke again, guessed his current state again, and thoughtfully proposed countermeasures.

He didn't accept it, he didn't accept it, and in the end he could only be silent.

"Hey, are the people still there?"

He made a small sound, indicating that he was still listening.

"Why did Miss Song come over suddenly?"

"The work was over for the time being, there was time, and we were close, so she came."

"Eh~" There was an unclear voice over there, and then he asked, "How long has it been since Naoko?" ”

"It didn't take long."

"Then we should be able to talk a little longer."

“……”

"What about the actual Kamikochi I see, is it more beautiful than in the photos, or is it not worthy of the name? None of you posted photos in the group today. ”

"It's more beautiful than in the photos, and it can only be said that it's worth the trip." Naruse replied.

He took a lot of photos today, but it was raining in the morning and he couldn't spare his hand, and in the afternoon, because Song Qianqiu was coming over, his mind was on this matter, so he forgot about it.

"yes, it's highly rated."

"Hmm."

"If only I could go over and have a look."

He pursed his lower lip, "There will be a chance." ”

"With you?"

"What do you think?"

"I think there's a chance."

"It could only be that everyone went together."

"'Everyone'......"

She smiled inexplicably, her voice was very soft, and Naruse was a little suspicious that it was her own delusion.

"Do you know what I'm doing today?"

"Enjoy the summer vacation."

"That's right......

She laughed louder this time, "Anyway, it's the same as the previous two days, staying in the bookstore during the day, having dinner at night, going to your door to stand for a while, and then going home alone." ”

“…… It's scary. ”

"Aren't you supposed to be impressed?"

"I just think it's scary."

"I kept reading your name when I stood at the door of your house."

"It's even more terrifying."

"Lie to you."

"I know."

"I think you're real."

“……”

Naruse habitually responds to her enthusiasm and straightforwardness with silence.

This time, she asked, "What about you, do you miss me?" ”

Before he could speak, she said firmly: "I must have thought about it, but you won't admit it." ”

She guessed right again.

"As long as you still think about me."

No, it's not good.

Naruse finally remembered his determination to reply to her tonight.

"It's almost over."

"Is it going to be over so soon, it's only been a few minutes on the phone, and Naoko hasn't come back yet, right?"

"I'm talking about the current state. Between you and me, ambiguous, this state. It's time to wrap it up. ”

“……”

Morimi was silent for a moment, then sighed in a voice he could hear.

"If there's a spoiling competition, you're definitely the number one you deserve."

Naruse lowered his eyes and looked at the futon under him, "You can say whatever you want, but I'm really troubled right now." ”

"Just because of a few photos? It's no problem, even if Naoko saw it, it was easy to explain - and you didn't reply to me. ”

"There's nothing wrong with the photos right now, it's you ...... that has the problem"

"—do you like me a little too much?" She interrupted him abruptly.

“……”

Naruse frowned, "What are you talking about?" ”

"Since you guessed my plan and really don't want to be bothered, then just delete and block me as you just said, wouldn't it be okay?"

"Don't want to be my man, but want to keep the room to continue to be friends? There is no such perfect thing. Don't you understand, we can't be friends? If you can't be a lover, you can only tear your face and be an enemy. ”

The emotions that had been accumulated for a long time couldn't be stopped as soon as they were vented, and she didn't give him a chance to speak at all.

"The person who enjoys this ambiguity the most is actually you. Isn't it? ”

When she finally stopped, Naruse was completely silent.

It's like being slapped suddenly, embarrassed, ashamed, and even a little angry, with all kinds of emotions rushing into my chest.

"It's not weakness, I understand, you just can't let me go no matter what."

After a brief silence, she began to add firewood to the fire, and continued to roast him.

But when the emotions finally burned out, after the peak of the most blazing peak, he calmed down.

Preemptively, these words are also her means.

Taking a breath, Naruse spoke:

"You're right, it's my irresponsibility that has caused the current situation. If we continue, we will only make a bigger mistake, so we have to put an end to this. ”

He was silent for a long time, and she had been waiting on the other end of the phone, and when she heard him say this, she immediately sneered.

"The end? It's so simple to say. I've become like this, can you say it's over? ”

Of course, Naruse also understands that this complex mess cannot be solved with a single sentence, but the premise is that his attitude must be clear.

"So I'm talking to you now."

"Didn't I already think of a way for you?" Morimi said.

“…… Is that also called a method? ”

"That's the best way to do it."

Her voice lowered, but word by word became clearer, as if she were whispering in his ear at this moment.

"I know what you're afraid of. But even without me, the desire in your heart for the starfish, and the things you used to do to her, will hurt Naoko sooner or later...... Your biggest mistake was to start dating Naoko. ”

(End of chapter)