"Grill some asparagus and wash some tomatoes."

"Qingna," Akiko lowered her voice again, "Does it hurt?"

"Are you still talking?" Koizumi Aina's voice was filled with despair.

When the hamburger meat was almost ready and Mai had finished her evening oboe practice tomorrow and came downstairs, Toru Watanabe came back.

"Why are you back so late?" Koizumi Aina took over Tohberu's schoolbag.

"I took the wrong train," Toru Watanabe put on his slippers. "I originally wanted to go to Ikebukuro, but ended up going to Ogikubo Station."

"Ogikubo Station? Where to go and what to do?" Koizumi Aona didn't even know the name of the station.

"I also want to know what I am doing there." Toru Watanabe said with a smile.

Koizumi Qingna laughed and did not continue to ask: "I ate hamburger meat today and it is almost ready."

"I want to eat two pieces."

"Everyone only has one piece, shall I give you my share?"

"The two of us share two pieces."

"Isn't it still one person per person?"

"It's different. I'll teach you later. I'll be your teacher on how to eat two hamburgers for two people."

"I do not want it."

Walking into the living room, before Toru Watanabe could even look at Asuka Mai, he noticed Koko giving him a thumbs up.

‘Huh?’ Toru Watanabe was confused and gave her a thumbs up.

"You two." Koizumi Aina patted Watanabe Toru's back.

"Why did you only hit me?" Toru Watanabe said aggrievedly.

"I only hit you when we are on good terms," ​​Koizumi Aina said with a smile, "This is the first time I hit someone."

"...Aona-sensei, are you shaking too?"

"What are you shaking?"

"nothing."

That night, Toru Watanabe slept alone for the first time in a long time.

Lying on the big bed that could sleep six people, he repeatedly thought about the scene with Rin Kiyono on the train.

"Because you remember the past, I decided to take a step toward the future."

What does Rin Kiyono mean by this sentence? What do you want to express?

Are you preparing to compete more fiercely with Kujo Miki and the other three? Or...

There are all kinds of possibilities, and the more I think about them, the more confused I become.

Watanabe Toru closed his eyes, emptied his mind, and returned to the train heading for "Suginami Ward" in a daze.

Qingye Rin rested her forehead on his chest again, holding her in his arms through her uniform and shirt, her voice was as ethereal as the sound of nature, her hair was lightly scented, and her slim waistline was tight.

How do you express your feelings?

After saying it, will she accept it?

Will that unattainable dream really come true one day?

No, it must be realized.

Toru Watanabe remembers every word Rin Kiyono said: "The world will not be gentle to those who compromise."

No matter what others say, no matter what the world thinks, he must let them be together.

Never show weakness to anyone or compromise to any secular rules.

He wants to become a demon and a real man. Only in this way can he embrace Qingye Rin unscrupulously and love her with all his strength.

Throw away all doubts and anxieties and say to her: "Please stay with me."

Along the green street trees of Yotsuya, on a rainy afternoon in Karuizawa, I ran through the narrow alleys of Shimokitazawa, shouting to everyone:

"She is my lover! No one can stop her!"

The quilt next to me could faintly smell the fragrance of Qingye Rin.

'Rin, what are you doing now?'

◇

It's late at night and I still can't sleep.

As autumn enters, there are fewer clouds at night, and the moonlight streaming in through the floor-to-ceiling windows is brighter than usual.

Rin Kiyono was sitting on the single sofa in the bedroom, bending his legs and looking out the window.

Somewhere in the darkness, where even the moonlight cannot penetrate, is Toru Watanabe's former rental house.

After I got a SLR camera, and before Toru Watanabe moved away, I accidentally saw his blurry figure studying in front of the window with the camera.

‘R-san.’

'Dora A Rin.'

‘Qing Ye Shen.’

A sweet and lonely name.

I would blame him, and he would retaliate unceremoniously, just like a quarrel between lovers.

When he threatens him, he will beg her for mercy in an exaggerated way: "Miss Qingye? Qingye-san? Qingye? Rin? Rin-chan?"

I like his arrogance when he fights back;

I like the way he is caught and wants something for himself;

I like his pride in explaining the cause of the plum rain;

I like how he deliberately makes himself angry, and then finds ways to make himself laugh - just to see the cleverness of his smile;

I like every word he says that never tells the truth.

The time the two of them spend together is like the sunlight filtering through leaves, and the clumsy practice sound of the instrumental club comes intermittently from outside the window.

Hugging my knees and closing my eyes, I felt like I was back in the tram car again.

The Marunouchi Line swayed, heading in a direction that was not Ikebukuro Station, and my body swayed along with the train. In Toru Watanabe's arms, the distance between me and him suddenly became closer and further away.

Why are you still so close and so far away when you are already in your arms?

As long as one party exerts his strength and Toru Watanabe hugs him even harder, or he takes the initiative to hug his waist, there is nothing they can do about the shaking of the train.

Is it because the direction is reversed?

If it were a train bound for Ikebukuro Station, would the two of them be able to keep the closest distance at all times?

If he goes to Ikebukuro Station, will he not go to Ochanomizu?

Wouldn't he pretend to be dating Kujo Miki because he cared about his parents, and wouldn't a series of things happen next?

'I hate sharing you with others.'

'But I need you again.'

'If it weren't for you, if it weren't for you, this world would have no meaning to me.'

Is there any way for us to be together, Watanabe-san?

You can make Kujo Miki fall in love with you, you can make Kujo Miki allow Asuka Mai and Koizumi Aona to be your lovers, you can make Kujo Miki and I reconcile, you can definitely think of a way for us to be together, right?

Of the three of us, you are the smartest and most cunning one.

I still remember when you deceived me in Karuizawa and made me willingly perform a play at the cultural festival.

So, think of a solution quickly.

Even if it's cheating, I can pretend I didn't notice it.

End this close game of hide and seek and come and catch me.

When the day comes, will you call me Rin?

If you bring it up, I'll allow it.

And when that day comes, I will also call you Che.

......I want to be with you.
Chapter completed!