I.W.B.A.L

　　Looking at Kento in front of her with a serious expression on his face, Ichika felt a little more curious in her heart. She wondered what kind of question Kento was going to ask her, and whether this question was the reason why Kento looked so heavy.

　　"What do you think is the most precious gift a girl can give to a boy?"

　　"Eh? You're asking such a sensitive question right at the start? Isn't it a bit too fast? Even if you want to... you should consider this issue after we're dating, right?"

　　Nakano Ichika didn't even blush, but acted shyly beside him. Kento just watched her performance with a calm expression, making Nakano Ichika feel that she was just entertaining herself. She smiled and gave her answer.

　　"The most precious gift a girl can give a boy is probably her youth, right?"

　　"It's a bit heavy. What I want is a gift with more material things."

　　"Could it be that there is a young lady who wants to give you a gift, and you are considering what kind of gift would be best?"

　　Kento rubbed his brow with his hand and sighed slowly.

　　"I haven't done any 'mom work', but I wouldn't mind trying it. If Ichika-san has any connections, please introduce me to someone."

　　"Eh? Seriously?"

　　Nakano Ichika opened her eyes wide and looked at Kento in front of her. She scanned the handsome boy in front of her, his gentle and inexplicably mature temperament. A boy like Kento is quite suitable for being a 'mom'. As long as Kento posts his selfies on the Internet, there will probably be a lot of lonely women who are willing to become his wallet, right?

　　Seeing Nakano Ichika's wide-eyed expression, Kentocouldn't help but fall into deep thought. Now, his living expenses are up to next month, and he is a little tight. If they just meet for tea...

　　"You're not really considering this, are you?"

　　"No, I'm just estimating whether the risk and return are proportional. If I can earn over a million a month, I can consider it."

　　"....."

　　Looking at Nakano Ichika who had fallen into silence, Kento smiled.

　　"Just kidding. Going to school is more important now. I'll consider this matter when I fail to continue my studies and have to work in society. At that time, I may need Ichika's financial support."

　　"Then I will definitely patronize Kentomore often. Well, it seems like it would be nice to keep a handsome boy like Kentoin my own home, right?"

　　"..."

　　Facing Kento who suddenly fell silent, Nakano Ichika also smiled.

　　"I was just joking, hehe~"

　　"It turned out to be a joke, haha."

　　The two smiled at each other, but their narrowed eyes seemed to contain some different thoughts.

　　While the two were chatting about a topic that was still too early for high school students, another figure came up to them and stood next to Kento's desk, causing Nakano Ichika and Kento to look towards the newcomer.

　　"Sawamura-san?"

　　Even without looking at the other person's face, just by looking at the golden twin ponytails that only existed in the entire class, or even in the entire Toyonosaki, Nakano Ichika had already recognized the person.

　　The golden hair that looked like a registered trademark was so conspicuous that when she looked at the person who came, before she could even see the other person's face, Nakano Ichika had already set her eyes on her golden hair.

　　Looking at the natural blonde hair, Nakano Ichika felt a little envious, but only a little, and didn't pay much attention to it. She just fixed her gaze on Eriri's face, curious about why she came.

　　"Ei... Sawamura-san, what's going on?"

　　Subconsciously, he wanted to call the other person's name, but then he remembered something and quickly changed his tone, causing Nakano Ichika's eyes to light up slightly, as if he had noticed something interesting.

　　As for Eriri, who was already preoccupied with her own affairs, she did not notice this. Looking at Kento in front of her, she also explained her purpose.

　　"Thank you for what happened last time. Well... it seems a little late to thank you now. I hadn't recovered at that time, so... thank you, Ken... Miyamizu-kun."

　　Nakano Ichika looked at the atmosphere which seemed a little subtle and the expressions on the two people's faces looked a little unnatural. She felt a little more curious in her heart and silently took two steps back.

　　"Nozaki-san?"

　　She looked at Nozaki Umetaro, who was sitting behind Kento, and began to try to chat with him, at the same time making Kento and Eriri focus more on each other instead of her as an 'outsider'.

　　Looking back at Nakano Ichika, Kento's sight fell on the girl beside him. He didn't know why the other party came to him at this time.

　　Kento didn't really believe what Eriri said as a thank you.

　　If she really wanted to thank him, she would have had ample opportunities to come and thank him on Saturday or yesterday, and it wouldn't have to be this time. Staring at the familiar face of the girl, a trace of memory flashed through Kento's eyes, and he lowered his head silently.

　　"No, it's nothing, that's what I'm supposed to do."

　　He raised his head again and looked at the girl in front of him with a smile, and Kento regained his usual gentle smile.

　　"If you see a classmate in trouble, isn't it natural to lend a helping hand?"

　　"But that day, only Kento, no, only Miyamizu-kun came up to take me to the infirmary, right? So, no matter what, I have to thank you... Miyamizu-kun. Also, is Miyamizu-kun free after school today?"

　　Facing Eriri who kept calling his name by mistake, Xianxin's sense of déjà vu became stronger and stronger. He looked at the girl in front of him carefully and blinked. He didn't know whether she wanted to ask him about his plans after school, but he answered instinctively -

　　"No, well, after school, I have some things to do, so I have to go home early. Is there anything Sawamura-kun?"

　　"Miyamizu-kun didn't join any clubs at school, did he?"

　　"No."

　　"...I understand. If that's the case, then forget it."

　　With an undisguised expression of regret on her face, the girl pursed her lips and bit the corner of her mouth with her fangs. She left silently and returned to her seat.

　　But after returning to his seat, he hunched over slightly and seemed a little lost.

　　After chatting with Umetaro Nozaki for a while, Ichika Nakano realized that this Nozaki classmate, whom she had not paid much attention to before, seemed to be an interesting person. Seeing Eriri leaving Kento's table, Ichika Nakano ended her chat with Umetaro Nozaki and came back to Kento's side.

　　"Could it be that what Yoshii-san and Sakamoto-san told me last time that you already have a girlfriend is true?"

　　"Um?"

　　"Otherwise, if you don't join the club and it's not your turn to be on duty, how can you tell Sawamura-san that you don't have time? Normally, no boy would refuse an invitation from a beautiful girl like Sawamura-san, who almost explicitly asks you to be with her after school, right?"

　　His eyes fell on Nakano Ichika's face and Kentonodded.

　　"I'm sorry, I'm not the type of person like Sawamura-san. Ichika-san is more my type. Can you come to my house tonight after school?"

　　"Hehe, that depends on the sincerity of Kento."

　　It was time for class and Ichika Nakano returned to her seat. When she returned to her seat, she winked at Kento.

　　Someone like Nakano Ichika has a cheerful personality. Even when talking about more adult topics and jokes, she doesn't feel shy at all. Her personality is completely different from that of ordinary girls, which makes Kento very fond of her and thinks that their personalities are quite compatible.

　　Just like the middle-aged uncle's flirtatiousness just now, the other party didn't get angry, which made Kentomiss the group of drinking buddies he met in the izakaya in the past.

　　Kentoretracted his gaze and looked at the teacher who came to the podium. He watched the course being taught, and his eyes slightly slid down to look at his desk and the schoolbag hanging next to his desk.

　　Um...who does it belong to?

　　"Kento, are you still going to the cafeteria at noon today?"

　　"No."

　　During the lunch break, Kentowas relieved that he had brought his own lunch box with him. At least he didn't need to leave the classroom. He sat quietly in his seat and took out the lunch box from his desk.

　　Yoshii Akihisa moved closer to Kento and looked at his lunch box.

　　"Bento, does Kentoprepare his own bento?"

　　"Um..."

　　Considering the last slip of the tongue which caused the man to lose control of his emotions, Kentodid not answer the other party this time. This was the lunch box prepared by Setsuna for him. He silently untied the furoshiki and opened the lunch box.

　　"..."

　　Fortunately, at least there was no red heart in the lunch box. Kentolooked at the ordinary lunch box and felt relieved. As for Yoshii Akihisa, he took his lunch box, moved his desk to Kento's, put it together, and sat down.

　　"Then let's go together."

　　"Where's Yuuji?"

　　"He went to buy bread."

　　After Yuuji returned to the classroom, the three of them got together to have lunch.

　　Nothing special happened until school was over in the afternoon, which made Kento, whose eyes occasionally fell on his schoolbag, breathe a sigh of relief.

　　"Kento, would you like to come to my house after school today?"

　　"Something happened today."

　　When faced with Yoshii Akihisa's invitation, Kento rejected it. He had some troubles in his schoolbag and obviously didn't have much time to visit Yoshii Akihisa's home.

　　"Hmm? Then Yuuji and I will go first."

　　"Um."

　　After saying goodbye to Yoshii Akihisa and Sakamoto Yuji and watching them leave the classroom, Kentosat in his seat, looked at the rest of the people in the classroom, silently left his seat, and slowly walked out of the classroom.

　　After leaving the classroom, Kentodid not rush to leave the school. Instead, he waited for a while in the stairwell, and then he walked slowly back to the classroom...

　　— — — —

　　Black stockings are so astringent

　　Thank you for your reward! Boss, you are generous! I wish you good health!

　　Thanks to fgyubv, I want a wife named Xue Nai, 啾啾啾還?, FoRce, Zhuge Grilled Fish, 静, 沉默, this nickname is taken again, a story of horseshoe prints, don't you see the monthly ticket and blade of Jiuzui Wo Hongchen! Thanks to everyone for the recommendation votes!

Cherry Blossom Season: 65. I Return Like Lightning

　　If the other party was not committing the crime once, then when Kentopretended to leave school and go home, the other party should have noticed his actions, and after he left the classroom, he would choose to take action when there were few people around.

　　Kentodeliberately waited in the stairwell for a while. After estimating the time and realizing that almost everyone in the classroom had left, he gradually walked down the stairs on the rooftop, returned to the door of his classroom, and looked into the classroom.

　　There was no one in the empty classroom. He slowly walked to his desk and took a look inside.

　　There's nothing inside.

　　"Is it a one-time crime? Or did he simply walk into the wrong classroom? Did he recognize the wrong person?"

　　Kentowas a little confused and silent for a moment. He looked at his desk, hesitated for a moment, and glanced down at his schoolbag. The ball of pink soft cotton should still be in it. If he put it back on his desk, would the other party take it away?

　　It would be the best outcome if the other party took it away, but if the other party did not take it away, and it remained in his desk, and if someone arrived in the classroom early tomorrow morning and happened to see it, then he would inevitably face social death.

　　After a moment of silence, Kentostared at his desk quietly for a while, but he still didn't have the courage to take the gamble.

　　He is no longer a simple teenager. He no longer has such a simple mindset and no longer has the courage to trust others. Moreover, he cannot understand what kind of thinking a teenager must have to do something like stuffing a ball of soft cotton into someone else's belly...

　　He sighed helplessly, rubbed his eyebrows with one hand, turned slowly and walked towards the classroom door, disappearing into the classroom.

　　Not long after Kentoleft the classroom, a figure gradually came to the door of the classroom when Kentodisappeared at the stairs. Looking at Kento's back as he left, she looked towards the classroom.

　　After leaving the classroom and walking home alone, Kentostill couldn't let it go. He wondered what kind of person would do something so completely incomprehensible.

　　"That person is not a simple pervert, committing crimes randomly, right?"

　　He frowned. He had never heard of such a thing when he was in Fengzhizaki before. He did not deny that it was because he did not like socializing very much, but mainly because he did not pay much attention to such gossip at that time.

　　Now it seems that I have to pay attention to whether there are any strange campus rumors in Fengzhizaki, such as the legend of "the little girl who gave away underwear"?

　　"I feel like this could be a good topic, but unfortunately, even if I write about it now, no one would accept it... Hmm?"

　　He himself cannot do it, but if he uses someone else's name to submit this matter, maybe he can submit it to those magazines, pass the review, and receive corresponding compensation.

　　He didn't know many people when he first came to Tokyo, but there were some adults who were willing to help him...

　　Qingpu Mai, who was working in the office and had not yet left work, suddenly felt a chill behind her. When she paid attention, the chill had disappeared. Sitting in the office, she looked down at her clothes.

　　"Although it's not summer yet, I'm wearing quite a lot of clothes. Why do I feel so cold... Is someone thinking about me?"

　　If you think about it carefully, you can get royalties if your manuscript is reviewed, which can be used to supplement your living expenses. You can ask Setsuna to go shopping or to the amusement park together and leave good memories. I think Qingura Mai has no reason to refuse.

　　As for the actual content of the submission, it seems that it is not possible to hide it from the other party.

　　"By then, I guess it might leave a bad impression on Miss Wu? Never mind. At this point, it doesn't matter whether there is an impression or not. It has come to this point. I don't think Miss Wu will mind too much."

　　While walking, Kentowas already thinking about when would be the most appropriate time to bring up this matter with Qingura Mai.

　　After returning to the door of his apartment, he checked the mailbox to see if there was any mail for him. It had been more than a week since he sent his manuscript to the magazine, and he had not received any reply. Kentohimself had basically given up any expectations.

　　However, just after he opened his mailbox, he saw a thick letter lying quietly inside. He picked it up and looked at the sender on it.

　　"A reply from the magazine?"

　　After a moment of hesitation, Kentodid not rush to open the envelope. He took the envelope in his hand, closed the mailbox again, and returned to his apartment and entered his room.

　　He put down his schoolbag and casually placed the envelope on the table. He found a small utility knife and slowly opened the envelope.

　　Because not all product packaging can be easily opened, Kentobought a small utility knife when he passed by a 100-yen store. He used it specifically to open the packaging of some products. It also occasionally came in handy when cooking.

　　I cut the envelope open and took out the thick, book-like mail inside. I took a closer look and found it was a weekly magazine from the other party's magazine, a reply letter, and...

　　"Eight thousand yen?"