Tokyo: My Girlfriend

The school bell rang, and the teacher on the podium began to recount the history of the Warring States period in a serious and methodical manner.

Shinichi Kitagawa, however, was not in the mood to listen to the lecture.

He glanced at Akemi Aoki, who was twirling a carbon pen beside him.

Shinichi Kitagawa knew why he had proposed to Akemi, and if he had to choose between Akemi and Hina, he knew who he preferred.

But preferring someone doesn't mean you have to be with them... After all, it's been a long time since Hina and the other person broke up.

Meanwhile, Aoki Akemi, who was sitting next to him, was also quietly observing Kitagawa Shinichi's actions during class. Even at lunchtime, Kitagawa Shinichi did not seem to have any intention of going to find Haruhi Hina.

While eating alone on the rooftop, Akemi Aoki picked up a meatball.

"Shinichi! My parents just called to say they've arrived home and will be making dinner for me and Ono in advance. It looks like a really big meal."

Shinichi Kitagawa smiled: "Your aunt and uncle are here so early. Where did they live before? I don't think I've ever asked them."

Akemi Aoki smiled at Shinichi Kitagawa and replied irrelevantly, "There's still half a day left, Shinichi-kun."

Kitagawa Shinichi hesitated for a moment, then slowly nodded.

"I know."

Akemi Aoki fed the meatballs to Shinichi Kitagawa without asking any questions: "Ah~ open your mouth."

In the afternoon, Shinichi Kitagawa looked at his chat history with someone on his phone.

The last half day.

Although Akemi gave him time to say goodbye, what should he say to Hina? Should he tell her that he plans to officially date Akemi?

Whether Hina supports it or opposes it at that time, it's not what Kitagawa wants to see.

However, given how things have developed, Shinichi Kitagawa knows that running away is not a solution, and he can no longer hurt Akemi.

He knows better than anyone how it feels to be ignored and abandoned by someone he likes; that kind of pain can't be skipped by simply saying sorry.

He opened the chat history and was about to send a message when he heard a familiar voice: "Is Xin Yi from our class there?"

Kitagawa Shinichi looked up and saw Haruhi Hina's beautiful figure standing at the door. She was still wearing that pretty long dress and shirt, looking at him gently from afar.

Kitagawa Shinichi stood up: "Hina-sensei, I'm here."

Under Aoki Akemi's unnoticed but anxious gaze, Kitagawa Shinichi went to a corner of the corridor outside the classroom to talk to Kasuga Hina.

Even when discussing serious matters, their past relationship makes the atmosphere awkward whenever they are alone together.

Haruhi Hina parted her red lips slightly and smiled as she handed Kitagawa Shinichi a document: "This is something my math teacher asked me to give you."

"A math teacher?"

"Well, I was going to class next door and thought I'd bring it over since it was on my way. I didn't even see what it was. You can take a look for yourself."

Shinichi Kitagawa wondered why he would do something like this on the way. Was it just to talk to me a little more? He was probably overthinking it.

It's impossible to even think about it.

He responded with a thank you.

Haruhi Hina looked at him hesitantly. She didn't know that Kitagawa Shinichi had indeed guessed correctly. Using excuses like saying something to someone he liked or picking up something along the way was a common practice, and he never found it troublesome: "Well... then, teacher, you should go back to class too."

When Kitagawa Shinichi saw her about to turn around, he called out to her, only to find that she had also stopped and was about to say something.

Both sides were puzzled by this coincidence.

Shinichi Kitagawa asked in confusion, "Is there something else, Hina-sensei?"

Haruhi Hina was also puzzled, and smiled: "It's nothing serious... Does Shinichi have something to say too? You go first."

Looking into Hina's beautiful eyes, Kitagawa Shinichi finally spoke up: "I wonder if you have time after school, teacher? I'd like to talk to you one last time."

"Want to chat?" Haruhi Haruna was surprised that Kitagawa Shinichi would take the initiative to ask her out. She was very happy because he hadn't agreed when she asked him out at the sports warehouse last week.

Moreover, she originally intended to ask Shinichi Kitagawa out this time.

only..

"Is it something important?" she asked.

"It doesn't count."

Haruhi Hina said apologetically, "I'm sorry, Shinichi, I was just about to say that I have to go on a business trip to Tokyo with some teachers tonight, so I probably won't be at school for the next week."

Shinichi Kitagawa frowned: "Business trip?"

"Hmm... As a newly hired teacher, the school has arranged for us to go out for training. We'll be back this weekend. How about... if it's not important, we can make an appointment for the weekend? I'm definitely free this weekend, I have two days off."

The weekend... that was so long ago.

Shinichi Kitagawa said softly, "I understand. That's really unfortunate. We'll talk about it later."

Haruhi Hina said apologetically, "Sorry, I'll see if you have time then. I have to go to class now, bye-bye."

As Shinichi Kitagawa watched her turn away and walk further and further into the distance, a voice inside him still urged him to call out, "Hina..."

"Hmm?" Haruhi Hina turned to look at him again.

Kitagawa Shinichi's eyes trembled: "It's been almost a month already."

Haruhi Hina knew what he meant, and lowered her eyes, "Yes...it's been so long without me even realizing it."

There were still quite a few students coming and going in the corridor.

Shinichi Kitagawa really wanted to say, "It's been so long, and Hina still hasn't shown any intention of getting back together..."

Just like Xingzi said, before that incident happened, as long as you were willing... I would definitely agree, because the only thing I still feel is...

Shinichi Kitagawa's brows relaxed, and he smiled: "Then see you this weekend. I think I have something to tell you then, although I don't know if it's a good thing or not."

Haruhi Hina looked forward to meeting him over the weekend and quietly replied, "Okay! See you on the weekend."

Watching her gradually disappear through the classroom door of the next class, Shinichi Kitagawa knew that he and Haruna Kasuga probably would never get back together.

On their first date, when Shinichi Kitagawa first asked Haruna Kasuga out in front of the coffee shop, he was determined to be with her no matter what.

Behind the classroom window of Class 1, Aoki Akemi secretly observed the brief exchange between the two.

Although the noisy corridor prevented her from hearing what the two were saying, it was clear that Shinichi's feelings for Hina-sensei far surpassed his own.

I wonder if Xin Yi will come looking for me tonight...

As evening fell and school ended, a breeze picked up, making the weather in Kabasaki Town exceptionally cool; the wind felt refreshing and invigorating inside one's clothes.

Shinichi Kitagawa went home with Rena Kitagawa. He needed to change his clothes first: "Rena and I are going home now! Akemi, Hirano, Kana, bye-bye!"

Akemi, Hirano, and Kana watched the brother and sister leave from the crossroads.

Kana also bid farewell to Akemi and Hirano after walking for a while.

On their way home, Aoki Akemi looked back at Kitagawa Shinichi, whose figure was so small that she could only see him in the distance, and her anxiety and tension grew.

Aoki Hirano, on the other hand, was incredibly happy today because he was having lunch with his girlfriend for the first time. He opened his arms wide and exclaimed excitedly, "Sis! The weather is so nice today! I haven't seen Mom and Dad in ages, I wonder what delicious food they'll make for us!"

Akemi Aoki looked away, smiling. "Yeah, I wonder what delicious food you'll make."

At the train station in Kabasaki-cho, Haruna Kasuga and several teachers packed their luggage and boarded the school-arranged bus. Before getting on the bus, Haruna Kasuga gazed into the distance.

A cool breeze tousled her long, pale blonde hair to one side, and she shielded her eyes with her hand, saying, "What a refreshing breeze."

Xin Yi... wait for me to come back... This time apart has made me think about many things, and I realize that the weight of our feelings in my heart is truly immeasurable.

Maybe I should do something selfish too; it seems like I really can't live without you, sister.