Tokyo: To reiterate, this is not a dating system.

After eating a handmade sandwich at Yuko Asahi's place, the two went to school together.

Everything proceeded as naturally as usual. Amidst the swaying of the tram, the girl rested her head on Genji Aoyama's shoulder once more and took a short nap.

Time is like water in a sponge; if you're willing to squeeze, there's always some left.

This is the lesson that Genji Aoyama summarized today, and he shared this sentence with Yuko Asahi.

On the way, Asahi Yuko expressed her small dissatisfaction—because he had taken up too much of her time yesterday, causing her to finish her homework at almost noon, and then she had to make breakfast in the morning.

I didn't sleep well.

"Don't take Mr. Lu Xun's words as if they were your own."

It seems that Yuko Asahi is studying modern Japanese language very well and has a good understanding of Mr. Lu Xun.

Genji Aoyama gave her a thumbs up in his heart.

His expression suggested he was deep in thought, or perhaps suddenly had an inspiration. He held up his index finger and said, "Then let me rephrase it: Time is like the cleavage between a young girl's flat chest..."

"If you don't want to be arrested as a pervert, please shut up."

Yuko Asahi, who has a flat chest, seemed to have been hit where it hurt and severely reprimanded Genji Aoyama.

"Yes."

They had already reached the floor where their classroom was located, and people would occasionally steal glances at Genji Aoyama. It was indeed inappropriate for him to say such a thing in this situation.

Reflection.

"By the way, they're cute when they're small too." He added at the entrance of Class D, in a voice only Yuko Asahi could hear.

Big has its advantages, and small has its advantages.

In matters of the chest, Genji Aoyama is quite philanthropic.

Asahi Yuko watched Aoyama Genji leave, his smug gait making Asahi Yuko want to kick him.

"Ah, Asahi-kun."

Yuko Asahi put down her schoolbag before looking at the girl who had spoken to her.

I think her name is Ichinose or something, but I'm not familiar with her.

"What's wrong?" she asked.

Ichinose walked to her desk, half-squatted down, rested her chin on the back of her hand, and asked with some hesitation, "Asahi-san and Aoyama-san from the next class seem to know each other quite well. Are you childhood friends?"

?

Yuko Asahi looked puzzled—why was this girl, who never usually talked to her, suddenly bringing this up?

Doubts are fleeting.

She quickly realized that this person's purpose was not to chat with her, but to get back at Aoyama Genji.

"So what is it?" Asahi Yuko looked at Ichinose, slightly intrigued.

"I just feel that Aoyama-kun usually seems like a high-and-mighty flower, making him hard to approach, but Asahi-kun is always with him. I'm a little curious... how did you two meet?"

A flower on a high mountain...

Yuko Asahi almost laughed.

So this is how they usually see that person?

"How did you meet? Oh dear, I think I've almost forgotten." Asahi Yuko did indeed laugh.

"I see." Ichinose looked somewhat disappointed at not getting the answer she wanted, but she still showed no intention of leaving.

After a while, Ichinose gritted her teeth, as if making up her mind, and said, "Well... if I want to ask him to hang out with me, could Asahi-kun help me?"

"Um?"

The two people who had worked together in the family class before didn't reveal their relationship to anyone.

However, it makes sense, since they are all marginalized members of the class and have no small group to share gossip with.

"What do you want to ask Ichinose-san to do?"

Yuko Asahi smiled.

Ichinose subconsciously assumed that Asahi Yuuko was willing to help her, and a look of joy appeared on her face.

"Well, it's Friday today, and I've made plans with my classmates and a few people from Class C to go to karaoke after school. If it's possible, could Asahi-san invite Aoyama-san along?"

"I can ask him for you."

Yuko Asahi took out her phone and opened LINE.

[Aoyama: Yuuko is so great~]

This was posted on my way back to my apartment after running with Genji Aoyama.

Yuko Asahi quickly considered what to say and sent a message to Genji Aoyama.

[Yuko: Ichinose from our class wants to invite you and me to go to karaoke after school. Do you want to come?]

Messages are replied to almost instantly.

[Aoyama: I'm busy. Also, who is Ichinose? Is she Yuuko's friend?]

[Yuko: No, I'm not familiar with her.]

[Qingshan: Then I won't go. Please be more direct in your refusal.]

Yuko Asahi looked up at Ichinose, whose face was full of expectation, and said with a smile, "Sorry, my boyfriend said he's busy."

"Eh—"

Ichinose exclaimed in surprise, but after attracting the attention of her classmates, her expression turned to one of embarrassment and annoyance: "Honestly, why didn't Asahi-san say so sooner when we were already dating!?"

Could it be that from the very beginning, Yuko Asahi was toying with or even humiliating her?

Ichinose had this thought in mind.

"It seems that Ichinose-san didn't ask either."

"That's terrible!"

Feeling humiliated, Ichinose walked away cursing, then seemed to bump into someone's table with a loud bang.

Yuko Asahi didn't even bother to glance at her—Genji Aoyama sent another message.

[Aoyama: Yuuko, do you want to go?]

Karaoke?

She hasn't been there yet.

However, Aoyama Genji would probably like it.

[Yuko: If you want to go, I'm fine with that.]

She could accept it completely if her first time was with Genji Aoyama.

Yuko Asahi even felt a sense of anticipation.

On the day the two met, Yuko Asahi heard Genji Aoyama singing in the bathroom.

She even remembers the lyrics from that song very clearly.

ばっかしてらんないよ

言いたいことは言わなくちゃ (Whatever you want to say, say it out loud)

The road stops at the evening sunset (next to the station where you go home at dusk)

Fall in the back bye bye bye (Say ByeByeBye to your lost back)

The youthful voice, combined with the song's dynamic melody and the unique reverb of a bathroom, makes for a very pleasant singing experience.

Yuko Asahi was doing her homework at the time, and her attention was constantly being drawn to the wall, which bothered her. So she tapped the thin wall between them and gave a subtle reminder.

After that, I never heard it again.

I searched for the lyrics but couldn't find the original song.

This made Yuko Asahi feel a little disappointed.

Is it because you're afraid of bothering me?

She was thinking.

The scene of going to Aoyama Genji's room yesterday and just entering the door flashed through my mind again. When I closed the door, the strange noise that was originally enough to be heard next door was almost inaudible.

Yuko Asahi smiled faintly.

Aoyama-kun may seem unserious, but he's always been very gentle.

Snapping out of his thoughts, Genji Aoyama had already returned with news.

[Aoyama: Then let's go together the day after tomorrow, after we've finished at the bow and tack shop!]

Can't we do it today?

我们两个人。

Yuko Asahi didn't ask the question.

Prior to this, Genji Aoyama had replied to Ichinose's invitation that he was unavailable.

Is there something you need to do?

Just as she was thinking this, Aoyama Genji's message arrived.

[Aoyama: Oh right, I have some things to take care of this afternoon and need to leave early. I probably won't be going with the archery club either. So I can't go home with Yuuko. It's a bit of a shame, but let's go on a date the day after tomorrow!]

Ah, something's definitely up.

It's a bit of a pity, but there's nothing we can do about it.

And... a date?

[Yuko: I remember Kohara-senpai said she was going to come along, right?]

If there are three people, can it still be called a date?

Yuko Asahi, who had never been invited on a date, didn't know much about it.

[Qingshan: She can't go because she has something to do (actually, she doesn't want to be a third wheel and watch us being all lovey-dovey)]

He's talking nonsense again.

How can someone like this be considered aloof and unattainable?

Sometimes she's childish and unreliable, always wearing a frivolous smile and saying nonsensical things. Other times she's serious and focused, making people feel very at ease.

She was probably the only one who had ever seen Aoyama Genji like this.

Thinking of this, Yuko Asahi couldn't help but curl up her lips again.