Lonely Rock for the Blind.

Nekoyashiki Haru nodded.

"... "

Nijika Ichichi placed Nekoyashiki Haru's hand on her head.

"Like this?"

"Correct."

Haruto Nekoyashiki's hand was stroking Niji Natsumi's head.

Meanwhile, Ichiji Nijika, who was feeling the process of exploration, froze in place.

"...Suddenly...what did you suddenly do?"

"Wait a minute, let me look for it... Ah, I found it."

Haru Nekoyashiki touched what she was looking for.

"It's really drooping..."

"What...?"

Ichi Nijika said with a little unease.

"Your little triangle."

Nekoyashiki Haru chuckled as she helped the yellow triangle up.

"Can it stand up?"

"...This isn't something I can decide..."

"Can't you? You used to use it to do your homework when you were little."

Nekoyashiki Haru released her grip, and the yellow triangle stood upright on Ijichi Nijika's head without falling down.

"If you want to lean to the left, choose A; if you want to lean to the right, choose B; and if you want to lean forward or backward, choose C and D."

Nekoyashiki Haru recalled.

"...Would...would I do that?"

Ichi Nijika used her free hand to brush aside the triangular hair on her head.

"...Of course...because I've observed it."

Nekoyashiki Haru narrowed her eyes.

"what…"

Ichi Nijika lowered her hand.

"Um...did you ask my sister to bring the kitten here?"

Nekoyashiki Haru shook her head and then explained.

"No, it was my own idea to come. Sister Xingge wanted me to apologize on your behalf."

Ichi Nijika trembled slightly, then opened her mouth.

“…Yes…No…”

"Don't apologize, it's not necessary."

Nekoyashiki Haru shook her head.

"why?"

Ichi Nijika looked at Nekoyashiki Haru.

"... "

Nekoyashiki Haru reached into her pocket.

"I've been thinking about a lot of things these past few days."

A key was taken out.

Ijichi Nijika was slightly taken aback; that was the key she had given to Ijichi Seika.

"Although I haven't completely figured it out yet... I don't want to hurt you or make you sad."

Nekoyashiki Haru pried open Ijichi Nijika's hand.

"…kitten?"

Ichi Niji Natsumi was slightly taken aback.

Snapped…

Then, the key was gently placed in Ichiji Nijika's hand.

"?!"

Ichi Nijika opened her eyes wide.

"...I'll probably still be away from home for the next few days, but once I move back in, if you still want to come in... then come in by yourself..."

Nekoyashiki Haru's lips curved into a beautiful smile.

"It's okay if I find out later, just tell me frankly."

Nekoyashiki Haru added.

"…Why?"

Ichi Nijika's pupils trembled.

"Kitten...don't you hate...aren't you afraid of this kind of thing?!"

The girl suddenly became agitated.

"Don't you think...don't you think it's disgusting that I sneaked into your house...and secretly watched you at night?!"

"... "

Ichi Nijika gripped the key tightly.

"They must have felt disgusted, right? Otherwise, the kitten wouldn't have left!"

Ichi Nijika lowered her head.

"Because of me...because of my behavior...my disgusting behavior, which caused the kitten to run away...why do you still give me the key?"

"...Ah...that's what you think."

Nekoyashiki Haru lowered her head.

"Then we are quite similar."

"…What?"

Ichi Niji Natsumi was slightly taken aback.

"I also feel disgusted with myself right now."

Nekoyashiki Haru shook her head.

"Eh?"

Ichi Nijika opened her eyes wide.

I have absolutely no idea what Nekoyashiki Haru is talking about.

Nekoyashiki Haru faced Ijichi Nijika and continued.

"I feel disgusting when I have everyone chasing after me, but I feel genuinely frustrated because there's no progress."

"…What?"

“I saw Yu Dai yesterday.”

"!"

Ichi Nijika opened her mouth.

"Little Kita...?"

"Hmm...she's very excited..."

Nekoyashiki Haru closed her eyes, and the image of her embracing the red-haired girl in the snow replayed in her mind.

"...She said she liked me."

Nekoyashiki Haru said softly.

"...Didn't we already say that?"

Ichi Nijika stared blankly.

"I've said that before, but yesterday felt really different..."

Nekoyashiki Haru placed her hand on her heart.

"I...at least I understand...seeing her anxious, eager to please me, trying to be nice to me, I felt terrible, but I couldn't show any expression on my face."

"... "

"I kept thinking, 'Hmm... do I really deserve so much of her affection?' I kept projecting her feelings onto myself, then told myself that she didn't actually like me that much... because we didn't seem to have any deep experiences together..."

"... "

"But that's wrong..."

Nekoyashiki Haru sighed.

"So when she came back... when I sensed she was uneasy, I reached out and hugged her..."

"!"

Ichiji Niji Natsumi's mouth gaped open, and her pupils trembled violently.

"hug?"

The blonde girl's face turned bright red.

"Yes, if that would put her at ease."