Lonely Rock for the Blind.

Kita Ikuyo whispered in Yamada Ryo's ear.

"!"

Yamada Ryo's expression froze.

Ichi Nijika waved.

"You two have a good time! Oh, and remember to take Pochi home when you're done!"

"…it is good."

Nekoyashiki Haru nodded.

This is creating some alone time for me and Ichiri, isn't it...?

The three moved quickly and soon disappeared from Goto Ichiri's sight.

Goto Ichiri looked at Nekoyashiki Haru. The boy was still looking in the direction the others had left. His dark eyes were like the night sky, but they seemed different.

Goto Ichiri blushed and lowered her head.

What should I do next?

I don't think I've ever gone on a date with Qing alone...

Normally it should be...

"What...what do you think of my outfit today?"

Goto Ichiri asked according to the formula.

"It suits you perfectly."

Nekoyashiki Haru turned around and answered with a formula as well.

Although he knew that Goto Ichiri was most likely still wearing the sportswear that others had described.

"Ah... um... thank you..."

Goto Ichiri lowered his head, letting his slightly long bangs cover his forehead.

Nekoyashiki Haru smiled, then reached out and searched gently for a while before finding Goto Ichiri's head and gently patting it.

"what…"

The comforting feeling of being petted made Goto Ichiri raise her head, her blue eyes looking at the smiling Nekoyashiki Haru.

"Where to next? Is there anywhere you'd like to go?"

Nekoyashiki asked softly, as if afraid of frightening a small animal.

"...I...I want to..."

Goto Ichiri pursed his lips, unable to articulate his thoughts for a long time.

"Can't figure it out? How about we go eat first?"

"Nekoyashiki Haru said."

"Uh... I... my stomach doesn't feel..."

Glug glug~

As if following a formula, the girl's stomach let out a groan.

"Ah...ah ah..."

Goto Ichiri opened his mouth wide, his cheeks covered in a tomato-red color.

I'm a little hungry...

"Nekoyashiki Haru said, then put away her cane, and using Goto Ichiri's head as a reference, walked behind the girl and put her hands on the girl's shoulders.

"Come on, take me to find something to eat. Anything is fine, I'm not picky."

"…well!"

Goto Ichiri spoke as if he were a puppet, his whole body stiff.

Click click click…

Even walking makes the sound of wooden joints colliding.

Nekoyashiki Haru had a complicated expression on her face.

"...Ichiri, aren't you a little...too amazing?"

"what?"

Goto Ichiri turned around and looked back, his blue eyes filled with undisguised confusion.

"It's okay, it's okay. I just think you're cute. Let's go."

Nekoyashiki Haru smiled and patted Goto Ichiri on the shoulder.

"…cute…"

Goto Ichiri rubbed his hands together.

"...I...wouldn't you say I'm cute..."

Why do you say that?

"...So hesitant and awkward...and my personality is really annoying...Everyone probably thinks I'm unapproachable and difficult to get along with...Kita has actually talked to me about this too..."

"But that has nothing to do with me finding Ichiri cute, right?"

"...Judging from everyone's reactions...I can understand that I should be considered fairly good-looking..."

Goto Ichiri shook his head.

"But... Qing, you can't see that... all you see is my annoying personality and quirks..."

"... "

Nekoyashiki tilted his head.

Goto Ichiri continued.

"So...sometimes I wonder...whether Haru likes me because I'm a member of the band that ended...it hurts!"

Before Goto Ichiri could finish speaking, Nekoyashiki Haru tapped him with her knuckles.

"It's best not to have that kind of thought, otherwise I'll knock again next time... But if it makes you feel that way, am I also partly responsible?"

After thinking for a while, Nekoyashiki Haru shook her head.

“I can tell you seriously, no.”

Nekoyashiki Haru leaned close to Goto Ichiri's ear.

Goto Ichiri's pupils shrank to pinpoints as she instinctively used her nose to catch the boy's scent.

"I could sense Ichiri's kindness the first time I met her, though... she was definitely acting strange back then, begging me not to send you to the police station or something..."

Nekoyashiki Haru continued.

"But after spending time with them, I realized that Ichiri wasn't as bad as she claimed. You have the courage to do things that most people wouldn't dare to do. That time... you were the one who went to find everyone, right?"

"Nekoyashiki Haru asked."

"!"

Goto Ichiri was taken aback for a moment.

Nekoyashiki Haru continued.

You are kind enough, and that's the fundamental reason you help others, not because you're socially awkward and can't refuse others. Otherwise, you would just keep avoiding people and not saying anything. You genuinely sense the other person's unease, which is why you choose to help them.

"... "

"And Ichiri is also very gentle... I think everyone can feel that. Although she's socially awkward, that doesn't mean she'll hurt anyone, so I think Ichiri is very cute, so cute that it makes me..."

Nekoyashiki Haru paused.

"…I love you…"

The words, which sounded rather somber, came from Nekoyashiki Haru's mouth.

Goto Ichiri's pupils were confused.

Is it...is it a confession?

This... feeling...

Goto Ichiri clutched his lower abdomen.

I feel a warm sensation in my lower abdomen…

------------------

The little house won't fall or land; that's organ displacement, which is very dangerous.

Chapter 356 Soft and Wet

"what…"

Goto Ichiri blushed and took a bite of the meat that Nekoyashiki Haru offered to her.

"In the end, it's still barbecue..."

"I can't believe it," said Nekoyashiki Haru.

"...Don't...you don't like it...?"

Goto Ichiri asked nervously.

"No, I was just thinking that Ichiri really likes to eat meat."

"Nekoyashiki Haru replied."

"…Um…"

Goto Ichiri nodded.

"I...I've already eaten that..."

Goto Ichiri raised his head as if to say something, but then suddenly the words caught in his throat.