Their restricted abilities are refreshed every week.

"Stall owner, didn't you just say that it's best not to treat catching goldfish as a competitive game?" Shoko Toyokawa said somewhat unhappily.

"Alas, now is not the time. The most important thing is to have fun," the stall owner said. "Saying different things to the same person is a survival skill for adults."

Shoko Toyokawa lowered her head, gazing at her own face in the pool, flushed with excitement. A few goldfish swam over, creating ripples that fragmented her reflection in the water. But when the ripples subsided, the shimmering light formed her face once again, and Shoko Toyokawa was a little unrecognizable as the girl in the water.

It's a little bit unlike myself.

"Then let's have a competition." There's nothing wrong with a competition, Toyokawa Shoko thought, just treat this competition as a game. It's just a game anyway. She smiled, her smile as beautiful as a flower.

Although she just learned how to catch goldfish today, she doesn't think she will lose to Baichuan Qing

The rules of the competition are simple: two people use the same number of nets. After all the nets are broken, whoever catches the most goldfish wins. If both parties catch the same number of goldfish, the winner is determined by the quality of the pattern.

The stall owner will be the referee.

Shirakawa Haru didn't take any action at first, but just watched with interest how Toyokawa Shoko caught the goldfish.

Toyokawa Shoko lay prone on the edge of the pool, her entire body pressed against the surface as if about to dive in. One hand supported the edge, the other grasped the landing net, slanting horizontally as if ready to dunk. The blue hair on either side of her face, having been pulled too far out of the water, fell into the water, attracting a flock of goldfish to kiss her.

This time, she aimed at the fat goldfish she had been unable to catch. Seeing its calm demeanor, Toyokawa Shoko suspected it was mocking her, so she quickly lowered her net and caught it! However, she didn't have much time left. As the goldfish struggled, the net broke again, just like the first time.

With a few splashes of water, the fat goldfish fell into the water again.

"You need to speed up." After watching for a while, Shirakawa Haru picked up a net bag and sat by the pool to start catching goldfish. His technique was much better than Toyokawa Shoko's.

When they were young, Youxi often dragged him to catch goldfish.

Although I only bought a few net bags each time, I caught a lot of goldfish and couldn't take them all away, so I had to put them back into the pond.

Baichuan Qing held his breath and concentrated, then fixed his eyes on a swimming goldfish, and then suddenly attacked. Unfortunately, he didn't know what had happened until the goldfish entered the small porcelain bowl in his hand.

I just felt a shadow flash before my eyes, and then it was put into the porcelain bowl.

His movements were really too fast.

Time passed minute by minute, and there were already quite a few goldfish in Shirakawa Haru's porcelain bowl, but Toyokawa Shoko was still fighting with the fat goldfish. She was like Don Quixote who couldn't walk when he saw a windmill, and would charge towards it no matter how many times he saw the windmill.

Gradually, Shirakawa Haru was attracted by the girl's unyielding and persistent expression. He stopped catching goldfish and watched Toyokawa Shoko's movements carefully.

He suddenly noticed that her clothes were actually very thin. The arms of her dress had become transparent due to accidental water stains, and her skin became even whiter and more moisturized under the light of the bright lamp above her head. A layer of sweat broke out on Toyokawa Shoko's forehead, and she didn't wipe it with a tissue, but wiped it away.

Shirakawa Haru realized that the girl next to him at this moment was much more important than winning or losing any competition. She was so beautiful and full of youthful vitality. She accompanied you to Chiba Prefecture to visit the summer festival in September, but you care about winning or losing a competition?

Although this competition was prepared to make her relax and happy.

Until the end, Toyokawa Shoko did not succeed in catching a goldfish. She put down the porcelain bowl and the damaged net bag, and smiled at Shirakawa Haru. Her smile was so bright, as if she was welcoming the midday sun or eating the sweetest honey.

"I lost to you, President. So what do you want to ask of me?"

Toyokawa Shoko asked. Although she didn't catch a goldfish in the competition, the expression on her face told Shirakawa Haru that she was very satisfied.

"Let's talk about it tonight after the summer festival ends." Shirakawa Haru said, "Do you want that goldfish you haven't been able to catch yet?"

"I want it!" Toyokawa Shoko was stunned for a moment, then spoke immediately, as if if she replied a little slower, Shirakawa Haru would go back on his word.

Receiving a positive response, Shirakawa Haru carefully watched the plump goldfish's direction with his remaining net, analyzing its next move. Catching goldfish is like a kendo competition: it's all about speed, steadiness, and the confidence to snatch it before the other.

Baichuan Qing moved, his hand swept across like a swooping eagle, and the net bag drew a perfect arc, without splashing a single drop of water when it was immersed in the water.

"Here you go." Shirakawa Haru put the goldfish into Toyokawa Shoko's bowl, and he put all the goldfish in his own porcelain bowl back into the pond.

After the stall owner gave the change, Shirakawa Haru took Toyokawa Shoko away from the stall.

The two of them first strolled around the cultural street for a while, and then played activities such as catching water balloons, tossing rings, throwing balls, bidding, and playing with air guns. They played until Xiangzi's hands were full of the rewards they won. They also ate fried noodles, taiyaki, marshmallows, and apple candies.

It doesn’t matter if you can’t finish the food, what’s important is to be happy.

Shirakawa Haru wants to take Toyokawa Shoko to taste every delicacy in the summer festival.

He also bought wind chimes, fox masks and folding fans with Shoko Toyokawa.

The two of them wore masks on their faces, leaving only their eyes exposed. The masks were painted with gold and red. Although neither of them could see each other's faces, they could recognize each other with just their eyes.

This feeling is very strange, like telepathy, but not entirely like it. The reason for being able to see each other is not complicated at all, because both of them have put their hearts on each other.

After all, a mask is just a mask, and the eyes are the windows to the soul. This window must be maintained frequently because you never know when a bird will fly by.

While hurrying on the road, Shoko Toyokawa couldn't see the road clearly because she was holding a huge doll in her hand, and she stepped on the slippery green tiles and almost fell. It was Shirakawa Haru who quickly grabbed her wrist and prevented her from falling.

"Luckily, you're here, President. Otherwise, I would have fallen down." Just when Shirakawa Haru wanted to pull his hand back, Toyokawa Shoko took the initiative to hold his hand, then smiled at Shirakawa Haru, "Just hold on like this. If I fall down next time, you might not be able to react in time."

So they spent the second half of the summer festival together, hand in hand.

In the end, the two of them sat in a slightly remote place on Wenhua Street. Originally, it was so lonely that there was only a bench, but with the arrival of Shirakawa Haru and Toyokawa Shoko, it no longer seemed lonely.

They sat on a bench when suddenly, above their heads, a brilliant burst of starlight erupted. This was the start of the Summer Festival's fireworks display. Because it was already September, the solar term didn't quite match the Summer Festival, so the fireworks display was less grand and the variety of fireworks used was limited.

In just a few minutes, all the fireworks were lit, and the air was filled with a pungent smell that some people hated, while others loved.

Haru Shirakawa particularly likes the smell of fireworks or firecrackers burning and exploding, because he thinks this smell is actually a part of the fireworks. It always reminds people that there was a fireworks display. He hopes that people will not forget the dazzling fireworks just because the fireworks display is over.

Shirakawa Haru and Toyokawa Shoko held the fairy wands upside down and lit them, and silvery-white flames splashed from the lit parts of the fairy wands.

At extreme distances, the eyes are stimulated by the white light, and even the vision begins to become a little blurry.

"Mr. Toyokawa, do you know why Chiba Prefecture still has a summer festival in mid-September?" In a slightly dreamy atmosphere, Shirakawa Haru asked Toyokawa Shoko a question mysteriously.

"Because they want to promote economic development," Toyokawa Shoko thought for a moment, then gave two answers, "Or is it simply to postpone the time?"

"None of them are right." Baichuan Qing shook the fairy wand in his hand.

"I don't know and I can't guess." Toyokawa Shoko said directly that she didn't know, and then thought about what kind of question Shirakawa Haru asked her, which seemed a little confusing.

But today has been baffling enough.

"Because the people of Chiba County aren't satisfied with this summer yet. They might think it's passing too quickly. If they're not satisfied, then they'll naturally want to prolong it." Shirakawa Haru said, casually lighting a fairy wand. "After today, they should be completely satisfied."

Toyokawa Shoko didn't quite understand what Shirakawa Haru meant.

But she began to recall the happy yet tired smiles she saw at the summer festival today, and remembered the face she saw in the pool that didn't look like her own, and suddenly realized what the satisfaction Shirakawa Haru meant.

"Mr. Toyokawa, do you understand now?" Shirakawa Haru asked her.

The two of them quickly put down all the fairy wands in their hands, leaving only a handful of black things.

Now even the fireworks display in their hands has ended.

"Are you happy today?" Shirakawa Haru suddenly took off her mask and looked directly into Toyokawa Shoko's eyes. "Are you satisfied, Toyokawa-san? Has the summer in you reached its saturation?"

Toyokawa Shoko was stunned for a while. She didn't seem to expect that Shirakawa Haru would suddenly say such words. She felt that this was not something that Shirakawa Haru would say, because since she met Shirakawa Haru, she seemed to have never seen Shirakawa Haru show such naked concern for her.

She thought back to the entire process of today's summer festival, and suddenly realized that Shirakawa Haru had been asking herself whether she was happy or not from the very beginning.

"Happy, very happy." Toyokawa Shoko's tone began to change. She felt the corners of her eyes becoming moist and tears were about to flow out. She didn't want Shirakawa Haru to see her ugly appearance, so she tried her best to stop the tears from flowing out.

Toyokawa Shoko said: "I have no regrets about this summer."

As soon as she finished speaking, another firework exploded in the sky, like a slowly rising Ferris wheel. This firework was larger, brighter, and more dazzling than any before it. It symbolized the fulfillment of a summer, as well as the end of a summer, and also the beginning of a young girl's naive emotions.

She realized the logic of her behavior that she had not thought of before.

"Wuhu, you're so lucky! I didn't expect there would be another firework! Now summer in Chiba Prefecture has truly come to an end," Shirakawa Haru shouted loudly, while Toyokawa Shoko pretended to cover her ears. "Toyokawa-san, look! Don't you think this firework looks especially like the Rosette Nebula?" Then, as if remembering something, he said, "As the winner of the goldfish scooping competition, I hope you'll treat me as a friend!"

I think it's more like a Ferris wheel.

Looking at Shirakawa Haru's smiling face, Toyokawa Shoko took off the fox mask on her own face. Her beautiful amber eyes were full of autumn water. The corners of her mouth on the fox mask in her hand were raised, reflecting her current mood.

If only this summer would never end, she thought.

Shoko Toyokawa's summer ends today, and she realizes what logic behind her previous strange thoughts and behaviors.

It's neither admiration nor disgust. It's not disgust mixed with admiration, nor admiration mixed with disgust.

It's just a very simple feeling.

That's like it.

Shoko Toyokawa is in love with Haru Shirakawa.

Chapter 4300: Tram·Rain·My Home ()

The summer festival ends at nine o'clock. Once people are satisfied, they tend to feel sleepy.

This is the last summer festival in Chiba Prefecture this year. Many people who came to participate in the summer festival left after the fireworks display ended, and small vendors also packed up their stalls and left due to the decrease in customer flow.

For a moment, the originally bustling Summer Festival Cultural Street seemed a bit deserted.

Humans are social animals and emotional animals. Without a place to provide emotions, the atmosphere immediately becomes cold.

The smell of fireworks still lingered in the air. Shirakawa Haru took Toyokawa Shoko out of Cultural Street. Along the way, the two of them kept discussing what the gorgeous fireworks just now looked like.

Shirakawa Haru said it looked most like the Rose Nebula, while Toyokawa Shoko said it was a slowly rising Ferris wheel and the bright lights were the stars at night. He said that was not right and that it would be more clever to describe those light spots as the colorful lights hanging on a Christmas tree.

The temperature in Chiba Prefecture dropped suddenly at night. Shirakawa Haru didn't feel much about it, but Toyokawa Shoko sneezed several times in a row, which made him realize that Toyokawa Shoko didn't have as good a body as himself.

"Ms. Toyokawa, if you're cold, let's just take a taxi to the station." Shirakawa Haru said to Toyokawa Shoko. After all, he could tell from Toyokawa Shoko's calves, which were exposed and slightly red from the cold wind, that the girl was probably very cold.

"Thank you for your concern, President, but I think I'll let it go for now." Toyokawa Shoko spoke through gritted teeth, otherwise her teeth would have made a rattling sound from the trembling. Although the layered design made the dress look visually heavy, it was actually very thin. In one hand, she held a plastic bag tied with a rubber band, with goldfish swimming inside, and in the other, a large teddy bear, and stubbornly shook her head in refusal.

"It's 9:21 PM now, and there are still two hours and thirty-nine minutes until the next day." Toyokawa Shoko counted on her fingers in her mind. "I asked for a day off from work today, so I want to enjoy this day to the fullest."

Toyokawa Shoko spoke seriously, thinking that if she were a boy, she would definitely think that this girl was particularly romantic if she heard other girls say such words.

Unfortunately, it was she who said this. She knew that she was lying and she just wanted to stay with Shirakawa Haru for a while longer.

Toyokawa Shoko looked up at the sky. It was serene and boundless, like a pool of icy, piercing autumn water. She began to imagine herself reaching into it, shivering with the sticky chill. The cold streets, the mysterious, deep night sky, the bright streetlights, the long, slender figure trailing behind her... she imagined it was truly a bit romantic.

"Then let me help you hold the teddy bear in your arms." Seeing that Toyokawa Shoko looked determined, Shirakawa Haru couldn't say anything more, but he hoped to relieve Shoko's pressure as much as possible.

In addition to the huge teddy bear in her arms and the bag of goldfish in her hand, Shoko Toyokawa also had many other things on her body. Some were snacks that she had not finished eating, and some were rewards that Shirakawa Haru and she won when playing games at the summer festival.

Because Shirakawa Haru didn't really need these things, she left a portion for her younger sister Yuki and gave the rest to Toyokawa Shoko.

Don't be fooled by how light these little things are, but all of them together are still quite a hassle for Toyokawa Shoko. Her palms are left with red marks from the handles of the plastic bags because she is carrying so many things.

"No, if the president takes the teddy bear back, I won't be able to bear it without it to block the wind."

Shoko Toyokawa rejected Shirakawa Haru's proposal. The teddy bear in her arms was made of cloth with a lot of soft fur on the surface, which felt very comfortable to touch. She held the teddy bear in front of her chest, as if she was wearing a piece of armor that could protect her from wind and rain.

"Okay." Shirakawa Haru didn't insist too much. Since Toyokawa Shoko wanted to hold it, she could continue to hold it. There was nothing strange about it. After all, girls just like this kind of furry doll. It was not worth making a fuss about.

But he was still surprised by how much Shoko Toyokawa liked the stuffed bear.

By the time the two boarded the train, it was already 9:56 PM, leaving only two hours and four minutes until the next day. They chose a more secluded seat. Shirakawa Haru leaned against the carriage, opened the window, and closed his eyes, feeling the strong breeze. High-speed trains don't have windows, so they have air circulation systems built into the train. However, the older train Shirakawa Haru and his companions were riding didn't have any, so ventilation on these trains still required a more primitive approach.

Shirakawa Haru suddenly closed the window and found that Toyokawa Shoko was sitting next to him and asleep. Her head was slightly drooped forward, and a few strands of hair fell down to block her profile, like a sky-blue wisteria waterfall. If he wanted to see Toyokawa Shoko's sleeping face clearly, he had to climb the rock wall on foot and cross the waterfall alone.

"Toyokawa-san?" Shirakawa Haru whispered into Toyokawa Shoko's ear, trying to make sure she was really asleep. He got no response, so he got a little bolder and asked, "Shoko, is Daisho-sensei?"

It seems that he really fell asleep.

But it would be very easy to get a stiff neck if you sleep in this position, Shirakawa Haru thought, but there was no good solution for the time being, so he had to support his chin and look at Toyokawa Shoko, so that she would not lose her balance and fall forward and he would not be able to catch her in time. He suddenly remembered that at this time, should he take off his clothes and cover Toyokawa Shoko with them?

At this time, even inside the train, one could sense a hint of chill in the air.

Some strong men are prone to catching colds if they do not keep warm after being tired. High school girls whose bodies are still developing need to pay more attention to protecting their bodies.

So Shirakawa Haru took off his suit and covered Toyokawa Shoko with it. He had specially prepared this suit today to negotiate a contract with the sponsors. He stuffed it into his briefcase while on the way, but he didn't expect that the two sponsors either didn't care about the benefits or had already prepared an impeccable contract.

Originally, Shirakawa Haru felt that this suit was of no use at all today.

But now it comes in handy as a valuable suit made of worsted wool. It still has a certain ability to keep warm. After covering Shoko Toyokawa with it, Shoko's expression became noticeably softer.

"So you are still very cold." Baichuan Qing said softly, "Why not take a taxi directly to the station? That would be convenient and worry-free, and we don't have to spend our own money." His tone was a little helpless, and he thought to himself that he really didn't understand what this girl was thinking.

He turned his head to look out the car window. Outside, the sky was dark, and inside the car, the lights were bright.

The window glass had become a mirror at that moment. The temperature difference between inside and outside the car had caused a thin layer of mist to cover the glass. Shirakawa Haru felt that it was no longer a mirror until he wiped it with his fingers.

The deep sky could not reflect the stars on the windows covered with falling water droplets. Shirakawa Haru felt a little bored. Suddenly, he heard someone whisper in the quiet carriage, "Look, it looks like it's going to rain outside."

Shirakawa Haru carefully opened the glass window to leave a gap, and before putting her face close to it, she repeatedly checked Toyokawa Shoko's condition to make sure she was not awakened by her actions.

His warm cheek pressed against the cold glass, and the water droplets on the window rolled down along the curve of his face. Shirakawa Haru felt a sudden chill in his heart. He realized that when the two of them arrived in Tokyo, it might rain heavily.

It would be troublesome if it rained heavily on the way home. There are few taxi drivers at night, and if it was raining heavily, it would be almost impossible to get a taxi.

Shirakawa Haru prayed in his heart, hoping it wouldn't rain.

Don't let it rain right after you get off the train.

No matter what, it won’t rain until I finish taking a shower, teasing Yuki, and sleeping in bed!

Toyokawa Shoko stirred suddenly, seemingly still in sleep. Her plump lips parted unconsciously, revealing a bright red lining and a row of tiny, shell-like teeth. Perhaps because Shirakawa Haru had opened the window, letting in a cold draft, Toyokawa Shoko curled up into a small ball, hugging her teddy bear even tighter and pulling Shirakawa Haru's suit closer to her.

Alas, I hope the vice-president of the Hinomori Student Union doesn’t catch a cold, otherwise he will be the one working around the clock.