Survive in Azure Files

Hifumi: Ugh... Teacher, you're making such a joke again.

Hifumi: I heard that there would be souvenirs available only for couples at this impromptu performance, so I wanted to ask you to accompany me.

...What a despicable woman! You actually want to use this excuse to directly confirm your relationship with me?

But, you are worthy of being Master Faust! It is really admirable that you can use my covetousness to come up with such an irresistible scheme! This is the gold content of the leader of the masked swimsuit group!

Hifumi: Also, please don't use that name, it's embarrassing...

Me: Ahahaha, sorry sorry, because Hifumi is so cute.

Hifumi: Wow! That’s it!

Me: But, doesn’t your school have exams soon?

If I remember correctly, that exam was quite important.

Hifumi: It's no problem. My grades aren't particularly good, but they're always at an average level.

Hifumi: I reviewed it carefully in the past few days!

Seriously speaking, Hifumi is indeed a serious, honest and trustworthy child.

Except for occasionally showing a slightly off-line side when mentioning topics related to momofriends, especially Pelolo.

Me: Well, I happen to be free.

The doctor told me to rest well, and going out with cute teenage girls is the ultimate relaxation, and it is also part of my job!

Being able to combine work and rest in this way, even I have to admire my amazing creativity.

Hifumi: That’s great.

Hifumi: Then, let's meet here.

Immediately afterwards, Hifumi sent an address.

Before leaving, I looked at the calendar and asked one more question.

Me: By the way, when is the exam?

Hifumi: Ah, I've checked again and again, it's tomorrow for sure!

The day before an important exam, he still had the energy to watch a performance... but it was Hifumi and Peloro, so it wasn't surprising.

No more wasting time.

After hurrying for a while, I arrived at the agreed location, a square in front of the station.

Because the crowd was not dense, or perhaps because the girl was too eye-catching in my eyes, I quickly spotted Hifumi, whom I hadn't seen for a while. She was wearing a Trinity uniform, carrying a Peloro backpack, holding the shoulder straps with both hands, and standing in the center of the square.

I really miss the days when I was a big shot in the black market bank with the leader and other accomplices...

The wanted poster for the "Masked Swimsuit Gang" is probably still hanging on the black market.

Who would have thought that in the dark world of Kivotos, Faust, a criminal giant who showed signs of being as famous as the Smiling Professor after just one crime, was actually a young lady studying at Trinity who was unremarkable except for her cute appearance?

Thinking about all sorts of things in my mind, I walked towards the direction where Hifumi was with a smile.

"Ah, teacher!"

After she caught a glimpse of me out of the corner of her eye, the morning light shone on the girl's profile, contrasting with her angelic, gentle and warm smile.

Looking at Hifumi coming towards me, I was a little dazed for a moment.

I think, I probably, I'll leave it briefly.

"Hey hey~" Hifumi walked up to me and stood still, looking up at her cute face, "Teacher, Pelolo-sama's performance is about to start, let's go quickly."

Chapter 98 I Like Hifumi Very Much

"Wow! Wow! Teacher, teacher, look!"

The girl next to me excitedly pulled my sleeve and pointed at the twisting figure on the stage.

I saw several staff members wearing different puppet costumes, dancing a strange dance to cheerful music.

And below the stage, there were fans' enthusiastic cheers and chatter, which had been heard continuously since just now.

It has to be said that the momofriends series under the momogroup group is indeed quite popular in Kivotos.

Although there are many people who are not interested in or even hate this series because its appearance is not cute in the traditional sense and recognized by the public.

Sadly, I am that kind of person.

Of course, I don’t hate it, I just don’t feel anything for it personally.

But I can understand Hifumi's hobby, and I am willing to accompany Hifumi to watch performances that she is not interested in, and to share her joy.

In other words, I have no interest in momofriends, but I am very interested in the people around me who like momofriends.

When I saw Hifumi's excited look, I suddenly felt that those weird dolls on the stage were quite cute.

It was just a little too loud and it made my ears hurt.

Time passed quickly and the performance came to an end.

After taking a commemorative photo with Hifumi and the staff in charge of doll costumes and receiving limited-edition peripheral gifts for couples from the staff, we left the venue and found a nearby coffee shop to take a break.

After placing the results of this trip on the table, Hifumi, still in high spirits, kept telling me her thoughts on the performance:

"Teacher, you saw it, didn't you? The scene at the end where everyone danced Peloro-sama's Peloro dance together was really touching~ Ah, the solo dance of the wavy cat before was also very beautiful!"

"Yeah, that's true," I agreed.

However, Hifumi's smile froze, and turned into embarrassment and guilt: "Ah... I'm sorry I kept talking, because when it comes to topics related to momofriends, I accidentally got too happy..."

I looked at her with a smile: "It's okay, I'm very happy too."

"Ahahaha...it would be great if the teacher was happy too."

Having said that, Hifumi did not smile again and still looked worried.

I waited patiently for a moment, and the girl finally let out a sigh and began to confide her troubles to me: "But... when I mentioned momofriends, many friends were impatient. They thought these dolls looked weird, and they were all strange characters..."

...Actually, I kind of feel that way.

If Hifumi didn't like it and I liked Hifumi, I probably wouldn't have much patience and be willing to listen to these doll-related things with a smile.

I completely understand how passionate Nifumi, who has collected a lot of momofriends peripherals and whose school bags and phone cases all use the Peloro-shaped designs, is about this series.

Because of this, I can understand how distressed Hifumi would feel when her preferences are not recognized.

Of course, putting this consideration aside, I myself also like to listen to Hifumi talk about the things she likes.

"But I think that's their charm. I think it's great that they have personalities that are different from ordinary people and other characters."

Hifumi lowered her eyes, lowered her head, held the straw in her mouth, and drank a sip of ice lemonade.

Using a straw to slowly stir the water in the cup, she said slowly, "Because I'm nothing special, just an ordinary person... so when I see characters like that, I always feel a little bit of longing..."

What's so ordinary about it?

As a rare healing beauty, she is so modest...

It really has my style!

However, we must not underestimate ourselves.

My eyes focused, and I felt that at this time, it was my turn to take action and restore the girl's self-confidence!

"What's wrong with being ordinary?"

I asked this question, then shook my head and answered, "I really like ordinary things."

Hifumi was slightly startled, then she rubbed the back of her head and laughed, "Ah, ahahaha... Now that you mention it, I feel a little shy."

"Besides, strictly speaking, there is no such thing as being truly ordinary. Is there any standard?"

"Well, you can't say that..."

"That's true. There's no point in discussing extreme situations. But."

I stared at the girl in front of me and changed the subject: "At least in my opinion, Hifumi is also a special existence."

"……Eh?"

Hifumi made a cute puzzled sound, her cheeks flushed, and she seemed to become a little uneasy, but a hint of anticipation flashed in her eyes.

I took a deep breath. "She's so cute, so gentle, and she goes all out to pursue the things she likes... It's these seemingly ordinary qualities that make up the unique Hifumi. That's what I think."

After hearing what I said, Hifumi blushed and quickly waved her hands to deny, "I, I'm not as good as you say."

"What!?" I looked at her in shock, "Are you suspecting that I'm lying?!"

"Uh... I didn't mean that..."

Seeing Hifumi with a sad face but unable to hide the joy between her brows, I suddenly felt a sense of victory in my heart.

I gave her some time to collect her emotions, and then continued, "So, I really like Hifumi, and I also like when Hifumi tells me about the things she likes, such as momofriends. Hifumi is also very, very cute when she happily talks about the things she likes."

“Ah wow…Is, is that so…”

Mumbling something, Hifumi patted her face, took a few deep breaths, and tried to regain her composure. Then, she changed the subject abruptly:

"Ahaha, sorry, I accidentally went off topic. Since you want to hear about MomoFriends, I'll continue!"

It doesn't matter if it turns out like this.

"By the way, teacher, do you know 'Big Brother'?"

Hifumi picked up one of the limited-edition items she got today, a blue bird wearing a doctoral hat, and enthusiastically introduced it to me: "Big Brother can know everything just by staring at the other person, so it is also very popular as a talisman for candidates!"

"Is that so?" I said with a smile, "Then I wish you in advance that you can achieve ideal results in tomorrow's exam."

"Hey hey hey ~ thank you ~"

After thanking him, Hifumi picked up another one: "And this one is...Huh? Excuse me, let me check my phone."

It seemed like Hifumi had received a message from someone, so I took this opportunity to take a sip of drink to moisten my throat.

"……Eh!?"

Looking at the screen, Hifumi's expression froze, and suddenly her eyes widened.

Chapter 99: Bold and prosperous

"How could this happen...how could this happen..."

The blonde girl walking next to me kept muttering to herself, her tears welling up in her eyes.

I was speechless, but I also felt sorry for her in my heart.

Why did something go wrong at the important moment?

"I've checked several times... the exam should be tomorrow... why is it today..."

Although Hifumi still finds it difficult to accept the reality, that is the fact and nothing will change because of what she "should have done".

When I was invited to attend a performance held temporarily by momofriends, Hifumi assured me that she had confirmed the time so it would be fine, but she completely missed an important exam at school.

It was not until just now that Hifumi's friend sent her a message saying that she had finally finished the exam and asked if she wanted to go out and play together that she finally realized the truth.

No wonder, at the venue of this Peloro performance, there were multiple figures wearing uniforms from other schools;

But apart from Hifumi, there was no other Trinity student.

I thought everyone was reviewing for the exam, but it turns out everyone is taking the exam.

Hmm...how do I put it...

Although the Big Brother doll did not have the expected effect of blessing the student to pass the exam, it did allow Hifumi to get relevant information.

Ahahaha, this really is a joke that is not funny at all.

Anyway, I am now on my way back to Trinity with Hifumi.

"Don't be so anxious," I comforted him, "Missing the exam is already a fait accompli. All we should consider now is how to make up for it."

“…You are right.”