Faced with the blackened heroine, they actually stopped time

The boy turned around and looked at her with an umbrella in his hand, smiling.

"Are you that scared?"

Asagiri Ran turned around with a slightly red face and glared at the thick-skinned boy, who was rare in the world, without any murderous intent.

"Who's afraid? I'm just afraid of getting caught in the rain."

"Did you get wet?"

"...No."

Asagiri Ran was just focused on lowering her head and didn't pay close attention to many things.

But she could still feel the boy next to her approaching her. Although he didn't boldly stretch out his arm and put it on her shoulders, it didn't prevent her from clearly smelling the familiar scent on him.

It's like sunshine falling on a field of flowers.

The boy's fiery breath always made it impossible for her rosy cheeks to cool down.

Only then did I realize that my shoulders were not wet at all. How did he do that? I wasn't that close to him...

Oreki Gen smiled.

“But I got wet.”

Turning slightly, Asagiri Ran saw the boy's half wet shoulder.

His clothes were like an ink painting, with clear colors, half dry and light, and half wet and dark.

But now she knew that this was not some special design or color combination.

He kept more of it for himself, that's all.

But why did he do this... Was he really afraid of getting wet, or was this scumbag trying to break down his defenses again?

Anyway, a thick-skinned bastard like him wouldn't get wet and catch a cold just because of such a simple rain, right?

Even though she thought so, her mood was like the flying catkins in summer, swirling in disorder and complicated beyond sorting out.

"Then hurry home and change your clothes..."

She couldn't say anything unkind, but she wasn't used to caring about anyone.

The only one who said it so awkwardly was Asagiri Ran.

Oreki Gen smiled indifferently.

"The car is here."

The bus came in front of the two of them, causing a few splashes of water.

I was lucky today that there were still seats left on the bus.

It happened to be in the back row, and Asagiri Ran had no choice but to sit in front of or behind the boy. She could only choose to sit next to Oreki Gen.

Even Oreki Gen was quite understanding.

"You sit by the window."

Asagiri Ran couldn't find a reason to refuse. It would be better to say...she had put herself in shackles and could no longer reject this boy without scruples like she did before.

Who said that?

When you are alone, you can be free and do whatever you want.

But when there's someone special in your world, you start to set limits for yourself.

Proximity is a double-edged sword.

You cannot deny the freshness and happiness that the other person brings you.

You also cannot escape the freedom and courage you are losing bit by bit.

She sat on the edge of the bed, and Oreki Xian sat on the outside holding the folded umbrella.

There were quite a lot of people in the carriage, making it a bit noisy, with faint sounds of conversation. With the arrival of the holiday, everything seemed so lively and cheerful.

Just looking at the water droplets on the car window, one by one sliding down to form a wet path.

The street scene outside seems so blurry, like a carving of years and a mottled image of time.

Asagiri Ran seemed to have just realized that another semester had passed.

As for himself and Oreki Gen, they have known each other from summer to winter.

It is not a complete four seasons, but it seems to be a relatively complete story in my life.

She was a little dazed, and when she turned her head, she saw Oreki Gen's shoulder, which was not completely dry yet.

"How did the exam go?"

Oreki Gen had not expected her to take the initiative to look for problems.

As far as he could remember, he was the one who initiated all the conversations between the two of them, and the girl was mostly in a passive position. But now... during this brief silence, he didn't want to bring up any topic for the time being.

I just want to enjoy this temporary tranquility. As the carriage sways, it feels like a train of time, heading towards the future.

The words he heard unexpectedly caught Oreki Xian off guard, but he quickly reacted and smiled as usual.

"It's OK. How about you?"

Asagiri Ran turned around with an unnatural expression and glanced at the boy's familiar smiling face.

This seemed to be one of the few times she mustered up the courage to look him in the face bravely.

"Play normally."

But the courage she had mustered quickly dissipated after she said these simple words, like a deflated balloon. She quickly avoided his gaze and turned her head away, not wanting the boy to see her already somewhat shy face.

Being brave beforehand and regretting afterwards, this is Asagiri Ran's recent norm.

And it often happens when I am interacting with this young man.

For example, I feel a little regretful now.

Why should I take the initiative to speak?

It made me seem very bored...and it also made me seem like I couldn't wait to say something to him.

Would he think that he is weird now? But even he thinks that he is weird...

Soon, the sound of Oreki strings came clearly.

"If you just play normally, you might be defeated by me this time."

It seems like a provocation.

After all, now Asagiri Ran’s greatest pride in front of this young man is the gimmick of being the top student in the grade.

She hummed softly.

"My normal performance is enough to ensure I get first place. If you want to surpass me, it will be impossible throughout high school."

"So...would you like to make a bet?"

It seemed like familiar words appeared.

The two of them haven't made bets very often, the last time being... it was about a month's worth of housework.

It was as if some old things were brought up again, as if this young man was giving him another chance.

Asagiri Ran hesitated for a moment.

Should we continue to deceive ourselves in this way and start a story that has never been concluded? It seems that there is nothing to worry about.

This is a step passed by the other party. As long as I accept it like before, unable to bear the provocation, it seems that I will experience the wonderful taste of that month again.

But...was she really provoked?

It may be easy for people to deceive others, but it is very difficult to deceive themselves.

She bit her lip.

"No more gambling."

Oreki Gen sighed with a hint of regret.

"You are amazing. If you think you will lose, you won't gamble. You have to hedge yourself."

In fact, Asagiri Ran is very smart. She understands that Oreki Gen said this not to mock her, he just hopes that she will not waste this opportunity.

After all, it seemed like this was the best reason for him to allow himself to have more contact with him normally.

But...he's a dork.

Asagiri Ran raised her head and looked ahead. She didn't know which station so many people got on the carriage, so that the carriage in front seemed crowded and packed.

People wearing masks rubbed and collided with each other, and with the rhythm of the carriage, it seemed like a sea of ​​people that could drown anyone.

She looked at the scene and spoke softly.

"Are you... okay tonight?"

She asked a strange question, which disrupted Oreki Gen's thoughts on how to provoke this girl.

It was like a missile, dispersing the clouds.

"I'm fine, what's wrong?"

Oreki Gen didn't understand.

He felt that he didn't know what she was going to say, but his heart started beating faster.

It's as if my heart is tied to a thread of fate. I don't know where the other end is... and why it is carrying my heartbeat.

She didn't dare turn her eyes around and just looked forward. In fact, her profile was already very red.

She didn't even have the courage to look at her reflection in the window.

Water drops hit the window.

The sound of the carriages rattling was incessant.

Those noisy conversations and those occasional frictions are still ringing in my ears.

But it was no match for the penetrating power of her soft voice at this moment.

"If you're free... come to my house and cook. Is that okay?"

She controlled her voice so that it wouldn't tremble.

It also controls one's heartbeat and body temperature abnormally.

People think that if they cannot control others, they can control themselves.

In fact, you cannot control your own heartbeat, your own metabolism, or even the moment when your face turns red.

Her earlobes are crystal clear, like tempting fruits.

Oreki Gen understood what she meant.

She didn't agree to her own bet, but that didn't mean she gave up the step she had handed herself.

She was telling herself in her own way.

There is no need for such a bet, I can also go to her house to cook.

I can also spend time with her like I did that month.

She is still sensitive and a hedgehog who is afraid of getting hurt.

But at this moment, she still gave this young man the power that might hurt her.

The car was shaky and unstable but still arrived at the station.

The young man stood up suddenly.

Asagiri Ran subconsciously looked up at him, ignoring the nervousness in her heart.

Because he hasn't answered himself yet, he hasn't agreed yet.

As expected... Do you think you are a little weird...

Oreki Gen turned his head and looked at the other person.

"I'm going to buy groceries, you go back and wait for me."

The girl's face became even redder, like the peach blossoms that would not bloom in this season.