Not long after waiting at the designated place, a blue-haired girl with a low ponytail and a petite brown-haired girl came.
"Good morning~ Asada-kun... Hawu~"
Fumino covered her mouth and yawned, with a few tears in the corners of her eyes.
"Good morning, Shinichi-san."
Rizu remained serious as usual.
"Morning."
Shinichi took the lead, and the three of them walked towards the cram school together.
He asked suddenly.
"Furuhashi, did you stay up late and do anything bad last night?"
Fumino's flustered expression turned red.
"Wh-Who did something bad...Ah, are you taking revenge for what I said in the past?! You are too vengeful!"
Suddenly remembering that she had said this to him before after staying up late, Fumino complained in her heart that this person was narrow-minded.
"This level of holding a grudge is not called holding a grudge. I can even remember some of the words you made fun of me when we first talked. That's called holding a grudge." Shinichi narrowed his eyes, "You want me to repeat that to you?"
"Sarcasm or something, those were just unintentional words, please don't forget small offenses~" Fumino somehow looked a little happy, then changed the topic.
"Do you still remember what you said when you and Ricchan first met?"
Shinichi and Rizu looked at each other.
"I'm sorry, I'm not good at remembering names – I'm Ogata Rizu, from Class C 2nd year. Hello."
"It's nothing, I wasn't paying attention to the people ranked behind me… or you."
As soon as those words came out, the two of them high-fived each other proudly, while looking at the surprised Fumino.
"Wow, what a tacit understanding!"
She clapped in admiration and thought of the previous scene where the three of them met.
After more than four months, this friendship has become so close.
"So back to topic, you stayed up late yesterday?"
"I wanted to finish a study problem, but it was already past 2 in the morning when I realized." Fumino smiled shyly, then raised her chin proudly, "Finally, I finished it alone? Proof of my strength increasing!"
Rizu was surprised, "Fumino is so amazing. You fell asleep while reading the previous math problem…"
Shinichi also praised: "Very good. One question must be completed by midnight. Then the big exam can be completed in about 24 hours. Don't be lazy and keep working hard!"
"Woo, I know it's still very slow..." Fumino said without tears, "Don't hit me like this, I can finally feel proud..."
Shinichi looked at her head, and raised his hand.
"We were just joking. If you have this kind of will now, you will definitely not be able to take the college exam in a year. Congratulations on taking another step towards success, Fumino."
Fumino blinked and looked at him in surprise, and Rizu's eyes also looked a little strange.
"A-Asada-kun, why are you..."
Shinichi tilted his head in confusion.
"What is it? Is this strange?"
"No, it's not that strange..."
Fumino wanted to complain but didn't know where to start.
"Why, when you were praising me, did you touch Ricchan's head?"
Shinichi was stunned and looked down at his hand, at Rizu's head.
Rizu met his gaze and shook her head expressionlessly: "Shinichi-san, you messed up my hair."
Shinichi let go of his hand and smiled: "Sorry, it ran without paying attention."
Fumino seemed a little unhappy and muttered.
"As the saying goes, a tiger's head cannot be touched, so that means I am the tigress in Asada-kun's heart..."
"No no no, you think too much." Shinichi waved his hand, and words of explanation flashed through his mind, "Because Rizu is like a small animal, that's why I can touch her so smoothly. This isn't the first time I've touched her, but you're different."
Rizu: "Small animal..."
Fumino: "Police station..."
Shinichi pressed her hand that was about to call the police, ignoring the subtle expressions on the faces of the two people, and continued to speak.
"Now is an era where women have a strong sense of defense. If there is no valid reason and atmosphere, touching a girl's head can easily lead to disliking, or even endangering her reputation."
"Therefore, for my own safety, I will not touch the head of a girl of the same age casually, it has nothing to do with whether you are a tigress or not."
Even though she always felt complicated, at least Fumino felt his sincerity in wanting her to relax.
"I won't threaten you, it's just a touch on the head, it's nothing."
"You do not mind?" Shinichi looked at her and asked.
"Um, I don't mind," Fumino answered with a cheerful and relaxed smile.
"Then, if only I were lucky enough to touch your head..."
The smile on Fumino's face froze, and her eyes showed a look of reluctance.
"It's fine if we do this between friends!"
Shinichi laughed.
"Real?"
Fumino nodded hastily.
"Really! No matter how Asada-kun touches my head, I will never hate you!"
Shinichi looked at her, his expression became a little strange.
Fumino added in a stiff tone.
"Because we are friends!"
Shinichi looked away and saw the bright morning light reflected on the tall building.
"I think it's because of my relationship as a fellow educator. If a male friend touched your head, would you feel strange?"
"Yes that's right! Asada-kun is right, it won't work if you're not a fellow educator!"
"So can I touch it now?"
"Ehhhh?! Do you want to touch it now?" Fumino was shocked and her face turned red.
Suppressing her accelerating heartbeat, she lowered her head slightly, directing her beautiful blue hair towards him, tensing her nervous body.
"Then... Please!"
"I wasn't planning on chopping off your head…" Shinichi laughed, "I was just kidding, I wouldn't touch a girl's head when I saw it—"
The words stopped suddenly at this time.
"Asada-kun..."
Fumino raised her gaze, a pair of pupils with dark holes filled the eye sockets.
"If you play with a girl's mood, you will be torn to pieces..."
Shinichi trembled and apologized.
"Sorry, I am wrong. I will try again next time."
"What did you say?" Fumino swung her fist and circled Shinichi's back, hitting him furiously.
"Ora Ora Ora Ora Ora!"
"Hah little girl, not strong enough. Like a massage chair equipped with a four-wheel drive motor… Ugh!"
"I keep doing it!"
"I was really wrong this time, stop it..."
"Just admit your mistake, stupid Asada-kun!"
Shinichi looked back at her, and the two smiled at each other.
As for Rizu who was thrown out of this atmosphere...
"Small animals... Why small animals... Shinichi-san doesn't think I'm a girl at all..."
Today's trip to the cram school was as peaceful and serene as ever.