Shinichi hugged Yotsuba, then turned around and threw himself backwards, rolling on the ground a few times, and stopped when his back hit the barrier.
*BAM*
On the bonfire platform, a log fell and made a loud noise.
Fortunately, there was another unbroken iron cable, and the rest of the place was intact. Even if the logs fell to the ground, the entire bonfire didn't collapse from it, and other than some skin that was scuffed during Shinichi's roll, they took no damage.
Luckily, the worst situation didn't happen. He thought he was going to be hit by a log and either break or burn. Sure enough, the talisman given by Mafuyu was useful.
Thinking happily, Shinichi let go of Yotsuba in his arms, despite his aching body, and immediately went to check on the bonfire situation.
Then he widened his eyes.
There was still a bit of flame on the fallen log, and the grease stain Yotsuba had carelessly dropped on the ground had let the flames escape from the shackles of the wooden platform.
It doesn't cause a fire.
No one will get hurt either.
Even if left alone, it would naturally go out after a while due to the depletion of combustible materials.
However, their long-prepared forest school has made efforts to achieve perfect results.
Everything will burn at this time.
"What is it? The sound is loud..."
"Hey, is the bonfire dead?"
"Wait, there is fire on the ground!"
"Accident? Hey, there will be no fire!"
"Should we back off a bit, the entire bonfire will end when it explodes… I've heard of the worst bonfire accident. It looks like twelve people were killed by a log…"
"No way... Who made this bonfire, it's too scary..."
"Are you coming again... I remember that there was an accident at the forest school in recent years... I thought this time would be different, but I didn't expect it to be..."
"Really disappointing..."
People started to feel uncomfortable.
Rumors were heard.
Fear like fire ignited the prairie flames, and the restless atmosphere around it ignited a faint flame.
Shinichi looked at the students who were focusing on him, and the teachers who were running in the distance.
Shinichi turned around with a reluctant expression on his face.
[Fail].
These three words resounded in his heart.
This is of course with the lessons learned from the past, the school's tolerance for accidents is very low, even if there are no casualties, the danger of a falling bonfire is not laughable.
The school would deduct points for this, and students would also lower their evaluations out of disappointment. In the end, there is only one ending, and that is failure.
Shinichi closed his eyes in resignation.
He opened his eyes, ready to face the consequences.
Then he looked at Yotsuba.
He saw Yotsuba staring at the unfinished bonfire.
She sat there stupidly.
She saw fire, and Shinichi looked at her.
"She also thought, it's over..."
This thought pierced Shinichi's heart.
(I haven't worked hard to the end, so don't arrange the ending for me without permission.)
Ever since he met them, he really liked saying things like that.
"As long as life is not over, nothing ends."
Aside from failure, there are still things that can be done.
Shinichi touched his ear, smiled faintly.
It was a bit difficult... But, how would he know he would succeed if he didn't try?
Crouched down and whispered beside Yotsuba's ear.
"One cannot get anything without paying, this is an exchange of equals. We firmly believe that this is the truth of the world."
Yotsuba trembled, looking at him with dim eyes.
"Fresh exchange?"
"Yes, I told you. If you forget, I cannot forgive you."
Shinichi laughed.
"Do you still remember your enlightenment? Take it out now, we will start the final 'refinement'."
The other quintuplets approached anxiously, and Mafuyu drew closer.
"What are you talking about… Now is not the time to say such stupid things..." Her voice trembled, and Yotsuba didn't dare to move, "This is all because of me… It was obvious that it would work soon, and because of me. .."
"Enough."
He interrupts blaming herself.
"Since you forgot, then I will say it again." Shinichi held her pale face, and spoke, "When your awareness is insufficient, equal exchange will fail, then Forest School will also fail. Because you didn't believe me, and you didn't smile until the last moment. I said it the other day, who told you not to believe it? Look, something's wrong? If you don't believe, you will fail. Why do not you believe? If you don't believe, you will be blamed. Why don't you believe? Are you a masochist? Talk!"
Yotsuba stopped in a daze, only the words 'Why don't you believe' remained.
Shinichi quickly took a deep breath, speaking at fifteen words per second would literally expel all the air in his lungs.
"Since there is finally a time to feel sorry for yourself, it is better to turn things around now."
"Stand up, Yotsuba, I need you."
Shinichi straightened up and extended his hand to Yotsuba.
"Next, in order to save the forest school that was about to fail, we 'six people' will start the final performance. We couldn't have done it without you."
The other four stood behind him, looking worriedly at Yotsuba.
Yotsuba raised her head, gazing at the appearances of the five people.
She didn't hold Shinichi's hand, but supported her sandy leg and stood on her own.
Before thinking worked, there was only one reason why the body could act naturally.
That is, she believed that what she would do next would never make herself regret it.
"Asada-san, what should I do?"