บท 135: The happiest girl in the world

　　In the conference room after school, Shinichi doesn't show any abnormality, but just works with them as usual.

　　There are some things that cannot be answered in a hurry. Shinichi finds that before he was too anxious, wanting to get results and make choices as quickly as possible. On second thought, he found that he had the ability to make this story more interesting, but could never go back and modify it.

　　Maybe only a life full of regrets can make people look to the future, and look forward to a future that no longer regrets.

　　Time passed slowly, and at some point, the sun had set, and the five of them said goodbye to him and headed back first, while Shinichi was still handling official business in his seat.

　　Sometimes he didn't want to take the documents home, so he would work a little late, otherwise he would usually go with them.

　　Alone in this small conference room, the dazzling orange light reflected from the window had the brilliance of nightfall, coloring the stacks of documents neatly on the table.

　　Put down the pen gently, a small but clear sound reaches my ear.

　　"Huuu..."

　　With a long sigh of relief, having completed today's official duties perfectly, Shinichi rubbed his eyes, lay down on the back of the chair, and closed his eyes to rest.

　　Even if the air conditioner is not turned on, the air in the room is still warm, the nerves are gradually relaxed under the warm temperature, and the consciousness is drowsy.

　　When his eyelids closed, he remembered the conversation on the rooftop.

　　Fuutarou has the belief that quintuplets can never balance study and activity, so what does Shinichi have in common?

　　His belief that they would be able to run the event well, and his belief that this committee would be able to run a forest school well.

　　—Yeah, so what?

　　Fuutarou's voice seemed to echo in his heart.

　　What about after getting a behavior score and passing? Studying was a student's duty, if they couldn't even do the simplest thing like this, what could they do after graduating school? Is one forest school enough for them to overcome all difficulties? Although grades couldn't determine their future achievements, at least for now, this was their label in the eyes of adults.

　　In the beautiful school life, the cruelty of social reality, and visions that are relaxed and illusory are ruthlessly crushed. Fuutarou is a very annoying person, no wonder he has no friends, is moody, has long bangs, is arrogant, and sucks at sports!

　　Complaining in his heart, Shinichi didn't have the confidence to refute his very honest words. What to do after graduation, it's always been the most confusing topic for most high school students.

　　Even he, apart from studying and learning, has no goals, and no dreams.

　　"I thought of something annoying..."

　　Forcibly stopping that thought, Shinichi slowly opened his eyes, stretched out his hand, wanted to take his cup of black tea, and drank his last cup of tea.

　　The other hand took the teacup first, took out the green tea pot from the cupboard, and started making tea.

　　Shinichi's eyes widened instantly, and quickly let the sitting posture. The tiredness and dullness on his face washed away, and turned into a serene one.

　　Facing the slender and mysterious girl from behind, Shinichi placed his hands on the table and spoke calmly.

　　"When are you coming back, Miku?"

　　The voice fell, but the atmosphere remained silent.

　　Not long after, tea was brewed, holding one black and one blue teacup, Miku sat down on the chair beside Shinichi before answering.

　　"Just now... I forgot to bring something, so I came back."

　　Taking the teacup from his hand, Shinichi thanked her, then asked again.

　　"What? What about the other?"

　　Miku glanced at him lightly, and didn't speak, but just picked up the teacup and took a sip of the steaming green tea.

　　"... Shinichi, let me give you a massage."

　　Suddenly, Miku spoke in a soft voice.

　　Shinichi looked at her in surprise, she hid her face behind her long hair, so he couldn't see her expression.

　　At this time, Shinichi really didn't want to think too much, and he didn't want to consider the matter of keeping his distance, so he just nodded casually.

　　"Then please."

　　"Hmm..."

　　After a brief reply, they put down the tea cups. Shinichi spread his left hand to the side, and the chairs of the two accidentally pressed against each other. Miku bowed slightly, and her head was less than fifty centimeters from his shoulder.

　　The two didn't look at each other, one looked out the window, and the other looked at her open palm.

　　Then, those white and tender fingers began to rub between her fingers and palms.

　　"I read several books on Chinese medicine, and I heard that these acupuncture points can relax people and have the effect of relieving fatigue..."

　　Miku explained softly, but the roots of her ears turned a little red.

　　Her heart was beating fast, but she remained calm, for fear that Shinichi would see something and refused to let her continue to be massaged.

　　Carefully keeping her movements calm and precise, she whispered as well.

　　"Shinichi, you are very absent-minded today... What happened?"

　　Hearing this, Shinichi sighed.

　　When did his acting get so bad? Even Miku can see it...

　　Maybe because he spends more time contemplating? His thinking habits never changed, and he always stared blankly at the information, no wonder he noticed something was wrong.

　　"...There isn't anything."

　　Even so, he had no intention of complaining to Miku.

　　Disputes between educators and leaders should not be known by the parties involved. or in other words, this is a war that belongs to the two teenagers themselves.

　　It was also a time for him to question himself.

　　He was always a little confused, and he didn't tell anyone else. Only when he found his own answer could he truly feel at ease.

　　"...Yes."

　　Miku didn't say much, her fingers kept moving.

　　Shinichi slowly closed his eyes.

　　...It turns out that women's hands are very gentle.

　　His heart was beating fast but strong.

　　Slowly closing his eyes, he gave up resisting, forgetting his present, past, future, and all the choices he had to make.

　　It only let go temporarily… When he woke up, he would use his fastest speed to give himself and Fuutarou an unquestionable answer.

　　"Ummm..."

　　Her hands hurt a little from being squeezed, and Miku was about to stop and ask Shinichi how he felt, but suddenly felt a weight on her shoulders and didn't dare to move.

　　Miku turned her head and looked little by little. The face that warmed her heart every time she saw him was next to him. His breathing was even and small, his brow relaxed, resting on her shoulder, and sleeping peacefully.

Miku's face turned red, and her heart couldn't stop beating fast.

　　Especially when the other party's lips were so close, remembering what happened that day, she couldn't help but think about it, and a daring idea flashed in her mind.

　　However, after staring at Shinichi's peaceful sleeping face for a while, Miku let go of that thought, and her eyes filled with tenderness.

　　"Thank you for your hard work..."

Miku gently sniffed the hair of the boy next to her, rubbed it, and silently prayed.

　　——I wish time could stay in this moment forever.

　　In that case, she must be the happiest girl in the world.

　　Then night fell.

　　...

　　After Shinichi woke up, he found himself sprawled out on the table at some point, and Miku, who was sitting next to him, had just cleaned all the teacups, closed the cupboard, and turned her head when she heard Shinichi wake up.

　　"Just woke up, the school gate is about to be closed, Shinichi."

　　Shinichi winked, his brain started working, as if remembering something, his face suddenly reddened.

　　"I fell asleep?"

　　"Yes." Miku answered briefly.

　　Shinichi still wanted to say something, but seeing her indifferent look, he was really embarrassed to ask if he just fell asleep on her shoulder. He could only pretend that nothing had happened, give a fake cough, and stand up.

　　"Let's go now, where is your driver?"

　　"It was Dad's driver, and he usually doesn't drive us."

　　"Then I'll take you back. Did you call Itsuki and the others to report that you were safe?"

　　"Yes." Even though Miku said she wanted to go to the library to find a book to read, she also planned to take a taxi home.

　　But now...

　　"Then please."

　　With a small smile on her lips, Miku followed behind Shinichi and left the meeting room.

　　Silently turned on the phone guiltily, and the wallpaper was no longer Takeda Ryo.

　　It was a pair of palms clasped tightly under the setting sun. In the strong light and shadow, it seems that there is an eternal and unchanging beautiful scene, which makes the cold electronic light a little warmer.

　　Miku lowered her head, and smiled with a blush.

　　[Today's victory and defeat——]

　　Miku feels that she is one step closer to "winning", unable to tell anyone...