On the way back, Ikuta looked at the gradually darkening sky outside the window. His heart felt as if he was in a blur. His thoughts seemed to have been thrown into a blender, and all the messy thoughts were mixed together.

The fields and rolling mountains outside the car window seemed to possess some kind of hypnotic atmosphere, gradually blurring in her eyes, while the glass of the car window reflected the scene of Wu Geng and Zhong Yuan walking side by side on the street.

What happened to those two people, Ikuta thought.

A chance encounter? Or... or the worst case scenario she could imagine.

Although I would be able to ask Wu Geng clearly later, the closer I got, the more panicky and uneasy I felt.

"Ikuta?" Fukawa, who was sitting next to her, patted her arm.

"ah?"

"Are you okay?" Fukawa looked over worriedly, "He's so careless."

"...I'm sorry." Ikuta apologized softly, his voice a little deep, "Maimai, did you say something to me?"

"No, I just feel a little strange that Ikuta is not as usual," Fukawa said, "This time of year is usually noisy, but I am not used to it being so quiet in the car."

Fukawa carefully observed Ikuta's downcast expression and hesitated, "Is it because of what he saw that day?"

Ikuta shrank his legs and said nothing.

"Why don't you take the initiative to ask Shiyao-chan and Hinaka?" Fukawa suggested, "They don't seem like people who would hide things. Maybe it's just a misunderstanding."

Ikuta was silent for a moment, then looked down at his open palms.

"Maimai, we actually use our hands a lot in our lives, but it's actually quite difficult to exercise the flexibility of our fingers."

As Ikuta talked, he showed Fukagawa some tips on how to exercise his finger flexibility, saying that he was used to doing this movement when practicing piano.

Put the five fingers together, separate the thumbs and then close them, then separate and close the index fingers, and so on. She did it very quickly and skillfully, but when she first started to play the piano, she often got cramps in her fingers.

This is the case with most things in the world. Once you become proficient, it will become normal.

Fukawa just looked at Ikuta silently, without interrupting her, nor did he feel that Ikuta's behavior was out of line.

Ikuta suddenly stopped and clasped his hands together.

"I'm scared." She whispered.

"I'm afraid of getting answers other than what I expected, and I'm afraid that many things won't develop according to my expectations. I'm very scared, Mai Mai."

Fukawa held Ikuta's hand and rubbed the back of her hand with his thumb.

"But if some things are left unsaid, they will turn into misunderstandings and stay there like a thorn. So escaping is impossible, Ikuta."

Ikuta pursed his lips and said, "That's right..." He seemed a little aggrieved.

"You have to make up your mind..." she murmured to herself.

In the reflection of the car window, Fukawa saw Hashimoto sitting on the other side of the aisle, wearing headphones and closing his eyes to relax. He thought to himself, well, I’m not qualified to criticize others.

——

Little Flying Bird has been sleeping for more than ten minutes wearing a steam eye mask with a simple pattern printed on it.

Wu Geng, who was sitting next to her, asked STAFF for a small blanket to cover her body. Xiao Feiniao wrinkled her nose. The small eye patch occupied nearly a third of her face, Wu Geng found it interesting.

, stared at it for a long time.

"Xiaoxiao is really like Asuka's sister." Nishino on the other side said with a smile.

"Sister," Wu Geng laughed a little, his eyes turned around on Xiao Feiniao's face, "I have a troublesome sister like this. I'll have to wait for a headache every day."

"Xiao Xiao said that again." Nishino raised his hand and pulled up the corner of the blanket that had slid down from Xiao Asuka's shoulders.

"By the way, Xiaoxiao still wants to send Feiniao home first this time?" she asked.

"Well, after all, I promised Mother Asuka..." Having said this, Wu Geng paused, thinking about the agreement with Ikuta, and looked embarrassed.

"What's wrong?"

"Na-chan, can you help me take the little bird home? Just this once." Wu Geng asked, clasping his hands together.

"Is something wrong?" Nishino turned his head and looked at the sky which had completely darkened.

"Well, a bit..." Wu Geng hesitated whether to tell Nishino about this matter. She didn't want to make Nishino worry, but she also felt that it was not good to hide it like this. After all, it was a matter between the two of them.

"Okay." Unexpectedly, Nishino didn't ask any more questions, but simply nodded in agreement.

"Eh? Really?" Wugeng was a little surprised.

"Xiaoxiao, what's that expression on your face?" Nishino said with a smile, "It's not a big deal. It won't be a big deal after that. I have no reason to refuse."

"Na-chan, don't you ask me where I'm going and what I'm doing?"

"There is no need. If you want to say anything, Xiaoxiao, you will tell me."

Nishino's openness and consideration made Wu Geng feel annoyed. Of course, this emotion was not directed at Nishino, but more towards himself who could not admit all this frankly.

The bus stopped slowly on the side of the road. Hashimoto got off the bus with his small bag, and Fukawa followed him out. They lived in the same dormitory when they were staying together, and after moving out, they rented places not far apart.

Just as the car door was closing, Shiraishi said in a panic, "Please wait a moment! I want to get off too!" She stood up in a panic and walked a few steps forward without forgetting to look back, "Misa, Sayuri.

If she falls asleep, look at her and remind her to get out of the car." Weito responded blankly, and by the time he reacted and shouted, "Mai, where are you going?" Shiraishi had already gotten out of the car.

"It seems like Mai doesn't live near here, right?" Nishino asked doubtfully.

The bus taking members back will stop at the place closest to where the members live. After everyone gets off the bus, some of them have to take the subway bus back.

Wu Geng shook his head, "Maybe something happened."

Shiraishi outside the window held Fukawa and Hashimoto, as if he was saying something. Fukawa looked at Hashimoto, and Hashimoto lowered his head for a while before raising it and pointing to the distance.
Chapter completed!