Fukawa later found an opportunity to talk to Weito about going out for a dinner party in a few days, and Weito readily agreed. After confirming the time, he said there was no problem and he would definitely arrive on time.

The practice days passed in the blink of an eye, and the day of the party soon came. The five of them gathered in Shinjuku in the afternoon. When Fukawa arrived, Hashimoto and Shiraishi were already waiting in the store.

Across the street, I saw Shiraishi and Hashimoto sitting in the window seat talking and laughing. Shiraishi smiled brightly and raised his hand to gesture to Hashimoto. Hashimoto covered the corner of his mouth with his right hand and couldn't suppress the smile between his eyebrows.

Fukawa stood blankly at the intersection waiting for the bus. It wasn't until the traffic light turned green and his shoulder was hit by a pedestrian that he came to his senses and walked forward with the flow of people.

——Are we disturbing them?

At this moment, Fukawa somewhat agreed with Matsumura's words.

She quickly adjusted her mood, entered the store, and greeted the two of them pretending that nothing happened.

"Nanamin Mai, you guys came so early."

"Ah, Mai Mai." Shiraishi waved to her, "You came just in time, we were about to discuss giving Sayuri—"

At this time, Matsumura happened to open the door and walked in. Shiraishi winked at Fukawa and did not continue speaking.

"Hey, Mai, what are you talking about?" Matsumura noticed the sudden break in the conversation.

"It's nothing, Sayuri, do you want something to drink? I'll treat you." Shiraishi smiled and fooled him, but the method was too bad. Fukawa saw Matsumura's cheerful expression darken, forced a smile, and ordered the most expensive one on the menu.

A creamy fruit sundae.

Not long after, Eto also came. The five of them took a short break and went out to watch the most popular movie of the month. During this period, Matsumura went to the toilet two or three times because of a stomach upset. After that, he kept singing in the karaoke shop.

until night.

Finally, we ate in a private room of a barbecue restaurant that Shiraishi had reserved. Unsurprisingly, Eto ordered a bottle of wine, and the five of them drank it separately. Although the alcohol content was not high, Fukagawa rarely drank.

Instead, I felt a little dizzy, not serious, but my cheeks felt hot.

During this period, Shiraishi and Hashimoto left the table and went to the restroom. Matsumura muttered, "They even have to go to the restroom together."

Fukawa smiled and said, "Sayuri, you can follow me."

"I've been there enough before." Matsumura picked up a piece of barbecue with chopsticks and stuffed it into his mouth.

Before, her stomach was full of ice cream, but now she ate barbecue without hesitation. Fukawa wondered whether her stomach could withstand the repeated torture from her master.

"In my current state, the only thing that won't betray me is food." Matsumura sighed as if he was saying a famous aphorism. He placed the beef tongues on the iron mesh mountain one after another. When placing the plates, he moved too much and accidentally touched them.

With the wake-up button on the phone next to it, the screen lights up for a moment and then automatically goes dark after two or three seconds.

The sizzling sound of Tiewengshan beef tongue being grilled seemed to be much louder for an instant, turning into a lingering tinnitus at the highest point. She was slightly absent-minded.

"Sayuri?"

Fukawa glanced at the stunned Matsumura and called her.

"Ah, it's okay. Maybe I'm a little tired." She put down her chopsticks, "...Sorry, I have to go to the bathroom."

At this time, Shiraishi and Hashimoto had just opened the door and walked in. Matsumura brushed shoulders with them in silence. He lowered his head and did not say hello.

"Is it MISA that you gave her Sayuri wine? Her face looks a little bad." Shiraishi said.

"It must be that her stomach hurts again. She ate a lot of barbecue, and," Weito shook the bottle, "there is no wine in the bottle."

"You really can drink."

"Ma Yiyang, come with me, I'll order another bottle."

"Forget it, I don't want to have a headache and not be able to get up tomorrow."

Fukawa's eyes followed Matsumura's back, which was cut off by the wooden door on the right side of the corridor. Before she could take it back, she was caught by Hashimoto's probing eyes, and she smiled subconsciously.

Hashimoto quickly sat over and got closer, "What's wrong?"

Fukawa looked at the burnt beef tongue on the iron fence and shook his head slightly.

"have no idea."

Not long after, Matsumura came back. There were traces of wetness on the ends of her bangs. It looked like she just wetted her face with water. There was nothing unusual about her expression.

On the way, Fukawa talked about traveling after the tour, and everyone happily agreed. However, things like booking hotels and planning travel routes fell on the initiator, Fukawa. Fukawa naturally nodded in agreement, by the way.

, the previous trip to Kamakura was planned by Eto.

After leaving the barbecue restaurant, Fukawa felt much better from the cold night wind, which made her slightly hot body feel better.

"Maimai."

Hashimoto called her from behind.

Fukawa turned around and saw Hashimoto raising her hand to lift the red curtain and walking out. She was the last one.

Hashimoto's cheeks were also red. The moment he went out, he shrank his neck and trotted to Fukawa.

"Nanamin..."

"The temperature drops very quickly at night, right?"

"Yeah." Fukawa nodded.

"Did Sayuri say anything to you?"

Fukawa paused, "Why do you ask?" She smiled.

"It's nothing," Hashimoto flipped a strand of hair from his temples, "because Mai Mai rarely brings up gatherings. Last time in the practice room, Sayuri's mood was not right, and it's the same today. Anyway.

It feels like you guys are discussing something in private."

Fukawa let out a breath, lowered his gaze to the ground, and kicked the pebbles on the ground with his toes.

"Nanamin is really keen." She smiled and pressed the spring in her heart harder.

No, don't jump out at this time. She told herself that now is not the right time.

But when is the right time? Fukawa didn’t know how to answer.

Maybe this was an emotion that was unnecessary from the beginning. No one expected it to take root and sprout from the seed state, maybe even herself.

"Why don't you understand Maiyang?"

Matsumura's rather stern question drew Fukawa and Hashimoto's attention back. The two looked at each other and both turned to look behind them.

There, Shiraishi looked at Matsumura, who was slightly out of control, with some surprise. Eto, who was busy at the side, seemed to want to appease the two of them, but it didn't seem to have the expected effect.

"... Sayuri, what's wrong with you today?" Shiraishi didn't know where he said something wrong, "You're not usually like this."

"How do I usually behave? Mai-yang, are you looking at me seriously during this time?"

"I……"

"Anyway, Maiyang, as long as you have someone to accompany you, it doesn't matter whether I'm with you or not, right?"

Fukawa could tell that Shiraishi was indeed desperate. She held Matsumura's shoulders with both hands and looked around awkwardly at the inexplicable glances from the customers entering and leaving the barbecue restaurant.

"I, I understand. Although I don't know what happened, it's all my fault, okay? Anyway, Sayuri, please calm down first."

Matsumura threw away Shiraishi's hand angrily. She lowered her head, her arm carrying the bag hung weakly under her body, and her shoulders were slumped, like a soldier who had escaped from a defeat on the battlefield.

"Sayuri, Mai-kun... let's find a place to talk carefully..." When Eto encountered this situation, it was difficult for him to think of a proper way to deal with it.

"That's enough...I'm going back."

Matsumura pushed back a few steps, turned around and ran towards Fukagawa. When they passed each other, Matsumura whispered, "Sorry, I ruined the atmosphere..."

Now is not the time to worry about this.

Fukawa subconsciously stretched out his hand, but only his fingertips touched the hem of Matsumura's clothes.

She was about to chase after him, but Hashimoto grabbed her arm.

"Nanamin, what are you doing-"

"That's right."

Hashimoto looked at the direction Matsumura left and spoke calmly.

"It turns out Sayuri likes Mai."

Fukawa suddenly lost the strength to catch up. In her field of vision, Hashimoto's profile was dimly illuminated by the sign's lights. Her eyelashes were long, but her pupils were like stars falling into the deep sea.

There is a light so deep that it can swallow up everything.

This calmness made Fukawa narrow his eyes.
Chapter completed!