"Sorry, Nakano-kun, about the Woodland Cottage activity the day after tomorrow, if you don't mind, could you be on our team?"
With her arms crossed, Miura Yumiko naturally looked at the young man, but deep in her eyes there was a barely noticeable blush.
After saying that, Miura Yumiko glanced behind her. Not far away, her two good friends were secretly watching her. Their eyes met hers, which frightened them, so they quickly looked away and pretended to be talking.
Seeing them like that, Miura Yumiko gritted her teeth. If it weren't for those two saying that Nakano Yu had looked at her yesterday, and that Woodland Cottage was approaching and Nakano Yu didn't have a group, she certainly wouldn't have come to invite him.
Her interactions with Nakano Yu were rare, only that time when he saved her the day before yesterday.
And she hadn't even thanked him until now. Back then, Nakano Yu beat up the hooligan and drove him away, then left without giving her any chance.
Coming today to find Nakano Yu, prompted by her friends to invite him, was one reason, but Miura Yumiko also had a small thought to thank him.
"Woodland Cottage? My grades are pretty good, I don't need extra lessons."
Nakano Yu shook his head and coldly refused. Woodland Cottage was an activity organized by Sobu High School to help students improve their grades during vacation and lasted seven days. For Nakano Yu, whether he went or not made no difference.
If he went, he would just play for seven days, and with his top grades, the teachers wouldn't say anything.
"Ha?"
Hearing Nakano Yu's response, Miura Yumiko couldn't help but take half a step back. She thought she might be rejected, but didn't expect Nakano Yu to use such a hurtful reason.
After rejecting Miura Yumiko, Nakano Yu saw that she was taken aback and had no intention of leaving, so he had to remind her:
"Thank you for your kindness, Miura. Anything else?"
"Ah? Oh, o! This, about the day before yesterday… thank you, Nakano-kun. If it weren't for your help, I probably would have…"
Miura Yumiko came back to herself, remembering the other reason she had come. She rubbed her fingers, and her cheeks blushed slightly.
She usually behaved loudly and freely, but when she was little, she also dreamed of a prince on a White Horse, and… Nakano Yu had been really cool back then, quickly dealing with that hooligan.
Although his personality was a bit cold and he was somewhat of a conversation killer…
"I just happened to pass by and saw it, Miura, you don't have to take it to heart. Also, I won't mention this to anyone. And one more thing, you've been talking to me for a long time, aren't you afraid Hayama Hayato might misunderstand?"
Seeing Miura Yumiko hesitate, Nakano Yu, who was thinking about where to find Holy Relics, had no patience for chatting and directly mentioned Hayama Hayato's name.
"Uh… anyway, thank you, Nakano-kun! Um, if Nakano-kun goes to Woodland Cottage and doesn't have a study group, you're always welcome!"
As if sensing that Nakano Yu didn't want to talk to her, Miura Yumiko's expression stiffened, but she still smiled and thanked the young man. After that, she turned and left.
Resting his cheek on his hand, Nakano Yu cast a glance at Miura Yumiko's back as she walked away.
He couldn't say that he didn't like Miura Yumiko; he simply didn't like strangers disturbing him while he was thinking.
Shaking his head, Nakano Yu stopped thinking about it.
Speaking of which, it seemed that Katsura Kotonoha wasn't coming today. She was probably recovering. I wonder if Kotoha will go to Woodland Cottage.
…
Time passed quickly and the day went by. As the school day neared its end, the sky had already turned gloomy, and the setting sun was completely hidden. Fortunately, the rain hadn't started yet. Even if it had, Nakano Yu and the others would have someone to pick them up, so there was no need to worry.
Today Ichika again didn't go home with the others, saying she was going shopping with friends. But only Nakano Yu knew that Ichika had planned to go to an audition with Arima Kana.
Since yesterday, the relationship between the two of them had become very good. Nakano Yu didn't know why. They weren't from the same school and had only met a few times, but their relationship warmed very quickly. Maybe it was a friendship between girls?
Nakano Yu didn't talk much about it. After all, he had promised Ichika he would keep it secret. After reminding Ichika to call him immediately if any problem arose, he let her go.
However, not long after Nakano Yu returned home, the gloomy sky exploded. It was as if long-suppressed emotions finally poured out. Thunder roared across the sky, and heavy rain poured down.
"Uh, it's raining really hard. I wonder if we'll be able to go to Woodland Cottage the day after tomorrow."
In the Nakano residence, Yotsuba sprawled on the sofa and gloomily watched the downpour outside through the French window.
"The weather forecast says it'll only rain for a while, so it won't affect anything."
Miku looked at her phone and dismissed Yotsuba's worries in one sentence.
"Really?! Then that's great! But it's still tiring to have to go to extra lessons even during vacation, though Woodland Cottage is really fun."
Hearing that, Yotsuba's bad mood disappeared, and she rolled over to sit on the sofa.
"You're going again this year, huh."
Nakano Yu, lying on the sofa that Ichika usually used and watching TV, said with an expression as if he had expected the conversation.
"Of course! I was at the bottom of the class in this test again! Uuuuu~ So sad, those questions obviously don't know me, yet they made me write answers! Isn't that bullying people?!"
Yotsuba nodded and complained. She studied in class, but her grades just wouldn't improve. Those damn math questions, she couldn't understand them, she simply couldn't. Yotsuba didn't understand why X would be equal to A!
"Yotsuba is still the same."
Nakano Yu shrugged. It was the same last year; Yotsuba complained, and he casually watched TV.
"No! Yu must go again this year! Our family must be complete!"
Seeing how relaxed Nakano Yu was, Yotsuba immediately jumped on him, rolling and pressing against the young man.
Nino just looked at them as if she were already used to it and said nothing further.
"Really, Yotsuba, you're bothering Yu like that. Get off quickly. Will you clean the sofa later, Yotsuba?"
Carrying freshly baked cookies, Nino approached. Seeing them play so closely, she put down the cookies and spoke in a slightly more serious tone, truly showing the posture of an older sister.
"All right."
Hearing that, Yotsuba puffed her cheeks, said it, and sat down. When she saw the cookies on the table, her eyes lit up. She reached out, took one, and put it in her mouth, continuously praising:
"Mm! Nino's cookies are really getting tastier and tastier!"
"Even if Yotsuba praises me like this, Yotsuba still has to clean the sofa later."
Nino sat down, said that, took off her gloves, and set them aside.
"Yu, will you go to Woodland Cottage again this year?"
Nino looked at the young man who was tasting the cookies, and a hint of anticipation could be felt in her tone.
Of course, she hoped Nakano Yu would go with them. After all, Woodland Cottage was more about playing than studying.
Moreover, the annual courage test at Woodland Cottage… was also one of the rare opportunities to be alone with Nakano Yu. After all, the courage test could only be done in pairs. Although she was very scared, with Yu there! No matter the ghosts or monsters, all would be chased away!
"Me? Nino wants me to go?"
While eating a cookie, the young man raised an eyebrow when Nino asked.
"Yes, leaving Yu alone at home is too boring."
The girl nodded and said seriously. She would never admit it was because she wanted to be alone with Yu, because now… Yu still seemed to see her only as family.
"Then I'll go, anyway I have nothing else to do."
After thinking for a bit, Nakano Yu put the last bite of cookie into his mouth.
He was indifferent about it; going or not going just meant changing location. He could just as well fulfill Nino's wish.
"That's great!"
Hearing that Nakano Yu agreed, Nino couldn't help but exclaim, and then immediately realized she had said too much. She quickly shoved a cookie into her mouth and murmured:
"The cookies baked today are way too good."
"And Yu is going! That's great, join our group! We really need a boy!"
When Yotsuba heard that Nakano Yu would also go to Woodland Cottage, she happily hugged his neck.
Nino was still chewing her cookie, but her thoughts had already wandered to participating in the courage test with Nakano Yu a few days later.
However, Nino didn't notice that Miku beside her was looking at her in a strange way.