Water vapor rises, lingering on the open-air hot spring pool, filling it into a lingering mist.

The tall walls all around completely block the bathing pool, and all that can be seen is the sky. Although it is a bit monotonous, it also provides a sufficient sense of security for the girls soaking in it.

Leaning against the huge stone in the middle of the hot spring pool, looking at the slightly yellow clouds in the sky, Shangzi slowly exhaled.

"It's so comfortable..."

Wow——

There was a sound of water, and a figure gradually approached and came around from the other side of the stone.

"Shang Zi~"

After confirming her identity, Suzuki Kazumi sat down on her shoulder, "It is indeed Naoko. Why are you hiding here alone..."

Before she finished speaking, her eyes swept across Shangzi's chest, and she suddenly froze.

"So big."

"...harmony."

Perhaps it was the effect of the hot springs. Shangzi's face turned red and he raised his hands to cover his chest.

Although the two have a good relationship, this is the first time they have met so honestly. Kazumi's eyes were straight and she couldn't look away, "How did you do it..."

"What?"

"Such a big one...how do you usually hide it?"

"...I didn't hide it deliberately."

"You can't tell with clothes on! Can I touch it?"

"Hemei..." Shangzi was a little helpless.

After staring for a while, Hemei blinked.

"I still feel great."

"...Stop talking."

"Okay." She looked away with some difficulty, then raised her hand to stir the hot spring to distract herself.

“The hot springs here are so comfortable to soak in.”

Shangzi also slowly lowered his arm, "Yes."

"By the way, when I came here, I heard that another hot spring hotel nearby has mixed bathing."

"Really?"

"Naoko and Naruse..."

"How could we go there?"

"I'm shy."

"バカ."(ba ka)

Hot springs were only a temporary topic, and the two of them soon talked about other things.

As other girls came here, the number of people in the hot spring pool gradually increased.

"That's Xiaoquan from Class D. I got to know her after chatting with her a few times in music class. I didn't expect her figure to be so good... Ah, she looked over."

"Because Kazumi's stare is too explicit."

"Hey, I'll go over there and say hello."

"Yeah."

Kazumi stood up and walked over, Naoko watched her off, then looked up at the sky.

Let's go out after soaking for a while longer, she thought.

"Youxiang, come here."

"Wow, this stone is so big, it's boiling hot."

"But it's so comfortable to perm..."

Several unknown girls sat down next to them. One of them glanced at Shangzi and was stunned for a moment, then turned around and moved closer to his companion.

"So big..."

Here we go again.

Shangzi had no choice but to get up and move to another corner of the hot spring pool. There was a smaller rock there, which could also block some of the sight.

When a girl who was sitting there heard the noise, she turned to look at her and narrowed her eyes again.

"Shangzi."

"Huh?" Naoko then noticed the identity of the other party, "It turns out to be Ichiyo."

Morimi took off her glasses and put her hair up again. The white mist shrouded her and she didn't recognize her for a moment.

She glanced at the partition between the men's and women's baths, "So, Naruse is next door?"

"Yeah." Shangzi smiled and sat down next to her.

"Did Haixing also recommend you come here?"

"Starfish?"

"Isn't it?"

Morimi looked at her and said, "Haixing said that the hot spring pool here is relatively large and the sulfur smell is not strong. She recommended me to come here - she did not participate in the hike and just soaked in the hot spring here alone."

"Harumi and I didn't see her." Naoko shook his head and said, "Haixing is fine now?"

"That's what it looks like."

"That's good."

Morimi had no intention of chatting anymore, and the conversation between the two ended here for the time being.

Leaning against the wet and hot rock behind her, her body gradually relaxed and her eyes slowly closed.

She failed the exam and her ranking dropped significantly. She had accumulated a lot of pressure. She had just climbed the mountain for two hours, and her mental and physical fatigue poured out at this time, quietly melting into the hot spring water.

Because she was too comfortable, she became more relaxed. Just before her consciousness was about to disappear, she suddenly woke up.

"..."

The body was tilting uncontrollably and fell to the side.

"Ah." Naoko looked at Morimi who was leaning on his shoulder, "Ichiyo..."

"Sorry."

She quickly sat up straight, her face turned to the other side, her ears were red, "I accidentally fell asleep."

"It's okay."

Shangzi smiled, then moved towards her, leaning against her shoulder.

"I must be tired from climbing the mountain just now. And in the past few days, Yiye looks a little tired."

Morimi pursed his lower lip and did not deny it.

"Is it because of this exam?"

"Probably."

"Ichiyo is too serious."

After waking up, although she had relaxed again, her sleepiness was gone forever. She sat up straighter again, "because the target is still very far away."

Her goal is Kyoto University. Naoko remembers it clearly, "But if you keep tightening your nerves, you will get farther and farther away from the goal."

Morimi sighed.

"I understand. It's just..."

It's just that I still can't accept such an ugly failure for a while.

She didn't say any more, and was silent for a while. She found that Shangzi was still looking at her, his eyes as warm as the spring water he was soaking in, and she shook her head again.

"I will adjust. Thank you."

It should be able to be adjusted...

Shangzi smiled slightly, "Just relax now."

"Yeah."

"Speaking of which, did Harumi say anything when we were at the aquarium in the morning? Kazuyo seemed angry."

"..."

Is it testing after relaxation?

How much does Shangzi like that guy...

Sen remained calm during the meeting, "He was showing off that he was ranked first in grade."

"Haha." Shangzi laughed, looking a little proud, "Chunhai is very good at studying."

"..."

Mori looked at the sky.

She is also very good at it.

After a while, she said: "I couldn't tell it at all before."

"Because Chunhai didn't want to express himself that much at that time."

"Performance?"

Shangzi just smiled and asked without explaining, "Is it just about showing off?"

Is the temptation not over yet...

"I have nothing to talk about with him." Morimi looked at Naoko and said, "I only have one goal, and I won't be distracted."

Naoko was stunned for a moment, then held her hand with both hands and said solemnly: "Come on, Kazuyo."

"I will."

After sitting for a while, Shangzi stood up and left the hot spring pool first.

Watching her back change from clear to blurry, and then completely invisible, Morimi also retracted his gaze and lay down again leaning against the stone.

"How many years have passed..."

She looked down at the water, and her feet touching each other underwater were deforming and swaying in the surging waves, like a vague memory of the past.

Probably Naoko already fell in love with Naruse when she met him for the first time.

So do starfish.

As for Hikaru... it's probably no exception, but it's just another sense of liking.

Morijian picked up a handful of hot springs with his hands and poured it over his shoulders.

At that time, she was thin, timid, and inconspicuous. Because of this, she could hide in a corner where no one was paying attention and observe others calmly.

At that time, she could more easily see through the inner thoughts of most of her peers. Even now, she can guess the same thing even with a little observation.

So she can be sure: Naoko's love for Naruse, after so many years of accumulation, has overflowed to the point of being somewhat heavy.

"In that case, why don't we have a direct relationship... If it were Shangzi, he wouldn't refuse."

The fog is shrouded and hazy.

"Those two people, is there any reason why they can't date?"

After thinking for a long time, Morimi could not come to a conclusion that would prevent him from finding faults. When he came to his senses, he felt a lot more relaxed because he had been thinking about this kind of thing.

"Well - just soak in it for a while and then go out."

She stretched.

"Speaking of which..."

Morimi looked down at his chest, raised his hands from the water, and fluttered in the air, as if he was holding something huge.
Chapter completed!