After lunch, in the afternoon, Matsu Chiaki took Naruse and drove to Aomori City with Naoko and her family to go shopping.
In order to avoid trouble, Song Qianqiu disguised himself again with a mask and sunglasses before setting off. To be on the safe side, he also changed into an unusual hairstyle.
"You won't be able to see it this way."
"No need to go to such trouble..."
"Your mother is on fire right now."
After driving to Aomori City, Chiaki Matsu and Sawako Nakahana took their two children to stroll around the mall for an afternoon, while Tetsuya Nakahana went to visit a friend who lived nearby, so both parties did not disturb each other.
After shopping until evening, a few people had dinner at a high-end restaurant near the mall, and didn't go back until dark.
"Slow down, it's snowing on the road." Sawako Umuka reminded her husband in the passenger seat.
"Yeah."
Matsu Chiaki sits in the middle of the back row, with Naoko and Naruse on both sides.
She leaned left and right, "Oops, I ate a little too much, I'm already starting to feel sleepy..."
"Go ahead and sleep." Unohana Sawako turned around and smiled, "It will be a while before we can go back from here - you can't get sleepy."
The last sentence is what Hana Tetsuya said about this.
He responded, conscious and focused, and not feeling bored at all by his wife's repeated reminders.
The couple is particularly careful when driving.
"If you're tired, let me drive."
"Yeah."
Song Qianqiu saw this with a somewhat complicated expression, and then looked at Shang Zi beside him calmly.
She looked out the window, not knowing what she was thinking.
Buzz——
The sound of mobile phones vibrating was heard from both sides at the same time, and the two children took out their mobile phones almost at the same time.
"Message of light."
"Yeah."
Naruse clicked on the group he created when he traveled to Ginzan Hot Spring, and Mitsuru Takigawa sent a greeting emoji.
Guang: [Have you eaten?]
Yiye: [Can’t eat anymore]
Shangzi:[Yummy!]
Chunhai:[Yummy!]
Guang: Let’s go to Chuyi tomorrow morning.
Starfish:Okay.
"..."
In the morning, didn’t they say there were more people these two days?
Naruse thought for a moment, turned around and asked, "Is there nothing else to do tomorrow?"
"Well." Song Qianqiu looked at him, "Does Chunhai have any plans?"
"Let's go to Iwakiyama Shrine for the first time with everyone."
She already knew about this and didn't say much, "Go ahead."
Shangzi:[OK]
Chun Hai: What time will we meet?
Guang: Jiudian Bar.
Starfish:Okay.
Guang: Wrong number, it’s nine o’clock.
Light: Meet at the bus stop.
Chunhai:Okay.
Yiye: No problem.
After discussing the arrangements for tomorrow, the topic in the group quickly shifted to other things.
Naruse basically just watched and occasionally commented.
More than an hour later, several people finally arrived home.
"Good night."
The mother and son got out of the car, and the two families said good night to each other and went back to their homes.
After watching TV with Matsu Chiaki until late at night, Naruse went back to the room to rest.
The next morning, he woke up around eight o'clock, got up, washed up, had breakfast, and then went out with Shangzi who came over.
When we arrived at the bus stop, Haixing was already waiting.
"So positive."
Shangzi heard him mutter.
"Good morning..." There was no one on the road, and Haixing noticed them from a distance.
"Good morning." Shangzi smiled, "The starfish came really early today."
"I don't want to keep everyone waiting any longer," Haixing said.
What she was talking about was what happened that morning when she left for Ginzan Hot Spring last time. Naoko smiled and said nothing, looking at Naruse who bowed his head and stepped on the snow after saying hello.
After waiting for a while, Morimi also came over.
Both parties met for the first time in the New Year and exchanged greetings after meeting.
"Happy New Year, please take care of me this year too."
She bowed her head slightly and saluted. After raising her head, she pushed up her glasses and looked at Naruse.
"Did you bring my red envelope for me?"
"You have a beautiful idea. If you want a red envelope, just come and get it yourself."
She smiled and then nodded.
"Is Miss Song at home today?"
"Of course."
"After Chuyi comes back, I will pay you a visit."
"Well." Naruse took out his mobile phone, "Then I will ask my mother to prepare the red envelope for you first."
"..."
She glared over, then moved closer, only to realize that he had opened a completely unrelated interface, so she naturally glared at him again.
"Mom's red envelope is also ready. Kazuyo, please come to my house too." Shangzi smiled beside him.
Morimi sighed softly, "Don't make it sound like I came here just for the red envelope..."
After chatting with the two for a few words, she looked at Haixing, who had been silent until now, and said, "You can also get red envelopes when you come to my house."
Haixing came back to his senses and smiled, "Yeah."
"Although there are not as many as his family."
"Only 10,000 yen." Naruse interrupted.
"'Just'."
Naruse stopped talking.
Morimi looked at Haixing again, and suddenly noticed that her expression was a little subtle.
It's subtle and familiar - just like a few months ago, when she wanted to talk to him but didn't know how to speak.
We haven’t seen each other for just a day, what happened between these two people...
Morimi has a headache.
After a while, the Takigawa sisters also came over.
"Everyone is here. Ah, happy New Year, Yiye."
"Happy New Year, Sister Guang, Yue."
The two sides exchanged greetings, and soon the bus bound for the city came over.
Several people got on the bus one after another. Morimi grabbed Haixing and sat with her.
"What's wrong?"
"Hey, what..."
She glanced at Naruse's back in the row in front, "You and he seem to have never spoken."
"..."
Starfish pursed her lower lip.
"A little something..."
Saying it is the same as not saying it.
Morimi looked at her, didn't ask any more questions, and turned to other topics.
The bus swayed and passed several stops along the way.
"Prefectural Tsutaka-mae, here we are——"
Starfish stood up.
Several people on the seats looked at her.
"..."
She sat down again.
"Isn't it here?"
"Get off at Tsumae Station and transfer to the bus to Iwakiyama Shrine." Morimi said.
"Oh..."
Naruse tilted his head slightly, but did not turn around.
Shangzi looked at him.
After sitting for a few more stops, she rang the bus bell.
A few people got off the bus at Tsumae Station, and then looked for the bus bound for Iwakiyama Shrine.
"Over here."
"Well, we still have to queue up."
There are many people waiting on the platform. Fortunately, this is the departure station, so we won’t be unable to get on the train.
Looking at the people in front of the team, Hikari Takigawa stood on tiptoes and asked, "Are they all going to Iwakiyama Shrine for their first attainments?"
"Probably." Naruse said, "It would be more appropriate to go there to celebrate the New Year."
Wait for a moment, the bus stops at the platform.
They lined up to get on the bus one by one. Hikari Takigawa and her sister were the first to take their seats. Behind them, Monk Naruse was also preparing to sit in the empty seat in the row behind.
Let Naoko who was sitting inside go in first. Just as Naruse was about to take a seat, he was suddenly pulled.
"..."
Starfish took his arm and stepped back, his voice trembling.