Putting down the vegetables in his hand, Naruse turned to Naoko beside him and asked: "Besides handicrafts, does Naoko have any other interests?"
Shangzi glanced at him, confusion flashed across his face, and then he picked up the vegetables and stuffed them back into his hand.
"This is for dinner."
"Ah, oh."
She continued walking forward, and Naruse followed, picking up a shopping basket.
The two of them were in the supermarket picking out the ingredients for dinner.
"Why do you ask so suddenly?"
"Because it came to me suddenly."
Shangzi stopped, picked up the onions at hand and looked at them, "Let's cook them."
"I think this is closer to a skill than a hobby," Naruse said.
"But I do like cooking."
"Okay. Is there anything else besides cooking? Doing housework doesn't count."
Naoko looked back at him, "Chunhai has almost eliminated all the things I like and am good at."
"This is gone?"
She looked at him, her eyes moving left and right on his face, "There are still some girls' privacy."
Naruse pursed his lips, "Sorry."
She smiled and said, "If I have to say it, shopping can be considered one of my hobbies."
To be precise, it was probably a visit to a fabric store. Naruse didn't correct him or ask any more questions.
"I know."
"Why do you ask that?" Shangzi was still concerned about the reason for his question.
"Curious." Naruse said, "I want to know more about Naoko."
She looked at him for a while, then smiled slightly: "Chunhai's ability to deal with others has improved again."
"Thank you."
Naruse was somewhat embarrassed, "For this kind of thing, I think silence is more powerful than verbal praise."
Shangzi nodded, raised the onions in his hand, and chose another way besides silence, "Let's have curry tonight."
"Okay."
The topic was dropped, and the two of them continued shopping in the supermarket, stopping and walking.
Watching Naoko standing in front of the shelf comparing the prices of two portions of chicken, Naruse suddenly thought of something.
"Shangzi."
"Huh?" She still stared at the label.
"Did my mother leave any money for you before she went to Tokyo?"
Only then did Shangzi look over and said, "No."
So, he is relying on Shangzi's money these days.
Naruse knew that she had the habit of keeping accounts, so he said: "At the end of the month, remember to give me the bill."
"It's okay."
He shook his head to express his persistence.
"Okay."
Shangzi didn't say much and finally made a choice between the two portions of chicken.
"Is there anything else Harumi wants to buy?"
"No."
"That's it, let's go check out."
"Yeah."
After paying, Shangzi put the receipt into his wallet and kept it with other coupons.
The Aoyagi area is not within the city limits. Supermarkets, convenience stores and local small hospitals are basically concentrated on both sides of the county road;
The supermarket is relatively far away. On the way back, you will pass the Maki Hotel and the Morimi Furu Honten diagonally opposite.
When Naruse Monk came back from school, he didn't see Haisei and Morimi on the bus. There was no one in the two stores at this time, and he didn't know whether they were in the store or not back at all.
Thinking of what he heard in the staff room in the morning, Naruse's guess was more inclined to the latter.
"Haixing seems to need to take a make-up exam. She failed the final exam last semester, and she also failed four subjects."
Shangzi looked at him, then nodded, "Haixing often makes up for exams."
Seeing his inexplicable smile, she smiled too, but quickly stopped, "Haixing has never been very good at studying."
This was no different from the situation before he went to Tokyo. Naruse was not surprised and asked casually: "Where's Morimi? Her grades should be pretty good."
"Ichiyo is number one in grade." Naoko said, "It has been this way since middle school."
"Really?" Naruse was a little surprised, but felt that it was natural.
Although he didn't have much contact with her during his return, he could still get a glimpse of her efforts in study.
"After the cultural festival, it seems like the first comprehensive exam of this semester will be held."
"Is it really okay to arrange it at that time?"
Naoko smiled, "Perhaps the school wants to use a tragic defeat to remind students that the cultural festival has come to an end and it's time to calm down."
"Well, it makes sense to think so."
While chatting all the way, Shangzi passed by the house without entering, and went home directly with him. He put down his schoolbag and went to the kitchen to prepare the ingredients for cooking curry.
Naruse went back to the room upstairs to stay alone for a while, and after thinking deeply, he made some plans.
After going downstairs to help in the kitchen, he said to Shangzi: "Tomorrow afternoon, I will go to the handicraft club."
"..."
Shangzi suddenly remembered the surprised looks in the eyes of the female members when he came to the club room in the afternoon.
She held the handle of the kitchen knife.
"Is Harumi planning to join the handicraft club?"
"No, I have no such plan. It's just that I have nothing else to do after school, so I'd better stay with Naoko."
Naruse said, handing her the washed onions.
Tuk tuk tuk——
Dice the onions and put them on a plate for later use. Shangzi motions for him to take out the chicken as well.
"Will it disturb you?" Naruse asked.
"No."
Shangzi shook his head, "The overall preparations for the cultural festival have almost entered the final stage. There is still one month left, so it will be busy no matter what."
"That's good."
He went over today and saw that most of the members of the handicraft club were busy with their own affairs. For example, Shangzi was sewing her zodiac puppets.
Fry the onions, chicken, carrots and other ingredients for a while, then pour them into the pot together. Shangzi asked while adding water:
"Has Harumi considered joining any clubs?"
"Still waiting and watching."
Naruse watched from the sidelines and handed her the lid of the cooking pot at the right time.
"It just so happens that the cultural festival is an opportunity to learn about all the clubs. Whether or not to join a club and which club to join should be made after the cultural festival ends."
Shangzi nodded and stared at the faintly dancing flames under the cooking pot.
"Hmm."
......
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After dinner, Naruse and Naoko cleaned up the mess together.
After finishing, they both sat on the sofa in the living room and watched TV.
After Matsu Chiaki left, Naruse and Naoko's life rhythm at home did not change much. They stayed together before and after meals, and spent the rest of the time doing their own things, just like ordinary family members.
"The typhoon is coming."
"I almost forgot it's still summer. Can the typhoon persist to Aomori?"
"It's hard to say."
"I hope you won't come."
Looking at the weather map on the TV screen, Naruse just hoped that the tropical cyclone still lingering in the Pacific would understand the inconvenience of his commute and disappear.
"No, it's best not to come."
Shangzi smiled and hugged the pillow he made.
After reading the weather forecast, Naruse stood up and said, "I'm going to take a shower."
"Yeah."
By the time he came out after washing, Shangzi had already gone back to get a change of clothes and walked into the bathroom as if he were taking over.
After Song Qianqiu left, she took a shower here, saying it was for convenience.
Back in the living room, Naruse flipped through the messages on his phone and watched TV absentmindedly.
The longer he leaves Tokyo, the less news there is from there, even though he doesn't have many serious friends to begin with.
Staring down at his phone, he unconsciously touched the earring in his left ear. After an unknown amount of time, a moist aroma suddenly drifted from behind him.
"What happened to Harumi's ears?"
He turned his head and saw a white snow.
After coming out of the shower, Shangzi had already changed into pajamas. She was standing behind him, staring at his ears, and leaned very close to him.
"It's okay."
Naruse turned his head and looked away, and let go of his hand, "I just thought of those people who asked me to wear earrings before."
Shangzi walked around the sofa and sat next to him, staring at him closely, "Haruhai still has contact with those people?"
"It's long gone."
"Really?"
"Yeah."
"That's good."
She seemed to be relieved, and then she sat next to him and wiped her hair without moving away.
The pajamas were loose, with the neckline held up high, and they swayed slightly as she wiped her hair. People couldn't help but wonder how the astonishing weight in them was hidden.
There was a faint fragrance wafting from the wet long hair, and it took a lot of time to dry it completely. The two of them were huddled together, both concentrating on each other but not paying attention until late at night.
"I'm going back to rest."
"Yeah."
After sending Naoko back to the house next door, Naruse returned to his room and said good night to her by the window.