Shouko's once quiet world suddenly filled with many sounds that were usually hard to hear.
The soft sound of the wind blowing the curtains, sparrows chirping outside the window, the occasional cheers of children, and the distant sound of a whistle from below.
Shouko blinked and instinctively lifted her head to look.
This wasn't the first time she had experienced this situation.
It had happened once before, the first time the other person held her hand when they met.
This was the second time.
But no matter when it happened, it was always deeply moving.
If they hadn't experienced it themselves, no one else could understand Shouko's feelings at this moment.
"How does it feel?"
"..."
Shouko didn't speak, only staring at him with a blank expression.
"What's wrong?"
"..."
Shouko shook her head, still silent, only gazing at him unblinkingly.
Haruto paused, "What? Do you want me to pat your head?"
'If you want to say something, just say it. It's not like you can't talk. Even if you don't want to speak, you could at least use gestures! Just staring at me, how am I supposed to know what you're thinking!'
But Shouko's current behavior reminded Haruto of when Nanako wanted him to pat her head when she was little.
"Don't touch my head…"
Shouko quickly shook her head. She wasn't a child anymore, so how could the other person touch her head?
But then again, maybe it was okay if he did touch her head?
Shouko raised her hand to wipe the corner of her eye, looked up, and smiled brightly—a smile more radiant than the sunlight streaming through the window.
"Thank you, Kuromori-kun."
Haruto averted his eyes, "This buff will last until tomorrow. Shouko, work hard…"
"Yes!" Shouko nodded vigorously, looking very serious.
Ten minutes later, Mafuyu emerged from the bedroom.
When their eyes met, Mafuyu quickly looked away, feeling a little guilty and not daring to meet his gaze.
However, inside, she secretly felt relieved.
Afterward, Haruto instructed Shouko and Mafuyu to get along. After ensuring that Shouko had adapted, he stood up and left.
The entire journey was silent.
❀❀❀
Arriving at the Nakano apartment downstairs, Haruto didn't have to wait long before a four-leaf clover ran out.
"Hah~"
Yotsuba stopped, gently patting her chest, sighing, and looking up with a smile.
"Good morning, Kuromori-san."
"It's not morning anymore, but good morning."
Haruto's gaze fell on Yotsuba, noticing that her smile today seemed a bit less energetic than usual.
Haruto unconsciously compared her, closely observing Yotsuba starting from her legs.
She wasn't wearing stockings, revealing a pair of slim and toned legs.
Unfortunately, unless done directly or with Itsuki, it was hard for the other three to "identify someone by looking at their legs"!
And then, there was her body...
The quintuplets had nearly identical figures, but there were subtle differences. Unfortunately, it was hard to distinguish them after they put on clothes.
But Haruto had his own methods, like telling jokes he accidentally came across in the cafeteria during lunch break.
That's why Yotsuba's smile seemed so low today.
Even if it was just a cold joke, Yotsuba would easily burst into laughter, and her laughter was so warm that it caught everyone's attention.
Yotsuba tugged at the hem of her skirt, glancing sideways with eyes wide open from embarrassment and anger: "Kuromori-san, you pervert."
"..."
Haruto remained unfazed: "Let's go."
Yotsuba's eyes flickered slightly.
'Did he not figure it out this time? This time Ichika wins!'
Inside the elevator.
Ichika cleared her throat and decided to keep stirring up trouble: "Kuromori-kun, you were late today!"
After all, since she was pretending to be Yotsuba, she couldn't bully Yotsuba.
Haruto glanced at her: "Sorry."
He had stayed longer because Shouko was more afraid of Mafuyu.
But late was late, and Haruto wouldn't come up with excuses to deny it.
"So..."
Ichika approached, bringing with her a very pleasant scent, and said seriously, "So, Kuromori-kun must accept punishment…"
Haruto looked at her with disgust: "Tell me what the punishment is?"
"Hm…"
Ichika tilted her head and thought for a moment: "Yesterday I saw a word called 'cross-dressing boss.' It means that if you want to be a boss, you first have to wear women's clothes, so…"
She looked at him with a gleeful smile: "So, Kuromori-kun, please wear women's clothes and become the boss to save the world!"
Several black lines appeared on Haruto's forehead.
This girl wasn't Yotsuba, Miku, Nino, or Itsuki, but Ichika!
Only Ichika could be this wicked!
Fine!
Women's clothes, right?
Causing trouble, right?
Becoming the boss to save the world, right?
Haruto walked directly toward Ichika, and Ichika quickly retreated, but this was an elevator. In an instant, she was pressed up against the elevator wall.
The classic Kabedon scene was formed.
Haruto's breath brushed her face, a blush appeared on Ichika's cheeks, and she panicked.
She had accidentally pushed too far.
What should she do?
Ichika raised her face and looked at him pitifully: "Kuromori-kun, not here, people will see."
Haruto said expressionlessly: "Don't worry, it's fine even if we're seen."
"Huh?"
Ichika looked up with wide eyes, then buried her head in her hands, trembling as she spoke: "Sorry, I don't want to know about Kuromori-kun's special hobbies, I didn't hear anything."
"Please let me go!"
*CLAK*
"Hmm~"
Ichika stared at him with wide eyes, disbelief on her face as if she couldn't believe he actually hit her.
Right now, she was pretending to be Yotsuba!
Haruto's voice was low: "Are you still going to cause trouble?"
"..."
Ichika looked at him, then suddenly turned her face away, unconsciously biting her lip with embarrassment and anger in her eyes.
But she had no choice.
Haruto was different from other boys. If he was offended, he would really take action!
This was the second time.
Obviously, she was pretending to be Yotsuba... Wait, did he already recognize her?
But even so, this was too much!
Faced with Haruto's overwhelming force, Ichika could only say miserably: "I won't dare again."
Haruto snorted: "Next time, I'll keep beating you!"