After walking for a while, Haruto suddenly noticed that Miku was walking slower and slower. Eventually, she lagged behind and fell again.
Haruto sighed and quietly slowed down.
After a moment, Miku continued, panting, and grabbed his clothes with a complaining expression on her face: "My legs feel so heavy."
Just as Haruto was about to speak, he saw her walk to the side and sit on a large rock by the roadside.
"What are you doing?"
Miku bent her legs, placed her hands under her short skirt, exhaled, and softly said, "It's so hot wearing stockings, so I need to take them off."
"Even though there's no one around, this is still a public place, and you should be more mindful of me!" Haruto complained.
Miku looked up and whispered, "I can't help it, it's so hot, and there's no one else here. Hurry, Haruto, come here and help cover me."
"Alright."
Haruto didn't refuse. Although this summer was quite cool, with no cicadas chirping yet, the temperature wasn't too low. Besides, hiking and walking had already drained physical energy, so it was natural for Miku to feel hot.
Miku happened to be wearing stockings, which wouldn't be a problem if it weren't hot, but once it got warm, the stifling heat of being wrapped up with no escape could indeed be unpleasant!
Haruto walked over to Miku, stood casually, and blocked her from view.
Even though no one else was around, better safe than sorry. The sight of Miku taking off her stockings certainly wasn't something to be seen by others.
"Thank you."
Miku sighed and glanced at him. Her face felt a bit warm, but she couldn't help it; it was so hot.
She wondered if she might get heatstroke if she kept this up.
Thinking about that, she no longer felt embarrassed. She bent her legs, leaned forward, and slowly began to take off her stockings.
Haruto couldn't resist looking again, his gaze softening slightly.
Because of how she looked, he always felt a bit awkward. It felt as though the girl wasn't just taking off her socks, but something else entirely.
Why did such an ordinary sight make it hard to look away?
It's like certain uniforms. Even though they're just clothes, worn by specific professions, why do they make people more excited?
As the stockings came off, her thighs were revealed, looking like snow. Paired with the black stockings, they were so white they were almost translucent, with faint blue veins visible.
Suddenly, Miku bit her lip and glared at him with a shy and angry expression, slightly embarrassed and annoyed: "Turn your head!"
Haruto was silent for a moment before speaking seriously, "Sorry, I'm under an Immobilization Spell and can't move right now."
After a pause, he urged, "Hurry up, or someone will come soon."
Miku bit her lip silently and chose to continue.
'This girl's legs aren't particularly slender, nor could they be called long legs, but they're perfectly proportioned and beautiful. They're not inferior to long legs at all.'
At least, that's what Haruto thought.
He even believed that if Miku debuted on a live stream, even if she only showed off her legs every day, she would still gain a lot of fans.
If there ever came a time when she couldn't support herself, Miku might still be able to support her family by selling pictures of her legs!
Soon, Miku took off her stockings. As for being bare, nothing like that happened.
Unless Haruto squatted down. Of course, doing something like that would be hooliganism.
He certainly wouldn't do that.
Miku sighed in relief, removed her stockings, and glared, "Seppuku!"
After Miku calmed down, Haruto checked the time and asked, "Want to rest a little longer?"
"No need." Miku gently shook her head. Today was a special day, so it was okay to take a short break.
Besides, Ichika and the others had probably already found it, and they might be waiting ahead.
After putting her shoes back on, Miku took a breath and then glanced at Haruto, "Reckless Haruto, let's go."
After a while.
Haruto and Miku caught up with Ichika and the others.
"Miku, you're too slow."
"Sorry, I just took a short break." Miku pretended to be calm and said.
Of course, she couldn't panic right now. Once she panicked, it would be easy to arouse suspicion.
She hadn't done anything wrong, so she didn't feel guilty at all.
Nino's eyes looked suspicious, and she stared at Miku's legs. Then she looked away and said, "Let's keep walking, we're almost there."
"Mm."
"Kuromori-san, we're almost there."
After walking for less than two minutes, Yotsuba tugged on Haruto's clothes and softly spoke.
"Yeah."
Haruto slowed down, and soon, Nino in front stopped. He also stopped and then looked around and saw Nakano Rena's gravestone.
It was a woman who looked very similar to Itsuki.
"Kuromori-kun, what are you doing standing so far away? Come over here." Ichika waved.
"I'm coming."
Haruto walked to Ichika's side.
Now, he really couldn't be considered an outsider.
So, he had also bought memorial supplies.
Luckily, Ichika and the others had also bought supplies when they were hiking, so they wouldn't run out of incense.
Haruto placed the flowers in front of the gravestone, his eyes landing on Rena's picture, and he thought to himself, "Aunt Rena, long time no see."
In fact, he had met Rena twice before.