I.W.B.A.L

　　"Well, I thought of something on the way home, so I wanted to talk to Miyamizu-kun."

　　"That's just right. I also have something I want to ask Miss Wu."

　　After pouring a cup of tea and inviting Qingpu Mai to sit down, the two of them sat down around the small table in the middle of the living room and started talking about what they wanted to say.

　　Looking at the dignified and pretty Qingpu Mai sitting opposite him, with her reserved and decent posture, Kento's gaze lingered on Qingpu Mai for a moment, then he retracted his gaze, looked at the teacup in front of him, and was silent for a moment.

　　"Although there are some things, they are just small matters. If Miyamizu-kun has any questions, then please ask first."

　　"It's about Setsuna."

　　Facing Qingura Mai, Kento did not refuse or hesitate, but asked the doubts in his heart.

　　"Yesterday, Miss Mai answered me that she would persuade Setsuna when she returned, right?"

　　Facing the boy's serious expression and gaze, Qingura Mai had already anticipated such a development, but facing the boy's clear and slightly distressed eyes, her eyes couldn't help but wander for a moment.

　　"Yes... I answered Miyamizu-kun like this. When I went back, I also talked about this with Setsuna. But Setsuna... it's rare for her to like someone. As a mother, I can't ignore her feelings for me..."

　　"So, Miss Mai, do you think Setsuna's relationship with me will have a good ending?"

　　Having said that, Qingura Mai's expression became a little serious as she looked at the boy in front of her.

　　"I also have some doubts about this question. I wonder if Miyamizu-kun can answer it for me?"

　　Kento who was originally asking Qingpu Mai did not refuse after hearing Qingpu Mai's words. He silently looked at Qingpu Mai, who was in her mature and beautiful years, and nodded.

　　"Why, Miyamizu-kun, are you so concerned about the future? You haven't even reached the point where you need to consider the outcome, but you're already thinking about the outcome. You're so cautious, as if you've lost something and you don't even want to start?"

　　Cautious as if I have lost something...

　　Under Qingpu Mai's gaze, the young man in front of her began to show an air of loneliness, and his eyes became melancholy at that moment. He was clearly just a young man, but he seemed like an actor who had stepped into the curtain call of an opera, which made people feel pity and sadness.

　　"Miyamizu....-kun?"

　　Qingpu Mai's gentle call reminded him of Kento of the past. His expression improved a little, but he was still filled with lingering sadness. Even Qingpu Mai was infected by such a heavy feeling, and he felt a little depressed for a while.

　　"Maybe it's just like what Miss Mai said, I'm afraid of losing something... I'm just a coward who's afraid of getting hurt, so I don't want to take that step."

　　"Then why don't you just reject Setsuna decisively?"

　　"Will Setsuna be hurt too?"

　　"If you don't want to get hurt, and you don't want others to get hurt, then why not take that step bravely?"

　　For a moment, Qingura Mai had forgotten her original purpose towards Kento, and began to comfort the boy in front of her as an intimate sister.

　　The pure and handsome boy showed such a weak attitude in front of her, which aroused the maternal nature in Qingura Mai's heart. Now, she just wanted to see the boy in front of her show that gentle and reassuring smile.

　　"Are you dating Setsuna?"

　　"Setsuna has never liked a boy before. As a mother, I am also quite worried. But if it's Kento, then there's no problem. Kento is such a gentle person. I fully support you and Setsuna being together!"

　　Looking silently at the woman in front of him with an encouraging look on her face, Kento didn't know why things turned out like this, but after listening to Qingura Mai's words, he felt that it made a lot of sense.

　　The best way to forget the past is to look at what is in front of you, stop and look back, look ahead of you, and keep moving forward.

　　In the present moment when nothing has happened yet, isn't he the only one who is bound by the past?

　　How long will he continue to indulge in this sadness?

　　Slowly raising his head and looking at Qingpu Mai in front of him, Kento slowly nodded.

　　"Miss Dance..."

　　Image: "Qiyourura Dance", Location: "Images/1635847459-100277911-107910098.jpg"

Cherry Blossom Season: 22. Hey, tell me, mom

　　After receiving a call from her mother, Kiyoura Setsuna started preparing dinner at home.

　　"I'm back, Setsuna."

　　The voice of Qing Pu Mai came from the door. Just when dinner was almost ready, I turned around and looked towards the living room——

　　The woman in formal wear slowly walked to the sofa and sat down. She looked down at the miso soup that was almost cooked in the pot, scooped some with a spoon, brought it in front of her, blew it gently with her soft little mouth, and tasted it.

　　Not too salty or bland, just right.

　　"Dinner is ready. You can eat in a moment. Go wash your hands first."

　　Qingura Mai, who was sitting on the sofa, had a ruddy complexion. She looked back at her daughter standing in front of the kitchen counter, and seemed not to have noticed anything. She responded softly, stood up, and walked towards the bathroom. As for Setsuna, she silently prepared dinner and brought the food to the table.

　　However, after all the dishes were served on the table, she deliberately packed the remaining miso soup and other dishes in the pot into food boxes.

　　"I'll go deliver a portion of dinner to Kento and be right back."

　　Qingura Mai, who was removing makeup in the bathroom, paused slightly after hearing her daughter's words. She wanted to say something to her daughter outside the bathroom, but when the words came to her lips, she choked back.

　　The footsteps faded away, and the sound of a door closing was heard. Even if he wanted to say something to his daughter, it was too late.

　　Looking at herself in the mirror, Qingpu Mai reached out and gently stroked her cheek. Her cheek felt soft and shiny. She didn't look like a mother with a fifteen-year-old daughter at all... Not really, but she did look very young.

　　"Because I like mature and stable women, I may not be with Setsuna until the end, so do you hope that I am mentally prepared?"

　　Thinking about what the boy said to her, Qingura Mai's mood became a little subtle. Should she be happy or worried about her daughter?

　　Looking at herself in the mirror, Qingpu Mai sighed slowly. What is she thinking about now?

　　Kento was cutting radishes and preparing miso soup when he heard the doorbell ring not far behind him. Just over ten minutes after Kiyoura Mai left, he had a new guest.

　　The cutting of vegetables stopped, and Kento came to the door and opened it.

　　With a look of excitement and anticipation on her face, she stood at his door, holding three food boxes in her hands and handed them to him.

　　"Dinner, a meal I made myself."

　　After being stunned for a moment and looking at the expectant expression on the girl's face, Kento reached out and took the food box from her hand. When he wanted to say something, the girl in front of him pursed her lips, looked at Kento in front of her, and closed her eyes, as if waiting for some reward.

　　"..."

　　Faced with such an innocent and lovely girl, Kento was silent for a moment and moved a little closer to the girl.

　　The girl, with her eyes closed and defenseless, stood in front of him. Her slightly trembling eyelashes seemed to indicate the girl's uneasy heart.

　　Kento leaned forward slightly and lowered his head, kissed the petite girl lightly on the side of her face, then stepped back to create some distance between them, stood behind the door frame again, and looked at the girl who was gradually opening her eyes.

　　"Good night."

　　"Good night."

　　The girl, whose expectations were met, looked at the boy in front of her with a smile, said good night, and slowly walked away from the door.

　　As for Kento, he looked down at the food box in his hand, and then glanced at the dinner that was being prepared behind him.

　　"...Let's make pickled radish."

　　Just when Kento kissed Setsuna, in another apartment some distance away from Kento's apartment, a black-haired girl was holding a telescope in her hand, observing the situation here.

　　Especially when she saw Kento kissing Setsuna, the girl holding the telescope had an expression of "as expected" on her face.

　　"As expected, I knew that rejecting my invitation today, saying something was wrong, wouldn't be a good thing. Has it developed to this point? It's only been two days, or three days?"

　　Sekai Saionji put down the telescope she bought from Amazon, sat on her bed, and showed a helpless expression on her face.

　　Even though she knew that boys like Miyamizu Kento would easily be snatched up by girls, she didn't expect her friend to be so quick.

　　"You said you wouldn't think about dating before college, but you still got conquered by Setsuna."

　　She looked down at the ups and downs in front of her, then thought about the size of her friend, her face full of confusion.

　　"Don't they say that boys like older girls? Would anyone like Setsuna's small figure?"

　　Perhaps Zetsu had said something a little too much, Saionji Sekai slapped his cheek.

　　"No, no, no, since Setsuna has someone he likes and the relationship has progressed to this point, as a friend, I should be congratulating him. Um... I can't accept that!!!"

　　"world!"

　　Just as Sekai Saionji was lying on the bed unwillingly and rolling around, the voice of her mother Oiko was heard outside the door, which made Sekai Saionji silent immediately. She buried her face in her pillow, her snow-white legs slapping the bed from time to time, thinking about what she should do now.

　　"Tomorrow, let's test Setsuna and see how far the relationship between the two has developed."

　　Turning over, Sekai Saionji looked at the phone beside her pillow, gave up the idea of contacting Setsuna, and lay quietly on her bed, staring at the roof above her head, lost in thought...

　　"Ms. Wu, you already know the relationship between your daughter and me, but you still have such feelings for me. Don't you feel ashamed?"

　　"But... even I want someone to be by my side..."

　　"Really? Well, this is a little secret between you and me. Come on, Miss Mai, come into my arms."

　　"Kento? Yes! Kento~"

　　"This is our little secret between the two of us."

　　"Um!"

　　Dongdong——

　　Dongdong——

　　The knocks on the door became more and more frequent. Qingura Mai, who was sleeping, gradually opened her sleepy eyes and looked towards the door of her room.

　　"It's already seven o'clock. If you don't get up, you'll be late for work."

　　"Um?"

　　Qingpu Wu suddenly sat up from the bed, looked at the surrounding environment, her face seemed a little lost, and a feeling of emptiness filled her body and mind. She sighed slowly.

　　"I know, get up right away."

　　"besides--"

　　The door was opened, and half of Setsuna's face was revealed in the shadow of the crack.

　　"Why does mom call out Kento's name when she's sleeping?"

　　Cold sweat instantly covered Qingpu Mai's back...

　　— — — —

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Cherry Blossom Season: 23. Kiyoura Setsuna and Saionji Sekai

　　Qingura Mai looked at her daughter sitting opposite her, then lowered her head to look at the breakfast in front of her.

　　Almost half an hour had passed since she got up, and during this half hour, she and her daughter had not been able to communicate a single word. For a moment, she herself didn't know how to explain it.

　　The two of them sat quietly at the dining table, having breakfast quietly. Qingura Mai guessed what her daughter was thinking at the moment, while thinking about how to break this awkward and weird atmosphere.

　　"It's almost time. If it's any later, it will be too late for work."

　　Just as she was racking her brains to think of how to avoid letting her daughter misunderstand her, a word from Shana woke Qingpu Mai from her thoughts. Looking at the clock hanging in the living room, the time was gradually approaching late, and Qingpu Mai had no time to think about other problems.

　　He stood up hurriedly, packed his things and prepared to go to work.

　　"I'm going to work first. I'll leave the cleaning up to you."

　　After handing the task over to her daughter, Qingura Mai hurried towards the door. After picking up her bag, the moment she opened the door, she looked back at her daughter who was sitting in the living room, still leisurely eating breakfast.

　　"Mom is looking forward to good news from you and Kento."

　　As soon as the words fell, the door was closed. The moment the figure disappeared, Shanda, who was sitting in the living room, turned around and looked at the door, but Qingura Mai had already disappeared.

　　Looking at the dining table in front of him in silence, Qingpu Setsuna sighed softly.

　　Maybe it was because of Saionji Sekai's previous behavior of running away that she is now always suspicious and even doubts her own mother. Her mother is so supportive of her feelings, but she actually doubts her mother because of this.

　　"It's the world's fault."

　　He whispered softly, took a sip of the miso soup, put down the soup bowl in his hand, stood up silently, and began to clean up the table...

　　"Setsuna~ I'm coming~"

　　Looking at the person who appeared at the door, Shanna, who was already ready to go out to find Kento, didn't know that she would come to find him. Looking at his good friend blocking the door, Shanna's eyes wandered for a moment.

　　"School is about to start, don't you need to make any preparations?"

　　"School is about to start, right? Now is the holiday, so we should enjoy the holiday. Hey, Setsuna, how is your relationship with Miyamizu-kun going?"

　　After hearing the question from Saionji Sekai, Setsuna's face flushed slightly and her expression became a little more unnatural.