Tokyo: Idol Girls have absolutely no bad intentions!

Should we stop it...?

The first to break this almost suffocating silence was Mori.

She gently shook the straw.

She didn't even look up at Asada, who was so nervous he was almost fainting.

However, a very complex emotion flashed quickly in her violet eyes, which Takikawa still managed to catch.

It was surprise, then understanding, but ultimately it all turned into relief.

A smile played on her lips, making it impossible to guess her true thoughts at that moment.

She spoke softly, her voice calm, revealing no joy, anger, or any emotion whatsoever.

"Is that so?" She nodded slightly, then slowly raised her head and smiled at Asada.

"Well then... Asada-senpai, good luck."

Chapter 243 The Sunset at the Start of the Long Holiday

It has been more than ten days since Asada announced her relationship at the dessert shop.

Perhaps it was because the semester was nearing its end, or... perhaps Asada was intentionally avoiding him.

Do you stay at school until very late every day for tutoring?

Anyway, that's what Asada said, without giving Ito and her a chance to explain.

Everyone who overheard that conversation that day tacitly kept quiet, even though they already knew that it might develop into this kind of relationship.

But when it actually arrives... that's a completely different feeling.

Ito looked out the window at the sparrows perched on the branches, their feathers drooping as they pecked at one of their own wings.

Although a long holiday is just around the corner, this does nothing to dampen Ito's spirits.

A heavy weight pressed down on his heart.

Mori's words that day, "Good luck," also left Ito somewhat puzzled.

The other party had not mentioned Asada to Ito, as if Ito was the only one who truly cared about that matter.

Their relationship remained exactly the same as before, without any change whatsoever.

Sigh~

On the podium, Ms. Rie Totsugi let out a long sigh, breaking the silence the students had forced into the last class of the semester.

She leaned on the podium with one hand, holding a piece of chalk in the other, her gaze sweeping over the students below, whose minds were already wandering to their holidays and who were completely distracted.

"I'm telling you guys..." she drawled, beginning her usual holiday speech, "Holidays are for enjoying yourselves! Play hard when you should play, and date when you should date... date properly! Youth is so short!"

"Go to the fireworks festival if you want, don't just relax while you're traveling, the beach is also a great option. If you really don't know how to pursue someone, you can call me!"

She completely ignored the puzzled looks on the faces of the students below and continued talking to herself.

"We absolutely cannot waste our youth on trivial things like studying! Young people should act like young people! Go hiking! Go on dates! Create some memorable experiences!"

Watching Ms. Totsugi's speech on the podium, Ito maintained an expression that seemed to say, "Is she really a teacher?"

Then, Mr. Toji crushed the chalk in his hand, sending a small piece flying, and his tone instantly turned mournful, radiating resentment.

"You all have such a wonderful youth, while I... my precious holidays are filled with all sorts of teacher meetings and training courses... and I have to attend endless blind dates... Damn it, where are all the good men?!"

However, no one below wanted to listen to her complaints seriously; they were already tired of hearing them.

A restless excitement filled the classroom.

The students whispered amongst themselves, their faces beaming with anticipation and plans for the long holiday that was about to begin—traveling, partying, working, or simply sleeping in forever.

Some girls have even secretly started applying sunscreen under the table, as if they're about to rush to the beach.

Ms. Toji looked at the group of students who were not listening to her at all, pursed her lips helplessly, and finally slammed her hand on the podium.

"How dare you ignore your teacher's instructions! You'll regret it when you're in your thirties! Anyway, start enjoying your damn vacation now! Right now! Immediately!"

"yeah--!!!"

The classroom erupted in deafening cheers and the clatter of students packing their bags—the vibrant energy of youth.

The holiday has officially begun!

Ito slung his pre-packed schoolbag over his shoulder and followed the flow of people out of the classroom, but subconsciously stopped in the corridor.

His gaze involuntarily drifted to the other side of the corridor, towards the direction of Asada's classroom.

The students ran past him, laughing and rushing toward freedom.

However, that familiar figure did not appear.

There's no reason left to run away.

The holiday has begun.

He took a deep breath, started walking, and headed in that direction.

Standing at the door of Class 3-C, Ito's gaze fell on that seat.

The afternoon sun slanted in, and Asada sat alone by the window.

She rested her chin on her hand, turned her face to the door, and stared blankly at the lush cherry blossom tree outside the window.

The dappled sunlight dancing among the leaves flickered on her face.

The schoolbag was hanging on the back of the chair, and a book was spread out on the desk.

The blackboard was spotless, and the signatures of the students on duty for cleaning today had already been written.

So... was he really avoiding me?

They had absolutely no intention of leaving.

Then Ito saw Yoshida Nai walking towards Asada from another passageway, clearly intending to ask her to leave together.

But when Yoshida Nai's gaze fell upon Ito standing at the door, she instantly stopped in her tracks.

He immediately shut his mouth, blinked his eyes, and very tactfully raised his hands on the spot, palms facing Ito, making an exaggerated gesture of "surrender" and "I know nothing".

Then, like a crab, she slid past Ito, clinging to the wall.

I had only taken a few steps when I heard a muffled thud!

A small gasp escaped her lips.

Yoshida Nai bumped right into Takikawa, who happened to be walking out of the back door of the classroom!

Their foreheads touched firmly together.

Great head!

Takikawa covered his forehead, his brows furrowed, and opened his mouth as if to say something, but Yoshida Nai moved faster.

"Shh—!" Yoshida Nai didn't give her a chance to react at all. She stood on tiptoe and pounced on her, covering Takikawa's mouth with one hand and grabbing her neck with the other. In an extremely ungraceful manner, she dragged Takikawa away by force.

The two stumbled and disappeared around the corner of the stairs.

The noise outside the window seemed like the sounds of another world.

Ito didn't move. He remained standing at the door of Class 3-C, looking at Asada, who was lost in her own world, by the window.

Time passed by, second by second.

The flow of people leaving school gradually thinned out.

The golden rays of the setting sun slowly climbed up the window frame, casting a soft filter over Asada's silhouette.

Outside the window, the azure sky was gradually tinged with the rouge of the sunset, turning into a mesmerizing rose gold.

"Ah~"

A long sigh finally broke the silence of the classroom.

Asada finally made a move.

She turned her gaze away from the window, grabbed her hair with both hands, and scratched it vigorously, as if trying to pull out all the troubles from her mind.

"So annoying! So annoying! So annoying!" she muttered under her breath, her voice low but every word carrying to the doorway. "That idiot Ito! That self-important guy! Does he think everyone revolves around him? I don't... I don't..."

The sound gradually faded, but the anxiety and resentment within it were almost tangible.

Ito could tell that she was repeatedly saying things that belittled herself while elevating her own value, so he remained silent.

Gradually, Asada's voice lowered.

Ito saw her shoulders begin to tremble, and a tear slid down her chin and land on the desk.

"I...I'm so useless..." A choked sob came from her lips. "I really wanted to talk to Ito...we used to get along so well...it shouldn't have turned out like this...I shouldn't have fallen for Ito!"

She sniffed, her voice filled with annoyance and self-loathing.

"Greedy, cowardly... and wanting to take even more... I'm truly despicable..."

The sobs finally grew louder and echoed in the empty, silent classroom.

Asada collapsed onto the table, hugging herself tightly, her shoulders trembling uncontrollably.

The last rays of the setting sun gently enveloped her long hair, which was scattered on the table, and a few strands of hair swayed gently as the wind blew through the cracks in the window.

Ito watched her quietly for a while, then stepped into the classroom, walked to the window, and, over Asada's hunched body, closed most of the window, which was rattling slightly in the wind.

"I'm sorry! I'll leave right away!" As if hearing footsteps and the sound of a window closing, Asada, like a startled little animal, immediately raised her head, hastily wiping the tear stains on her cheeks with the back of her hand, and tried to grab her schoolbag and leave without even seeing who it was.

But all of this stopped when she saw the face of the person standing next to her table, and she froze instantly!

All movement froze.

Time seemed to stand still at this moment.

Her tear-streaked eyelashes trembled violently, and her face was filled with disbelief and astonishment.

Just as she raised her hand, her frantic arm swept across the table.

She accidentally swept the open book off the ground, and it fell to the floor with a "thud".

Ito didn't speak, but silently bent down, picked up the book, and gently patted away the fine dust on the cover and pages.