My deskmate is actually my yandere reader.

"It's nothing, I was just thinking about Kuchiki Touko, and what to do next!"

Kurose Izumi took out a pencil, scribbled a line of elegant, flowing characters, and then handed the notebook back.

Shiraishi Chiren reached out to take it, but because she was looking straight ahead, her hand slightly touched Kurose Izumi's.

So she turned her head, her cherry lips moving slightly, and silently uttered two words:

"Feel sorry."

36. How about Kurose-kun stays here?

Kurose Izumi shook her head slightly, then gave a faint smile.

Shiraishi Chiren nodded, put away her notebook, lowered her head slightly, and began to read.

Everything is understood without words.

Nowadays, they sometimes don't even need to speak to express themselves.

After a while, Shiraishi Chiren handed the notebook over again.

"If Kurose-kun gets harassed again, I will help you and protect you."

"Thank you, Shiraishi-kun. But I'm more worried about you than me. I'm afraid you'll face retaliation after I move in a couple of days."

Shiraishi Chiren took the notebook, looked at the line of text, and paused for a moment in surprise.

Kurose Izumi noticed this change in her expression and couldn't help but wonder why she was so stunned.

It's strange that he would say something like that.

Or……

Did you have a fleeting moment of attraction?

Judging from the general plot of light novels and visual novels, it's usually the latter, right?

'No, no, no! How could Shiraishi-kun be attracted to me? Kurose Izumi, your thoughts are too impure!'

Thinking that he might have misunderstood something, Izumi Kurose cursed himself inwardly before dismissing the thought.

What he didn't know was that everything Shiraishi Chiren showed was a facade.

No matter when, where, what expression, demeanor, or words are used, it's all an act!

These past few days together have been nothing but a facade!

"Don't worry, I can protect myself. I've been living alone for five years, and I can handle any danger I might encounter."

Kurose Izumi looked at this line of text, her feelings indescribably complicated.

Living alone for five years during her second year of high school means that Shiraishi Chiren was independent from middle school onwards?

At such a young and innocent age, are they already so lonely and strong that they don't need anyone to live?

He didn't know, but he respected it, without feeling sympathy or pity.

For Shiraishi Chiren, sympathy and pity are blasphemy; she has no need for them.

However—he wanted to help Shiraishi Chiren and become her friend.

Whether she needs it or not, Izumi Kurose will try to become her friend and interfere in her life.

"Shiraishi-kun, you're amazing. I'm the one who should be admiring you."

Just as I handed over the notebook, a melodious bell rang out from behind the teaching building.

The teacher put away the textbook at the appropriate time, said "get out of class dismissed," and walked out of the classroom door.

Chiharu Shiraishi glanced at the notebook, then at Izumi Kurose, before standing up and walking outside.

"Keep up." — This is how Kurose Izumi understood what Shiraishi Chire was trying to say when she looked at him earlier.

So he stood up and followed Shiraishi Chiren.

Hirasawa Mabu, who was just about to take Kurose Izumi to wander around the lower-grade classes, smiled when he saw him and Shiraishi Chiren walking out one after the other.

'Fine, I'll handle my own affairs...'

-

After leaving the classroom, Shiraishi Chiren walked ahead on her own, arriving at the courtyard outside the teaching building.

She arrived at a secluded, deserted corner, stood in front of a vending machine, inserted five 100-yen coins, and bought a bottle of coffee.

Then, she turned to look at Kurose Izumi and asked, "Kurose-san, what would you like to drink?"

"Just a bottle of black coffee will do for me," said Kurose Izumi, reaching for his wallet in his suit jacket belt.

"No need, Kurose-kun, this is on me."

"Can……"

"It's just a bottle of coffee, don't be polite with me."

"All right……"

So, Shiraishi Chiren bought two bottles of coffee, sat on a bench nearby, and handed out one of them.

"Thank you."

Kurose Izumi nodded her thanks and accepted the coffee, but showed no intention of sitting down, remaining standing there.

Shiraishi Chiren glanced at him and said softly, "Kurose-kun, sit down and talk."

"Oh……"

Kurose Izumi sat down next to Shiraishi Chire, with a little distance between them.

"During lunch break, I will apply to the teacher to create a club."

"Ah."

"After school this afternoon, we'll go to Jimbocho to look at houses."

"Yes, that's right."

"If you're satisfied, you can start moving tomorrow."

"Ah."

Although Kurose Izumi was a little puzzled as to why Shiraishi Chire was suddenly saying these things, she still nodded in response for the time being.

"So, are you going to move into your house in Jimbocho the day after tomorrow?"

"……Um."

This time, Kurose Izumi remained silent for a long time before slowly nodding and squeezing out a syllable from her tightly clenched teeth.

To be honest, I feel a little reluctant to see it go when Shiraishi Chiren suddenly brought it up like this.

The past two days living with Shiraishi Chiren have been unexpectedly warm and joyful.

This is quite similar to his ideal life.

Who you live with, go to work or school with, and in the afternoon you go to the supermarket together to buy groceries and return to your small, slightly crowded home, but every corner is full of memories and traces of life.

Then we cook, eat, wash dishes, and take a shower together. In the evening, we sit together to watch TV, play games, chat, and laugh.

Finally, I went to sleep filled with happiness and anticipation, ready to welcome a bright tomorrow.

Although he and Shiraishi Chiren weren't in that kind of relationship, he was, in a way, a lonely person. His hometown island was quite underdeveloped, and he had never had any friends growing up.

That's why he studied hard, left the island, and was determined to change his life and create a future for himself.

The future on the island, though peaceful and undisturbed, will ultimately be one of mediocrity and unfulfilled life.

Kurose Izumi wasn't against it, but he felt that people should strive to change their lives and not be content with the status quo.

My parents and three generations of ancestors were all simple fishermen who made a living from the sea.

If he inherits this lifestyle, he will surely be poor in the future.

He didn't want to be poor because he could work hard to change things, give his family a better life, and spare them the harsh weather of the sea.

Of all virtues, filial piety is the most important—Kurose Izumi keeps this ancient Chinese saying in mind.

No matter where he is reborn, his parents are the ones who gave him life and raised him, and he must repay them and be grateful.

-

Chiharu Shiraishi turned her head to look at Izumi Kurose's slightly lowered face and said softly, "Kurose-san, how about we stay here?"

Upon hearing this, Kurose Izumi widened her eyes slightly and turned her head to look at Shiraishi Chiren.

As the lovely cherry blossoms drifted down, her hair was gently blown by the wind, and her tightly pursed lips held a hint of reluctance.

"..."

Kurose Izumi just stared at her silently, unable to think.

After a long while, he finally asked in a low voice, his throat hoarse and dry:

"……Why?"

He wanted to know why he was being asked to stay, and what Shiraishi Chiren's purpose was in asking him to stay.

"..."

Faced with this question, Shiraishi Chiren pursed her cherry lips and remained silent.

This was a silence that created a sense of urgency and tension.

"...It's nothing, just pretend I didn't say anything. Please forget what I just said, Kurose-san."

Shiraishi Chiren turned her head away so that Kurose Izumi wouldn't see her face, and spoke in an almost sorrowful tone.

37. Older loli is the best!

In the quiet courtyard, a spring breeze caresses the air, and cherry blossoms flutter down, each petal landing on the ground.