My deskmate is actually my yandere reader.

The topic he is writing about now is the Battle of Red Cliffs in the Three Kingdoms period, and the question is about the specific details.

"The Battle of Red Cliffs was not initiated by Cao Cao and met by Liu Bei's allied forces, but rather an encounter battle," Shiraishi Chiren explained.

"what?"

Kurose Izumi paused for a moment, not quite understanding what she meant.

"Cao Cao led his troops down the river, and Sun Quan ordered Zhou Yu and Cheng Pu to lead troops to ambush him. This was an encounter."

"I... I still don't quite understand."

In Kurose Izumi's understanding, Cao Cao leading his troops down the river and Liu Bei's allied forces going up the river can be interpreted as launching an attack and engaging in battle, right?

"Cao Cao did not intend to fight at Red Cliffs. It was Liu Bei's allied forces that deliberately ambushed him, which led to the Battle of Red Cliffs. Do you understand?"

"Understood," Kurose Izumi replied instinctively.

Suddenly, he felt ashamed.

I'm a native of my own country, how come I don't understand the Three Kingdoms as well as someone from another place?

Thinking about it carefully, what Shiraishi Chiren said does make a lot of sense and is quite right.

"Actually, your answer is fine, but strictly speaking, this is an encounter battle."

Shiraishi Chiren's seemingly comforting words only made Kurose Izumi feel even worse.

He decided that he needed to study hard!

If the person you like is outstanding, then he can't be mediocre.

He has to work hard to become outstanding so that others will think he is worthy of Shiraishi Chiren.

At the same time, one must be outstanding enough to make Shiraishi Chiren fall in love with oneself.

"Shiraishi, thank you. I will remember this."

"It's okay, keep it up, you're already great."

"No, I can't compare to you, Shiraishi."

"There's no benefit in praising me, is there?"

"Honestly..."

After that sentence, the two stopped communicating.

Kurose Izumi continued doing her homework, while Shiraishi Chire watched quietly without offering any corrections.

By the time I finished my homework, it was already eleven o'clock.

"Finally finished..."

After writing down the answer to the last question, Kurose Izumi put down her pen, stretched, and felt a wave of fatigue.

Click, click—

He twisted his stiff neck, and a crisp sound immediately rang out.

"You've worked hard. It's getting late, go to sleep early. You look very tired too," said Shiraishi Chiren, who was sitting next to her.

"Ah... okay, sorry, it must have been boring keeping you company for so long, right?"

"Nothing like that, it won't be boring."

"I'm sorry, I should have told you to go to bed earlier."

"Honestly, Kurose, why do you like apologizing so much?" Shiraishi Chiren said with a slight reproach, her tone slightly dissatisfied.

"Hug... um... I really feel bad having you with me."

Kurose Izumi didn't know why she always acted so cautiously.

Looking back, he did apologize to Shiraishi Chire very often; it almost became a verbal tic!

"Don't apologize. It's weird, and it makes us feel distant."

"Okay, I'll listen to you and try my best." Kurose Izumi nodded and smiled.

"Okay, shall we go to sleep then?"

"it is good."

Kurose Izumi put away the homework, and together with Shiraishi Chiren, they got up and walked towards the bedroom.

Upon reaching the door, they both stopped and faced each other.

"Goodnight, Shiraishi."

Goodnight, Kurose.

After saying goodnight to each other, the two glanced at each other again before turning around and returning to their respective bedrooms to sleep.

62. The cherry blossoms are about to fade.

It's Monday, 6:50 AM, a new week.

I'm going out.

After changing into their school uniforms and getting ready to leave, the two picked up their schoolbags, changed their shoes at the entrance, and went out together.

The cherry blossoms on the streets, touched by the spring breeze, bloomed even more brilliantly and beautifully.

Perhaps it's the time of late cherry blossom season, and they are all trying their best to bloom with their last bit of beauty?

Arriving at Chiyoda Station, I boarded the same crowded train as office workers and students from other schools, the two of us holding onto the handrails inside the carriage.

"During lunch break, I need to go to the club activity room to tidy up the clutter and put away my belongings."

"I understand, leave it to me."

"Ah."

After this conversation, the two fell silent.

It wasn't until eight minutes later, when the tram arrived at the station, that they stepped out of the carriage in unison and onto the platform, and then began a new conversation.

"Speaking of which, it's a bit late to ask now, but can a club with only three people really be recognized?"

"No problem, we're just a hobby club, the minimum number of members is three," Shiraishi Chiren explained softly.

"And who is the consultant?" Kurose Izumi asked again.

"Ms. Komi, I asked her to be an advisor, but it's just a nominal position; she won't actually come to guide us."

"I didn't expect it to be Ms. Komi. Are you close to her?"

Komi Megumi was not only Kurose Izumi's homeroom teacher in the second year, but also in the first year.

In my memory, she seemed quite serious, a rigid and authoritative teacher.

It seems that some people have asked her to be a club advisor, but she has refused them all – according to Hirasawa Masato.

He said it casually at the time, and Izumi Kurose didn't bother to write it down.

"We're not that close; she's someone my parents know," Shiraishi Chiren replied casually, her eyes fixed ahead.

"..."

Kurose Izumi was speechless for a moment, unsure how to respond.

The family relationships of Shiraishi Chire sound quite complicated, and he shouldn't rashly try to understand or interfere.

This is a sensitive matter. You can't just rely on your own opinion or hearsay. You have to understand the whole picture before you can make any comments!

Seeing that he didn't speak, Shiraishi Chiren understood what was going on, so she said, "Don't worry about me not getting along with my parents. We've been separated for five years, and we still keep in touch occasionally, but not often."

"Ah."

"I didn't feel any dissatisfaction or unhappiness, because as long as they are happy, that's enough."

"..."

Kurose Izumi suddenly stopped in her tracks.

Seeing this, Shiraishi Chiren also stopped and turned to look at her.

Those clear, cold eyes and that soft, snow-white face showed no emotion, only calmness.

Looking at her like this, Kurose Izumi pursed her thin lips and said in a dry voice, "And you? Shiraishi, are you happy?"

"I?"

Shiraishi Chiren paused for a moment, seemingly not expecting to be asked a question in return.

Then, she smiled and said something that left Izumi Kurose puzzled: "I am definitely happy, at least now, recently."

Kurose Izumi didn't know what happiness she was referring to, nor did she know what it meant, but she could sense that it might be somewhat heavy.

At this moment, he longed for unparalleled courage to utter the words: "I want you to be happy. If possible, please let me grant that wish."

But he lacked the courage, and he didn't feel the atmosphere was right or the relationship was right.

To say this requires the courage to risk everything and the responsibility to shoulder everything.

Seventeen-year-old Kurose Izumi didn't know if he had the courage and responsibility, and he also understood that it would be too arrogant for him to say it now.

Taking responsibility for someone else's life is not as simple as adding one more person, adding another pair of chopsticks, or increasing expenses.

If it were that simple, why would Izumi Kurose dare to arrogantly ask Chire Shiraishi to entrust her life to him, to be responsible for her, and to give her happiness?

……

"Kurose, you've arrived at school."

"Ah."

Before they knew it, they had walked along the long cherry blossom slope and arrived at the school gate.

All around, there was a cacophony of voices and people wearing the same style of school uniforms passing by.

At that moment, Izumi Kurose felt that she was so different from others, and so special.

Unlike those who enjoy and fret about their youth and school life, he is grappling with important questions about life.