Let's do it again, Yukino.

"It's nothing, it's just..."

Haruhi watched as she carefully placed the unconscious Shinomiya on the back seat of the car, and then looked at Shinomiya Kaguya, who looked so vulnerable. She wanted to say something, but didn't know where to begin.

If Junko hadn't kindly gone in to help Shinomiya wipe her body, Kasuga probably wouldn't have realized that the young lady had fainted shortly after he left the bedroom.

Fortunately, at the same time, Ai arrived with the Shinomiya family.

"Is it because she's not used to the new environment or something? I really didn't know her body was so fragile."

Haruhi felt a little guilty thinking about the harsh words she had said to Shinomiya before.

"It's nothing, young master, you don't need to blame yourself too much. If you want to blame someone, it's all my fault. If I had kept a closer eye on Miss back then, she probably wouldn't have acted so recklessly."

Kaguya's running away from home was something she did behind Ai's back.

Thinking of this, even Ai, who was usually expressionless, showed a hint of self-reproach. She shook her head slightly and pulled Chunri aside.

"However, if possible, I hope that young master can try not to deliberately provoke young lady anymore."

Ai truly knows Kaguya Shinomiya's body all too well, having grown up with her since childhood.

Although she didn't know exactly what had happened, she could still guess what it was.

"why?"

"The young lady's heart is much more fragile than a normal person's; she can't withstand too much stimulation..."

"Is it a heart condition?"

This was the first time Chunri had ever heard such a chilling-sounding word.

Xiao Ai nodded.

"It's hereditary. When Madam passed away, it was also due to a sudden heart attack. So, from childhood to adulthood, Miss has rarely interacted with outsiders. Even if she did, it was very rare. So, it's alright. I still hope that you, young master, can be more tolerant of Miss."

"...I'm sorry, I really didn't know. If that were true, I wouldn't have done it back then either. I'm sorry."

"I've already said, young master shouldn't blame himself; I'm the one who should be blaming myself."

Looking at the silent spring, Xiao Ai also stopped talking and bowed respectfully to spring in farewell.

"Then I'll take Miss back to Tokyo first. Young Master, I hope you take good care of yourself."

"...When she wakes up, please tell her for me that I'm sorry."

"Aren't you going to talk to the young lady yourself?"

"No need, I don't want such a troublesome older sister."

Chunri waved goodbye, and after Xiao Ai got into the passenger seat, she turned and walked towards her apartment.

Out of sight, out of mind. He was feeling rather agitated, the romantic atmosphere of last night completely ruined by these things.

"Young Master... Actually, Miss is yours... Um, it's nothing. Please take care, Young Master. I will tell Miss the truth after she wakes up, so don't worry too much."

"...Okay, this is such a hassle."

The sound of cars gradually disappearing behind us.

……

…………

As Chunri walked into the entryway and changed into slippers, she headed towards the bedroom.

Junko, looking somewhat listless, sat alone on the sofa watching TV.

"Junko, I'm going to Koyuki's place now. Don't wait for me for dinner."

Chunri, who was about to go back to her bedroom to get a few changes of clothes, gave a brief instruction without looking up.

As a good young person of the 21st century, my irritability comes and goes quickly, and I've already seen off the springtime of that giant Buddha statue.

"Oh, that's perfect, I also have plans tonight, it's good that Xiao Qing isn't here."

"A date? Male or female? Single or married?"

"I'm single..."

Springtime immediately put my mind at ease.

"That's alright. I was just worried that you, Junko, would go around seducing married men when you're bored. Remember to come home on time tonight and don't stay out overnight. If you get drunk and get lost, remember to call me."

"No way, I'm meeting with Xiaojing."

"Master, it's alright then. I'll be going now. It's fine if you stay at her house overnight."

Upon learning that her date was Hiratsuka Shizuka, Haruhi was truly relieved. After tidying her clothes and closing the bedroom door, Haruhi, carrying a heavy backpack, prepared to leave the apartment once again.

It was already almost evening, and he had agreed with Xiaoxue to be back before dark. If he didn't leave soon, she might call him soon.

"Be careful, Xiao Qing..."

"Don't worry about my driving skills, I'm known as Kamen Rider—Haruhi Kasuga!!"

"We're not talking about traffic safety, Junko is talking about a different kind of safety! It's similar to driving skills, you know what I mean, right, Haru?"

"...Go play somewhere else, Junko doesn't need to worry about that kind of thing."

"Junko doesn't want Haru to have a granddaughter before she even graduates. It would be so embarrassing to be called 'Grandma' by people."

"No way!! And Junko, you're really overthinking it."

Chunri blushed deeply at her mother's words, angrily slammed the door shut, and quickly fled her apartment.

This woman in her thirties thinks about these things all day long.

Really.

……

…………

As the starlight and nightfall gradually descended,

However, just as he was riding his bicycle on the road in spring, he received a call from Yukinoshita halfway through his journey.

"Let's go to the beach..."

Xiaoxue said this calmly on the phone and then hung up.

"...??"

Excuse me?

These three unexpected words left Haruhi completely bewildered. Haruhi, who was almost at the final stop, suddenly had the urge to turn back and go home to drink and eat barbecue with Junko and Hiratsuka Shizuka.

"I even brought my clothes, and I even used the little bit of my savings to go to the supermarket and buy a few boxes of safety t-shirts, but Xiaoxue, you actually pulled this beach scene on me... That's too much..."

She sighed deeply, but given her position, Chunri simply couldn't bear to leave Xiaoxue alone at the beach.

Having changed direction, the Yuzan-go, which Kasuga once commanded, slowly evolved in his mind into the Yukino-go.

Yukino, charge!

……

The sea that Xiaoxue mentioned, he had brought her there a few times not long ago, but that was during the summer, and they always came at night.

Therefore, the number of people is much less than during the dry and hot daytime.

On the coast under the cover of night in early autumn, there were hardly any people to be seen.

The air by the sea is a bit humid.

After a journey that took nearly an hour, we finally arrived at the beach in springtime, and we were exhausted beyond recognition.

He has never been this tired in a long time; he is mentally and physically exhausted.

"Xiaoxue, I'm here. Where are you?"

With her bicycle parked to one side, Kasuga called out Yukinoshita's name loudly from the shore.

"here……"

Beside a rock, a pure and innocent face appeared in the gentle glow of the night. Chunri looked at the long-haired girl not far away, who was gently waving to her.

"I'm late, Kasuga-kun. I'm half an hour later than I expected."

"What time is it? Aren't you worried about catching a cold? The cold wind blowing all the way here is freezing me to death."

I jogged over there in the spring sunshine, but beads of sweat were seeping from my forehead.

"You don't have to come, Kasuga-kun. I won't blame you if you don't come."

Xiaoxue smiled sweetly, patted the empty seat next to her, and invited Chunri to join her.

"sit down."

"If I hadn't come, would you have left Xiaoxue here alone to spend the night? Do you think I would have felt at ease?"

The sand under my bottom was a bit soft, so sitting on it was quite comfortable.

"So gentle... She's definitely my favorite person."

"...It's late at night, Xiaoxue, please don't say things that make me feel a little smug and embarrassed."

The snow continued to fall, but she didn't look at the spring sun; instead, she looked at the sky that obscured the stars, the sky tinged orange by the lighthouses of the distant coastal industrial zone.

"Is everything resolved?"

"Ah."

Chunri didn't hesitate and nodded gently.

"Do you need my help?"

"No need. That Miss Shinomiya has been taken back by the maids at home. She shouldn't bother us again anytime soon."

Chunri didn't hide anything unnecessary from the girl in front of him, since she would find out eventually anyway, even if he didn't tell her.

"If it were you, Kasuga-kun, you should be able to handle it by yourself."

The girl looked at Chunri, who was answering her with confidence, sized him up for a while, and then suddenly laughed again.

"Go back, Xiaoxue. I'll be heartbroken if you catch a cold because of this."

"Let's sit a little longer. I want to look at the stars tonight. Kasuga-kun, please keep me company."