Let's do it again, Yukino.

Her cheeks also puffed out slightly.

She seemed a little angry.

No matter how you look at it, it's all that idiot's fault...

……

…………

In another classroom

The boy, who was still writing his reflections on "On Constantly Hovering on the Edge of Life and Death," felt a tickle on the tip of his nose. Unable to hold back for a moment, he sneezed loudly several times in the classroom for no apparent reason.

"Achoo! Achoo! Fuck you!!"

It hasn't been that long.

Is Xiaoxue missing my embrace?

As expected, my charm is just too great, there's no way around it.

The boy, sitting in his seat, ignored the strange looks from his classmates, but secretly thought to himself with a smug smile.

(P.S.: Please vote!)

Chapter Ninety-Six: This is a case of hiding something obvious.

Some people are alive,

He is dead.

——————Shizuka Yukinoshita

……

night,

"Please tell your young lady from the Shinomiya family that if she dares to send any more strange emails late at night, I will never use my cell phone again!!"

"Okay, that's all. I'll hang up now."

On a spring day in front of the apartment, gazing at the half-closed door, without waiting for the person on the other end of the phone to say anything more, she coldly and ruthlessly hung up the phone with the blonde maid.

open the door,

The boy, carrying a huge bag that looked like a small mountain, staggered in from the entrance.

"Meow----"

The moment the boy entered the door, Xiao Xiaoxue smelled the familiar scent of her master and tiptoed to Chunri's feet, circling around him.

"Little Xue, I haven't seen you all day, do you miss me?"

"Meow----"

As she put down the pack on her back, Chunri changed her shoes.

"Xiaoxue, I've been thinking about what happened between Hachiman and Yui today, and there are a few things I want to tell you—"

Entering the living room,

Haruhi, who had originally intended to tell some amusing stories, slowly fell silent, staring in surprise at the scene before her.

The living room looked different than usual.

A completely dark environment

In addition, the curtains were drawn not far away, making visibility so poor that you couldn't see your hand in front of your face.

"Xiaoxue?"

Spring called out softly again, took out his phone from his pocket, and moved forward by the faint glow of the phone screen.

The apartment was so quiet you could hear a pin drop. Springtime didn't hear the girl's voice she was expecting.

The main power switch must have been turned off; Chunri pressed the power switch several times but there was no response.

Turning around, I saw the apartment door, which had been ajar from the start.

Even in spring, I don't think Xiaoxue is the kind of person who forgets to lock the door when she goes out.

Moreover, with Xiaoxue's self-defense skills, even three or five young men couldn't get close to her.

The living room was spotless, with no signs of ransacking or damage.

and so……

If you eliminate all the impossibilities, what remains, no matter how impossible, must be the truth.

Therefore, there can only be one truth.

Springtime strikes the palm of his hand, and he silently nods.

Xiaoxue must be planning to play hide-and-seek with me...

"I've come to find you. If I find you, you have to let me—"

Kasuga gently shushed the little British Shorthair at her feet and began the "Yukino Great Search" game.

in the kitchen,

Using the light from the phone,

In the spring, I noticed that the clean kitchen utensils were still in the same place as they had been in the morning.

It seems that Xiaoxue didn't go into the kitchen after returning to the apartment from school.

Pull back the curtains,

A sliver of cool, watery moonlight shone in from the window, illuminating the living room slightly, making it no longer as pitch black as before.

Master bedroom, guest bedroom

Everything was spotless, and there were no signs of anyone having entered.

The laundry room was empty.

The balcony was also empty.

After a search,

Nothing gained in spring

Therefore, the only place left where people can hide is ———

Springtime's gaze once again fell upon that equally dark bathroom.

Looks like they're not playing hide-and-seek with me.

Chunri's complexion dimmed slightly.

He deliberately chose the bathroom as the last place to search.

She must be angry about something again.

Springtime is here, and I tiptoe, trying my best to make no noise with my steps.

Barefoot, he took off his coat and quietly pushed open the frosted glass door to the bathroom.

swish, swish

It sounded like flowing water.

The showerhead continuously sprayed warm water in the quiet bathroom, the water cascading down the hard tiles.

Using the light from her phone, Chunri spotted the figure huddled in the corner of the showerhead.

Her cool, delicate body was covered in hot water.

"Xiaoxue?"

Haruhi looked at Yukino, who was huddled in the corner of the bathroom late at night for some reason, and called out to her with a touch of heartache.

Honestly, whenever this little girl is upset, she always locks herself in the bathroom.

They also sprinkled water.

It's like a melodramatic soap opera airing at 8 PM...

"Don't come any closer."

When the beautiful figure over there heard the sound of spring, her previously stiff posture suddenly stirred slightly.

I come home every day not to see you get yourself sick with a cold.

He had thrown his uniform jacket in the living room; having no other choice, he took off his last piece of clothing, a shirt.

Ignoring all advice, Chunri walked over, draped his shirt over the girl's body, which was soaked with hot water, and sighed deeply.

"Xiaoxue, why are you crying? Sniff—oh my god, that smell of alcohol? You've been drinking?"

A strong smell of alcohol wafted towards him, and Chunri couldn't help but frown.

He gently lifted the girl's face, and by the light, he saw that Xiaoxue's face, flushed with alcohol, was covered with teardrops.

"Xiaoxue, what's wrong with you again? At least tell me why. If it's that guy Da Laoshi who upset you, I'll make sure he goes to the hospital again tomorrow. If it's your sister who bullied you again, I'll go and search her dorm room tonight and get revenge for you, okay?"

"..."

Her fair, jade-like nose twitched slightly, and then Xiaoxue's drunken voice, filled with aggrieved sobs, could be heard.

"I can't even find a single good point about the person I like."

A troubled sound echoed in the quiet bathroom, accompanied by the rushing water.

"Even people who don't know Ah Qing at all can list a whole bunch of good things about you, but I've thought about it all night and I can't find a single good point about you."

"Forehead……"

Chunri had no idea how varied her expression was when she heard Xiaoxue's reply.

Should I be happy or sad?

"So, you're hiding in the bathroom sulking over this little thing? Feeling wronged?"