I, who advocate giving up, feel like a disqualified person

"It suits your style very well."

Only fifty.

After further confirmation, it was found that the discarded cards were not four random cards, but cards with the number 3. This would not complete the combination at all... If you don't count the cards carefully, it will take a while to find out.

I was tricked...but why did I choose this number?

Ayano...Zero Three. This is definitely not a coincidence.

"What... Is this some kind of bad taste..."

What on earth are you trying to convey to me...

He clutched the cards tightly in his hand and lowered his head silently.

The final words are spoken

"Here, I'll give it back to you."

I handed the key back to Rinsenkawa, who was already seated. Then I noticed a puzzled look.

"...Have you been to the club yet?"

She took back the key and seemed a little concerned.

"Well, I just realized today that I seemed to have left something there yesterday... I went to look for it."

"I see. Did you find it?"

"...No."

Even though I figured out some minor things, I still had no clue. I still couldn't figure out what she was thinking.

"Well, maybe I accidentally lost it on the way home from school." He casually told a flawless lie...hiding something.

"Is that... something valuable?"

This is out of concern for me... Unfortunately, this is not really happening to me.

So for a moment, I didn’t know how to respond.

"...Maybe it is more important to me."

Maybe it's just temporary. She's the one I'm most concerned about now. Come to think of it, I never really thought about her before. It was only during the summer vacation that I accidentally focused my attention on her... and then she suddenly disappeared again.

Very strange...

Brother Nan doesn't seem to understand this very well.

"Maybe she's just asking for leave. Why don't you go visit her after your break?"

Even though the answer is so simple, I always feel...

"Even though it's been a day, if it's important to you...you should try to find it somewhere it might be."

"...Too."

People always want to believe in that subtle hope, no matter how slim it is.

"Then I won't go to the club after school today. I'll try to look for one more."

"...Well..."

"Ah, if that's the case, you'll be the only one left in the club." I suddenly felt a little guilty.

"That's fine. I approve."

She turned her gaze to the book in her hand without any concern.

“…”

"What are you looking at?" she said impatiently. "Either go find what you lost, or just give up... and from tomorrow on, participate in club activities."

Could it be... that she already knows what I'm looking for...

"...Um."

Anyway, that's it.

Chapter 16: The Last Words Are Spoken

"Sorry, I have some things to do today."

After school, I turned to Ye Hui behind me and briefly explained the situation to her. "I need to go look for something, but I'm not sure if I can find it."

"...Yeah, it's okay."

"Hey, don't talk to my little Yehui casually!"

"Xiao Lin...don't be like this..."

I hadn't noticed before. That girl named Xiaolin was actually sitting diagonally to Yehui's right. She seemed to have some problem with me talking to her right after school.

"Um, um, I'm sorry!"

Anyway, just apologize first.

"...Huh? What's with the sorry? Hey...!"

Ignoring her shouts, I picked up my empty schoolbag and rushed to the door.

"Sheji, Sheji, why does your schoolbag look like it's empty?"

The monitor sitting at the door... yes, it was Lin Yi. She seemed to be still concerned about whether I wanted to complete my homework as usual.

"It's just your illusion."

After a brief response, I finally ran out of the corridor where not too many people had gathered.

It's time to speed up.

"what...."

Nowadays, I don't want to pay attention to many things anymore. At this stage, it is enough to focus on just one thing.

..............

"You standing at my door breathing heavily like this...it would look suspicious."

Facing Ye Jin's disdainful gaze, I didn't want to refute anything. All I had to do was... confirm two things.

"Let's not talk about this for now." I tried my best to regulate my breathing. "Did Lingcan... say anything to you?"

"...Yes, I have."

Although she hesitated for a moment, she answered truthfully.

"What did you say?"

"It's not a big deal. She just said... her real name isn't actually Aya-san. It was inspired by a manga."

"...I see." I said...how could there be such a strange name, "That's right...

"So, second question," I said, holding up my finger. "You should still have the key to her house."

"correct."

"Then let me use it." I stretched out my hand impatiently.

"...what you up to."

Frowning, she didn't do it.

"I have to confirm something."

"...at her house?"

"I'm not sure, but if my guess is correct... that's it."

"...Well, alright."

As if she had anticipated this moment, she took the key out of her pocket and handed it to me.

"...Thanks."

Turn around and prepare to go upstairs.

"Oh, she seemed to have said something else, too. But I don't remember it."

After I had stepped onto two steps, Ye Jin's voice suddenly came.

“…”

When I turned around, I saw her slightly sad expression.

"I don't think you want to remember it either."

.............

A house that's in use feels different from one that hasn't been used for a while. As soon as I stepped into this dimly lit room, I could tell it had been sitting there for quite some time.

"..."

The switch turned on. The living room was illuminated by the light. Although the furniture was arranged quite neatly... it gave people a sense of loneliness.

"Aya ginseng..."

I savored the name and then walked over to the sofa in the living room. On the clean white cushions, there was something that looked quite out of place.

A playing card facing up.

"No..."

Realizing something, I picked up the card with my trembling right hand and looked at its front.

"...You really...had a plan."

?3

And...it was written on it in her delicate handwriting.

"Sheji, turn on the TV."

. . . . . . . . . .

"Sorry, sorry, I seem to have stood you up."

A recorded video was playing on TV.

"Isn't this what you wished for..."

I responded with a wry smile, knowing full well she wouldn't respond.

"Oh, honestly, I just wanted an excuse to go out with you. I had no idea what I was going to do, but I dragged you out without permission and made you accompany me to those secluded places... If you have any complaints, feel free to do so. I can't hear them anyway."

She laughed wildly in the picture.

Maybe... I wanted to laugh along with her.

"Oh, yes, if you're reading this, please pause for a moment and go to the kitchen, okay? There's something in the refrigerator for you to see."

“…”

In the picture, she is looking at the camera, as if waiting for me.

"Okay, okay, go ahead." She said with a smile.

I didn't pause the video, I just turned up the volume and looked towards the kitchen.

"It's okay if you don't pause. Just listen carefully if you want to."

Is this all calculated?...

"Open the refrigerator."

On the refrigerator door, there is a card with the 3 of Spades and this sentence written on it.

"Actually, I've been wondering what kind of career is right for me. The last time I went back to my father's place, I felt like he had a reason for asking me to come here."

In the refrigerator, there are neatly arranged lunch boxes.

"And I heard you wanted a girls' bento... so I tried making one."

...Like this.