Kunii Shuichi was feeling anxious and suggested, "How about we walk a bit further and then head back? That way, Ichiki won’t suspect that I came specially to see her, right?"
"No one would suspect that even if we don’t do that," Dubian Che bluntly threw cold water on the idea.
"Still, let’s walk a little more, just to be safe," Kunii Shuichi insisted, dragging the others forward regardless.
The next car was the first class’s, and the number of acquaintances suddenly increased, with Mr. R, Yuzao Haomei... though not by much.
Kiyono Lin and Yuzao Haomei were sitting together, surrounded by two other girls.
The carriage was noisy. Mr. R sat by the window, holding a copy of Senji Tominaga’s "The Nights Are Short, Walk On Girl."
The scene before them was like something out of the Human Observation Department’s activity room.
They ended up doing nothing and returned.
"How stupid," Kunii Shuichi muttered to himself as he walked back to the fourth class’s carriage.
Dubian Che didn’t know who he was talking about and could only hope that he would find his way out of the maze of unrequited love.
Covering his mouth with a yawn, Dubian Che decided to sleep once he got back to his seat, hoping to wake up to the sight of Kyoto Station.
"Dubian, Dubian, wake up..."
"Teacher?" Dubian Che slowly opened his eyes.
Xiaoquan Aonai greeted him with a soft smile, "We’re here, hurry and get off."
Stretching languidly as he stood, Dubian Che said, "I dreamt about you just now."
"Eek—" Akiko shivered as if she were very cold, hugging herself.
"Dubian!" Xiaoquan Aonai’s face flushed as she scolded.
The other three boys looked at Dubian Che with admiration.
"I also dreamt about Akiko. She snatched my game console and only gave it back after the battery ran out, and by the time I recharged it, she came to grab it again, and then Mr. Xiaoquan, you hugged and comforted me."
"Dubian... student," Akiko’s fingers cracked as she pinched them together.
After getting off the train, at the entrance of Kyoto Station, they first took group photos by class, then in smaller groups, and finally, with whoever they wanted to take pictures with.
"Kunii, do you dare to go? If you dare, I’ll go with you," Saito Keisuke said with a mischievous smirk.
Gritting his teeth, Kunii Shuichi asserted, "What’s there not to dare! Let’s go!"
Saito Keisuke hadn’t expected Kunii Shuichi to actually agree and immediately chickened out, hastily saying, "Wait, Dubian, I can’t go with you alone!"
Dubian Che was taking photos with Xiaoquan Aonai and Akiko.
He stood in the middle, making a scissor gesture above each of their heads, like rabbit ears.
After the picture was taken, more girls came to take pictures with Dubian Che. Kunii Shuichi and Saito Keisuke came straight over and pulled Dubian Che away without a second thought.
After listening to their words, Dubian Che said, "Kunii, how did you suddenly become so bold?"
"This is also part of the confession process, to let Ichiki realize I’m interested in her! But you two must accompany me, I can’t do it alone."
Seeing the mixture of fear and determination in Kunii Shuichi’s eyes, Dubian Che could only pat his shoulder, "If you’ve come this far, Saito and I will be with you no matter what."
He decided to help, no longer trying to talk Kunii Shuichi out of giving up.
"Exactly!" Saito Keisuke placed his hand on Kunii Shuichi’s other shoulder.
Goda emphasized club culture, naturally allowing members from various clubs to take photos together. At this time, the classmates mixed together in a complex pattern, overlapping with each other.
Thus, the three of them going to the second class didn’t attract attention.
But by the time they got there, an unguarded Ichiki Aoi had already been taking photos with Mayi Asuka.
Perhaps as a cover, Kiyono Lin was by her side.
Seeing the three approach, Mayi Asuka’s clear and calm eyes blinked at Dubian Che.
"Ichiki," Kunii Shuichi’s voice trembled as he asked an obvious question, "Are you taking a group photo?"
"Yep, that’s right," Ichiki Aoi replied as if singing, "It’s for the Wind Instrument Club."
She was in a great mood because as soon as she asked Mayi Asuka for a photo, she agreed, even refusing photos with her close female classmates for it!
"The Wind Instrument Club, right, I remember. Dubian is also in the Wind Instrument Club, isn’t he?" Kunii Shuichi hoped that Ichiki would invite Dubian Che to join the photo, and then Dubian Che would invite the two of them to join as well.
Although the process was circuitous, it would amount to him taking a photo with Ichiki, right?
Maybe he could even use the moment to suggest a solo photo!
"Mr. Dubian? Whether he joins the photo or not doesn’t really matter to me~"
"Mind your choice of words, Ichiki," Kiyono Lin’s and Mayi Asuka’s gazes scrutinized Ichiki, who became stunned and even scared, "I thought this was just for the girls, I, I..."
But the person who truly needed to be afraid was someone else.
"It’s okay, it’s okay," Dubian Che waved his hands, awkwardly changing the subject, "Speaking of which, today’s weather in Capital City is really nice, isn’t it? The high is 22°, the low is 8°, and it’s a sunny day, with just a breeze from the South at level 2."
"Yep, the weather is nice," Mayi Asuka nodded gently, her gaze fixed on Dubian Che.
"Indeed, it is quite nice," Kiyono Lin smiled lightly, arms crossed, also looking at Dubian Che.