Thursday, April 28 morning.
Maybe because it was a holiday this afternoon, all the students in the class looked very excited, especially a girl with pink hair with a black ribbon in her bangs.
As if realizing Ren's gaze, Chika turned around and looked at him specifically.
When she saw Ren looking at her, she smiled at him.
Seeing her actions, Ren looked at the others and ignored her thoughts altogether.
After realizing that he had looked away, Chika continued chatting with her classmates about her holiday plans while smiling.
After briefly observing the humans in the classroom, Ren averted his gaze and started planning his vacation.
He was really looking forward to this holiday, after all, a long holiday like that could bring a lot of things.
Even if he removed the already arranged itinerary, he would still have at least four days of free time left.
It can last for two weekends.
Four days wandering around? Or should he find a place and try to go alone?
After asking Mafuyu for some common sense and tips on going out yesterday afternoon, he felt that he should be able to try going somewhere alone.
While Ren was thinking about this problem, Gabriel suddenly came.
"Kamikawa, would you like to buy some drinks? I am thirsty."
Gabriel yawned and pressed one hand against Ren's desk to support herself.
"Go," Ren agreed.
Even though he wasn't thirsty at all, he was still willing to accompany Gabriel to buy drinks.
It just so happened that the vending machine was a little far from the classroom, so he could take this opportunity to ask Gabriel if she wanted to try going somewhere alone.
"Since you are leaving, bring me a bottle, anything," Gabriel followed and said, "It just so happens that I don't want to go."
"...Okay."
After a moment of silence, Ren nodded, stood up and walked out of the classroom.
"I am waiting for you here."
Seeing him leave, Gabriel sat down in her chair.
"Um."
After answering softly, Ren left the classroom and walked towards the vending machine.
This wasn't the first time he had done something like help Gabriel buy water.
In the past, Gabriel often asked him for help on the grounds that she wasn't feeling well or didn't want to go.
However, Ren didn't hate it, after all, this was considered helping Gabriel.
Maybe it was because class was about to start, but when he reached the vending machine, there was only a pink-haired girl with blue headphones around her neck.
Of course, he knew this girl, Itsuki's sister, Miku.
Since there was only one vending machine here, Ren had to stand behind it and wait for her to complete purchase.
Gabriel didn't tell him what to buy now, so Ren used Miku to look at the types of drinks and think about what to buy later.
Gabriel didn't have a particular favorite drink, and Ren just chose a random bottle every time he bought it.
"Plop!" A loud crash was heard, and a coin rolled to his feet.
"Give."
After regaining consciousness, he picked up the coin that had fallen at his feet, and Ren handed it to the owner of the coin.
"Eh?...Thank you."
Miku turned around and found that the person behind him was Ren, she was stunned for a moment, but she quickly reacted, took the coin he handed over, and thanked him.
"You're welcome," Ren answered.
She put the coin into the vending machine, skillfully selected the matcha soda button in the corner, and waited nervously.
After picking up the fallen matcha soda, Miku immediately moved away and stepped aside.
When he reached the vending machine, Ren inserted a coin and pressed two buttons that he carefully chose.
One of them was strawberry milk for Gabriel. Ren remembered that someone said online that some girls preferred drinks like this, so Gabriel must like it too.
The other was the most ordinary mineral water, which he planned to drink himself.
"…Have you finished reading the book?"
At this time, Miku who was standing at the side was holding matcha soda in both hands and asked carefully.
The book she was talking about was the 'Collection of Anecdotes from the Warring States Period' borrowed by Ren.
"No."
Taking out drink, Ren answered matter-of-factly.
He had only read half of the book, and it would take some time to finish it.
"Oh."
Miku responded weakly and was about to leave.
"I should be able to finish by this holiday."
After thinking about it, Ren added.
If nothing else, he would be able to finish it during this holiday.
"Truly?"
Miku who was about to leave, couldn't help but stop.
"Um."
Ren nodded.
"Let's exchange... Email addresses. Remember to let me know if you want to return the book."
Miku tried to make her voice as calm as possible so he wouldn't see that she was actually nervous.
"Can."
Ren agreed without hesitation.
···
"Thank You."
After exchanging emails with him, Miku put down her cellphone and thanked him in a low voice.
This was the first time she exchanged contact information with a man.
If it weren't for that book, she would probably never take the initiative to ask a man for his contact information.
"You're welcome."
Ren said again.
"Okay… I'll go first."
After saying these words, Miku left here as if running away.
"Goodbye."
When Ren finished speaking, Miku's figure had disappeared.
······
"You are back."
The first time Ren returned to the classroom, Gabriel, who was sitting in her chair, saw him.
"This."
Therefore, Ren planned to give her strawberry milk.
But Gabriel didn't even look at the strawberry milk and immediately took the mineral water.
"Finally alive."
After Gabriel took a satisfied sip of water, she noticed Ren's slightly doubtful eyes.
"What's wrong with you?"
"There isn't anything."
Ren shook his head.
It seems Gabriel doesn't like drinking strawberry milk.