Is this a stand-in attack?

　　With sobs, Furuhashi closed her eyes in pain, looked away, as if she didn't want to see that sight again, and said disappointedly.

　　"Have you finally embarked on the path of not returning to crime because there was too much pressure from studying?"

　　"Although it wasn't broad daylight, but amidst the hustle and bustle outside, you dared to do such an inappropriate thing to a middle school student in a dark back alley. it really makes me not know how to explain it to aunt and uncle…"

　　Wiping away tears, Furuhashi clenched her fists tightly.

　　Shinichi could only complain loudly.

　　"No no no, no matter how you look at it, it doesn't look like I'm attacking the middle school students?! And why do you have to explain to my parents? What are you explaining!?"

　　"Isn't this similar?" Furuhashi angrily pointed at the hand they were holding each other, "From my perspective, that's what has happened!"

　　"You are too imaginative!"

　　Feeling embarrassed and embarrassed at being misunderstood, Shinichi looked straight at Furuhashi.

　　Furuhashi also seemed angry with her tough and defensive attitude. She puffed her cheeks, red with anger, she rushed towards Shinichi.

　　Kei who was on the sidelines, was now completely panicked.

　　This kind of sinister atmosphere, she had never been in a relationship or engaged in emotional disputes.

　　What's more, when she recalled her previous interaction, she couldn't quite figure out why she felt a little guilty.

　　However-

　　Self-esteem doesn't make her lose her cool, let alone panic without explaining when a misunderstanding occurs.

　　At this time, Kei had made up her mind.

　　She took a step forward and took the lead to meet the blue haired girl who was walking towards her.

　　"Sorry, I think you misunderstood—"

　　Furuhashi walked past her and stood in front of Shinichi.

　　"Asada-san, why are your clothes dirty? Wait..." Furuhashi took out several pieces of tissue paper from her string pocket, and gently stroked the corner of Shinichi's clothes with her slender fingers "Is this ice cream on it? Asada-san is really reckless, herb isn't a child anymore..."

　　Kei: "?"

　　"Give me the tissue, I'll do it myself, don't..." Just when Shinichi was about to take the tissue, but Furuhashi separated it with her hand.

　　Kei: "?"

　　"Asada-san, please be quiet for a moment, and be patient for three seconds…Okay, it's done!" Furuhashi smiled, and was about to put the wiped tissue into her pocket, but Shinichi grabbed it and kept it in his pocket.

　　Kei: "???"

　　"Aren't you being too selfish? It really doesn't make sense for people to thank you at all." With one hand in his pocket, Shinichi averted his smiling gaze.

　　"This is also the duty of fellow educators? Asada-san, don't be shy, just accept it calmly."

　　"It's not a comfortable relationship... I feel more confused than embarrassed, what are you two doing?"

　　"Hmph~ Don't be shy~" Ignoring the last sentence, Furuhashi glanced at Kei at the side, carefully observing her appearance, "Wow, how cute! Asada-san, where did you kidnap… Do you know her?"

　　"Hey, you just wanted to say that her was kidnapped, right?" Shinichi glared at her.

Furuhashi pretended not to hear, walked up to Kei, and smiled kindly at her.

　　"My name is Furuhashi Fumino. Who are you?"

　　"... Shirogane Kei, 2nd year student at Shuchi'in Academy Middle School, please give me your advice."

　　Answering with blank export, keeping calm and polite, Kei's mind was confused at this time.

　　(Who am I? Where am I? What just happened? Could it be that a period of time was cut by someone, and I am now in the future in a split second?)

　　This change in development was rather fast and she couldn't keep up!

　　Why did the person who was acting inquiring about the crime just now change her attitude so directly? Why did she wipe the stains so skillfully? Why did the two of them get along so naturally as if nothing had happened?

　　Misunderstanding? What about discord? What about Shuraba's eerie atmosphere?

　　"Kei-chan, what a cute name m, and you are our junior, coincidence is all over the place!" Furuhashi saw her expression, "Ah, are you wondering why my attitude towards Asada-san changed so suddenly?"

　　"I'm sorry, I was totally joking just now!"

　　"Joking?" Kei looked at her suspiciously.

Furuhashi nodded.

　　"That's right! After all, I believe Asada-san, the protagonist of the light novel Chameleon who doesn't wear clothes, wouldn't really try to misbehave with a girl in the alley!"

　　Furuhashi finished with a smile at her words, which made Shinichi laugh when he heard it.

　　"Hahaha, that sure is a long and nostalgic title, and it just gets longer and weirder."

　　"Has it been too long since you were taught by my Sparta, Furu-hashi~"

　　Shinichi grabbed Furuhashi's head with one hand and swung it from side to side, making her cry out for mercy.

　　"Wuaaaaa~ I really trust you, isn't Asada-san thanking you? How dare you do this to me!"

　　"That person who made such a bad joke actually had the guts to say something like that? That innocent girl is too scared to talk to you!"

　　"Uuuu... Sorry, I just thought it would be fun to do it in such an atmosphere..."

　　"You..."

　　Seeing the two of them chatting, the corners of Kei's mouth twitched, she decided to stop thinking about this inexplicable development.

　　(Ah, I really want to go home.)

　　...

　　Not long after, Kei's friend Fujiwara Moeha jumps out of nowhere and takes her away.

　　Before leaving, Kei thanked Shinichi again, and looked at the stains on his clothes with some regret, then turned her head and left.

　　On the way, although her friend shared a piece of delicious takoyaki, she didn't have the urge to eat it. She always felt that she had eaten too much, and she was a little full now.

　　At this time, Shinichi and Furuhashi walked side by side to the festival crowd, and walked towards a certain booth together.