A World Where There Are Only Three People...

Although her gaze was influenced by her feelings, seeing the closeness of the relationship between the three people and the somewhat strange atmosphere, Sawako decided not to interfere too much. After bidding farewell to Rizu reluctantly, she went alone to visit the park.

It wasn't an atmosphere that allowed outsiders to intervene. Not too dignified, yet lacking in harmony.

As the middle point, sandwiched between the two girls, Shinichi walked leisurely with them towards the wildlife area ahead.

Along the way, the gazes gathered around him were like flames, even more uncomfortable than when he was shopping with the quintuplets in the department store.

There were tourists watching a good show, and students from the same school who were incredulous. But most of them looked at him with envy and disgust, and the idea of escaping became clearer.

But it was impossible for him to break free. Once he let go, everything would end for the day.

Now the issue wasn't whether to be a scoundrel or not, he had to choose between being cunning and honest.

There was no future in being cunning, so Shinichi had only one choice.

He didn't care about the attention around him; instead, he had to lift his head and hold their hands tightly, letting them feel his strong determination to be as bad as he could be.

It was just the most basic statement.

Even so, Shinichi thought about it now; Fumino and Rizu could each hold one hand, but what about the quintuplets?

Body parts?

Ichika's right hand, Nino's left hand, Miku's right foot, Yotsuba's left foot... What should Itsuki do? Ride on his shoulder and hold his head?

"Let's go."

Fumino spoke, and Shinichi's heart raced, sweating coldly, thinking she had read his messy thoughts.

There was no resentment on the girl's face; she just rolled her eyes at him and sighed, then released her hand.

"Like an idiot."

Shinichi reflexively wanted to tighten his grip again, but when he looked into her eyes, he refrained.

"It's none of your business." Fumino said. "It's just that I don't like being looked at like this... Ah. It's okay if you don't let go of Ricchan. It will attract more attention. If two people carry her together. It's okay if you carry her alone."

Rizu shook her head, releasing Shinichi's hand and walking to Fumino's side with a very serious expression.

"If Fumino lets you go, I'll let go too. I don't like the feeling of giving up."

Somewhat unclear, but they both understood her meaning.

Fumino couldn't help but smile. "That's right, anyway, we're in the same camp now." Then she raised the corner of her mouth and looked at Shinichi sideways, with a meaningful expression on her face.

"I really have to thank someone for deepening our friendship~"

"..."

Shinichi touched his neck and said nothing. There was no harm in saying it now; he could only stay silent.

Rizu leaned forward slightly, her eyes blinking behind her lenses, and she asked:

"Fumino, have you reconciled?"

She seemed to regard the day's events as some kind of quarrel and couldn't return to their previous relationship until both sides ensured they had made peace. She was very serious about this.

"Did Shinichi-san force you to do that?"

Her eyes darted back and forth between the two of them, not allowing any deception.

"Yes~ exactly, that's right..." Seeing Rizu puffing her cheeks after hearing this and staring at Shinichi with a wicked expression, Fumino initially wanted to deceive someone, but panicked and hurriedly waved her hand and shook her head.

"But it's not that serious! Besides, we just experienced a cold war, and Asada-kun took the initiative at least. When he held our hands earlier, he was clearly under the pressure of the eyes around him, but he didn't let go..."

Fumino explained a few words gently, and Rizu slowly relaxed her expression and took a relieved breath from her plump chest.

"That's it... I understand, it means we can hang out as usual, but we can't go any further, right?"

"Hmm... huh???" Fumino remained smiling gently, but there were many question marks in her head.

(My friend, how do you understand this?)

Before she finished analyzing her friend's brain circuitry, Shinichi nodded seriously from the side.

"Yes. I promise not to do anything until we make peace again."

Rizu tilted her head. "Like what?"

"Like driving."

"Driving? Shinichi-san, do you have a driver's license?"

"I'm taking the test now. But it has nothing to do with transportation..." Shinichi coughed and was about to explain to her what driving meant for men and women.

At present, education couldn't be kept secret, but for the sake of children, guidance had to be given openly.

But before he spoke, Fumino hit his chest, causing him to fall to the ground with a smile on her face and a pale face.

Such intense love...

"Don't listen to this perverted idiot, Ricchan. Let's go see those animals... Except for the animals in heat."

"Heat? It's winter already, so it shouldn't be happening, right?"

Fumino glanced at her.

"Who knows? Lustful and horny wild animals seem to be everywhere, whether it's the sports shed or the wildlife area."

"Even at school? That's scary..."

The two girls chatted casually, regardless of the lone male.

Shinichi no longer pretended to be in pain from being hit and quickly followed their steps.

It seemed to Fumino, her way of expressing protest was to use words that made her uncomfortable, hoping she would realize something.

They didn't have a relationship, but they exchanged feelings in the sports shed. They finally didn't care about its lewdness, but Fumino saw him kissing the girl who could be considered her love rival in front of her.

Shinichi would explode in an instant; he would revert to the time when he was autistic, he would write an article [Shinichi Doesn't Fall in Love] and then die to fulfill his ambition.

He had just done something outrageous. And he held it in, just considering it a cold war.

He really liked Fumino, both in appearance and personality. He had liked her for a long time.

If only he had been braver when visiting the doctor and opened his eyes to face Fumino, maybe the book would have been titled [My Girlfriend Furuhashi Fumino] instead of [It Takes a Long Time to Fall in Love].

The girl seemed full of vitality, cheerful and gentle, but she was used to torturing herself and giving all her gentleness to others without keeping any for herself.

Shinichi liked this, but he didn't want to take advantage of it.

Shinichi actually hoped Fumino would slap him and say, "Don't let me see you again, stay away from me!"

He could transfer schools for this, and he could get a lot of compensation for it.

But it was too cunning and disgusting to say it now.

Fumino was the victim here; there was no reason to hold her accountable for this.

What Shinichi wanted to provide wasn't to redeem his wrongdoing but to draw a clear line in their relationship and give them an answer that was no longer ambiguous.

At this point, Shinichi had already thought about what to do, but he remained hesitant.

"Shinichi-san."

Rizu suddenly looked back at him, bringing him back to reality.

"Can you come here?"

Shinichi walked to her side without knowing the reason, then changed his position again so that he stood between her and Fumino.

"Fumino, come too." Rizu said, raising her arm and pressing her right side.

"You really want to do this..." Fumino hesitated slightly, her face turning a little red, but she still mimicked Rizu's movement, reaching out to hold her arm and carefully bringing her left side closer to her.

Shinichi was full of confusion.

"What are you doing?"

Rizu and Fumino held hands, and the three of them continued to move forward as a group. Compared to holding hands earlier, it was less ambiguous and slightly warmer.

This scene would be even more touching if Shinichi had gray hair, a broken leg, or a missing body part.

"If you pose like this, you won't be seen as weird, right?"

Rizu lifted her head and explained without beating around the bush.

"This is how my mother and I supported my father when reached waist. No one found it strange until we got to the hospital."

Shinichi: "...But you haven't even reached my waist."

(And isn't it a bit strange to compare me to your father?)

"Hahaha." Fumino laughed unfriendly.

"Ricchan just wants to be cute. Besides, she hasn't met or talked to you for a week."

"That's not the problem. Fumino, please don't understand my thoughts as you please!"

Her face suddenly tensed, and Rizu immediately responded, but a blush appeared on the pair of ears at her temples, unable to hide her embarrassment at all.

"We haven't made peace, so we can't do cute things!"

Shinichi shook his head firmly: "No, the scope of 'further steps' doesn't include cute behaviors."

The girl with the small eyes couldn't help but be surprised and asked emptily: "Is that so?"

"Yes."

Shinichi smiled like an old man abducting an innocent girl.

"...Alright."

Rizu nodded, then sniffed, confidently raised her hand, and touched her head.

Shinichi let her do it, but as she pressed his palm against her soft hair, he gently stroked her scalp with his fingertips.

"Shinichi-san, can we make peace now?" Her voice was very weak, coming from under palm.

"OK."

Shinichi answered without hesitation.

"Um..."

Fumino listened and watched calmly on the side, her eyes narrowed into crescents, and she showed a warm and affectionate smile.

She didn't know how many times she had thought about this to herself.

It would be better if there were only three people.