Sorry, please ask your parents

On the evening of the sports festival, the competition venue remained bustling.

Outside the medical station, it felt like a quiet spot in a busy town. A group of student council members gathered in front of the door, discussing Yotsuba's situation.

"No matter what, it's all my fault. I was the first to realize that Yotsuba wasn't feeling well..."

Before Itsuki could finish blaming herself, Shinichi pressed her head with his palm, and her ahoge reluctantly stuck to her forehead, warmth spreading through his entire hand.

Shinichi looked into Itsuki's eyes and spoke seriously:

"There's no such thing as blaming someone, and no one is seeking responsibility now. If you truly want to take responsibility, I, who heard her say she felt unwell but didn't stop her from continuing to compete, have the biggest responsibility. I share the same responsibility as you. It's irrelevant."

Everyone was surprised to hear this, and Nino couldn't help but ask:

"Why didn't you stop her?"

"Because right now, there's something more important to her than physical health."

Shinichi said calmly, and when Nino's eyebrows slowly lifted, he sighed again and continued.

"But I didn't expect her to collapse immediately. It's because I didn't think it through and just wanted to make her happy... I'm sorry, it's my fault."

"..."

Seeing him apologize with a humble expression, Nino didn't unleash her anger and just puffed out her cheeks.

"Hmph, what you just said is true. Now is not the time to pursue this... So what's next? Go to the athletic club to discuss the replacement contestant?"

"Before that..."

Shinichi checked the time and said to Nino, "Nino, your competition will start soon, go and get ready. Leave it to us here—"

"Hah?!"

Nino stared at him incredulously, stomped the ground, walked towards him, and raised her head. A pair of beautiful eyes filled with anger met his eyes up close.

"Do you want me to leave my sister when she's sick just for that lousy competition?"

Shinichi didn't waver, even though her soft crystal-clear lips were right where he bowed his head, he still looked at her calmly.

"Even if we all leave from here, Yotsuba can rest well under Miku's care, so don't worry about this, just focus on what you need to do."

As if her rational nerves were broken, Nino became furious and unconsciously grabbed the collar of his shirt. Words came out between her gritted teeth.

"I don't want to!"

Fumino and Rizu were surprised to see this and quickly stepped forward to separate them, blocking Shinichi.

"Nino, calm down."

"No violence!"

Nino clicked her tongue, and the hand holding her collar unconsciously went to her back. Traces of regret flashed in her eyes, but her words didn't soften at all.

"I'm very calm! Overall, I'll find someone to compete in my place later, so you don't have to worry about it." She looked around at everyone.

"Miku and I will take care of Yotsuba. Let's disband for now. If there are any questions, I'll contact you in the group."

"Nino, it's not good to have double standards like that."

Ichika suddenly spoke on the phone, with a thin smile containing an unquestionable seriousness.

"You can take care of Yotsuba, but we... Itsuki and the others can't?"

"Not only you are concerned about her, but you're the only one with a competition later. It's not easy to fill the medical station with so many people. So what's wrong with letting you continue to compete as usual?"

"I..." Nino opened her mouth, and under Ichika's serious gaze, her pride slowly faded away.

Ichika gradually slowed down her tone.

"Nino, just listen to Shinichi-kun and get ready for your competition. You can take care of her when she returns."

"..."

Nino looked at the screen, lowered her head, and fell silent for a moment.

"...No."

The voice that came out of her throat made everyone freeze and look at her in astonishment.

Suddenly, tears filled her eyes, and crystal tears hung on her eyelashes, trembling and falling.

"Competition..."

Her tone gradually became sharper and distorted.

"Even if it's a sports festival, how can a competition be so important? It's something anyone can participate in, no one cares if you run well or not, and it's more meaningful to stay here—"

She clenched her fists and lifted her head sharply to stare at Shinichi.

"Tell me, is this competition really important?"

"Why do I have to be told like this by you just because I want to take care of my sister?"

Like a confused and scared child crying out for recognition, venting dissatisfaction in her heart.

"Is this boring sports competition more important to you than me?"

Nino looked passionate and didn't continuously shed tears. Instead, she gritted her teeth, opened her eyes wide, and stared at him relentlessly.

For some reason, because of something trivial, regret and grievances in her heart ignited, burning the anger from her body to her essential existence.

Was it because of what she said? Maybe she didn't like being separated from her family, and she was also worried about Yotsuba's physical condition, but it seemed not to be the main reason.

Was she offended by the guy's attitude? Perhaps sometimes he made people like him, sometimes he made people hate him; he was so annoying that he always made people angry unconsciously, but it seemed not to be the main reason.

Was she anxious because she couldn't take care of Yotsuba? Maybe, but as the man said, with everyone here, Yotsuba could rest peacefully until she returned, and she didn't need to do anything special.

Was it because she had been sitting in the resting area, watching classmates who excelled being praised by their parents, and also seeing those sitting at the bottom of the class being comforted and encouraged by their family members?

No, that's not the issue.

Her family is here, so what makes her dissatisfied?

"...Forget it, just go!"

Like a tantrum-throwing child, Nino lazily listened to their responses, wiped away her tears, stepped on the ground with the sole of her foot, tossed her long hair, and turned away from the annoyingly quiet atmosphere.

Suddenly, a bell rang.

"Nino, wait a moment."

Shinichi took out his phone and called her.

Nino stopped for a moment, and she turned back with an unhappy face, faintly seeing redness around her eyes.

"What are you doing? Didn't you ask me to compete? What's your opinion now?"

"I didn't ask you not to go; just wait a moment." Shinichi said, holding the phone without attaching it to his ear.

He only spoke to the screen, looking relieved.

"I'm not complaining. You came late."

The other party's voice was still low and cold, and she replied without any fluctuations.

"I remember I didn't make a promise with you... I can't answer Itsuki's call. Is she with you?"

Shinichi and Itsuki exchanged glances, and Itsuki immediately turned away, moving her eyes and her white cheeks blushing discreetly.

"I forgot to tell you that Ichika was also watching the match with us through a live broadcast, using Itsuki's phone."

There was silence on the other end of the phone.

"... Information like this could have been given earlier at another time. Does anyone else have a phone? I will contact their numbers."

(You don't want to meet me too often...) Shinichi moved his lips, always feeling disliked by these girls' parents.

Nevertheless, he caused it, and besides, he was used to the feeling of being disliked by peers, so it didn't matter.

"Sorry, you can only use my phone for now. Nino will get ready for the competition, and Miku and Yotsuba are busy... By the way, I have to inform you about Yotsuba later."

Maruo's expression slightly changed: "Is this a physical issue?"

"Yes, but for now, it should be fine, so..."

Shinichi lifted his gaze and stared at the beautiful girl with an empty expression.

The crimson eye sockets, slightly open cherry lips, and moist blue crystal eyes were all filled with disbelief and astonishment.

Shinichi pursed his lips.

He rotated the phone, and Maruo, expressionless and motionless like a tablecloth on the screen, appeared in front of Nino.

In front of the girl whose eyes suddenly widened, Shinichi said logically:

"Who says no one cares? Here is a parent who is very concerned about his daughter's performance."

"Nino, do you want to check?"

The parent who was said to be very concerned about his daughter's performance: "..."

Even the middle-aged man, mature, rational, calm, not easily angered.

Facing this situation, Maruo began to think about how he could hide a seventeen-year-old boy on the other end of the phone from everyone and sink him to the bottom of the bay.