Above the Ferris Wheel with a Hazy View

"Well~ Finally it's over~"

Fumino smiled and still wanted to say something.

"Time passed so quickly." Rizu nodded slightly, looking at the sky outside the window, then turned her gaze back and asked.

"Shinichi-san, are you happy too?"

"Of course." Shinichi smiled and said emotionally, "I'm having fun, you're having fun, and when these two joys overlap, it will give me even more happiness..."

"Why don't you stop playing tricks in such a good atmosphere?" Fumino stared at him without words.

Shinichi turned his face, resting his elbow on the window frame, lifting his chin, and looking out the window.

"The atmosphere is indeed very nice." He whispered.

There was no sunset outside the window, only a darkening sky.

About a quarter of the way up, Fumino took the initiative to break the icy atmosphere.

"Asada-san, have you thought about your answer?"

Rizu also looked at him seriously.

"I've been waiting for the answer for a few days, and I hope you tell us now."

Her voice slightly lowered, and she spoke calmly, but unconsciously, she tightened her collar and her tone became difficult.

"...It's also the first time I know that waiting can be uncomfortable."

"I don't actually blame Shinichi-san for kissing Nino-san at that time. I found out during the sports festival. It's all very important to Shinichi-san... Because it's important, there's nothing wrong with a kiss."

"I was the same before. Because I liked you, I wanted to kiss you no matter what happened... At that time, I really did a lot of things that troubled Shinichi-san."

"That's clearly what I thought, clearly I can understand that feeling..."

"When I saw that scene, my heart still felt an incomprehensible pain."

Rizu bit her lip tightly, staring straight ahead with sadness, her eyes never leaving it.

Shinichi chose to face her gaze directly, not running away at all.

"Shinichi-san."

"I haven't learned enough, so now, I can only ask you to tell me your answer directly."

Every word she uttered seemed filled with determination.

"What should I do to make that pain stop?"

Rizu lied.

It's not that she didn't understand, but after knowing where the pain came from, she tried to escape.

She's not as strong as she thought. Even when faced with an unsolvable problem, the desire to move forward and not give up cannot be applied to her current emotional state.

Terrified.

Anyway, love and solving equations are two different things.

Therefore, Rizu gave the right to answer to Shinichi.

She stopped and showed a thin smile.

"Also, Shinichi-san, what about your sincerity?"

"Please tell me everything before the Ferris wheel descends."

The Ferris wheel would reach its highest point.

Fumino stared at Shinichi without speaking and just watched silently.

She didn't need to make any decisions, and she didn't experience any confusion to be dealt with—. She had already thought clearly about what Shinichi wanted to do and how she should respond.

The amusement park date today was truly enjoyable.

Every minute and every second was much happier than the envisioned double date.

So happy that she wanted to continue this moment forever. Even if she had to keep spinning this Ferris wheel, as long as she was still with them, she might not complain.

However, reality didn't allow her to be so stubborn.

When she thought about facing the "accountability" of the quintuplets, she felt tired, weary, and unloved.

Who asked her to become Furuhashi Fumino?

Fumino really liked her friends and educational colleagues!

She wanted to cherish this bond.

"I'm truly a sinful man."

The Ferris wheel was silent for a moment at its highest point, then slowly descended.

None of the three looked out the window; they just stared at the person in front of them with full attention.

Shinichi spoke slowly and clearly.

"I thought sooner or later I would part with you because of emotional issues, so I specifically asked you to teach each other to ensure your lessons aren't affected when I'm gone."

Both of them were shocked, remembering the sudden change in his teaching method during the summer vacation, and their hands silently clenched.

"I also thought about how to fall in love with Fumino without ruining our trio relationship because Rizu is just a little sister."

Rizu glanced at Fumino, Fumino didn't know what expression to put on, so she smiled awkwardly, but she felt a bit relieved.

"I also thought if all the Nakano quintuplets liked me, but Fumino and Rizu couldn't accept it, it would be easier to go back to being friends and focus on interacting with the quintuplets."

Both turned their gazes back to Shinichi's face, only to find him laughing at himself.

"I thought about a lot of messy things, like how to deal with ambiguous partners other than them, how to protect myself when dating multiple people at the same time, and methods for successfully boarding many ships. Therefore, I went to analyze harem protagonists, but found that no matter what I do, in the end, I don't have the qualifications and ability to contain everyone's feelings."

"So I also thought of not caring about anything and keeping a distance from everyone, like I did six months ago. Until college and until I immerse myself in society, I won't fall in love, get involved in ambiguity, or be devoted to a specific girl. It's enough to stay single until now."

"This is the best way. Stop facing good feelings towards yourself, stop hesitating to show compassion, block all messy emotions, and focus on studying. I should have done this long ago."

Shinichi sighed and looked at the girls in front of him with a slightly curved corner of his mouth and a somewhat bitter smile.

"Yeah, it's easy to get rid of the trash label. How can a high-achieving student ranking second behave like a fool at the bottom and always not know how to repent?"

"It's very foolish, very bad, very disgusting. I kept criticizing myself, but a certain idea became more determined."

"Anyway, I still like them. There's nothing more or less, I just like them, want to be with them, and want to get happiness from them."

"So, even if it's the wrong choice, I will do it again and again."

Shinichi changed his words gently.

"I will make mistakes again and again, until the end. Even if everyone leaves me, I will continue to make mistakes intentionally and stubbornly."

He's not proud at all; he's just expressing his thoughts.

"I like both of you, and I also like Ichika, Nino, Miku, Yotsuba, Its... Itsuki. Sometimes I feel interested in Kirisu-sensei, and personally, I also use the term 'Mafuyu-chan' to tease her."

"I also like Hayasaka Ai and Fujiwara Chika in the third year. Although Tachibana Rui is a cousin, her feelings are hard to resist, and Shirogane Kei, I can feel that she seems to have a crush on me. She's sweet and has a good personality. As a guy, it's impossible not to be interested..."

Shinichi lowered his gaze and spoke as if counting treasures.

After a momentary pause, he slowly raised his eyes, looked at Fumino and Rizu, and spoke earnestly.

"I checked the countries that allow polygamy. It seems that if you are a big chaebol in Japan, you can use various methods to avoid the crime of polygamy... So right now, I'm working hard to raise funds in this area, starting with the most basic money, and ultimately, the goal is to surpass the Shinomiya family and become the largest chaebol in Japan, ensuring that everyone can have enough food and clothing."

"Next, regarding relationships, I can guarantee that I will protect every important existence in my life with my life and provide equal attention and love—"

"Enough."

Fumino suddenly interrupted, her tone and expression so calm that it was frightening.

"Ricchan, one person on each side."

"Um."

Rizu nodded and stood up.

Fumino also stood in front of Shinichi with Rizu. The distance between the two of them was less than fifteen centimeters, making the space in the cockpit cramped, adding a sense of oppression.

Shinichi opened his mouth, and before they could react, Fumino raised the palm of her hand and swung it forcefully towards his right cheek.

*Slap!*

Without hesitation, Shinichi's face was thrown to the left; at first, he felt numb, then a gradually increasing heat came from his right cheek.

He froze in place.

Then, Rizu raised her hand. Her petite body trembled slightly, but she waved it firmly.

*Slap!*

His left cheek was hit, and Shinichi's head spun.

His expression wrinkled slightly, looking a bit funny.

Both of his cheeks felt hot, numb, and the pain made the nerves in his face lose control. It was the first time he was slapped so seriously.

And it happened two times in a row, one slap on each side.

His actual words would indeed make them very angry.

After reacting, Shinichi touched his cheeks, showing no signs of surprise.

The pain gradually subsided. He didn't smile, nor did he intend to be angry. He maintained a calm attitude and looked at the two of them.

"I..."

Tears suddenly fell on his trousers.

Shinichi widened his eyes and fell silent.

Fumino bit her lower lip, her eyes red, and tears continued to flow.

Rizu took off her glasses, sobbing, and kept wiping away her tears.

After a while, a choking sound was heard.

"Fool..."

"Why can't you lie if you know it will make us sad if you tell us?"

"You know it will make us sad, so why don't you run away and make us hate you completely?"

"You really... are so cunning."

"..."

Shinichi uttered a hoarse sound from his throat.

"Because I don't want to leave you."

"No matter how good it sounds, I'm just... a childish man who doesn't want to let go of anything."

The Ferris wheel descended from the dim sky, and the view outside the window slowly sank into the ground.

Not much time was left before the appointed gathering time.