Not bad

　　In the afternoon, people come and go to the station on the weekends.

　　"Even though I want to talk, I don't know what to say first…"

　　(Did I want to directly ask him not to tell me about being an actress? Isn't that too rude...)

　　Ichika thought about it, and took a sip of coffee.

　　Sitting on the stone steps, she put down the coffee can to wash away the tiredness from the day, and let out a long sigh.

　　"Just say what you can't say to your sister."

　　Shinichi took a sip of cold apple juice, and focused his eyes on the people coming in and out of the station.

　　"As the chairman of the committee, it's fine to occasionally listen to the complaints of the subordinates."

　　"Chairman and subordinates... Really?" Ichika muttered and repeated it, then narrowed her eyes a little teasingly, "Fufu, it turns out Shinichi-kun likes games like this? Just like teacher and student?"

　　"...I have a position similar to that of a tutor, but I don't have such dirty thoughts." Shinichi said in an even tone, "If you don't have anything serious to say, I will go back first."

　　Ichika blinked pitifully: "Sorry, I just wanted to lighten the mood~"

　　"Not much time for jokes today. The person who will pick you up is coming soon?" Shinichi looked at the gray clouds and said softly, "The atmosphere is pretty good."

　　"Um..."

　　Ichika stared at the fallen leaves to the ground, clearly not too interested.

　　"The firm president temporarily arranged a practice session for me, is this to prepare for the next big audition?"

　　She immediately said what was on her mind.

　　"Flustered?" Shinichi asked.

　　Ichika smiled lightly.

　　"Shinichi-kun, you are too smart and straightforward, but you will make people keep their distance?"

　　Shinichi couldn't help being shocked, and subconsciously squeezed the can of apple juice, and sighed with a complicated expression.

　　"Sorry... Most of the time, I'd rather be an idiot like the Yotsuba."

　　"Ahaha..." Ichika's expression was a little softer than before. She made two bunny ears on her head with her hands, and turned to Shinichi and curled the corners of her mouth, "Don't look at the simplicity of Yotsuba, she is the most sensitive mind among the few of us, isn't she? Time and time again, she can sense our troubles, and then rush over to comfort us at the most opportune time!"

　　Shinichi knew that Yotsuba was like a source of light that illuminates the path in front of others when they are in pitch darkness.

　　This kind of ability was nothing to be envied, for only her smile and vitality could enter people's hearts unhindered, and cheer them up in a clumsy and direct manner.

　　This was a feat that only Yotsuba could pull off.

　　"...What should you do to prepare for the auditions?"

　　Shinichi spoke suddenly, and did not look at Ichika, but turned his gaze to the tall buildings in the distance.

　　Ichika looked up at the sky, pondered for a moment, then said softly.

　　"If the director gave me the script first, it would take time to read the script, and then try to figure out what kind of emotion would best suit the role I wanted... No, many times, I couldn't choose anything. The role the director asked me to play, so adapting to the situation was also very important…"

　　"Well, so you usually have to hone your acting skills?" After taking a sip of apple juice, Shinichi's voice sounded far away but was actually close.

　　Ichika sighed.

　　"Yes, I've practiced, imitated, and groped, but I haven't made any progress, and I'm always getting scolded at the acting lessons… Obviously the president has spent so much on training me, but the effect is still small. I wonder if I have acting talent…"

　　(Maybe I'm overconfident...)

　　Hiding her self-pity, she picked up a tin of warm coffee to ease the depression in her heart a bit.

　　Shinichi continued.

　　"Auditioning for a big movie recently?"

　　"Not very big, but a character with a name that can stay on screen for more than a minute." Ichika smiled, but no happy emotions surfaced, "To be honest, compared to nervousness, it's more like being scared. Afraid that I won't live up to the president's expectations, and also afraid of being scolded for no reason at the auditions."

　　Shinichi slowly leaned back, his back supported by the stone steps. Even though it was a little uncomfortable, but he could still lie down, allowing more of the sky to be seen.

　　The wind was very quiet, so quiet that the sound was clear.

　　"Scared of not being able to do it? Isn't that the reason why you don't dare to tell your sister?"

　　Ichika hugged her legs, curled forward, and smiled faintly.

　　"After all, I am an older sister. As an older sister, I can't let my younger sister see how embarrassing I am when I struggle and fail."

　　Previously, no matter how much exhaustion and loss there was, it had to be hidden, and the slightest bit couldn't be expressed, otherwise, the tacit understanding between the five of them would definitely be exposed in a short time.

　　Exhaling lightly, Ichika suddenly turned to look at Shinichi, as if she had returned to her usual self, with a faint smile.

　　"Shinichi-kun, are you trying to enlighten me now? Are you doing this as the head of the committee, or as a friend?"

　　Shinichi didn't answer.

　　It's clear at first she wants to negotiate with Shinichi about actress work, but at some point, it becomes a heart-to-heart session where she says and she has to. This extraordinary change made Ichika feel a little awkward.

　　After all, she knew that Furuhashi liked Shinichi, and also found that the atmosphere between Miku and him was a bit ambiguous. Now that she was here alone with him, chatting with him about inner thoughts that he she yet to share with her family, it felt...

　　It seems a little guilty, but also a little exciting!

　　But it was just casual chat, and the two of them rarely even made eye contact, so how could there be a strange feeling?

　　That's why Ichika dared to joke so boldly.

　　"If the consolation is good, maybe you can get a lot of good from me? Are you trying to attack me?"

　　She knew that in this atmosphere, the other party would never give a positive answer, and the most likely thing would be to ignore it.

　　Based on her observations of Shinichi, this conclusion can be drawn.

　　Saying it's just a deliberate desire to get pleasure relieves tension and worry.

Ichika waited for his reaction.

　　Unexpectedly, Shinichi just closed his eyes and said calmly.

　　"I don't know what you're going through, I don't know the pain you're going through. If I comfort and enlighten you casually, it will make you even more unhappy?"

　　Just as he didn't want anyone else commenting on his experience. So when Miku shows no comfort or pity after hearing about his past, Shinichi is very grateful to her.

　　Right time, right distance, this is true tenderness.

　　In that sense, he thought Ichika might be the same.

　　Receiving the unexpected answer, Ichika was flustered, then chuckled.

　　"Haha... As expected of Shinichi-kun."

　　Shinichi didn't feel complacent, lying down on the stone steps, with a calm and lazy voice.

　　"I'm not going to tell you about courage, or about being strong. I won't tell you about dreams, let alone about the future."

　　"I'm just going to sit with you for a bit to make you feel better."

　　"This is my job as chairman of the committee. After you feel better, you will complete the interim course and complete the unfinished accounting business… If you can, you can treat me like a rock. How much do you complain? It doesn't matter how much you complain, just think of it as talking to yourself."

　　Shinichi smiled slightly, because he closed his eyes, he couldn't see the attention being paid by passers-by, nor could he see Ichika's current expression.

　　Spiritual mentor and spiritual dustbin are the same position. Since he has become Ogata Rizu's spiritual mentor, why not become Nakano Ichika's spiritual mentor?

　　After a moment of silence, Ichika's voice sounded again.

　　This time, there was no gentleness, no seductive maturity, like a little girl who was so dissatisfied with everything, she started to complain angrily.

　　"Tell me, why didn't you pass this audition! I obviously acted really well…"

　　"Why did she get this role? Obviously, my acting skills are better than her, there must be something in..."

　　"I don't want to smile too stiffly! But if they don't teach me well, they only blame me for not doing well. No matter how beautiful my smile is, they will say it is not good."

Even though some of its contents were clearly off topic, Shinichi was always like a stone statue, lying on his side, closing his eyes and listening to Ichika vent her emotions.

　　The interaction finally ended when the pickup truck finally arrived and a middle-aged man with a mustache asked Ichika to get into the car.

　　"Phew... Turns out having a friend who wants to listen to your heart is fun!"

　　"Thank you very much today, Shinichi-kun. I will try my best to complete the accounting work when I get back. If there's something I don't understand, please be careful and help me~"

　　"See you tomorrow~"

　　Hearing Ichika's passionate and cheerful tone fade away, and the roar of the car engine also disappear, Shinichi slowly opened his eyes.

　　"You're welcome."

　　... After all, this feeling is not bad.

　　Looking up at the sky that seemed to light up slightly at night, he muttered