"I like you."

Kiyono Lin looked at his face for a long time, then suddenly lowered her head, and turned away to gaze up at the night sky, just as Dubian Che had done moments ago.

The airplane in the night sky, though it moved so slowly, was steadily pressing forward, bit by bit.

"No response?" Dubian Che couldn't believe it, "This is my confession of love, and you're making me rather sad by reacting this way."

"Dubian," Kiyono Lin said in a light tone.

"Hmm?" Dubian Che softened his voice.

"Right now…" Kiyono Lin seemed to be thinking about how to describe her feelings at the moment, but eventually gave up because she couldn't find the right words.

Instead, she said:

"There might not be another night like this, but just the thought that perhaps at the end of a future summer, I might again listen to your rare honest confession on a beautiful night just like this one, fills my heart with content and anticipation."

Her breathy voice, in the open space five floors up, sounded exceptionally clear.

"So, is this a yes or a no?" Dubian Che's dark eyes fixed on her.

"Aren't you supposed to understand the hearts of girls?" Kiyono Lin turned and said with a smile, "How come you don't understand such a simple thing now?"

"Yes?"

"No."

"Ah—" Dubian Che let out a soft cry of dismay.

"But," Kiyono Lin lifted her right hand from where it rested on her left elbow, and swept her flawless bangs to the side, "I like you, too."

"...If I were to jump off right now and die on the spot, it wouldn't matter."

"That would trouble me."

"Then I won't jump." Dubian Che let go of the handrail, "What now? I'm so hot, should we go buy a drink? My treat."

"Do you have your wallet?"

Dubian Che was wearing shorts with big pockets, but they were empty; he hadn't brought any money.

"No." Dubian Che checked his pocket and spoke plainly.

Kiyono Lin let go of her elbow and revealed a clean, delicate hand holding a simple and cute wallet.

"You are the most special, above all others, my god, Miss R!" Dubian Che reached for the wallet.

"Remember to get the change, and to pay me back, including my part."

The first thing he saw when he opened the wallet was Kiyono Lin's student card.

"Lead powder-black lustrous hair, a moonlit cool little face, aloof as a rare flower." Dubian Che commented while taking out a 500-yen coin from the wallet.

"It's no use flattering me, remember to pay me back."

"You're quite particular about money, aren't you? Whoever marries you won't have any financial freedom, right?"

"I suggest you start by giving me that dubious 100 billion yen to manage, so you don't end up buying a house for someone again."

"I'm taking your 500 yen, yet you're eyeing my 100 billion?"

They arrived at the vending machine in the corner of the fifth floor.

Other than the green "Emergency Exit" sign, it was the only lighted spot.

Insects that couldn't seem to decide whether it was the end of summer or the start of fall clung to the glass.

The red machine, with its bright light, was too harsh for eyes accustomed to the dark, and Kiyono Lin looked away after a glance.

Dubian Che inserted the coin, buying an oolong tea and a cola.

The cola can and the plastic bottle fell with a clang, louder than usual.

"The sound of a drink dropping at night somehow seems nicer than in the daytime, there's a touch of loneliness to it." Dubian Che picked up the drinks and handed the bottle to Kiyono Lin.

"Remember the money."

"Goodness, you!"

"And the 100 billion."

"That's mine."

The next morning at six, Xiaoquan Aonai was the first to wake.

She instinctively looked towards Dubian Che; his bed was already empty, he must have gone for a morning run.

She glanced at the others—Mayi Asuka was sleeping quietly, her face turned towards the classroom door.

Ichiki Aoi slept in a weird position, as if basking in the sun, but her expression was undoubtedly peaceful.

Xiaoquan Aonai reached out to cover her with a blanket.

Jiutiao Meijie faced towards Dubian Che's direction, her sleeping face incredibly cute and her breathing soft.

Kiyono Lin's sleeping posture was the most standard, exactly the same way she looked when asleep and when she woke up.

'So some people really don't change their position during sleep and stay beautiful,' she marveled inwardly as she sat up.

"Teacher?" Kiyono Lin sat up; she had been woken up again.

"Did I wake you?" Xiaoquan Aonai whispered, "Go back to sleep, it's still early for seven o'clock."

Kiyono Lin just shook her head, too drained to speak.

She had been woken by Dubian Che the night before, and fell back asleep, only to be occasionally woken up by Ichiki Aoi talking in her sleep or moving around. In the morning, it was Dubian Che again, and now Xiaoquan Aonai.

She looked thoroughly sleep-deprived.

The two of them left their beds without making them, to avoid waking the others, and left everything as it was, just like Dubian Che.

They changed clothes quietly, and instead of going to the dedicated washroom, they went to the sink in front of the third-floor music room used for cleaning instruments.

Outside the corridor window, they could see the track and the baseball field.

On the track, Dubian Che was running laps alone.

"Dubian is really disciplined," Xiaoquan Aonai said as she squeezed out the toothpaste.

"Ah~~" Kiyono Lin yawned; she wasn't the least bit interested in physical exercise.

They brushed their teeth and washed up while watching Dubian Che on the track to pass the time.

After cleaning up, they went to the kitchen to prepare breakfast.

"A simple curry with a bowl of soup will do," Kiyono Lin said, tying an apron around her waist, "I'll chop the vegetables."

"Okay, I'll wash the rice," Xiaoquan Aonai rolled up her sleeves, revealing her slender wrist.

The two worked together seamlessly, and the food slowly began to take shape and smell delicious.

"The curry's almost ready," Xiaoquan Aonai turned her head to Kiyono Lin.

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