When the last class of the day, which is the start of Golden Week tomorrow, was over, the entire class prepared to leave with a clear face. As a result of this, Masato quickly finished cleaning up and got up from his seat.

''Yuto. What's your hurry?　It's a holiday tomorrow, okay?　You don't even have a job today, do you?　Let's just take a quick detour home.

Sorry!　I've got some plans now, and I have to go. Bye!

　As Yuto was leaving the classroom, he walked past Mari without noticing her coming to pick up Shizuka.
　Mari was surprised and called out to Yuto from behind in a loud voice.

''Yuto!　What's the plan?　We need to talk!

　Recognizing Mari's voice, Yuto replied in a loud voice as if turning around.

''It's that qualification test you mentioned before!　It starts today!　Sorry!　I'm in a hurry!

'You can't take an exam on a day like this... what?　Starting today.... aren't exams just for one day?

'Yes!　We meet today, and we have a three-day exam tomorrow!　Bye!

　Mari made an unexplained expression as she looked in the direction of Masato's disappearance between the corridor and Class D.

'I had to talk to you but then it's not nearly the whole holiday.

　Although she muttered softly, Mari herself didn't actually know how to start talking to him, even if she called him off, she didn't know how to start.
　Tomorrow, the first day of Golden Week, Mari was also off from her club activities, and she had planned to invite Masato to join her. I was going to tell you earlier, but Mari was not able to say it, and it became today.

''Why don't you try calling her?　We're going to talk, aren't we?

　From behind Mari, Shizuka appeared with a hickey and called out to Mari.

''It's okay!　After all, if you think about it, it's not that big of a deal...

Hmm.

What's with the giant, condescending look on your face?

'Nothing~. But we just need to talk, so why don't we just get in touch?

'It's okay. It's not that you have to rush it..... I don't think it's a good idea for you to get in the way of your efforts to start a part-time job.

"Hmmm..... Hmmm, then......... Oh, by the way, did you say that you are taking a certification exam, DoDou-kun?　From what Mari said, is this some kind of detective work?

'What?　Shh, I don't know, I haven't heard much about it.

　Shizuka looks exceptionally surprised.

''Eh!　Didn't Mari question Dou Dou Dou-kun?　Heh, ho-ho-ho. It can be very unusual~

''Because Yuto says it with a determined look on his face........no!　It's because I wasn't really interested, and besides, I've never done anything to question Yuto on a regular basis!

'Haha, okay, okay. But is a three-day exam like a training camp?　Ahhhh, hmmm......well, it's dangerous.

What are you talking about?

No, I don't know what kind of test it is, but I wonder if some girls take that test too?　You know. There are many times when people who are taking the same examinations hit it off with each other. And when it comes to training camps....you know, there have been a few couples in our club that got their start at a joint camp with boys, right?

....

That's why Mari had a bunch of confessions, too.

....

''Mari you have to do your best. Also, you should keep in touch with Dou Dou Dou-kun, right?　Considering how much of a mess you've been in lately, I've got to make sure I don't get any bad bugs.

'I am!　I-I didn't mean it!

Oh, that's not what I mean. It's just that you don't seem to be used to it, and you're easily trapped by the wrong girls. It's a pity, right?　So, Mari is a fellow student of the Kenjutsu Dojo, so it means you won't get a bang for your buck if you pay attention to that.

Eh.......... Ah!　I see. Honestly, I don't have the right to do that much for you, but it can't be helped. Well, I don't think there's any girl who'll take care of Yuto. I can't take care of them at all....... Ha~ah, then, let's go practice.

　With that said, Mari walked towards the kendo club's club room with a more animated face than before.
　Shizuka grinned while watching her back.

'This one's a bit of a pain to take care of, though.

　However, it was extremely difficult for Mari to get in touch with Yuto and talk to him in person, as she didn't even know where he was taking the exam he was going to take, and also because he didn't have a cell phone and there was no landline phone at his current house.

'What can I take care of?'

　Ichigo walked out of the classroom, seemingly without a place to be, after Yuto rejected his invitation.

'Nah, it's nothing,'

'Hmm. Ahhhh, what are we going to do now?　Yuto's gone too.

Hakamada-kun should join the club.　You're an athlete.

Yeah, I'm good.

Yes...... Ah, you're right, Hakamada-kun. I've been wanting to ask Hakamada-kun for a while now...

Hmm, what?

　Shizuka said, glaring at Ichigo a bit. It was an expression that wasn't like the always vivacious Shizuka.

''Hakamada-kun knows that Do-Do-Do's personal life is difficult.... Why did you bring the job of 'helper' to Dawoodu-kun like that?　I feel a little sorry for you.

　Shizuka had been wondering about Ichigo's behavior. So she had hoped to hear about this one day.
　Partly because recently, Shizuka didn't think that Ichigo was someone who kept annoying his friends with just pranks.
　Ichigo scratched his head at Shizuka's question with a subtle expression that wasn't like him.

'Oh, hmmm, what can I say? I want Yuto to get more involved with everyone, or...''

'What?　........hmmm.

What the...?

''Haha, I see. You want everyone to know the good things about your favorite Dou Dou Dou-kun, but you're too embarrassed to say it yourself, so.......?

'Hey!　Dude!　Pseudo-detective!　It's just that I....

You're not being honest.

'It really isn't!　 I'm worried about the...

..........

　Shizuka gets a mysterious look on her face as Ichigo's words remind her that she had completely forgotten about her fellow junior high school student, Yuto. Despite the fact that they were in the same class in junior high school.

'Actually, you see, when I got to junior high school I forgot about that guy too...'

What?

　Shizuka was puzzled by Ichigo's unexpected words.

'As soon as Yuto became a junior high school student, after the incident in Shinagawa I missed a couple of months of school and when he first came to school I was like, who the hell is this guy?　I thought. I even thought I was a transfer student.

Because Hakamada-kun...

Yeah, I thought we were best friends. Of course ... well, we still are, you know.

'Yeah you're right.

　Ichigo lowered his eyes a bit. It could be seen in his self-loathing trapped expression.

'That guy was floating around from the whole class, and for some reason he was struggling to study. I'm also wondering if he's falling behind in his studies because he's been absent and I'm wondering if I can lend him my notebook.　I spoke to him.

..........

That's when he laughed and said, "Thanks, Ichigo!　I said.

　Ichigo let out a breath.

'So then, after what I said in response to that... I can't forget the look on Yujin's face.

"...what did you say?

I said, "You're a familiar face... I said to him.

Eh....

Then ... he looked forlorn ... and said ... I'm sorry.

　Shizuka didn't miss the fact that Ichigo showed a pained expression for a moment. The always cheerful Shizuka also asks Ichigo to choose her words.

''So when did you........remember?''

''That's all of a sudden. It all started when I saw Shirasawa-san scolding Masato and teaching him to study, and it seemed like a nostalgic or natural scene... then and there, right then and there, it all happened out of the blue.

..........

''After that, you and Yuto and I got back to our normal relationship right away. It was a bit awkward at first because of things like I said earlier.

Yeah, I know. But ... it's kind of unbelievable, isn't it?

Yeah.........it's something I'm still wondering about. But, that's why I thought that........I want everyone to be more aware of you. I don't think it would be good for you, though.

　Shizuka also gives her usual bright smile to Ichigo, who laughs at her in a self-mocking manner.

''That's not true. I was very satisfied when I heard that. Hakamada-kun also thinks about his friends in a surprising way, unlike his appearance.

It's superfluous to be different than it looks. f*ck!　Since you've gone, why don't we invite Yuta too?

　To cover his embarrassment, Ichigo says bluntly, and forces himself to hook up with Shinki Yuuta, who he's recently befriended and is about to go straight home.
　Seeing Ichigo's demeanor, Shizuka chuckles with a kind face and leaves for her own club activities.