As the members of the lab were chatting with each other in light banter, Erina suddenly opened her mouth with an expression that seemed to come to mind.

'Ah, yes. Butohana and Liddy-chan are in different grades, so I'll put it out in a different way again... but I'll tell the other second year members about the next assignment.

　This is where the assignment is announced. Considering the timing of the assignment, it's also a homework assignment for the year-end and New Year's holidays, and it's going to be a big one.

This time, I'm not going to decide on a theme for the presentation, but rather have the students come up with their own theme. Let me know what equipment you need and I'll provide you with advice.
Oh, I see..... In a manner of speaking, it seems that the planning period is one of the tasks we have to address.
'Yeah, exactly. Yes, you're right, I won't set any limits, so feel free to do what you want. I'm just finishing up a big conference and I have some time on my hands, so if you have any doubts, feel free to ask me.

　Thinking and researching on your own from scratch is a tough task. Well, as usual, Arisa will be able to do it easily, and Kaze will be able to finish it as soon as he's motivated.
　In terms of grades, the ones who will have a hard time are me and Iris-san...well, Iris-san is smarter than me, so I'm going to have the hardest time.
　I want to somehow end this big holiday at the end of the year so that it won't be crushed.

''........Yes!　Eri-chan-sensei!
Yeah?　What's the matter, Arisa?　Perhaps you've already decided on a theme?
It's almost Christmas, so let's do something together in the lab!
"...it had nothing to do with the content at all. This kid is really........free. And yet his grades are at the top of the charts by far....

　It's a very good idea to be able to have a good time with them. It's probably because of the trust that he is a guy who will do what he needs to do.

''Wouldn't it be nice to have a party with everyone?''
...party....sounds fun.
"........You don't have to use us as a dupe, but you can honestly tell Kai-chan--oh, hey!
Oh?　Kaze, are you still in a coma?
'Ouch!　Don't do it, don't be an indirect master--Geez!

　Iris-san's eyes sparkled at the word "party" and she was about to say something, but Kaze-san, who started screaming when Arisa mastered her indirectness.......what is she doing?
　Well, that's it, a party with the lab members...................Honestly, it looks pretty fun.

''Well that sounds like a lot of fun, but where are we going to go?''
'Oh, that's right. Eri-chan-sensei, is it wrong to be here?
No wonder you can't. This is a university laboratory. You can have a meal here, but you can't have a party here.
Hmm, so where do you want to go?
I'll wait until I hear about Butika and Liddy's plans, but you can do it at my place if you want?
'Seriously?　Then let's go with that!

　Erina's parents passed away when she was young, and due to this relationship, she lives alone in a fairly large house. When I heard that we could use it as the venue for the party, Arisa was in a groove and started planning the party.
　It's easy for me to move to Erina's house since it's next door, so I have no objection to it.

　The two seniors who came after us didn't have any problems with our plans, and we ended up discussing the Christmas party plan with the lab members until the evening.
　It's a bit of a lazy story, but this kind of easygoingness is a good thing about this laboratory.







　Since my mother had asked me to do some shopping, I left the lab ahead of her and walked home with Arisa, who had accompanied me on the shopping trip.

'.........Hmmm.......From the ingredients, I'm guessing that today's dinner at Kaito-san's house is like croquettes.
'Fried food, I wonder if my mother's arms are up to it?

　Again, my mom is a terrible cook. It's already at a pretty devastating level... after all, she should have been a housewife for at least 20 years, and if she's still at that level, I don't think she can expect to grow up in the future.
　I'm very worried about the difficulty of frying, but... well, honestly, as far as today is concerned, I don't need to worry about that, do I?

Well, you can leave that to Arisa-chan here. So, may I interrupt you today?
Yeah, sure. Your mother and father will be happy.

　Arisa has been coming over to my house often since our high school days, and both my mom and dad like her. Whenever Arisa comes to visit, we always have dinner together.
　In the e-mail Mom sent me, she also said, "If Arisa-chan is coming, please buy some more ingredients for one of us," so I'm sure she'll be happy to see me.

Then, let's get going!
Oh...

　Seeing Arisa smiling brightly, I walked side by side with her on the road at dusk, realizing how warm I felt.
　But at the same time........what is it?　What about this unspeakable anxiety and loneliness?

　With an unspeakably strange feeling, I moved my gaze and suddenly saw Nanika at the end of the intersection.
　That was.........me?　And Erina?　No, you're dressed differently ... not the familiar white coat, but a black coat?　The two of them walking around with a happy smile on their faces?

...And Mr. To?　Kaijin!
'What?　Huh?　........Arisa?
What's going on?　Stop suddenly?
Oh, no, that intersection right there is where I was, isn't it?
"...yes?　No, there's no one there, okay?　I mean, Kaito-san is here, right?
I'm sorry, it's nothing.

　I couldn't understand what I was saying. Was that a hallucination or something else?　I'm not even sure about that.

'Well, are you sure you're okay?　What's going on today.......you've been acting a little strange this morning, haven't you?
I think I'm going to be okay.
'Ummm ... let's take your fever when we get home, just in case. And I can at least imitate a doctor.
It's great that you can say that in plain sight.

　I really don't know what's wrong with me... or rather, what the hell is going on?
　Somehow I had a feeling that it wouldn't be long before I knew the answer to that question....