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"Mutsumi, if you want to know what happiness feels like, then come on a date with us, okay?"
Takamatsu Tomori extended the invitation.
Facing Tomori's invitation for a trio, Wakaba Mutsumi was silent for two seconds, then expressionlessly agreed:
"Okay."
Since the matter had just been settled, Kitahara Makoto naturally had no objections:
"Then let's go. We'll buy hats first."
"…"
On the way to the mall, Tomori informed Soyo and Sakiko of the situation.
Soon after, both girls sent messages, anxiously inquiring about Mutsumi's condition.
Kitahara Makoto currently didn't know the exact situation, so he could only reassure them and wait until tomorrow when the answer book's question count reset to know the truth.
A moment later.
Kitahara Makoto led the two girls into a clothing store.
"Still according to the previous plan, I pick a hat for Tomori, and Tomori picks a hat for me?"
Kitahara Makoto said softly.
"Okay."
Takamatsu Tomori's small face flushed slightly as she agreed.
After speaking, she remembered that Wakaba Mutsumi was right behind her, so Tomori quickly said:
"And Mutsumi, Makoto-kun, don't forget to pick a hat for Mutsumi."
"Got it." Kitahara Makoto nodded slightly. "Then I'll pick two."
The two parties separated and wandered around the shop.
A few minutes later.
Kitahara Makoto, holding two hats, reunited with the two girls.
"Tomori, try this hat."
Kitahara Makoto handed over a bucket hat with stars of various sizes and colors on it.
"Thank you, Makoto-kun."
Takamatsu Tomori took the hat, put it on her head, then pressed the brim with both hands, tilting her small face slightly, looking over expectantly.
"Super cute."
Kitahara Makoto was not stingy with his praise.
Takamatsu Tomori's small face flushed slightly. She was about to hand the hat she had chosen to Kitahara Makoto, but halfway through, she suddenly remembered Mutsumi behind her and quickly stepped back half a pace, saying:
"Makoto-kun, what about the hat you bought for Mutsumi?"
Wakaba Mutsumi silently followed behind Tomori, neither speaking nor hurrying, simply being exceptionally quiet.
"This is it." Kitahara Makoto handed over the other black and white panda hat. "I didn't know what kind of hat Wakaba liked, so I just picked one for you."
"Thank you."
Wakaba Mutsumi thanked him politely, but her voice showed no emotional fluctuation.
"Mutsumi, do you feel happy?"
Takamatsu Tomori asked in a lowered voice.
"I don't feel anything."
Wakaba Mutsumi shook her head slightly.
Takamatsu Tomori pursed her pink lips, indicating understanding.
The reason she was happy was because Kitahara Makoto gave her the hat, but Mutsumi and Makoto-kun had only met today; it wouldn't be an exaggeration to call them strangers.
If a stranger suddenly gave her a hat, she wouldn't be happy either; she would only resist, right?
Kitahara Makoto accepted the return gifts from the two girls, then immediately headed to the aquarium again.
Taking a taxi was out of the question; the three of them took the train and slowly made their way there.
Arriving at the aquarium.
Because Tomori often came to play, she had an annual pass. Kitahara Makoto and Wakaba Mutsumi were visiting for the first time, so they needed to buy tickets to enter. Fortunately, the tickets weren't expensive, and students even got a discount.
"This is my first time at an aquarium. I'll leave the tour guide duties to Tomori," Kitahara Makoto said softly.
"Leave it to me!" Takamatsu Tomori clenched her small fists, as if taking on an important mission, her small face full of seriousness and anticipation.
It proved that no one is naturally introverted, reticent, or difficult to approach. Often, it's just that the topic of conversation doesn't interest the other person.
The aquarium happened to be an area of interest for Takamatsu Tomori. Once she connected with Tomori, the normally quiet girl also had moments of speaking profusely.
Of course, Kitahara Makoto always gave appropriate responses, and he didn't forget to say a few words to Wakaba Mutsumi, who was following behind them.
Unfortunately, it was no use.
When Wakaba Mutsumi occasionally responded, it was only simple interjections like 'Oh,' 'Mm,' or 'Ah.' Mutsumi truly lived up to her name.
"...Tomori has changed."
"She's become more cheerful."
Watching Takamatsu Tomori, whose eyes sparkled as she happily introduced various fish in the underwater tunnel, a subtle emotion welled up in Wakaba Mutsumi's heart.
Back when the Kessoku Band hadn't disbanded, even within the Kessoku Band, Takamatsu Tomori wasn't a talkative or cheerful person. Now, she could casually converse with a boy... It was incredible.
Her gaze shifted slightly, and Wakaba Mutsumi looked at Kitahara Makoto again.
"Why can this boy make Soyo, who likes to hide her true feelings, and Tomori, who is introverted and sensitive, all happy?"
"And... can he make me experience what happiness feels like?"
After a long tour of the aquarium and seeing the clumsy penguins, the final event was the dolphin show.
When Takamatsu Tomori led them there, the dolphinarium was already packed with people, a vast sea of humanity as far as the eye could see.
"There's an empty seat there."
Kitahara Makoto had excellent eyesight and spotted an empty seat in the corner.
He pulled Tomori and hurried over, finally sitting down. However, when he turned his head, the empty seat next to him had been taken by someone else. The entire row of benches was full, leaving only Wakaba Mutsumi, who was a few steps behind, standing alone in the aisle.
"..."
Silence for two seconds.
Wakaba Mutsumi was expressionless and turned to leave.
"Mutsumi, don't go!" Takamatsu Tomori quickly called out.
Kitahara Makoto let out a soft breath and quickly said, "Wakaba-kun, come sit with Tomori. I'll go find another seat."
"No need." Wakaba Mutsumi shook her head, her tone indifferent. "You and Tomori can be together. I'm fine by myself."
"We said all three of us would go together. How can we leave Mutsumi behind? If we leave, we all leave..."
Takamatsu Tomori was about to get up and leave together when she suddenly saw a girl in the front row of the audience, who also couldn't find a seat, directly sitting on her boyfriend's lap.
A flash of inspiration went through Takamatsu Tomori's mind, and she quickly said, "Mutsumi, you can also sit on Makoto-kun's lap."
"..."
Kitahara Makoto looked over in shock.
To let another girl sit on my lap, Tomori is too generous!
"The show is about to start!" Takamatsu Tomori quickly urged, "Mutsumi, hurry and sit down, don't block other audience members... Besides, by sitting on Makoto-kun's lap, Mutsumi might be able to experience what happiness feels like."
I'm sorry.
I'm not a massage chair; I can't make people feel happy!
"..."
Wakaba Mutsumi was silent for two seconds, then quietly walked over.
"Wait a moment." Kitahara Makoto turned to look at Tomori beside him and couldn't help but say, "Tomori, you sit on my lap, and let Wakaba-kun sit in your seat."
"There are too many people..." Takamatsu Tomori's small face was flushed, and she quickly shook her head.
Tomori was already an introverted and sensitive person, always worrying that her every move would be magnified and noticed by others. In short, it was the standard spotlight effect in psychology.
Asking her to sit on a boy's lap in public was indeed beyond her tolerance.
But just because you don't want to sit doesn't mean Wakaba Mutsumi wants to sit!
They had only known each other for less than half a day. To ask her to sit on a stranger's lap, even Mutsumi wouldn't agree, right?
However, the next second, Kitahara Makoto realized he was wrong.
He saw Wakaba Mutsumi cover her skirt with her hand, look down, and say expressionlessly, "Makoto-kun, can I sit?"
Kitahara Makoto: "..."
You can just call me Kitahara-kun; you don't need to follow Tomori and call me that!
"Does Wakaba-kun really want to sit?" Kitahara Makoto asked with a raised eyebrow.
"Mm." Wakaba Mutsumi's tone was completely flat. "Tomori said I could experience what happiness feels like, so I want to try."
Kitahara Makoto whispered, "Wakaba-kun, aren't you worried I'm a bad person?"
Wakaba Mutsumi's tone was indifferent: "Someone who can make Soyo and Tomori happy won't be a bad person."
Kitahara Makoto: "..."
At the same time, the host had already taken the stage, and the performance was about to begin.
It was indeed too late to find a seat now. Kitahara Makoto hesitated for two seconds, then said, "Wakaba-kun, please sit down."
Wakaba Mutsumi nodded slightly, covered her skirt, and sat on Kitahara Makoto's lap.
So fragrant.
A quiet fragrance, like orchids and musk, immediately wafted into Kitahara Makoto's nostrils. He couldn't tell if it was shampoo or shower gel, or perhaps the girl's natural scent, but it was a pervasive, delicate aroma.
The second feeling was how light she was.
Mutsumi felt as light as nothing; he could lift her entire body with a slight effort.
Kitahara Makoto secretly glanced over, his gaze sweeping past the girl's fair, slender swan neck, then landing on Mutsumi's face.
Mutsumi's gaze was indifferent, staring straight ahead. Her pretty face had smooth, doll-like, fair skin, and her cute, rounded earlobes showed no signs of redness... It was confirmed: Mutsumi showed no shyness at all; she truly just saw him as a seat.
Emotional deficiency?
Or not knowing how to express herself?
Kitahara Makoto withdrew his gaze and looked at Takamatsu Tomori beside him.
"Makoto-kun, I'm sorry, I caused you trouble." Takamatsu Tomori said softly, her eyes apologetic.
Well, not only was there no jealousy, but she also thoughtfully apologized. Tomori was clearly a saint!
"It's okay, it's a special situation..." Kitahara Makoto naturally didn't say much, and said gently, "The show has started, let's watch the show first."
There's no need to elaborate on the performance; in short, it was incredibly lively, especially with some children in the front rows cheering non-stop.
One of the beluga whales seemed to be a show-off; the louder the children cheered, the more excited it became, occasionally splashing water with its tail, and finally leaping out of the water entirely.
Splash!
Water splashed everywhere.
The first few rows were all soaked, and even Kitahara Makoto and the other two sitting in the corner were almost drenched.
Wakaba Mutsumi instinctively recoiled, and what was originally just sitting on Kitahara Makoto's lap became her entire body sliding directly into Kitahara Makoto's embrace.
"Hiss..."
Kitahara Makoto couldn't help but take a sharp breath.
For a male high school student, such a stimulation was unbearable.
"I'm sorry." Wakaba Mutsumi turned to look over and whispered, "I sat on Makoto-kun's phone..."
Before she finished speaking, Wakaba Mutsumi's gaze suddenly focused, landing on Kitahara Makoto's right hand.
Kitahara Makoto had just been filming the dolphin show, and his right hand was indeed holding his phone.
"..."
Silence for two seconds.
A faint, almost imperceptible blush rose on Wakaba Mutsumi's pretty face, and she whispered, "I'm sorry, I sat on your 'ochin'..."
"Don't say it!" Kitahara Makoto quickly interrupted, "It's just my phone!"
Don't say random things in public; you'll embarrass yourself!
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