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"No." Natsume Rin's tone was a little cold, which made him doubt when he was infected by Yukino.
This is how she likes to speak, without any regard for the other person's feelings, and simply telling the truth of the matter.
"First of all, you won't change, so don't rush to deny it. Secondly, if you want to change, you have to keep your distance from Hayama and the others. This will make Ebina think that you are running away because your confession failed."
"Tobe Xiang, just like I said, if you choose to let go now, you can still make amends. The most you can do is back out of the fight under the ridicule of a few people. Once you take this step, there is no turning back."
Until the end, Natsume Rin did not scold him back. After returning to the hotel, she reported the matter to Ebina and the director.
"He said he would never break up with everyone just because you rejected him. This is all I can do."
"Minister, the plan failed. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs was more persistent than I thought, but at least their friendship was preserved."
After sending the message, Natsume Rin didn't even look at Tobe Sho who was also staying in the room, she covered herself with the quilt and went to sleep.
It was not until noon that he drowsily felt a cool touch on his cheek that woke him up. When he opened his eyes, it was Shiina Mahiru squatting in front of him, curiously putting her little hand on his face.
"This should be the boys' room, right?"
"But they didn't say that girls are not allowed to enter, and there aren't many people here at this time. Hurry up and get up, we have an event this afternoon."
Natsume Rin sat up from the bed, looked around the room, and found that there were indeed not many people. She looked at Mahiru helplessly and chose to send her out first.
"Why? It's not like you haven't seen it before."
"Get out quickly!"
Chapter 139: Lanshan Bamboo Forest
The so-called afternoon activity was to eat a lot of food in the snack street. Natsume Rin, who was fed all the way, could not hold back her smile when she saw Shiina Mahiru continuing to buy things without any scruples.
She basically took a bite of everything she bought and threw it into his hands, which was clearly intentional.
"You'll fail no matter what you say. That Tobe Sho is more determined than you can imagine." Yukino, who was holding the grilled fish in her hand, licked it in small sips. She also had a headache after listening to Natsume Rin's detailed account of what happened.
It is basically difficult to have a normal way of dealing with such stubborn people.
"What's the use of just having confidence? He can't succeed. Shiina, don't buy any more. I can't eat any more." Natsume Rin gritted her teeth and took another bite of the pancake. Seeing that Shiina Mahiru wanted to continue shopping, she finally gave in.
Satisfied, Shiina Mahiru stopped giving money, took out the photos and searched for a long time, then turned the screen towards the two of them.
"Where is this?" Yukino looked at the bamboo forest on the screen, not knowing what Shiina meant.
"Arashiyama Bamboo Forest, I heard that this is where the confession will take place tonight. It won't take long to get there by car, so let's go over and take a look later."
Shiina Mahiru looked very excited.
This area is a beautiful place even when viewed on a mobile phone. It will definitely be more beautiful if the lights are turned on at night. No wonder some people choose this place as a confession location.
"Even the confession venue has been revealed." Yukino said softly.
"Now that we know the outcome, even I can't bear to watch these things, so let's go and watch the fun." Natsume Rin agreed with Shiina's opinion in high spirits.
He had wasted so much time talking but still couldn't completely defeat Tobe Sho, so he was just waiting for a few words from Ebina tonight to break his defense.
"Can't you just calm down?" Yukino first lectured him in a low voice, then rubbed her hair and calmly agreed to their suggestion.
She didn't want to see other classmates in such a miserable state, she just thought the bamboo forest in the photo was very charming and perfect for viewing at night.
"Do you have a confirmed time? I'll plan the trip."
Natsume Rin discussed with Mahiru with great interest. Her information came from Miura, so there was no problem with the accuracy. After knowing that the confession would take place in the evening, time became leisurely again.
They strolled leisurely along the street, found a chair to sit on the roadside when they were tired, and bought some snacks when they were hungry. When passing by the river, the three of them were in high spirits and went up the bridge to take a lot of photos in the dusk.
"Xiaoxue looks so beautiful in this picture. This color scheme suits you very well."
After taking a photo of Yukino, Shiina Mahiru at the bridge head ran towards them with her short legs to share the picture.
Natsume Rin stole a few glances and had to admit that in the twilight hue, Yukino was leaning against the short bridge, her face calm and her eyes melancholy, like a heroine who had snuck out of a Western oil painting.
"It's just so-so, or you could say I suit most tones." Yukino was also very satisfied with the photo, but she still sounded stubborn when she spoke.
"Because Xiaoxue is very beautiful, this is normal. It's my turn now!"
Yukino took the phone and wanted to take a picture of her, but as soon as she returned to the photographer's position, the faint smile on her face gradually disappeared.
Shiina Mahiru grabbed Natsume Rin's arm and pulled him to her side forcefully, then smiled brightly at Xiaoxue.
Since she doesn't take any action, don't blame yourself for being too proactive.
"Xiaoxue, we're ready!"
Yukinoshita Yukino held up her cell phone expressionlessly and recorded the couple. The emotions in her heart were indescribable.
Should she tell Shiina Mahiru the truth?
Even someone as upright as her began to look forward to seeing what kind of sad face the happy Shiina-san would show when everything was exposed.
"We look very compatible in the photo." Shiina Mahiru leaned against Natsume, very satisfied with the effect shown on the phone.
"That's because I'm too photogenic. It's always the same no matter who I take a photo with." Natsume Rin pouted, feeling a little bitter in her heart.
Why does it feel more and more wrong? He is clearly here to watch other people have fun, but he doesn't want to become the protagonist in the end.
He was a little scared of Shiina Mahiru's actions these days. He could be so righteous when teaching Tobe Sho a lesson and mocking Hayama, but when he was faced with a choice, he seemed to be no different from everyone else.
"It's obvious that I look better on camera, Xiaoxue, come and see." The complacent Shiina Mahiru continued to provoke Yukino. Seeing the director watching coldly, Mahiru felt that victory was in sight.
Although a senior student suddenly showed up this morning with great momentum, she had obviously left the other party far behind. Besides, she was already a veteran in the third year and was not busy preparing for the exam. Why was she competing with these newcomers?
Even if you catch me, won't you still leave high school soon?
"Hello! What a coincidence, Natsume-kun, are you guys going to Arashiyama too?"
When Shiina Mahiru was feeling proud, the senior sister Kasumigaoka whom she had complained about appeared in front of them waving her long arms.
Looking affectionately at this junior schoolmate, Kasumigaoka Utaha walked up to Shiina Mahiru without any hesitation and thanked her for helping her carry her luggage in the morning.
"I regret it now." Natsume Rin watched their verbal battle painfully, and felt that it would be better to go back to the hotel and sleep.
"It's a pity it's too late. Get ready to get in the car." Yukino said coldly.
The bus to Arashiyama has already stopped in front of me. If I choose to give in now, the consequences will not be any better.
"It's going to be dark soon, senior, aren't you afraid to go to Arashiyama alone?" After getting on the car with few people, Shiina Mahiru was the first to attack Asakagaoka Utaha.
"Of course not. After all, you are a third-year student. How can you be so timid?" Kasumigaoka Utaha smiled and reminded the other party not to forget the age difference.
In an island nation that values seniority, this is indeed a relatively powerful weapon.
"Because you're about to graduate, you want to have no regrets? But senior, regrets are always the norm in life." Shiina Mahiru smiled wryly, trying to defeat her by using the opposite approach in terms of age.
Natsume Rin, who was sitting in the back, stared out the window absentmindedly, and felt that compared with the scenery, the girls' quarrel seemed less interesting.
Stone paths, bamboo forests, streams...
Even when the sky is dark, the scenery is still pleasing to the eye.
"This is all trouble caused by you, remember to take responsibility." Yukino didn't look at him, but lightly used words to dispel Natsume Rin's fantasy.
Chapter 140: Because I Have a Girlfriend
Natsume Rin looked at Yukino sadly. He really wanted to know who he was responsible to.
Is it her sister Haruno, or Mahiru Shiina from the same club, or the enthusiastic and proactive Kasumigaoka senior?
"You shouldn't be looking at me. No matter how you try to argue, it's your own actions that have led you to this state. Get ready to get off the bus." Yukino ignored him and was the first to stand up and get off when the bus stopped at Arashiyama Station.
The bamboo forest is only about ten minutes away from the station, and this group of people who came to watch the show obviously arrived earlier than the real host.
Shiina Mahiru, who was still in contact with Ebina, kept reporting the situation over there. Miura Yumiko was already pulling Ebina up the mountain, and the boys were also rushing over here.
"By the way, what are you doing here so late at night? Are you three going to play a dare?"
The senior who had followed them all the way and even climbed up the mountain just remembered to ask them what they were doing here. Natsume Rin wanted to explain, but the voices on the other side of the bamboo forest path gradually became louder.
"The Ministry of Revenue will definitely succeed this time!"
"We all believe in you. Ebina will definitely not refuse."
The voice was full of laughter and was filled with strong confidence.
The boys' group arrived as scheduled, but the ones who spoke were passers-by who Natsume Rin usually didn't notice. Hayama and Tobe hardly said a word.
In order to avoid replacing the protagonist's role, the few of them calmed down and squatted on one side of the bamboo forest path, with Natsume Rin at the front.
Even if he was discovered, he would not get into any big trouble thanks to his thick skin.
"So that's what you came here for?"
Kasumigaoka Utaha poked Natsume Rin's lower back and asked in a low voice.
"Not entirely. Senior, don't you think the scenery here is beautiful, especially after turning on the lights?" Natsume Rin explained.
Kasumigaoka Utaha stuck her head out and looked at the bamboo forest shrouded in bright yellow light, and felt that what her junior said made sense.
It really is a very suitable place for confession.
Not long after, another protagonist came on stage accompanied by Miura and another female classmate. Ebina looked at the two groups of people at the end of the bamboo forest path who didn't even try to hide, and sighed in his heart.
Even if Natsume told him that Tobe Sho would not separate from everyone because of his rejection, Ebina knew very well that after something like this happened, there was no way the relationship could return to the way it was before.
It would be more convenient to kill her directly than to force her to agree with the other party just because of team relations.
"Hobu, go!"
"Hubu, come on!"
"The Ministry of Household Affairs will definitely succeed!"
Amidst the voices of encouragement and cheering, Natsume Rin clearly saw that the other person's eyes expressed the same emotion as his.
It seems that most of these good friends who encouraged Tobe Xiang to confess were there with the intention of watching the show.
At this time, Hayato Hayama was still able to remain silent, which made him considered a good person.
Tobe Sho, who was pushed out, scratched his conspicuous yellow hair. When he saw Natsume Rin's sympathetic eyes on the other side, the courage he had just mustered seemed to disappear from his body again.
But the encouragement and expectant eyes of his brothers behind him drove him forward in the direction of Ebina.
"Will it succeed?"
Utaha Kasumigaoka, who was watching the show, was almost holding popcorn in her hand, and was watching the confession show on the spot with great interest.