As she heard the crisp cicadas, she was determined to visit the flowers in Furano, Hokkaido, and she began to burn with excitement.

Other than during class, even in the teacher's office while looking at the roses delivered that day, she thought about the day of departure.

Every morning when she woke up and thought about one day closer to the end of the rainy season, she felt invigorated.

Her days became vivid, and her spirits increasingly radiant.

The final exams ended, and there were just a few days left until the summer vacation, days of leisure.

"Mr. Xiaoquan has been looking more and more beautiful lately!" a female teacher in the same office exclaimed.

"A rose every day! How can he not be?" another older female teacher said with a laugh.

"It's mainly because of yesterday—" Akiko drew out her words.

"What happened yesterday?" the female teachers asked curiously.

"Akiko!" Xiaoquan Aonai exclaimed shyly.

"I'm not telling you!" Akiko said proudly to everyone.

"Stingy!"

"Boring!"

When everyone dispersed, Akiko asked Xiaoquan Aonai in a low voice, "You went to see him yesterday and didn't come back for a long time, what happened?"

"Nothing much." Xiaoquan Aonai rearranged the teaching plan she had already organized.

"Nothing?" Akiko took out her phone, "Look at the way you came back yesterday."

In the video, Xiaoquan Aonai looked blissfully happy, sitting on the couch hugging a pillow, her eyes fixated on the TV, occasionally bursting into laughter and burying her face in the pillow.

When she lifted her head, her face was already flushed.

The camera shook, focusing on the TV, which was showing a documentary titled "Finding Tokyo's Most Delicious Ramen," a program that even those with the lowest sense of humor wouldn't find funny.

"Did you film me?!" Xiaoquan Aonai, seeing the inexplicable smile on her own face in the video, blushed and tried to snatch the phone, "Delete it quickly!"

"Just tell me what you did yesterday!"

"Did nothing! Delete it!"

"I don't believe you!" Akiko guarded her phone.

Seeing that snatching it was futile, Xiaoquan Aonai, her face red, looked around to make sure no one was listening and whispered to Akiko:

"He won first place nationally, so..."

Her voice trailed off.

Akiko's eyes widened in shock, "You guys did what?!"

"Of course not!" Xiaoquan Aonai slapped her lightly, checking her surroundings, "Just hugged for a moment."

"That's it?"

"And... kissed."

"Kissed where?" Akiko focused intently, like a student taking her studies seriously.

Xiaoquan Aonai, with her head down and face blushing, slowly raised her hand and pointed to her soft lips.

Even Akiko, as a woman, couldn't help but be moved by the sight of the shy Xiaoquan Aonai.

Just imagining the scene:

Xiaoquan Aonai with closed eyes, tilting up a face that was shy yet slightly fearful and hopeful, as Dubian Che slowly moved closer to savour the softness of her lips.

The more she thought, the more Akiko felt a fire burning inside her.

"Akiko! What's wrong with you?" Xiaoquan Aonai suddenly yelled, startled.

"Me? What do you mean..." A liquid flowed from her nose, she reached up to wipe it, and saw it was all blood.

"Don't move, I'll get you a tissue!" Xiaoquan Aonai quickly grabbed some tissues for her.

Akiko pressed the tissue to her nose, which quickly became soaked in red; she hurriedly replaced it with a new one.

"Have you been feeling hot recently?" After the initial panic, Xiaoquan Aonai calmed down, showing concern.

"It's all because of you." Akiko's voice was muffled because her nose was blocked.

"Because of me? Did I recently make some hot spicy dish? But only you got a nosebleed." Xiaoquan Aonai handed her more tissues, "Go see Miyuki in the infirmary."

"Help me get there." Having a nosebleed made her a patient, Akiko acted spoiled.

"Alright, alright, I'll help you out." Xiaoquan Aonai helped her get up.

"Grab the tissues." Akiko reminded.

Outside, the campus buzzed with noise.

For Goda students, who must study diligently, it was only during these few days between the end of final exams and the arrival of summer remedial classes that they could truly relax.

Reaching the first floor, they saw a reporter interviewing an ace pitcher at Koshien, whose name Akiko couldn't remember.

Reportedly, he had been very active in the semi-finals of the East Tokyo regional competition.

"So I hear your team promised that if you don't make it to the Koshien finals, the entire team will kneel at the school gate and apologize to all the teachers and students in a dogeza (formal kneeling bow)?"

"Yes. It's a do or die situation with no retreat, which can inspire our maximum potential and desire to win. Moreover, our school supports us more and more each year, especially the principal who allocated a lot of funds so we could use the best equipment and facilities. We must live up to that…"

The pair arrived at the infirmary, and by then, Akiko's nosebleed had stopped by itself.

After the afternoon classes, the students were let out early, and the teachers attended a staff meeting.

The three female teachers sat in a corner.

The principal, the head of teaching, and the physical education teacher were at the front.

After the head of the teaching department reported the first semester's final exam results, the principal started praising outstanding teachers.

"Miss Tanaka Ayaka of Class 1-1, whose class includes Asuka Rika, who achieved ninth place nationwide among the first-years."

"Miss Xiaoquan Aonai of Class 2-4..."

Akiko nudged Xiaoquan Aonai with her elbow.

Because the principal was looking their way, Xiaoquan Aonai kept a serious expression, not daring to make any extra movements.

"Mr. Dubian Che once again won the national first place, while Kiyono and Jiutiao tied for second."

"In an effort by the school, including four universities at Imperial University level, it's promised: as long as these three students maintain such rankings in the second semester, they can enter the university without exams."

"This is an incredible honor, even for our prestigious private school!"

"They rigged it, didn't they? When this gets out, they'll attract more students next year, right?" Akiko commented while looking forward, her lips barely moving.

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