After ruling out the impossible option of blushing due to a cold, the answer became clear.
'Could Sagiri already be aware of the differences between boys and girls?'
Izumi Chihiro guessed in his heart.
Although she was an elementary school student, education here started very early, and teachers could provide scientific knowledge if they wished.
He wasn't Sagiri's biological brother, so it was quite normal for her to react to such physical contact.
He remembered in his previous life, in middle school, he had a desk-mate who was a rather ruffian hot girl; she would pat his thigh during class, tease him in various ways, making him blush profusely.
If it had been him in high school, he probably would have been able to Throw off the hot girl's left hand with a poker face...
For Sagiri, who hadn't grown up yet, such physical contact being more sensitive was to be expected.
"Ni-san, I'm going back."
Sagiri's face returned to normal, and she handed his phone back to him.
"Go back... Oh, and don't be too impatient. Remember that nothing can be achieved overnight. You're still growing, so even when you're working, you shouldn't stay up late."
Izumi Chihiro reminded her.
"Mhm, I know. Thank you for your guidance, Ni-san."
Sagiri's face bloomed into a smile.
...
As November arrived, the weather grew colder and colder, and pedestrians on the street all put on scarves.
"The most hated season is coming again."
Eriri stopped, looking up at the sky, as if snowflakes were falling there, freezing her soul bit by bit.
For a girl with a weak constitution, every winter was a headache.
Every time she took a leave of absence, she would worry if people at Shimamura Middle School were talking about her again, using the nickname 'Shimamura Middle School's Jade Maiden' to refer to her.
Although no one would mention it openly, she always felt a faint unease in her heart.
"You're well-prepared, aren't you? You're wearing a scarf so early this year? And you're dressed quite warmly too... This is learning from experience!"
Izumi Chihiro walked up from behind, noticing her attire: thickened black stockings on her legs, thick clothing inside her school uniform top, and the white scarf he had given her around her neck.
"Chihiro, why are you smiling? Don't smile!"
Eriri saw her childhood friend's half-smiling, teasing expression and immediately became displeased.
"You're too sensitive, Eriri, I haven't said anything yet."
A few black lines seemed to appear on Izumi Chihiro's forehead.
"By the time you say it, it'll be too late! Don't provoke me, if I get angry, you'll suffer the consequences!"
Eriri's tone was strong, her expression as if to say, 'I already know what you're going to say.'
"Yes, yes, my lady, whatever you say, I won't say anything, alright?"
Izumi Chihiro spread his hands, still maintaining a playful attitude.
"Seeing how sensible you are, I'll let you off today."
Eriri was quite pleased by this, her proud hmph expression very triumphant.
"Oh, by the way, Eriri, aren't you riding your bike today?"
Izumi Chihiro suddenly felt that something was missing, and after a brief recollection, he discovered the truth behind the incongruity.
Today's girls would use transportation in the morning and afternoon, so did she give up?
"It's too cold."
Eriri answered very simply and directly, without any concealment.
Her hands are still in her pockets, warming up!
If she were to ride her bike down Detective Slope on such a cold morning, her hands and face would probably be red from the wind.
"So that's it, I thought there was some important reason."
He nodded gently.
"Don't always make everything so complicated, Baka!"
Eriri immediately said loudly and proudly.
"That's not complicated, it's just a reasonable guess."
He retorted.
"So you're saying I'm simple-minded?"
Eriri's expression gradually became ferocious.
"To be able to associate from that to this, Eriri, your mind should not be simple."
If he could, Izumi Chihiro would want to applaud her right now.
But considering the possibility of escalating the conflict, he still gave up.
Eriri frowned.
Was that a compliment or a taunt?
Her mind couldn't quite wrap around it.
Unconsciously, the two had already walked into the train.
This time, as soon as they entered, they happened to meet Nishikino Maki sitting in the adjacent seat.
"Sawamura?"
"Izumi?"
"Nishikino?"
The three were each surprised.
It wasn't the first time any two of them had met on the train; whether it was him and Nishikino Maki, or Eriri and Nishikino Maki, they had met while taking the train in the morning before.
However, it was the first time that all three of them met at the same time.
The two sat down in the empty seats, and it's worth mentioning that he sat in the middle.
This was because Eriri and Nishikino Maki didn't really communicate much, and if they were face to face, it would easily cause awkwardness.
But as acquaintances, it was a rare meeting, so they couldn't possibly sit far away, could they?
That would be too disrespectful.
"Good morning, Nishikino."
Izumi Chihiro greeted first.
"Good morning, Izumi, Sawamura… This should be the first time all three of us have met on the train, right?"
Nishikino Maki didn't pretend to be aloof, but quickly responded.
"I guess… it is."
Eriri said in a flat tone.
Their relationship was a bit stiff.
Izumi Chihiro had no choice but to interject: "This shows that the three of us are destined; we can attend the same middle school and take the same train."
After riding so many times, only meeting once, is that really destined?
Nishikino Maki ignored this unspoken fact and continued to converse with the other party.
Due to half a year of being deskmates, the two had already coordinated a lot, so they also knew what topics the other person was interested in.
This ensured that the atmosphere in the train didn't turn into an ice cellar.
Although the two intentionally or unintentionally tried to include Eriri in their conversation, Eriri still felt a bit awkward.
Why do I feel like an outsider now!
Looking at how happily the two were chatting, she felt unwilling in her heart.
Suddenly, her gaze sharpened, and she remembered something.
"Oh, right, Nishikino and Chihiro are deskmates now, aren't they? And she really likes music… Could it be…!"
In an instant, Eriri thought of white album, and immediately substituted the character 'Toma Kazusa' for her.
This is too similar!
Old Thief, could this be something you calculated?
At this moment, she felt a strange sense of crisis.
If it's according to the game's setting, wouldn't it be…