"Masao, you're so slow."
Kashi stood at the doorway, complaining quite unhappily.
At this moment, she was fully equipped, holding a crossbow she had made and a pistol made by Tanaka Masao strapped to her waist.
She also wore a hat to shield herself from the sun.
Yukinoshita Yukino also stood nearby, her gaze fixed on Tanaka Masao.
After the weapons were completed, Kashi clamored to go seek revenge on the crow. Yukinoshita Yukino checked the time, found it was almost noon, and agreed to the idea.
It was almost lunchtime, and she couldn't focus on studying anyway.
It would be better to finish the task at hand first, then after lunch, she could study properly in the afternoon.
After discussing, the three planned to go out together.
The main concern was Kashi being bullied by the crow again. Although crows aren't particularly fearsome animals, being too careless could still lead to injury.
It wasn't even impossible to injure an eye.
As the three got ready, they initially thought the two girls would be slower, but in the end, it was Tanaka Masao who took the longest time.
Tanaka Masao said somewhat apologetically,
"Sorry, I was chatting with a friend and got a bit delayed."
Suddenly, he noticed Yukinoshita Yukino's surprised and incredulous gaze.
"What's wrong, Xuezhixia Classmate? Is me chatting with a friend really that surprising?"
Yukinoshita Yukino was a bit embarrassed. She had lost some control because she heard something surprising.
"Sorry, it's just a bit hard to accept right now. After all, at school, Tanaka-kin doesn't have a single friend."
"Stop chatting, let's go quickly, or I won't wait for you two."
Seeing that the two were still talking, Kashi urged them on.
She was just like a bored and annoyed child during New Year's visits when their parents were engrossed in conversation and unwilling to leave.
"Alright."
Tanaka Masao and Yukinoshita Yukino responded, and as they walked, he said,
"I don't have many friends at school, but that doesn't mean I can't have friends outside. And Xuezhixia Classmate, you said one thing wrong."
"Oh, what was it?"
Yukinoshita Yukino recalled what she had just said; it didn't seem to have any errors.
"Could it be that my grammar was incorrect?"
Tanaka Masao said with considerable pride,
"Xuezhixia Classmate said I don't have a single friend at school. Aren't you my friend?"
"Me?"
Yukinoshita Yukino pointed to herself, momentarily unable to react.
She had even suspected her grammar was wrong and hadn't considered that Tanaka Masao would say they were friends.
Could two people be considered friends?
Given the amount of time they spent together every day, and even inviting each other to their homes, it was perfectly fine to say they were good friends.
But Yukinoshita Yukino hadn't made a friend in almost ten years.
This caused her to be somewhat unsure what a friend even was.
So, for a moment, she found it hard to accept.
Yukinoshita Yukino subconsciously brought out her usual line of argument.
"Tanaka-kin, to become friends, we must first know the definition of a friend."
This time, Tanaka Masao didn't retort but began to think seriously.
"The definition of a friend should be someone you can talk to, and the next time you meet, you can continue talking. That should count as a friend, right?"
"Only that?"
Yukinoshita Yukino was a little incredulous. Tanaka Masao's definition of a friend was surprisingly simple.
"Then, how do you define it, Xuezhixia Classmate?"
"A friend..."
Yukinoshita Yukino thought for a moment before speaking.
"A so-called friend needs to understand each other, be compatible, accompany each other, help each other, and shine together. There should be a telepathic connection between them, an ability to intuitively grasp each other's every action and expression, mutual encouragement, and shared adversity."
The more Tanaka Masao listened, the more his eye twitched.
"Xuezhixia Classmate, are you making friends or looking for a lifelong partner?"
Yukinoshita Yukino blinked, asking with some confusion,
"Shouldn't true friends accompany each other for life?"
"Uh..."
Tanaka Masao was momentarily speechless.
"If it's a best friend, it can indeed reach that level, but having a best friend is very difficult.
Moreover, no two people can become best friends right from the start.
Friends also have classifications like ordinary friends, good friends, and best friends.
These relationships deepen through continuous interaction."
What Tanaka Masao said made a lot of sense, and Yukinoshita Yukino agreed.
"You're right, the relationship between friends deepens continuously."
"So, between us..."
Yukinoshita Yukino glanced at the somewhat expectant Tanaka Masao, then turned her head away with an air of aloofness.
"For Tanaka-kin, there was originally no hope, but seeing how expectant you are, I'll reluctantly let you be an ordinary friend."
"Eh~, just an ordinary friend? I thought we were good friends."
"You're not satisfied with just an ordinary friend? Tanaka-kin wants to be a good friend? In my eyes, Tanaka-kin is still a long way from being a good friend."
By normal standards, Tanaka Masao and Yukinoshita Yukino could definitely be called good friends.
But how could the proud and tsundere Yukinoshita Yukino admit it so easily?
The day Yukinoshita Yukino personally admitted that he and Tanaka Masao were good friends, their relationship would already be beyond just good friends.
"Please, tell me the strategy for evolution."
"Dame~ (No)."
Yukinoshita Yukino was in a good mood, a smile appearing at the corners of her lips as she walked forward, ignoring Tanaka Masao.
"Tanaka-kin can just figure it out on his own."
"Can I just figure it out on my own? But I feel like trying to figure it out now would lower my favorability."
...
The three walked as if on a casual outing, arriving at a small grove nearby.
This place was somewhat like a nature park, covering a considerable area, and was a bit secluded, with not many buildings nearby.
Small animals lived in the woods. As for large animals, setting aside whether there were enough resources to sustain them, even if there were, they wouldn't be allowed.
Because this area was open, if large animals ran out and injured someone, it would be a problem.
Tanaka Masao looked at the path in the forest and asked,
"Do you know where that crow is?"
"Of course, I know. Follow me."
Thanks to the magical stone she wore, Kashi could clearly sense the location of nearby magical stones.
Watching Kashi walk where there was no path, Yukinoshita Yukino couldn't help but worry.
"Will we get lost?"
"It's fine, this grove isn't big. Even if we get lost, we can get out by just walking in one direction."
Hearing Tanaka Masao's words, Yukinoshita Yukino let go of her concerns and nodded.
"You're right, let's hurry and catch up so we don't get separated."
"Okay."