He didn't care, but Sanako, who was still a young girl, could never go home wet.

Wearing wet clothes that can show through the skin, showing off in the street... Even the most humble wandering girl living on the banks of the Yoshihara Rashomon River cannot do such a thing.

"Miss Sanako, let's collect some branches and dry firewood to bake clothes."

There is a dense forest next to the river bank, so there is no need to worry about finding materials for making a fire.

"Can you make a fire?" Sanako asked.

"I learned how to live in the wild."

When he was in middle school in his previous life, Qingdeng was obsessed with wilderness survival for a period of time. Through self-study, he learned very basic wilderness survival skills such as "how to start a fire" and "how to find water sources."

"Miss Sanako, I'm going to the east to find dry firewood."

Qingdeng pointed to the east, then turned his finger and pointed to the west.

"Just go to the west to find dry firewood."

Searching for dry firewood separately is more efficient and avoids the awkward sight of each other's bodies.

"Okay..." Sanako responded softly.

"Then see you later."

After leaving these words, Qingdeng plunged straight into the forest on the east side of the river bank.

"..." Sanako did not leave immediately.

She was silent and stood there.

Ever since he climbed up the river bank, Qingden had been paying attention to his line of sight to avoid seeing Sanako's body again... Therefore, he had no chance to see such a strange scene: Although Sanako had always used her usual

She spoke to Qingdeng in a cold tone, but the cherry blossoms that flew onto her cheeks never dissipated since they appeared.

While talking to Qingdeng with a calm demeanor of "I don't care what happened just now", he lowered his gaze without even daring to look at Qingdeng the whole time. He was rosy and hugged the upper body tightly with his arms.

The parts Qingdeng looked at showed a shy and girlish look...

At the moment when Qingdeng left, she finally no longer had to "act", she let out a "ha" and let out a long sigh of relief.

…

…

Huuu! Huuu! Huuu!

Crack...! Crack...! Crack...!

The rising flames licked the firewood, and the crackling sound of the firewood was endless.

Relying on the classic fire-making method of "drilling wood to make a fire", Qingdeng successfully lit a bonfire.

Qingden used his sleeves to pull out a clothesline on two large branches very close to each other. All his and Sanako's clothes were hung on this clothesline.

Burning fire.

These high-hanging clothes just become a "curtain" with good shielding effect.

Qingto and Sanako sat back-to-back on both sides of the "curtain", waiting for their clothes to dry.

Of course, it is impossible for the two of them to take off all their clothes.

Qingdeng kept a piece of crotch cloth that he was not used to wearing until now, but he couldn't help but wear it.

Sanako left her undergarments and waist rolls.

From time to time, Qingdeng would turn slightly to check how the clothes were drying, and pay attention to the flames not to burn the clothes.

Turning sideways... With such a posture, the peripheral vision inevitably scanned the graceful shadow reflected on the "curtain".

Sanako took off the blue ribbon that bound her hair, and three thousand black hairs were draped down, and she sat with her back to Qingden.

She happened to be sitting where her figure was hidden by the "curtain", so from Qingdeng's field of view, she could not see her body, only the shadow cast on the "curtain".

However, even if you can only see a shadow... this shadow with alluring lines is enough to make people imagine.

As long as you poke your eyes into the gaps in the wet clothes hung up to dry, you can see the meandering beauty that is more exciting and dazzling than the riverside scenery in front of you... As soon as these thoughts emerged from Qingdeng's mind, Qingdeng was immediately

Den forced it down by slapping his cheek hard.

For no reason, Qingdeng suddenly thought:

——Lately...I seem to be always naked in front of Sanako-san...

Compared to last time, he was more thorough this time.

Regarding the accident that just happened in the river, Aoto and Sanako have apologized to each other, and Sanako also has an attitude that will not pursue Aingto's rude behavior of "seeing all the things that shouldn't be seen"...

... Qingdeng thought that he would expose this matter for now.

He felt that Sanako would never want him to talk about this matter again.

Compared to this accident... Aomori had a question he wanted to ask Sanako even more.

"...Ms. Sanako."

Qingden cleared his throat and said softly.

"Did something happen? Why did you come to me for discussion so suddenly today?"

And why did he show such a rude side after losing to me? Qingden suppressed the second half of this question out of concern for Sanako's face.

Let’s not talk about the sudden move to come to him for a discussion, but just talk about Sanako’s reaction after losing to him-desperately saying “please compete with me again” and launching an unstructured attack on Aoshinobu.

, it’s a completely unintentional offensive to vent your emotions...

Sanako, who was out of control... was the first time Qingto met her.

Qingden dared to conclude that something must have happened to Sanako.

Sanako's response was quite swift.

"Jijun, I'm sorry... I really made you laugh today..."

She first apologized to Qingdeng in a low tone.

Then... lowered his eyes, raised his legs together, and stretched out his arms to hug his legs.

He hugged himself tightly.

"I... actually don't know quite why I suddenly want to spar with you."

"I felt so mixed...so confused...When I came back to my senses, I was already at the trial hall."

"Now that I look back and think about it carefully...this is probably deep in my heart, I am eager to prove myself."

"Prove that you are not inferior to a 'dragon soaring to the sky' like you, Mr. Ju."

"As a result... I humiliated myself..."

"I started practicing martial arts when I was 5 years old. It has been 17 years now... I tried my best and used all the best skills I could, but I was still beaten by you who had practiced martial arts for less than a year.

It will fail miserably..."

Qingdeng heard self-deprecating laughter.

Sanako let out a self-deprecating laugh, lowered her head, and buried her face deeply between her legs.

"Miss Sanako...?" After Sanako finished speaking, Qingto's face was instantly dominated by strong doubts and a touch of worry, "What happened? Is... someone criticizing you for your lack of strength?

Or are there people who say you are not as strong as me?"

"..."

"Miss Sanako?" Qingden thought Sanako didn't hear his voice, so he cleared his throat and raised his voice.

"..."

"Miss Sanako?!"

"..."

Sanako was silent... Even though Qingto was worried, he couldn't turn around and run to check on Sanako's situation as both of them were only wearing underwear.

Since Sanako didn't say a word, Qingden could do nothing.

I can only remain silent... let Sanako take a good rest...

…

Huuu! Huuu! Huuu!

Crack...! Crack...! Crack...!

…

The burning sound of the fire emphasized the tranquility of the river bank. The sound gave people an inexplicable illusion of being far away, as if this space was the only one separated from the world.

After a long while, Qingden finally heard Sanako's voice:

"...the clothes seem to be dry."

The weather is hot now, and both of their clothes are very thin summer clothes, so it won't take long to dry under the bonfire.
To be continued...