"Okay." Kato Yusuke nodded, "Thank you for your hard work. We'll go over after buying the waffles."

Hasumi Kanoko and Nakano Ryoko waved their hands and walked deeper into the shrine.

Kato Yusuke and three other people came to the waffle stall and queued up. After waiting for a while, it was finally their turn.

He asked: "Xiaoshi, Yinglili, what flavor do you want to eat?"

Ying Lili stared at the sign on the stall and thought for a moment, "I want cream."

Shiyu: "Original flavor."

"Then have a portion of each kind, and then you can share it." Kato Yusuke suggested, and then took out his wallet to pay, but the girl in charge of the cashier kept staring at him.

"...Mr. Kato? It's Mr. Kato, right~!"

For some reason, the other party suddenly shouted in surprise.

Kato Yusuke couldn't help being stunned, and then asked with some uncertainty: "...Are you, Miss Muzi?"

"Haha, it is indeed Mr. Kato~! I was surprised, you came here to participate in the festival? It's been a long time! Didn't Ms. Kato come with you?"

"Hmm... Hui, there's something wrong with her. Well, I'm sorry, please give me two plain waffles, and one each of cream and chocolate waffles. Here's the money."

"Ah~ OK, boss, two portions of original flavor, one portion each of cream and chocolate." Muzi shouted to the boss behind him, and then pushed the money back.

She smiled brightly and said: "Mr. Kato, you don't have to pay. Thank you for taking me in before. I already have a job. In return, please let me treat you today."

Kato Yusuke frowned slightly, hesitated for a moment and then said: "...Thank you, then it's better to be respectful than to obey."

"Ah haha, you're welcome, you're welcome." Muzi waved his hand nonchalantly, "The waffles will be ready soon, please wait nearby~"

Kato Yusuke nodded in greeting and walked aside.

Eirili immediately asked: "Hey, Yusuke, is that girl Muzi taken in by the association?"

"Yes." Kato Yusuke confirmed: "It's her."

Shiyu stared at the stall for a while and said thoughtfully: "Is she working here? I remember that her mental state seemed to be very unstable? I can't tell it at all now."

"Yeah..." Kato Yusuke followed her gaze and felt a little emotional as well.

Although he and Muzi had only met once, he could still see the changes in each other. The cheerful and optimistic state was completely different from before, exuding a positive feeling.

'Maybe the establishment of the association is not a bad thing.' He couldn't help but think.

at this time--

Karang, Karang, Karangong~

A crisp sound of clogs slowly approached and then stopped.

"Eh... Brother Yu?"

The girl's hesitant voice reached Kato Yusuke's ears.

He turned around in response and happened to meet Serizawa Yu's eyes. The girl looked at him with earnest and praying eyes.

"...Xiao Xi?"

"Ah~! It's indeed Brother Yu!"

Serizawa Yu called him in surprise, stepped on the wooden clogs that she was not used to wearing, and rushed over quickly, giving him a big hug.

"Great, Brother You, I heard Xiaoxiang say that you are really here!"

She was wearing a white kimono in the Taisho Roman style, and the large morning glories stretched out their vines eye-catchingly, blooming everywhere, dazzling and gorgeous.

The usually long straight hair was tied up high today and decorated with a hairpin, making it look very feminine.

Kato Yusuke held the girl in his arms with a slight wry smile. Finally he was sure that this was Serizawa Yu herself, and said: "Xiao Yu, say hello to others."

"Hmm? Say hello...ah, it's Miss Kasumigaoka and Miss Sawamura, good evening to both of you~"

After receiving the reminder, Serizawa Yuu embarrassedly left Kato Yusuke and bowed obediently to Shiha and Eiri, who also nodded friendly in return.

Kato Yusuke was about to speak——

"Xiao Xi~"

"Idiot, don't run so fast alone."

The two girls called Serizawa Yu's name while running anxiously from a distance.

As we get closer and closer to the stall...

"Huh……"

One of them suddenly stopped, his clogs made a crisp sound, and he remained motionless on the spot.

Then, the cherry lips that had been protected by lip balm murmured softly, as if it had been several years.

"Yu-suke...?"

Kato Yusuke raised his head, his eyes suddenly blurred.
Chapter completed!