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Kitahara Makoto still didn't know that he had been targeted by the Miss Fallen Ojou-sama with 'astonishing wisdom.' After a simple breakfast, he and Togawa Sakiko went to school together.
After entering the campus, the two parted ways. Togawa Sakiko went to her classroom, while Kitahara Makoto headed to the school's back garden.
"Kegel exercises and the cream puff mission are both complete. Next is the Insect Journal…"
Kitahara Makoto was in a good mood: "Today's lottery chances can also be obtained."
Arriving at the small garden behind the comprehensive building, it was still early, and the garden was empty. Because there was a night rain last night, there was a faint fragrance of earth in the morning light.
Kitahara Makoto closed his eyes and took a deep breath: "…The air is full of the smell of geosmin."
It is well known that there are many actinomycetes in the soil. These things produce spores in a dry environment, and during the process of producing spores, they produce a metabolic substance, which is the well-known geosmin. Once it rains, the geosmin in the soil will volatilize in large quantities, allowing people to smell the fragrance of the soil.
Simply put, the smell people perceive after rain is actually the smell of actinomycete poop…
Kitahara Makoto didn't dislike it; instead, he took two more deep breaths. This stuff was like the exhaust fumes of a diesel car; those who liked it would become more addicted the more they smelled it.
"Next is bug catching time."
Kitahara Makoto quickly half-squatted down, searching for insects in the flower path.
"Very good, found a bee."
Kitahara Makoto opened his school bag, took out the sealed container he had prepared before leaving home that morning, and put the bee inside.
Soon after, the second and third insects were successfully captured.
While searching for the fourth insect, Kitahara Makoto suddenly heard a curious voice behind him:
"…What are you doing?"
Kitahara Makoto turned to look, only to see a cute girl with short gray hair, supporting herself on her knees, bending over, looking at him with a curious expression.
"Looking for little insects of spring," Kitahara Makoto said casually, "preparing to make ten different insect specimens."
The short-haired girl's eyes suddenly brightened: "Are you very interested in bugs?"
Kitahara Makoto nodded and said, "I'm super interested now, but I've only found three kinds of insects. There are probably only this many in the garden."
"There are many, I've seen many kinds of bugs in the garden." The short-haired girl refuted while covering her skirt and squatting down, enthusiastically saying, "…I'll help you look."
Looking at this familiar short-haired girl, Kitahara Makoto was slightly surprised.
Generally speaking, don't girls dislike creatures like bugs?
Why was the short-haired girl in front of him so enthusiastic?
And she had short gray hair…
A name suddenly popped into Kitahara Makoto's mind, and he tentatively asked:
"I'm Kitahara Makoto from Class B, first year of high school. And you are…?"
"Takamatsu Tomori." The short-haired girl said without looking up, meticulously turning over stones, "I'm Takamatsu Tomori from Class A, first year."
It was really Takamatsu Tomori?
What about the social anxiety she was supposed to have?
Someone with social anxiety like Bocchi-chan wouldn't actively talk to strangers.
Kitahara Makoto's expression was subtle, but he had no other thoughts.
In his memory, Tomo-chan seemed to be a quiet, eccentric type. Although she was usually socially anxious, as long as someone was on the same wavelength as her, she would become quite familiar—
As long as you also like bugs, we are good friends.
A moment later.
"…Found a bug."
Takamatsu Tomori turned her head, excitedly handing over a round bug, her voice slightly nervous: "Is this okay?"
Kitahara Makoto looked down and saw that it was a very familiar bug, a roly-poly.
These things were very common in rural areas, and children in the countryside basically weren't afraid of them.
"Thank you very much," Kitahara Makoto said sincerely, taking out a sealed plastic bag from his pocket. "It's exactly a type of bug I hadn't caught yet."
"...That's good."
Takamatsu Tomori secretly breathed a sigh of relief and put the pill bug into a plastic sealed bag.
Watching Kitahara Makoto carefully put the sealed bag into his backpack, Takamatsu Tomori's lips curved slightly, and a hint of happiness flashed across her face.
Her hobbies were quite unusual; from a young age, she was different from other little girls, liking bugs and rocks. She once scared a kindergarten child into tears by collecting a pile of pill bugs, and from then on, she carefully concealed her preferences.
(I didn't expect someone else to like pill bugs as much as I do... Kitahara-kun is a good person.)
Takamatsu Tomori felt happy: "I'll help you find another bug."
Unfortunately, their luck had run out.
In the time that followed, although they actively searched for bugs, they couldn't find any new species of insects.
Seeing that the class bell was about to ring, Kitahara Makoto stood up, clapped his hands, and said:
"Class is about to start, so let's stop here for now... Thank you, Tomo-chan."
Takamatsu Tomori pursed her pink lips, unwilling to get up, and a stubborn expression actually appeared on her face:
"There are usually many types of bugs, we can definitely find them."
Kitahara Makoto's mouth twitched slightly. As expected of an animal-loving beautiful girl, she was quite unconventional.
A thought stirred in Kitahara Makoto's mind, and he suddenly remembered the [Midnight Poisoner] quest. He took out his phone and tentatively asked:
"How about we exchange contact information, and Tomo-chan can message me after she finds a bug?"
"No problem."
Takamatsu Tomori didn't hesitate and readily agreed.
As expected of an animal-loving girl, she must be completely absorbed in bug catching!
After exchanging contact information, Kitahara Makoto glanced at the time and then said:
"If we don't go to the classroom now, we'll be late. Tomo-chan, go to the classroom first, and then come back to look for bugs when you have time?"
Takamatsu Tomori reluctantly agreed:
"Alright then... I'll come back to look for insects after class."
"..."
Kitahara Makoto originally thought Tomo-chan was just saying that, but who knew that during the break after the first class, a message suddenly popped up on his phone, followed by a photo.
"Caught a butterfly."
Kitahara Makoto: "..."
She ran off to catch bugs right after class, her initiative is too exaggerated, isn't it?
The silent girl is terrifying!
Kitahara Makoto sincerely sent a message: "I am extremely grateful."
Takamatsu Tomori: "The general building is next to the garden. I'll put the bugs in the Astronomical Club for now and give them to you together after school."
Kitahara Makoto: "Absolutely no problem."
During the break of the second class.
Sure enough.
Another message popped up on Kitahara Makoto's phone.
Takamatsu Tomori: "Caught a ladybug and a ground beetle."
During the break of the third class.
Takamatsu Tomori: "Didn't find any new species of insects. I'll try harder during lunch break."
"..."
As expected of the girl known as 'Lamp Empress', she is terrifying.
Kitahara Makoto suddenly recalled an idiom: Wei Sheng embracing the pillar.
The anecdote is simple: it tells of Wei Sheng who agreed to meet a woman at a bridge. He waited for a long time, but she didn't come. The water rose, and he embraced the bridge pillar and died.
Tomo-chan is like a modern-day Wei Sheng; once she agrees to help, even if a heavy rain falls, she will stand upright in the rain until the task is completed. She is definitely the best person to befriend.
Kitahara Makoto couldn't help but send a message: "Tomo-chan, you are already worthy of being enshrined."
Takamatsu Tomori: "???"
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