The Fourth Period Is Modern Chinese (Continued)

Yuihama and I walked down a small road in the evening.

I remembered walking down this road sometime before. The roadside trees, which had been lifeless in the dead of winter back then, had now sprouted new leaves that rustled in the wind.

As the seasons changed, the scenery before our eyes changed as well. The distance of about two steps between us now was probably different from before, too.

After leaving the school gate and walking for a while, we came to the intersection where we should have turned toward Yuihama's house. However, Yuihama didn't turn and kept going straight.

"Hey, aren't we going the wrong way?"

At my question, Yuihama pivoted slightly and looked back.

"Yeah, we're taking a little detour."

She puffed out her chest with a smile that seemed to be hiding a secret.

"As long as the destination is home, it counts as the way home!"

"Uh... why are you saying it like we're on a field trip...?"

Besides, wasn't that just obvious...? Like saying, "There are sixty seconds in a minute in Africa." Obviously...

Still, it wasn't really outside the scope of "walking home together." So rejecting the idea now somehow didn't feel right.

As if urging me to hurry up after I stopped walking, Yuihama turned around and set off again. I followed half a step behind her.

Yuihama's steps were light, but she never hesitated. Every time she took a step, her bun bobbed along, and she looked to be in a good mood.

"The weather's really nice today~. The sunset is beautiful."

As she said that, she looked up at the evening glow. Yuihama kept walking toward the direction where the sun was sinking.

The wind began to carry the scent of seawater. It only took a few minutes to reach