The ice cream in the village had a hard texture, requiring biting.

Dubian Che gently took a bite, savoring the smooth and delicate texture.

"It's still tastier in the shop," he said, eating with a making-do face.

Xiaoquan Aonai felt a surge of nostalgia and reluctance.

Realizing she also wanted more, she quickly wrapped up her cone and went outside.

Four people sat in the living room eating ice cream cones, talking about what had been discussed in the morning's full staff meeting.

After finishing the cones, Xiaoquan Aonai asked the three of them, "What should we have for lunch?"

"No need for anything fancy, just cook some udon noodles," said Akiko, eating her cone wrapper.

"Okay," Xiaoquan Aonai stood up, "Dubian, go call Mayi."

"Better to make a phone call," Dubian Che took out his cell phone.

If he really went, once the noodles were cooked, no, it would be dark before he could return.

"There are still some shrimp and greens in the fridge," Miyazaki Mieko stood up, "I'll help."

The two headed to the kitchen, and Akiko slipped off the sofa and trotted after them.

"Another one~ another one~ a lovely cone~ my beloved cone~" she hummed.

"We're about to eat," Xiaoquan Aonai's voice came through.

"No problem, just one!"

"Get one for Dubian too, and Mayi."

"Two kids, they're only allowed to eat after meals!"

After a simple lunch, Dubian Che started conceptualizing the script for the Cultural Festival.

He took an automatic pencil and paper for writing essays and sat down at the living room table, immersing himself in thought.

At this table, besides him, Xiaoquan Aonai and Akiko were preparing lessons, and Miyazaki Mieko seemed to be preparing a list of medicines and medical equipment.

Mayi Asuka, sitting cross-legged on the sofa, ate ice cream and watched TV.

After the teachers finished preparing their lessons, the four women brought eggs, low-gluten flour, milk, glass bowls, and whisks to the living room to make cream puffs.

"Ah! I'm exhausted!" Akiko set down the manual whisker, shaking her hands vigorously.

There was an automatic whisker, but they only had one. They gave it to the youngest, Mayi Asuka, and used the manual one themselves.

"I'll take over." Dubian Che put down his automatic pencil and went over to join in.

"Is your script finished?" Xiaoquan Aonai skillfully whipped cream and gently asked him.

"Not yet, but there's no rush." Dubian Che rolled up his sleeves, took Akiko's glass bowl and whisker, and started beating briskly and rhythmically.

"Good luck!" Akiko, her hands covered in flour, encouragingly patted his shoulder.

"Akiko!" Xiaoquan Aonai called out.

"No worries," Dubian Che said nonchalantly, "just let her help me wash."

"I want to help wash, but Aonai will take it from me too," Akiko said proudly.

"Miss Aonai, I'm not wearing this shirt a second time. Let Akiko clean it."

"Sure." Xiaoquan Aonai smiled in response.

"Not wearing it yet making me wash! Haha!" Akiko slapped Dubian Che's back several times, leaving multiple flour handprints.

In her mid-twenties, she was strict in class, making students afraid to speak up, but outside of class, she was still a little girl.

"...Don't bully Che." Mayi Asuka scooped a little of her nearly-ready whipped cream and smeared it on Akiko's teacher's shirt.

"..." Akiko incredulously pinched the small spot, looking like she was about to cry, and turned to Xiaoquan Aonai.

Xiaoquan Aonai was caught between laughter and tears: "Hurry and wash it, it won't come off later."

"Wuwuwu!" Akiko cried and headed to the bathroom.

After a while, her cry for help came from the bathroom: "Help me get my clothes! I forgot them!"

They spent the last two days of summer vacation laughing, and then September began.

On the first day of school, the weather cooled slightly, with a high of only 29 degrees Celsius.

"Good morning, Kiyono," on the slope scattered with cherry blossoms and green leaves, Dubian Che hastened his steps to walk alongside a figure with an infinitely beautiful backdrop.

"Good morning, Mr. Dubian," Kiyono Lin nodded slightly.

"Did you see the news this morning?"

"The world is ending?"

"I don't know about the world, but Tokyo might be."

"A meteorite?"

"A super typhoon is on its way, brushing past the Kantou area, and it might even make landfall."

Kiyono Lin was unconcerned, stating casually, "September is peak typhoon season, and due to geographical reasons, the Island Country has typhoons around this time every year."

"Poor people of Tokyo. By the way, remember to stock up on food this year and don't go hungry again."

"Thanks for the concern, you too... I almost forgot, you've moved to Shinano Town now, with teachers and senior students, you won't go hungry wherever you go."

"Why do I feel like you're mocking me?"

"Because I am mocking you, Mr. Dubian."

"I occasionally miss those nights when I'd run into you buying midnight snacks, wishing I could return to that summer."

Kiyono Lin didn't respond.

The two came to the school gate and from a distance saw the lush, huge oak tree and the boys with buzz cuts kneeling in a row at the entrance, dressed in summer uniforms.

The manager of the baseball club, Kobayashi Yuzuki—the only girl—was kneeling on the end, her head buried, her face unseen, only her flushed ears revealing her shyness.

"What's going on?" Dubian Che asked curiously.

Students who hadn't seen each other over the summer gathered around the school gate, chatting with each other, expressing their excitement and anticipation for the new term, while watching the buzz-cut boys of the baseball club.

Kiyono Lin had no interest whatsoever; she slung her backpack over her shoulder and headed straight for the school gate.

"Mr. Dubian!" Kunii Shuichi shouted from amongst the crowd.

"What's up?"

Before Dubian Che could react, the members of the baseball club rushed over.

Because they helped them advance to Koshien, but only managed to get to the semi-finals, were they here to apologize?

Or were they here to complain about not appearing in Koshien?

Standing in place, Dubian Che guessed what the baseball club was thinking.

"Come on!"

"Together!"

"We've been waiting for you!"

"What?" Dubian Che was taken aback.

Led by Kunii Shuichi, the members of the baseball club escorted Dubian Che towards the school gate in front of the wall inscribed with "Private Goda High School".

At this point, Kobayashi Yuzuki finally lifted her head, her little face flushed, happily looking towards Dubian Che.

Kiyono Lin stopped and observed the scene with interest.

"What are you doing?" Dubian Che yelled.

"You're also a member of the baseball club!"

"That's right! I still remember Mr. Dubian's powerful pitching in the regional finals!"

"And the home run that smashed the electronic screen outside the outfield!"

"What do you mean?" Dubian Che sensed something was amiss. "You want me to kneel down? Impossible! Absolutely impossible! I'm quitting the club!"

"How could we let you quit now!"

"That's right, not allowed!" Kobayashi Yuzuki chimed in, clapping her hands, her face all smiles.

"It was you who arbitrarily made me join, right? I protest!" Dubian Che twisted his arms, and suddenly broke free from the encirclement of these buzz-cut boys.

He adjusted his backpack and ran into the school.

"Don't let him get away!"

"Mr. Dubian, keep it up!"

"Baseball club, chase him!"

Some supported Dubian Che; others wanted to see him kneel down—it was chaotic in front of Goda's school gate on the first day of school.

How could Dubian Che let them catch him?

Other than his parents who gave birth to and raised him, only older sister Meiji could make him kneel.

"Don't think about getting past me!" The duty gym teacher, with arms spread out, blocked the school gate.

"I told you, I'm not a member of the baseball club!" Dubian Che twisted his body lightly, his backpack almost brushing the gym teacher's clothes, and slipped into the school.

"Give it up, you can't catch me! Isn't it hot running around this early in the morning?" Dubian Che called back.

"Mr. Kiyono!" Kobayashi Yuzuki shouted.

How could Kiyono Lin stop Dubian...

"Hey, Mr. Kiyono? Mr. R?" Kiyono Lin, with her quick reflexes, blocked Dubian Che's path.

Kiyono Lin smiled amusingly and stepped aside.

"Catch him!" Just in the moment of hesitation, the baseball club had caught up.

Dubian Che didn't run; his tall figure stood still.

"Stop chasing!" he said. "I consider myself half a baseball club member; I can bow, but I absolutely will not kneel."

It's not like he was with big sister Meiji in the bedroom; unless Kiyono Lin agreed to let him touch her leg, Dubian Che would never kneel.

"If you're a part of the baseball club, you have to kneel!"

"That's right!"

"I worked so hard to get you into Koshien, and look what you did? How dare you make me kneel?"

The baseball club members, already kneeling because they didn't get into the final at Koshien, hesitated.

"Fine, bow!"

"That's more like it."

Dubian Che followed the baseball club members back to the school gate.

After walking out three steps, Kiyono Lin spoke from behind him: "Mr. Dubian, give me your backpack."

Dubian Che took off his backpack from his shoulder, handed it directly to her without saying thank you, and even glared at her.

'Because you stopped me, I agreed to bow! Be thankful!'

Kiyono Lin ignored his gaze, carrying both backpacks, and watched him smiling.

At the school gate on the first day of school, the kneeling baseball club, the bowing Dubian Che, shouted to all the teachers and students passing by:

"Sorry!"