As November approached, accompanied by the chilly winds blowing from the "Northern Alps," it was time for the annual school trip again.

"Today's class meeting is a time for discussion." On the podium, Xiaoquan Aonai, wearing a teacher's uniform, was discussing the relevant arrangements.

When she wore a suit, she appeared smart and capable, discouraging any casual jokes;

Wearing a yukata on the night before Hakodate's first snow, she appeared innocent and cute, as shy as a little girl hiding behind an adult's legs.

This was the teacher everyone admired, this was his woman—despite knowing it was a perverse pleasure, Dubian Che still felt a sense of superiority.

After the morning class meeting ended, the classroom buzzed with discussions about this year's school trip destination.

"Meiji, do you have any place in mind?" Dubian Che sat backward, hands overlapped on the chair's back, resting his chin on his arms.

"Hokkaido."

"I just came back from Hokkaido."

"That's why I want to go," Jiutiao Meijie said with a warm smile, "especially Hakodate, I want to see the night view."

"Coming down from the mountain, we could also have some grilled lamb." Kiyono Lin took out a hardcover book from the drawer.

"After the grilled lamb, we should go to some garden to admire the night maples." Jiutiao Meijie continued.

"Xiangxue Garden," Kiyono Lin opened the book.

"Right, Xiangxue Garden." Jiutiao Meijie's slender fingers snapped.

"..." Dubian Che watched the two harmonize effortlessly.

He picked up Jiutiao Meijie's mechanical pencil and clicked it repeatedly, saying:

"Tokyo is entering the maple-viewing season, but Hokkaido is already snow-laden, where are you going to find maple leaves to admire? Xiangxue Garden probably only has bare branches left."

"We should still go to Hokkaido," Jiutiao Meijie said with a teasing smile aimed at Dubian Che.

"Let's go to Hakone." Dubian Che put down the pen and smiled as he took her hand, "We can enjoy onsens and row boats on the maple-stained Lake Ashi."

"Maple leaves can't dye Lake Ashi red," Kiyono Lin reminded.

After a brief pause, she added, "However, during the cooler autumn with fewer clouds and high visibility, it's a good time to view Mount Fuji."

"Mount Fuji!" Dubian Che clapped his hands, "I like Mount Fuji, I love Mount Fuji, I'm crazy about Mount Fuji."

"Isn't your favorite the Yangzhou fried rice from Shikoku Takamatsu?" Kiyono Lin asked, bewildered.

What a wicked woman with a great memory.

"I like Yangzhou fried rice but it's unrelated to Takamatsu City in Shikoku." Dubian Che explained and then held Jiutiao Meijie's hand again, "Let's go see Mount Fuji!"

"You can see Mount Fuji from Tokyo," Jiutiao Meijie said lazily.

"For example, from 'Roppongi' or 'Muehoku Station,'" said Dora A Lin.

"You know even that?" Dubian Che looked at her in surprise.

"It's common knowledge."

Dubian Che's common knowledge didn't include that.

"Why don't you want to go to Hokkaido? Are you afraid of making those two girls sad?" Jiutiao Meijie asked.

"It's not related to that," Dubian Che explained, "I just recently went to Hokkaido, going again now is a bit redundant."

"We'll see how you perform," Jiutiao Meijie said ambiguously, although she internally agreed.

The last period of the afternoon was an English class.

"For the class quiz, pass the test papers backward from the first row." Xiaoquan Aonai distributed the freshly printed tests to the first student in each row.

The classroom was silent, with only the rustling sound of pens moving across the paper.

Xiaoquan Aonai walked around the room, checking on the students' answers.

Stopping beside Dubian Che, she watched for a moment.

"I LOVE YOU," Dubian Che wrote.

A hint of confusion flashed across Xiaoquan Aonai's delicate brows, and she couldn't help but slightly bend over.

Since she had already done the test, there was no place for that line.

"Koizumi, I LOVE YOU," Dubian Che wrote again.

Koizumi, the Romanized spelling of Xiaoquan's name.

Xiaoquan Aonai pursed her lips, bowed her head with a smile, and pretended to be stern as she tapped Dubian Che's desk with her finger, then walked away happily.

After school, Dubian Che and two friends headed to the Human Observation Department together.

The water had just boiled, and they hadn't even sipped their hot tea when there was a knock at the door.

"Come in," Kiyono Lin said directly without putting down the teacup.

"Sorry to intrude," Yuzao Haomei and Ichiki Aoi walked in.

The two came to the Human Observation Department to inquire about what went wrong that year—as in the national competition in October, the Wind Instrument Club only won a silver prize.

With Ayane Kumi representing the third-years, they left the club in tears.

Yuzao Haomei smoothly took over the position of Wind Instrument Club's minister, and Ichiki Aoi also became the vice-minister through this.

"Memorize the scores and train more, there's no other way," advised Kiyono Lin, similar to when she personally guided the Wind Instrument Club in her first year.

"The training time was the same as last year," Ichiki Aoi said in puzzlement.

"The same time doesn't mean the same effort, Aoi," Yuzao Haomei said, "last year, Kiyono checked every day, so no one dared slack off, and there wasn't that pressure this year."

"Is there anything else?" Kiyono Lin wasn't interested in the Wind Instrument Club matters, she just wanted to quickly go back to reading.

"No, no, sorry to disturb."

Before leaving, Yuzao Haomei glared at Dubian Che, but Dubian Che couldn't decipher her gaze and wouldn't bother to guess.

Club activities—reading, playing games—ended, Dubian Che didn't take the bus with Jiutiao Meijie to Shinbashi but instead walked with Kiyono Lin to Shibuya Station to catch the train.

"I'll bring the frog and pig over tomorrow," he said.

Kiyono Lin nodded, and they both fell into silence.

Dubian Che had many things he wanted to say to her, but he didn't know where to start.

Kiyono Lin seemed to have things to say to him too, but neither of them spoke.