Chapter 174

“Yumiko…Yumiko…Yumiko, it’s time to get up, we’re almost there.” After the minibus passed the road sign that read Chiba Village, I woke up Miura Yumiko, who was still sleeping soundly with her head on my shoulder.

Along the way, besides admiring Yumiko’s sleeping face, smelling the beautiful girl’s body fragrance, and feeling the parts of my body that I touched, I listened to what Yukino, Yui, and Isshiki were saying.

The three girls mostly talked about girly topics. Due to their personalities, Yui Hihama and Iroha Isshiki did most of the talking, while Yukino Yukinoshita nodded or responded with “uh-huh”. Later, when she mentioned the two little female cats, Chocolate and Vanilla, that I gave her, Yukino Yukinoshita said a few more words.

Chocolate and Vanilla are a black and a white Ragdoll cat. I bought them because I thought they were cute and intelligent, and gave them to Yukino Yukinoshita. After raising them for a while, Chocolate and Vanilla became more and more intelligent, which Yukino Yukinoshita was quite satisfied with. However, compared to her, the female owner, Chocolate and Vanilla became more and more attached to me, the male owner.

Later, Isshiki Iroha followed up the conversation and started talking about me. This time, Yukino Yukinoshita talked more, since she was the one who knew me best among the three girls. Of course, Yukino talked about things that weren’t too embarrassing.

“Um… what are you saying… what are you talking about…” Miura Yumiko heard the voice calling her while she was sleeping. The girl’s long eyelashes trembled slightly but she did not open her eyes. She murmured indistinct words.

“We’re almost at our destination, Chiba Village. If you don’t get up soon, I might get rough.” Yumiko looked quite cute in her sleepy state, which made me want to tease the girl a bit. So I reached out and gently pinched the beautiful girl’s nose twice. Yumiko was in a half-awake, half-asleep state, not really asleep, so I wasn’t breaking my promise, was I?

“Hmph…” The girl was finally waking up. Her emerald green eyes gradually opened, revealing a hint of dissatisfaction. She had been sleeping very comfortably, even more so than sleeping in her bed at home, feeling enveloped in warmth. Now, however, she had been woken up, so she was naturally a little unhappy.

But as soon as the blonde girl opened her eyes, her displeasure vanished instantly, replaced by a hint of panic, and a blush quickly spread across her fair face.

“What… what’s going on…” Yumiko, who was resting her head on my shoulder, quickly got up and tidied her slightly messy golden hair that had been messed up while she was sleeping.

“The car was bound to bump around while it was moving, so it moved closer to me on its own shortly after you fell asleep, Yumiko.” I told her the truth.

“Then…why didn’t you wake me up?” Seeing that I didn’t seem to be lying to her, Miura Yumiko abandoned her intention to lecture me and now she was a little embarrassed.

“Seeing how comfortably you were sleeping, Yumiko, I couldn’t bear to wake you, so I became your pillow the whole way.” I shrugged my left shoulder to indicate that this was the pillow you had been using the whole way.

“I was just too tired, that’s why I slept so soundly…” Although I don’t know why I did sleep quite comfortably, how could Miura Yumiko admit that to me?

“Yes, yes, I understand,” I said with a smile to Yumiko.

“Believe it or not, and… thank you…” Miura Yumiko turned her head to look out the window, twirling her hair with her slender, white fingers. Her silver-white nail polish shone brightly. Finally, the girl stammered her thanks to me.

Just then, the minibus arrived at the designated location and stopped. The door opened, and Miura Yumiko immediately stood up and got off the bus first, without waiting for me to say anything.

Watching the girl’s hurried departure, I shook my head, picked up the small white backpack that Yumiko had forgotten, and stood up.

“We’ve arrived at our destination, everyone get off the bus.” As the person in charge who was taking over the shift, I would still be quite responsible since I had received “payment” last night.

After nearly an hour and a half of driving, everyone was eager to get off and walk around, so soon everyone got off the bus in an orderly fashion. The three members of the Human Heart Research Club got off last, while Yukino Yukinoshita was the last one to walk, and I followed behind her.

“Ken, did you do something to Miura?” Yukino Yukinoshita naturally noticed that Miura Yumiko was the first to get off the bus in a hurry. This was different from the impression Miura Yumiko usually gave her, and it was somewhat similar to the way she would angrily turn around and leave when she lost an argument with her.

“No, she probably just couldn’t wait to go out and see the beautiful scenery.” Chiba Village was chosen as a camping spot, so the scenery must be at least decent. It has a small hill and a wide open grove of trees, perfect for camping and picnics.

“Is that so?” Yukino Yukinoshita felt that the possibility was quite low. The scenery here was okay, but it wasn’t a rare sight. Miura Yumiko shouldn’t be like that. Yukino Yukinoshita glanced back suspiciously, especially since she had even forgotten to take her small backpack.

“What are you thinking? I can’t do anything in the car. Yukino, you can keep an eye on things from behind.” I could sense Yukino’s gaze glancing in my direction from time to time, as well as Iroha Isshiki’s. Yui Yuigahama only glanced at me a few times when she mentioned me.

“Who knows? I can’t possibly see everything.” Yukino Yukinoshita gave an incredulous snort and stepped off the car.

I went up to the driver and said a few words of thanks for his hard work, and reminded him again of the next pick-up time before getting out of the car. After I got out of the car, the first person I was met with was the gaze of the blonde girl, Miura Yumiko. It was clear that the girl had remembered the small backpack she had left behind.

Just as Miura Yumiko was hesitating about how to approach me to ask for her small backpack back, I had already walked straight towards her.

“Yu…Miura-san, you forgot your backpack.” Just as I was about to say Yumiko’s name, Miura Yumiko warned me with her emerald green eyes that calling her Yumiko in front of classmates was too intimate. She didn’t explain my thoughts about our relationship in front of classmates.

“Thank you.” Miura Yumiko nodded gently and calmly accepted the small backpack, as if she had just met me.

“You’re welcome.” Since that’s the case, I won’t chat with Yumiko any longer. I’ll find another opportunity during later activities. Besides, I also need to greet the elementary school teachers who have already arrived to meet us.

“Hello, you are…” The person who came to meet us was a middle-aged female teacher. She looked at the young man in front of her with a puzzled expression. If she remembered correctly, the person leading the group today should be a female teacher, right?

“I’m leading the group in place of Ms. Hiratsuka. She has some urgent business to attend to and might be a little late.” I briefly explained the reason and introduced myself to the middle-aged female teacher. From our conversation, I learned that the middle-aged female teacher’s name was Mitsu Koda, and she was the teacher leading this elementary school trip.

“This is our current situation.” After we introduced ourselves, I told Koda Mito about the current composition of our team. Although there are only ten people including myself, it was clear at a glance, but I still had to make it clear.

“Thank you so much for bringing so many people.” Koda Mimi was very happy to have so many helpers, and her words were full of gratitude.

“It’s no trouble at all. Everyone came to help voluntarily. We’re just glad we could be of help to you, Professor Koda.” Yukino and the others came for club activities, Yumiko and her group came for academic credits, and I don’t need to explain. Everyone had different purposes, but they all came voluntarily.

“Mr. Ken, you really know how to talk. Soubu High School truly lives up to its reputation as a prestigious school in Chiba; they have so many excellent students.” Koda Mimi smiled as she looked at me and the students behind her. It seemed that leading the team this time was much easier than she had imagined.

“Where?” After exchanging pleasantries, Koda Mimi finally led us to the campsite. I followed behind her, with the students from Sobu High School behind me.

After walking for about ten minutes, we arrived at an open meadow, which should be the campsite. There was a meeting place in front, and behind the meeting place was a hotel, which should be a place for staff to rest. As a trip organized by the primary school, it was certainly not as casual as a camping trip with a few of us. The location we chose had the corresponding facilities.

Koda Mimi led us to the assembly area, where a group of elementary school students were already waiting. They looked to be fifth or sixth graders. Since it was a trip and not school, they were not wearing school uniforms, but their own clothes.

“Everyone, please be quiet.” After we apologized, Koda Mimi went on stage to speak, which quickly quieted the noisy environment. Then, after saying a few polite words, Koda Mimi steered the conversation to our group.

“Besides the teachers you all know, we also have several enthusiastic students from Soubu High School who have come to help out on this camping trip. Let’s give them a round of applause.” As soon as Koda Mimi finished speaking, a round of applause broke out.

Amid applause, the nine students from Soubu High School walked onto the stage together, while I mingled with the elementary school students and sat down on the grass. It wasn’t until Yukino and the others went up that they realized I hadn’t followed. Koda Mimi was also a little surprised that I hadn’t gone up, but it was too late to call me up. She just assumed that I didn’t want to go up because I wasn’t a teacher or a student of Soubu High School.

As for why I didn’t want to go up, it was because I didn’t want to be “punished” by standing on the grass. Wouldn’t it be better to sit on the grass than to stand on it until the speech was over? So I went straight to sit down next to a little girl with black hair. The little girl with black hair just glanced at me and then continued to look at the stage.

As expected, after Koda Mimi asked Soubu High School to send a student representative to speak, she began to talk about the precautions and activities for this camping trip, which lasted for half an hour.

When Yukino Yukinoshita realized I hadn’t gone up with her, she looked down at the audience to see me. When she saw me sitting next to an elementary school student and winking at her, Yukino Yukinoshita sighed inwardly, wondering why I hadn’t been invited.

Iroha Isshiki shared the same sentiment. This girl with a mischievous personality felt that sitting with me on the grass was much more interesting than standing on the stage listening to a lecture. She could even do some silly things offstage.

Yui Yuigahama looked at me with her cherry lips slightly parted, and thought to herself: Mr. Ken is as unconventional as ever. I would be too embarrassed to do that if it were me.

As for Miura Yumiko, she kept her eyes fixed straight ahead, but with my keen senses, I still noticed that she glanced at me out of the corner of her eye.

“Alright, that concludes the safety rules and activity instructions. I’m sure you’re all eager to get started. So, let’s begin our first activity of this camping trip: orienteering. Please listen carefully to your teacher’s instructions as we enter the woods.” Finally, amidst the anticipation of the elementary school students, Koda Mitsumi announced the end of her speech.

The orienteering activity that Koda Mimi mentioned is somewhat different from regular orienteering. Since the participants are all elementary school students, the rules have been simplified. It still involves using a terrain map and compass to find checkpoints, but the checkpoints are more obvious and the route is relatively simple. It focuses on participation and does not have a competitive aspect.

“Ms. Koda, is there anything we can do to help?” After Koda Mimi finished speaking, I got up and went to meet up with Yukino and the others. The black-haired girl who had been sitting next to me glanced at my back and then turned around to join the class.

“The current situation is as follows: there are a total of six checkpoints. Three of our teachers have gone to three of them, and the remaining two teachers are patrolling around the route to prevent any unexpected situations. Mr. Jian, you can send three students to the checkpoints below, and the rest of the students can join the patrol.”

“Okay, I understand. I’ll go arrange it right away.”

“Then I’ll have to trouble you, Mr. Jian.”

“That’s pretty much it. The checkpoint is mainly responsible for stamping the students’ documents, and the patrol team is mainly responsible for the students’ safety. What do you want to be responsible for? You can tell me now. If you don’t have any, I’ll arrange it for you.” After talking with Koda Mimi, I returned to Soubu High School and her group. They had just gone to the hotel to put down their backpacks, and now I was explaining the situation to them.

“Um… Mr. Ken, I feel that I am more suitable for the checkpoint job, because I am not very good at physical strength.” The one who raised her hand was a girl wearing glasses named Ebina Hina, who seemed to be Yumiko’s friend.

“Okay, does anyone else want to volunteer?” I nodded and agreed to Hina Ebina’s request.

“Me too, I want to be in charge of the checkpoint.” Then a boy raised his hand, I think his name was Tobe Sho, and I allowed him to go too.

“Anyone else? If not, let’s arrange the remaining students like this…” No one volunteered again, so I’ll make the arrangements for the rest.

I first assigned another girl I didn’t know to work at the checkpoint, then the patrol team. Yukino Yukinoshita, Yui Yuigahama, and Iroha Isshiki were definitely in one group. There were two boys left: one was the school’s celebrity, Hayato Hayama, and the other was his friend, Yumiko Miura. So, I assigned Yumiko to the Human Heart Research Club because it would be easier for the girls to work together, and the other group only needed two boys.

Yumiko Miura glanced at Yukino Yukinoshita, intending to refuse, but then she saw Yui Yuigahama waving at her, and ultimately chose to remain silent, deciding to keep her friend company.

“It seems everyone agrees, so let’s get started. The event is about to begin, so everyone needs to get into position quickly.” Hayama Hayato and another boy had no objections, and Yukino and the others were even more so. In the end, Miura Yumiko didn’t say anything either, and that was how it was decided.

“Then what are you building it for?” After the checkpoint team and another patrol team left one after another, Yukino Yukinoshita quietly walked up to me and asked.

“I’m the same as you, but the difference is that I will also be responsible for your safety, one person at a time.” I emphasized the word “you” because it mainly refers to the four girls who haven’t set off yet, but of course I will also be responsible for the safety of the others.

Yukino Yukinoshita nodded knowingly. She thought I would say I was going to go with the rest of them, but based on what I said, I might just be secretly following behind them.

Then the four girls set off. Yukino Yukinoshita was initially in the lead, but after only a couple of steps, Yumiko Miura caught up. Yui Yuigahama had to play the mediator in the middle, while Iroha Isshiki was on the other side of Yukino Yukinoshita. After only a couple of steps, she turned around and winked at me.

What charming little fairies! This sentence not only expresses admiration for Iroha Isshiki, but also for the youthful and beautiful figures of the other girls. And I, just as Yukino Yukinoshita thought, followed far behind them, while keeping an eye on the situation of all the students.

Because the participants were elementary school students, for safety reasons, Koda Mitsumi arranged for them to start the activity in teams. About fifteen minutes after we set off, the elementary school students in their respective teams also set off.

Although it wasn’t a competitive orienteering activity, some excited boys started jogging at the beginning. The orienteering route wasn’t as long as the regular one, but given the average elementary school student’s physical condition, they would probably have to switch back to walking by the halfway point. Only a very small number of them could run the entire way.

I focused some of my attention on the boys so I could be there for them in case of danger. Most of my attention was on Yukino and the others, while a small portion was on the girls. I must say, some of the girls developed quite early, and a few of them were clearly beauties.

Among the little girls, one with black hair stood out. She was in a group with four other little girls, but she was left several steps behind. It was obvious that she was being ostracized. Of course, that wasn’t my focus. The point was that this little girl was quite pretty, just as I mentioned above, she was going to be a beauty. And she happened to be the little girl with black hair sitting next to me.

She had beautiful black hair, black eyes, delicate features, and slender eyebrows. She wore a pink short-sleeved top under a blue suspender dress with wavy lace trim at the neckline and hem. She wore black shorts that revealed her slender legs and purple canvas shoes. In her small hands, she held a pink camera.

Coincidentally, their group just ran into Hayama Hayato’s patrol group. The four girls were talking to Hayama Hayato, the black-haired girl was standing to one side, and another male student from Soubu High School was standing awkwardly next to Hayama Hayato, who was surrounded by girls.

This section of the road is where the patrol teams overlap. Yukino and the others will be there soon, in about two or three minutes. After thinking about it, I teleported directly behind a tree nearby, then turned around and walked towards the black-haired girl who was looking down at her camera.

“Hmm? Yukino, Yumiko, look ahead there seems to be another patrol group. It looks like Hayama and his group. I wonder what they’re doing there?” Yui Yuigahama, walking between Yukino and Yumiko, was trying to find topics to keep the atmosphere from getting too awkward. She had thought of many topics along the way, but when she was about to run out of ideas, she noticed that there seemed to be something going on ahead, so she quickly changed the subject.

Yukino Yukinoshita glanced at it and responded with a faint “hmm.” She wouldn’t have bothered to look at it if her friend hadn’t suggested it. Seeing Yukino Yukinoshita’s reaction, Yumiko Miura also only glanced at it and replied with a “Is that so?” before saying nothing more.

“Hmm…it seems like they’re helping students, but there’s a little girl who seems to be being ostracized.” At this moment, Isshiki Iroha took over the conversation to avoid another awkward silence. The girl, wearing a pink hair tie, placed her small hand in front of her forehead, looking on in a wait-and-see manner.

At this point, Isshiki paused, thinking of her former self. However, she felt that she was alright now, and even better after meeting me again.

Upon hearing this, Yukino Yukinoshita glanced a few more times in the direction of the black-haired girl. The situation did indeed seem very similar, and the girl looked somewhat familiar.

“It seems so. Shall we go take a look?” Yui Yuigahama’s suggestion was unanimously agreed upon. Well, at least no one objected. Besides, it was already on their patrol route, so the girls continued on their way. But soon they stopped.

“Eh? Isn’t that… Uncle?” Iroha Isshiki was already used to calling me “Uncle,” so she didn’t change it in front of Yukino and Yui.

“It really is.” Yui Yuigahama adjusted the brim of her hat with her hand. She saw a familiar young man walking towards the little girl with black hair.

“Hmm?” Miura Yumiko raised her eyebrows, while Yukino Yukinoshita quickened her pace. My appearance drew the girls’ attention even more to this side.

“Hello, little sister, we meet again.” I quietly walked up to the black-haired girl. She didn’t notice that I was still looking down at the camera, as if there were many beautiful photos inside, but I noticed that the camera wasn’t even turned on.

“It’s you, the uncle who just sat next to me.” Only about twenty minutes had passed, but the black-haired girl still remembered me, the person who had sat next to her earlier.

“That’s right, why are you here alone? Aren’t you playing with your teammates?” Why do some young girls or girls like to call me “uncle”? I look like I’m only in my early twenties, even though I’m actually much older than that.

“Aren’t you one too?” The little girl with black hair raised her delicate face, looked around, and didn’t see my companion.

Hmm? Does this mean I’m in a similar situation to her? Indeed, when the students from Soubu High School were on stage, I sat alone on the lawn, and now I’m patrolling alone, which does make me feel a bit lonely.

“This is only temporary; I’m very popular.” Specifically referring to my popularity with women, I can’t even count the number of women in this world with whom I have close relationships or intimate feelings on my fingers.

“Is that so?” The black-haired girl didn’t use a question format, clearly indicating that she didn’t quite believe what I said, and perhaps thought I was just saying it to save face.

“Well, that’s not the point. Since we’re all alone now, how about we team up? I don’t think you’re interested in going on with them.” It’s good to be able to empathize, so I didn’t plan to let Yukino and the others prove that I’m popular.

The black-haired girl glanced at her “teammates” who were surrounding the male high school students, then at me, but didn’t answer me immediately.

“You won’t feel comfortable following behind them, will you? Even if you ignore them, they’ll keep nagging. I doubt they care if you’re still with them. It’s a rare trip, so make sure to create some good memories. You brought your camera here to record beautiful things, didn’t you?”

I spoke rather directly. The black-haired girl in front of me pursed her cherry lips. Actually, I said this mainly because the girl had just indirectly admitted that she was being ostracized, and she did not show any timidity because of it. This means that it did not affect her much or that she did not care much about it, but it was not without any impact either. You can tell from the girl’s current reaction.

The sound of a camera clicking rang out. The little girl with black hair picked up the camera she had been looking at and turned it on at some point, taking a picture of me.

“Hmm?” I looked at the black-haired girl with some confusion. Was she moved by my words and thought I was part of her beautiful memories, so she took a picture of me?

“Just in case.” The black-haired girl noticed my confusion and explained, then took out her phone, set up the camera’s Wi-Fi, and connected it to her phone. Soon, the phone rang and the camera rang.

“That’s all.” After the phone rang, the black-haired girl did some more things, and then she showed me her phone. It turned out that she had posted my photo to her private space.

“Ahem, it’s good to be wary, but I have no intention of doing anything bad to this little girl.” The black-haired girl’s meaning was clear: she was warning me not to do anything bad to her, and she had “evidence” in her hands.

“Who knows? I’ve only just met you, Uncle. I can’t say for sure if you’re a good person or a bad person,” the black-haired girl said to me calmly as she put her phone away.

“Okay, if this makes you feel more at ease, then let’s go.” The black-haired girl’s actions were tantamount to indirectly agreeing to go with me.

“Tsurumi, Tsurumi Rumi, that’s my name.” The black-haired girl didn’t deny what I said, followed me, and gave me her name.

“My name is Ken, Rumi, you can just call me by my name.” I resumed the patrol with Rumi Tsurumi.

“Understood, Uncle.” Rumi Tsurumi nodded seriously.

“I’ve discovered that you’re quite cunning, little Chinese girl.”

“No, that’s not true. I just think the term ‘uncle’ suits you better.”

Yukinoshita and her group didn’t come over until Tsurumi Rumi and I left. Yui Yuigahama still had a look of surprise in her eyes, Iroha Isshiki’s eyes flashed with interest, Yukinoshita sighed, looking like she knew it, and Miura Yumiko clicked her tongue, as if she felt sorry for the little girl’s choice.

“Yukino, shouldn’t we follow them?” Yui Yuigahama looked at my and Rumi Tsurumi’s backs, unsure of what to do, and could only ask Yukino, who was closest to me.

“No need, just leave it to Ken, it’ll be fine.” Yukino Yukinoshita believed that I wouldn’t make a move against Rumi Tsurumi, mainly because Rumi Tsurumi was a bit too young. Based on her understanding of my sexual interests, the possibility of her making a move was indeed quite small. In another two or three years, it would be quite dangerous.

“Yes, Yui-senpai, you don’t need to worry.” Iroha Isshiki agreed, but there was a strange look on the girl’s face. She wasn’t worried that I would take advantage of Rumi Tsurumi, but if I didn’t take advantage, I could win her heart. Raising her was also a way.

“Eh? Actually, I’m not worried, I just think it would be more fun to follow Ken.” Seeing Yukino and Isshiki say this, Yuigahama Yui was too embarrassed to say what she really meant, and could only mutter something under her breath.

“Huh? Yui, what are you saying?” At this moment, Isshiki and Yukino were standing one seat away from Yui Yuigahama, so they couldn’t hear clearly. However, Miura Yumiko, who was standing next to Yui, heard a few words, including what seemed to be my name.

“No, I just mean that Isshiki and Yuki’s points make sense.” Yui Yuigahama smiled guiltily, which aroused a suspicion from Yumiko Miura.

“Well… now that things are settled here, let’s go. After all, we still have our patrol duties to fulfill.” To avoid Yumiko pressing for more information, Yui Yuigahama quickly changed the subject.

Yui Yuigahama’s words were once again unanimously agreed upon by the girls. They had originally come to see me mainly because of me, but now that I was leaving, there was no need for them to stay any longer. As for Hayato Hayama’s situation on the other side, they had no interest in paying attention to it.

“Rumi, which side of the flowers do you think is prettier?” Rumi and I chatted as we walked. Actually, the little girl wasn’t as cold as she seemed. She was much better than Yukino used to be. She was just a smaller version of Yukinoshita Yukino.

Rumi Tsurumi looked at the place I pointed to, where there were two places where flowers were in full bloom. One place had dozens of small white flowers, and the other had only one. While the clusters of flowers were certainly beautiful, perhaps because there were no other flowers competing with them for nutrients, the single white flower was even more vibrant.

“…I like them both.” Tsurumi Rumi paused for a moment, then used her delicate white hands to raise the pink camera and snapped two quick photos of the flowers on both sides.

“Indeed, I would choose to have both; each has its own charm.” Rumi Tsurumi seemed unwilling to answer this more in-depth question for the time being, but that’s alright, there’s still time.

“I feel like you’re not telling me the same thing, uncle.” Tsurumi Rumi felt that my words were strange, like something was off.

“Don’t worry about it, little one. Come on, let me take some pictures of you, Rumi. You can show them to your parents when you get back. A beautiful landscape isn’t complete without a subject.” For me, people are always more beautiful than scenery. Along the way, Rumi was admiring and taking pictures of the scenery, while I was admiring the pretty little girl.

“I’m not little anymore, I’ll be going to junior high next year.” Tsurumi Rumi took out the pink camera hanging around her neck, held the camera in her small hand, raised her slender arm, and the camera strap tugged at Tsurumi Rumi’s black hair.

“Rumi, your thinking is quite mature, but your body hasn’t fully developed yet.” Rumi’s physical development is quite good for girls her age, but it’s still a long way from being considered foul.

“Pervert.” Tsurumi Rumi gave me a cold, disdainful look at my comment, and handed me the camera.

“I’m just stating the facts. Come on, Rumi, smile.” I took the camera from Rumi’s fair little hand, held it in my hand, and snapped a picture of the delicate black-haired girl in front of me.

“Are you a child? You just start taking pictures randomly.” Tsurumi Rumi’s subtext was that she wasn’t ready. Sure enough, regardless of age, people are generally quite concerned about being on camera.

“No, isn’t it cute?” I showed the picture I took to Rumi Tsurumi. In the photo, she slightly enlarged her black eyes because she didn’t react for a moment, and her slightly surprised look added to her cute and innocent appearance.

“No, it’s not cute at all. Delete the photos right now.” Rumi Tsurumi pretended to take the camera back, but I easily dodged it. The little girl wasn’t going to give up so easily. I raised the camera, and Rumi Tsurumi hopped around in front of me like a little rabbit.

“Don’t be shy. It’s not like you’ll show it to anyone else in the camera. At most, it’ll be shown to your parents, Rumi.” However, my words only provoked Rumi more, and the little girl jumped even harder.

“Alright, Rumi, if you don’t stop, I’m going to take a picture of what you look like right now.” After I changed my wording, Rumi Tsurumi stopped.

“I’ll delete them when I return them.” After calming down, Tsurumi Rumi remembered that she was the owner of the camera. Once the camera was back in her hands, she could keep whichever photos she wanted.

“Okay, you can take your time to choose later. Let’s take a few more pictures now. Come on, Xiaoliumei, squat down next to that little white flower, and I’ll take a picture of you.” I pointed to the lone little white flower I had mentioned earlier and held up my pink camera in front of my eyes, posing for a photo.

“Don’t do anything reckless this time, Uncle.” Tsurumi Rumi didn’t refuse. She squatted down, pressing her hands against her little black dress, bringing her knees together, then took her hands out and placed them on her knees, raising her delicate little face.

“Can you smile, Rumi?” I asked, pointing my camera lens at Rumi Tsurumi, adjusting the focus and contrast, and looking at the little girl’s delicate but expressionless face.

Rumi Tsurumi tried to smile, but the effect wasn’t ideal. However, I found it amusing and cute enough, so I didn’t hesitate to press the shutter and capture the moment.

“Didn’t I tell you not to take pictures anymore?” Tsurumi Rumi sighed with her cherry lips slightly parted, and I took the opportunity to snap another picture of the scene.

“I’m not just taking random pictures; I’m capturing every touching moment of Rumi.” When Rumi returned to her initial expressionless state, I took another picture.

Tsurumi Rumi propped herself up on her rounded knees, a hint of helplessness in her expression. How could she have agreed to go with me?

“Very good! Let’s go, little Liu Mei, let’s see if there are any other nice places. I’ll take a few more photos for you.” I looked at the photos I had taken and nodded in satisfaction.

“Uncle, let me take a few pictures of you later.” Tsurumi Rumi wanted to regain the initiative, so taking back the camera was a good option. It would be even better if she could take some pictures of me “making a fool of myself”.

“Okay, let’s take some photos together too.” It wasn’t hard to guess what the little girl was thinking, but I still readily agreed. Putting aside the fact that the camera originally belonged to Rumi Tsurumi, interaction is more fun when there’s a give and take.

“No! We’ve only known each other for a short time, and we’re already taking photos together? It’s too fast.” Tsurumi Rumi resolutely refused.

“It’s not like we’re dating, Xiaoliu Mei, you don’t need to be so polite with me.”

“Uncle, you really are a perverted lolicon.”

“Didn’t you just say you weren’t young?”

The two, one big and one small, strolled and took pictures in the woods, playfully bickering and teasing each other until the orienteering activity ended.