Besides Weight, Itsuki Grows in Several Aspects Too!

"My father is the hospital director. He's very busy every day and rarely comes home... Even though he sometimes takes us abroad for family outings and long vacations, he has a zombie face every day and doesn't talk. There's no warmth at all, and every time we meet, he looks like a businessman, which makes people angry!"

"Forget it, my father is a university professor. He basically doesn't talk to me. He stays at the university until late every day, and no matter when or if I come home. He always looks cold when we meet. He has a cold face, always ignores me when I talk to him, and always rejects my wishes..."

"I asked him before if he wanted to come, but he said he would wait until he's free... He'll be free someday! He even refused to come and see his daughter's moment, that stinky rock..."

"At least he would respond to you. I mentioned the sports festival to a certain extent, but he just looked at me lightly and walked away as if he didn't hear..."

"...Seems like your situation is worse."

"At least you can go out. My father is always at the university. Not to mention outings, he doesn't even take me to a family restaurant! Tsk, that bastard, he couldn't be more careless."

"Sorry, please calm down..."

Nino, initially filled with anger, comforted the increasingly angry Fumino. Her face looked slightly embarrassed, and previously, there was no atmosphere of sharing the same hatred against a common enemy.

In the Class B rest area, Shinichi listened to the two of them for a while, and finally, he understood more about Fumino's family situation.

Initially, he only knew that her father was a math professor, and her mother passed away early due to illness, since then, the family relationship was no longer harmonious, causing some concern.

However, now, after understanding that her father didn't resort to violence, excessive indulgence, or other extreme behaviors, but rather distanced himself more, Shinichi felt relieved.

Whatever the reason, although the cold indifference shown by her father wasn't trivial, at least it didn't cause real harm to the girl. Fumino didn't become twisted but remained cheerful and gentle as usual, being the beloved Princess Furuhashi.

Thinking about it this way, it seemed that neither Furuhashi's nor Nakano's family treated them materially, but there was an issue with how they interacted with their daughters.

The difference between them is that, as foster fathers, Nakano's father kept his distance, though not indifferent, he was rarely accommodating.

As for Furuhashi's father, he might not know how to deal with his biological daughter after his wife's death.

Moreover, Shinichi had never met the other side directly. Based on Fumino's words and the information he read, he drew uncertain conclusions.

He thought none of them had taken a course in single parenting.

After considering this as the girl's own homework, Shinichi listened calmly without interrupting. He chatted casually with Itsuki and Ichika on his phone from time to time.

The official afternoon competition began. Miku returned to the medical service area, while Yotsuba went to the field to prepare for the next 200-meter race.

Rizu didn't come because she wanted to accompany her parents, so only five out of eight student council members were present. Although this might disturb Fuutarou, who was concentrating on writing math problems, no one cared about such things. It didn't mean that no one, except Shinichi, was willing to pay attention, but the whole field was filled with cheers. Initially, this wasn't suitable for studying, and he didn't know what others emphasized.

"If you don't appreciate such kind parents, I even saw you staring at Aunt Kazumi a few times!"

In the midst of their conversation, Nino and Fumino began shifting their attention to Shinichi for some reason.

Fumino also nodded and echoed, "Yes, Asada-san, we wanted our families to come, but you hurriedly drove away Aunt Kazumi and Uncle Masao. Is that how you don't know how to be blessed even when you are blessed?"

She said with a serious face, as if teaching a kindergarten child, giving her a lesson.

"Regardless of anything, you must be grateful to your parents!"

Shinichi stared at her with a gentle expression.

"Is this what someone who just called her father a bastard should be saying?"

"My situation is different! Your parents are very fond of you, and you don't say anything when you act indifferent to them. Isn't that right to be grateful to parents like that?"

"I'm not treating them coldly... Forget it, you're right."

Shinichi stopped his argument, looked at Nino, and opened his mouth before she could speak, making her frown a bit.

"What? Is there something you want to say?"

"Hmm..." Shinichi pondered for a moment and suddenly asked.

"The class two relay competition starts at 13:40, right?"

"That's correct."

Shinichi asked about the only competition Nino participated in today; logically, she should know it clearly.

"Why are you asking deliberately?"

Nino tilted her head, and the curve of her neck was very gentle.

"No reason. Just to make sure." Shinichi shook his head, and the corner of his mouth seemed to lift slightly.

Nino looked at his expression.

"Suspicious. Are you thinking of something strange?"

"Yes, I'm thinking about you..." Shinichi was about to throw some teasing comments, but from the corner of his eye, he caught the hopeful expression from Fumino and continued without pause in his speech.

"If you don't do preparation exercises first, be careful, and you might get hurt later."

"You don't need to worry about me. I won't try my best again." Nino waved her hand, took out a comb and a small mirror, and started tidying up her long hair, tying it into a ponytail for easier movement.

The mirror reflected her unmotivated appearance. Nino pursed her lips at herself and casually said, "Our class has no intention of ranking up. I'm just participating in the relay to add points. Wouldn't it be weird to run fast? It seems like I want to show off."

"That makes sense." Shinichi nodded in response, and after a while, he said he had to go to the toilet and left his seat.

Ichika saw it, half-closed her eyes, and quietly reminded Itsuki.

"Do you want to follow and see?"

Itsuki said reasonably without much thought, "I won't do that. Following Asada-kun to the bathroom is something only creepy people do!"

Ichika couldn't hold back her laughter, then quickly restrained her smile and spoke with a longer tone.

"But Shinichi-kun seems not to want to go to the toilet~ If he uses the toilet as an excuse and ends up socializing with a vixen of unknown origin—"

"That won't happen! I trust Asada-kun's integrity!"

Itsuki said with a serious expression on her face.

"But as the vice president and secretary, I have to be by his side, secretly protecting him, and be prepared for emergencies."

"In this way, when the vixen appears... Ahem, when he needs help, I can provide assistance in a timely manner to fulfill his needs!"

"Wow, amazing~" Ichika clapped a few times without emotion, her tone full of admiration.

"I fully understand your professionalism... You really are Itsuki, my little sister whom I can be proud of."

Itsuki followed Shinichi from a distance. Hearing this, she couldn't help but smile proudly. She lifted her head and chest confidently.

"Of course, I'm developing every day—"

"But you might not be able to change the stalker attribute, and you're becoming even more creepy and stifling."

"Hah!!!"