Before I even caught on to the time of the year, the entire school was already in culture festival mode. For the culture festival execution committee folks, I guess it already started. Both Natsukawa and Sasaki (as a bonus) have gotten quite busy. When I spent my time cursing him for getting to enjoy such a common point with Natsukawa, sending him deathly glares without him knowing, he actually resorted to bringing more work to the classroom.
“Not bad, Sasakiiii.”
“What are you doing, Sasakiii~”
“Wah!? Hey! This is stuff other people aren’t supposed to see!”
I joined in with Yamazaki’s idiotic attitude and conversation, surrounding Sasaki. To be more exact, Yamazaki just dragged me along, so I had no other option. We’re your own support squad, so you better be happy, Sasaki. Don’t you dare get too close to Natsukawa, you hear me.
Sasaki seemingly smelled our arrival from a mile away, and quickly hid some papers beneath his desk. I feel like there was something related to budget when I took a peek inside the culture festival committee’s room back on the day of the school visit for the middle school students. If that was the case here, then I can understand why they would be troublesome for us to see. Why’d you even bring them here then, moron.
“What, you busy? Getting along with your little sissy?”
“Huh? Yeah…doing just fine.”
“Quiet, moron!”
“S-So annoying…”
Yamazaki shot back. He must have built up some energy during summer break. I really feel like he’d be better off pouring this motivation into his school life and studies. Eat this, Sasaki! — [Yamazaki]! (*Secret technique)
“Are culture festival execution committee members busy this time around?”
“Busy…Well, yeah. I’m working hard every day, with Natsukawa.”
“……”
It sounded like Sasaki was oddly emphasizing that part about Natsukawa. Was that supposed to be…a provocation? What a shame, but my heart won’t budge from something like this…Okay, that was a lie. I’m really jealous. I want to put thumbtacks into all juice cans in this entire school. That being said, I accept Sasaki and his desire to walk next to Natsukawa. If he really was serious about her, then I wouldn’t get in his way. Doesn’t mean I can’t accept it either. Just feel like being a bit of a rival, that’s it. But, I shouldn’t be doing that here, in such a place.
“…Really now.” I muttered.
“Really now…Are you—”
“Hey hey, I wonder what kind of stuff we’ll do for the mystery competition at the festival~”
Right as Sasaki wanted to say something, Yamazaki, as always, was unable to read the mood, and interrupted him. His idiocy is really reassuring at times. Must be his charm that I can’t get angry at him despite his good looks. That being said, I’m worried about him falling for a woman with ulterior motives. I just can’t cast him away, I guess.
“Mystery, huh…With small children, maybe something simple would be better?” I commented.
“We’ll be deciding that starting today.” Sasaki argued.
“Let’s think about something super complicated!”
“If you can come up with something like that, Yamazaki.”
“What was that, Sasaki!?”
Following that, I enjoyed the sight of Yamazaki and Sasaki fighting it out. Good, good, now continue. The culture festival at Kouetsu High basically consists of the various classes coming up with an attraction, and our class C went with a ‘mystery competition’. We also thought of doing a cafe or a stage play, but all of those were rejected. According to our homeroom teacher Ootsuki-chan, the third-years are doing this kind of template stuff, as that would have less of a burden on them with all their entrance exams. There are also other sanitary problems to consider, so they don’t want the first-years, who aren’t used to that stuff, to do anything crazy. An adult’s circumstances, you could call it.
*
Natsukawa didn’t seem to have much time talking with the girls in our class during summer break, which is why there seemed to have been a lot of material stored up. The second we had any kind of freedom, several people gathered around her. Natsukawa seemed to invite this kind of stuff because of her cheerful attitude, because more and more people joined in. You’d probably be sucked in like a whirlpool.
“—Ah, um…”
Looking at my side, I saw a flustered Ichinose-san, being chased by a grinning Shirai-san and Okamocchan. Maybe because she’s lost her atmosphere of being hard to approach, or quite possibly because she cut her long bangs, her aura changed into one of a small animal who makes you want to protect her. It’s wonderful, to say the least. She should become even more entangled with them. As her former senior at work, I highly recommend that.
“Why’re you grinning at a girl like that?”
“Wah, Kawai?”
“Eh, I’m kawaii?”
“Nobody said that.”
“Heh, template.”
The two members of the volleyball club suddenly called out to me. They were probably talking about their club, because I could see several documents on their desk. This Kawai actually is taller than me, taking the role of the man in the relationship. That’s why I can’t help but bend backwards. According to Ashida, this is how she always reacts with that kind of joke.
“Look, look, I raised that girl.”
“I’ll tell Aichi.” Ashida commented.
“How much do I have to pay?”
I felt like bragging about Ichinose-san, but that backfired painfully. Isn’t it fine…I basically made her get a haircut after all. If I wasn’t around, she probably wouldn’t have become that popular either, you know? That being said, with Natsukawa’s name in the game, I had no chance of winning.
“We were just talking about renewing the volleyballs we’re using for our club, so good timing.”
“Can you not use your words for a spike?”
I don’t feel like I can win against the grinning Ashida and Kawai. They both seemed like they had sadistic tendencies, so I decided against aggravating them too much. I shall step down quietly, but you better remember this, Kawai…!
“…S-Sajou-kun…!”
“Ahh…!?”
Right as I was swearing my revenge, a small shadow jumped at me, together with a panicky voice. I felt something pressing against my arm, which led to Ashida raising a baffled scream. I was confused as to what was going on, so I looked down at my side, only to find Ichinose-san. Apparently she’s turned into the plaything of Shirai-san and Okamocchan. Even just now, she was constantly clung to and had her hair ruffled up…Receiving that kind of attention from those two girls, I’m quite jealous. Eh? You don’t like it? Do you want me to take over for you then?”
“What’s wrong, Ichinose-san? Aren’t Shirai-san and Okamocchan all over you? You’re getting along, huh?”
“Aren’t you a bit too casual about this? Hey, Sajocchi…she’s clinging to you.”
Looking down my arm once again to confirm, I indeed saw Ichinose-san pressing herself against my arm. I could feel a faint softness hitting my elbow even.
“……Huehue.”
“Sajocchi!”
“Ah!? Sajou-kun, not fair!”
“How dare you flirt around with Mina-chan!”
That’s right, this is special. Ever since the time we worked together part-time, she’s been reborn. Basically, I have become the parent which led to her rebirth. Welcome back, my daughter.
“Sajocchi!!”
“Mguh!?”
A sudden headlock assaulted me, with Ashida wrapping her arms around my neck. Rather than this being a headlock, it felt more like I was being strangled…! I-I can’t breathe…Ah!? Ashida’s soft two mounds are hitting my back…! G-Gaaaaaah! Focus! Don’t think, just feel!
“Hey, Sajocchi…! Why are you just flirting around where Aichi could see you!”
“Guuuuuhhh…!?”
As I was giving in to the pleasure, Ashida only strengthened her grip on my windpipe. Even as I tapped on her arms to beg for my freedom, she didn’t let go. This is weird, it’s like she’s actually gunning for my life…? She was whispering something into my ear, but because no air reached my brain, I failed to filter out anything.
“…H-Hey! What are you two doing!”
“Ah.”
I heard a voice from a bit further away. At the same time, the pressure on my throat lessened. I somehow managed to turn my neck to look at the source of the voice, only to find Natsukawa with her hands slammed on the desk, glaring at us. Ahhh…I’m glad I got to see Natsukawa’s face in the final moments of my life.
“A-Aichi, this is…”
“Y-You’re too close…!”
“Ah!”
Natsukawa stomped towards us, pulling on the same arm that Ichinose-san had just held onto. In response to that, Ashida frantically let go of me. I could finally breathe again. Ahh, oxygen is so delish. I gasped for air a few times, and saw Ichinose-san showing a somewhat troubled expression, almost like she was unsure what to make of the situation…Hm? Ichinose-san moved away from me, and yet this soft sensation on my arm hasn’t…Eh?
“N-Natsukawa-san…?”
“……”
Looking over, Natsukawa now clung to my arm, looking up at me. However, besides sending me a complicated gaze, she gave me no response, as the soft sensation hitting my arm spoke for itself. W-What is this about…In this short period of time, I’ve been in close contact with three girls…Am I going to die today?
“Uwah…! Natsukawa-san is so bold…”
Wah!? Hearing Shirai-san’s outburst, and seeing her sparkling eyes, I started panicking. I always thought she was much more innocent than that, but…Please, don’t say something like that, it really doesn’t count as a joke! Nothing good will happen of making us both conscious of the other…!
“! N-No, this isn’t…!” Natsukawa jumped away from my arm.
She probably wasn’t even embarrassed that much, and instead just didn’t want people to get the wrong idea. Thinking about it that way makes me a bit sad, but what can you do. I let out a sigh to get back on groove, and threw in a follow-up for Natsukawa’s sake.
“Shirai-san, you heard Natsukawa, yeah?”
“Ehhhh?”
Don’t ‘Ehhhh (Sparkle sparkle)’ me, okay? Can somebody stop this woman, please? This ain’t the time to live in your fantasies. That airheadedness is a sin, okay. Even more so since she’s subconsciously pushing us together. See, Natsukawa-san isn’t even looking me in the eyes anymore! Please, somebody save me!
[~~~♪ ~~~♪]
“…!”
T-This is…! Nice ringtone! I’m not letting this chance go to waste!
“A-Ah, my phone~”
I pulled off one of the worst acting performances ever, and took out my smartphone. After moving away from Natsukawa, I checked my messages.
‘You got time this lunch break? You probably do, right.’
Nice timing, Big Sis. You’re a goddess, my guardian. Your timing couldn’t have been better. I’m so glad I forgot to put my phone on silent. Leaving aside the contents, I’m super thankful, Big Sis. But, I don’t think it’s very nice of you to assume that I have that much free time!
“Wah…Sajocchi.”
“You…”
“Shush over there.”
The two volleyball members gave me gazes devoid of any emotion. Hey now, can you not be disgusted like that? Or what? Are you going to defy me, who has the student council vice president as his ally? Don’t come crying whatever happens now, okay? Not to mention that the gazes of the other girls around me have gotten about as cold. Only Shirai-san didn’t read the mood, just pointing words in the shape of a knife at me with ‘Ahaha, Sajou-kun is the worst~’. What is this destructive power. Even after being used as a dust cloth by Big Sis, not even she managed to break my heart like you are right now. I glanced over at Natsukawa, but she just stared down at the floor, fidgeting awkwardly.
*
“—So, what do you want?”
“Nothing much. Same as always.”
The lunch break arrived, and I was finally free from the negative attention I received in class. I finished eating lunch and made my way to the student council office, to which Big Sis handed me different documents compared to the last time I helped. Basically, she wants me to ‘do them’, huh. She did save me before, but…I feel like she has no remorse whatsoever for using me, and I don’t like that.
“Ain’t it fine, you’ll soon be a member of the student council after all.”
“No no, what the hell are you talking about?”
I remember how she nonchalantly told me to join the student council past summer break, but was she actually serious about that? Yeah, sorry, but I really don’t feel like joining the student council. Since I worked part-time, I’m used to having my work actually compensated, so I sure as hell ain’t down for this.
“Kaede’s younger brother is going to join? Sounds good to me!”
“Good, right? It sounds like destiny for the younger brother to inherit his older sister’s position.”
The sporty handsome guy Todoroki-senpai added an unneeded comment. While collecting documents from Todoroki-senpai, the gentle hottie Hanawa-senpai said it like it was none of his business. You really don’t have to show sympathy or anything like that. Who the hell would join this group out of their own free will. Why not try your luck with a girl who’s in it for the hotties?
“Come on, next seat. Sit down next to Takuto. And bring the documents Yuudai has with you.”
“Huh? T-Takuto? Yuudai?”
Even if you suddenly use their names like that, you’ll only confuse me more, okay. I don’t know the full names of those hotties.
“Kai Takuto. Yuudai is the energetic one over there.”
“It me~”
So she was talking about Kai-senpai and Todoroki-senpai, huh. Big Sis calls them all by their given names…Also, Todoroki-senpai has like zero motivation to do his work, lol. How about you make him help you instead? Why is Hanawa-senpai just letting them do this without saying anything? These thoughts filled my head, when Kai-senpai brought his face closer to me.
“There will be inadequacies if we leave this to Todoroki-senpai. It’s fine.”
“Ehhh…”
He pushed up his glasses, tapping me on the shoulder. His expression basically told me to give up. If anything, he’s the one who gave up. Why is that guy even here then? Is he the hype man? Maybe Todoroki-senpai should aim to become an idol instead. As for Big Sis…maybe middleweight class?
“Sorry, Wataru, could you just help us out a bit?”
“…Aye.”
The cool-type hottie and student council president Yuuki-senpai even asked me, as he lowered his head. I guess he is the other person who has some kind of common sense here right after Kai-senpai. As a result of that, he looks more like a god rather than some average hottie…Nay, thou does not possess the qualities for being a divine being. Offer thine seat to Natsukawa, and I shall be the founder of her sect.
“Here you go.”
“Mm.”
I was handed a laptop, and a familiar one. While being taught by Kai-senpai, I booted it up. I gazed at the starting screen, when I saw the sticker below the keyboard.
“Woah…”
Ehh…The CPU has a [9] on it. So high spec, jesus. Even though this is just a laptop? How would a high school student even use these specs?
“Ah, I’m sorry, Kaede-san. Where do we have the computer format for that document?”
“Ah, that? Use the fourth file in the ‘Culture festival’ folder, and copy that.”
“Okay, thanks.”
Seems like this is something even a member of the student council, Kai-senpai, doesn’t understand. Also, are they planning to make me work on something that hasn’t even started yet? Hell no. Can’t I just take care of the leftovers? Is there no easy job like that? I ran my eyes along the documents, when I found a note that made me curious.
“…Hm? What is this? ‘Put the handwritten information into the format’? So you couldn’t put this into a digital document from the very beginning?”
“No, that’s stuff the execution committee gathered from outsiders. It’s not impossible, but you wouldn’t want to force people to use a computer, and shoo them away. Especially some rich old folks.”
“Rich old folks…Aren’t they backing us?”
“Thanks for helping us, Sajou-kun.”
“Urk…Yes.”
Right as I threw a complaint at Big Sis, Kai-senpai moved closer to me. Never in my life did ‘Thanks for helping us’ sound so threatening. I guess he really is one of the K4, so calculating. Accepting the document, I found the same category as in the format just now. I guess I really just have to type it in. Also, this bundle…they’re not documents related to the school, huh…I guess this high-level school is getting money from a lot of places. I bet a lot of it comes from the West side. That would explain why the school is giving that side favorable treatment.
“…Hey, Big Sis.”
“Mm.”
“It might be a bit late to ask this, but aren’t we the East si—mgh!?”
“Shut up, and move those hands.”
Big Sis’ arm came from my left, restraining my entire head. This doesn’t even compare to when I was strangled by Ashida. It feels so…nostalgic. Why does Big Sis have more strength in her arms than an active club member like Ashida…
“…? What are you talking about?”
“Nothing, just continue.” Bis Sis rubbed her neck, and continued her work.
Her manner of speaking sounded oddly forceful. I guess she really has no plans on ever talking about the past of this school. Seems like I can only do my work for once…Although they pushed a lot of documents on me, I managed to work my way through them fairly quickly. From what I understood, it’s mostly addresses or phone numbers of people supporting the school from the outside. Even graduates still technically count as insiders after all, so I could just copy from last year’s list as well.
“It’s not that tough, huh.” I spoke up.
“I mean, the moment we have to work during lunch break, that alone is rough. It’s like we’re doing overtime for free.” Big Sis commented.
“Ah…!?”
“You have these corporate drone tendencies, which is why I was trying to push you into the student council.”
“Stop that…I call slander.”
“Kaede, we’re also getting depressed about it, so don’t call it overtime for free.”
Seriously. Seriously….I was so shocked, I even repeated myself. Corporate drone tendencies sound awful. Look at Yuuki-senpai, even he’s dejected now. Weird…? Normally I wouldn’t be able to motivate myself if I don’t get any pay like during my part-time job, and yet I feel my motivation rising despite this being hell.
“…I’m curious about your financial standing. You probably got the cash now, huh?”
“Huh!? Like hell that’s the case, You’re making me do errands day in, day out, you know!?”
“It’s weird that you, who worked part-time before, wouldn’t ask for some kind of compensation when doing any kind of work. It’s proof that you got cash now…Great news…No, that was already the case back in middle school…”
“Hey, don’t you dare think about anything weird! You better not make me treat you to even more stuff, alright!”
“So you’re fine with the level it’s been at recently?”
“Ah…!?”
I immediately realized the abnormality in my words, but it was already too late. Rather than being a corporate drone, I’ve already turned into a slave…!? Oh my lord, I can’t muster up any strength. My mental health took a dip for the worse in this one moment. Alright, I’ve decided. I’m not going to work anymore this second term. I’ll take it easy, and fix these slave tendencies of mine. Maybe I should go to Shinomiya-senpai’s dojo and train myself there…? Weird, I don’t see a future where I can actually fix myself.
“Sorry about this, Wataru. As thanks, I’ll prepare some lunch for you tomorrow.”
“Yes—Eh?”
“So once lunch break arrives, please come to the student council office.”
“Eh…?”
I’m a bit baffled right now, but can I just say one thing? I’m not motivated nor interested in helping you, okay? If you’re trying to bribe me with that, at least make it homemade by a girl. And not Big Sis…Also, what the hell is this student council. It doesn’t make any sense that there’s only one girl in here. Being surrounded by four hotties like this, I feel like I’m the side character in some otome game.
“Ah, if you’re going back to your classroom, can you take these cardboard boxes to the material room? Thx.”
“You a demon?”
“And yet, you’re already picking them up…”
“Ah…!?”
“Sorry, can you help him, Takuto?”
“Yes, of course.”
*
Kai-senpai and I walked down the hallway next to each other. Since his path overlapped with mine at least halfway, he probably was asked to tag along, but I just feel bad about that…No wait, aren’t I helping him instead? Why am I feeling bad about that? What kind of service mentality is this, brain? Right now, I think I could go job hunting. Is that a bad habit from when I was chasing after Natsukawa?
“Last time since we walked together like this was during the first term, right Sajou-kun?”
“Ahh, back then…”
Back when I had that passionate battle with Big Sis on the rooftop…At that time, I never would have thought that I got involved with the student council again. Why did this happen? Well, the vice president is living together with me, so there’s no way I can ignore it. Running away surely isn’t going to do it either.
“Phew…this is getting a bit exhausting, huh.”
“Ah, it gets a bit easier if you put the cardboard box against your stomach. It’s a trick people working in the moving services use.”
“Hehe…”
“…What?”
“I was just thinking that you really are a good fit for the student council.”
“Come on, this is just miscellaneous work.”
So he’s part of the faction that wants me to join the student council, huh. I’m starting to feel a bit cautious now. He has this kind of calculative personality as well, so I feel like he might grasp some weakness of mine if I opened up too much.
“Oh yeah, what about you then? The wind has told me a rumour along the lines of ‘Next up, student council president’, you know.”
“So that’s already turned into a rumour…That sucks.”
“Well, I understand your feelings.”
Who did I hear about it from…I forgot. Inside the student council, he’s a bit of a background character, but between the second-years, Kai-senpai is quite famous. Especially because of his good looks and glasses. Maybe the glasses are his main body?
“It’s not that I dislike working in the student council as a whole…I just don’t want to be the president.”
“Ahh…I get it…Did Big Sis also urge you?”
If he’s planning on continuing in the student council, I could see Big Sis going ‘Eh? So you gonna be the next student council prez, right?’, no doubt. Or maybe she didn’t, because I feel like the K4 would not be able to reject any request from Big Sis. Maybe it’s just another prejudice of mine.
“She made an approach about it, but…Well, I’m just glad I stepped down immediately.”
“I’m sorry about her. Rather than refusing to back down, she just orders me instead.”
Seems like I brought up a topic that Kai-senpai would rather not talk about. He must have disliked me asking him myself like that…That was dangerous. I bet he’s super scary if he snaps.
“Order….Cough, s-so, Sajou-kun.”
“Yes?”
Kai-senpai’s tone of voice suddenly changed, giving me a really bad feeling.
“Well…A-About Kaede-san…what is she like at home?”
“Excuse me?”
I had to take a moment to process what I just heard. I don’t get the intent of the question. Or rather, I can somewhat guess it, I just can’t see Kai-senpai asking about the girl he’s interested in. Ahh, I really don’t want to get into this…
“What do you mean by that…?”
“Eh…!? W-Well…You know, I was wondering how she spent her time at home…and so on…”
What? What the hell is this? Am I really being forced into this right now? Why do I have to explain my own older sister to some guy just for his research. Well, you know…I’ve been in his care, so…It’s like I’m about to ruin his whole career, messing up everything he assumed he knew about her. Can’t you decide if you want to take care of me, or spell more trouble for me?
“The thing is…”
“T-The thing is…?”
“Big Sis…is a nudist.”
“A-A nudist?!”
H-Hey, can you not scream like that? You won’t be forgiven for everything just because you’re a hottie with glasses ! See, that girl walking near us gave us a dubious gaze already! I lowered my voice, and continued in hopes that we wouldn’t stand out as much.
“She’s not going fully naked, you know. Just, before she got into her yankee time, she barely wore anything on her upper body. As a result of that, she immediately throws off everything as soon as she gets home. Basically, she’s only wearing a camisole, and when it gets too hot, her skirt is flying off without remorse.”
“H-Her skirt!?”
“You’re too loud!”
“Ah…A-Anyway…Um, what else?”
“Ehhh…?”
Oh lord, my image of Kai-senpai is falling apart. It’s not that I was particularly admiring him or anything, but I really didn’t want to see him gasping for air while falling deep down into his fantasies. Was he always that kind of an open pervert? Or only towards me? Why the hell? I’m the younger brother of your romantic interest. I wasn’t like this in front of Natsukawa, right?
“…Well, she generally goes with short pants—Actually, when Dad ain’t home, she often only wears panties after all.”
“A camisole…and panties…!? In front of you!?”
“Hey, why are you looking so shocked now? You won’t get anything from that. I don’t even care that much anymore. Back when I was in grade school, she pretty much was butt naked in front of me.”
“B-Butt naked…!”
Ah, crap…! I dropped a bombshell with that one, huh…Maybe I shouldn’t have revealed my older sister’s nudist tendencies. At the very least, it’d be bad if she found out about this. I might get stabbed in my sleep now that I think about it.
“K-Kaede-san is…!”
“No, it’s not that erotic, okay. If anything, she just kicks me all the time while looking like that.”
“Kicking…!”
“Hol’ up.”
I was baffled to say the least. Why would you get excited because of that? Should I send you to Shinomiya-senpai’s dojo? No…it’s still not too late. Kai-senpai still isn’t gone completely. That just now was my misunderstanding. I’m sure that he was filled with nothing but pure intentions of wanting to find out about Big Sis. The Senpai I know is a proper and diligent—
“W-What else?”
P-Proper and…Hey now, is this okay? I’m not telling him about my older sister’s tendencies, right? If anything, I’m just telling him that Big Sis is a yankee at home. It’s a typical story of playing a prank on my family. I’m sure that she’s doing something similar about me to someone else, so no biggie.
“Whenever I act a bit cheeky or rebellious, she immediately strangles me. If I don’t tap my hand on the ground at least 20 times, she won’t even let go.”
“She won’t let go…!? Haa…huff…”
H-Huh…? Weird, I feel like I’m making things worse. I planned to move away from anything that would make Senpai pant this much…Or what, is his head already full of Big Sis? Is he imagining her strangling him? This might be bad.
“…Well, you know, that’s just how it is. Once she’s in front of me, she has these instincts to fight…”
“Buwah!”
“Wah…!?”
H-He died!? I mean, I myself suffered from a nosebleed when Big Sis was giving me a choke hold. There’s the possibility of me getting one just by remembering that trauma. However, he most definitely should not be getting a nosebleed from this. Even more so because he’s showing a really vile grin. This is the first time I’ve seen something like this…it’s like I’m looking at a historical painting. What kind of functions activated inside of him that he’d get a nosebleed…? Some defensive mechanism…?
“W-Wo fin Faehe-wan waf wif wif fat fhome…”
While mumbling something that probably meant ‘To think Kaede-san was like this at home’, Kai-senpai wiped away the blood from his nose. I guess it’s all because of his good looks, because he even looked handsome while doing that. At the same time, I cursed the inequality of this world.
“I’m sorry, Sajou-kun…could I visit the toilet for a moment?”
“Maybe after we drop these off?”
The corner of the cardboard box I was carrying had started to really bite into my nether region. I felt dejected that I was forced to lean forwards for a different reason than Kai-senpai. I bet that, during this entire year, this one conversation was probably the greatest time waste of them all…So, I decided to run away from reality, and started thinking about what kind of attribute of magic I would be able to use if I got transported to a different world right now.
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