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"Can you help me look at it again next time?"
Zaimokuza Yoshiteru said, a little dejected, looking back at the crowd at the entrance to the teaching building. The setting sun's afterglow shone on his short white hair, giving him a slightly fading look, though that was a bit awkward.
"Even after being criticized like that, you still want to continue?" Hikigaya asked, a little incredulous.
"Of course, even though it got a bad review, I'm still happy. It's wonderful to have someone read something I wrote out of interest, and to hear their thoughts on it."
Zaimokuza said this with a hint of emotion, his hands cupped in his chest, his face sideways to the crowd. A relieved smile began to spread across his face.
Then, with his back to the crowd, he extended his left hand and gave a thumbs-up. His coat blew in the wind, swaying like a departing hero, as he declared to the crowd,
"This is goodbye. I'll definitely return with my new masterpiece next time."
"Hey, hey, hey, don't be so tactful. The wind is blowing so unreasonably," Qiyun muttered inwardly again.
Zaimokuza Yoshiki paused, watching as he gradually walked away. He opened his arms and began waving them towards the academic building, moving them together in a series of movements. He continued to mutter something, then wiped his chin, looking like a man who had accomplished something.
It seemed he had once again entered his own creative world. Hopefully, his next work would be even more successful. Qiyun heartily wished Zaimokuza Yoshiki a happy ending.
"Let's go home,"
Qiyun said to herself, a little sentimentally, as he gazed at the already yellowing sky. Unable to resist, he glanced back at Yukinoshita. Seeing Qiyun looking at her, Yukinoshita's eyes shifted, a hint of confusion in them, but she didn't say anything, simply nodding silently.
Their punishment wasn't over yet, so Qiyun had to return to Yukinoshita's house today. He wasn't sure how long this punishment would last. Hopefully, it wouldn't be too long. If he got used to it, he might end up going back to the wrong house...
Suddenly, it didn't seem like a big deal. Yukinoshita and Qiyun each lived alone, so there wouldn't be any unexpected situations. Qiyun felt a sudden sense of relief. Don't be afraid of difficulties; just get on with it. A cheerful expression returned to her face, but to outsiders, especially Yukinoshita, it looked a bit unwise.
"Qiyun
-san..." Qiyun replied out of habit, then realized that he was still inside Yukinoshita's body and began to look around.
"Don't worry, Mr. Pervert, there's no one around anymore." Yukinoshita looked at Qiyun, who was looking around warily, and felt a little amused. She was clearly inside her own body, but this look didn't feel out of place on her. Instead, it had a strange kind of cuteness. Yukinoshita seemed to see the two of them overlapping at this moment.
"Huh, I was scared to death, Yukinoshita-san, you're so mean. Don't you know that scaring people can kill them?" Qiyun let out a long breath, wiped the non-existent cold sweat from her forehead with her hand, and complained to Yukinoshita.
"Haha, it's better to say that Mr. Pervert's vigilance is too low. With such awareness, he will be easily exposed," Yukinoshita joked to Qiyun.
"Hmph, no way. Ordinary people wouldn't be able to tell, unless they were family members, but that's impossible,"
Qiyun, relieved, began to speak up, unaware that his act of raising the flag was simply courting disaster. Although he always scoffed at those seemingly unrealistic scenarios, believing them to be merely scripted productions for showmanship, such coincidences were unlikely to occur in real life.
But Qiyun hadn't considered one thing: since you've already traveled through time, it's perfectly natural and reasonable for me to have some coincidences. (Qiyun: ....)
Yukinoshita smiled slightly at Qiyun's smug expression. Just as she was about to say something, her gaze froze as she spotted a black sedan approaching in the distance, instantly sending a wave of panic through her otherwise calm self.
It was her sister Haruno's car, and she couldn't be mistaken. Haruno's chosen model was unique, the only one of its kind in all of Chiba Prefecture, so she was certain she wasn't mistaken.
"Qiyun-san"
Yukinoshita's anxious call brought Qiyun back to her senses. She wondered if something had happened and asked,
"What's wrong, Yukinoshita-san?"
"My sister is here." Yukinoshita's voice was very soft, with an unexpected tremor in her words. Even though she claimed to be very calm, she could not think of a reasonable solution to this sudden situation.
"Hiss!" Qiyun gasped, thinking, "I was just pretending, I never meant to do it for real."
Is it too late to take back what she just said? Well, it's probably too late. Qiyun had already seen Haruno's car slowly pull up to the road in front of the school gate, only a dozen meters away from them.
"Qiyun, remember what I said. Don't talk to my sister too much." Yukinoshita's words didn't last long before they stopped. Haruno had already opened the car door and walked over. She didn't say anything else, but silently distanced herself from Qiyun, praying that she could handle it, even preparing herself for Qiyun to be exposed.
As for her sister Haruno, Yukinoshita had no confidence that Qiyun could handle it perfectly. She knew that with her current abilities, she was far inferior to her sister. Yukinoshita Haruno was still a mountain in front of Yukinoshita, unattainable.
Looking at Haruno who was slowly walking towards her, her head began to droop slowly, and she even wanted to hide behind Qiyun quietly. Even though she knew that Haruno was not facing her at the moment, Yukinoshita still felt a little fear in her heart. It was not the kind of fear we usually think of, but more of a fear caused by inferiority. Perhaps only when Yukinoshita really reached the level of Haruno, she would be able to get rid of this feeling and truly raise her head and face her sister Haruno with her chest held high.
"It's okay, trust me," Qiyun's soft voice reached Yukinoshita's ears. It wasn't loud, but it was filled with determination, like a shot of reassurance. She looked up in surprise, realizing she'd unknowingly landed on top of Qiyun. She couldn't see the expression on her face, and her own frail figure suddenly seemed taller. A warmth welled up in her heart, dispelling the gloom she'd felt. This warmth washed over her like a stream of heat, making her feel warm again, as if bathed in sunlight.
"Hmm," Yukinoshita's whispered reply rustled softly, a warm smile plastered across her face.
Qiyun didn't hear Yukinoshita's response. Instead, he stared intently at Haruno, who was approaching, trying not to look panicked. He wondered what he should say when Haruno approached. Should he greet her first, say, "Sister, have you eaten?"
Oh well, no matter how hard she tried, Yukinoshita wouldn't greet her sister like that.
Just as Qiyun was lost in thought, Haruno had already approached. A faint smile graced her pretty face, which bore a passing resemblance to Yukinoshita's. Her gaze darted between the two of them, leaving no room for comprehension.
"Sister...sister," Qiyun spoke first.
"Hmm? Yukino, won't you introduce me to the person next to you?" Haruno asked meaningfully, her gaze fixed on Yukinoshita, who was standing behind Qiyun.
Just as Qiyun was about to respond, Yukinoshita suddenly stepped forward.
"Hello, I'm Qiyun, and I'm a member of Yukinoshita's club." She looked directly at Haruno, her eyes devoid of any fear.
Haruno remained silent, observing Yukinoshita with considerable interest, sizing up the boy she had met once before.
"Hello, I'm Yukino's sister, Haruno." A sudden smile crossed Haruno's face, as if she were delighted to see something interesting. Qiyun, beside her, felt a lingering fear in her heart, wondering if he had spotted something.
"If there's nothing else, I'll go back first and won't bother you two anymore." Yukinoshita nodded slightly and said these words of farewell.
Haruno did not refuse, but responded with a smile,
"Qiyun, goodbye then."
So Yukinoshita passed by the two of them and walked away, her figure gradually getting farther and farther away.
It's over, it's over, now I really have to fight alone. Qiyun looked at Yukinoshita's leaving figure with his eyes full of nostalgia. At this moment, he wished Yukinoshita could stay with him.