Chapter 2 - Pseudo-dawn that spies on the hidden night

The night is getting late, except for the occasional sound of passing locomotive engines, the surrounding area into the night, into the silence.

The hour hand is pointing at eleven, the second hand is still walking in an orderly manner, this is originally just an ordinary night.

Time has always been ordinary, what makes it extraordinary is man-made.

Ziongzong looked at the double ponytail sitting on his lap and sighed silently in his heart.

It was not frustration, but helplessness.

-- Although, she should not hate me, but also can not talk about a good feeling, and even worse, can find me an annoying guy.

Ziongzong roughly think Koga Mizuo at this time which nerve has been wrong.

The only thing is that the smiling Mizuo is happily enjoying Ziongzong's embrace, so much so that the illusion of a pink happy atmosphere even appears in Ziongzong's eyes.

"How about it, did you have a deer in your heart? "

Mizuo wiggled her head, her soft hair tickling Ziongzong's face, and he felt tickled but also felt comfortable.

"How is it possible."

Ziongzong thrust his hands under her armpits and lifted her whole body up, taking this little twin ponytail loli out of his lap and placing her on the tatami in front of him.

Although she was indeed a female, until then she was just a schoolgirl and more profoundly, even though Ziongzong was an able-bodied well-developed junior high school student who didn't care much about age or anything, schoolgirls weren't in his hunting range.

"Anyway, let's eat something first."

Ziongzong deliberately did not mention the fact that Mizuo had not eaten for a long time, he knew that it could not be a simple reason such as "no money to buy food to eat", if you look deeper, it may break the current peace.

"Well ...... is fine."

The body is weak, only she knows best.

"So, wait for me a little."

It would be easy enough to buy something to eat on the way back. But considering that Mizuo was not simply hungry, but had a sickly, empty stomach, Ziongzong bought the ingredients needed to make porridge at the convenience store.

'Be good and don't run around.'

Ziongzong had no idea what the girl would do, so he left his room and sped off, adding water to cover the pot, firing it up, setting the time, and then dashing back to his room like a ninja.

"So fast! "

This speed really startled Mizuo.

"This speed is nothing."

"What about the food? "

Mizuo thought that food was more important than being surprised by her health.

"It's not that fast, just wait patiently."

"Damn, I take back the words "so fast! I was wrong about you."

"I'm sorry, then."

Ziongzong coughed gently, a sign that he was going to lead the conversation.

"Now that you've come to your senses, answer my question. "

He tapped his palm on the tatami mat a few times to reinforce his authority.

"Don't suppress yourself too much, lolicon. "

But the child was clearly fearless.

"I don't care if you don't cooperate with me or I'll send you home. "

"...... Yes, Brother Ziongzong."

But there is no such thing as a fearless person.

The threat was even more effective than Ziongzong expected, and the twin ponytails, who had just been smiling and laughing, now sat upright.

"Does the wound still hurt? "

"Yeah, it doesn't hurt anymore."

Mizuo's eyes grew in surprise.

"I didn't expect that to be your first question."

"What's wrong?"

"No."

Mizuo shook her head happily.

"We have school tomorrow, right?"

"No, we have a holiday tomorrow."

"A holiday?"

"It looks like the school is going to hold an event or something."

It sounded suspicious.

"Wait a minute."

Ziongzong took out his smallest set of pajamas from the closet.

"Let's change into these."

Mizuo was still wearing his casual clothes for the night out.

"Yeah."

For some reason, Mizuo looked at Ziongzong's pajamas as if she was looking at her own fiancé, and a feeling of happiness spread across her face.

--Don't think too much about it.

But Ziongzong had no time for that, seizing the opportunity to change her clothes, he left the room and took three steps to the door of Yuuki's room.

--It's okay to ask Yukino-san, but it feels weird.

Ziongzong knocked on Yuuki's door with the least amount of force.

No response.

But there was a faint light coming through the door.

--

Ziongzong turned around to leave, and the door opened just at that moment.

"Brother?"

"Oh, Yuuki, are you still awake?"

--What am I so nervous about?

"......"

"It's late, don't you have school tomorrow?"

"No I don’t. We're having a school event."

--That's true.

"Well, ...... then, good night."

"Well, good night, brother."

As Yuuki closed the door, Ziongzong saw the phone screen on her bed light up.

--......

Ziongzong walked up the stairs to the second floor, and there was the ponytail in his room that he couldn't figure out.

In addition, I always feel that the Japanese 'brother' , sounding particularly sweet ......

Ziongzong is not quite used to.

The Uesugi house is not always safe at night, and it would be a good state to stay in the room with Mizuo all the time, so Ziongzong tried to minimize the number of times he went in and out of the room. He confirmed the time and realized that the porridge was about to boil, so he waited a few more minutes, filled the porridge, cleared the kitchenware and destroyed all the evidence before going back to his room.

He knocked on the door, albeit quietly, and the echo of the empty voice created a slight tension in him.

"It's me."

"Hmm."

Mizuo responded vaguely, as if it was okay to go in.

"I'm coming in."

After pulling open the door, Mizuo stood squirming a bit, with her back to Ziongzong.

--- What's going on now? ......

--- It's obvious that just now she was very open.

"What's wrong, are you uncomfortable?

"No ...... no."

The two ponytails hesitated and slowly turned around.

Although it was already Ziongzong's smallest pajamas, it was still too big for Mizuo, and the loose top looked a bit fat, and the pants were hanging down to the floor forming several folds ......

Only ...... her face was now flushed, and this face was full of shyness What is it?

Ziongzong always felt that he had inadvertently triggered some kind of plot to make the good feeling rise significantly, but he thought he really did not do anything special ah!

Cautiously locking the door, Ziongzong ...... didn't know what to do.

--Lock the door of the room or something, just afraid that the Uesugi couple, Yui they may come over to me, there is no special intention.

Who are you explaining that to, Uesugi Ziongzong.

"Uh, it's really a bit big. "

"......"

"Let's make do with it tonight."

"......"

"......"

"......"

The silence was so awkward that I wanted to die.

"Right, right, let's eat, I'm done."

At this moment, Ziongzong felt that the porridge in his hand was shining like a magic weapon.

"...... is good."

"Be careful with the heat."

"Mmm."

"Eat slowly, your stomach can't take that much at once."

"...... Oh."

Maybe there should be some kind of interaction like "Ah~ I'll feed you" at this time, but Ziongzong just sat and watched Mizuo, and it was time for him to adjust and calm down.

"Is it good?"

"Yummy ...... Thank the person who prepared this porridge for me."

Mizuo looked happy to eat, but she failed to associate this porridge with Ziongzong's hand.

"Just take care of yourself ...... and think about the person who made the porridge. "

Ziongzong also did not intend to point out, to see Mizuo happy, is the biggest praise to him.

"The congee is very special ...... taste is also very different, is never eaten the feeling, can feel a warm emotion in it. "

--Because it's a Chinese style congee, it's naturally different.

"I think I was right to ask that person to make the congee. "

"You should thank him."

"Yes."

The atmosphere became sweet and ambiguous again.

"......"

"......"

So once again, the silence was so deadly.

Ziongzong stomped and crushed the atmosphere and silence with all his might and blasted it out of the solar system.

"Then, why don't you go to bed early?"

"...... Yes."

What's with this uncomfortable conversation?

What's with this wedding-like atmosphere?

I don't know what to say about this.

If not for the presence of a young student, Ziongzong would have been scratching his hair at a rate of 300 times a second.

--The first thing you need to do is to get a good idea of what you're doing.

--No, no, it's not normal, I'm not normal anymore, my mind is short-circuited, no, am I broken?

While Ziongzong collapsed, the body relied on instinct, turned off the lights and got under the covers.

The sound of tiny sounds coming from around you, and the sound of clothes rubbing, Mizuo should also lie down.

Just ...... heartbeat gradually accelerated.

-- What are you panicking about, Uesugi Ziongzong.

-- In the orphanage, weren't there also many little girls, and didn't you have a good time?

-- Although now is the age of love, but the other party is just an elementary school student, do not be confused by your own change of mind, Ziongzong!

"Knock ......"

The sound from the door broke the awkward atmosphere.

The twin ponytail bedding was placed in the corner of the room and could not be seen from the doorway.

Ziongzong opened the door after whispering a 'shhh' at her.

"Yui-san?"

"Sorry to disturb you so late, Ziongzong."

"No, it's nothing, I'm still awake anyway."

--It was the first time that Yui came to see me at this late hour.

The pajamas were in a sharp line pattern, which suited Yui's handsome style.

"You haven't had any trouble lately, have you? "

"...... No."

This sentence is of course a lie, Ziongzong to this small period of time has been quite a wave, but even if it is a wave, as long as he can solve it himself, no matter how reluctant, he will not go to the people around him to do extra worry.

"No just good ...... just see you come back late tonight, some care, so I asked ...... then, good night? "

"Well, good night."

Ziongzong knew that Yui would not come to him at this late hour just to say such an unimportant word.

As he watched Yui's back, the conversation between himself and Ito's class president in the classroom came to his mind.

--The problem between Ito and Yui is really still very much on his mind.

It doesn't feel like an incompatible rivalry, but it's impossible to coexist in the same Kyudo club, and I have no clue just guessing from the sidelines.

"Yui-san......"

"What is it?

Not expecting Ziongzong to stop her, Yui looked at him with wide eyes.

--Do you want to ask?

"No, it's nothing. ...... Have a good dream~' "

'Hmm.'

Such a conversation was really hard to bear.

But once you ask, it's not just a matter of asking.

However, thanks to Yui, Ziongzong's mood has returned to calm and his brain has calmed down.

The fact that Mizuo is hiding something from Ziongzong is very clear to Ziongzong.

However, if she does not take the initiative to open up, Ziongzong will not ask questions. This is his principle of dealing with people.

He is a god, but only the god of his world, he has no right to become the god of other people's world, influence, or even dominate the lives of others, these are too domineering, and will eventually bring evil consequences.

Perhaps, after tonight, there will be nothing left to say.

The autumn night is already a bit cold.

Surrounded by a warm blanket, you can usually fall asleep quickly.

But ......

"Ziongzong brother ...... are you asleep? "

The night was still long.

"Are you asleep, Ziongzong?"

--It's better to pretend to be asleep at this time, right?

From the mattress of the other bed, Mizuo's voice came softly.

"What is it?"

--which idiot answered?

"I'm sticky and want to wipe my body."

Ziongzong thought back, but she hadn't changed from the time she found her on the roadside until now.

"Why don't we take a shower?"

"But ...... doctor said it's better not to wash the wound in water to prevent it from getting infected. "

"Well, ...... is right."

After telling her to wait a little, Ziongzong tiptoed out of the room, went to the bathroom, got a hot towel, and got a small pot of hot water.

"Come on, be careful of the heat. "

The members of the Uesugi family were all in their respective rooms doing what they were supposed to do at night, such as sleeping, sleeping, and some other things, so these little actions of Ziongzong went very well.

"Well, thank you."

Mizuo happily took the towel and then fixed her eyes on Ziongzong's arm.

"What's wrong? "

"...... your arm."

Ziongzong's arm was covered with red scratches, which he had accidentally gotten when he was climbing a tree with Mizuo in his arms.

"It's just a superficial injury.''

Ziongzong put on an expression of total disinterest, but Mizuo frowned.

"Well ......"

"What's wrong?

She looked hurt, poking her pink face with her fingers, and finally hung the towel around her neck. Bending down and landing on her hands, with the agility of a kitten, she crawled up to Ziongzong in a flash and had the intention of continuing her attack.

--Wait, wait a minute ！！！！！

Reason still works well, originally should be loudly reprimanded this sentence, was worried about the noise to the family of this concern, transformed into a silent inner a shout.

This kind of words, not to say it is useless.

So, a bad feeling swept Ziongzong's heart all at once, but before he could judge what the two ponytails were up to and defend against it, she had burst into the forbidden zone.

"~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~"

"It hurts, it hurts, it's gone ~~~~"

Mizuo wrapped her hands around Ziongzong's head and left wet lip prints on his forehead.

I don't know why, Ziongzong had an urge to cry, and even began to miss the paranoid director of the orphanage.

'Be careful next time.'

The two ponytails happily, gave Ziongzong a bright smile.

--Never mind, I won't bother with you today.

"Yes, yes, yes ...... hurry up and wipe your body to sleep."

Because Mizuo had not yet laid down, Ziongzong was too embarrassed to sleep first, so he had to sit and wait for her.

The lights were out in the room, only the bright moonlight brought in a little light.

--The paranoid dean of my hometown and I are seeing the same moon at this moment, right?

--The moonlight reflecting from the dean's bald head should also be from the same star as the one I see.

If you think about this and do not realize that your head is on the verge of breaking down, then Ziongzong is probably already in the late stages of irreversible breakdowns, but he realized it and forced himself to recover.

Its mandatory means of gruesome, here will not be described, is roughly the head hanging beam cone stabbed bone modified covert version.

In short, the icy glow allowed Ziongzong to gradually return to his best state, and his sanity became very clear.

In one corner of the room, Mizuo took off her pajamas, turned her back to Ziongzong, and was wiping her body with a towel.

Perhaps a few minutes ago, Ziongzong would have become flustered because it was the opposite sex, but now it was incredibly calm.

Mizuo is just a little girl, and as she gets older, she naturally won't say the same spontaneous and naive things she said before - 'I like Ziongzong the most ^______^' -.

Moreover, lying on the roadside at night covered with bruises, under this premise, and still showing a perfect smile in this room ......

-- always felt that I was treated like a child by her.

-- even disrupted by her forced smile, I am still far from the realm to which Dean aspires.

Ziongzong could see that he was riding his bike on the ramp by himself, and halfway up he met Mizuo who couldn't walk, and he took Mizuo with him for a short walk, but he couldn't take Mizuo all the way like that, Mizuo would get off somewhere, and after he got off Ziongzong, he will not be able to meet Mizuo again, and Mizuo will be at what time, where, again can not walk, which he does not know, can not foresee, and can not do anything about it.

In the end, it will only become a regretful encounter in the corner of memories.

In this one-way uphill road called life, Ziongzong wants to decide on his own what this encounter will bring to the two of them.

"Ziongzong, I can't reach my back, can you rub it for me? "

"Yes."

Standing up and walking made a noise that would disturb the first floor, so Ziongzong crawled on all fours behind Mizuo. There was no wound on her back, and it was beautiful, reflecting the silvery glow from the window, white and translucent.

"How was it, did you have a deer in the headlights? "

"Yes, a little."

Ziongzong gently touched her small head.

After Ziongzong calmed down, he could gradually hear the tiredness in her words.

--Before, what kind of mood was she in, joking with me, making me happy ......

"Well ......Ziongzong brother is not shy at all , become boring ......"

"Sorry, Mizuo is still too young."

"Really? ...... Nah, Ziongzong."

"What is it?"

"Aren't you going to ask me why I fell there?"

The voice trailed off, and the residual feeling of pleasure disappeared as the night temperature dropped.

"I think, if Mizuo wants to talk, she will tell me naturally."

"Is that so? ...... Heh, Ziongzong brother is really a gentle and good person. "

After cleaning her back, Ziongzong helped Mizuo put on her pajamas.

"But, Ziongzong, some people are passive, so if you don't take the initiative, you'll miss out. "

"Yeah."

But sometimes, the initiative doesn't always bring good results.

"If I were in danger, would you come to my rescue, Ziongzong?"

"Yes."

"It's just a perfunctory answer like "Yes." ......

"Yes, I'll come."

--If you need me.

"Wow, Ziongzong is really the best! "

Once again, Mizuo jumped into Ziongzong's arms, wrapped her arms around his neck, and swayed around happily.

This time, Ziongzong did not try to drive her away, but just sat there and let her pamper him. A kind of insecurity, easy to lose, which is as if she is leaving, waving her hand, and looking back is no longer there, Ziongzong could not bear to stop her.

Whether she was happy or unhappy, what she was thinking, what she wanted to do, what she needed, Ziongzong couldn't see, and he realized that he couldn't understand this child at all.

"Well, we've done everything we need to do, so let's go to sleep. "

Ziongzong picked up Mizuo and put her on her futon.

It was already early in the morning, and it was dark outside the window, except for the stars and the moon that were chatting with each other.

Ziongzong went to the window, intending to draw the curtains ......

Outside the house, at the entrance of the alley, stood a man with blond hair.

--This late ......?

When Ziongzong confirmed it again, he was gone.

Something was strange.

There were only schools and residential areas around here, and even people who enjoyed the nightlife shouldn't be in such places at such times.

What's more, a character with blonde hair so conspicuous, assuming it's someone from this neighborhood, there's no way Ziongzong wouldn't notice, after all, it's been almost a month since he came.

--Coincidence? ...... No.

Ziongzong thought of the scene when he went to Yuuki's room just now and the cell phone that Yuuki had put on the bed lit up, could there be a connection between the two... ...This kind of answer that correlates the few clues that already exist to think about is often pie-in-the-sky impractical, and to put Yuuki and the blond man that Ziongzong saw together to speculate is even too weird.

It's just that there is no chance in Buddha's fate, only necessity, and the way of the world is the same.

Ziongzong pulled the curtains closed and got under the covers.

"Brother Ziongzong, are you really going to come and save me? "

"Yes, really."

"Really?"

"It's true."

"Nah, I'll come and sleep with you, okay?"

"...... How old are you?"

"Koga Mizuo, I'm 12 years old, 6th grade."

"Good to know, go to sleep."

"Well ...... sleep together, okay ......"

"Stop talking and go to sleep."

"Sleep together~"

"No."

Although Ziongzong righteously refused, he felt a warm thing burrowing into his blanket.

"Hey ......"

"Let's sleep together ......"

"Okay, okay, then you go to sleep. "

"Hug ......"

Mizuo wrapped her arms around Ziongzong's waist and buried her face tightly in Ziongzong's chest.

Because of the thoughts just now, Ziongzong did not reject her, but only used his hands, and gently gathered her in his arms.

A petite body always makes people feel soft.

I can't help but feel like I want to protect her.

Ziongzong is also an arrogant little boy with a 'mouth say no but heart say yes'.

--I feel that tonight's Mizuo is particularly pampered ......

- it's like ......

--It's like, you can't be pampered anymore.

"......"

Ziongzong silently hugged Mizuo tightly.

"Nah, Ziongzong brother, what is the night used for? "

Feeling the strength of Ziongzong's arms, Mizuo asked in a somewhat bad tone.

"Sleep."

But Ziongzong gave a rather uncomfortable answer.

"Sleep?"

"Go to sleep, that's what the night is for."

"Well, is ...... just for sleeping at night?"

"Of course."

"But the night is also for ......"

"Sleeping!"

Ziongzong forcibly interrupted her. If he hadn't, he didn't know what this little girl would say.

"Well ......"

Finally, she quieted down.

The original breathing, which was somewhat chaotic, also gradually returned to a steady state.

Even though the cool night was like water, Ziongzong felt a warmth at this time, from his embrace, this lovely little girl.

Although hidden from him, but it was all to not give this caring big brother more trouble.

Tonight's smile, though all forced, all contained warmth and kindness.

--I will help you.

--If I can help.

From the bedside came the unpleasant, yet familiar, cock crowing, an electronic synthesized sound that perfectly ruined the atmosphere of a fine morning.

Ziongzong wanted to stretch comfortably, but felt something pressed against his arm.

The first thing you need to do is to look at the face of an angelic, innocent sleeping face in front of his eyes.

The black and long eyelashes twitched slightly, small nose, even nostrils, so people can not bear to break this peace.

-- I have to get up

Ziongzong gently shook Mizuo's body to send her home before Yukino-san and the others got up.

"Are you awake?"

Mizuo stood up crookedly while rubbing her eyes.

"Come, put this on. "

Ziongzong handed her the casual clothes she wore yesterday. Last night, Ziongzong had washed and dried her civilian clothes after she fell asleep.

Mizuo, who was still a bit hazy, saw her tidy clothes and her eyes widened at once.

"Could it be that you took them to the laundry? "

"Hmm. "

"Well ...... you didn't do anything strange to my clothes, right? "

"I don't know what you're talking about, so put your clothes back on! "

--It was so late yesterday, who would have the time to do anything extra?

--Even if they had the leisure, they wouldn't do anything weird!

While Ziongzong was depressed, Mizuo laughed heatedly.

"Ziongzong brother than I know less than ...... hey hey hey, maybe I will have to lead it ......"

- what know less than you, in addition, the " What's that "dominant"?

"Ziongzong, what did you wake me up so early for? "

"To take you home."

"...... Oh."

Mizuo's mood immediately dropped.

"I'm sure I'll cause trouble for Ziongzong if I stay here.

Before Ziongzong could think of a way to comfort her, she put on a light smile.

--What kind of people are Mizuo's parents?

-- Well ...... dad is always working outside and mom is a virtuous housewife.

Is it really such a family?

Although she said it very frankly at that time, Ziongzong can't believe it now.

There were many possible reasons for not wanting to go home, but the words that carried the most weight were 'family problems'.

But it was absurd to think that a third-year high school student could replace someone's parents and do better than others.

"Let's go, Mizuo."

"Yeah."

Mizuo looked at the bedding on the floor with some nostalgia and some reluctance.

"Brother Ziongzong, carry me."

"...... Well, come on up."

Ziongzong squatted down and put both hands behind his back.

Ziongzong actually wanted to refuse at first, but, once he saw the bruises on her legs, he immediately went soft.

The weight of Mizuo, lighter than Ziongzong expected.

This warm feeling on his back, but his nose felt a soreness.

When Ziongzong carried Mizuo to the entrance hall and was about to change his shoes ......

the door behind him opened.

"Well ...... is that little Ziongzong ......? "

From behind Ziongzong came the voice of Yukino-san, and at this distance, it was impossible not to be seen.

---Damn, it's obvious that I've worked hard all night, but ......

"Sister Yukino ......"

"Go early and come back early ......"

--Eh?

Yukino-san yawned and walked into the bathroom, seemingly completely unaware of Mizuo.

Ziongzong stood stiffly in place until the bathroom door closed, and only then did he take a few steps forward with his breath held.

"Mizuo, did Yukino-san see you just now?

"Hmm? That big sister? I watched her walk into the bathroom with her eyes closed ......"

- this is really the Buddha's favor to me.

I decided to offer incense every day from now on.

Probably a very careless Yukino sister, thought Ziongzong was going out for morning exercise, so did not even look, thanks to Ziongzong's good morning exercise habits.

"Which direction is your house, Mizuo? "

"This way, this way."

After leaving Uesugi's house, Mizuo didn't ask Ziongzong to carry her anymore, but just walked vividly beside Ziongzong.

In the morning, the streets always look empty, if it is in Xiamen, you can still see the mobile carts selling breakfast, but here there is nothing.

Ziongzong knows that his nostalgic thoughts are mostly caused by the two ponytails beside him.

Separation was already imminent.

With Mizuo's guidance, Ziongzong and her came to a ...... store that sells breakfast?

"Is this your house, Mizuo?"

"No, I just wanted to have breakfast with Ziongzong."

"Are you so sure I have money ......"

"It's okay, I have it."

Mizuo smiled and took out a thousand yen bill from her pocket.

--I gave it to her last time, didn't I?

It had been a little while since the incident at the park, and after that, Mizuo had been showing up every weekend as scheduled to receive "pocket money for snacks" from Ziongzong, twice.

The most recent time was three or four days ago, and Ziongzong thought it had already been turned into loose money for snacks.

--Or, was it another thousand yen?

--I remember her telling me that she had no more money left.

--If she hadn't lied to me.

Ziongzong still couldn't let go of the suspicion, he despised himself for it, he knew it shouldn't exist, but he couldn't banish it from his mind.

"Let's go, let's go."

Mizuo pulled Ziongzong's sleeve and dragged him into the restaurant.

Mizuo's innocence was probably what made him want to believe and blame himself.

Inside the store, there are still some early morning walkers, the shopkeeper sees this business opportunity, there really is no other business open at this point in time.

Mizuo also seems to be the first time to look, some strange, but happy, ordered some special meals. Though she is a little unwilling to let the money go.

'I'll do it.'

Ziongzong pressed her tender little hand down, he still had the change for breakfast.

Just now, "Are you so sure I have money ......" was just a joke, but this joke made Ziongzong know Mizuo a lot more

The reluctance just now, was it reluctance to the "thousand yen" or reluctance to the "money Ziongzong gave her".

It was completely impossible to guess from her expression.

Ziongzong let herself think that it was the latter.

After walking a short distance, Mizuo stopped.

"This is it."

"Is this the right place to go?

Ziongzong looked around and saw no homes except for the stores that hadn't opened yet.

"Yes, this is it."

--Ziongzong realized that this was a euphemism for Mizuo's refusal, and that Mizuo was expressing the meaning of "please don't pursue it further", in other words, if he interfered too actively, it would bother her. Instead, it will bother her.

So, here's the parting, the separation on the road of life.

Ziongzong, who was cycling on the ramp of life, met Mizuo who could not walk at the halfway point, and he took her with him for a short walk, but he could not take her all the way, she would get off somewhere, and after she got off, Ziongzong, he could not meet her again, and when and where she could not walk again, which he did not know, could not foresee, and could not do anything about it. and can not do anything about it.

In the end, it would only become a regretful encounter in the corner of memory, and it would end here.

"So, I'll leave now."

Ziongzong couldn't find a better way to describe this feeling than regret. He was not a nosy person, and he helped Mizuo to this extent because they were not strangers, but it was difficult to extricate himself from his feelings once he was involved, and Ziongzong was quite clumsy in this regard, but he never thought of changing it.

He believes that this habit does not need to be "corrected", and that what needs to be "corrected" are "non-right" things, and what he belongs to has nothing to do with right and wrong.

"Brother Ziongzong, thank you. "

Mizuo's tone, which had been very mischievous, was gone.

It was serious, no longer like the Mizuo Ziongzong knew, as if she had grown up all of a sudden.

Mizuo bowed deeply towards Ziongzong.

"......"

--- What the hell.

--Don't make it so formal.

--Don't make it seem like you'll never see each other again.

--Don't act as if you'll never see each other again. ......

"Goodbye, Ziongzong."

Ziongzong wanted to wave at her, but he didn't have the strength to raise his hand, and just, uncharacteristically, nodded at her.

Why is it 'さよなら' instead of the more casual 'Byebye'?

Ziongzong doesn't know what kind of expression Mizuo has on her face behind her current self, the self that is moving away from Mizuo.

Ziongzong is resenting herself.

Resenting himself for acting on his own principles.

--But, Ziongzong, some people are passive, so if you don't take the initiative, you'll miss out.

--I want to be proactive, too.

- I know that if I turn around now,

- maybe something will happen differently.

--Just.

Ziongzong to the north, Mizuo to the south, towards their respective fronts.

"You idiot”

Koga Mizuo didn't go home, the concept of 'home' had not existed for a long time for her.

Last night, collapsing on the floor in exhaustion was her mistake, otherwise she would not want to let others involved in her life.

Her life with Koga Ziyou.

Only, the fool who seemed to have a sense of justice, the fool who said he was going to arrest her but ended up giving her money instead, the fool who was almost like committing the act of bagging a loli, appeared just at that time.

However, his appearance made Mizuo's heart defense, which was originally a city hard wall, fall apart at once. Unlike "she" who was a friend, that fool's presence, as an elder, as a person of the opposite sex, was above the relationship of a friend.

He was like the family she had been waiting for.

Mizuo's mood was a bit melancholy, she was regretting why she had only said "But, Ziongzong, some people are passive, if you don't take the initiative, you will miss them" instead of facing herself sincerely and saying "I hope you can help me", she was complaining why that fool couldn't be wiser and understand her own feelings.

All these feelings came too late.

A gust of wind blew through the air and there was an additional red stream of air.

Mizuo's hairband was carried away by the wind and sped away, circling and fading away.

--It was not tied tightly.

She tried to grab it with a leap of faith, but she couldn't. She watched as her hairband floated away with the wind and landed on a large tree.

Mizuo looked up at the top of the tree, her body and mind were filled with a sense of powerlessness.

--The result is back to the tree, maybe it wasn't supposed to be mine.

The happiness of being cared for, the warmth of last night, it was like a drug that made Mizuo forget a lot of things, such as her life, but when she woke up, the morning chill made her remember the world she had to face again after a chill.

Falling from her high horse, she is somewhat disheartened.

Then a figure that seemed tall to her flashed by, the back scampering up into the canopy with athletic hands, and sharply removing her red hairband.

"When you need me, why don't you ask me for help. "

He, sitting on the branch, holding Mizuo's red hairband in his hand, smiled slightly before landing lightly on the ground, squatting down in front of Mizuo and putting the hairband into her hands.

"I can't tie a hairband, but if there's anything else I can do, I'm happy to do it. "

The gentle words, which were like running water, haunted her heart and left her at a loss for words, just staring at the boy in front of her, the boy she thought was a fool, the boy she thought she could rely on, the boy she was grateful to.

---Ziongzong Uesugi, you idiot.

Only tears, quietly fell down.

The first thing that happened was that she realized that there was a small stream of warmth flowing down her face, and she panicked and lowered her head to wipe away her tears, but she couldn't stop. She just used all her strength to hug tightly and buried her face deep into his chest.

"...... idiot."

"Idiot."

"Ziongzong is a big idiot, an idiot. ...... big bastard."

The voice of Mizuo speaking gradually diminished, until finally, only the murmuring whispers in his ears remained.

"......"

"......"

On the roadside in the early morning, there was a boy, holding a little girl, that was simply, wanting to protect her.

--Thank you.