I push the kid!

They dragged their luggage and strolled in a special sea of ​​flowers and fallen leaves.

Along the way, the sunlight occasionally shined through the gaps between the leaves, jumped onto Hoshino Ai's denim jacket, and flickered on her charming shoulders.

No matter how hot the wind was, the forest seemed warm and alive just by looking at her interested in everything.

"Autumn!" On the forest path, Hoshino Ai stopped, looked at the leaves all over the sky, stretched out her arms and sighed.

"It's autumn now." Taku Makimura said behind her.

"Hey, tell me, it's like we've traveled through winter!"

"Indeed." Makimura Taku looked at the maple leaves under his feet, "It's hard to imagine that we came here from the snow all of a sudden."

A small bird like a ball of fire chirped and blended into the branches.

“It turns out that after winter comes autumn!”

"It's spring."

“It’s autumn!”

"Yes, yes, it's autumn."

The leaves that floated onto the road and the dried shells of cicadas that died in late summer made an unusually crisp sound under my feet.

As they dragged their luggage forward, they kicked away the pine nuts or fallen leaves that were about to break under their feet.

Until the hotel appeared clearly in front of them, they checked in.

Just like they did in Echigo Yuzawa, they settled all their luggage and their lives for the next few days here.

It was some time before lunch when they came out of the hotel and walked to the bicycle rental shop.

Taku Makimura rented a black off-road vehicle, while Ai Hoshino chose a slightly more casual white bicycle.

They set out from the store door, got on their bikes, listened to the sound of the wind passing by their ears, and felt the flickering golden light from above their heads.

Sometimes it speeds up to overtake, sometimes it slows down and runs parallel.

The sound of bicycle bells lingered on the driveway like a euphonium and drifted into the quiet valley.

The tires rolled over the ground, and the scattered leaves chased behind the car like forest elves.

As far as the eye can see, there is an air of autumn.

Sure enough, after winter comes autumn, and Makimura Taku suddenly remembered what she said.

Tired of riding, they parked their car on the side of the road.

Taku Makimura sat casually on the ground on a step, while Ai Hoshino squatted nearby observing the ant holes.

"What season do you like?" Hoshino Ai suddenly asked him casually.

"Summer." Makimura Taku picked up a red fallen leaf, and it broke into pieces immediately.

"why?"

"It's a secret." said Taku Makimura.

Hoshino Ai looked back at him.

"I can't have secrets?"

"Of course," Hoshino Ai smiled, "I like winter."

"The reason is a secret."

Hoshino Ai shook her head, stood up, and sat down next to Makimura Taku without caring whether the ground was dirty or not.

She picked up a half-red and half-green leaf, with holes all over it. “I loved those days, those days in Echigo Yuzawa.”

"Because of the snow?"

She shook her head.

“Because of the elk?”

She still denied it.

"I can't guess." Makimura Taku surrendered.

Hoshino Ai stretched the leaves toward the sky, and weak sunlight shone through the gaps and holes.

She narrowed her eyes and looked over: "I felt very happy and blessed during those days!"

"How happy?"

“It feels like I have fallen asleep in honey. It feels like I have floated into the blue sky and entered my favorite white cloud.”

"You really like sweets?"

"Stupid?"

"Kidding."

"I know."

Under the tree, they sat quietly, observing the shadows cast by the tree meticulously.

The shadows of the trees shifted from their original positions.

"It's a feeling I've never had before." After a long while, Hoshino Ai said, "I can't describe it clearly. Why am I so happy? I'm so happy. When I think of winter, I think of the Torii, the shrine, fried tempura, skiing and snowball fights, the strawberry village, the hot springs, the moonlight, the coffee shop... You remember that daffodil, right? In short, it's like an electric current passing through my body. I like it very much and I'm very happy. Why?"

A sudden strong wind blew over the two of them, causing the leaves on the ground to fly all over the sky.

Hoshino Ai used her hands to block the wind and sand until the wind died down. The wind soon died down.

"I like it very much." Makimura Taku told her, "That's reason enough."

“But I don’t even know why I like it.”

"That doesn't matter."

She turned her head and saw the bright dawn light shining through the clouds, through the lush leaves, through the faint mist, through numerous obstacles, and onto the boy's face.

Although she had already noticed it, she still didn't expect the boy in front of her to be so dazzling.

"Is it okay?" she asked.

"You will also like autumn, you will also like summer, and you will also like spring."

"Too many likes, right?"

"Aren't you Hoshino Ai?"

Hoshino Ai looked at him.

"You are the greediest girl in the world, what's wrong with liking you a little more?"

"I……"

"Amazing, greedy Hoshino Ai, isn't it?."

"That's right." An unprecedented smile appeared on Hoshino Ai's face.

The shadows of the trees are mottled, and other pedestrians and cars are passing by, and the sound of bicycle bells is still pleasant and crisp.

"I think I've fallen in love with winter in Echigo-Yuzawa!"

“It’s autumn, actually.”

"winter!"

"winter."

Hoshino Ai also stood up and brushed her long hair away from her ears with her hands. The remaining faint wind only ruffled the tips of her hair.

In Makimura Taku's opinion, it was just like the flower fairies pouring in from the fairyland.

"Mucun-kun." She smiled beautifully, her smile brighter than cherry blossoms and more charming than phoenix trees.

"Next, I want to fall in love with autumn in this place, in Karuizawa."

"You are Hoshino Ai, I like you."

She tilted her head and blinked her star-like eyes: "Is it okay?"

The wind was roaring non-stop, but the leaves didn't make much noise, it was like the sound of a heartbeat.

"..." Makimura Taku came back to his senses and smiled back, "Okay, please fall in love with autumn in Karuizawa."

"How to do?"

"Shopping, strolling along the river, boating, eating an ice cream when it's not too hot or too cold, and tasting the most delicious apple pie in the world."

"not enough."

"Fishing, browsing bookstores, passing by churches, and saying once in front of the Western-style buildings: I like this place, I like the autumn in Karuizawa."

"not enough!"

"There are many more," Taku Makimura told her.

Hoshino Ai drew the smile straight across.

"Makimura-kun." She put her hands behind her back, and the wind brought her fragrance to Makimura Taku. She said happily, "Please, let me like the autumn in Karuizawa."

"Well, after winter, I like autumn." Makimura Taku smiled, "It's weird."

"No." Hoshino Ai said, "Because after winter comes autumn."

Thanks to [Has Mr. Lu eaten today?][VixSang][Nickname has been registered] for the reward.

Thanks to [Sun Yao DC] for the monthly ticket.

Thank you everyone for your recommendation votes.

Chapter 10 Happy Birthday to You

Chapter 10. Happy Birthday to You

Walk out of the forest and through the green path covered with larch needles, with gurgling streams on both sides and moss on the marble.

The sky became unobstructed, as if it had been washed clean by the azure waterfalls on the mountains.

As you enter Kyu Karuizawa, which is surrounded by Mikasa-dori and Ginza-dori, you will see Western-style historical buildings and bustling shopping streets built during the Meiji and Showa periods.