You are Toyokawa Shoko, then who am I?

I just praised her a few times in my heart, said a few words of cuteness, and nodded with a smile. The three people in the room waved and said a few goodbyes, then left the room with Shiina Riki.

thump.

The door was gently closed.

The two walked side by side in the corridor, the red glow of the sunset and the dim yellow clouds were reflected outside the window. From time to time, they could hear the sound of welcoming guests from the cafe downstairs. Looking forward, they found that they were still a long way from the end of the corridor.

Li Xi walked slowly beside Toyokawa Sho, with her hands behind her back a little uncomfortably. Her straight white legs should have been able to walk back to the practice room in a blink of an eye with big strides, but because Toyokawa Sho walked slowly, she also slowed down.

She could actually see that Toyokawa Sho seemed to have experienced some big emotional fluctuations just now. Her clever mind instantly made a clear judgment about what she should say at this time.

But her heart was useless. She couldn't even figure out what the other person was feeling. She struggled for a long time to organize her words, but couldn't think of a single word.

This was the first time that Shiina Riki realized that his language skills were so poor and biased. He only had outstanding talents in attacking, but was so clumsy in expressing himself that he was not even as good as Deng.

Just when she was thinking about just saying it out loud, Toyokawa Sho beside her suddenly spoke with emotion.

"I'm going to be your boss's cat for the rest of his life."

"Cat?" Shiina Riki asked in confusion.

"That girl named Kaname Rana, don't you think she looks a lot like a white American Shorthair cat?" Toyokawa Sho said, "Not only does she look like a cat, but her temperament and mindset are similar too. That's why I call her a cat."

As he spoke, he raised his head.

His expression seemed to be in a daze, reminiscing.

But even this somewhat dazed expression appeared clear and pure under the light coming in from the window, as if he was a boatman leisurely rowing a boat on a lake where the sky and water merged into one, under a starry night sky.

“…I actually never thought that my boss would take such good care of me, even trusting me to take care of his own grandson and gifting me a valuable solid guitar.

"I had no idea this would happen when I came here for the interview. I came here simply because I had some connections with the boss in my own world, and I figured since I was going to work anyway, I might as well try my luck working for her."

Toyokawa Sho muttered to himself, then looked at Shiina Tatsuki who was listening to him quietly.

"Then, I met you, Shiina-san.

"Honestly, I was surprised at first because I remember you came to work at RiNG in your freshman year of high school, and now you're only in your third year of junior high, so the timing doesn't match. But these are all insignificant little things. What really surprised me was your attitude towards me. I thought you would treat me like a fake after the showdown, but you didn't.

"You buy a lot of things for me, and you even bring me lunch boxes the next day. Just now in the room, you lied to the boss and the others because you were concerned about me.

"If I'm not mistaken, you were probably still thinking about bringing your old phone over to me tomorrow. And considering that I got caught by my boss for not going to school yesterday, were you also thinking about asking your parents to come and play the role of my parents?"

Why can this person guess so accurately?!

This has already reached the level of mind reading! ?

Shiina Riki subconsciously took a step back, his delicate facial features showing an indescribable confusion.

"It seems I guessed right."

Toyokawa Sho tilted his chin and nodded slightly.

Then he calmly moved a step to the side, returning to the distance that Shiina Riki had just moved away from.

He opened his mouth, his amber eyes staring straight into Shiina Riki's eyes, his voice was very soft, very gentle, even very clean.

"Don't worry, I don't mean to tease you. I just feel that since you care so much about me, Shiina-san, I should at least tell you something from my heart."

Then, Toyokawa Sho said as he walked.

"Like I said before, I'm confused about a lot of things right now, like why I came to this world, how I got here, and whether I'll disappear again one day in the same way.

“I found myself unable to answer these questions. The fear of the unknown was like a dragon circling in my heart… Although I tried hard to control myself from thinking about it, when I was alone, my thoughts would still return to this knot that made me feel extremely scared.

"I don't know what in this world is worth my effort, and what can truly belong to me after I do it. I feel like a headless fly, without any lofty goals. I just want to solve the problem of food and clothing first, and just muddle through and take it one step at a time."

“I thought I would be like this for a long time, at least for a month or two, I would be in this mental state… But just now, no, it should be earlier, when we were performing, I felt like I was alive again through singing.

"Especially when you hear the familiar drum beats coming from behind you, the feeling is even more obvious and intense, as if the beat of your heart is following your drums, and the blood flowing in your body is also cheering for you."

The light approaching dusk shone through the glass and onto Toyokawa Sho's face.

The boy's clean profile is like the magnificent stained glass windows in a solemn church, or like a painter picking up a brush dipped in gold and painting tenderness and clarity on his facial features.

Shiina Riki was lost in thought as her eyes met Toyokawa Sho's, and she heard Toyokawa Sho say to her with a smile.

"At that time, I was thinking that playing with you, Shiina-san, was indeed the right thing to do."

"........."

Shiina Riki opened his eyes slightly.

She could tell that Toyokawa Sho wasn't flattering him, but was genuinely expressing his inner thoughts. But precisely because of this, precisely because of his true inner thoughts—

Only at this moment would Shiina Riki feel this.

Suddenly.

stunned.

These few words...

It was even more than the compliments Toyokawa Sho had given her before, which made her breathing become more disordered and her heart beat faster.

"You should have forgotten me, or rather, you should have no memories of being with me. But the miraculous thing is that when we are together, the distance between us remains the same.

"My boss will still have high expectations of me, I will still take care of the cats, and you, Shiina-san, will still enjoy the music we create together from the bottom of your heart.

"Today's performance of 'The Old Man and the Sea' was just like the performance of 'Spring Shadows' that the five of us played together on stage... I feel from the bottom of my heart that we gave a most wonderful performance. I feel that some things, some events, can be connected even across the walls of the world - yes, it feels like fate. No matter where I am, I will definitely meet you again."

Toyokawa Sho smiled cheerfully.

"Remember the question I asked you yesterday?

"I asked, Shiina-san, do you think your parallel-world self is the same person as your current self? You said, 'Are they not?' My answer at the time was, 'Maybe, maybe not.' I couldn't be sure which was the truth, so I chose a middle ground.

"And now, I kind of want to believe your answer."

Toyokawa Sho said sincerely, telling him everything he had just realized in the room.

"In this world that makes me feel scared and confused, I want to find some truth that can make me feel that I am living a good life. The first step to realizing this idea is to face the interpersonal relationship problems that I have been avoiding recognizing for the past two days."

Shiina Riki blinked, and a crystal light flashed in his clear lavender eyes.

"what do you mean--"

"What I mean is, I will do my best to help you remember the memories related to me, Shiina-san.

"I noticed it just now when we were performing on stage. Shiina-san, you must have remembered something about me after interacting with me, right? Otherwise, we wouldn't be able to coordinate as well as we did on stage."

Toyokawa Sho naturally extended his hand towards Shiina Riki.

"Since it can be proven that the memories of the two worlds can flow, it means that one day, you will definitely be able to remember me completely. When I think of this possibility, no matter how weak it is, I want to try it. Even if I fail, it doesn't matter. At least I have faced it instead of just avoiding it.

"So, from now on, may I call you by your name, Lixi?"

Shiina Riki looked at the big hand reaching out and couldn't help but hold his breath in surprise.

In Japan, names are only used by people who are very close to each other. This is true for people of the same sex, and even more so for people of the opposite sex.

Unless they are childhood sweethearts, if you address the opposite sex by name, there is an 80% chance that you are dating.

And this is the current situation.

It looked like... it was like a confession.

Although Shiina Riki knew that this was not a confession, it was too complicated to prove it, so it can only be said that Toyokawa Sho changed his mindset.

But even though she knew it wasn't the case, the bright red color still spread down her cheeks to her entire face. Even her ears hidden in her hair were as red as the fiery clouds floating outside the window.

She took a deep breath, and the semicircle of her chest outlined by her school uniform rose and fell noticeably. Then she lowered her eyes to look at the palm that was a circle larger than hers, and shook it hard.

"Don't say such cheesy things!"

talking.

Shiina Riki increased her strength, and her fair and smooth little hands burst out with unparalleled strength.

Toyokawa Sho felt pain, and then his old face flushed. A look of evasion flashed in his amber eyes. Oh no, the feelings in my heart were too strong, and I accidentally let my middle school self run away...

hateful……

Why can’t I get rid of my immature and weak self?

"Sorry, my question...I spoke a little too suddenly. Shiina-san, just pretend you didn't hear it."

Shiina Riki rolled his eyes at someone, then opened his pink and rosy thin lips and spoke awkwardly.

"name."

"What's your name?" Toyokawa Sho tilted his head.

"Your name!" Shiina Riki emphasized his tone, and his speech became more urgent. "You idiot, I'm already holding your hand, so of course I agree with you." "How do I call you back there? I call you Xiang?"

"No, you always call me Fengchuan."

what?

Why! ?

Shiina Riki was shocked. Was I really that useless in that world? After ten years together, I was still just calling each other by my last name?

wrong……

Why should I say that I am not doing well...?

"I lied to you, I just called me Xiang."

Toyokawa Sho looked at Shiina Riki's deflated expression with secret joy, avenging himself for Shiina Riki's sudden sneak attack that made his hand creak.

"You--" Shiina Riki was furious, and his eyes flickered with murderous intent as if he wanted to use a drumstick to chop off the man's head.

"By the way, didn't you say you had something to tell me after the interview?" Toyokawa Sho grinned, bringing up another topic just in time to save his life. "What's it? You're being so secretive."

Shiina Riki took a deep breath, then glared at Toyokawa Sho, then withdrew her hand and took out her cell phone from the pocket of her skirt.

Toyokawa Sho came over. Riki's phone screen wallpaper was a cute panda holding the rope of a red balloon.

"Next month, there's a zoo having a panda exhibit. They'll also be releasing panda dolls and charms. I know where I can get tickets. Do you want me to take you?"

"How do you know so clearly?" Shiina Riki wondered.

nonsense.

Of course, it’s because I worked as a cleaner there.

Although the reason was very unbearable, Fengchuan Xiang still said with the attitude of a sage, "Of course it's because I came from ten years later. I naturally remember all the experiences during this period clearly."

"..."

This guy is really stupid sometimes.

Shiina Riki sighed and opened the chat app on his phone. He thought about the pressure of preparing for the high school entrance exam next month. It would be nice to go out and relax...

"What's the date next month?"

"number 20."

"Okay, then tell me when you get the tickets and I'll go."

When Shiina Riki thought about being able to see pandas next month, his mood suddenly became happier.

Because her mind was full of images of pandas, she didn't even realize that people generally call this behavior of a single man and a single woman going to a crowded place together a date...!

Dating.

This is the dream outline and ideal embodiment of young boys and girls.

These sacred words are carefully painted with colorful paints, and you might even be so excited that you can't sleep the night before departure.

At the moment, neither of them realized the significance of this activity they had casually agreed to.

Because the atmosphere and sense of distance are so natural.

When these words came out of his mouth and fell into his ears, it felt like asking a brother to go out and play together, nothing worth writing about.

By the time they realized it, it was probably already night.

Right now, their attention was focused on a chat message on the phone screen with the note "そよ (soyo)".

"Isn't this Su Shi?" asked Toyokawa Sho.

"Yes, that guy." Shiina Riki sighed, "She happened to see us coming out of RiNG after school yesterday, so she asked me who the guy next to me who looked like Xiangzi was.

"Then I told her you were just a colleague, but she refused to believe me and said she wanted to meet me..."

As she spoke, Shiina Riki showed Toyokawa Sho all the chat records between her and the other party last night.