I am the emotional sustenance of your deceased

　"I'm counting the time."

　"Eh?" Xiangzi subconsciously held Qiansui's hand.

　Chitose Noshiro...is her only support here.

　If she didn't want her life to be interfered with by the Toyokawa family and the old things of the past again...she would have to rely on Chitose and herself.

　Just like now——

　"What time is it? Is it the commuting schedule for the staff on duty?"

　"Yeah, yes, I saw it before. There's a security commute on campus after twelve and before two."

　"What time is it now, old?"

　"Eleven fifty-nine, look, there's the security guard's flashlight beam ahead."

　"Then why don't you hide! Come with me!"

　Xiangzi seemed to have discovered a new attribute of Qiansui.

　[It turns out that Xiao Sui also has his unreliable moments. ]

　They first press their heels into the ground, then slowly land with the soles of their feet to minimize the noise they make when walking.

　The corridor was well-lit, and the dark clouds that blocked the moon dispersed tactfully. The two people who were "escaping" under the moon were immersed in this tense atmosphere.

　Behind him is the security guard, and in front of him is the wind band club.

　The guide became Toyokawa Shoko, and her heart beat faster and faster. This long-lost sense of excitement made her very excited.

　"Xiaoxiang, how are you feeling? Are you feeling better?"

　"Don't talk! Keep running..."

　The green plants at the corner of the stairs were awakened by the breeze raised by the girls' skirts, and Qiansui Xiangzi had already arrived at the wind band club they had been thinking about.

　"Huh...quick, Xiaosui, I know there's a big cabinet up ahead, let's hide inside!"

　The dark night stimulates Shoko Toyokawa's nerves, and she has now entered the role of a "fugitive".

　This unprecedented sense of novelty really made her unable to stop, especially with Xiaosui.

　【You are truly my close friend! 】

　The wooden door creaked, and the space inside was just enough to accommodate two young girls.

　I really don’t know how many of the previous seniors have hidden here and enjoyed some shy time together.

　Silence

　The girls could only hear each other's breathing, and through the gaps in the cabinet they could see the piano outside in the moonlight.

　It is an instrument that carries the dreams of young girls.

　"Xiaoxiang, you said..."

　"Hush! Here they come, I hear footsteps!"

　A few seconds after Xiangzi finished speaking, the sound of a door being pushed open was heard outside the cabinet.

　"Strange, why did you remember to lock the door?"

　The security guard's words made Xiangzi's heart skip a beat.

　But she really wanted to clarify that the door was already open when she pushed it in and was not locked at all!

　"Forget it, it seems I forgot to lock it again."

　The flashlight beam swept across the cabinet, allowing Xiangzi to clearly see Qiansui's face.

　Passionate lips, gentle gaze, mysterious eyes... Girl who takes me to experience the night world, can you really do as you said... give me tenderness and healing, and let us move forward together?

　Even for someone as troublesome as me?

　Click——

　The door of the activity room was locked this time.

　Qiansui and Xiangzi counted silently in their hearts. The space was small, so Xiangzi had to stick close to Qiansui.

　The arc created by the collision of human hearts is the shape of their destiny.

　【In fact, the people outside had already left.】

　Chitose could feel it, but she still wanted to squeeze into the closet with Xiangzi.

　This is because she saw Xiangzi having a lot of fun.

　[Shoko, too, was like a completely different person after crying, and his mood improved. The slightly irritable hedgehog-like nature he had when they were unfamiliar with each other was gone.]

　"Squeak, Xiang, Xiang! Let's get out of here quickly."

　"Don't worry, maybe he's not far away...ah, we can't talk now, just hold your breath."

　"We didn't steal the piano, seriously."

　A minute later, Xiangzi led Qiansui out clumsily.

　"Huh—Xiao Sui, do you have a favorite song? I'll play it for you."

　Shoko Toyokawa had already forgotten the surprise that Chitose Noshiro had just mentioned. She loved romance, and sneaking into the school at night was so much fun that she forgot a lot of her troubles.

　Just like eating fried pork chops, it makes you forget all your worries.

　"Yes, the first movement of Beethoven's Moonlight Sonata. Do you know it?"

　"I will. I like this one too...it just fits the scene perfectly. Thank you for choosing it."

　Thank you for taking me out to relax.

　Xiangzi gently lifted the piano cover. She tried to tune the piano and felt inexplicably moved.

　"You said you wanted to find excitement, but in fact you just wanted to soothe me? Noshiro Chitose, why are you so nice to me?"

　It was as if someone had set up an elaborate chess game for her.

　Xiangzi started playing quickly.

　The slender fingers were flexible and sparkling in the moonlight.

　Chitose stood beside her.

　She thought of Lake Lucerne in Switzerland and the bright moonlight rippling on the lake.

　[I originally just wanted to make some food to comfort Xiangzi tonight.]

　"How did it become like this? But... it's not bad."

　【Can help the lovely girl, listen to the perfect performance,

　I can have fun with my friends; my family members are also healthy...】

　This day of my life was not lived in vain.

　……

　The bright moon was strangled by the night and tried to break through the darkness, thus creating a soft moonlight.

　——Chapter 1 of "Moonlight Sonata".

　Ch265. The smallest utopia in the world

　"Music is a refuge, don't you think, Xiaoxiang?"

　At the end of the song, although Shoko Toyokawa still wanted to continue playing, she was already reluctantly satisfied.

　Recently, her father was often taken to the police station, and she had to give up her full attendance at work to rescue her father.

　Coupled with the relentless workload and the pressure of reality...the piano, once a necessity, has now become a luxury and a painkiller.

　Toyokawa Shoko knew that as long as she gave in, she could become the eldest daughter of the Toyokawa family again.

　But she couldn't give up on her father.

　She firmly believed... that this man would one day come out of the haze, carrying his deceased mother and her expectations of him with him.

　But when will that day come?

　"Father...ah, what did Xiaosui just say?"

　"I say, music has always been a refuge for people like us."

　Chitose Noshiro looked at the weak girl in front of her, and she no longer wanted to care what time it was.

　I had only intended to improve Toyokawa Shoko's favorability tonight, but I hadn't expected to gain so much useful information and the girl's reliance.

　Let's make tonight even more memorable! Too much simulation can easily lead to side effects.

　"Xiao Sui, do you want to perform music too?"

　Shoko Toyokawa remembered that Chitose Noshiro seemed to be able to play the guitar.

　I also gave Chitose the guitar pick that Xiaomu gave me... After all, this was the only return gift I could afford, although I felt very sorry for Wakaba Mu.

　Xiangzi looked around but couldn't find the guitar.

　So why did Qiansui say this?

　"Yeah, using the piano... Actually, I'm also a pretty good piano player."

　Because they were afraid that the security office in the distance would notice something, they didn't turn on the lights in the room, just letting the pale moonlight illuminate the girl's profile.

　Between the white and cold colors, Toyokawa Shoko saw the dazzling red eyes of Chitose Noshiro.

　Chitose Noshiro always shines so brightly.

　"Then I'll give you my seat."

　Xiangzi is looking forward to it.

　"No need to give up your place, come into my arms."

　"what?"

　Qiansui put his hand under Xiangzi's armpit and picked him up.

　In the arms of Chitose Noshiro, Shoko Toyokawa turned into an ignorant little beast.

　[This is crazy, this is crazy, what’s going on today?! Why don’t I hate it at all?]

　Is it because I'm too hungry to have any strength?

　In just a few weeks, Chitose Noshiro had smoothed out and removed all the camouflage barbs on Shoko Toyokawa's body.

　The body of Qian Sui behind him seemed to be infinitely enlarged. It was not scary at all, but rather gave people a sense of security.

　"age…"

　thump—

　Qiansui responded to Xiangzi with the sound of the piano.

　[Huh? This is…]

　In just a moment, Xiangzi understood what Qiansui wanted to play.

　"Is it also moonlight..."

　So, what does Xiao Sui’s Moonlight Sonata look like?

　Shoko Toyokawa, who had studied piano all her life, watched quietly. Her relaxed attitude at first soon changed because she found that Chitose's piano skills were not inferior to hers.

　On the contrary, the vitality contained in it made her terrified.

　This shock lasted until Chitose finished playing the piece, and Shoko Toyokawa had not yet recovered.

　"So strong..."

　This is what Xiao Xiangzi said in the end.

　"sounds so good."

　"Do you like it, Xiaoxiang? This is the world I want to show you... At night, everything will go out, but the shelter we built will always be brightly lit. I hope you like it."

　Chitose discovered that Xiangzi really liked that kind of middle school description, and every time he heard him say that, his eyes would sparkle.

　"Close your eyes and forget about reality, Xiang... Do you still want to play? If you want to take a break, leave it to me."