I am the emotional sustenance of your deceased

　"Hmm...Hmm! Year-old, play it."

　Please, give me more music.

　"Let me forget everything... please!"

　Chitose's breath makes people happy, and Chitose's body makes people feel at ease... Finally, with Chitose's music -

　Please, please...let it keep going like this.

　All those worries in reality...friends, family, studies, choices, escapes...put them all aside, please!

　[Even if it's just tonight, please let me immerse myself in the warm fried pork cutlet and melodious music, okay? ]

　The sound of a piano gradually rose, and it was a song Xiangzi had never heard before.

　But why does it feel familiar?

　She subconsciously moved back, wishing she could rub herself into Qiansui's body.

　The feeling of listening to a piece of music is different from that of playing it.

　As she listened, Toyokawa Shoko seemed to be facing the sea, and the moon was rising from where the water and the sky met.

　The fantasy scene is changing, the only thing that remains unchanged is the scene in front of you.

　The music sounded in the deserted and silent campus.

　The romantic moonlight is the wedding dress draped over the two of them.

　Chitose beneath her was getting bigger, and she was shrinking, until she seemed like a baby in swaddling clothes and Chitose was the mother.

　The music Chitose plays is a whisper that soothes babies to sleep.

　Toyokawa Shoko didn't know when the song ended.

　But when the gentle unfamiliar song ended, she burst into tears again.

　[I don’t know how many times I’ve cried tonight.]

　I’m almost…tired of crying.

　"It sounds nice. What's its name? Was it composed by Sui?"

　"Well, her name is..."

　This stupid guy in my arms is really hot, Noshiro Chitose thought.

　"It's called 'Time Heals a Broken Heart'. If Xiangzi is willing, consider it a small gift for you."

　"A song played just for me?"

　Shoko Toyokawa has always been fond of this kind of gift. Compared to any physical object, this kind of gift really touches her.

　"Yes, I played it for you. I hope you enjoy it, Xiang."

　"Thank you... you... oh, never mind."

　The song just now reminded Xiangzi of Chitose in his dream.

　[It really looks like they can both play the piece, and this piece...]

　[It seems to be the song that Chitose used as the last song in her dream.]

　I can't remember exactly, but it's very similar.

　"It's still early, Xiaoxiang, let's play for a while."

　"Um…"

　Going to bed.

　The thought of going home was echoing in Xiangzi's mind.

　But... I don't want the day to end like this.

　Absolutely...can't!

　"Let's continue."

　Their hands are intertwined, and this will be a four-hand piano duet with a special posture.

　……

　Music is not our refuge. You said that we can forget the reality by closing our eyes.

　But music is not our refuge.

　When you open your eyes again, reality will return.

　You are the skylight that I opened in the cage, the shackles that I am willing to bear, the island where I drift... and also my safe hometown.

　We are the smallest utopia in the world.

　-

　Ch266. Early morning, tryst at a convenience store

　The performance was cheerful.

　Time passes quickly.

　Chitose Noshiro stood in front of the door of the wind band club's activity room and deliberately looked back at Shoko Toyokawa.

　The grayish-white clothes, like his own, were soaked with sweat.

　She was breathing heavily and the blush on her face was so cute.

　"Pfft, look at you, you really have lost all your grace."

　"I, I don't know either," Xiangzi said, taking deep breaths. "But I'm very happy, so happy... We must play the piano together again in the future!"

　Xiangzi felt that he had regained his former state.

　That carefree, free and romantic self!

　"Hoohoo, okay. When I have money in the future... I'll buy a piano for my house so Xiaoxiang can come to my house."

　"Eh! It's very expensive, forget it... I mean, I like the romance of sneaking into school and playing with you under the moon!"

　I don't want you to save money.

　Xiangzi's heart became lively, even though she knew that this beauty would be short-lived, it was enough.

　The difficulties in the real world cannot be avoided, and one can only become more courageous every day. A true hero must try his best to love his life.

　Toyokawa Shoko firmly believed that as long as she held on to the beauty given by Chitose, she would be able to overcome countless disasters and eventually -

　【Back to the top! 】

　"Xiang, stop daydreaming!"

　"Eh? What's wrong, old?"

　Chitose stepped aside and pointed to the door handle with his thumb.

　"Ahem, I just remembered."

　"Was the door locked just now?"

　“Eh…Eh!!!”

　Toyokawa Shoko let out a scream that sounded like a groundhog.

　That's the way it is.

　……

　Finally, the two of them escaped.

　They used a piece of wire to pry the lock for more than ten minutes before they managed to escape.

　After leaving, Xiangzi remembered that there was a spare key in the classroom, so they returned and locked the door from the outside again to prevent the night patrol from becoming suspicious.

　The spare key was given to Xiangzi by Qiansui, and it became a symbol of sealing the beautiful memories of that night.

　What a foolish duo! But...

　"That's the thing, hahaha, Xiang, you idiot, you only remembered it after I pried you open."

　"Maybe he picked the lock too quickly."

　It was already early morning, and there were no other pedestrians on the street except for office workers who were drunk and staying over after socializing and people who were rushing home late at night.

　Chitose and Xiangzi didn't care. They held hands and had a great time, savoring the musical journey they had just had.

　They seemed to be dancing gently in the night, completely unconcerned about the occasional glances of passersby.

　Because what makes them soar is not the outside world's gaze, but their young hearts.

　"I say, Xiao Sui, how come you know so many songs? Sometimes I wouldn't even know the song if you hadn't played it for me... Is it because I haven't been exposed to the outside world for too long that I've fallen behind?"

　It's obvious that she listens to new songs from other bands during her breaks at work.

　"Not really. Many of them are my original creations, so I can only dictate the music scores to you—because I didn't write them down."

　"You're such a genius."

　Xiangzi was sighing.

　But she was actually very tired.

　Every time she spoke, she was so tired that she almost fainted. But the excitement in her heart supported and encouraged her to continue to run wild with Chitose in Jingdongdu at night.

　Slowing down his pace, Chitose noticed the tired Shoko.

　They passed by a 24-hour convenience store and saw the clerk there, listlessly curling her hair and staring blankly.

　"Xiaoxiang! Why don't you go buy something to eat? You must be hungry."

　I didn't!

　Xiangzi wanted to refuse, but her stomach seemed ready to slap her in the face with a growling sound.

　So, be honest, Shoko Toyokawa.

　"I'm hungry, but I have no money, and I don't want Xiaosui to pay for me, so let's go home."

　Xiangzi tried to drag Qiansui away, but failed.

　Chitose stood in front of the neon lights like a sculpture, but soon the upward curve of her mouth made Xiangzi feel that what was going to happen next would be bad.

　"Xiaoxiang, I have an idea."

　……

　at the same time.

　Shiina Riki of Noshiro Kotaku turned over, her eyebrows twisted together like a tangled mess.

　A series of bizarre nightmares left Shiina Riki at a loss. Her consciousness was recovering, but she was still in a sleeping state.

　She had a nightmare.

　I dreamed that Xiaosui was bullied by someone.

　The bad guy who bullied Xiaosui in the dream was called Fengchuan Xiangzi.

　Her long blue hair can cause myocardial infarction, and her golden pupils are full of cunning. At first glance, she is a very bad woman.

　And her poor little girl was being toyed with by the bad woman...even in front of her!

　She saw herself locked in an iron cage, and the evil Toyokawa Shoko was right in front of her...

　"call--"

　Lixi turned over uneasily, and the nightmare dissipated and turned into a sweet dream.

　She started dreaming again, dreaming that she and Chitose had formed a small family, and Chitose was very happy.

　Forget it, as long as Qiansui is happy.

　I really hope Chitose can live a long life. This is all Shiina Riki hopes for.

　……

　"I really hope to have a lot of money. This is all I hope for."

　The clerk on night shift in the 24-hour convenience store was yawning.