"So, this is the guy who lives in my old place now?" Wuwei looked at the scenery flashing past the train window, then turned to Yuta and asked.
"Yeah, after you moved out, her sister moved in, and then two days ago, Rikka moved in too." Yuta sighed helplessly. School had just started, and he had already decided to say goodbye to his chuunibyo days forever, but then a new chuunibyo appeared, and his old 'comrades' from the past also came out of the woodwork.
"By the way, where do you live now?"
"Me? I live at 〇〇, 〇〇, 〇〇 District now."
"Isn't that not on our way?" Yuta was surprised; he had thought Wuwei was going in the same direction as them.
Wuwei smiled at that, "We haven't seen each other in so long, let's catch up properly, brother. I also need to visit your mother. And Kuzuha, she must have grown up by now."
"Indeed." Yuta recalled that when Kuzuha was little, she was very fond of sticking to Kong Hong. To Kuzuha, the big brother who lived upstairs when she was little was a very gentle and kind person. Yuta felt a bit sour; Kuzuha didn't like his chuunibyo self back then, even though she was his own sister…
The group chatted and laughed on the train. Rikka liked to kneel on the seat, watching the scenery fly by. Until they got off the train, Rikka kept holding onto Yuta's schoolbag, using the wheels on her shoes to make Yuta drag her along. Their intimate behavior didn't look like they had just met today. Yuta was also a little helpless; the feeling of adding another person's weight wasn't very pleasant.
"You really like Yuta, Takanashi," Wuwei said playfully, finding it amusing, as he teased the two.
"Don't make trouble," Yuta said, his face slightly red, with a helpless tone. Rikka, on the other hand, said earnestly, "That's inevitable. This is the Dark Flame Master, after all." This made Yuta blush even more.
On the way, Rikka occasionally acted chuunibyo, delaying them quite a bit.
It wasn't until the sky turned slightly yellow that the three of them, bathed in the twilight, walked step by step towards Yuta's home. Wuwei felt a strange sense of familiarity gradually emerging in his mind. The road under his feet became more and more familiar, and the surrounding scenery became more and more nostalgic. Although Wuwei knew that these were not his own memories, a sense of vicissitude still emerged.
Before they even reached home, the three of them heard a familiar voice call out, "Brother!" Wuwei looked up. On the balcony of a building ahead, a cute short-haired girl with black hair and green eyes shouted at the three of them, "Something happened!"
The three quickly went upstairs. Yuta's home was on the second floor. Because there was only a three or four-meter path, Kuzuha had not closed the door. As soon as the three of them went upstairs, they found dozens of boxes blocking the corridor in Yuta's home, completely blocking the way.
Kuzuha pointed at the boxes, "These are all things that were supposed to be sent to Takanashi's home, but because they couldn't find anyone and she hadn't returned, they were left with us for safekeeping." She was clearly displeased with the situation. "Is this moving company sick?" Even the usually gentle Yuta couldn't help but complain.
During this time, Kuzuha kept staring at Wuwei. She always felt that this person was very familiar, that she must know him, but she hadn't seen him in recent years, and he was also wearing an eye patch, so she couldn't see him too clearly, and her childhood memories were a bit blurry…
So, Kuzuha decisively asked Yuta, "Brother, these two are…"
"You don't recognize me, little Kuzuha?" Wuwei's expression showed some disappointment, but in reality, he didn't feel much inside. He also understood that Kuzuha was still young when he moved away, and besides, he was wearing an eye patch now.
"This is Takanashi Rikka, Miss Takanashi's younger sister, who recently moved in to live with her." Yuta first pointed to Rikka, who was rummaging through boxes, explaining to Kuzuha that she was the owner of these troublesome items, and then pointed to Wuwei.
"This is Fang Wuwei, and coincidentally, he's now at the same high school as me." Yuta explained to Kuzuha while watching Rikka display her collection. Wuwei also cooperated with Yuta's words, taking off his eye patch.
...
"Eh!!! It really is!" Kuzuha was silent for a moment, then let out a huge cry. She hadn't recognized him immediately with the eye patch, but now that both eyes were exposed, she recognized him at a glance. "I'm sorry, Brother Wuwei, for a moment…"
"It's nothing, it's nothing." Wuwei, mimicking the memories in his mind, placed his hand on Kuzuha's head and stroked it, just like the Kong Hong of the past, and said with a smile. The present Wuwei was about 184 cm tall, while Kuzuha was only about 145 cm, making Kuzuha seem like an armrest in front of Wuwei due to their height difference. But soon, the two noticed that the two people in front of them, Yuta and Rikka, started to act silly. At the same time, Kuzuha remembered that dinner hadn't been settled for tonight, and sweating a little, she suggested to Yuta that they go buy dinner, while also asking Wuwei if he would stay for dinner tonight.
Wuwei thought for a moment. He was all alone at home, so staying for a meal wouldn't be bad. But at the same time, he really didn't want to help Yuta move things, nor did he want to eat dog food there, so he immediately decided to go out with Kuzuha.
Under Yuta's 'oi' gaze, Wuwei left.
After the two left, Yuta immediately decided to quickly make Rikka take these things away on the spot. Poor Rikka, being delicate and weak, struggled to move even one box. Her shaky appearance and resentful back looked exactly like a little abandoned wife.
In the end, Yuta gave in. Dozens of boxes, the two of them moved from dusk until night, only barely finishing when Kuzuha and the other person returned.
— — — — This is a cute dividing line — — — —
Back to Wuwei, after the two went out, Kuzuha seemed very happy, walking lightly beside Wuwei and humming a song. Wuwei stared at Kuzuha, thinking of his own sister; she used to be just as cute…
No, no. Wuwei shook his head. He had already decided to start a new life, so he shouldn't dwell on the past. Although he was still a lone wolf, his current body was young, he had the system, and a beautiful future ahead.
As for that scumbag… the system told me it could travel through all heavens. If I ever get a chance to find him, I certainly won't let him off… Wuwei silently cursed in his heart.
Wuwei looked at the twilight glow falling from the sky and the fiery clouds, feeling a bit dazed. There weren't many thoughts in his mind, just simple daydreaming, looking at the girl beside him.
How long had it been since he had such a time…
And just then, a young man who looked to be the same age as Wuwei brushed past him. Wuwei felt something, quickly turned his head, and stared at the young man's back, but before he could make any more moves, he was called back to reality by Kuzuha's shout.
— — — — This is a cute dividing line — — — —
When the two returned home, Yuta had stir-fried a large plate of noodles, and Mrs. Togashi had also returned. The family gathered around the table to eat, enjoying themselves.
Mrs. Togashi recognized Wuwei at a glance and excitedly pulled him over, asking him all sorts of questions. Things like, "Oh my, you've grown so tall!" and "Your body is quite strong, isn't it?" In the end, she also said to Kuzuha meaningfully, "You have to work hard, too."
"Mom, what are you saying?" "Work hard at what?" The Togashi siblings retorted simultaneously. In response, Mrs. Togashi just looked at Rikka and praised, "Both sisters are beauties!" Then she gave Yuta an ambiguous look and said, "You also have to work hard!" This made Rikka, who wasn't even embarrassed by her public chuunibyo antics, blush.
Dinner time passed quickly. Outside, a light rain was falling, and Kuzuha held a small umbrella to see Wuwei off.
"Um, please don't mind what Mom said," Kuzuha said to Wuwei, blushing a little. "Alright, alright," Wuwei replied, while also raising his hand to gently pat Kuzuha's head, "I'm leaving. I'll have Yuta return the umbrella tomorrow."
"I've grown up!" Kuzuha covered her face, strongly protesting Wuwei patting her head. In response, Wuwei could only show that he was patting her even more vigorously. "If it's convenient, you can come over more often in the future, since there's no one at Brother Wuwei's home anyway, right?"
Wuwei pondered for a moment, deciding it was a good idea. He could get closer to the protagonists to protect them and also get free meals, killing two birds with one stone. So, he nodded in agreement.
"And also, if anything happens, you can discuss it more with brother and us. You don't have to hide everything in your heart like before."
"Huh?" Wuwei was a bit surprised, "Why do you say that?"
"Because, Brother Wuwei, it's very easy to tell if you have something on your mind."
"...Is that so?" Wuwei shook his head, "I'm leaving, it's getting late."
"Bye-bye." Watching Wuwei disappear into the rain, Kuzuha finally returned home.
Wuwei indeed had something on his mind. He followed the road all the way to the bridge. Because it was raining, the pattering rain mixed with gusts of cold wind, making people shiver. On such a cold, rainy day, the area under the bridge must be very lively.
For homeless people, to escape the rain and spend the night, the underside of a bridge is the ideal resting place.
And there, Wuwei found the person he was looking for.
The young man he had brushed past that afternoon.
Or rather, the illegal transmigrator—Ikemoto Yoichi.