"Today was really fun! Thanks for treating me!"
"President, you're too polite~ Let's go out to eat together again next time! I know a great buffet place!"
"Mm-hmm, Mashiro, Touka, and Rui, see you next time~"
"Bye-bye, President~ and also Boyfriend-kun, see you next time~"
The moon had risen to the treetops, and the karaoke sign lit up in a rainbow of colors, complementing the red lanterns of the nearby izakaya. Soft light and shadows reflected off the asphalt road.
"Phew...", As she watched the backs of the trio gradually walk away, the girl with long pink hair stretched out her arms as if freed, giving a big lazy yawn, as though she had finally let out a breath of relief, "It's finally over..."
She turned and looked at the boy beside her, clasped her hands together, and didn't hide her gratitude in the slightest, "Today's situation really was all thanks to you, Kaito. If you hadn't helped me, I definitely would've socially died in front of Rui and the others..."
"That's an exaggeration," Kaito shook his head, "They all admire you a lot. Even if they found out the truth, they'd probably understand."
In the end, it's perfectly normal to not adjust well to life abroad and choose to return home. It's hardly some terrible black history, it's just that Anon herself was getting hung up on it.
"Well, you're not wrong about that."
Anon didn't argue, her gaze wandering around as if searching for something, and soon landed on a nearby milk tea shop that was still open.
She "tap-tap-tapped" over in a run, and shortly after "tap-tap-tapped" back again, proudly handing him a paper bag as if presenting a treasure.
"Here, here! Super large family-size pearl milk tea, with added taro balls, coconut jelly, and a little bit of water chestnut! It's my favorite combo! It's for you!"
Kaito opened the package. The cup was so full of toppings that it was nearly overflowing, and it had quite a hefty weight to it.
If described with some exaggeration, this could be considered the "The Boba Supreme" of the milk tea world.
Of course, the calories contained were also explosively high.
"Why didn't you buy a cup for yourself?", he asked, noticing her hands were empty.
The girl touched her head shyly and said in a small voice, "I have gained weight."
After all, as a girl, there's an instinctive need to watch her figure, even someone as plain as anon isn't exempt.
Kaito didn't care about things like that. If he wanted to, he could keep his body shape unchanged forever. But seeing Anon clearly craving it yet still resisting and turning her head away with effort made him feel a rare mischievous urge.
Puncturing the sealing film with a straw, he handed the milk tea to her and raised an eyebrow, "Really not even one sip?"
"Since you're saying that, Kaito!"
He expected Anon to hesitate for a while and then resolutely refuse, but the girl instead bit onto the straw with an "ah-woo" and mumbled, "Lat juft dish once, gunghing nothin but comply..."
Kaito: "..."
He had the feeling she'd been waiting for him to say that.
However, Anon didn't forget that this milk tea was a thank-you gift for him.
She only took one sip to try the taste, then let go of the straw, licked the milky liquid at the corner of her lips, and earnestly said, "Thank you for the treat!"
"..."
Kaito shook his head helplessly, looking at the straw now wet with a faint glimmer of bite marks. He didn't know what to say.
'Oh well, guess I'll get used to it.'
In the end, he just sighed, "Let's go. I'll walk you home."
———
Chihaya Anon forgot where she had read a particular line.
There are some paths that feel very long when walked with others, but when walked with someone hidden in your heart, they feel so short you don't want to take another step.
Walking on the quiet, empty path, she truly felt that sentiment.
Under the bright white streetlights, the boy's shadow was stretched long, sweeping across her skirt like a strip of dark silk, mixed with the faint scent of greenery, it stirred something in her heart.
Anon secretly glanced at the boy beside her. His beautifully handsome profile was bathed in the soft white light, like a carefully sculpted Greek statue, flawless.
At first, her gaze was subtle, watching only from the corner of her eye. But later, she became bolder and didn't even try to hide it anymore.
Noticing her open, direct stare, Kaito finally stopped and turned to look at her, "Why are you staring at me?"
"Because you're good-looking," the girl answered without thinking.
But she quickly realized what she had said, winked her left eye in a playful wink, "Eh-heh~ just joking, don't mind it~"
'You'd better really just be joking.'
Kaito sighed and gave her a helpless look but didn't say more. He turned back and continued walking.
Getting away with it again, Anon let out a breath, raised a smug little smile, and lightly followed behind, stepping on his shadow with the tips of her toes.
It was a childish game, but she never got tired of it.
Until this long yet short journey was about to end, the outline of a familiar building could already be seen in the distance.
The girl stopped and looked up at the twinkling stars in the sky.
It was a beautiful night, the stars shone brightly, and even the moonlight was gentle.
It made people want to say things that had been buried in their hearts for a long time.
"Kaito, have you read Night on the Galactic Railroad?", she asked.
Night on the Galactic Railroad was a national-level work in Japan. The author, Kenji Miyazawa, was known as the "Andersen of Japan." Though it was a fairytale, many famous game developers and literary writers had been deeply influenced by it. Kaito nodded. [T/N: It's a real book and below statements are facts, not made up by the author.]
"In the story, there are two boys named Giovanni and Campanella. They boarded the galactic train trying to reach a place called Southern Cross constellation. It's said to be the only way to get to Heaven."
The summer night breeze brushed gently like a mother's soft caress. Anon clasped her hands behind her back, stepped ahead of his shadow, and her little leather shoes kicked pebbles by the roadside, the sound scattered in the wind.
"They chatted together, looked at the scenery outside the window, told the story of the 'Scorpion Fire.' Even when the train was arriving at the station, they were reluctant to say goodbye."
"But in the end, they still got off at Southern Cross Station, because only from there could they go to Heaven, where their mom and dad were."
As if sensing something. Kaito remained silent for a while. He didn't interrupt. He just quietly listened to the girl tell a story whose ending he already knew.
"I really liked the theme song from the movie version. That song was called One Night, but I didn't get the chance to sing it earlier," She gently hummed the melody.
"奏(かな)でる刹那(せつな)を届(とど)けたいだけ
Just want to deliver the moment the melody plays
小(ちい)さな手(て)を包(つつ)み込(こ)むよう
Like gently wrapping a small hand
あなたさえいれば风(かぜ)は吹(ふ)くの?
If you're by my side, will the wind keep blowing?"
The girl stopped, looked back, and stuck out her tongue playfully,
"I haven't sung that in so long,how was it? I didn't go off-key, right?"
Kaito paused for a moment, then said, "You pronounced three English words wrong."
"This isn't the time to be that picky!", Anon pretended to stomp on his shoes but ended up bursting out laughing.
She walked along the white road edge, like a lively little deer stepping across moonlit piano keys.
"Kaito, did you know?", The girl stood gracefully, her hair and skirt fluttering together in the wind like a blooming flower.
"There's a galactic train in my heart too, and you are the only Southern Cross Station."
At the moment she suddenly turned around, countless fireflies rose from her eyes, reflecting a dazzling and bright smile, her cute little canine tooth peeking out.
'So only by staying beside you, can it be called Heaven.'
[🎉 Shoutout to Adbiel, Marcus & Karn for joining patreon. Thank you very much.🤗]
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