One day without seeing you feels like three autumns.
Thousands of years ago, the ancient people used this kind of verse to express the feeling of longing.
As a native girl, Nagasaki Soyo didn't know this allusion, but at this moment, with the bright moon high in the sky and the season already stepping into summer, the treetops were lush and green.
Standing under the brightly lit tower, gazing at that familiar figure not far away, she subtly felt a similar emotion.
'How strange, obviously we have only been apart a few days.'
'But the moment I met you, the longing took root.'
The girl gently placed a hand over her chest, there was a burning emotion brewing inside, making her urgently want to do something.
Taking three steps as two, like a fledgling swallow diving into its nest, she threw herself into her lover's arms.
"Good evening, Kaito-kun."
Clearly, she had been told beforehand that there was no need to come down specially to greet him.
But obviously, this advice went in one ear and out the other for this willful girl.
Kaito caught the jubilant girlfriend. Soyo's figure was perfect. Typically, curvy women would carry a bit of extra weight, but her waist was precisely slender, just the right amount to hold in one hand. It was as if all the flesh had grown exactly where it should. The classic "thin branch bearing heavy fruit."
Holding her in his arms felt so good it made one unwilling to let go.
"Good evening," He looked down at the girl in his arms. Facing her clear starry eyes full of undisguised affection, he gave a silent smile, and something suddenly appeared in his hand.
"A gift for you," It was a bouquet of pink tulips, something he had bought on the way here.
Nagasaki Soyo was momentarily stunned. She hadn't expected such a surprise at all.
Her once awkward and clumsy boyfriend suddenly opened up, giving her a pleasant surprise like a blooming iron tree.
She took the bouquet with great care, sniffed it lightly, and the faint fragrance instantly sweetened her heart.
At the top was a small white card with a beautiful font that read a famous German verse by Hermann Hesse: [All missteps lead me to your side]
[T/N: Unverified fact.]
Most girls are emotional; they'll be delighted by the slightest romantic gesture in life. If there had been a mirror right now, Nagasaki Soyo would have seen her own expression.
It was a face bright as spring flowers, blushing red.
"Long time no see, Kaito-kun, good evenin, hmm? Where did the flowers come from?"
Hearing the commotion at the door, Nagasaki-san originally intended to step forward and welcome them, but upon seeing the scene before her, she was slightly stunned.
Her obedient daughter silently followed behind someone, her fair face faintly red, cradling a bouquet of pink tulips in her arms, like a baby penguin following closely.
"Just a small gift," Kaito still maintained a polite demeanor. "Nagasaki-san, long time no see."
"Oh oh, long time no see," Nagasaki-san snapped back to reality. After all, they were a couple. Giving flowers to each other was totally normal. It was she who overreacted.
Besides, she was happy to see the affection between her future son-in-law and daughter. She wished they'd speed things up even more. She was already eager to help Soyo raise their child.
As a career woman, her social skills were excellent. Nagasaki-san didn't linger on the topic. After a few simple pleasantries, she led the two to the dining table.
Still the same location, still the same seats, but their statuses had changed dramatically.
Kaito originally thought that tonight's dinner must have some deeper purpose. Nagasaki-san must have invited him to her home for dinner in order to evaluate him and put him through some tests. It was only natural for a parent to think that way.
But things turned out completely differently than he expected.
The entire dinner atmosphere was peaceful, no hidden daggers, no lurking killing intent. Toward the future son-in-law she had taken a liking to at first sight, Nagasaki-san was satisfied in all respects. Handsome, good character, well-mannered, if she were thirty years younger, where would Soyo's turn even be?
The reason she specially made time today to invite Kaito over for dinner was actually very simple.
"…E-E-E-E-Engagement?", Hearing that explosive sensitive word from her mother's mouth, the brown-haired girl who had been hugging her bouquet and smiling foolishly suddenly snapped back to reality. She nearly jumped out of her seat.
"Is it really that surprising?", Nagasaki-san looked at her daughter strangely, "For couples, this kind of thing is perfectly normal, isn't it?"
"B-But…", Soyo bit her lip, eyes darting about, "Isn't my age… still a little too young…"
"No, it isn't. Around this time next year, you'll be legally allowed to submit a marriage registration form with the one you love."
Nagasaki-san knocked her on the forehead. In Japan, there's no such thing as a "marriage certificate." Instead, there's a "kon'in todoke," a marriage registration form submitted to the local city office. One must be twenty to apply.
Soyo was currently nineteen, still a year away from the legal marriage age. To avoid any unexpected changes during this time, of course she wanted to lock things in early and make sure her daughter wouldn't be snatched away.
"But… no matter what…", Nagasaki Soyo still looked conflicted, not because she didn't want to become Kaito's official fiancée, but because she felt guilty.
She hadn't forgotten, she came after the others. Kaito's first girlfriend was actually Miura.
'Stealing someone else's boyfriend is already bad enough, even though Miura-san doesn't seem to mind…'
'But if I were to snatch away even the title of fiancée, won't even Buddha shed bloody tears?'
After hesitating for a long time, she still shook her head, "It's too early to talk about this right now. And also… it depends on what Kaito-kun thinks."
Actually, Kaito had no objections.
Back then, even Mrs. Miura had wanted him and Yumiko to get engaged first, but the shy Yumiko turned it down.
Now Soyo seemed hesitant too. Though he didn't quite understand, he chose to respect the girl's wishes. After all, there was plenty of time ahead, no need to rush.
Since the girl concerned said so, Nagasaki-san, though disappointed, couldn't press further.
But she still hadn't given up, just shifted to Plan B.
Since her daughter wasn't planning on getting engaged just yet, getting a grandchild early was just as good.
Right after dinner, she pretended to take a phone call, then left home under the excuse of company business, leaving the young couple with ample alone time.
With the "mountain" that was her mother out of the way, the brown-haired girl who had been suppressing herself all this time could finally be a little more honest.
Her nimble fingers fluttered like butterflies among flowers, and without thinking, she linked her fingers with her lover's.
The moon shyly hid behind the clouds.
The night grew deeper.
———
"Ahhh! Boring, so boring!"
In the brightly lit bedroom, Mortis in only a short sleeve and hotpants was rolling around on the bed hugging a pillow. After tossing and turning for a while, she suddenly sat up, "Mutsumi, what do you think Onii-chan is doing right now?"
Wakaba Mutsumi was silent for two seconds and gave a quality answer, "I don't know."
Mortis looked a bit dejected.
But it wasn't long before she perked up again and asked seriously, "Then do you think… if I send Onii-chan a message now, will I be disturbing him?"
'That's obvious,' Mutsumi thought for a moment but didn't reply like that. She simply said, "If you're curious, you can ask Soyo."
That way, she wouldn't disturb Brother and could indirectly find out what was happening.
If Soyo replied quickly, it meant they weren't doing anything.
If not…
"That's right!", Mortis had a sudden realization, quickly pulled out her phone, opened a certain chat window, and after much hesitation, typed and sent a message.
[Soyo, is Onii-chan with you?]
[I have something I want to ask him, do you know what he's doing?]
A moment later:
[Nagasaki Soyo: Me.]
Mortis: ???
Mortis looked utterly confused. But before she could respond, the chat window vibrated again.
[Nagasaki Soyo: Don't know either.]
'That phrasing… feels a little weird, doesn't it?'
The green-haired girl furrowed her brows in confusion and followed up with a few specific questions.
But this time, after waiting a long while, the messages she sent remained in "unread" status.
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