"Are you leaving? Can't you really stay a few more days?" Komatsuse stood rooted to the spot, looking as if she had lost her soul, her face filled with unconcealed sadness and reluctance. She never imagined that the moment of parting would come so quickly. In her heart, she knew very well that Yoizumi couldn't possibly stay in this place forever; after all, his coming here was already the result of her desperate pleas.
"Yes, I've stayed here for a long time, and it's time for me to leave," Yoizumi gently shook his head. His tone was calm, but a hint of faint nostalgia flickered in his eyes.
Everyone here was very kind; the villagers had all shown him goodwill.
The various experiences he had during this time had indeed been very rewarding for him. However, he knew deep down that he couldn't stop moving forward because of this; a broader world awaited him to explore and discover.
Hearing Yoizumi's affirmative answer, Komatsuse slowly turned away, not wanting him to see the tears that were about to well up in her eyes. She tilted her head slightly, trying hard to force the tears back, but her eyes still gradually moistened, and tears swirled within them.
Her originally bright brown eyes were now filled with moisture, like a clear lake whose surface was rippled by a gentle breeze. Finally, a few crystal-clear teardrops slid down her cheeks, falling to the ground and splashing into tiny tear-blossoms.
Komatsuse took a deep breath, quickly wiped away the tear stains on her face with the back of her hand, and then repeatedly told herself to be strong. After some self-adjustment, she turned around again, her face having resumed its usual smiling expression.
There was still a faint hint of sorrow in her eyes, and her gaze was fixed directly on Yoizumi's face, as if she wanted to deeply imprint the appearance of this person in her heart, so that even if they were never to meet again, at least at this moment, she could remember him well... "Are you leaving tonight?"
"Yes."
Tonight?
Komatsuse smiled.
"I see. Then I wish Mr. Yoizumi a smooth journey!"
...The sun set in the west, and the blood-red afterglow gradually disappeared below the horizon, leaving only the last trace of light. This afterglow seemed to be the sun's final attachment to this world, but it eventually faded away mercilessly. Komatsuse stared blankly at the sky, silently praying in her heart: 'Time, please go slower, even slower...' However, time passed quickly, never stopping for anyone's wishes, and Song Se was now helpless.
She followed her grandmother slowly to the door to see Yoizumi off. Her grandmother gently held Yoizumi's hand, her eyes full of reluctance and warmth, and softly said, "Child, when you have time, remember to come back and visit us. A-Se and I will always be here waiting for your return." Yoizumi bowed his head slightly, bowing to the two of them.
"Thank you for your care during these days."
After speaking, Yoizumi turned and left. Komatsuse's gaze followed his receding figure closely, which grew smaller and smaller, about to disappear from sight. Just then, an uncontrollable impulse surged in her heart, and Komatsuse suddenly used all her strength to shout loudly at the distant, almost unreachable figure:
"Mr. Yoizumi! I wish you a smooth journey! Please stay safe and sound!"
Before her words finished, tears gushed out like a broken dam, instantly blurring Komatsuse's eyes. She could no longer control her emotions, covered her face with her hands, squatted down, and let the sorrow and pain pour out of her throat in muffled sobs.
Her heart ached so much, it was almost impossible to breathe. Because she had never dared to express her true feelings to Mr. Yoizumi, she was afraid of rejection, and even more afraid of that heartbreaking feeling. Thinking of this, she felt as if her heart was about to shatter into a thousand pieces.
She was afraid she would never meet such a person who had so brightened her life again.
The old woman bent down and hugged her granddaughter, comforting her emotions, patting her back gently. She didn't know how to comfort A-Se now.
Having met such an excellent person, would A-Se ever fall in love with anyone else?
..."Oh, so the benefactor left," Ishii Kawa said with some regret. He still wanted to ask the benefactor more about how to become stronger.
"Hmm," Komatsuse had been in a low mood since Yoizumi left, constantly spacing out. Seeing Komatsuse sad for someone else, Ishii Kawa also felt uncomfortable, but there was nothing he could do.
The two sat silently at the table, the tea in their bowls already empty. Ishii Kawa stood up to say goodbye, and Komatsuse absentmindedly responded. Both of them said goodbye with heavy hearts.
Walking out of the yard, Ishii Kawa saw a black animal on the ground and was startled. Mustering his courage, he went to check. Was this a wild boar?
Ishii Kawa called out to Komatsuse. Komatsuse, who slowly walked out of the house, was also genuinely startled by the wild boar on the ground. How could a wild boar have died at her doorstep?
This was an unusual occurrence. Could it be... Komatsuse ran a few steps, her brown eyes looking around. The moon was big and round tonight, and she clearly saw that the fence of her yard was covered with wisteria. Komatsuse looked up at the bright moonlight.
The bright moon hung high, and the moonlight was clear.
How could this ever make her forget... Walking again on the familiar forest path, where should he go this time?
Komatsuse had previously said she wanted to see Asakusa, a big city, and Yoizumi also wanted to experience it.
He only knew the general direction. Speeding up his steps, he still had plenty of time.
Time flew by, and two weeks passed in the blink of an eye. When Yoizumi finally reached his destination, the sight before him left him somewhat surprised. He found himself amidst a bustling crowd, with a loud and noisy atmosphere all around. If he wasn't mistaken, it should be the middle of the night by now, right? However, even so, the streets were still packed with people, shoulder to shoulder.
The air was filled with various strong scents: the fragrance of cosmetics and perfume from women, and the wafting aroma of alcohol from men.
These mixed odors assailed his nose, making Yoizumi frown involuntarily. He had always been accustomed to quiet and solitude, and facing so many strangers, he inevitably felt a bit uneasy. This was the first time he had witnessed such a scene of a sea of people since he could remember.
Finding a quiet spot, he sat on a bench, feeling a rare sense of fatigue. A place with fewer people suited him better.
"Yo~ Little brother, want a bowl of udon?" said a bald man in a yellowish-brown outfit.
Yoizumi turned his head and realized there was an udon noodle stall nearby.
"No need," he refused, then closed his eyes to rest and ponder where to go next, abandoning the idea of staying in Asakusa.
It was just a simple refusal, yet the man cried out in surprise, as if in disbelief, holding a bowl of udon noodles close to Yoizumi's face, vigorously fanning the steaming udon with his hand, attempting to entice him with the aroma.
"You can actually be indifferent to such delicious udon! Is this reasonable?" The man got closer and closer, and seeing the tilted noodle soup about to drip onto his clothes, Yoizumi stood up to avoid it. The man was startled by his sudden movement, and the noodles in his hand fell to the ground, the bowl shattering into pieces.
"My noodles~!" The man, petrified, knelt beside the 'corpse' of his noodles.
Strange man, Yoizumi thought.
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