Chapter 51 Daytime Mist and Nighttime Rain

The next day, Oozora and Arashi were busy with work, Amame was slacking off but still stayed in the office, and Rai was dragged to a tutoring session by Haru.

Sawada Tsunayoshi arranged for Lambo to take a leave of absence from school, but he didn't intend to let him go on his studies. He specially hired a teacher to provide one-on-one instruction at the Vongola base.

Whenever he skipped class, Sasagawa Ryohei would drag him back.

Kyoko and Haru each had their own things to deal with, Hibari Kyoya was at the Disciplinary Foundation, and Reborn was contacting intelligence agents outside.

In short, no one has time to spend with her for the time being.

Oozora, with his meticulous nature, left behind the adorable little lion Natsu. The Storm Guardian and Rain Guardian followed suit, leaving behind Gourd, Jiro, and Kojiro.

The timid little lion nestled quietly in her arms, while the little leopard Gua, also a feline, scratched and clawed at Jiro from the left and right.

The little animals were playing and running around inside the office building. Yao Chuanling followed them and entered an empty lounge.

A piano sits in the lounge, and a mischievous little leopard leaps lightly onto the keys.

"Meow."

The melon licked its paws.

The elf, who understood animal language, exclaimed, "Hey! Want to hear me play the piano?"

As a newly emerging Western musical instrument, the piano did not exist during the Heian period, so she had never learned it.

Moreover, this piano looks like it has been carefully maintained by its owner, so it wouldn't be good to move it without permission.

"Meow."

It's okay. If it were you, he wouldn't mind.

Gua jumped down and gently rubbed against her calf.

A sly glint flashed in the little leopard's eyes.

The box weapon shares a deep emotional connection with its master, and it understands all of Gokudera Hayato's feelings.

Natsu lay lazily on her shoulder, his eyes closed as if he were dozing.

A clever person can figure out whose piano it is in no time.

That makes things much easier.

【Afternoon Tea Today Too】: Hayato, can I borrow your piano to play a few notes?

A few minutes later, the person on the other end finally replied with a "okay".

Yao Chuanling knew it was because he was too busy, so she put down her phone and opened the keycap.

She randomly pressed all the keys from left to right, then plucked a few notes at random.

Da, da, da.

Someone behind me was laughing.

The elf knew perfectly well who the visitor was, and angrily pressed down a high note to express his anger.

The cunning little leopard, with keen insight, chased all the boxed weapons away and gave him a look.

"Thank you, Gua."

Gokudera Hayato chuckled and knelt down to gently stroke its fur.

This guy is very clever.

The melon stretched lazily, and before leaving, it even used its tail to close the door.

"Aren't you very busy? What brings you here?"

Yao Chuanling was angry and asked him fiercely with her back to him.

Oh no!

I was laughed at.

That's what she said, but she kept a close eye on what was happening behind her.

Gokudera Hayato approached, bent down, and pulled her into his arms.

He explained, "I didn't mean to laugh at you."

Having known Yao Chuanling for a long time, he understood her thoughts to some extent; she simply felt that he was laughing at her for not being able to play the piano.

She childishly cared about saving face in order to maintain her self-image of being omnipotent.

They were very close, and Yaochuan Ling could feel the heat from his breath as he spoke on his neck.

With a light tobacco scent and a calm, peaceful floral and fruity aroma, the aftertaste is also sweet.

As expected of a trendy Italian man, it smells wonderful.

The elf mentally gave him a thumbs up.

"If you want to play the piano, I'll teach you."

Gokudera Hayato naturally lifted her onto his lap and sat in the spot she had just been sitting in.

Lan Shou had no intention of playing the piano with others, and the piano bench was only big enough for one person to sit on.

"Yay!"

Yao Chuanling's attention was quickly diverted from his perfume to playing the piano.

As if his plan had succeeded, he placed his hand over hers.

She was now completely surrounded, but the person in his arms seemed oblivious, her gaze fixed on their touching hands.

The young man's fair skin was adorned with several rings, which made his hands appear even longer and stronger.

It's pleasing to the eye.

The elf sighed in admiration in his heart again.

Hayato has become even more charming after all these years.

He whispered, "Focus."

Her silver hair swept gently across her face like a swimming fish tail, and her hands, longer than those of a blonde elf, guided her fingers to dance across the piano keys.

Gokudera Hayato plays the piano exceptionally well. In addition to his technique, Yokawa Rei can also hear the complex emotions in the cascading notes.

The tartness of unripe plums, the gloom of dark clouds obscuring the moon, and the ever-surging, turbulent love like a stormy tide.

She could sense it, but she didn't understand its true meaning.

What is the name of this piece of music?

She suddenly became curious.

Hayato Gokudera paused, his gaze turning serious: "The Second Piano Concerto."

As soon as the first note fell, he wondered, "How could it be this piece?"

It just so happens to be this piece of music.

As if guided by fate, an irresistible force pulled his knuckles, leading her fingertips to tap out one secret thought after another.

"you……"

He seemed eager to say something, but then swallowed his words.

Oh well, so many years have passed, what's one more moment?

Gokudera Hayato advised himself in this way.

As a young boy, he was able to keep his thoughts to himself, and as he grew up, Lan Shou, who is much more composed now, is no less mature than he was back then.

"What's wrong?"

Yao Chuanling didn't think much of it; she just thought the name of the piece was very proper.

It does resemble some of the pieces he can play.

Do you remember the promise we made during the Ring Battle?

The person behind them quickly changed the subject.

He had been thinking about this agreement for a long time.

Even ten years later, Lan Shou is still a lover of the occult.

He prompted, "Ears."

He was too rushed back then and never got to touch the elf's ears as he wished. Now he has a feeling that if he doesn't bring it up, it will be a long time before he has the chance to fulfill his promise.

Yao Chuanling remembered.

She did indeed owe him a promise.

The good child, who didn't want to break the promise, decided to fulfill it now.

Pointy ears peeked out from between his hair, and Gokudera Hayato observed them; they were longer and more pointed than they had been ten years ago.

He silently memorized it and adjusted her posture so that the two of them sat facing each other as if embracing.

We're closer now.

A man stands in front of her, and a piano is behind her.

Two pairs of similar green eyes met, one innocent and ignorant, the other enigmatic and difficult to understand.

Gokudera Hayato gently raised his hand, his fingertips touching the edge of her ear.

For elves, ears are a part of their body that they love to be touched by only those who are very close to them.

Hayato is right in that range.

So she didn't reject the man's slightly cool hand; instead, she took the initiative to move closer.

It's a little itchy.

“Elves have soft ears.”

He made his conclusion.

It will bounce back when you press it.

"Huh? Didn't Hayato get a good night's rest last night?"

Against the cool, white skin tone, the dark circles under the eyes appear particularly noticeable.

She hadn't noticed before because her back was to him, but when she turned her face to the side and he touched her ear, her gaze was fixed on the ground.

Yao Chuanling reached out to touch the bluish-black mark, but his hand was grabbed.

"Don't worry, I just have a little trouble sleeping."

With too many emotions piling up, he chose to calm himself down through work.

Whether in the past or present, Gokudera Hayato always has a lot on his mind, but he rarely confides in others and only silently digests his thoughts.

He is actually stubborn and inflexible.

"Cat ears, want to pet them?"

Yao Chuanling conjured a pair of fluffy cat ears on her head and tilted her head with a smile.

He didn't want to talk about it, and she wouldn't force him, so she could only try different methods to make him relax.

"Hayato's Fatigue Relief Limited Edition!"

Hayato Gokudera loves cats; she had told the cats in the Namimori Cat Club when she chatted with them before.

She also caught him feeding the cats a few times, and it's no exaggeration to say that he was gentler and more patient with the cats than with Yamamoto Takeshi and Lambo.

As expected, cat lovers can't resist the allure of cat ears.

But whether it was her imagination or not, the person in front of her seemed a little more enthusiastic than before.

Gokudera Hayato leaned forward, taking up her already limited space to move around.

This silver-haired big cat's aggressive nature can no longer be hidden.

The Elf Intuition Radar stirred, and it stepped back, placing its hands on the wooden keycaps.

The man chuckled softly, suppressing his overflowing emotions: "Are you nervous?"

We still can't rush things.

It seems I startled her.

"You seemed like a stranger in that instant."

Yokawa Reiichi said honestly.

It gives you a chilling feeling, like being bitten on the back of the neck by a wild beast.

He's completely different from the usual Gokudera Hayato.

"Idiot Yaochuan."

Gokudera Hayato called her that.

It was a long-lost way of addressing her, and only he would call her that.

The adult Gokudera raised an eyebrow, revealing the unruly spirit that belonged to the young Gokudera.

He loosely clenched his fist and covered the cat ears with them.

"I like you, in a romantic way."

Hayato Gokudera knew exactly what he was saying.

Based on reason, and rooted in one's heart.

Her green eyes trembled, and her earrings emitted a radiant glow, revealing a calmness that was not as serene as she appeared.

He placed his hands flat, running them down her hair from the top of her head until he gently pulled her into his arms.

He was dissatisfied that Yao Chuanling hadn't hugged him since she came back, so he secretly hugged her back.

"You don't need to reply to me now."

Having held a high position for many years, Lan Shou had accumulated considerable influence, and his speech unconsciously carried the tone of someone in a superior position.

He knew that she couldn't respond to him now, and perhaps never would.

"OK."

Yao Chuanling was still in a daze, but subconsciously nodded.

For her, this special fondness was not a trouble she needed to escape.

After all, it's not like I hate them.

She didn't want to be disliked by Gokudera Hayato.

And she probably understood why Chuuya Nakahara always had red ears when he was around her.

There's also the love heart that Edogawa Ranpo spoke of.

*

However, Yaochuan Ling still couldn't sleep because of what he said.

She was incredibly curious about love, an experience and emotion she had never had before.

Is it as sweet as a small cake?

I want to eat some small cakes.

It was one in the morning, and the sleepless elf secretly opened the door, intending to go downstairs to find some cakes to eat.

The Sicilian cheese rolls at lunchtime were delicious, and after she praised them highly, the pastry chef, Miss Angel, generously made five more for her.

The two leftovers were put in the refrigerator.

From her room to the kitchen, you have to pass through Tsuna and Takeru's rooms.

The heavy wooden door completely blocked out the light. Yao Chuanling didn't know if the two were asleep or not, but she still kept her voice down.

The kitchen was pitch black, but luckily the elf had night vision and managed to reach the refrigerator without incident.

The dim light inside the refrigerator shone like a spotlight at a criminal investigation scene on her hands as she "committed the crime."

"We caught a little rascal who was sneaking food in the middle of the night."

Someone gently placed a hand on her shoulder from behind and teased her.

Upon hearing the voice of the newcomer, Yaochuan Ling relaxed.

It's fine as long as it's A-Wu.

Ah Wu would never lecture her or forbid her from eating late-night snacks.

She retorted, "No, I'm a good egg."

They all agreed to eat the small cakes.

Takeshi Yamamoto was amused by her answer and reached out to ruffle her hair.

"Eating sweets at night can cause cavities, so how about some sushi?"

See!

Ah Wu would also take her out to eat.

Yao Chuanling was just craving something to eat, whether it was sushi or cheese rolls.

Besides, she hadn't had A-Wu's sushi in a long time.

"Awu is a super, super nice person!"

She closed the refrigerator and obediently followed behind Takeshi Yamamoto, watching him turn on a small light.

That's how I was able to see her face clearly.

Takeshi Yamamoto was already in the kitchen. He noticed that Yokokawa Rei seemed a bit distracted during dinner, so he squeezed in some time during his break to make some sushi. He didn't expect to run into her just as he turned off the lights and went to the refrigerator.

A serendipitous encounter in the dead of night?

He certainly wouldn't miss such a good opportunity.

The food container was still in his hand, which saved him the trouble of putting it in the refrigerator.

Nighttime visibility was significantly reduced, but fortunately, his keen senses, honed over many years, allowed him to move freely.

"I've been craving Ah Wu's cooking for so long, it's absolutely delicious!"

Take Sushi is her favorite sushi restaurant. As the son of the owner and head chef, Takeshi Yamamoto has also developed excellent culinary skills.

During her junior high school years, Takeshi Yamamoto often brought her sushi for afternoon tea. She would always miss those relaxing and short-lived times in Namimori when she was in Yokohama.

Takeshi Yamamoto was relieved: "That's good."

He hadn't made sushi in a long time, and before this, he was worried that his skills had deteriorated and wouldn't suit her taste.

The atmosphere then quieted down.

As Yaochuan Ling ate her sushi in small bites, she was distracted by thoughts of romantic love.

Takeshi Yamamoto sat opposite her, quietly watching her stuff sushi into her mouth.

Like a cute little hamster.

His eyes were full of smiles.

Suddenly he stood up and reached out to press his hand to the corner of her mouth.

Warm fingertips lingered on her lips. Yao Chuanling was about to look up and ask when she saw the person in front of her withdraw their hand.

"There are seaweed flakes."

The man smiled innocently. In the dim light, the tiny bits of seaweed clinging to his fingertips were barely visible.

"Awu."

The elf couldn't hide her feelings, and in the dead of night, the words to confide naturally came to her lips.

Do you have someone you like? Do you know what it's like for men and women to like each other?

She rested her chin on her hand and looked at him, her eyes holding a glimmer of light, like stars.

Takeshi Yamamoto's eyes darkened.

His intuition told him that something must have happened today that had suddenly enlightened her.

Prison, temple.

Thinking back to the faint piano music this afternoon, and the undisguised look in that person's eyes at dinner, what else could he not understand?

"I don't have anyone I like."

He subconsciously rubbed his fingertips, squinted his eyes, and smiled as he spoke.

"Only the spirits I like."

Yamamoto Takeshi felt a little annoyed that his chance to confess had been snatched away.

But this negative emotion is fleeting.

Rather than dwelling on the past, Yu Shou is better at seizing the present.

For so many years, they have maintained a tacit balance, and now that it has been brought up, he feels relieved.

From then on, everyone had to rely on their own abilities.

"I like you, and I want to hold your hand, hug you, kiss you, or even do things more intimately."

Yao Chuanling had watched Yamamoto Takeshi's baseball games, and now his eyes looked just like those on the field.

It is full of undisguised ambition and desire.

She had always thought that A-Wu was very charming, but looking at her with those eyes was just too much.

The person covered their face and remained silent.

Through his fingers, Takeshi Yamamoto saw that the crimson blush had spread across her entire face.

Do you remember this?

Seeing her shyness, Takeshi Yamamoto quickly changed the subject.

An overly aggressive offensive could backfire. He's always been very good at striking the right balance.

He took out a blue amulet from the inside pocket close to his heart.

It looks a bit old, and the edges have become rough, but it has been well taken care of by its owner.

Yao Chuanling recognized it; it was a farewell gift she had given him.

He smiled gently and earnestly, his eyes crinkling: "You've always been by my side. Thank you for saving my dad."

Millefiore planned to eliminate those associated with the Vongola, and his father was among them. At the crucial moment, it was Mikoto who protected him.

The spirit's worries and concerns were revealed to the world along with the secret of the amulet.

"I'm glad you're alright, Uncle Yamamoto. No need to thank me, it's what I should do."

Yao Chuanling rubbed her face and buried her head on the table.

Ten years from now, things will be even more dangerous than she imagined. No matter what Gakafis says, she will stand with everyone in the Vongola family to overcome this challenge.

The Vongola, where everyone is, is where her heart is.

She declared firmly, "We will win in the end."

us.

Takeshi Yamamoto pondered the matter in his mind, then suddenly burst into hearty laughter.

"That's right, it's us."

His goddess of victory was with him.