Chapter 16

The days in the defense corps were like clockwork, spinning with precision and speed.

Everyone is like an indispensable gear on the assembly line, filled with endless training and tasks, and the concept of time is blurring and fading.

If it weren't for the sharp ringing of the alarm clock that he had set in advance, Kurozuka Kirishi would have almost forgotten that he had taken a day off this afternoon.

The sweat from training was sticky on her skin. She quickly rinsed it off and changed out of her sweat-soaked long-sleeved trousers.

The wardrobe was opened, and inside were neatly arranged clothes of the same style. She took out a set and put it on quickly.

The taxi I called stopped outside the competition venue. The afternoon sun was dazzling and the air was hot, creating waves of heat that twisted the ground.

As soon as she got off the car, she saw two figures, one large and one small, at the door. She walked over, and the hot wind blew the strands of hair on her chest.

"Why don't you wait for me inside?" Kurozuka Kirishi's eyes swept across the two people's foreheads where beads of sweat were oozing out. She took out a pack of unopened tissues from her trouser pocket and handed them to each of them.

"I'm afraid you can't find me, sister~" Kurozuka Aoi's voice is like a jumping note, with undisguised joy,

The next second, he wrapped his arms around her, his warmth penetrating the thin fabric. "Come on, let's go! I'll take you inside to watch the game!"

Completely left out, Hayakawa Reiko burst into tears: Aoi! Your coach! You're such a grown-up and still standing here!

Kurozuka Kirishi is actually almost unfamiliar with her sister's life at the skating rink. The long absence and limited communication make her feel like an outsider at this moment.

When Kurozuka Aoi excitedly pulled her to meet her friends, she could only stand aside silently, waiting for her sister to introduce her.

"This is Xiaoqi! She's my favorite girl in the club!"

The man who was called out looked at the alienated person in front of him and forced a nervous smile, his lips slightly stiff. "Hello."

"And this is Xiaojia, the cutest girl!"

However, compared to the previous title of "favorite", Sanjia Tianliangjia, who was only defined as "the cutest", was obviously not convinced and puffed up his cheeks: "Huh? Why can't I be the most favorite!"

Kurozuka Aoi shook her head, and affectionately wrapped her arms around the slightly embarrassed Qi who was being declared her "favorite," and said seriously as if declaring ownership:

"Of course it's because I can only like one person the most! And you're too young, Xiaojia. I like older kids."

"I don't care! And Qi is mine!!!"

Seeing the three little ones fall into their usual bickering again, Hayakawa Reiko helplessly raised her hand to her forehead and turned to the silent Kurozuka Kirishi beside her, trying to break the slightly awkward atmosphere: "Kurozuka sister, we...!"

The words were just spoken, but stopped abruptly when the other party looked at him.

That look didn't contain any accusation or urging, but was purely a question. However, it made Hayakawa Reiko instantly freeze, and the villain in her heart was once again knocked to the ground by the invisible aura.

Don’t be afraid of Reiko Hayakawa! Damn it! That’s why her presence is so oppressive!!!

She choked back the second half of her sentence and quickly changed the subject, almost interrupting him by saying, "I'll take you to the stands!"

Kurozuka Aoi was drawn to appear at the front of the order, and soon after the match started, her name and number were read out over the broadcast.

The light from the ice rink focused, and the petite figure slid onto the white ice surface, and was instantly enveloped in a dazzling halo.

Kurozuka Kirishi sat in the audience, watching quietly,

The skates left clear tracks across the ice, jumping and spinning, and every movement of the girl was filled with passion and concentration, like a truly shining star.

Sure enough, people become very different when they fall in love.

Her sight followed the agile and flying figure. For a moment, her eyes seemed to lose focus, as if she saw through the brilliance of the moment some blurred fragments buried deep under the dust of time.

But it was only a moment of distraction, and her long eyelashes trembled slightly like the wings of a frightened butterfly, and quickly drooped, hiding all traces that might leak out, as if the subtle haze had never appeared.

When the whistle of the end of the game faded into the air, Kurozuka Aoi rushed over like a bird returning to its nest, covered in excitement and sweat, and gave Kurozuka Kirishi a solid hug:

"How's it going! What do you think of my skating, sister?"

"Very good." Kurozuka Kirishi's voice remained steady. He raised his hand and gently patted her sweaty back, an unnoticeable gesture that signaled her to relax a little.

Hayakawa Reiko smiled and held up her phone. The screen showed a freshly recorded match clip. She placed one hand on her hip, her tone filled with pride, "Ding, ding, ding! I recorded it for you. You've improved quite a bit since last time!"

"Of course! I was brought up by Reiko-sister!" Kurozuka Aoi raised her chin and smiled proudly.

This overly exposed, warm joy was like a veil, gently covering him, but it made Heizhong Wushi feel an indescribable, subtle stagnation.

Her fingers, which had been hanging naturally, bent slightly, almost imperceptibly. Then, as if remembering something, she took out her phone from her pocket. The screen lit up, and a cold light reflected in her eyes: "It's almost time, I..."

"Sister Kurozuka, let's go eat together! I've already reserved a table for three!" Reiko Hayakawa invited her warmly with a bright smile before she could finish her words.

Kurozuka Aoi immediately hugged her arms tightly as if she had found an ally, and said in a long and coquettish voice: "Yes, yes, let's eat before we go~"

Kurozuka Kirishi was silent for a moment. She had always known that she was not good at rejecting requests from acquaintances, and her sister had obviously figured this out.

So, although I initially just nodded in agreement to have a simple meal, the final trajectory was easily pulled away and turned into a leisurely stroll under the bright lights of the shopping mall.

As soon as I stepped into the spacious atrium of the mall, the air mixed with fragrance and air conditioning hit me in the face.

Hayakawa Reiko, who was standing next to her, suddenly stopped in her tracks, her eyes suddenly lit up, and she pointed her finger tremblingly in a certain direction: "That, that is..."

Aoi Kurozuka, standing by, caught sight of her target almost simultaneously. The two exchanged glances, a silent electric current connecting in the air. The next moment, a chorus of exclamations erupted: "The Defense Force's new collaboration peripherals!!!"

The combination of those words revealed a passion that Kurozuka Kirishi couldn't understand. She hadn't yet figured out the strange words and the sudden surge of excitement from the two people around her.

The two people who had been holding her on both sides just now had already let go of her hands like wild horses, and instantly turned into two afterimages, and accurately plunged into the crowded and noisy area in front of them, and disappeared.

Kurozuka Wushi was suddenly left alone and was confused for a moment.

The lights in the mall were too bright and the noise was too loud, making her feel a little uncomfortable.

"Um... may I ask who you are——" Suddenly, a finger poked her back with cautious tentativeness.

She turned around subconsciously and saw a girl with a blushing face standing behind her.

The moment he looked her in the face, the girl jumped up suddenly as if struck by an invisible electric current. Her voice rose in excitement, even cracking: "It's really Wu Shi! He's even more handsome in person than in the video!!!"

...Video? Cool?

Her brain seemed to stop processing information for a moment. She simply obeyed the overly direct and passionate request, bending down slightly in a daze.

The girl next to her was already excitedly making a scissors hand gesture with a bright smile. She hesitated for a moment, then raised her hand stiffly and a little late, and made the same gesture awkwardly.

Snap!

The shutter clicked crisply, and a photo of the two of them capturing this subtle moment was created.

"Thank you very much! By the way, this second prize ticket is for you, remember to redeem it at the store~" The girl quickly stuffed a colorful paper ticket into her hand as if she had completed some important mission.

Before she could even react and say thank you, he jumped away, leaving Kurozuka Kirishi still in a state of confusion, holding the paper coupon in his hand.

She bent down and unfolded the fancy coupon paper, then looked up to compare it with the huge poster hanging at the door of a shop not far away.

The second prize icon is clearly visible - it is a Q-version doll of Soshiro Hoshina and... Gen Narumi, you have to choose one of the two.

When Hayakawa Reiko finally pulled Kurozuka Aoi, who was very satisfied and holding several shopping bags, out of the crowd, she saw this scene:

Originally, Kurozuka Kirishi, who had come here with nothing and a carefree attitude, was now holding an oversized Q-version doll in his arms, which was very incongruous.

Help!!! The contrast is so cute!!! Reiko Hayakawa gave a thumbs up in her heart. In this second, she successfully got the same filter as Kurozuka Aoi.

But the doll has a signature mushroom head with a gradient purple-black color, smiling eyes narrowed into two slits, and a pair of highly recognizable small canine teeth at the corners of its mouth...

Hayakawa Reiko covered her mouth in shock, her eyes widening as she blurted out, "So Aoi's sister is Hoshina?!"

The smile on Kurozuka Aoi's face froze instantly, and then it was as if covered by a dark cloud, and her expression darkened at a speed visible to the naked eye.

He practically squeezed out four words from between his teeth, expressing a resolute denial: "Absolutely. Impossible!!!"