Chapter 43

As it was getting close to evening, several seniors left the cafe one by one.

Only Senior Fuji was still lying on the long table with no sign of waking up.

I am more worried about Fuji-senpai's health than about our relationship being exposed to everyone.

Although Senior Gan repeatedly assured that the ingredients for the dry juice he made were all completely pollution-free fruits and vegetables and various vitamins and nutrients, let's be honest, what kind of pollution-free fruits and vegetables would produce such a strange smell? And what if there happened to be allergens of Senior Fuji in it?

In short, the more I thought about it, the more worried I became. Just when I was hesitating whether I should find a doctor or really call an ambulance, Senior Fuji finally woke up.

"Great, you finally woke up..."

I looked like I was finally saved.

"Good evening, Nana."

Senior Fuji blinked his eyes, his gaze was gentle and clear, then he stretched out his hands and did a lazy stretching motion, his whole body exuding a lazy and comfortable feeling.

Looking around, there were no more customers in the store, and Aunt Hayami was busy in the kitchen.

"Have they all left?"

I nodded, and after confirming that Senior Fuji's face looked normal, I finally let go of the worry that had been hanging in my stomach.

"After the seniors finished their exams, they left."

Since it was getting late and Hayami-san wasn't going to close for a while, Fuji-san offered to take me home. I didn't refuse, and we quickly packed up our things on the table and left the cafe together.

At this time, the sun sets in the west, and the afterglow of the sunset on the western horizon is like ink splashed on the sky, gradually dyeing out different brilliant colors layer by layer.

Senior Fuji and I walked side by side on the avenue covered with the afterglow of the setting sun, and our shadows were stretched very long.

"This is horrible. Is this how good Gan-san is at cooking? He ended up sending someone to the hospital while cooking..."

I complained with a lingering fear on my face.

"You're the same, Momoshiro-senpai! Why are you dragging me into this? I'm not even a member of the tennis club... Damn it!"

I thought back to that strange, sticky liquid with green vapor.

I can't imagine how horrible it would be if I took a sip of it...

He will definitely be sent directly to the hospital for gastric lavage!

I was daydreaming here, but Senior Fuji over there quietly pursed his lips and seemed a little unhappy.

I was keenly aware of this change and thought to myself: Did I say something wrong?

still...

"No... Zhou Zhu? What's wrong with you? Are you feeling unwell somewhere else?... Damn it, I told you to go to the hospital to check it out..."

I didn't think much about it, I just thought he hadn't gotten over the shadow of that glass of dry juice yet.

"No, Nana, I'm not feeling unwell..."

He shook his head and stopped.

I also stopped as he did, and when I looked up, I saw those ice-blue eyes staring at me steadily, like a surging sea that was about to drag me in at any second.

After a moment, he looked away, lowered his eyebrows to hide his emotions, sighed inaudibly, and said:

"...Today was supposed to be my first date with Nana, but they ruined it."

I was stunned, then I realized...Is Senior Fuji sulking?

Or are you mad at your teammates?

Somehow, I feel like Fuji-senpai has become much more approachable now, as if he's stepped down from his pedestal and is standing right beside me. The Fuji-senpai I've met before seemed like he could handle anything. While he always had a beaming smile, his overly perfect and talented nature always gave off an air of unattainability. Now, it seems he's just an ordinary high school boy who gets jealous, gets unhappy... oh, and even gets soured by the taste of vinegar...

Oh, and emphasis on: an ordinary high school boy who disregards the rules of physics on the tennis court...

I was so amused by my own thoughts that I couldn't help laughing out loud.

Seeing me smiling, his expression seemed to become more resentful. I immediately stopped smiling and coughed, "It's okay, Zhou Zhu, after the monthly exam is over, maybe we can go on a date again... Yes, that's right, after the monthly exam is over, let's go on a date!"

"Ahem, the kind with just the two of us."

He looked at me in surprise. I think even in the matter of love, a genius can become a fool sometimes, or maybe now is the time for me to take action.

Yes, this is my home turf!

So I tilted my head slightly and pretended to be confused, "Shousuke doesn't want to go on a date with me?"

His expression became a little strange and forbearing, making me think I said something wrong, but the next second he returned to normal and smiled, "My pleasure."

"Anyway, just leave it to me to arrange it!"

I promised, almost swearing on my chest.

Hearing this, he chuckled, which made me look up at him. At this moment, we happened to be crossing an intersection. The warm orange light depicted the profile of his face, which was sharp and angular, and almost merged with the colorful clouds behind him. The picture looked harmonious and beautiful.

"Zhou Zhu."

I suddenly stopped.

He also stopped and looked back at me, his eyes revealing a hint of confusion, "What's wrong?"

I reached out my hand and mustered up the courage to ask him, "Can I hold your hand?"

My heart started beating uncontrollably again, and I tried hard to control my expression so as not to look so panicked. In fact, as early as when we were in the coffee shop, I really wanted to hold his hand, but later I had to interrupt because of the arrival of the seniors.

Senior's hands are really beautiful...

I wonder what it feels like to hold hands?

Suddenly, he held my hands, and his warm and soft palms instantly wrapped around my slightly cold hands.

"Nana, don't stop suddenly in the middle of the road."

He reminded me helplessly, then held me with a force that was neither too loose nor too tight, but difficult to break free, and continued to move forward.

"Pay attention when crossing the street...at least until you get past this point."

Fuji-senpai's tone was calm, as if I was the only one feeling panicked and throbbing.

However, when I stared at his tall back, the evening breeze blew his overly long flaxen hair, occasionally revealing a small section of the tip of his ear, which was quietly red at this time, silently revealing his heart that should not be calm.

And his soft palm, with its thin calluses gently rubbing against the back of my hand, brought a slight tingling sensation, and a faint sense of moisture.

Could it be that he was sweating from nervousness?

"Nana, what are you laughing at?"

He looked back at me with some surprise.

I took a quick step forward, so I was shoulder to shoulder with him, and replied, "No, it's nothing. I'm just happy."

"What are you happy about?"

"Because I held hands with my senior, it felt very comfortable, so I was very happy."

“…”

Hey, the tip of my ear has turned a little red again!

I think I have got Senior Fuji under control!

He's actually super cute!

*

The next day, tennis club.

Before Fuji Shusuke arrived, everyone started talking about the shocking secret they heard yesterday.

"This Fuji, secretly dating, ah no! How can you secretly date Koizumi-kun!"

"By the way, when did they get together? It's not like she got into the Youth Academy and became our junior schoolmate, and he got attracted to her because of her beauty..."

"...Hey, hey, using the adjective 'lustful' isn't a good idea. Maybe it was love at first sight!"

"Why isn't I the one my schoolgirl falls in love with at first sight?!"

Tao Cheng looked mad, then he looked up to the sky and sighed:

"Is it true that sunny and handsome types like mine are no longer popular?!"

Because it never became popular...

Besides, is this what you are really unhappy about?

"No, absolutely impossible! It must be the schoolgirl's vision..."

He was talking excitedly when suddenly a pair of hands covered his shoulders. He was startled and turned to see Fuji Shusuke's smiling face. He swallowed subconsciously and asked blankly,

"Hi, Fuji, you're here."

"I'm here, but, Wu, what did you just say? Who has bad eyesight?"

Feeling a chill running up his spine, Taocheng Wu immediately changed the subject, "Let me talk about myself. It must be because I have poor taste that no schoolmate fell in love with me at first sight! Hahaha!"

As if to change the subject, he immediately complained, "You, Bu Er, secretly fell in love without telling anyone, and you were talking to your junior high school girl..."

Others began to echo.

Fuji Shusuke smiled and said, "Didn't I tell you a long time ago? I have a girlfriend..."

"When did you ever say something like that...wait...!"

A long time ago, Fuji once said something like that...

My girlfriend had a bit of insomnia yesterday, so I chatted with her for a while...

So the school girl is...

"Oh my god, could it be that the information about your girlfriend that you refused to reveal before, could it be, could it be that..."

Fuji followed up on his words, "Yes, it has always been Nana!"

No, why are you looking so smug?!

While everyone was surprised at the long history between the two, Inui Sadaharu sneered in his heart. He was the first person here to know all this... But -

Where did that kid Echizen go?

You were clearly here just now...