Chapter 36

The cold wind of early December carried fine snow foam across the bare branches of Hyotei Academy.

I quickly stuffed the small sachet, which was made of indigo cotton with fine stitches and filled with dried osmanthus flowers and a little lavender, into Keigo Atobe's hands when no one was paying attention in the corridor.

My fingertips touched his slightly cool palm, and I immediately retracted my hand. I lowered my voice and said quickly, "This is for you. Don't forget about the bonus."

He lowered his eyes to look at the simple little cloth bag in his palm that exuded the sweet fragrance of osmanthus, and a trace of clear and pure joy flashed across his eyes.

Without saying anything, he simply put the sachet into the inner pocket of his uniform jacket, close to his heart. Then he nodded slightly at me and said in a low and firm voice, "Don't worry."

After school, Rie Tanaka and I walked side by side on the tree-lined path leading to the school gate.

Not far ahead, Oshitari Yuushi's nose twitched slightly, and with a tone of exaggerated confusion, he said to Takehi Mukai beside him, "Hey, Takehito, have you noticed that Atobe has a... um... very special fragrance lately?"

"Like osmanthus? Very sweet. When did he change his perfume? Whose new product is so special?"

Xiangri sniffed the air in confusion: "Is that so? Why can't I smell it?"

Oshitari glanced at me casually behind his glasses, with a mischievous smile: "Probably... a limited edition custom model."

I lowered my head silently, pretending to adjust the straps of my schoolbag, but the corners of my mouth couldn't help but curl up slightly.

The phone screen lit up just in time, and a bank deposit notification popped up. Looking at the string of numbers, enough to keep Xiaokong fed with top-notch dog food for the next few months, a feeling of satisfaction instantly overwhelmed the slight embarrassment of being teased.

When the plane landed at New Chitose Airport in Hokkaido, the world outside the window was already covered in snow.

As a child who grew up in a warm water town in southern China, such a vast expanse of pure and dazzling white was the most shocking thing I had ever experienced in my life.

Snowflakes fell from the leaden sky like goose feathers, covering the distant mountains, forests, roads and low houses. The whole world was so quiet that only the rustling sound of falling snow could be heard.

The air you breathe is so cold that it penetrates your lungs, carrying the unique, clean, and slightly sweet scent of snow.

"Wow!" Tanaka Rie excitedly grabbed my arm and shook it, her face flushed from the cold. "Mist Mountain! Look! It's so beautiful! A real snow country!"

This time, Hyotei's study tour was arranged in Hokkaido.

The onsen ryokan we stayed in boasted a traditional Japanese style. The floor-to-ceiling windows of our room opened onto a tranquil courtyard blanketed in thick snow. Standing on the porch, gazing at this pristine, flawless world of white, I felt an indescribable, almost devout, joy spread from the depths of my heart.

It turns out that snow can really be so beautiful, so quiet, and so heart-warming.

After a short rest and changing into our rented ski suits, Tanaka couldn't wait to pull me towards the nearby ski resort. From a distance, we could hear the exclamations and cheers coming from the beginner slopes.

Following the sound, I saw an agile figure swooping down the steep slope of the advanced ski slope at an astonishing speed.

The dark blue ski suit outlines his tall and smooth figure. The skis under his feet are like an extension of his body, drawing two sharp and graceful silver arcs on the thick powder snow.

Every leap, spin and landing is accompanied by a rhythmic sense of perfect fusion of power and elegance, and the splashing snow waves reflect tiny rays of light in the sunlight.

It's Atobe Keigo.

Like an arrow shot from a bow, he circumvented the obstacle with pinpoint accuracy, and with a beautiful, neat turn, he abruptly stopped at the finish line, stirring up an even larger cloud of snow. The surrounding classmates, especially the girls, generously burst into warm applause and praise.

"Atobe SAMA is so handsome!"

"There really isn't any sport he can't do!"

"He's top of every class, fluent in German and Greek, and can also fencing, horseback riding, and skiing... Atobe-sama is truly a god, right?"

I stood on the outskirts of the crowd, listening to their heartfelt praises, my eyes following the figure who took off his goggles, revealing his handsome profile, and I couldn't help but feel sincere admiration in my heart.

No one is born a jack of all trades. Behind every seemingly effortless, applause-winning move lies countless days of tedious training, repeated falls and rises, sweat-soaked clothes, and unwavering perseverance.

All glory is the crystallization of sweat.

As a martial artist, I know this very well.

"Alright, alright, don't just watch the great show!" Tanaka tugged at my sleeve, pulling me out of my thoughts. "Let's go to the beginner slopes! Falling down is a serious matter when you're skiing for the first time!"

On the beginner's ski slope, there was indeed a scene of "misery everywhere".

Although I have a good sense of balance and core strength from martial arts training, I still feel extremely clumsy when facing the pair of "long boards" under my feet that are completely out of control.

After trying to slide a few steps, my body began to tilt and shake involuntarily, and finally with a "bang", I fell firmly into the soft snow pile.

"Haha, Kiriyama, you look like a stupid penguin!" Tanaka laughed so hard that he fell over and over, and he couldn't stand steadily and fell next to me.

The snow was cold and soft, so it didn't hurt to fall. I simply stopped struggling and lay on my back in the snow.

Icy air rushed into my nostrils, carrying the pure scent of snowflakes. Above me was a clear blue sky, impure as a single speck of dust. Sunlight filtered through the sparse clouds, dazzling me.

Large snowflakes were still falling slowly, and a few of them playfully fell on my eyelashes and cheeks, bringing a hint of coolness.

A feeling of openness and tranquility that I had never experienced before enveloped me.

Children from the south seem to have a unique and romantic feeling for heavy snow. Looking at the falling snow, an ancient poem naturally came to mind, and I recited it softly in Chinese:

"What does the falling white snow look like? It's almost like salt being sprinkled in the air, but not as good as willow catkins rising in the wind..."

The voice was very soft, with a hint of tenderness and emotion that he himself was not aware of.

"Eh?" Tanaka Rie, who was standing next to me, raised her upper body and looked at me curiously. "Kiriyama, what did you just say? Chinese? I don't understand what you said, but the sound of your words was so gentle! Like falling snow!"

She blinked and exclaimed in sincere admiration.

I lay in the snow, looking at my friend's sincere smile, and I couldn't help but smile too, with a hint of the softness and cunning that only southern girls can have, inspired by the snow. "Yes, we southern girls are all very gentle."

As soon as I finished speaking, I seemed to catch a glimpse of someone on the advanced ski slope who had just finished another round of showmanship and was taking off his goggles and looking towards our beginner ski slope.

The distance was quite far, so I couldn't see the expression on his face, but his gaze seemed to linger on me for a moment.

The rising hot air blurred the outline of the wooden eaves, and the air was filled with the rich smell of sulfur and the moist fragrance of pine.

Wrapped in towels, Tanaka Rie and I treaded on the slightly cool floor soaked by the hot spring steam until we finally found a small, empty hot spring pool in the corner. It was small, built of natural rock, and its calm surface reflected the deep blue night sky and a few sparse stars above.

I slowly immersed myself in the scalding spring water, the warmth instantly enveloping my limbs, stiffened by the cold wind at the ski resort. Every pore relaxed, and my sore muscles sighed with satisfaction as the heat soothed them.

I leaned against the smooth rock pool wall and couldn't help but let out a long, comfortable sigh, feeling that all the fatigue in my body was melted away bit by bit by the hot spring water.

"Ah - I'm alive!" Tanaka made a satisfied sound beside me, and pushed his wet hair back, revealing his smooth forehead.

She turned her head, glanced at me, suddenly smiled mischievously, and nudged me lightly with her elbow.

"Hey, Kiriyama," she lowered her voice, a little envious and playful, "Honestly, you've kept yourself in great shape!"

Her eyes swept over the lines of my shoulders, neck, and arms that were exposed above the water. "Although not as attractive as President Yamamoto... well, very attractive," she said with an exaggerated gesture, "you have a very well-proportioned and slender figure, beautiful arms and legs, and you're tall. The proportions are amazing!"

As she spoke, she actually reached out and gently touched my smooth back with her cool fingers, praising me, "Wow, your skin is so good, smooth as silk! And you have a six-pack! Tell me the truth, have you been working out secretly?"

I was so amused by her dirty hands and straightforward compliments that I couldn't help but laugh and slap her hand away: "Tanaka Rie! We're just taking a hot spring bath, why are you being so naughty!"

"Oh, I'm so envious!" Tanaka smiled and retracted his hand.

At this moment, from the direction of the hot spring pool next door, which was half-hidden by tall rocks and dense green plants, a sudden sound, like a violent cough after being choked by hot water, was faintly heard, mixed with a little splashing sound.

Tanaka and I exchanged glances and subconsciously fell silent. Despite the natural barrier between us, the sound was still remarkably clear in the quiet of the hot springs.

"Isn't that the men's bath next door?" Tanaka stuck out his tongue, leaned close to my ear, and whispered, "Let's talk quietly."

I nodded and lowered my voice.

The topic naturally turned to what she had just mentioned about me speaking Chinese.

Tanaka held his chin in his hand, his eyes filled with longing. "Kiriyama, the way you recited Chinese poetry in the snow this afternoon was really different from usual. Your voice was so soft, like it was coated in icing sugar, so gentle."

"Although I speak standard Japanese, I always feel like something is missing."

When I mention my hometown, the soft string in my heart is gently plucked.

The warm spring water wrapped around my body, but my thoughts drifted to the distant south of the Yangtze River with the misty water vapor.

"My hometown..." My voice unconsciously softened, carrying the warmth of memories. "In the water town in southern China. There's no such heavy snow there, only fine, dense raindrops falling on the small bluestone bridges and on the awnings of the black-sailed boats."

"The houses are made of green tiles and white walls, arranged along the winding river. There are weeping willows on the banks, and in spring, willow catkins float down like snow..."

I described the small bridges and flowing water, the whitewashed walls and black tiles, the sound of oars and the lights in my memory. Tanaka was attracted by this poetic picture and listened attentively.

"That sounds as beautiful as a painting." She sighed softly, then looked at me cautiously with concern in her eyes, "Wishan, are you missing home?"

"Yeah." I responded softly without denying it.

Even the warm spring water couldn't seem to warm the homesickness deep in my heart. After a few seconds of silence, I stared at my blurry reflection in the water. "So, I'm going back."

"Go back?" Tanaka didn't react for a moment and looked at me in confusion.

"Back to China." I turned around and repeated clearly, my voice calm but with undeniable certainty. "Leaving in January. The flight is already booked."

"What?!" Tanaka sat up straight with a sudden movement, and the hot spring water splashed high into the air.

Her eyes widened, her face filled with disbelief and sudden shock. "Back...back to China? In January? Wushan! You...you never said anything before! Why so sudden?"

Seeing her instantly red eyes and anxious look, I reached out and gently patted her wet arm: "I'm sorry, Rie, I didn't mean to hide it from you. I just haven't figured out how to say it yet."

"Woo..." Tanaka couldn't hold back any longer, tears fell down, mixing with the hot spring water.

She rushed over regardless, wrapped her wet arms around my neck tightly, buried her face in my shoulder, and cried, "Don't... Wushan... I can't bear to leave you! What will happen to the photography club if you leave? What will happen to us? What will happen to Xiaokong? And Zhi..."

She was halfway through her words when she probably realized she had said something out of turn and choked up again. She just hugged me tighter and sobbed.

I hugged her back gently, patted her back, and whispered comforting words as if I were coaxing Xiaokong.

We talked for a while until Tanaka calmed down a little, then we got up and left the hot spring.

The warm water vapor condensed into a white mist the moment it hit the cold night air, and my towel-wrapped body shivered slightly. We walked along the wet cobblestones toward the accommodation area, our figures gradually disappearing into the dim lights and steaming white mist of the hot spring area.

It's in the adjacent men's bath, which is cleverly separated by rocks and green plants.

Atobe Keigo and Oshitari Yuushi were leaning against the edge of the pool, enjoying the ultimate relaxation of the post-snow hot springs. The lingering heat blurred their vision, leaving only a comfortable warmth enveloping their bodies.

The initial conversation was ordinary until the faint sound of a girl's muffled laughter came from next door.

"Hey, Kiriyama..." Tanaka's voice was filled with a mischievous smile. Even though he lowered his voice deliberately, it was still very clear in the quiet night. "...What a great figure...well-proportioned and slender...tall...slim waistline...skin as smooth as silk..."

Oshitari was closing his eyes to rest, and when he heard this, a playful smile appeared on the corner of his mouth. He tilted his head slightly, and his gaze was directed precisely at Keigo Atobe who was also closing his eyes and seemed to be resting next to him.

The eyes behind the lenses were filled with silent teasing: Did you hear that? I'm praising your "photographer."

Atobe's eyelashes twitched imperceptibly. He didn't open his eyes, still leaning against the pool wall, seemingly indifferent.

However, only he knew that when he heard those descriptive words, some images flashed through his mind uncontrollably: her tall and slender back in her ski suit, her slender wrists as she handed him the clothes, and...

In her house, as she supported him, she felt the soft and powerful touch through the fabric of his clothes...

An inexplicable heat suddenly rose from the bottom of my heart, hotter than the hot spring water under my body.

His Adam's apple rolled, and he subconsciously wanted to pick up the glass of ice water on the low table by the pool and take a sip to suppress the inappropriate throbbing. However, as soon as he stretched out his hand, before his fingertips touched the wall of the glass -

The words "What are you doing?" from next door and the subsequent splashing and playing sounds were like some kind of catalyst, which suddenly interrupted his already disordered breathing.

"Cough! Cough cough cough--!" A violent cough broke out without warning. He covered his mouth in embarrassment, his body leaning forward slightly because of coughing, and the hot spring water swayed violently with the movement.

Oshitari immediately sat up straight and looked over with concern: "Atobe? Are you okay?"

Atobe waved his hands, his face flushed from coughing, tears welling up in the corners of his eyes. It took him a long time to stop. He took a few deep breaths, his voice hoarse from the coughing: "...It's okay, the water is too hot."

The noise from next door had indeed become much quieter due to his cough, turning into a very low whisper. But in this quiet night, if you listen carefully, you can still catch some scattered fragments.

"...my hometown...southern China...a small water town...bluestone bridges...green tiles and white walls..."

The voice, with a gentleness and distance that he had never heard before, was almost like a whisper, and it scratched his heart gently like a feather.

She was describing her hometown, and the nostalgia in her voice was so strong that it could not be dissolved.

"…Missing home?" Tanaka asked softly.

"Yeah." A clear and affirmative syllable.

After a brief silence, that gentle yet firm voice rang out again, like a piece of ice suddenly crashing into a boiling hot spring:

“So, I’m going back home.”

"Back to China. Leaving in January. The flight is already booked."

boom--

It was as if a silent thunderclap exploded in Atobe Keigo's ears. All the warmth, throbbing, and even the awkwardness from before were instantly frozen and shattered.

He jerked his head up, his eyes narrowing in the steam, a turbulent wave stirring deep within his pupils. The color drained from his face, leaving only an unbelievable pallor. He stared intently at the direction of the voice, as if trying to penetrate the thick rock and greenery to discern the speaker's expression.

Returning? China? January? Flights booked?

Before this, there was no news at all! Not even a single sign!

She just announced her departure so calmly and without any warning?

Atobe felt a chill radiate from his spine, radiating through his limbs. The scalding hot spring water beneath him seemed to lose all warmth in an instant. His heart felt as if it were being gripped tightly by an invisible hand, heavy and stuffy, making it almost impossible to breathe.

From next door came Tanaka's tearful voice of reluctance and questioning, along with her whispered words of comfort. But those voices, now blurred and distant, seemed to be separated by a thick layer of frosted glass.

Until the sound of water splashing came from next door, followed by the sound of footsteps leaving and gradually fading away, and finally disappeared completely into the night.

In the hot spring pool, there was only the rising white steam and deathly silence.

The mischief on Oshitari's face had long since disappeared. He looked at Atobe's profile, which had instantly stiffened like a stone sculpture, and saw the astonishment and a kind of confusion that was almost hurt in his eyes. He opened his mouth, but in the end said nothing, and just sighed silently.

Atobe Keigo remained in that rigid position, leaning against the cold rock wall of the pool. The warm spring water reached his chest, but it could no longer dispel the biting chill spreading from deep within his heart.

She has no chance.