Chapter 63 The Shura Field What exactly is he angry about?
The seventh day of the stay, the day of the summer festival
To express their gratitude for the Mitsuya family's hospitality, the tennis club and doujinsha group had no other plans for the day and all stayed at the seaside cafeteria to volunteer.
The gimmick of the handsome young waiters attracted a large number of tourists, and the group was so busy that they barely had time to eat lunch until the afternoon.
Risa had just taken a couple of bites of rice when Yagyu suddenly walked over and whispered, "Matsuno, come out with me for a moment."
Risa looked puzzled, glancing at her untouched chicken leg and then at Yagyu's hurried departure. Finally, resigned, she put down her chopsticks and followed Yagyu to the eaves of the corridor.
"What happened?"
If something trivial prevents her from eating her chicken leg, she might just beat him up.
Liu Sheng looked slightly troubled: "My parents will be making a video call later; my grandparents heard I have a girlfriend..."
Risa instantly understood what he meant.
They had pretended to be a couple before. But that was two months ago. Yagyu's family had arranged a blind date for him, and he didn't want to come to Risa to help, hoping to sabotage the affair.
Later, the matter was resolved satisfactorily, and Risa even became good friends with Yagyu's blind date, Shimizu Kazuko.
Unexpectedly, two months later, the old man brought up the matter again.
"So... now we're going to video chat?" Risa asked, tilting her head.
Liu Sheng nodded, looking slightly helpless: "They suddenly said they wanted to see you."
"You haven't told them about our 'breakup' yet?"
"I haven't found a suitable opportunity yet..."
Risa hesitated for a moment, but seeing Yagyu's unusually troubled expression, she sighed and said, "Alright, but just this once."
Liu Sheng nodded slightly: "I am very grateful."
Ten minutes later.
The two found a quiet corner, and Liu Sheng made a video call.
After the video call connected, the kind faces of Liu Sheng's grandparents appeared on the screen.
"Oh my, is this Risa? She's even cuter than in the photos!" Grandma said with a smile.
Risa immediately got into character, greeting everyone with a sweet smile: "Hello Grandpa and Grandma, I'm Matsuno Risa, nice to meet you!"
Liu Sheng sat beside her, his arm casually resting on the back of the chair behind her, looking intimate yet not overly deliberate.
Grandpa nodded with satisfaction: "What a polite little girl. Hiroshi, you must treat her well."
Yagyu adjusted his glasses and said seriously, "I will."
Risa lowered her head and smiled, feigning shyness.
Just then, footsteps came from around the corner of the corridor.
Risa turned her head and looked over, her pupils suddenly contracting.
Yukimura stood there, holding a glass of iced lemonade, his gaze falling indifferently on them.
"It's so good to be young. Let's get married after graduation. We're already looking forward to that day." Grandma's voice came through the screen, full of joy.
The air froze into ice.
Risa: "......"
Yagyu: "..."
Yukimura's gaze lingered between the two for a second before he smiled slightly and said, "Excuse me."
After saying that, he turned and left.
Risa: "...Wait!"
She stood up abruptly, hurriedly said to Liu Sheng's grandparents in the video, "Sorry, wait a moment!", and then quickly chased after them.
At the corner of the corridor.
“Yukimura.” Risa grabbed his sleeve.
Yukimura stopped and turned to look at her: "What's wrong?"
Risa, panting, spoke rapidly: "That was fake. Yagyu just asked me to help deal with his grandparents. We're not really a couple."
Yukimura gave a faint "hmm," his expression unreadable.
This monosyllabic response made Risa's heart leap into her throat.
"It's true, I'm not lying to you. At the end of May, we pretended to be a couple to help Hiroshi escape the arranged marriage set up by his grandparents, but nothing more. This time, it was purely because the old folks suddenly wanted to see..."
As she finished speaking, her voice grew softer and softer.
"I see." Yukimura finally spoke, his voice soft and devoid of emotion.
Risa looked at him, feeling a little guilty: "Are you... angry?"
Yukimura tilted his head slightly, as if smiling: "Why would I be angry?"
Risa choked.
"But..." she hesitated, "you look angry..."
“More than that,” Yukimura suddenly closed the distance, “I’m more concerned about why Matsuno-kun went out of his way to explain all this to me?”
Risa: "I..."
Yes, why?
She knew perfectly well that she shouldn't get close to him, but by the time she realized it, her feet had already started to follow him on their own.
"Because...your expression just now...looked like you weren't happy..."
Yukimura lowered his eyes and stared at her for two seconds. "I'm not unhappy. Matsuno-san misunderstood."
"But--"
“Go back,” Yukimura stepped back, subtly drawing a line between them, “Don’t bother Hiroshi.”
Risa hung her head and turned back, looking bewildered.
His expression, his tone, and his aloof movements... he was definitely angry, wasn't he?
But Risa couldn't understand what he was angry about.
She had clearly explained the whole story.
-
After Risa left, the corridor returned to silence.
Yukimura stood still, the usual gentle smile on his lips fading away.
He lowered his eyelashes, tilted his head back and drank the lemonade in his glass in one gulp. His Adam's apple bobbed, but he couldn't shake off the unfamiliar, lingering feeling in his heart.
Ten minutes earlier, he had passed by the staff rest area.
The few words peeked through the half-open door made him unconsciously stop in his tracks.
"So Risa-senpai really doesn't have any feelings for Yukimura-senpai?" a girl asked in a low voice.
"She said that, so it must be true," another girl sighed.
"I never expected Risa to like older men, especially men eight years older than her! Does she feel more secure with mature and stable types?"
"I think Asuka is right about something: this might not be love at all, but rather the emotional manipulation of a minor by an older person."
"So, based on age alone, Yukimura-senpai is already out of the running."
"Yeah, someone so perfect... Ahhh! My 'Oracle' couple, it's all over just like that."
"Just the day before yesterday, during Truth or Dare, Risa-senpai said that an age difference of up to three years was fine."
"But seeing how distressed Risa looked last night, she must have already fallen for him... no, she must be completely smitten."
The girls sighed one after another, and then started talking about a new topic.
......
The sunlight slanted down through the eaves, so bright it was blinding.
Yukimura raised his hand to shield his eyes, a self-deprecating smile playing on his lips.
He suddenly understood the source of the inexplicable unease in his chest.
I like older women, but is there an eight-year age gap between us...?
He looked at his hands holding the cup; these hands could perfectly control the trajectory of a tennis ball, but they couldn't grasp the passage of time.
Between the ages of seventeen and twenty-five lies an unbridgeable river of time.
Unconsciously, my fingertips rubbed against the glass. A few water droplets, unable to bear the weight, slid down the glass like a sudden, unnoticed rain.
“Yukimura?” Mitsuya appeared around the corner, smiling. “Your heart rate is 12.5% faster than usual.”
Yukimura placed the glass on the windowsill and asked softly, "What do you think about age difference, Mitsuya-senpai? You and Iwai-kun have this issue too, right? Do you see it as an obstacle or a regret?"
Mitsuya paused, then chuckled: "Why are you suddenly asking such a philosophical question?"
He turned to face the sea, letting the sea breeze tousle his bangs.
After a moment of silence, his voice came through the sound of the waves: "Regret...of course there is. I couldn't be the same age as her, to experience every moment together, to see the same scenery."
“But it is precisely these missed moments that make our meeting all the more precious.” Mitsuya turned to look at Yukimura, his gaze behind his glasses gentle yet firm:
"The feeling of being moved is never bound by numbers, experience, or age. Just like cherry blossoms are not less beautiful because they bloom late."
In the brief silence, the sound of the waves could be heard.
Yukimura lowered his eyes, his hands clenching tightly at his sides.
Mitsuya's words were like a drop of ink falling into clear water, creating a faint ripple in his eyes.
"You're quite adept at turning regrets into gifts," he chuckled. "But the cherry blossom season... is ultimately too short, isn't it?"
This question seems to be directed at Mitsuya, and also at himself.
Mitsuya's gaze fell on his slightly white knuckles, and suddenly he reached out and placed his palm on the boy's shoulder.
“But cherry blossoms bloom every year, Yukimura.” He pressed down slightly, his voice reassuringly firm. “And as long as someone is willing to wait, there will never be anyone who misses seeing them.”
Yukimura looked up and met a glint of light reflected from his glasses, which seemed to be smiling.
"Besides, if the 'Son of God' dares to defy fate, why wouldn't he dare to fight against a person?"
-
When they changed shifts in the afternoon, Yukimura and Yagyu were assigned to the same group to prepare ingredients for the kitchen.
Vegetables awaiting processing were neatly arranged on the counter. Yukimura stood in front of the counter, the lemon slices almost translucent as he wielded his knife.
"What beautiful knife skills." Yagyu pushed up his glasses, the lenses reflecting a cold light.
He picked up an onion, looked around, his gaze sweeping over the various kitchen utensils hanging on the wall, and then pulled open several drawers one by one, but he didn't see any goggles.
"Looks like I'm going to have to cry today." He sighed softly, picking out a kitchen knife from the knife rack.
"Yagyu, use this." Yukimura picked out a brand-new knife and handed it to Yagyu, a gentle smile on his lips as usual. "Thin-bladed knives are more suitable for handling spicy or irritating ingredients."
Yagyu adjusted his glasses and took the sword: "Thank you."
As the knife fell, the onion was sliced into neat, thin slices, and its pungent aroma instantly filled the air.
Behind the reflective lens, Liu Sheng's eyes were slightly red, but his movements remained elegant, only his breathing rate increased slightly.
Yukimura watched him with interest for a moment before picking up his sword again.
“Yagyu,” he asked softly, “when you met the parents…did Matsuno-kun wear a kimono?”
The tip of the knife paused almost imperceptibly.
“No, it’s a nightgown.” Liu Sheng said calmly, continuing to chop the onions. A single tear slid down his cheek, but he still added calmly, “It’s beautiful, and it suits her very well.”
"I see..."
Yukimura lowered his eyelashes, and the blade made a soft sound as it sliced across the cutting board.
It's perfectly clear from a rational perspective—
This is just a performance. Given Yagyu's personality, asking an acquaintance for help in dealing with his elders is the most reasonable choice.
However, the feeling of tightness on the left side of my chest spread uncontrollably.
Why?
Even though I knew it was fake.
When she chased after him at noon to explain, the anxiety in her eyes seemed genuine. She cared about his thoughts and feelings, which stirred a secret joy within him.
But this was quickly overshadowed by deeper doubts—
If he hadn't happened to be passing by, if he hadn't overheard that conversation...
Will she never mention it? Just like for the past two months, he knew nothing about this "pretending to be a couple".
When she was by Yagyu's side, her eyes and brows were always beaming with a bright smile. She responded easily and even cooperated by making affectionate gestures.
When facing him, she would unconsciously tense her shoulders, and even when their eyes met, she would panic and look away.
Thinking of how she had fled hastily from the balcony last night, Yukimura unconsciously clenched the lemon in his hand. The lemon squeezed out sour juice, but it was nothing compared to the bitterness surging in his heart.
Why only him...?
Yukimura looked down at the lemon he had crushed in his palm and suddenly found it somewhat laughable. He had always been adept at understanding people's hearts, yet he had repeatedly failed in his attempts to grasp her thoughts.
Which one is the real her? What does she really think of him?
The sliding door suddenly made a soft sound.
Risa pushed open the door, carrying a box of vegetables. The overwhelming smell of onions made her wrinkle her nose. When she saw what was in front of her, she froze on the spot—
Liu Sheng is shedding tears.
The ever-composed and elegant Yagyu Hiroshi, who would maintain his gentlemanly demeanor even when frightened by a ghost, was now silently chopping onions, tears streaming down his face.
"Yagyu! Why aren't you wearing goggles?"
Risa put down the suitcase and hurriedly went to the cupboard to rummage for tissues, completely unaware of the sudden darkening of someone's gaze.
Liu Sheng instinctively reached to push up his glasses, but she grabbed his wrist to stop him: "Don't touch it! It'll get spicier the more you rub it!"
As she handed over the tissue, a tall, slender figure suddenly cut in.
Yukimura took the tissue box from Risa, pulled out a tissue, and handed it to Yagyu: "Yagyu isn't feeling well, does he need to rest?"
Her voice remained gentle and soothing, but her arm subtly kept Risa half a step away.
Thank you.
Yagyu paused in taking the tissue. His eyes behind his glasses narrowed slightly, and he suddenly spoke, "Matsuno, about tonight's appointment..."
Risa blinked: "...Huh?"
"Weren't you hesitant about how to bring it up with Yukimura?" Yagyu slowly wiped his eyes, his silver-rimmed glasses reflecting a cold light. "About tonight's festival."
Risa: "When...?!"
(Wait, how did this topic jump to festivals?!)
Yagyu pushed up his glasses: "You've been troubled since lunch break, haven't you? It's better to talk things out face to face."
"Huh?! What nonsense are you talking about, Yagyu?"
Risa's eyes widened, completely unable to keep up with his pace. She had already explained the matter of pretending to be his girlfriend.
Liu Sheng met her confused gaze, a slight smile playing on his lips, and secretly gave her a thumbs-up with his other hand. Then... without hesitation, he turned and walked towards the door.
"I'll go check on the progress at the front desk." Liu Sheng calmly opened the door. "The rest is up to the manager."
Risa: "..." Her pupils dilated in shock.
(Yagyu Hiroshi—You actually betrayed me?!)
Before leaving, Yagyu's glasses flashed, and he said meaningfully, "The captain should know better than me what Matsuno is troubled by, right?"
......
The door closed softly, and the kitchen fell silent.
Risa stiffly turned her head, meeting Yukimura's ambiguous smile.
She was smiling, but her violet-blue eyes were unfathomable.
Risa: How scary QAQ
She's about to break apart, who can save her?
"A festival..." Yukimura said softly, "Is Matsuno-kun planning to go with Hiroshi?"
"How could that be?!" Risa immediately denied it. "I've already said it, he and I are not in that kind of relationship at all!"
"Well..." Yukimura slowly approached, "Who would Matsuno-kun like to invite along?"
Risa: "......"
Such a sensitive question!
I feel like if I answer carelessly, it could turn into a scene from a shoujo manga.
Recalling what Asuka and the others had said last night, Risa closed her eyes, her gaze dimming slightly.
"...I promised to go with Yuzuki." She silently clenched her palms and lied.
Yukimura paused for a second.
"I see." He turned to look at her, his smile gentle. "Mitsutani-senpai just said at noon that he's going to the festival with Iwai-kun tonight."
Risa: "......"
He took a step closer: "Matsuno-kun, you seem to be particularly good at lying to me?"
"W-Where? You must be imagining things." Risa stepped back, her back against the refrigerator.
Is it really that hard for you to be honest with me?
His voice turned somber. Risa's heart sank along with it.
The lemons on the cutting board began to oxidize, their edges turning a bitter brown.
If we're honest, everything will be over. Just like that lemon, it may seem fragrant and tempting, but once cut open, it only lasts a few minutes.
[Isn't it deception for a 25-year-old adult to date a high school student? It's pure emotional manipulation of a minor by an older person.]
The sharp sound, like thorns, pierced my heart and echoed repeatedly in my mind.
My eyes suddenly stung, I don't know if it was from the spiciness of the onions or the emotions churning in my chest.
Risa's vision blurred for a moment, and warm liquid uncontrollably slid down her cheeks. She hurriedly raised her hand to wipe it away.
Yukimura suddenly froze.
“…I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have pressed you.” He picked up the tissue box next to him, pulled out some tissues, and handed them to her.
"Onions sting your eyes, it's none of your business."
Risa took the tissue and wiped her face haphazardly, but the more she wiped, the more tears streamed down her face. She bit her lip, trying to calm her breathing, but the suppressed emotions seemed to have found an outlet, and she couldn't stop them no matter what she did.
Her body trembled, her eyelashes were wet with tears, and strands of hair clung to her cheeks.
Yukimura's throat bobbed slightly. He raised his hand to brush her hair away, but just as his fingertips were about to touch hers, he curled his fingers and withdrew them restrainedly.
"I'm going to wash my face." Risa hurriedly walked past him and rushed out the door as if fleeing.
Yukimura was startled, took a few steps back, and gripped the marble countertop.
"...You messed up again."
His gaze fell on the oxidized lemons on the cutting board. He picked up the lemon with its browned edges, his fingertips tasting the slightly acidic juice.
"You dare to defy fate, yet you dare not contend with a person?"
The senior's question echoed in my ears.
The boy's slender fingers suddenly tightened, and lemon juice dripped through his fingers.
It's not that I'm afraid.
His proximity seemed to be a burden to her.
Like quicksand, the harder you try to hold on, the faster it slips away.
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Author's Note: Before I knew it, my nutrient solution and favorites were almost 2000! I'm truly grateful to everyone! Initially, I was hesitant to write a long story, and after starting, I was constantly monitoring the favorites, feeling extremely anxious. To be honest, when someone first threw a warning, I was somewhat incredulous and even uneasy, worried that what I wrote wouldn't meet expectations… (I'll omit a thousand words of my concerns here).
The fact that I've been able to write this far is all thanks to everyone's unwavering support. The day this book is finally finished will be a huge credit to all of you readers. [kissing emoji] [clasped hands emoji]
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Finally, let me answer a question: Why is Risa conflicted?
It's related to her character design. She has the soul of a rational social being, but frankly, she's still trapped in the memories of her past life without realizing it.
In her past life, she dropped out of high school and entered the workforce, constantly struggling to make ends meet and never having a romantic relationship. She also rarely saw her only relative (her younger brother), and didn't even get to see him one last time. She longed for the warmth of a family, but her family in this life failed to make up for it.
To her, Yukimura was initially just a handsome younger brother. She was terrified after realizing she had developed feelings for him. Previously, as a public figure, she had a very strong sense of morality, and having feelings for a minor was wrong to her. She often fell into self-loathing, especially after the incident with Kiyu.
Furthermore, she worried that Yukimura would hate her after finding out she was a 25-year-old soul, and coupled with her friends' attitudes, she felt even more that she was deceiving him, leading her into self-doubt.
Last but not least, she worried that she would become a burden to Yukimura. She knew Yukimura's obsession with victory and understood his pride as the "Child of God," that he was destined for a wider world. But Risa longed for her other half to be by her side; she had suffered enough of separation in her past life.
So even if they dated, they would break up after graduating high school. Yukimura would pursue a career in professional tennis, possibly going abroad like Tezuka, while she, without family support, would have to work and study simultaneously (a deep-seated Chinese obsession with academic qualifications). Therefore, she would rather suffer herself than cross that line, exhibiting a tendency towards self-sacrifice.
In conclusion, Risa's thoughtfulness, even to the point of "overthinking," as an adult is consistent with her character.
So up to this chapter, Risa has been struggling between "youth" and "maturity." Rationally, she understands the gap between herself and Yukimura, but emotionally, she cannot suppress the urge to get closer to him. She is consciously sinking deeper and deeper into depravity.
The relationship between these two is more like a restrained yet surging mutual unrequited love, a gamble they are destined to lose. They both cautiously test the waters, yet dare not cross the line easily due to their respective concerns.
However, water overflows when it's full! So a new map will be available tomorrow!
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