A fierce flame burned in He Ye's light green eyes. She was determined to win this match, for everyone's sake, and even more so for Nan!
"Nan, I will definitely win!"
The girl's tone was firm and full of determination.
"Yes, I believe you. Here, have a sweet filling to replenish your energy." Yu Sheng Nan handed over another pastry.
"Awoo~" Kazuha took a bite.
Everyone sat together, enjoying a delicious late-night snack and chatting in a relaxed and pleasant atmosphere. The room was filled with a happy ambiance that made people reluctant to leave.
After finishing her late-night snack, the energetic girl, who had been slightly tired, was fully recharged and full of energy.
If I say I'll sleep after winning once, then I'll sleep after winning once!
Time slipped away unnoticed, and only the sound of the tape recorder reading the cards and the crisp sounds of cards being drawn remained in the room.
Ai and the others couldn't hold on any longer and one by one lay down on the tatami mats in the room to fall asleep, leaving only Yuusuke sitting quietly beside the two of them.
"My heart is filled with sorrow and bitterness; my life has been filled with ups and downs."
As soon as the recording ended, Kazuha swiftly made her move, her fingers landing precisely on the song card that read, "In this turbulent world, tears fall like pearls in vain."
At almost the same time, Ikeba Shizuka also reached out her hand.
Just as their fingers were about to touch the karuta card, Kazuha suddenly exerted force and knocked the karuta card away at an extremely fast speed.
"Smack!"
The song card flew out and hit a wooden box next to it.
Kazuha was stunned for a moment, then realized what she meant: "I won!"
As soon as she finished speaking, her tense nerves instantly relaxed, and she fell down uncontrollably. Fortunately, Yuzuru Nan was prepared and flashed over to catch her in the first instant.
"Nan, I won..."
Kazuha murmured something and then fell into a deep sleep.
Yuzuru held Kazuha in his arms, looking at her tired but satisfied sleeping face. He carefully carried her into the cubicle, placed her next to Ran and Sonoko, and then picked up a blanket and gently covered her with it.
At this moment, the room was completely silent.
On the tatami mat, Ran, Sonoko, Kazuha, Ai, and Akemi, five girls, lay side by side, fast asleep, their breathing steady and even.
Seeing this, Chibo Jinghua said softly, "Xiaonan, it's getting late, you should get some rest too."
As she spoke, she got up to go back to her bedroom on the second floor.
But Yuzuru Hanyu was one step ahead of her.
Clutching the blanket, he slid out of the cubicle on his knees, lay down beside her legs, covered himself with the blanket, leaving only his head sticking out.
That's one of the advantages of tatami mats in Japan.
It can be used not only for sleeping, but also as flooring in the living room, study or tea room. During the day, a low table can be placed on it for daily activities.
"Master, it's so late, don't go all the way to the bedroom."
Yuzuru blinked and said with an innocent look on his face.
Ikenami Shizuka: "......"
Why does it seem like such a long way to go just to the second floor?
Before she could speak, Yu Shengnan blinked his eyes, pressed his head against her thigh, and began to whine, "Master~ You haven't slept with your disciple yet, let's sleep together tonight!"
His soft, sweet voice, coupled with his pitiful expression, made it truly hard to refuse.
Ikeba Shizuka fell silent again.
What do you mean by "never slept together"? Does that mean we can just sleep together casually?
But seeing her clumsy apprentice's pleading eyes, the softest part of her heart was touched, her maternal instincts were instantly awakened, and she softened once again.
She didn't say anything, but her movement of sitting up to leave was quietly canceled at that moment.
"Thank you, Master! You're the best!"
"Go to sleep."
Yuzuru closed his eyes contentedly, inhaling the faint fragrance emanating from beside him.
Plans are in place!
He waited so late not only to keep He Ye company, but also for this very moment.
People are susceptible to the broken window effect.
If you were to suggest sleeping together in her bedroom, she would definitely not agree unless you used that precious "not unreasonable little request." But if you were to sleep together on the tatami mat...
Then the situation immediately changed.
As the night deepened and all was quiet, the entire mansion was enveloped in the stillness of the night, with only the occasional faint chirping of insects adding a touch of life to the tranquil atmosphere.
Only a dim, yellowish light remained in the room.
Wearing simple and elegant home clothes, Shizuka Ikebab knelt on the tatami mat. Her ink-black hair was casually tied back, with a few strands falling beside her cheeks, making her look lazy and charming.
She held a book in one hand and gently stroked the black hair of the boy beside her with the other.
Her movements were very gentle, as if she were coaxing a young child to sleep.
After an unknown amount of time, Ikeba Shizuka still couldn't fall asleep.
She put down the book in her hand, looked down at the boy's sleeping face with a hint of triumphant smile, her thoughts were in turmoil. His beautiful eyes, which had been confused at first, gradually brightened and then softened, like a tranquil lake.
How could she not know what wicked scheme her foolish apprentice was plotting?
But strangely enough, she just couldn't resist the boy's affection.
Every time Yuzuru Hanyu gets close, a strange feeling stirs within her. Rather than saying she can't resist it, it's more accurate to say that she doesn't want to resist it from the bottom of her heart.
Perhaps this is fate!
Shizuka Ikenami recalled the fortune she drew at the Hotei Shrine in Namba.
That was the first time in my life I had ever drawn a fortune stick, because of family discord.
It was also the first time I had met my clumsy apprentice.
She simply thought the boy was good-looking and had a gentle temperament, giving people a feeling of warmth and comfort. She never imagined that this boy would form such a close and inseparable bond with her in the future.
"The flowers fall helplessly, but the swallows return as if we've met before."
At the time, she simply laughed off the fortune slip, but now, in retrospect, it seems like a foreshadowing of fate.
Is this the most effective shrine for fortune telling in Osaka?
It certainly lives up to its name.
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