Chapter 21
The Lilac Gallery is a simple Japanese-style garden with a pond at its center, and the decoration style is quite sophisticated.
The sky was filled with twinkling stars.
The two walked side by side in the courtyard.
Kurosawa Shiranui, still holding the cup of milk tea, asked her seemingly casually, "Sister, who exactly is Arisu-chan?"
“Her brother is Nanase.” Rina carefully looked around at her surroundings, then stopped in her tracks with a strange creaking sound.
"So that's how it is..." Kurosawa Shiran blinked her eyelashes, unable to help but feel a little jealous.
They actually called her Nanase instead of Takizawa.
Generally speaking, people address each other by surname when interacting with strangers or those who are not very familiar with each other, while people address each other by first name when they are closer and more casual, mostly between family members, close friends, and classmates.
But if that were the case, he couldn't help but recall the last time he made her call his name, which made him so angry that he fainted.
Is his name really that disgusting?
"Sister, isn't her name Arisu Kazumi?"
Rina stared at the figures not far away and said, "Her parents divorced when she was born. She took her mother's surname. Later, her mother passed away, and she has been living with Nanase ever since."
Kurosawa Shiran: "Oh."
Rina walked around the pool and looked at the scene before her.
This is a flower shed made of glass.
It was surrounded by a row of exquisite white fences, which were covered with ivy, and the layers of leaves cast dappled light and shadow.
The faint green light flickering inside the greenhouse added an eerie touch to the darkness.
The commotion just now was caused by someone installing a high-pressure water pipe.
One worker was standing below holding a flashlight, while two others, who were perched on a ladder, seemed to have seen something and were somewhat startled.
One of them said, "There's a rat gnawing on that rubber hose, no wonder it's leaking."
Rina pointed out, "The ladder screws are loose."
The worker shone a flashlight on the screw, was startled, and quickly pressed it back in and tightened it with a wrench.
Kurosawa Shiran stood behind her, sniffed lightly, leaned down and whispered in Rina's ear, "Sister, there's a strange smell here."
Indeed, besides the fragrance of roses, there was also the smell of something rotten and decaying buried underground.
Rina turned her face away, trying to avoid eye contact with him, and just stared at his face that was so close to hers.
She opened her mouth, about to say something.
"Rina, it's been a long time!" Masako appeared behind them, holding a wine glass and wearing a sexy bikini.
Rina subtly stepped back to create distance between herself and Kurosawa Shiran, then smiled politely at her, "Long time no see."
“We’ve been classmates for years, and you’ve never come to a single class reunion.” Masako’s hair was still damp, and she was wearing flip-flops with bright red nail polish on her toenails.
Her sexy and hot figure makes it hard to look away.
Rina explained, "I've been too busy with my studies and haven't been able to find the time."
Masako walked over to Rina, put her hand on her shoulder, and glanced at the boy next to her, noticing that he was staring at her hand.
She felt the gaze he was giving her was too direct, and chuckled inwardly. "You're still in school? Sylvia's child is already two years old. Is this your boyfriend?"
Kurosawa Shiran smiled and said, "I am—"
“You’ve misunderstood. He’s my younger brother,” Rina turned her head, her eyes slightly upturned, and a very faint smile appeared on her lips. “Right?”
“..........”
Kurosawa Shiran's expression turned rather unpleasant for a moment, and she didn't speak for the rest of the time.
He just followed behind her with a sullen expression.
Rina calmly looked away and continued, "This is Masako, my high school classmate and class representative."
"Really?" Masako chuckled. "You've been single all this time? I remember you never had a boyfriend in high school."
Rina said sincerely, "I have a boyfriend."
This sentence usually solves many problems, and she likes it very much.
"Oh, it seems this really is the younger brother." Masako crossed her arms and said enthusiastically, "It's a class reunion today, so let's have a drink. This handsome guy, come on over too."
Kurosawa Shiran looked a little aggrieved and refused to speak. Rina hummed in response, pretending not to notice.
“Sakurai Yui and Kirihara Nobunaga,” Masako smiled helplessly, “these two are the main characters today, so you'd better be careful.”
Lina, not knowing much about their situation, became somewhat interested. "What's wrong?"
Masako stopped and decided to explain the situation: "According to Yui, her husband has cheated on her several times. This accident has caused Yui to have a complete emotional breakdown. She's crying so much that her eyes are swollen, and no one can comfort her."
Rina frowned slightly. "Kazumi wouldn't do such a thing."
“Everyone knows she’s just a child, Yui is too sensitive.” Masako sighed. “I also think Yui is a bit strange. Even when I talk to Naoki, she gets angry.”
Rina: "I remember you two always had a good relationship when you were in school."
“Yes, we’re all classmates, and Naoki and I are childhood friends. I wanted to say a few words of advice, but Yui made a scene again, so I went to the swimming pool next door,” Masako took a deep breath, her expression becoming calmer. “Maybe something happened that made her restless. I can’t stand her curiosity and suspicion anymore.”
Rina: "I see."
“They were just talking in the room for a while when Yui went in to deliver fruit and saw them. Then she burst into tears,” Masako said. “You probably don’t know this, but Yui had a crush on Naoki since middle school. Later, they went to the same high school, and Yui finally dared to express her feelings. To be honest, they broke up several times but got back together. Now they’re finally married, have a house and a car, and stable jobs. The flower shed and art gallery were all surprises that Naoki prepared for Yui. How happy she is! Who knows what Naoki was thinking to cheat on her?”
Rina: "We've had this relationship for over ten years, can't we even talk it out?"
Masako shook her head: "Absolutely not, Yui has been drinking alone all the time."
Rina: "Then there's nothing we can do."
"If there's a problem, solve it. If you just stay silent and sulk, you'll only end up hurting yourself," Masako remarked.
Rina: "Let me explain for Kazumi."
Masako said mysteriously, "I think you should be careful."
Rina: "What do you mean?"
Masako said with a mischievous smile, "Yui knows that Naoki liked you in high school."
Kurosawa Shiran felt heartbroken upon hearing this.
Rina said, "I have absolutely no idea."
“It’s not necessary to take feelings for the opposite sex during puberty too seriously,” Masako said, giving Kurosawa Shirani a meaningful look. “However, given that they’ve been married for so many years, Naoki probably won’t take it to heart, but Yui might still hold a grudge.”
Rina: "......"
Masako asked curiously, "Aren't you going to ask Kirihara?"
“Him?” Rina snorted softly, “There’s nothing to ask about him.”
As the two were talking, someone standing at the doorway saw them and said, "Masako, what are you doing? Everyone's been waiting for you!"
"Let's go." Masako led the two into the villa and went to the guest room to change her clothes.
Rina sighed silently, before she could even put on her slippers.
Kirihara Nobunaga was sitting on the sofa when he heard the noise and noticed them. "Oh, who are these people? Rare guests."
Rina smiled politely, then suddenly regretted coming here.
Miyako is here too.
An hour ago, she had promised to take good care of herself in the hospital.
Kirihara Nobunaga raised an eyebrow and asked, "What happened to your hand?"
Rina shrugged and said, "I participated in a boxing match."
"You're really something," Kirihara Nobunaga picked up his wine glass and took a slow sip. "Where have you been working lately?"
Rina: "Just lazing around."
"You're really being modest!" Kirihara Nobunaga said with an incredulous look. "Everyone here is doing pretty well now. Among our classmates, there are doctors, lawyers, and bosses. Yui is an IT engineer at a big company, and there's also a forensic pathologist. What are you up to? Do you need your old classmates to help you out?"
After changing her clothes, Masako came out and walked over to Kurosawa Shiran to explain the situation between the two of them. "He and Rina are mortal enemies. Back in school, because of Rina, Kirihara was always second in the class. In addition to being forced to say goodbye to all his video games, he was also scheduled to attend cram schools every holiday. Every time Rina skipped class, he was the first to report her. Unfortunately, Rina's test scores always crushed his, and he's also a petty person, so that's how their relationship ended."
Kurosawa Shiran glanced at him coldly and contemptuously: "So that's how it is."
Masako, oblivious, laughed and said, "Actually, these two are quite interesting. In their physical fitness tests, one came in last and the other second to last, but they were evenly matched in this one."
Today's class reunion is already halfway through.
After saying goodbye, Rina planned to leave with her group.
Miyako looked at her coldly and asked, "What did the doctor tell you?"
Rina's eyes widened slightly, her expression absent-minded. "What?"
Miyako: "If you don't like what you're saying, just pretend you're deaf and dumb. What's wrong with you?"
Rina: "It might be intermittent deafness."
Miyako raised her chin. "What's he doing here?"
Rina: "Distant cousin."
Miyako frowned, looked at her quietly for a while, and said solemnly, "Rina, don't make a moral mistake."
It was like a huge pot falling from the sky and hitting us. Rina was on the verge of tears: "I really didn't have my cake and eat it too."
She didn't get on a single boat.
Yui stood in the stairwell and secretly observed for a long time before suddenly speaking up: "Rina, it's not easy for everyone to get together, so let's stay a little longer. I've already had the servants prepare guest rooms. If you don't mind, please stay and rest for the night."
Her tone was calm and gentle, completely unlike what Masako had described.
Rina glanced at the clock.
Yui walked up to her and gently took her hand. "Let's play a game together, Truth or Dare. We always have this game when we get together."
Lina felt confused and silently withdrew her hand.
She has a kind of aloofness about her.
Yui knew this, but still smiled slightly: "Kazumi has already gone to sleep, so Rina can stay."
As she spoke, she glanced calmly at Kurosawa Shiran.
“Oh right, stay here. I’ve already prepared everything,” Naoki said, realizing the atmosphere was a bit awkward. “Rina, come join us too. There will be seven of us, which is just right.”
Rina nodded.
Kirihara Nobunaga found the room too quiet, so he turned on the gramophone next to the cabinet, and music started playing automatically.
Everyone sat on the sofa. Naoki breathed a sigh of relief, put the seven number plates into a clean fruit plate, and shuffled them for everyone to choose from.
Yui sat down next to Naoki, opened the mini-program, placed the tablet on the coffee table, and tapped the square box on the screen.
The box crashes around on the screen, explodes, and displays a number while ribbons and stars flash.
Rina drew number seven.
The screen displays number five.
Kirihara Nobunaga smiled and said, "To be on the safe side, I'll choose truth."
“Then I’ll ask you,” Masako said, looking like she was enjoying the drama. “Have you ever been interested in our number one in age?”
“Heh,” Kirihara Nobunaga scratched his hair, sat up straight, and said firmly, “Even if I were struck by lightning, I would never like her. She ruined my childhood.”
Rina: "......"
Everyone burst into laughter, and Naoki laughed so hard he couldn't straighten up. He patted Naoki on the shoulder and said, "I still remember it. On the goal wall at the back of the classroom, everyone else wrote 'goal' on their names, but you wrote 'surpass first place'."
The two of them have always been open and honest with each other, even to the point of life and death, so there's really nothing to suspect.
The atmosphere immediately eased considerably.
Yui tucked a stray hair behind her ear and tapped the screen again.
This time it shows number seven.
Rina squeezed the number tag and said, "I'll choose truth too."
Without hesitation, Yui asked, "Did you ever love Naoki?"
The room was completely silent; no one had expected her to say such things.
Naoki immediately lost face and angrily said, "Yui!"
Why ask such a question? It's something that happened so many years ago, who would care?
Yui remained unmoved, still staring intently at her.
The atmosphere froze again.
Kurosawa Shiran leaned back on the sofa, her legs crossed, her fingers tapping absently on her knees.
With his other hand, he reached around Rina's shoulder, so close that with a slight movement of his fingertips, he could stroke the back of her neck.
He appeared calm and composed, but in reality, he had already ensnared everyone.
Faced with the sudden question, Rina looked up, met her eyes, and smiled gently, "No."
Masako smiled awkwardly and agreed, "Of course, the two of them hardly ever spoke."
This time, before Yui could make a move, Kirihara Nobunaga tapped the screen himself.
As a result, the box spun around several times, but it still showed number seven.
Rina said, "This time I choose dare."
His tone lacked emotion.
Yui said, "Then you should give that man next to you a passionate kiss."
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