Chapter 51
I performed surprisingly well in the final assessment of the training. When the final results were announced, even I didn't expect that I would get the first place in the total score. It was almost without a doubt that I became a member of the school debate team.
The final examination is open and transparent. In addition to the members of the school debate team, many interested students will come to watch.
Senior Fuji also came, but I didn’t expect that he would sit in the position of a member of the debate team.
Only then did I realize that Senior Fuji was also a member of the school team, but he was in his third year, so he didn't participate in many competitions or activities.
She's good at math and English...she's also a great tennis player. She helps out in the kitchen, gardens, and is a regular member of the debate team, helping with manuscript revisions.
Is it true that Senior Fuji is a genius?
So, what exactly is Fuji-senpai not good at?
As I was pondering this, Senior Fuji over there had finished his social small talk. Seeing me staring at him blankly, he asked, "Nana? What are you thinking about?"
After that, he waved in front of me.
I immediately came to my senses, blinked, and blurted out: "I was thinking about you."
Fuji Shusuke:?
The people around were all cheering, looking like they were watching a show and gossiping.
Realizing what I said, I immediately tried to make amends, "No, that's not what I meant! What I meant was, Zhou Zhu, what is it that you're not very good at?"
"If you're not very good at it..."
He touched his chin, thought for a moment and smiled affirmatively.
"Of course I do. After all, I'm not an omnipotent robot..."
"Eh? What is something Shusuke isn't good at?!"
I asked, my eyes full of eagerness to try.
".For example....I'm not very good at being jealous."
Oh yeah, last time he drank a whole bottle of dry juice and remained standing without changing his expression, but after drinking the green vinegar that sank to the bottom, he fell asleep for the entire afternoon... He really isn't very good at being jealous...
but--
"Strictly speaking, this only means that you hate the taste of vinegar on a physiological level. It's just a matter of preference, and has nothing to do with whether you're good at it or not..."
I corrected him seriously.
"So besides being jealous, what else is Zhou Zhu good at?"
As soon as I finished speaking, he suddenly bent down and leaned over. His handsome face was less than two centimeters away from me. It felt like the tip of his nose would touch mine in the next second... For a moment, my brain didn't react at all. I just stared blankly at the ice-blue vortex eyes that suddenly opened.
I just realized that Fuji-san’s eyelashes are also very long and thick, and they feel more beautiful than mine...
So, even the appearance is perfect and flawless?
This is the only thought in my mind at this stage.
"A strand of hair fell down here..."
Seeing me dazed, he chuckled, then reached out to help me tuck a strand of hair that had playfully escaped the leather loop and tucked it behind my ear. Because this felt like a formal final exam, I'd deliberately tied my hair into a high ponytail at the back of my head, trying to project a sophisticated and reliable image. It must have been tied so long that it had become a little loose, causing a few strands to fall out.
He's quite nice and considerate...
However, I finally realized that the distance between us was too ambiguous and suggestive, especially since I felt several gazes of concern at the same time and realized that we were still in the teaching building and there were several seniors from the debate team hanging out in the corridor.
They were already whispering to each other, watching our interaction.
I was feeling a little awkward when he pulled away at the right moment, straightened his back, and brought us back to a normal social distance. He pretended to be casual and asked,
"Nana, are you afraid that they will find out about our relationship?"
I was stunned, then looked up at him. Senior Fuji still had a smirk on his face, but I keenly sensed something unusual in his emotions.
He seemed a little unhappy.
Was it because I was evasive that made him misunderstand?
I didn't care that we were in public, I immediately took his hand and said seriously: "No, I'm not afraid of this..."
Meeting his somewhat surprised gaze, I immediately looked away as if struck by lightning, staring at my feet and whispering, "I'm just worried that others will think that I got into the debate team because..."
Before I could finish, Fuji Shusuke understood and added, "Are you afraid that others will think that it was because of my relationship that you got through the backdoor?"
I nodded. "After all, a guy like me can make it to the debate team. Anyone would have some doubts..."
He suddenly stopped walking and took my hand.
"Nana, that's not the case. The purpose of the debate team is to always use debate and an objective attitude to view everything in the world. This final exam is no different. Personal feelings will not be mixed in... And most importantly, your excellence has been witnessed by everyone just now, and there is no doubt about it."
"Zhou Zhu, I feel embarrassed when you praise me like this..."
He reached out and ruffled my hair, and said seriously, word by word, "Nana, you are really excellent. If you still don't realize this, I will keep saying it until Nana really believes it and you are not embarrassed..."
"You're really, really good! I'm always so happy and proud to be Nana's boyfriend~"
“…I-Is that so…”
I'm sorry, I felt a little embarrassed by the compliment and even started to feel timid.
"Also, if you want me to help Nana through the backdoor... that's a different price~"
I immediately returned to normal, smacked my lips, and complained, "Tsk, what a money-grubbing, stingy bastard!"
However, it took me a while to realize that
"No, Zhou Zhu, are you changing the subject? Aren't we discussing the question of 'what Zhou Zhu is not good at'?"
"Well, this is something Nana has to discover on her own!"
Tsk, so in the end he still didn’t say anything.
It doesn’t matter, I have plenty of patience and time to slowly discover it.
*
So, I started to observe Fuji-senpai's daily life like a pervert.
However, I discovered that this kid's life was surprisingly regular. He would wake up early and train for an hour without fail, then wash up, breakfast, and go to school. After lunch, he would take time to go to the greenhouse to tinker with the flowers and plants to cultivate his sentiments. After school, of course, he would go to the tennis court to practice and compete. Even when he returned home at night, he would find time to read extracurricular books and occasionally draw...
So, he is a true master of time management... How does he manage to balance excellent academics and intensive tennis training while doing so many extra things?
Please, I'm exhausted just from finishing the day's homework and digesting the knowledge!
That would have been fine, but I discovered that he could actually play the piano.
It all started one day when we made an appointment to go home together after school. In a square on the way home, we set up a piano for people to play as street art. We stopped there and watched the performance of the professional pianist for a long time. Then, the pianist began to invite the onlookers to play a four-hand piano duet together.
I was watching the fun, so I didn't notice that Senior Fuji next to me was eager to try, and was successfully invited up by the pianist.
There was sparse applause.
I suddenly realized that the person next to me was gone.
No, how can I be as big as Zhou Zhu?
Then I looked closely and saw that he was sitting in front of the piano...
That’s great, I didn’t lose Senior Fuji!
But, can you really play the piano?!
Then, a melody that was unfamiliar to me, yet which didn't affect my ability to appreciate its complexity and virtuosity, began to play. When the music stopped, Fuji-senpai returned to my side and took my hand, even though I was still in a daze.
"Nana, are you okay?"
He asked with concern.
"...Huh? Zhou Zhu, you really can play the piano?! And you play it so well!?"
It took me a long time to recover my jaw and voice.
By the way, those hands are so slender, I guess they are also good material for playing the piano...
He gave her a faint smile in return. "I learned it when I was a kid. It was quite interesting... Nana, why are you looking at me like that?"
"Zhou Zhu, whenever someone says that no one in this world is perfect,"
I said this in a serious tone, and then the next moment I opened my hands towards him.
"I'll go straight to: Fuji Shusuke!"
“…”
*
But what exactly is Fuji-senpai not good at?
I continued to think about this question and tried to find the answer in my daily interactions.
*
Until one Saturday—I came to watch the seniors' match. Whether they could successfully advance to the national tournament depended on the outcome of this match, so it was very important. For most of them, this national tournament might very well be their last. According to Senior Fuji, several of them had no aspirations of becoming professional tennis players, so after entering college, they probably wouldn't have the opportunity to play together again.
So everyone cherishes this opportunity even more.
Of course I won't miss such an important occasion.
Although I still don’t quite understand tennis matches.
But you also feel very excited for no reason?
I was greatly encouraged and immediately took out my wrong math questions, feeling that I could still tackle another twenty.
Then at the eleventh question, the game was over.
Seigaku won and secured a ticket to this year's national competition.
All of a sudden, cheers and applause broke out on the court. I subconsciously looked up and saw the young men in blue and white sportswear. Although they were all sweating profusely, they strangely displayed great and vigorous vitality.
Is this the hot-blooded male high school student?
I look like a Five...
A group of them came in a bustling crowd, and for some reason Echizen Ryoma was surrounded by them, as if they were discussing something eagerly.
As they approached, the conversation gradually became clearer.
"Little one, you too, are going back to America without a word. This really caught us off guard... But if you try to escape the national competition at this critical moment, I won't let you go!"
"Senior, I've been told not to rely on me anymore. You're really heavy... Don't worry, I'll finish the national tournament and win the championship before leaving..."
"So, before Echizen leaves, let's have a fight!"
…
As the boy spoke, he pressed down the brim of his hat, and when he looked up, he met the girl's eyes.
Confused, shocked, and with some inexplicable resentment and sadness.
Nana?
Echizen Ryoma...is going back to the United States?
And it seems that everyone knows about this... except me...
So, have I been excluded from Longma's circle of friends?
Thinking of this, my eyes instantly turned red, and I happened to meet the boy's clear eyes. He seemed to have noticed something and walked towards me.
I turned around and ran away, as if I was running away.
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