·61｜Exclusive to Jinjiang·61
Can we meet again?
Matsuda Jinpei sat in the confectionery shop with a sour face, opposite him was Raikawa Yomi, whose nose was red and who had just finished crying.
“Hey,” Matsuda Jinpei frowned, “finish eating and then hurry back to class.”
Although Matsuda Jinpei possesses a handsome face that could easily outshine many male stars, his terrible temper and intimidating aura mean he could even scare away his colleagues at the Metropolitan Police Department in the future. While his aura isn't fully developed yet, it's more than enough to intimidate Yomi Raikawa.
"Alas!?"
Lai Chuan Huang Quan was startled, shrank his shoulders, and his eyes reddened again.
"Jinpei," Hagiwara Kenji said with a helpless smile, raising his hand to give Matsuda Jinpei an elbow strike, "Don't scare Raikawa-neechan."
"ha?"
Matsuda Jinpei raised an eyebrow, intending to reprimand someone. But seeing Yomi Yorikawa huddled in the corner looking pitiful, he hesitated for a moment and chose to remain silent.
Matsuda Jinpei still remembers how he scared Yomi Yorikawa to tears an hour ago.
He was merely invited to the professor's office for a cup of tea, and when he came out, a little girl had sprouted on his childhood friend's back.
The little girl on Kenji Hagiwara's back had bright red knees, with beads of blood trickling down her calves from the wounds. Her eyes were red as she smiled through her tears, clearly having just cried, and cried terribly at that.
But what caught Matsuda Jinpei's attention the most was Yomi Yorikawa's school uniform.
"Hey Hagi, what's with you carrying this girl on your back? It's still high school class time, isn't it?"
He emerged from the shade of the tree with his hands in his pockets and a cigarette that had just been lit in his mouth.
Matsuda Jinpei, his face dark, slowly closed the distance between them. The little girl clinging to Hagiwara Kenji's back was so frightened that she tightened her grip on Hagiwara Kenji's shoulders. Her almond-shaped eyes were wide with fear.
The next second, Lai Chuan Huang Quan looked as aggrieved as a little puppy that had been kicked on the side of the road, and he started to sob softly and shed tears.
Matsuda Jinpei: ?
Hagihara Kenji:…
Kenji Hagiwara sighed helplessly: "Jinpei, can't you tone down your villainous face? You really look like a street thug trying to harass a high school girl."
Then came a flurry of frantic attempts to appease the person.
Fortunately, Yomi Laichuan was more obedient and easier to coax than expected. In just a few words, she stopped crying, frowned, and quietly apologized to Jinpei Matsuda.
The recollection ended, and Matsuda Jinpei glanced at the little girl in front of him, who had once again been frightened by him, feeling extremely annoyed. He muttered a soft "tsk," silently turning his gaze away and refusing to speak further.
Fortunately, there was a good teammate in Hagiwara Kenji, who managed to get the whole story out of Raikawa Yomi in just half an hour.
The little girl, her eyes red-rimmed, sobbed as she slowly recounted her family affairs, adding a few complaints about her unreliable, stinky old man. Matsuda Jinpei, however, suddenly remembered his alcoholic father.
He was also abandoned and ignored by his father.
But at least Matsuda Jinpei had the uncles at the boxing gym to take care of him, and a few years later, with the encouragement of his friends, he cheered himself up quite a bit. Although he couldn't regain the spiritedness he had when he was a boxing champion, at least he no longer drank himself into a stupor every day.
Lai Chuan Huang Quan was different. After her parents divorced, she was truly all alone, with only her shadow for company.
A thousand thoughts surged within him, his voice trembled, and Matsuda Jinpei wanted to say something. His tongue trembled again and again, but in the end, he swallowed back the words of comfort.
Matsuda Jinpei rested his chin on his hand, staring sullenly at the little girl in front of him who had already finished her mille-feuille cake. He frowned and thought for a moment, then pushed the untouched sea salt cake in front of him toward Raikawa Yomi.
As Yomi Laichuan stared at him with her large, questioning eyes, Matsuda Jinpei cleared his throat and said, "Eat."
At this point, Matsuda Jinpei abandoned his idea of sending Yomi Yorikawa back to class.
Indulging yourself for a day now and then isn't a big deal.
As for Kenji Hagiwara, he knew from the beginning that Yomi Raikawa would definitely not go back to class today. Trying to persuade her would only make the girl in front of them abandon them and run away.
Lai Chuan Huang Quan was clearly a well-protected young girl; her thoughts were written all over her face, and she wasn't wary of those around her—she was completely naive. Rather than letting her run around, it was better to take her along to play; at least it would be safer.
So the future ace of the mobile unit changed his plans at the last minute and canceled the car repair shop. After eating the cake, Kenji Hagiwara bought three tickets and chose to take Yomi Raikawa to Doropica Park.
This was the most enjoyable amusement park trip I've ever had in Yomichi.
Mr. Raikawa never took Yomi Raikawa out, let alone to an amusement park. Mrs. Raikawa did take Yomi Raikawa a few times, but many rides at the amusement park were off-limits to those under 16.
But just two months before Yoruichi Yosen was about to turn 16, Yoruichi's wife immigrated to the United States.
The only warmth vanished completely from the world of Yorikawa's underworld.
Lai Chuan Huang Quan had almost forgotten when was the last time he ran and laughed at Doropica Park.
...
The knees had already been treated with medicine, and when she bent her knees, the muscles pulled on the skin, causing a slight stinging pain. But Lai Chuan Huang Quan was like an animal that had been caged for many years, and was excited to be unchained for the first time, so he ran wildly in the amusement park.
Yomi Yorikawa wasn't tall, but she was incredibly agile, disappearing into the vast crowd in a flash. Today was Wednesday, and the amusement park was busier than usual, but Dorobiga Land was one of the largest amusement parks in all of Japan.
Even a starved camel is bigger than a horse; how few people can there really be?
So Kenji Hagiwara and Jinpei Matsuda had to crane their necks and look around, ready to pull Yomi Yorikawa back from the brink of disappearance at any moment.
When Matsuda Jinpei lost Yomi Raikawa for the fourth time, he was practically going crazy with anger. When he found Yomi Raikawa in front of a row of claw machines, she was operating the red remote control, her face almost pressed against the glass cabinet.
The metal claws, which had been manually adjusted by the staff, suddenly released, and the round, plush toy fell with a thud near the outlet. Lai Chuan Huang Quan frowned and was about to let out a regretful sigh when someone tapped him on the head.
Matsuda Jinpei stood behind Raikawa Yomi with his arms crossed, gritting his teeth as he said, word by word, "You bastard!"
As they were talking, Kenji Hagiwara came over carrying four balloons: "Raikawa, look, I bought you so many balloons~"
He smiled brightly, stuffed one balloon into Lai Chuan Huang Quan's hand, and tied the other three to the back of Lai Chuan Huang Quan's collar: "All done."
Lai Chuan Huang Quan blinked and tilted his head, his round almond-shaped eyes looking innocent and confused, completely unaware of Hagiwara Kenji's true intentions.
Matsuda Jinpei saw through Hagiwara Kenji's true intentions at a glance. He chuckled and didn't expose him. He even wondered if having more balloons would be enough to lift Raikawa Yomi into the sky, like a little puppy being pulled up by balloons.
The helium balloon swayed in the wind, and Kenji Hagiwara smiled as he leaned against the claw machine: "Which one do you want? Let's grab them together."
"This one!" Lai Chuan Huang Quan pointed through the glass to a chubby, round, white plush puppy. "This one's so clumsy! I've tried to catch it eight times and still haven't succeeded!"
Kenji Hagiwara glanced at the white puppy that looked easy to pet, wiggled his fingers a couple of times, and gave a childlike smile: "Okay, watch me."
In their younger days, Hagiwara Kenji frequented various arcades, breaking all the machine records with his nimble fingers and quick reflexes. However, even with the claw's grip adjusted by the staff, Hagiwara Kenji managed to snatch the white puppy into the dispenser on his first try, under the bright, adoring gaze of Yomi Raikawa.
The little white dog stuffed with cotton felt even more comfortable to hug than it looked. Lai Chuan Huang Quan buried his head in the white dog's body and kept rubbing against it, with a bright smile on his face, and a string of pink bubbles appeared around him.
Clutching a doll in one hand and a balloon in the other, she was engrossed in rubbing against the crowd when her attention was suddenly drawn to the aroma of dumplings carried by the monsoon wind. She stood on tiptoe, looked around briefly, and then disappeared back into the crowd in a flash.
This time, Hagi and Matsu didn't rush to find anyone. They simply put their hands in their pockets and slowly approached the bunch of balloons swaying above the crowd.
Yes, the balloon that Kenji Hagiwara tied to Yomi Raikawa's collar was for identification. Like a tour guide waving a small flag, it effectively prevents people from getting separated. He specifically bought four at once so that Yomi Raikawa would stand out among the girls and children holding balloons and be easily recognizable.
"Honestly," Matsuda Jinpei couldn't help but complain, "all he does is run around aimlessly."
"What does it matter?" Kenji Hagiwara shrugged, not too concerned. "You can tell she's been holding it in for too long."
If the accumulated pressure is not released, Lai Chuan Huang Quan's taut nerves will eventually snap.
Matsuda Jinpei raised his hand and rubbed his curly hair: "I know, after all, I've had a similar experience." But at least he met the Hagiwara family, and he also had uncles at the boxing gym who loved and took care of him.
The thought of Yomi Raikawa facing an empty room alone since she was twelve years old, forever alone, made Matsuda Jinpei feel a tightness in his chest, unable to tell whether it was heartache or the stirring of unpleasant memories.
He lowered his gaze, then sighed in resignation, "I'll go buy ice cream."
Kenji Hagiwara: "Ice cream might not be an option, as Raikawa is on her period these days."
Matsuda Jinpei: ?
Matsuda Jinpei's expression was subtle and puzzled: "How did you know?"
“Ahem, Lai Chuan told me,” Hagiwara Kenji coughed lightly, his Adam’s apple bobbing, and subtly turned his head to the side to hide his reddened ear tips. “You go buy drinks, I’ll go buy cotton candy. Once we’re done, go find Lai Chuan.”
After saying that, he turned and left as if fleeing, his pace quickening as if he wanted to run.
Matsuda Jinpei frowned as he watched Hagiwara Kenji disappear into the crowd, then tilted his head and slowly squeezed out a question mark.
But he didn't ask any more questions. He turned around, bought a drink, and then followed the bunch of balloons floating in the air to find Raikawa Yomi, who was throwing darts at a disc.
Although it was Lai Chuan Huang Quan's first time playing, she was surprisingly talented. When she hit the bullseye for the third time, Matsuda Jinpei raised his eyebrows and showed an appreciative expression.
Matsuda Jinpei leaned against the side and watched for a while, then put down the bottled drink in his bag, rolled up his sleeves, and eagerly asked, "Want to have a match with me?"
Lai Chuan Huang Quan, hands on hips and chest puffed out, exclaimed, "Okay!"
When Kenji Hagiwara returned with a pink bunny-eared marshmallow, a crowd had already gathered around the darts. Jinpei Matsuda's shots were consistently hitting the bullseye, drawing gasps of amazement. Yomi Raikawa was also gradually stabilizing, hitting the bullseye eight out of ten times.
The two players were neck and neck in the score, but the gap gradually widened.
As he threw the final dart, Matsuda Jinpei glanced at Yomi Raikawa, who was holding her breath in tension beside him. He gave a haughty but not arrogant smile, and the dart flew from his well-defined fingers, hitting the bullseye perfectly.
"Another bullseye!!"
"Dude, you're awesome!"
Amidst the exclamations of praise, Yomi Lai Chuan pouted, a look of regret on her face. Although she knew the outcome was already decided, she did indeed harbor a sliver of hope, fantasizing that perhaps Jinpei Matsuda would underperform.
Matsuda Jinpei picked up the prize handed to him by the boss and looked at Raikawa Yomi, who had lost to him, with a smug look on his face: "How about that?"
His eyes sparkled with a brilliant light, and he was full of energy.
Matsuda Jinpei thought that Yomi Yorikawa would look either full of admiration or resentment, just like the male classmates who had lost to him in the past.
...As a result, the little girl's attention had already been drawn away by Kenji Hagiwara.
Lai Chuan Huang Quan held a toy dog in one arm and a cotton candy in the other, with a balloon tied to her wrist. She happily bit off half of a rabbit ear, her eyes curving into crescent moons with laughter.
Kenji Hagiwara: "How was it?"
Lai Chuan Huang Quan: "Delicious! Sweet and delicious!"
Kenji Hagiwara smiled and said, "Want to ride a roller coaster?"
Lai Chuan Huang Quan: "Okay~!"
The two sang in harmony, while Matsuda Jinpei was forgotten in a deserted corner.
Matsuda Jinpei: "..."
He not only didn't experience any sense of victory, but also felt like a dog sleeping on the side of the road who was suddenly kicked.
With a sigh, Matsuda Jinpei ruffled his curly hair. He then silently followed, carrying a drink in one hand and a half-person-tall teddy bear as his prize in the other.
Both Matsuda and Hagiwara were well past the age of being interested in amusement parks. But many of the age-restricted rides were new experiences for Yomi Raikawa, and she raised her hands high, her excitement making countless little stars light up in the background.
Countless red threads intertwined and linked the three together, and joyful emotions flowed from Raikawa Yomi to Hagi and Matsu through their smiles. Even though they had played this game countless times before, they couldn't help but get excited, feeling a unique sense of novelty.
Lai Chuan Huang Quan pointed ahead: "The Big Pendulum Clock! Let's go play on the Big Pendulum Clock!"
Kenji Hagiwara was taken aback: "Huh? But is it okay?" He had been screaming in terror when he rode the roller coaster earlier.
Lai Chuan Huang Quan patted his chest confidently: "Absolutely no problem!"
The result was another screaming session, high-pitched all the way to the end.
When Lai Chuan Huang Quan got off the giant swing, her legs were weak and she could barely stand. Her face was flushed, and she held onto the flower bed, trying to catch her breath.
Even after riding the giant swing ten times, Matsuda Jinpei remained unfazed, arms crossed, raising an eyebrow and scoffing: "Little coward."
Hearing this, Raikawa Yomi glared angrily at Matsuda Jinpei, puffing out her cheeks and muttering under her breath, "Mind your own business..."
But Matsuda Jinpei just shrugged and smiled provocatively.
“Let’s go see the fireworks,” Kenji Hagiwara said, taking two steps forward and hooking his arm around Jinpei Matsuda’s neck. He then turned to look at Yomi Raikawa, who was shorter than them, with a smile. “If we’re any later, we won’t be able to get a good spot.”
Dorothea Land sets off fireworks every night at 8 p.m., illuminating half the sky. They arrived a little late and didn't get a great spot, but it wasn't too bad either.
The sky exploded with colorful flowers, dazzling and radiant. Lai Chuan Huang Quan, clutching a cotton candy, squeezed between Hagi and Matsu, gazing intently at the sky, unwilling to even blink. The flickering light illuminated her softly shaped face, making her almond-shaped eyes shine like stars in the dark night.
Lai Chuan Huang Quan strained to stand on tiptoe, as if that would bring him closer to the sky.
Get closer to what she desires.
Something that can warm people's hearts and bring them genuine happiness.
Fireworks continued to flash, and under the cover of night, Lai Chuan Huang Quan quietly glanced at the two Tokyo University students who were trying to shield her from the surging crowd beside her. The fireworks and golden streetlights cast a warm, soft glow on their faces; they were backlit, yet they shone brightly in Lai Chuan Huang Quan's eyes.
As they parted, Raikawa Yomi slowly walked away, carrying two plush toys, one large and one small, under the watchful eyes of the two men.
She walked slower and slower until she stopped.
A summer breeze ruffled his hair, stirring up a sweltering heat. Lai Chuan Huang Quan stood silently at the crossroads.
She lowered her gaze, her heart sinking slowly.
Pedestrians passed by Lai Chuan Huang Quan in twos and threes, the flow of people was hurried, but she was all alone.
Lai Chuan Huang Quan took a deep breath, then flashed a bright smile, turning to look a few steps behind him: "Next time, can I come to see you again?"
Behind the smile lies a cautious probing, a hand that tries to reach out and then withdraws.
Lai Chuan Huang Quan thought to himself, "What a coward I am."
Her expectant gaze fell upon them; she was so nervous that she even forgot to breathe.
The few seconds of silence between Hagi and Matsu felt like an eternity to Yomi Raikawa; her heart was pounding in her throat, and her eyes were sore from the shock.
Lai Chuan Huang Quan pursed his lips, about to bow and apologize, saying that everything was his fault for being so abrupt.
Kenji Hagiwara spoke.
“Okay,” Kenji Hagiwara chuckled softly, his voice gentle and sweet, captivating all who heard it. “If you attend classes well this week, I’ll take you to the aquarium this weekend.”
He stepped forward and met Lai Chuan Huang Quan's gaze, gentle yet earnest: "Would you like to exchange phone numbers? We'll pick you up this weekend."
[Author's Note]
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