Chapter 69 Kitchen
The cold wave in December swept through the streets and alleys of Tokyo with great force. Overnight, Tokyo welcomed the first snow of the year. The bright white snowflakes fell from the lead-gray clouds, and in an instant, the distant mountains and forests and the nearby high-rise buildings were all white.
The entire senior year was in the final sprint due to the upcoming graduation. Even though Christmas and spring breaks lasted for half a month, no one dared to relax at all. Every day during dinner, Kikumaru could be heard complaining about not having any free time.
In order to better prepare for the entrance examination in two months, we are preparing to hold a small remedial meeting.
"How about setting the location at Tezuka's house?" Gan adjusted his glasses and looked at Tezuka, and everyone else also looked over there.
"I have no objection." Tezuka put down his chopsticks and nodded slightly.
"Then it'll be this weekend, which happens to be Christmas Eve," Gan stared at his notebook. "The people who will be taking the tutorial this time include all the third-year students, as well as the second-year students Momoshiro, Haitang, Yuan, and Fengjian."
"We want it too?" Taocheng pointed at himself.
"hiss."
Gan glanced up at him and said, "Of course."
Taocheng wailed, "No way—we're only in the second grade."
"Atao, there's no harm in feeling the intense pressure of third grade in advance," Dashi said earnestly. "After all, you'll be entering third grade in a few months."
The others nodded.
"I have no objection." Yuan raised his hand hurriedly.
"You and Senior Gan are in the same group, so of course you want to be together."
"Momoshiro—" Yuan pressed his fists together until they crackled, and then he attacked him, "If you keep talking nonsense, you're done."
Gan was still writing and drawing in his notebook calmly, not affected at all by the two people playing around next to him.
"Where's Kazama? Do you want to come with us?" Fuji looked at her with a smile.
Kazama subconsciously looked towards Tezuka, but unexpectedly met his gaze. He immediately turned his face away guiltily. Before he could speak, Minamoto spoke first, "April will definitely go. She wants to go very much... mmm."
Feng Jian quickly covered up the rest of her words and gave Yuan a look that said if he dared to say anything, she would kill him. Then she quickly packed up the plates, grabbed Yuan and ran away.
The boys who were sitting there could still hear the girl's voice from a distance.
"See you that day, seniors."
"Was Kazama blushing just now?" Momoshiro looked at the two people who quickly disappeared through the cafeteria door in amazement.
"The weekend cram school session is really something to look forward to." Bu Er held his chin with his hand and smiled with his eyes narrowed.
——
Because he ran too fast that day, Kazama had no idea how to get to Tezuka's house. He had to call Gen in the early morning of Christmas Eve, but unexpectedly he couldn't get through to anyone. So he had to call Momoshiro for help, but he didn't expect that someone else answered the phone.
"Kazama."
A deep voice like a cello came from the other end of the phone.
It's Tezuka.
Feng Jian was stunned. The other party's voice continued to come, "Momoshiro is outside. I answered the phone for him. What happened?"
"Um," looking at the many identical crossroads in front of him, Fengjian's voice gradually weakened, "I don't seem to know where Tezuka-senpai's house is..."
There was silence for a few seconds before a voice came from the other side, "Where are you now?"
"Ichimachi Hanazono Subway Station, Exit C."
The noisy background sound followed him like a shadow, mixed with the sound of talking and moving tables and chairs. After a few seconds, Tezuka's voice came again, "Kazama, stand there and don't move. I'll go find you now."
"good."
A cold wind as cold as a knife whistled through the subway station entrance, and the white mist turned into frost, rising up in wisps and forming a long milky white river that flowed into the distance.
Fengjian put the phone in his pocket, rubbed his palms, buried his face in the scarf, and exhaled a breath of white air.
The sound of footsteps came from far away, accompanied by the cool fragrance of soapberries blowing towards me, and a faint shadow spread at my feet.
When she looked up, she saw the young man standing at the bottom of the stairs. His off-white windbreaker was blown open by the wind, revealing a white knitted sweater. He looked like he had just finished a run, his chest rising and falling slightly, and the frost in his brown eyes slowly melted when he saw her.
"Let's go."
Fengjian took a few quick steps and walked side by side with him.
"Let me bring it up."
She turned her head and followed his gaze only to find that his eyes were fixed on the small black handbag in her left hand.
"It's not heavy actually... Then senior, let me carry the umbrella."
Feng Jian clenched the pure black umbrella in his hand and whispered, "Actually, I prepared orange egg tarts for everyone. Last time I went to the library, I saw that Tezuka-senpai seemed to like it very much, so I tried it last night. I can only say that it was so-so."
Tezuka was slightly startled and gave her a slight nod, "Thank you, the thought is more important than anything else."
Feng Jian's eyes lit up slightly, as if he suddenly opened up and said, "Speaking of feelings, I heard that giving apples on Christmas Eve is also a way to show your feelings."
"Before we left, Sister Ling asked me to bring you some big apples. They're all newly imported Fuji apples. I secretly tasted them right after they arrived. They're super sweet."
Tezuka pursed his lips slightly, "Thank your mother for me."
"By the way, Sister Ling asked me last time if we, the seniors, wanted to get together at her house after graduation. She said she couldn't wait to show off her skills."
Facing Kazama's expectant look, Tezuka nodded slightly, "If there's a chance in the future, we're also looking forward to it."
"But, is Kazama an only child?"
"Yeah, that's why I was so envious of having a brother or sister when I was little. And President Tezuka, is he also an only child?"
Tezuka shook his head slightly, "I have a younger sister who's in elementary school."
"It must be very happy to be Tezuka-san's younger sister." Although I was surprised at how such a strict and meticulous boy would take care of his younger sister, but considering that he was cold on the outside but warm on the inside, he must be very good.
Tezuka burst out laughing and was about to say something when Kazama's exclamation interrupted him.
"Ah, Tezuka-senpai."
"Um."
She looked up at the sky and said softly, "It's snowing."
Tezuka looked up, "Yeah."
Kazama opened the umbrella and held it above Tezuka's head. The two of them left two identical rows of footsteps on the snow-covered street, winding side by side towards the distance.
——
As soon as I opened the door, Taocheng's noisy voice pierced my eardrums.
"Kazama, you and Tezuka-senpai seem to be wearing matching outfits!"
Several pairs of eyes in the living room shot over at the same time. Kazama subconsciously looked down at the off-white fleece sweater he was wearing today, then at the off-white coat Tezuka was wearing, and suddenly choked.
She clenched her hands in her sleeves and glanced at Tezuka guiltily.
The heating in the house was turned on full blast, and the snow on the soles of her shoes slowly melted. Tezuka had already taken off his coat and hung it on the coat rack. He turned around and handed her a pair of new fur shoes with the labels still on. His face was calm, as if he was completely unaffected by the words just now.
"Momoshiro, do you want to have a girlfriend? That's why everyone looks like they're wearing couple outfits." Yuan punched the man on the forehead without any hesitation, turned around and ran over to pull Fengjian in.
"Peach City."
Tezuka then looked at Momoshiro, who immediately sat up straight. He adjusted his glasses and said a few words expressionlessly, "Do an extra set of math papers today."
"No way..."
Taocheng held his head and wailed.
Everyone in the living room burst into laughter, with You Suyuan's voice being the loudest.
Tezuka's parents went out to celebrate Christmas Eve, leaving only Tezuka and his sister at home. The living room was so quiet that the only sounds could be heard: the rustling sound of pens hitting paper, and the sound of Momoshiro scratching his scalp.
Feng Jian moved the book in front of him down a few centimeters, his eyes fell on where Tao Cheng was sitting, and he secretly complained in his heart: Is it possible that snowflakes are flying all over that place?
Before I could finish my inner complaints, Tezuka pointed it out: "Don't look around when you're taking the test."
Kazama rubbed his nose and lowered his head obediently.
The whole morning was spent in non-stop studying for exams. Momoshiro collapsed on the sofa and kept complaining about being tired; Gen kicked his calf lightly and complained that he took up most of the space; Fuji and Oishi sat together playing Go, while Kikumaru and others gathered around to cheer them on; Kaido wanted to go to the kitchen to help, but was ignored by the others and sat down obediently.
Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Tezuka enter the kitchen, and Kazama quickly stood up and followed him in.
As soon as the two figures disappeared, the living room exploded. Everyone tiptoed close to the kitchen wall, their heads pressed against the crack of the door like a pyramid, eavesdropping.
Until a doubtful voice exploded behind him.
"What are you doing?"
Like a cat with its tail stepped on, everyone jumped up in surprise, one stepping on the other, until someone finally pushed the kitchen door open. Figures snowballed in, mingling with Taocheng's wails.
There was a dead silence inside and outside the door, as if the pause button had been pressed.
All I could see was Kazama's turned back and Tezuka's reflective lenses.
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