Let's go home together
The setting sun bathed the clock tower of Yumenosaki Academy in a golden glow, and the school bell echoed through the campus. Kokoro stood at the music room door, her fingers unconsciously twisting the strap of her backpack, her eyes glancing frequently towards the end of the corridor. Since Eichi discovered her secret as a time traveler, their relationship had grown even closer, and spending time together after school each day had become Kokoro's most anticipated time.
"Xinyu, have you been waiting long?" Yingzhi's voice came from behind, tinged with apology. He was wearing a beige knitted cardigan today, which made his already fair skin look even softer, and the student council badge on his left chest shone brightly in the sunset.
"N-no, I just arrived." Xinyu turned around hurriedly, her cheeks slightly flushed with nervousness. Yingzhi gently took her hand and pulled her to his side: "Let's go. Let's go to the path behind the mountain today; the maple leaves there should be red by now."
The two walked side by side along the tree-lined path on campus, the fallen leaves rustling under their feet. Yingzhi noticed that Xinyu was unusually quiet today, so she softly asked, "Still thinking about the diary?"
Xinyu nodded, her fingers unconsciously stroking the old diary in her schoolbag: "I always feel like an outsider, not belonging here or to Hoshino."
Yingzhi stopped and turned to face Xinyu, his eyes filled with tenderness: "Xinyu, you don't need to choose a place to belong. You are you, the bridge connecting two worlds." He gently embraced Xinyu. "And, I'm here."
Continuing on, they came to a path behind the mountain. The maple leaves here were indeed already red.
"Look over there!" Yingzhi suddenly pointed to a particularly tall maple tree. The tree was covered with wishing plaques, which shimmered warmly in the setting sun. He pulled Xinyu to the tree and took out two blank wishing plaques from his pocket.
"Let's write down our wishes," Yingzhi said with a smile, handing one of the pens to Xinyu. Xinyu took the pen, hesitated for a moment, and wrote: "I wish to be with Yingzhi forever." Then she secretly observed Yingzhi's wish.
"Did you know?" Eichi suddenly said, "In Hoshino's legend, maple leaves are messengers connecting two worlds."
Xinyu looked at him in surprise: "How did you know?"
Eichi smiled and said, "Ever since I learned that you are from Hoshino, I have been researching the legends there."
The two continued down the mountain, their shadows stretched long by the setting sun.
"Wait." He walked towards the garden, and returned a moment later with a bunch of wildflowers, gently placing them in Xinyu's hand: "For someone special like you."
Xinyu looked at the bunch of wildflowers with delight, among which were a few golden maple leaves. She looked up at Yingzhi and found that his eyes were shining with a light warmer than the setting sun.
"Yingzhi, I..." Xinyu suddenly didn't know what to say.
"I know what you want to say," Yingzhi gently interrupted her. "You don't need to say it; I understand."
By the time the two reached the school gate, it was already dark. It was too late to go home.
"See you tomorrow," Yingzhi said softly.
"See you tomorrow," Xinyu replied with a smile, her eyes full of anticipation.
Watching Yingzhi's figure gradually disappear into the distance, Xinyu gently stroked the wildflowers in her hand, feeling their warmth. She knew that no matter what the future held, as long as she was with Yingzhi, she could find her own direction.
Every day at Yumenosaki, the time they spent together after school became the most precious moments between them.
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